Thursday, January 28, 2010

Plenty to Read

Have at it.

Tamara

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Wheee

I am not entirely sober. I'm not drunk you understand. I couldn't type this if I were. But I'm not quite sober either. I had the day off work today as an online Australian friend is in England for a bit. And she came to spend a day here, in not-so-sunny-at-the-moment Devon. I met her early this afternoon and showed her around the city. Lots of history here. (City was founded in 80CE). We saw Roman walls and the Norman Castle. The remains of a 12th century bridge, the cathedral, dozens of mediaeval churches, Tudor houses and a narrow cobbled street that was once the main route into the city. Then we had dinner (a fine - if over-priced - Italian restaurant).

Then we went to the pub. I introduced her to real cider. As in stronger and more alcoholic than beer. Cloudy - and not only are there bits in it but the big bits chase and kill the little bits. That sort of cider. She liked it.

We moved on to the Australian themed pub. She wasn't impressed. We watched football on the big-screen tv and she persuaded me to try Toohey's. She was even less impressed. It was crap and apparently nothing like real Australian Toohey's. Then we tried VB. It was just like real Australian VB. Good stuff. She thought the barman (another real Aussie) was cute. I wouldn't know... *g* We stayed drinking and chatting 'til late. Which is why I'm not quite sober. And incapable of being serious.

It's a shame because today is Holocaust Memorial Day and I really wanted to talk to you all about things like that. About the way humans still slaughter each other, about Rwanda and Cambodia and Bosnia. And about the thought processes the city council went through that convinced them that the best way to remember millions of people being beaten and starved to death was a memorial banquet in the guildhall.

But I'm not sober enough for that. So I'll just say - spare a moment today to remember the victims of genocide. And pray we learn not to do it again.

Enjoy your updates. See you next week. Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

I'm Brilliant

Well maybe not exactly brilliant - but I'm not too bad, generally. And I'm lucky (sometimes). Anyway - I DID IT!! I fixed my laptop. Ok - it took me most of Sunday but I did it. Eventually I figured out what I was doing and realised I didn't need the three pages of DOS commands the book suggested. In fact I only needed half a page. Once I realised that it only took me a further half-hour.

Before I started I did go through one of those full of doubts and "don't try this at home, kiddies" moments, and I thought very seriously about whether it was a good idea - letting me loose on things that can be royally screwed-up is never really a smart option. And two good friends who are very computer-savvy emailed me with dire warnings of what could go wrong. And I know they were right - I could have destroyed the hard-drive beyond all fixing - but I reckoned it was useless anyway if it couldn't be fixed, so what did I have to lose.

And I fixed it!!

I'm dead chuffed.

Ze

Monday, January 25, 2010

End of January

I'm surprised by how fast this month is going. It feels like the New Year was last weekend. Sadly no...hence, I must get busy...seems I have lots to do and little time or weekends to get it all done. We're actually attempting to put the house back on this quality market early next month. Exciting no?

Okay back to your updates! Enjoy.

Elisa

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Random Thoughts

Remember when certain movies would have an intermission? When I saw Gandhi in the theater, there was one. I'm watching Funny Girl on DVD right now and they just had one. If a movie had an intermission today folks would be confused. They'd probably go tell a theater employee there was something wrong with the film.

It's been a lazy and productive weekend for us. I think I've got a week ahead with three full days of kids at school and then two half days with kids. If so, keen.

Tamara

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Productive

That would not be me today. Actually Tamara and I got a good start. We got up moved, fairly quickly and did some early chores. We got home and I became a lazy slug while I watched Tamara move about with energy. Hence she was definitely the "productive" one today.

Enjoy your updates!

Elisa

Friday, January 22, 2010

Wild Friday Night

Costco trip for us tonight. Friday nights are actually a little less crazy than many evenings. We've found that Sunday morning is the best time to go.

I'll have to be good and resist Costco temptations. I believe I'll eat before I go because it's never good to hit a Costco while you're hungry.

Y'all enjoy tonight's update.

Tamara

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Sunshine

We actually had some today. It was nice. I enjoy the winter sunshine when it's mixed up with my rain. Right now though I'm sure the people in California want the sunshine back. I do wish I had those magical powers to offer all I can do is send good dry thoughts their way. And to all you other places getting nailed this winter, may Spring arrive soon.

Enjoy your updates!

Elisa

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

We are top of the league!!

I never did get round to fixing the laptop at the weekend. I got distracted. I thought about having a go tonight but there was a footy game on the telly and I knew I'd not be concentrating on DOS commands if the game got interesting, and not concentrating could be calamitous!! I'm glad I didn't because the game was a cracking contest and I definitely would have completely buggered the laptop if I'd tried. *g* And we are top of the league!! (Ok it won't be for long but I can still celebrate!!)

So here I am again - commandeering the kid's PC to do the updates. Just as well she isn't using it much at the moment. I do need to get the lappie fixed very, very soon though. Firstly I've got emails trapped on it that desperately need a response and secondly I have half a story on it which is due in ten days!! Ten days isn't nearly long enough to finish it, edit it, send it to a beta, get it back, fix it and edit it again. Not if I actually want to work, eat or sleep at any time during that period. I have the afternoon off tomorrow as I'm booked in at the doctor for my swine-flu jab, so I'll have a few hours spare. I'll give it a go then I think.

See you next week. On the lappie if all goes well. Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Tired

Very. The snow melted. (Though they're expecting snow on the high ground on the moors tonight). Of course the melt-water brings the danger of flood. Fortunately not here. The Exe is high - high enough to spill over and half fill the flood relief channels. The canal is quite high but since it doesn't get the water the way the river does, it's not too bad. But neither are looking dangerously close to overflow.

Naturally all this water means the site we're working at is a bit soggy. Fortunately (since the foreman isn't an idiot) the first thing we dug a couple of weeks ago was a set of drainage channels. So at least the site isn't under water. But blimey it was heavy going. Two days solid of digging and I'm knackered - and my shoulder is killing me. So I'm for bed as soon as this is posted. Mini-digger (back-hoe) arrives tomorrow, and a bulldozer, so no digging. (Yippee). If it doesn't snow again here (it's raining right now) then we'll start setting the foundations on Thursday. So definitely no more digging. (Louder yippee).

Ze

Monday, January 18, 2010

Monday

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the US. It's a good time for Americans to remember what the work of this man and many others brought us. We don't always live up to the ideals we proclaim but thankfully there always seem to be folks who will step up and remind us of what those ideals are.

Tamara

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Slugs

That would be me and my daughter. We are relaxing at home in our pjs all day. Tamara and the boys are off seeing a movie. Quiet afternoon all around. Long weekends work from me.

Peace, Health and Happiness. Enjoy your updates.

Elisa

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Wow.

That's a lot to read tonight and Passion & Perfection didn't even update. Have at it.

Tamara

Friday, January 15, 2010

Easy Friday

It was a day off for me today. It was also a reminder that my life is pretty darn good. I cleaned the fish tank, gerbil cage and did a bunch of laundry. I even had the pleasure of eating lunch with Tamara.

Here's hoping life gets better for all (including those in Haiti) and Peace finds our planet soon.

Now back to the regularly scheduled programming. Enjoy the updates.

Here is hoping Elisa