I have been home 2 days and my 9 year old sun is still letting me hug him!!! LIFE IS SO GOOD!!!!

My 2 ivy plants that were doing so well were killed while I was gone. The husband didn't water them. It was my fault, I didn't remind him. I was sad. Ivy never seems to survive me leaving town! I love the way a nice lush ivy plant looks atop my kitchen cupboard. Not anymore! At least I've learned from experience that it isn't possible to nurse these little bastards back to life -- they don't come back... they just linger and taunt you with their scraggly naked vines and sparse leaves that lull you into believing the plant will recover. Liars.

The street looks worse than when I left. I must say that not having storm drains makes a muddy soup after the nice rains we've had! I can no longer pull into the drive way. Worse yet, we must walk to the end of the block to get the car and then must drive to get our pizza. Delivery to the home is no longer possible. It is a frightening state of affairs when pizza can no longer make it to your door!

We are still enjoying the neighborly bonding that goes on when we must all walk by each others homes vs. driving past. We talk more and are getting to know each other better. I love this neighborhood.

I'm still basking in the glory of being done with Linguistics 402. Only 6 more classes until I can student teach! YIPPEE!!! This fall I'm taking 3 classes -- one is a field experience class where I will actually enter a school and get to teach a lesson after observing in a classroom for 12 weeks. Life it good.

I go back to my real job tomorrow -- it can't all be roses. At least I had some time away. I needed it. Now to sit down with a frosty cold beverage and think of things to occupy the 9 and 10 year old during the day with the sitter. They've hit a dull patch and the sitter is struggling with the "I'm bored" comments from the peanut gallery. They are bored. I do wish there were more kids on our street that were their ages... A few houses are for sale, keep your fingers crossed for us!
Pretty sunsets follow.... scroll down if you have not seen them yet... YES, I am a sunset junkie!