I know it's been a while

The internet seems to break down whenever I touch it, or whenever Matt is away (CO and at library)... Here's what's been happening:

-We went camping last weekend and had a blast with some friends.

-We will be going back to the same place to go tubing down the Delaware River.

-Matt bought a saw for $1 at an antique market, and I just shook my head. Later, the ancient saw proved me wrong when it cut firewood so well. Matt once again convinces me that old things are of a better quality than new.

-Our two cameras are dead and resurrect themselves at random and always when there's nothing to take a picture of. Next black Friday, we will purchase another.

-My new school is giving me hassle and I wish they would all back off until the fall. Also, I'm supposed to get my CDL for next year. (I think I can hear my brother-in-law Matt laughing)

-It is so hot that I want to chop all my hair off, but I probably won't.

-It is so hot that we've been hanging out, eating, reading, living in our bedroom where our AC unit is located. If only I could move our stove in the bedroom.

-I am running out of meals that we both like and that require little to no heating/cooking/sauteing/baking.

-As a result, I want an outdoor grill, an outdoor stove, or at least a George Forman grill. It probably won't happen.

-I visited my good friend Suzanna this weekend and had a great time catching up, meeting her friends, and wanting to grill chicken the way she did outside. Yum.

-Just before that, I entered the state of Rhode Island for the first time to visit my brother Peter and meet his girlfriend Lindsay. I look forward to doing that again.

-Upon my return, I immediately inquired after our plants. Matt had to break the news to me that someone or something STOLE our one (of three) just ripening tomato. When I find the thief, he will suffer.

-Unfortunately, our garden sucks. Our tomato plant only yielded three--now two--tomatoes and I'm not sure that more will grow. There are hardly any branches or new sprouts anywhere. Our friends' plants are so, so bushy and green. Our lettuce stopped growing about 2 months ago. I hate it. Our two pepper plants are doing OK, but aren't very bushy at all compared to others. I fear a very small harvest. I'm trying to speak love to it, but I think it feels bad when it sees its cousins across the way in the huge neighbors' illegal garden that looks like a tropical forest. My pride and joy are my two zucchini plants that are growing so fast and so big!! If only that 'joie de vie' could be caught by my other plants...

-My friend is about to have her second boy. I can't wait to see his little face, and I wonder if he'll look anything like his brother.

-My sister-in-law is also due soon and I look forward to meeting my newest niece. Will she look anything like his big sister, or will she have the dark hair this time?

-Many of our neighbors are packing up and moving out. I hope we get good new ones.

-Matt and I have been watching a few movies: Le Diner de Cons, Appaloosa, and Duck you Sucker. I'm waiting for my turn to pick one out, but nothing appeals to me.

-I have been reading many books. It seems like it's the only thing that I want to do in these temperatures, while everything else gets neglected: cooking, chores, laundry, emailing, blogging...

-I'm on the lookout for a table and 2 (or 4) chairs for outside. It's often MUCH cooler in the evenings with a breeze that doesn't want to run through our hot house. I want to eat and hang out outside, and a table/chair combo would be much more comfortable.

-Peter has introduced me to Demitri Martin, a dry-humored and clever comedian. Hilarious.

-Matt and I are planning some social events for the summer with our friends (or the friends we're trying to make). It's tough because many of them spend their summers away in a different country or participating in a program. Some of them are having babies and some are moving away for good. Ahh! But for the rest, we want to have a mini-golf and ice cream social sometime in July.

-This week is my last week at the store. I think I will miss that work when the going gets tough at my new school. I will think fondly of the peaceful days of folding and stocking. I will wish I didn't have a mountain of work at the end of my work day. The store is throwing a party for me this Friday! I picked out cheesecake for my cake (I hate all other frosting from store-bought cakes).

-On Saturday, Matt and I take a plane headed to CA to visit my grandma! Max and Sarah are coming too and we'll all have a blast!

-And right now, I have to go grocery shopping.