September Wrap-Up

September has been a bad month for me and computers, consequently it has also been a bad month for blog posts. My office moved over Labor Day weekend and our DSL was down for the first two weeks of the month, since I often write blog entries at work, posts were scarce. My computer at home has its good days and its bad days and since I never know what I'm going to get, I often save myself the frustration by not even turning it on. I think I was kinda in computer burn out anyway, so it was a much needed break. There are many things I must use a computer for, but there are also A LOT of things I could do without. I haven't been on myspace for over a week and I don't even feel all that lost, but to my 111 myspace friends, I do apologize for missing birthdays or not responding to messages, etc. I just needed a break!

I digress, September started out with a trip to the Mark Twain Lake over Labor Day weekend. All the children and a couple of friends went with us, and the back of the truck was loaded with food, clothes, and leisure activities- way more than we would ever need of course. As we finish unloading, I realized we forgot the worst possible thing we could have forgotten (except a child)-- Alena's big pink bag! That bag had EVERYTHING of hers in it, diapers, clothes, toys, swimsuit, EVERYTHING! I debated whether I should just go to the nearest Wal-Mart and make an exception to my "Just Say NO to Wal-Mart rule" (see post) or if I should just go back home and get it. In the end, I decided that the gas would probably still be cheaper than a trip to Wal-Mart, so I dropped everyone else off at the lake and Alena and I drove the 3 hour roundtrip drive home to retrieve the now infamous pink bag, all the time hoping that this would be the first and only disaster of the weekend! For the most part it was, we all had a good time going to the beach and doing some tubing on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday morning , all the boys decided to get up early and do some fishing. Alex and Brady still lose interest pretty quickly if the fish aren't biting, which they weren't. The only one to catch anything was Brady, and all he caught was Brian through the lip! I still have not forgiven Mike for not taking a picture, but from all accounts the hook went in through the top of Brian's upper lip and out the bottom, but the best part was the minnow was still hanging from it! Brian wasn't hurt, but the picture would have been priceless addition to this post--thanks a lot Mike, lotta good that camera phone did!

I have been looking for a new job since I graduated in June, but still have not found one, which is rather disappointing. I have been the runner-up twice for a job as a victim advocate in the Prosecutor's office, but unfortunately they gave the positions to two former employees who wanted to return. I am also still trying to get a job at State probation and parole, but it is a very slow process, so for now I'm still just working two days a week at MMCS.

All of our recreational activities have now started again, Brian plays on a pool league on Tuesday nights, I bowl on Thursday nights, and then we both bowl every other Sunday on a league. Not to mention Alena is back at gymnastics on Monday mornings, at least the boys really don't have anything going on right now, except school, which is nice, although they miss playing baseball and can't wait to play again next year.

Speaking of baseball, we are all very disappointed with the Cardinals lackluster season, but it was still fun to watch (most of the time). We attended our last game on Sept. 16 against the Cubs, but lost 4-2. Oh well, there is always next year- spring training is only 4 1/2 months away and we will have football through most of that time, although the Rams season isn't off to a very good start either (0-3). That's about all I got for now, if I think of anything else I'll write an update. C-ya!