Thanks li-li that sounds really nummy, and I have a soup it would go great with.
hehehe, bobbio, my husband generally defers to the wonders of my wrath when it comes to stupid people. He is such an easy going kind of guy, whereas I tend to blow when a line gets crossed. I do not tolerate fools or ijits.
Aw rigs teenagers are such a handful. It sounds as though he has Teenage Ennui in a bad way. And if he thinks fencing is going to be a piece of cake, boy does he have a surprise coming! It is admirable that he worked for his computer, and there are skills in building a custom computer (I have an adult friend who is into gaming in a big way, EverQuest, and she has built three computers for herself, not including mine, and her latest, biggest, best system sounds a lot like your son’s, all see through with blue neon-ish lights, we call it the Frankenputer) and gaming, although gaming can easily become a compulsion. A lot of my friends, including myself, refer to our friend’s obsession with EverQuest as EverCrack. The greatest tool I have found in helping teens to grow into responsible adults is consistancy in everything. If he has a fencing lesson, he must attend and participate. He may hate it, he may temporartily hate you, but it will pass, and he will thank you in the long run. My two older girls greyed my hair considerably, and The Son is looking to do the same. He only wants to play video games…although this summer I have forced him outside. At first I could only motivate him (read that as order him) to get out on the deck and get some fresh air and sunlight, but he now has a renewed interest in his skateboard and riding his bike, he and his buddy have gone swimming frequently, and he does enjoy his Wednesday church youth group. Tomorrow they are having an overnight with swimming, games, food, etc. and his only complaint is that he needs to be there by 9:00 am, and he hasn’t seen that time of day all summer! You have my parent’s prayers and thoughts, we have to stick together through this!
I am amazed at how many kids are starting school already! What happened to school beginning after Labor Day? Alaska begins early as a lot of kids go to their families fish sites in late May, but now it seems the entire country is beginning in August. When do your schools let out for summer break?
MBG our buses are so crowded that my kids refuse to ride. They would prefer to walk to and from school, no matter how dark the day or how bad the weather. I guess I ought to give them credit for that, the two older girls thought their feet were solely for the display of expensive sneakers. (hehe, I punned!)
pugs you crack me up everytime you refer to your kid as Lil Lestat! When #2 was in high school she adopted the goth look for a while. One night the family was together watching a movie and she appeared in the darkened hallway, black clothing, ultra pale face makeup with dark eye and lip makeup, and announced in a gloomy voice that she was going to bed. I couldn’t help myself, and asked her if she was sleeping in the crypt that night. The rest of the family cracked up, although she was not amused! She laughs about it now, although at the time she was always drawing the most morbid pictures. (she is a very talented artist) I worried for a while, but she grew out of that phase…and into another, and another… I bought On Writing when it came out, and while I have some of his audio books I do not have that one. It’s now on my PFD list! Hurry October!
Sean I agree that Small World was a bore, but the Nodd’s Ridge series is quite good, imo. the books are Caretakers, The Trap, Pearl, One on One and Book of Reuben.
Jahdra Alaska is a wonderful place to visit, and I will probably live out the rest of my days here, but it takes a certain kind of person to deal with some of the down sides. The winters are long, dark, cold and brutal. Depending where you live, winter storms frequently isolate communities. The wildlife is magnificent, but then again, it’s wildlife, and sometimes it bites. Cabin fever sets in. Summers are short, and the biting bugs are mighty. And a lot of very odd people come and go. Those are the downsides, and despite all of them, I still wouldn’t move back to the Lower 48 for anything. Hawaii, maybe! I do appreciate all the positive comments I have received about my writing about daily life here, and the raw, natural beauty of the land is truly awesome. It takes my breath away daily.
Aw mika I get a twitchy eye when I am stressed too. Fortunately it isn’t a permanent condition. I am happy for you being halfway moved, I am still not completely unpacked from the move last September!
Hmmm spats, #2, otherwise known as The Peach, will be 22 in just a couple of months…
Okay, I gotta go to bed, lots to do tomorrow, rather later today. Time just flys by. Prayers and good thoughts for those who need them, (please include both of my brothers), the skiffman called and agreed to not go out west, and will probably work hunting charters around the island through December, and then we will play it by ear until halibut in the Spring. At least with the charters he will be able to get out deer too, which he hasn’t been able to for a couple of years. I will try to fill in the latest happenings chez kaiwik before the weekend, but ya never know… 
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