HOWE TIME FLIES

I read everyone's blogs this morning, and then I looked at mine. August 24th! That was my last blog? Whoa. I have really been asleep at the wheel! I got so caught up in my projects while I was home this summer, I didn't even take a breath. I worked steadily on them 5 hours a day, because I was afraid I wouldn't have time to finish. And I was right.

Now, I am back in my gypsy world with a box full of incomplete projects in the trunk of my car that require my full attention, and uninterrupted thought. And I have 60 days to complete them. Today is the first day I have even thought of working on them...the house is quiet, Grover/Dad is writing on his novel. As soon as I finish this blog, I will get that box out and determine what needs to be done.

But, I digress. I was discussing the lengthy silence. The blog silence from August 24th to mid September is clearly due to my projects. The blog silence from mid September until today is due to VISITING.

A word about VISITING. I don't know how other people do it, but my idea of VISITING is talking, running errands with people, shopping, eating, telling stories, watching TV or movies, and helping with cleanup. All good things.

Things that get in the way of VISITING are: phone calls, computer tasks, including email and blogging, paying bills, cleaning the car, laundry, and entertaining the GROVER. He has his own category. He doesn't do VISITING very well. His idea of VISITING is: what are we doing? when are we doing it? when will we be done with it? What can I fix? Where is "the library?" (For those of you who don't know..."the library" is his pseudonymn for Barnes & Noble.)

In the past the longest we had ever visited anyone was probably about 4 days, and our shortest visit may have been 1 1/2 days. Surprisingly, so far, we have broken our 4 day record in each of our visits, to Rachel, and to Aunt Diane. We stayed 8 1/2 days at Rachel's house, and we have been at my sister's house a little over 2 weeks. And we have 5 more days until we pick them up from the airport. Did I mention they are not here? So, technically it may not count if we visit people who actually have gone to visit others. We took Aunt Diane and Uncle Glenn to the airport on Monday to fly to Phoenix and visit their friends there. We are housesitting. Hence, the blogging.

And coincidentally, and ironically, Jess has been visiting our house while we have been gone. Is this just so insane? They had a stopover on their way to Erin's brother's wedding, and popped into Lovell for a few days. Yes, I was very sad I wasn't there to play with them. But I am learning to control my emotions. And I was happy they had a warm/cozy place to stop, and they could see where we live. When we are living there.

So, this is HOWE TIME. This is the HOWE life. And this is how it flies. In circles, and in loop de loops and with zigs and zags and sudden turns. Sometimes it is a seesaw, and sometimes it is a roller coaster. And sometimes I am sick to my stomach, and sometimes I am gloriously happy to see my loved ones. But one thing is sure...it is never DULL.

See you soon. For now, I have to finish my XMAS projects. Shhhhhh! Don't tell.