Spring break next week

It won't be a trip to Hawaii, but it is welcome, nonetheless. We're heading to Missouri to bring Daniel a new vehicle (a 2003 Honda CRV, black--his favorite color). I'm not eager to drive down alone--well, in tandem with my husband who will be driving Daniel's new vehicle. As always, I'm behind in grading and ideally would spend my "holiday" nose deep in student work. Nevertheless, I will ignore that work and we will head on to Stephen's and Heather's house after we leave Daniel in Missouri. Another five hours on the road, but I won't be driving. Saturday is Heather's birthday, and I suspect it's going to be a difficult day for her, her first birthday without her father.

I spent this past Friday in the dentist's chair getting work done for a crown. Dr. Ted got the tooth ground down and the temporary cap in place. Then he injected me on the other side of my mouth so he could fill a cavity. Then his air compressor died, so I had to leave with my mouth numb and part of the work still undone.

We've had a couple of sunny days. I'm grateful. I can bear the cold if the sun is shining and the streets aren't iced over. Wading the slush in the parking lots is also not fun.

I'm having trouble with the computer screen jumping. My husband did some research, and apparently owners of this type of laptop are having the same problem. It's irritating.

Sally's birthday was Sunday, but I didn't send a card, nor did I call her. Maybe I should be ashamed of myself. I guess I am since I've dreamed about my family for two nights running. And today at Walgreen's I bought a couple of cards for her. I should send them late or not at all, with her same excuse: "I bought you a card, but I never got around to mailing it. I thought about you on your birthday, though." She's 49 and looks 69.

I'm just so tired of the family circus. I doubt I'll ever return to Louisiana again voluntarily.