My [Triumphant] Return

How do you sum up a blogging dry-streak of more than a month in a single post?

I could go with a poem. Or a word-less post. Or a video of myself telling you about the last month. Or maybe an interpretive dance.

I'm thinking I will just go with a simple list of  "-ing" verbs for now. And, a promise that I will be a better blogger.

cry-ing
On August 8, 2011 I said goodbye to my dear (and previously trusted) friend, Mac. His life ended too soon; we were together only three short years. His passing was very unexpected. He suffered from an unexplainable hard-drive failure.

To keep my explanation of all of this simple, I will just give you the highlights:

• Back-up often. Back-up your back-up. I know it sounds nerdy, but really. Do it. It will save you lots of stress and tears.
• If you are looking for a second career, explore the possibility of hard-drive restoration. Seriously. Those people make lots of money.
• Buy Apple Care. They replaced my hard-drive even though it was almost 60 days out of warranty. They don't call them Geniuses for nothing.
• When your computer crashes, check your email. I am amazed by the number of things I email to myself. Those are all files I was able to recover.

play-ing
The pictures I am the most sad about losing are from my mini-break to Minneapolis with Angie in July. We took a cooking class at Cook's of Crocus Hill (learned to make stuffed pasta), shopped at Ikea, enjoyed facials at the Aveda Institute, and ate plenty. And, every. single. picture. is gone. We had a great time, though, believe me.
 

eat-ing
Of course, I have eaten lots of fabulous things since my last post. Highlights include a trip to Chicago to visit Em. We took a cupcake tour downtown and enjoyed dinner at Da Vanti Enoteca. DELICIOUS!

read-ing
I always meant to read Jane Eyre. I am pretty sure that I probably "read" it at some point during high school or college, but I wanted to really read it. So, I found a few friends who wanted to do the same thing and threw a dinner party to honor Miss Eyre. It was a smashing success.

work-ing
I don't have many pictures for this one, friends. The work isn't very exciting. But, this month I taught a three-credit graduate class, created materials for investigating the Common Core State Standards, and finished my (small) part of the WSRA 2012 convention program. 

Then, there's the fact that I actually went back to work. I don't want to say much about that.

Then, there's also the fact that I accepted a new job on Tuesday morning. More about that another time, though.

I owe you.

I owe you many careful thought out, witty, and interesting blog posts to compensate for not having said a single word since June 27.

How is it that June 27 was 15 days ago?

It doesn't seem like 15 days ago.

I've been busy vacationing, visiting, laughing, cooking, eating, sleeping, reading, and dazzling. Really, I've just been busy enjoying myself. It's not that I didn't want to tell you about it; it's just that with every single day that passes with me not telling you makes it a little more overwhelming for me to actually sit down and tell you.

But, this week will be different. This week I will write to you and share pictures - lots of pictures.

Lollipops from This Charming Candy.