Hey gang! Well....a bit battered and bruised (mentally and emotionally speaking)...but I'm back!

One "hard knock" was the complete lack of Internet Connection for over two weeks. The military facilities we were staying in before the house was ready were really old and had no Internet connection. Was supposed to be "wireless" but it didn't work. Then, when we finally got into the house, we had to wait for the cable to be hooked up...and then that wouldn't work with my laptop either. Eventually we got it all working, but it took awhile.

Which probably wan't entirely a bad thing, because there was/is SO much to do! With only minor damage, all our goods showed up safe and sound. And while it took longer than any of us expected, my hubby and daughter also eventually showed up safe and sound, so now our family is all together again. The boxes are mostly all unpacked...pretty much only my office left to do...which is always a challenge because hubby is a real packrat for computer and office junk and books. Once this last room of boxes is unpacked, we have to hang pictures and get window treatments and just basically make it home again.

While we were staying in temporary housing, I had to board Mira. (The dobie-dog) She came back a bit brainless, but otherwise fine. While we were checking her into the kennel, I saw that they also kept exotics. I had my lizard and two snakes in the car and usually hide them in the closet wherever we stay....but thought it would be GREAT if they could be boarded properly and I wouldn't have to worry about being "discovered." I asked and they were happy to take the scaley critters as well and we got them all set up in a room where they kept exotics. A bit primitive, but it was only for a few days and everyone seemed secure.

And there comes the second really hard knock. Kisasa...my three year old 100% het caramel BP....escaped her enclosure. As of now, she has not yet been found. It's a very old building with openings in some of the walls due to ancient plumbing repair. The owner is doing everything he can to coax her out of hiding...including keeping a live mouse in a cage on the floor...a heating pad with an old blanket on it...and flour in the floors at night.

I'm pretty much shattered that she's gone. But amidst the stresses of moving, and having to manage the entire closing and moving-in side of things by myself, along with two young boys and a dog....I pretty much had to wall off my feelings to deal with later. The day I picked up the other animals and confirmed that she was still missing....I cried a lot. Since then, I'm just numb about it all.

So.........anyhow.....that's my news. Hard knock, for sure....but in the greater scheme of things, there's not much to complain about. My family is together again...all our familiar, beloved "stuff" is all around us....and we're well into building a new home. Can't be sad about all that.