Yes...We Have Internet!!!!!

After a long and unnecessarily convoluted process, at last resolved when our Internet provider realized after two weeks of troubleshooting that they'd forgotten to turn some switch on at their end, we finally, finally, FINALLY are online again. I've got some catching up to do! Everybody here is fine-- no earthquakes, volcanoes erupting, etc. The only tragedy is the utter mire my e-mail has become during those two weeks-- I have over 800 new messages, most of which seem to be addressing my need for lengthening and enhancement of certain body parts that I don't possess. It's going to be fun sorting through all that. Oh well.

We have had a lot go on in those two weeks. Let me sum up.

My parents came up, Jer and I went to Astoria for vacation, we did our final walkthrough of our old house and are now officially 100% moved in (if you don't count the ten boxes we have left to unpack), Connor got his horrendous Frankentube replaced with a cute little Mic-Key g-tube, he'll have his first IEP meeting with his new school district next week, and we are borrowing a walker for him until his is ordered-- though he's using it more like a "stander" right now. Oh, and our cats are still trying to kill each other. Whew!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

It is hot here. Really, really hot-- 85 degrees today. And as I'm saying this, I know that I've officially acclimated to the Pacific Northwest and all of my family down south will laugh at me when I whine about the heat, because back in Texas 85 degrees around this time of year means that there's a cold front moving in. Of course, in Texas they also have air conditioning and fans in every room-- conveniences which are sorely lacking in our apartment. They seem to work on a "coast through most of the year and suffer terribly for the week or so it's actually hot" system here. Rather than go out and do something productive, such as buy fans, I've developed my own ingenious plan to keep cool. Here's how it works:

Step 1: Get up in the morning and discover how hot it's supposed to be. If it will be above 80 degrees, proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Wait until 8:45 in the morning, and then jump in the car with Connor and all of his supplies.

Step 3: Race down to the bookstore and wait outside until it opens. Buy one book for me, and one for Connor.

Step 4: Sit in the adjoining coffee shop with Connor, tea, a cookie, and the aforementioned books. Read books. Eat cookie. Drink tea. Enjoy air conditioning. Repeat for the next twelve hours or until the temperature outside drops to a reasonable level.

I like this system, as not only do Connor and I stay comfortable, it gives me an excuse to buy books. Because if there's one thing we need around here, it's more books.

~Jess