School Starts
Much to our consternation, school has started and we've still got boxes to unpack from our flooding episode this summer. We've used the flood as an "opportunity" to clean out and reorganize our (now dry) apartment. When we moved in over 2 1/2 years ago, it was just the three of us. Sam was only 18 months old and had a lot fewer toys. Now we have the charming and fun-loving Sarah who delights in her own toys as well as those of her 4 year-old big brother. So we needed to rethink and revamp, and this has taken more time than we had hoped.

We can count at least 10 moves that we have made since we were married 13 years ago this month. Moving is inconvenient (to say the least), hard work (to be more accurate), and a big pain (to be more honest). But one thing it does do for you (so cruelly) is force you to clean out and throw away. As a result, we have less stuff that we don't need and generally know where our remaining stuff is. Of course, as stuff goes out one door, more stuff comes in the other. We maintain some type of equilibrium by keeping both doors open and flowing...

My favorite album of late is Modest Mouse, Good News for People for People who Love Bad News. It comes out of the Indie Rock (those who defy the corporate malaise of today's radio) movement that is producing some really good music (the kind of music that used to be played more readily on the air). This album is not for everyone. One song includes the lyrics "I do wish you were dead." But in its finest moments, it is sublime. The most popular song is the inspiring anthem "Float On" which I actually thing has a video that gets played some on cable: "even if things get heavy, we'll all float on all right already..." One song that has really caught my attention is "One Chance," which includes the lyrics, "My friends, my habits, my family, they mean so much to me, I just don't think that it is right: I see so many ships sailing that Just head back out again And go off sinking." When most rock revels in angst, unconnectedness, and despair, he clings on to and relishes in what he knows and what keeps him anchored. For those depairing that rock has died, you might want to check this out.

My Weight Watchers update, 22 pounds lighter and counting. I've lost over 10% of my starting weight, and my doctor is happy with my blood levels again (which means no meds!). She did me a big favor, by the way. I weigh now what I did 12 years ago. Do I still look 24? :)

Grace and Peace,
David