Hmmm...I miss my blog...

It's hard feeling torn between so many online outlets... the truth is, face.book is easier for picture posting than the blog is (especially when the blog isn't really working, but even when it is), but, I also like this space as my writing outlet...although, as my audience has grown, my writing has become more censored. But there really isn't any safe place online anymore... I mean, I have people from all parts of my life in nearly every online community, and for an open book like me, it's hard to find a place, or a time when I can really express what's going on, without having to worry about offending someone or exposing some part of myself better kept out of the reach of certain people. Anyway, all that said, I miss my blog. Seems I used to have things to say, stories to tell, and I don't know what has changed, but, I feel like the most interesting thing I have to tell you now, is that Joel and I are sharing a cold. And that is pretty boring.

Evidence:

We've been spending our evenings eating warming foods like chili and soup and blowing our noses raw. I suppose the good thing is that feeling this crummy, we haven't had it in us to fight over the remote. :)

I'm home from work today, resting and generally taking care of myself. I decided this year that after the hell of last year, I wasn't going to let school stress me into constant heartburn and hating my life. So, at the first sign of getting Joel's cold, I marched into my principal's office and told her I was staying home today (I did that yesterday). It's not worth it to put my health at risk, or to push through and be cranky with the kids (which I was) when I'm not feeling well. I wrote up fine lesson plans, which apparently isn't even expected by some, and walked away from it. It is only the second week of school, but, the students are settling in pretty well, and I think they'll be fine for two days without me. Hopefully I will have kicked this bug by Monday. It took Joel about 5 days too (he went back to work today, after being home all week).

Ah, I just remembered, there is one other thing I could tell you! After a hand-wringing, stomach-twisting week, my passport arrived at the Embassy downtown, and I was able to go pick it up. It was kind of an odd sensation looking at my new name... it is a change. It's not one I ever thought about not making- I have always wanted a unifying name with the family I would help create, and there are plenty of people to carry on my family of origin last name, and well, yeah, it was just something I have always been ok with.

And I like my new last name. It might be slightly more common throughout the world than my old last name, but, in that sense, also slightly easier to pronounce for someone not familiar with it. Although that said, I still can't get over how much difficulty some of my student's parents are having with it- English speakers too, who just can't seem to spit it out! Weird. Anyway... the extra good news is that the passports (both my old one and my new one) have been handed in to the authorities to get the new work visa. This has already happened this week, which means we have about 7 weeks for them to get them back to us so we can go on vacation in October. Considering we've already bought the tickets to South Africa, we're just living in the outcome that they will be ready and back in our hands by then!

Our plan for October is to hit Kruger National Park and see some of the Big 5- mostly, I know I am interested in getting up for those 4 or 5am game drives where one searches for the big cats. We've seen elephants galore, and hippos too, and giraffes- but it's the cats that have eluded us completely, as well as the rhino. But, I really want to see the cats. So, hopefully we'll luck out with that, and me and my new camera will get some great shots. And then we'll head back to Johannesburg to spend a few days shopping and maybe going to a doctor or two.

The shopping by the way, will be more for our house than anything else. You wouldn't believe the little things that you just can't get... placemats for the kitchen table, toothbrush holders for the bathroom. I miss Target. When it comes to being able to decorate my living space, I think I belong much more in an American or Australian suburb than the place I have chosen to live. Ah well...Joburg is only 7 weeks away... I can live without placemats until then...

Although the tech guy is working on it, my blog settings have not yet returned to normal, so, I'll try to keep up here as best I can. :)