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Spring Break

Megan has been off, like so many other kids in America, this past week for spring break. Because it came so early in the year we never ventured to our pool despite it being open. No after a rather calm and relaxed easter weekend, Megan hung out with our neighbor on monday while I got my eyes checked, And we hung with friends on tuesday before Megan had her last ice skating lesson. We also said good bye to dear friends who moved back to Australia tuesday. They are the type of friends we see too few times but always feel so connected when we do get together. We will miss them.

Wednesday we loaded up the car and drove south - stopping in Gilroy and Monterey before driving highway one through big sur. We stayed for 3 nights in San Simeon, which if you didn't know is where William Hearst built his Castle, and it being the only castle I could think of that I could drive, is where Megan and I decided to explore. I hand wrote a lovely blog entry which I may or may not get around to typing up because I didn't want to forget anything and my laptop decided to have issues (I'm blogging from Jack's machine at present).

We got home yesterday evening, and have spent the better part of today just getting back to that being at home feeling.

I survived!

Last sunday morning I woke up to find a starbucks coffee,(Grande Decaf, Soy Misto) MMMmmmmm. Jack had been up early and had visited our local (brand new) drive through. Later on in the day, I was out running errands and felt like a cold drink so I swung by starbucks and picked up an ice tea. (Venti Black ice tea with 3 pumps of sweetener). Finally after dinner Jack went out while I was putting Megan to bed and surprised me with another coffee (also a soy decaf misto) When he got back I realized that was 3 starbucks in one day - my new all time record. So I decided I needed to take a break - a Starbucks Fast!

MOnday morning I was really easy since Megan's school had a field trip to the Tech Museum so I had no temptation. When we got back I took Megan out for a treat (Ice Cream) for being such an angel on the field trip. SO I was going along fine until our poker crew showed up and suddenly they all wanted Starbucks and so they headed out the door while I made my self a pot of drip. Not only did I managed to not fall to peer pressure, but they returned with not one but 2 extra coffee's (of Corse one was a caffeinated latte and the other had 10 pumps of chocolate in it!)

I survived the rest of the week with out incident. Even Jack and Mel tantalizing me on friday with (its Mel treat!) didn't sway me. I survived going to Megan's one hour ice skating lesson with just a book and DS to entertain me - no Coffee to keep me warm.

But now the week is over. I'm trying to decide the best way to bring starbucks back.

I did figure out that had I gone last week every time I normally would have I would have spent 23 dollars on just ice teas and coffee's (The Misto is just drip and is considerably cheaper than a latte. Had I still been doing Latte's I'm sure the bill would have been closer to 35!) The trouble all started when the built the drive through starbucks a mile from our house. Its such a temptation to swing by on the way home, or on my way out.

SO now that the fast is over, i'm going to limit myself to one ever couple of days. And since our usual monday night crew is coming over tonight I'll wait till then to have my first one back.

Frightening

Did anyone else happen to catch Law and Order last night?

Lara Flynn Boyle was a guest star and I hadn't seen her on screen since she was on the show The Practice. In just a few short years and way to much surgery she's gone from fairly beautiful albeit way to skinny

To just plain puffy and weird.

I'm searching for a current pic - but if you want to see - NBC puts a 2 minute replay of the episode onlineWatch "submission" to get a glimpse of how she's become frankensteined. Ladies - stay away from the knife - its makes you look so unnatural!

Full Circle

Megan has been writing stories. Her school has a program called writer's workshop that encourages kids to be writers, and Megan already puts pen to paper and sounds out words and writes. Its amazing to see the progress she's made.

My favorite part is the notes she likes to give me. Or the ones she just does and leaves around the house like "Mom is Myn".

Every time I stumble on one, it reminds me of the dozens of cards my mom sent me over the years. Cards I packed and stored all over my house. Now when I need her or when I least expect it, I find a moment with mom.

Universal health care

Health care is a major issue. Jack and I enjoyed Socialized Medicine in Australia. I remember going to the doctor there to get the pill and they basically gave me a 6 month supply as part of my check up - the fee was like 10 dollars all included. I was blown away - I had never paid so little for birthcontrol! I never had a problem getting in to see a doctor for colds, or first aid when Jack ran over the back of my foot with a shopping cart and ripped it opened. We never had anything major happen while we were there, and half way through our time "little Johnny Howard" came to power and revoked our right to the medical system.

SO tonight I was watching 60 MInutes and they had a story about Remote Area Medical a group who started to deliver medical services to 3rd world countries, now finds its needed right here in the US. Its an eye opening story -Watch It and be ashamed that this powerful country we live in has to turn to this group. Its amazing.

super snot

Megan is fighting her 3rd cold in like a month. This one is the snottiest ever! For the first time in her life she has that raw redness under her noise from all that blowing and wiping. I really do feel for her.