What kept you busy when you were a kid?

I read a lot. 

 I played piano. tried to teach myself ballet and clarinet. 

 Played Encyclopedia Brown "pretend" (you know, role playing) with the neighbor boys (why did i always mostly have guy friends???) 

 Explored the very tiny strip of woods near our house to the very edges of its borders (about a block big). 

 Rollerskated in the basement with my best friend, Kathy, to the Olivia Newton John album (yes, vinyl), Physical. 

 Pretended the living room floor was a morass of molten rock, and pretended I floated on a raft created from a green rectangular ottoman after I had amputated its legs. 

 Watched Creature Feature on Saturday afternoons. And Son of Svengoolie Saturday night, right after Dance Fever with Denny Terrio. (Did I just date myself?)  

And my all-time favorite: pointed an 8x10 mirror toward the ceiling, pressed right up against my middle so I couldn't see the floor. Then, I looked down into the mirror and tried to walk around the house, perceiving the ceiling as the floor. Trickier than it sounds. And kinda weird, too, now that I think about it! 

My sister is 10.5 years younger than me, so I was basically an only child. 

Oh, the things children come up with to keep themselves busy...

If only it were just bad gas...

Let's see. What's happened this week, so far? 

 1. Wednesday, my car stopped working. I had to pay $1000 to have it fixed and $30 for a rental. I got my car back Wednesday night and drove it to work Thursday morning. It stopped working again. My dad took it in to another repair shop, and they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. Maybe it's just bad gas, or moisture in the gas tank. Will have to see what the next days bring. 

 2. My fish died. and for the grand prize ball-buster: 

 3. My husband has kidnapped my son. Yes, you read that right. And yes, I'm dead serious. He e-mailed his lawyer this morning, the day they are due back from Germany, and said that they are staying in Germany, thus violating the Hague Convention. I've made phone calls left and right and can't locate them. He's in a shitload of trouble, if he can be found, AND if the German government agrees to cooperate. So much for my positive outlook on the New Year. 

 Yay 2008!

Some Snowy Pics of the New Year

It's a new year, and a time for new beginnings. I've learned lots of lessons in 2007, and have even reclaimed control of my life in a way I would never have imagined ten years ago. 2007 was a year of doors opening. I'm hoping 2008 will be the gateway to new paths and new adventures of personal development and spiritual awakenings. And, of course, a healthy romance or two! (Did you note the "healthy" part???)

I've spent the last two weeks sick as a dog. Today is the first day I've felt good in a long time, physically and emotionally. In fact, I'm feeling nearly inspired. Isn't that a great way to start off the New Year? Inspired? Perhaps I'll soon feel energetic enough to start writing again. Wow. Imagine that... To bad NaNoWriMo is already past...

My son is spending the holidays with his father in Germany. He's been gone about 10 days, now, and I miss him terribly. He's due back in Chicago on Friday, and supposed be back in my care on Saturday. Hopefully that will happen without incident.

It's recently snowed a lot, and I snapped these photos of our backyard and sent them to my wonderful love bug of a son in an email a few minutes ago. As beautiful as Germany is, I'm so happy to be back home in the States for good.