10-5-06 POW

This will be a short letter because I am strung out on anti-depressants.... I MISSED THE GRAND OPENING OF OUR NEW TARGET!!!!! You know, it's going to take many years of therapy to get over this. How could this happen?!?!? I remember watching the bulldozers clearing the land one day and then it happened: they hang the banner that said "New Target opens October 8". Out of respect, I pulled over in the car to observe a moment of silence. That was truly a blessed day. OK, now, look at your calendars. Is it October 8 yet?!?!? NO!!! So WHY did it open on the 3rd and WHY wasn't I informed PERSONALLY of this rather important change? Alyssa rides home with Hayley and her mom on Tuesdays from GOFAR (running club) and apparently they went to the grand opening. You know: gift baskets, live music, lots of free stuff.....Alyssa is grounded for a month for not telling me.

In happier news, I had a birthday. Thanks again to all of you who sent cards, letters and gifts. It was a nice day, except for the fact that I had to get up at 3:15 and go to work. Sidney, however, was quite the busy beaver while I was there. She and the neighbor boy got all of the decorations out and hung them all over the dining room and kitchen. It was really nice to come home to! I ended up going to lunch with friends, dinner with Brent and all 3 girls and then came home for chocolate birthday cake. It was a great day (except for the part about getting older!

On to Alyssa's speech. She got up in front of assorted teachers, students and parents and calmly read her speech. I don't know this first hand because she FORBID me from going (I think she was afraid that I'd bring the camera...which I would have!). Instead, I got her while practicing at home.

Well, she didn't win. Her friend Timothy won and I was proud of her for being happy for him. She said he'll do a great job and that his speech was better. He apparently did his as a rap song (and I use that word loosely) and won over the crowd. Alyssa's was quite dry, as political speeches tend to be, but was still met by clapping and cheers from the crowd. At least she tried.

I'm off to ABQ tomorrow so there may or may not be a POW next week. If I can get my camera to communicate with Brent's laptop computer I will try to send one from out there. We'll be back on the 15th, hopefully with tons of stories to share.

Have a good weekend!

Amy and the girls