long time no love

holy moly, the poor internet must be feeling neglected. it's been busy around here. since i last wrote, lots of things have gone down.

first, i went camping in assateague for the weekend. the ponies were just hanging out in our campsite, not caring at all that we were there. their house, their rules, i suppose. we got lucky: the pooped just about everywhere BUT our site. and it was fun in general, and the weather was lovely, and i took an icy shower, and shared a tent with a dog who was VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE HORSES, as you might imagine.

then, last week was the big rug-cleaning extravaganza-project in my house! yes, my whole house is carpeted...except the walls and ceiling. i borrowed a carpet-washing-machine. it all went down pretty smoothy over all, despite taking 3 full evenings. and 3 nights was pretty good, for me - the instructions said "it is imperative that you vacuum as much water as possible out of the carpet" - and superlative-and-imperative phrases really don't suit my nature - damned if that carpet wasn't nigh on dry by the time i was done vacuuming it. and that's why it took 3 nights.

the carpet was still damp (!) in places when j arrived friday for the long weekend. i've said it once, and i'll say it again: i loooove random federal holidays! [columbus? ok! goooo, pinta!] we didn't do much that was exciting, but since half the readership was lounging on my luxuriously plush, clean carpet, i didn't find occasion to converse with the internet.

and this week is flying by, as i'm trying essentially to work 2 jobs, plan for my future, AND get ready to go to china in a coupla days. yes, that's what i said: china. beijing, work. i've learned a couple of marginally suspect/useful phrases, including "beer", "fart", "too expensive", and "i'm a buddhist, I don't eat meat". wish me luck!