Okay, well, I'm switching over here for a while . . . I really do want to write my own weblog but I have to wait for my hosting service to get back to me with information about how I can access the MySQL database I have allegedly signed up for. I also would like to figure out how to move my stuff from my Sitemaker db to here.

So far, the first real day of "vacation" is turning out to be fairly mellow. I'm waiting for the cable guy at the moment; Emil tried to take the cable box back on Saturday only to be told that he couldn't. So my first day of alleged freedom is being spent tethered to the house . . . grrr. Would have been a beautiful morning for a bike ride.

Instead I spent it straightening the basement so I'm not too humiliated when the cable guy DOES show up (if he does; it's starting to appear doubtful). This afternoon we're going to be flooded with teenagers; Emma is painting her room. With any luck, we can get other areas of the house painted, too: We bought paint for the living room and kitchen as well as each of the kids' rooms.

I am noticing that I do feel more relaxed, though. Actually, I'm noticing lots of things around the house that I'd like to put to rights in addition to the painting. Seems, in some ways, like we haven't really moved in here; I was working as an instructional designer at that Branch Campus to the East when we arrived, so I was busy during the summer. We never really got a chance to sort through possessions, particularly the boxes I brought back from my mother's when she died. (I've been intending to do that, and to pack up stuff to send to my brother, for years.)

I also have this fantasy that I'm going to train the dogs. To do what, I'm not exactly sure; but I think it would be nice for them to have something to think about besides barking at everyone and everything. It would be nice to have a dog that heels on a walk.

And I'd like to get my syllabi done pretty soon. That shouldn't be too much of a problem; what it will require is committing myself to doing things NOW, instead of waiting until the last minute as I have typically done. I'm going to start on that today; there are also all kinds of ancillary support things I want to write, and so the sooner I know what I want to do, the better.

And of course, I want to exercise. And lie around the pool reading novels.

It's shaping up to be a nice break!!