Let's talk about feelings

Not really, not too much anyway. I just haven't blogged for so long, a couple of weeks at least. John said "How am I supposed to know how you're feeling?". Funny! Well, today I feel great. The sun's shining. For the past three days now, I've been able to walk outside at lunch and it has been just great. Today was a bit cooler at 42, but the sun was shining in a cloudless brilliant blue topaz sky, and I can take the cold when there's a fair exchange of goodness like that!

Blue skies, nothing but blue skies, nothing but blue skies from now on.

Speaking of skies. Let's talk birds! Oh, come now. I'm not THAT obsessed. I swear! I just have such fun trying to spot something different, looking through the book to find what I saw! It's like a puzzle, kind of why I like writing code and formulas for applications. Last Saturday John drove me around to see what we could see. I photographed an American Kestrel over at Stocksdale. I wasn't as close as I would have liked, but I got some interesting pictures of it hovering and diving looking for some dinner.

We continue to toy with the idea of downsizing our house. I don't know John's thoughts about the pros/cons of such a move. Mine are multiple and complicated. These are in no particular order of course, just as I think them up. 1) We have too much, and aren't using our resources as wisely as we could. Too much is tied up in this big house. I'd like to free up some cash flow to point in other directions. Especially since we've both taken pay cuts now. 2)I hate cleaning house, so less is defintely more when talking about household chores. 3)Social concerns. Where are the 'real' people in this neighborhood? Do they exist? Just as Fr. Matt wrote in his column Sunday, where are the neighbors who will just stop by? We are that kind of people but sometimes when dropping in on people we do feel like we're interfering. We're basically living a lie in this big house. Sure, it's middle class, not too poor, not too rich, but I still feel like I'm showing off, trying to be a big shot with my 3 car garage. 4)I'm not emotionally attached to this building like we both were to our house over on 70th street. We built that house from the ground up and lovingly picked out every detail. This one was just one of 3 that we could get in Liberty in Jan 2000 in our price range. I wish we'd have gotten into that little house over on Mansfield back then, but the realtor found the lock box was off that day. I still wonder when I drive by "what if?".

NOTE: I just re-read this and I think I should add, I actually DO like my house right now. After we got the basement finished, it's very comfy. We have lots of space. I guess I have many mixed feelings about the subject. Especially when an expense comes up that isn't in the budget and it makes us come up short.

Other random items. Jordan has me reading Archangel by Sharon Shinn right now. I told her I'd read her favorite trilogy if she'll read mine. It's a pretty interesting book. The kids are both quite involved with their school theater right now, so that is keeping them busy. I'm still cross stitching my Santa. I want to finish it before the school year ends. I just got Glory "special edition" DVD and the soundtrack from Amazon today. That's been on my list for a long, long time so I thought I should just go ahead and order it. I can't wait to see the special features and documentary on the 2nd disc.