Empty Mailbox

Saturday we got no mail. The mailman drove on by our house again today. Frustrating, because I really want to get our CAT test so that we can finish school for the year. It's not officially due until the end of next week, but she assured me it would probably be much sooner.

I'll continue to hope.

We are almost officially done. Thomas is finishing up his math. I thought we'd be going into the summer, but I wised up. We went through an entire chapter in one day -- it was stuff he could do, so why re-do it. We have two chapters left. I expect to be done by the end of next week.

I've been looking at baby pictures of Thomas. It brings a smile to my face and warms my heart, but it also makes me a little sad, too. I cannot believe time goes by SO fast.

We are trying to get plans together for this summer. One huge obstcale is money. I had saved up $350 for our trip to visit my dad. Well, our back door broke. When they built our house, they did a really crappy job with some things, including this door. Instead of putting the door flush with the concrete step, the put it flush with the floor. What happened as a result is rain and snow would go in between the step and door, thus rotting the casing. The hinges are busted, the wood is completely rotten, and the door itself is in complete disrepair. Who would have thunk that a new door would be over $200.

My biggest mistake was telling my DH that I had that money saved up to begin with. BUT it beats putting it on a credit card. But still. My stash is getting used. I haven't told my dad yet. I have no money to go visit him. And with the gas prices the way they are -- two years ago I went when gas was a whopping $2.25 per gallon and that was horrible. Now it's a buck more per gallon.

Whine, whine, whine. This is one of those times when I regret not working and having my own money. There is definitely a shift that happens when you give up your career to be a stay-at-home mom. Suddenly, money is a big deal both in terms of the lack thereof and that someone else is watching every penny you spend. It stinks.

So planning the summer is tough because of lack of money and because we live in the middle of nowhere and there is nothing to do here. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. We do have a small water park, but it gets boring after the first week or two. Thomas will continue with his ceramics classes and he's taking a wheel throwing class. There's nothing else in the community ed. brochure that interests him. He's not a sports kid. We will do swimming lessons.

I guess we'll avail ourselves of the local beach. Parks are nice, but boring. I could plan some short day trips, but with the price of gas -- ouch! I have always wanted to visit the SPAM Museum in Austin, MN. We can always go visit Walnut Grove, MN -- again.

I miss living in the real world. I grew up in Denver, where there was always something to do. Always. Great museums, mountains, events, classes, etc. I'm still suffering from culture shock, and I've lived here ten years this summer. Aaaack.

I probably shouldn't publish this post because I'm so whiny tonight -- but what the heck -- I'm human. And bored.