Tomorrow is Nathan’s last day of school and then its me up against the two of them for the rest of the summer. Oh how I wish we were spending the summer back in the States, bouncing between people we love. When I worked at the bank I had a Russian friend Katya who told me her parents would send her to her grandparents every summer growing up. She then proceeded to send her daughter back to Russia every summer in the same manner. I thought she was crazy…..crazy Russian (she’d also swap shoes with me at work and one day just gave me her cute Banana Republic sandals. Incidentally I wore said sandals to Ashley’s shower last weekend so that swap worked out well for me, but, I digress). Who “summers” like that? Evidently, I’d like to.  The summer of 2007 and 2009 were spent sort of galavanting in the states, mostly in Iowa and the farther I get from Iowa and the longer Im away, the more I HEART it there. Such a great place for kids and there is something sort of peaceful and simple about the rolling hills and rows of corn as far as the eye can see. And of course there is Colorado. And Colorado is really “home” for us and if I HEART Iowa then I double HEART Colorado. Its hard for me to talk about and I try not to think about it too much because there will always be a Colorado shaped hole in my heart.

But, there will be no “summering” anywhere this summer except on this little island. So, today I need to finish unpacking and get back on top of things. Vacation is over. I need to make dr. appts and dentist appts and bake cookies for Nathan’s school for tomorrow and go into work and finish up some projects I left half done for the gift shop. I need to download the pictures off my camera and tell you all about my week with Ashley! (or Ashaley as Nathan calls her) and my brother! I need to post my blog about packing! I need to tell you about how I got to go on my brother’s submarine and how you’ll have a whole new appreciation for the military members that do that! Wheew. Yes, vacation is definitely over, but its good to be home. So, are you “summering” anywhere or what do your summer plans include?

Honestly. (And this isn’t my usual ‘Oh HONESTLY’ sarcasm. This is genuine). Im not sure what I think of a country….of a a society that has become……THAT. I wonder: what do we stand for as a society/culture/nation? The truth of the matter is when I watch things like that, I totally get why people hate us. We have no conscience or moral compass anymore.

I can’t get the image of the poor, defenseless [still living] cow being SHOVELED by a forklift out of my head. Or the pigs being slaughtered so inhumanly. What monsters we’ve become. And for what? So we can feed ourselves another burger made with 80% “meat filler”. The word glutton comes to mind.

Harsh words I know, but Im just so disgusted by it all. Everyone needs to see this movie.

Its relaxing and peaceful and has a certain charm to it that I just love. Before we left Okinawa my brother was looking out at the ocean and was sort of dumbfounded at the beautiful view of the ocean we get to see every single day. “You live on an island….you get to see this every day.” Yep, we do, and it is beautiful. I never thought I’d say this- but so is Iowa. There is something simple and humble about the the rows and rows of corn, red barns and plain white farmhouses. Laundry drying on a clothes line. Gardens. Tractors. I like it.

When I got here my mom told me that one of my favorite houses, near downtown was for sale. Many of the homes near downtown were built in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. They are beautiful. Many of them have original everything (which can be good or bad). Many of them have carriage houses (meaning- real carriage houses where you kept your horse and buggy). So as she was telling me my favorite house was for sale my ears perked up….until she told me “and its sold!” For a brief moment I was thinking another piece of real estate might not be too bad.

My parents happened to run into their friend who happened to be the buyers agent on this house so we got to go see it- with both the sellers and buyer present (yes- it was as awkward as it sounds. “Hi, I’ve always loved this house- mind if I poke around?”) But, it was beautiful- dark wood inside, footed bathtubs, secret ‘back stairs’, and a beautifully upgraded gourmet kitchen.

I was a bit floored when I found out it sold for over $400k. Jebus-we’re starting to get into Boulder priced real-estate here. Our house hunting was cut short when both kids started falling apart a bit (it was 8pm) and I discovered a tick in Nathan’s hair (swell).

Today, I’ve got day 3 of kick my ass back into shape and a drive to Kalona. Tomorrow- the Farmer’s Market (first one I’ve made it to). This should be good.