Letters I don't want to write.

Dear USPS,
We had a deal, didn't we?  I filled out the forms, and you said you would forward my snail mail.  So where is it?  I mean, I got a couple of pieces, but lately... ?  Are you guys just keeping it and having fun with it?  Making paper airplanes? I don't care about the ads, but I really need that AMEX card so I can learn the new expiration date.

Dear AMEX,
I get that you won't tell me the new expiration date over the phone, but is there any way at all you could give me a hint?  My card expires in 2 days and I have some recurring automatic withdrawal financial obligations that need to be fulfilled.  Inquiring minds want to know!

Dear T-Mobile,
I know it isn't your fault that my parents live in an area that has no service to my cell phone, I'm just not happy about it and I wanted you to know.

Dear Comcast,
Really?  It takes 3 to 9 days to switch my email address from my old address to my parents?  Wow, that's some kind of 20th century technology there.

Dear people/businesses who are trying to send me emails,
Sorry.  Don't give up on me, it will work soon.  I think...

Dear Bank of America,
Love you guys.  No, really.  I pray every day that God won't strike you dead for your questionable foreclosure/mortgage/short sale practices. (Bonuses to the employees who meet the foreclosure quotas?  Are you kidding me?)
So... since everyone else in America hates you and my prayers and I are the only things that stand between you and certain death, I think you ought to seriously consider my offer on the short sale.  After all, it's 94.4% of the appraisal (which has some flaws in it), it's the only decent offer you have received, and the house has been sitting vacant for over a year.  Why not sell it to me and get it off your books?  I'll still pray for you.  Promise.

Love and kisses,
Homeless me.

Living with mom and dad- how waffle!

Ok, so most of my stuff is in storage and we still don't know about the short sale house...

But there are perks to living with the parental units.

Mom makes waffles.

And dad does the dishes.  

Not sure it could get much better!

:->

(Thanks, folks!)

Not as cavernous as I thought...

So one day while visiting the fam in Maryland, the Abster and I decided to take a little trip to some caverns.  Not the famous Luray Caverns of Virginia, but some ones that were closer.  The auntlings weren't interested in going with us, so we headed out to the Crystal Grottoes near Boonsboro.

When we pulled up right at the time they opened, we were the only car in the parking lot.  Made me wonder if they were really as stupendous as advertised.  Then a lady came running out (smoking a cigarette) and put up the "OPEN" sign out on the highway.  Ok.  We walked up to the front door and there was a guy sitting on the picnic table near the front door.  He was also smoking a cigarette.  He nodded at us as we entered the door and inside we were greeted by a shriveled up older lady who was smoking a cigarette.  The room was practically bare- no postcards, no books about the caverns, no photos, no "wall of history"... nothing.  I was starting to wonder what sort of mom-and-pop cave operation I had gotten us into.  (And I only mention the smoking because where we live there are fewer and fewer smokers every year.  It's rare to see one per week, let alone three in a span of a few minutes.)

I paid the fee and we were told there there was a guided tour in a few minutes.  We waited and then two other people joined us, and then our tour guide. 

I thought the five of us were a rather small group, but when we got down into the caverns, it became clear that you really didn't want more than that at a time in the narrow passageways.

This is the "coral" formation.

This formation is called "cooked bacon"

As you can see, the formations were interesting and varied, and well worth the time and money for the tour.  The guide was interesting and entertaining and she took the time to answer all of our questions.  She even did a few seconds of "T.D." (Total Darkness) just for dramatic effect.  (I didn't take a picture of that.)

The best part?  It was 54 degrees F in the caverns.  So much nicer than the humid 93 degrees up top!

Happy Independence Day!

Here's how we celebrated last year!

We hope your festivities are safe and loud!

We're baaaaack!

Just got back from a visit to family on the east coast.  This is the last picture I took on the trip- the skyline of Washington, DC as seen from Ronald Reagan National Airport.  On the left, the Washington Monument encased in scaffolding (working on repairs from the 2011 earthquake), on the far right, the dome of the Capitol building.

We didn't actually go into the city this visit (I know that comes as a shock to those of you who know my obsession with all things DC...), but seeing it as we flew in and out was a real treat.  I love flying into Reagan for that reason (and because it has a metro stop) and this trip the visibility was great.  I wish I had pulled my camera from its bag while on the plane, but sometimes other things take precedence and the memory will have to suffice until I can get back there again.

We had a great time with my brother and his family in Maryland- did some historic stuff, some touristy stuff, and some just-plain-fun-family-bonding stuff.  I'll post some pics soon- maybe put them into scrapbook pages first...

As for now, we are having a heat wave, so kiddo and I will head to the pool and try to stay cool.