Life on Mars - End of Summer 2012

I am so sorry that I haven't been posting here so much this Summer. Believe me, it's not that Summer was without our usual events. As a matter of fact, it was so bizarre and eventful, I really didn't feel like sharing. Twisted relationships, police visits, arrests, fights, crying, wild kids, sad deaths in the family. Too many full moons, alcohol and Mercury retrograde. I must say that it was the most stressful Summer I can remember and I was literally a bystander to it all. Most of my stress was from the bounce effect.

That's all I have to say about this summer. One good thing was that before Summer hit, I had some of the best sales I've had in years. And I bought a used kindle and a few cheap and free books, so I started reading again. I really, really didn't care for the Hunger Games Trilogy. Hate me if you will, but I really didn't like the message it sent to the youth it was geared to. I can't even begin to point out how many flaws there were in that story, and leaving the heroine weak and depressed was not where I would have lead the reader. I've read more positive stories about survivors of Hiroshima.

I'm reading Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5 now. Started out so boring, but I'm really engrossed halfway through. I love the voice he writes in. Reminds me a bit of J. D. Salinger. I plan on catching up with a lot of classic literature I missed out on, because I had trouble reading in the past. I have 60 books waiting on my kindle now and I watch for deals. The next book is a semi fictional book about Pearl S. Buck. I really want to get The Good Earth, but have to wait until I get better sales to afford it. I'm fascinated with China and her people and want to read more about it's past.

There were good times too. Out of town visitors were fun. Time spent with family, visits to the zoo and Art Museum, and the weather, although hot, was pretty nice this year. We had a booming crop of tomatoes thanks to my intent work on the garden this year. Every penny put in was worth it.

One good thing I can say about this Summer is that things have been so crazy busy here that the woman next door didn't attack the little shed and pull everything out on the lawn like she has every summer before. I think she's been too busy chasing around her adult boys who keep getting in trouble. That and the fact that they finally have a car and she can just get away from the house when things get stressful. I've just been going for walks. Stress has been better for my health in the long run. Arms are stronger from lifting a heavy baby and cardiovascular health is better from the long uphill walks.

Life on Mars - Week in Hell

You just have to read my post on Mercury retrograde to understand why this past week went the way it did.
If you didn't you can read it HERE. Not a really long post.

After we got home from our Amusement Park mini vacation (we had passes from when we were flush last fall) my laptop hadn't fared well from the trip. Must have got a short in the touch pad, because when the power cord is plugged in the cursor dances around the screen and click randomly. It does work unplugged though but only for about 90 minutes. So at the beginning of last week, I was using Poppy's and her son's PC, sneaking in when I could.

The middle of the week must have been the peak of the retrograde Hell, because one fine morning, Poppy's PC was deader than a door nail. What does that expression mean exactly? What a dumb saying. So now we are working on one PC, all 3 of us and her youngest too on his club penguin.

That wasn't the first or the last of the retrograde mishaps either. Here are more not in any particular order:
*The last PC's keyboard broke
*Hillbilly Bob next door burned 2 complete sofas in the firepit next to our house, fabric, foam and all causing me great respiratory distress ( also illegal for just that reason)
*I put too many fresh french fries in a little pot of oil, bubbled up and spilled on the burner, and caught the element and the catch try on fire. Poppy put it out with baking soda, had to clean for an hour.
*DS' lawyer forgot to bring his medical records to the emergency court review for his SS disability and the case is still pending.
*Cat has huge infected wound on his leg that needs treatment.
*Poppy got randomly attacked by yellow jackets, that she is allergic to,(scary, but no stings).
*And last but not least, Poppy's MIL turned her car without looking and got hit. Car totaled. She is our primary transportation.

Not the worse week I've ever had, but not the best either. Poppy's poor son is turning 8 this week and he's had to give up some of his birthday parties so we can save for a new PC. He did voluntarily, forgoing the dinner at Outback and having homemade Pizza instead of carryout, for his party. What a sweet kid (sometimes).

My sales did increase this week, but instead of buying my self shoes I need, I get to put it toward the new PC. And we also got loads of produce from the local church via local farmers. Hours of freezing and canning. Wish we had a bigger freezer. No room anyhow.

One totally bizarre week, can't wait to see what the next has in store for us and can't wait til August 26th when this nonsense if finished.