I think I'm turning into one of those people who wants others to be unhappy, or at least not as happy as themselves. I have no soul.

One of my co-workers, who is in her early to mid 20s, single with a steady boyfriend, recently put in an offer on a house. The offer was accepted and they are just now going through the process of inspection and all that comes with buying a property. I am green with envy and found myself hoping (in a very small way) that the owners would turn down the offer, and then that the house wouldn't pass inspection and it would be too expensive a project for her to pursue. I am a terrible person. In the end, it looks like it's all working out for her. Yay her!

Jon has been trying to get me to commit for the last several years to buying a house here in North Idaho, but I have been very resistant. We are somewhat transient as Jon finishes his Master's program and I honestly don't know if I want to stick around. For that matter, it may not even be a question of wanting to stay as much as it is going where the jobs are. I do not want to be left with a house I can't sell and have to rent and maintain from a distance. I know Jon sees the logic in this and I, in my infinite wisdom, am always right. But that doesn't stop me from wanting to be settled.

I am so ready for Jon's program to be finished and for us to hopefully find a permanent position somewhere. I had thought I would be terribly picky about where we ended up, but I am to the point where I just want to be stationary again. Of course it wouldn't hurt to be stationary in a place with little to no snow, good schools, nearby shopping and great job opportunities for me.

Our lives will eventually get back to normal, but it has not been easy these past few years. Don't get the wrong impression--I would do it all over again if need be. I just really hope that is not necessary.

I spoke to my mom on Skype the other day and a lightbulb went off. Why couldn't I use Skype and my out of town relatives and friends as virtual babysitters?

First of all let me say that Kyle, our oldest, is almost 14 and has been babysitting for us for a while now, so we don't have toddlers or infants or anything. (That would be wrong — child and family services might even be called in this instance.) There is a time though when having Kyle babysit, isn't really like babysitting at all. They all just yell and fight and call us on our cell phones every 10 minutes until we get home.

So, for times like these I think I may set my computer up in one room of the house and call my mom, my sister, my friend Maxine or my in-laws on Skype. It would require my children to sit in the same room the whole time we are gone, but it would allow the "babysitter" to keep an eye on them, yell at them if necessary and send us updates via MMS.

Let's take this a step further.  Maybe I don't even have to work outside the home. I can start my very own virtual babysitting service. People can call my Skype number and I can watch their kids from the comfort of my own home without having to actually do much.

Isn't technology amazing?????

Sid is back!!!  He showed up at our doorstep, meowing like the sky was falling down, at around 6 a.m. today. He was clean, looked very well-fed and talkative. He did not let up on the chatter until around 9 a.m. He seems happy to be home and hasn't left my side all day.

I think he may have been temporarily catnapped, but he is back now.

My kids and I are so happy he is back. Thank you for all your words of encouragement.