For my mother-in-law

Who mentioned this week that she’s been missing my “so regular updates that she knows whenever I sneeze” posts.

Yeah, I haven’t been writing much.

There’s a pile of excuses reasons that’s been going on. And I’m not sure which is more the cause then any other.

- The blood pressure/heart stuff kind of took a lot out of me this spring.  And now the new med that the cardiologist put me on saps my energy.  The first few days I was on it I was napping off and on any time from noon on and it took about 4 or 5 days to get past that (which was exaggerated because I had the Dr. increase the dosage when the “pre-mature” beats didn’t go away completely.) Now that I’m acclimated to it, I’m still finding that come about 9 PM I’m useless for much of anything that takes more than 2 brain cells to complete.  Given that my past “normal” functioning had me being productive until about midnight, losing those hours has made a HUGE impact in what I’m finding time to do.

- Having three teens at home is keeping me running like crazy.  Boy is summer job hunting and since he never finished getting his license, I’ve been driving him around to put in applications.   I wish I had good news to share, but the economy seems to have dried up anything for summer temp workers who aren’t physically up to being outside doing lawn care all day.  Girl is finishing up her seatwork and that leaves me trying to juggle when she needs me available and when I need to be out for hours with Boy.  Datter’s time here is starting to run down (she leaves June 9), but that just means that she is going non-stop spending time with her boyfriend and friends before she leaves all of them – and she’s not the best at sharing when her plans need us to drive and when she has a ride. I’ve been left hanging waiting for a text on when she wants to be picked up and given 2 mins. warning of when she needs a ride too many times.

- And Hubby has been talking of moving, so we’ve been looking at houses and talking to banks and having discussions (both between ourselves and with the kids) about where, what, and how.  The current plan has us renting this place out until the housing market comes back and buying something newer ( this place was built in ‘53), a little smaller (or at least compact, not the long skinny ranch we have currently), with a garage (no more scrapping ice and snow!!), and no pool (it’s great when we want it, but we don’t use that much any more and it’s a CONSTANT drain of time and energy.)

We have found a place, but we’re still working out the details and hope to make an offer early next week.  Keep your fingers crossed for us and I’ll post pictures once we make the offer.   And yeah, I’m nervous as hell about carrying 2 mortgages and finding a tenant for this place.

- the result of the first two points is that I’m doing a LOT of reading – both in the evenings and while I wait for Boy to fill out applications.  Add to that, in one week I had two friends recommend Jim Butcher to me (and it was a good choice) so I’ve been reading through the 15 books he’s written. (Hey, I have been being good about keeping my list updated!)

And now I need to get going.  The kids have a bunch coming over shortly to spend the afternoon playing D&D and they keep distracting me from writing, so I’ll stop.