I’m still here. I’ve decided the problem with the sign in must be with my computer because sometimes it signs in automatically, sometimes I have to change my password to do it. Oh well… I just haven’t wanted to fiddle with it lately. Other things to do. 
In the end, I miss being here, but not enough to put other things on the back burner. What I absolutely have no excuse for is not coming by to see you guys… my links in the sidebar work regardless of my ability to sign in! So, I’m sorry for that! AND I’ll be by as soon as M goes to sleep or S & P keep her occupied without sacrificing schoolwork to do it (who me? yes… I do that)
I’ve had kind of a busy week here. Thought we were going to end up going into the next town over for a Destination Imagination (hereafter referred to as DI) workshop, but things didn’t pan out and I spent the entire week wondering if it would. So, having my thoughts already in that town for the day, I planned to pack up the children and head there to a bookstore and a nearby park (with letterboxes… whoo-hoo!). But before we could do that, I had organized a walkthrough of our girl scout letterboxing event coming up in April with the adults who are going to help with it… that was Friday (I seem to be having this run-on-sentence thing going on, but it’s part and parcel of what’s going on inside my brain right now, so we’ll run with it). One of my Mommas forgot about it, and that’s ok… it’s not like I never see her (we team teach history/drama) ~ one of my Mommas has volunteered to help because it’s with her daughters’ GS troop, not because she has any great desire to figure out the hobby/sport… that one makes me tick a little more, but just because I’m so into it myself right now. I SOO understand how she’s approaching it and probably would do the same if I were her! (Heck, I’m probably appproaching something else in the same manner even as we speak.) Also went to folkdance Friday night and had a great time dancing with my son and daughters. It’s such a different kind of gathering!
But yesterday was so very great! One of those almost perfect days… beautiful blue sky with clouds scooting by and not too cold to have to miss the park. We went to the bookstore first, where I was looking for some music to accompany my dances I want to teach next (Apley House and Petit Reinse). Didn’t find the music, but of course had to walk out with a paperback apiece… well… M got a boardbook, but one of the relatively cheap ones. It is so cool! It’s called Gallop! and is called a “scanimation” book. Basically all the black and white pics of animals seem to be moving… like a zoetrope, see? Just for fun, here’s a link to make your own zoetrope. But M is totally into animals right now, so it was a natural. The rest of us got Goose Girl , Artemis Fowl ~ Opal Deception , and Ophelia. Two of which have discussion group helps in the back… cool! 
Speaking of reading, the twins’ book club is going along ok, even without any other boys. We haven’t tried tricking them with sweets… S is convinced his friends wouldn’t fall for it. My question… he would, why wouldn’t they? LOL
Anyway, grabbed some lunch at Ruby Tuesdays (mistake… it tasted good, but it cost too much) and headed to the park. It was a letterboxers nightmare! Someone has planted a series of 4 boxes, 2 of which the logbooks are destroyed by water and one we couldn’t find. I felt so sad for them. They had put them in ziplock bags, though… sort of a “don’t do” around here… we get just enough rain to make it a problem. Another one planted by a different boxer was in absolutly pristine condition and was a georgeous carve of a porcupine! She lives in North Carolina, so I was happy to tell her that her baby was ok.
Took M to the fantastic creative playground that is there and spent a good 1 1/2 hours running around and watching S and P run after her! She had a ball. Brought back some college memories, too, as I helped build it while at UK… in 92!!! Giminy, I’m getting old! How come I don’t feel old? Then M fell asleep almost as soon as she was buckled into her carseat and the tweens and I spent a laugh-riot trip home without needing to keep her entertained. Fun times!
I’m coming around soon to see what you guys are up to. Any plans for Valentine’s Day?
Well, hey there stranger! Just popped in when I saw a click through from your site to mine. (Thought I’d hunt up to see if it was you.)
Hey, not that I have any clue about the stamp thing…but you said the zip lock bags were not done there…do you mean it is frowned upon, or people don’t think to slip their book in one? I would think that would save them from water damage, bugs, etc.
No… she had everything in baggies ALONE… that’s really not enough protection considering those zips come unzipped too easily. Normally we put everything into a zip lock bag, zip it tight and put THAT into a rubbermaid container or some other suitably waterproof thing-a-ma-bob… medicine bottle, bleached out peanut butter jar… we even have one in an altoids tin (that I’m going to go check on tomorrow because of the wet weather)… but there’s a ziplock inside that. You’ll have to try the letterbox thing in your next spare year… they have a bunch in central Florida.