h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So, let's see what's been going on since late May... I'm pretty sure I posted in another journal that the financing for the house fell through, so we're still in the apartment, and won't be trying again until after tax time next year--hopefully that will bring our average income up, since I *was* off work for a few more months than usual a couple years ago.

Obviously, I survived working in the fireworks booth during the fireworks selling season. We had enough volunteers to run a booth--spread over two booths

Faith was quite the social this summer--she attended 4 birthday parties, 2 of them the same weekend! Meanwhile, she turned 7, and Tom and I went on a short trip for our 13th anniversary. Then all 4 of us went on a short trip for a couple of days, and we all learned the pitfall of a toddler having had her own room for all but the first month of her life--Tom and Faith got attacked by mosquitos reading outside the motel room (though not as much as I would've been) while I sat in the bathroom reading, waiting for Grace to fall asleep. It worked the first night, but not the second. An 18-month-old getting 4-5 hours less sleep than usual is not the funnest thing in the world.

The beginning of the school year was a bit less chaotic this year than last--the teacher wasn't brand new, after all, and we spent the first week preparing instead of pulling kids the first day of school. This year, I started as part of the Resource team, but am now the one-on-one aid for 1 student, so I don't get to see A and A anymore (not only do they share initials, their names are the same. So Mrs. B and A, or Mrs. B and Ms. N.)

I've been tired and felt funny since just before the weekend. There's a theory, but it cannot be tested for a week or 2 yet. Not only that, but for the theory to be true, there would have to be a failure of something that's worked for us. Then again, these same symptoms sometimes happen to me for no reason whatsoever right before the classic proof that said theory is incorrect. <------'Twas what I said on Facebook last night, and it was interpreted in 5 minutes We'll see how long it stays confusing here, though a good amount of you already know...

Great to read about your latest adventures, Amy.

I have no experience with birth control devices, but I'm told that they can work 98% of the time and *still* let a woman have one child per year. If that's why you felt tired and funny, then I congratulate you. I also congratulate number 3, who will have a great mother when he or she arrives in this strange, unpredictable world.

Well, my period started. Right after telling Tom that there would likely be a stop at the clinic on the way home from work next Monday. Oh, well--the timing wasn't great anyway--even if the due date would've been right after school lets out, so I would've done like last time and have the end of the month before be when I stopped work.'Twould've solved the whole Faith being done with school 2 weeks before me this year thing, too

*hands Amy a and a *

Very dear ~Amy,

It was so good to read your news. I cannot believe that Faith is seven. Heavens time does fly by.
So Grace is 18 months old. Do the girls get on,?.

Are you wanting another child? You both already w0rk so hard.!! I am so pleased that you mnanaged to have a oittle break. This time do you see the Pacific through the "gap" in nyour mountains?
I have been watching these unfortunate minters being winched up from the middle of the earth. I woder how I would react.....

With much to you all

Christiane
AlsoRan80

Wd. 13th October, 2010 14.00 GMT

You had me in suspense for a while, Amy. It took my mind off the Chilean miner rescues. Twelve rescued so far, maybe more.

We're up to 16. It's great to have good news.

Amy, have you and Tom decided how large of a family you want? It seems like most of the couples I know stop at two these days.

I meant 16 rescued miners, not children. They're pulling #19 up right now.

Tom used to say he wanted a dozen kids, and I'd tell him *he* had to have them! (Before we even had 1.) With the fact that my mom hadn't started menopause yet when she died at 52, I suppose that's still physically possible,even having one at a time (I'm 36), but it still ain't happening. We hadn't really decided on a number, and when people ask if Grace is our last, we've been saying that we're not sure if we're going to have more, but not right now. Given both our reactions to these last few days--mixed relief and regret that I'm not pregnant after all--I think we're going to have at least one more. Not necessarily trying for a boy, but it would be nice, since Tom's his dad's only son, and Thomas only has sisters, so my Tom's the last male Pawloski of this branch. Kind of like the surname situation on my dad's side, actually--while I have a good amount of cousins (4 of them male), and my dad had 2 brothers and 2 sisters, only 1 of the boys was born of a brother. So if D has no kids, my branch of the Hoppers will be finished. My mom had a half brother, and he had lots of kids, so the Harrys are still going, as far as I know. Oh, wait, yeah, they are--my cousin G is going to be a dad pretty soon. I helped change his diapers when I was a teen. He can't be a dad!

I remember you having Amy

I had my last baby at 37, almost 38. My mother had her last baby at 44. I wouldn't advise late babies.

My daughter-in-law is expecting again, and she turned 30 this year. She says this one is the last, because she's getting too old... ()

I remember you having *Faith* Amy

I swear I am losing braincells but I've had a long, tiring day generation-juggling again!

I don't know how women manage to keep any of their sanity while they're raising children. And yet, the calmest women I've ever known had all had more than ten children apiece. Do things finally click in one's brain after, say, the 8th or 10th child?

I think it's possible to pass the chaos stage into acceptance

"I'll be riding shotgun on the stage bound for Chaos so it arrives at Acceptance on time. Give those horses extra oats...."

DEar paulh, What on earth are those words about. ?

Could it be from a song.

I am "bothered and bewildered..."

Go well,

I have been very busy watching that fantastivc rescue in Chile - which I note you also watched. Was it not enthralling and such wonderful men who never ever paniced. Incredible.
Go well my friend,

I wonder when Pierce the gets bacl? Perhaps he has got lost en route. !!

Christiane.
Ar80

14/X/2010 15.31 GMY

Hi Hypatia,

Good to see you joining us even for a monent.
Keep at it, dear friend.

With affection

Christiane.
AR80

14/X/2919 15.41
GMT

I do not remember that bringing up five children was chaos. !!! In fact I reckon they brought themselves up.

And I think I have wonderful children. Pity they all live so far away. One daughter in Australia, one daughter in South Africa, One son, unknown in the States, one son who commutes between the UK and the New York and of course my darling Keith.

My Papa always said that if one brought up one children successfully, when they flew the nest they did not return. That has proved to be the case I think.!!

Christiane
AR80

14/X/2010 14.39 GMT

Christiane, I neant "stage" as in "stagecoach," as if Chaos and Acceptance were towns en route. They aren't the words to a song, but maybe they could be some day...

Hi paulh,

Thanks for the explication.

Have just been listening to the report on that Chilean near disaster.

What us going on? It looks very odd to me,,,,! And the miners are not getting a penny compensation and there are obviousky no state aid or pensions there. My goodness can we not do something?

Go well,

Christiane
AR80

13/X/2010 18.28 GMT