Life is what happens when you are making other plans....

Fits and starts. The story of my life.

Just after I posted about my summer reading list (I just finished the third novel in the Blue Bloods series) I had a work trip to Charleston, SC. Beautiful city, much bigger than I expected. But they had a Mellow Mushroom! And I also got in a great walking ghost tour. Other than that it was work, work, work. When I returned it was a weekend full of social events and shopping for the boys with some gardening thrown in for good measure. However, it appears that the shopping in bad shoes the gardening ended up being my downfall. I strained my lower back. Badly.

So two weeks ago I was in a recliner with a heating pad. I ended up seeing three different doctors that week, mostly because I woke up Tuesday morning and couldn't lift myself out of bed. James had to put his hand on my neck and lift me upright. And the low point was later that morning when I spent 45 minutes trying to get out of the recliner and failing to do so. James happened to call me at that time and I found my self sobbing on the phone asking him to come home and help me out of the chair! Turns out that once my back muscles loosened the pain of most likely a bulging disc emerged. Which was why I couldn't get out of a chair on my own. James ended up playing nursemaid that week but was able to go into work for a couple of hours. The doctors wouldn't order an MRI (the only real way to find out if it was a bulging disc) because though it was painful I didn't have shooting pain down my legs or numbness in my legs. I can understand that. So I am going to say it was a bulging disc.Yoga will be in my future....

And last week we took a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina to spend time with my parents, eldest sister and her husband, and attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. My first trip to Grandfather Mountain I was 6 weeks old. This time I was actually able to go and sight see in the surrounding communities. We had to entertain the boys somehow. We checked out the Linville Caverns, Linville Falls, and drove up Grandfather Mountain itself to walk across the mile high bridge.

We were actually able to get the boys into kilts! Finally! I've been trying for two years now!

I could have enjoyed myself more if I had had more movement, but I powered through and had a lovely time. Now that we are back we are settling into our summer schedule. Our camera is still missing. Or I would have bored you with photos.

Perhaps it is time to upgrade to a better camera? Of course, that is when the old one will reappear.

Summer reading list....

I have been inspired for some reason to have a summer reading list. I went crazy a couple of weeks ago on PaperBack Swap (which is an awesome site where you can trade/recycle books) and requested about seven books that fall in one of two categories: Bill Bryson and teen vampire. And the teen vampire isn't the Twilight saga (which I have read and love) but another series that a co-worker of mine recommended. I figure I have a nice balance between intellectual humor and trashy fodder. I started the first of the teen vampire series yesterday and will most likely finish it tomorrow. Pretty quick read. So perfect for summer!

The boys and I will be making weekly trips to the library this summer to see how many books we can read in eight weeks. Should be fun!

A trip to the Yards

Yesterday our friends Tony and Tina were in town and picked us up to take us to a ball game at Camden Yards to see the Baltimore Orioles take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Due to other family obligations we only stayed through the beginning of the fourth inning, but we were there to see Baltimore score two home runs in a row. That was pretty impressive. And to see Johnny Damon get walked and then out when he attempted to steal second and wasn't quite fast enough. Oh, and we had some fabulous BBQ. Aside from the rain right before the game it was a gorgeous day for baseball. And Tina got us seats under cover behind left field so we stayed cool and comfortable as you can in tiny stadium seats.

The Orioles didn't beat the Rays, but it was a great way to spend Sunday afternoon!

On the joys of moving

We are still unpacking, arranging, and settling into the new house. Which I absolutely adore. And I should have photos up soon....as soon as I can locate the camera which is currently hiding from me!

We have played hosts to family and friends over the past two weeks so we've been busy with everything else.

But I did just want to whine about one of the downsides to moving: having to leave behind your favorite Chinese restaurant and the struggle to find a suitable replacement.We ordered from a place near by earlier this week and I wasn't all that impressed. We'll keep on trying out restaurants until we find a winner. Just makes me long for Szechuan D'Lite.....

We've moved!

I can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted something to our blog. I try to stay fresh and up to date and then a month goes by. But I have a good excuse....we moved!

James and I took the plunge and bought a house. Gasp! It has been a stressful month and we are still adjusting to our new surroundings. But I can say it has been worth it. I love our new home.But I don't love the random boxes that just can't seem to find a new place since we now have so much room compared to the old house. We don't have enough storage options. But at least we have the space for those storage options once they are located and purchased.

Yay for new home! And new adventures!