Wow, Sept to March is a long time. Anyway, the Mission is going on and we will be done in June. Maybe I'll organize the Greek trip stuff at that point. The mission has been an adventure, fun rewarding and tiring. The new office couple are better than the old ones, but still not someone I'd choose to spend a lot of time with although we do. As for ending the mission, I look at my yard and see a TON of things that need to be done, the house needs attention and the list goes on and on. I can see that a year is plenty and will be glad to be done.
I get to have a few days off this coming week, knee surgery. Just a clean up of years of abuse, so shouldn't be too bad. This is a quiet time at the office so I am glad to have a few days off, I hate being bored.
Anyway, I can't think of anything else even after all this time.

Why can't I figure out the pictures?

An old church window

Old town Rethimno

by the Fortezza

Keivn in an archway circa 1400 in the Fortezza, Rethimno, Crete

Wow it has been a long time since the last blog. The trip to Greece was fabulous. . . I could live on Crete, but not really as I have no Greek relatives, and you have to be able to PROVE your Greek heritage to become a semi-resident - STRICT. Anyway, the sea, condo, island, people, beaches, towns, old buildings from 7500BC, donkeys, old ladys on donkeys, old toothless ladies, sheep, etc, were all beautiful. What a vacation! IF I get a chance I'll post some pictures.
We came home to busy, busy, working as Office Missionaries and keeping tabs on 185 19-23 year olds. It is challenging and rewarding, and we are loving the missionaries. WE are not loving the other couple in the office- they really don't have a clue that they don't have a clue and the learning curve is very slow. After 6 weeks they are starting to have an idea that this is a very busy office - HUH. We had to learn all this in 15 days - as transfers came in our learning curve and that is the busiest time of all. We are into our 3rd transfer and it is a lot more calm for us, but of course still a crazy time. Kevin is over Vehicles, think 185 teenage drivers, and I am over housing, supplies, and office manager. The other couple are sec., and finance. When we first started it was just the two of us doing everything. Anyway, we are greatful for this opportunity (even though I didn't want it). I think the Lord knew we would need somethng substantial going on at this time - go figure. We are loving having Val and the kids here too, I know it is hard on everyone to have the upheaval but I think it is working out-she may have a differet idea.

Gettin' Ready

So we leave for Greece in 6 days and even getting ready is an adventure. Since Kevin came home from Iraq, I have had to get him a ticket on the same flights as mine, (did), and now we are also spending a couple of nights in Athens to see the sights, so not just Crete. ANYWAY, we rented a car for the 12 days we're on Crete, and it's from the least expensive rental company on the island. We received an e-mail from "Mikanos Nikinos" asking for more info from Mr & Mrs Smith, and when Kevin replied to it the next e-m from Mikanos was a lot more friendly. "Dear Kevin and Barb," he wrote, and signed with "with kind regards, Nikos". I said to Kevin, do you think we are taking Mrs Nikos' car for the 12 days we're there? I hope she doesn't have to use the donkey to go get milk.
On another note, I have been tanning so I don't burn so much in Greece. I told Kevin he should be tanning too. So he finally agreed, and on the second tan, wanted more time. HE BURNED! Now he accuses me of putting him in the rotisserie bed - although I think he is sufficiently recovered to go again tomorrow. We'll see.

Perhaps It's The Weather . . Or Not

I went more than a little nuts today. It started last night and escalated until I was pretty much a blubbering basketcase, with no way of pulling myself out of the rut. Unfortunately, with my unbalanced state of mind, I was also ill. That didn't help. And I was supposed to watch my lovely grandkiddos. But I was physically sick, and mentally sick and THEN, a bright star on the horizon. I was pulled from the brink by a wonderful woman who is also my daughter and friend. She rode to the rescue, listened to the blubbering, gave thoughtful suggestions, comments, and good ideas. She pulled me back from the edge, made me proactive, and helped me format a "cure" for my tumbling thoughts. And at the end of the day I can truly say that whatever happens, I can handle it - there really was no bad, just changes, and change is something I can live with. Thanks kiddo for the rescue, I promise to be a responsible adult for the rest of time. Perhaps it really was the weather, or not.

Do not by rugs in Spokane

I went looking at rugs at the hubbys request - mostly shopping for information. What a horrifying experience. There is a rug vendor on 2nd Ave who is the most arrogant, SOG that I have ever had the displeasure to meet. He was unhelpful, snotty, and a total jerk. I was nice, but I should have been ignorant. Of course two wrongs don't make a right, but I would have felt better when I left his store. I will never darken his doorstep again, and neither should you. If you feel inclined to know who he is, you may ask. I'm not shy about telling.

I mentioned my "pleasant experience" to my neighbor this morning and she had a similar experience when dropping off a rug to be cleaned. She said a girl in the shop "tossed my rug into a pile on the floor. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that."

Courtesy counts for something and if this shop wants to stay in business I would think they need to learn the meaning of the word. THE END

AARGH

I've been trying to access this blog for the last 10 minutes. . . Apparantly I can't remember my password NOT, and if I reset it to the same thing it lets me in. How do you deal with this insanity? I may have to quit blogging.