Computer Issues, Yet Again

Once again, our computer is on the fritz.  Sigh.  I'm currently sitting at the library, writing this entry.  Anthony thinks it's our wireless keyboard and mouse that is causing the problem and will borrow a traditional version of each from work tomorrow to attempt to reset things.  Last time we did that, the computer seemed to mostly work for a good couple of months.  We'll see if it's the magic bullet again.

I got back home on Wednesday evening and was thrilled to see my family.  Davan absolutely refused to tell me anything about what they did while I was gone until I told her all about my trip.  Stinker.  I did, eventually, find out that they had a fun overnight backpacking trip to Elk Meadows, her new silks class went pretty well with a few people in the class she knows, although she is hoping it gets more challenging, the first Zig Zag class was fine, but not the same without Lena, and she's not sure about the diving class she tried.  She wants to dive, but the kids are nearly all a lot younger than her and no one seemed to be doing anything much more challenging than what they did that class, which doesn't feel like a challenge at all to her. 

I went back to work on Thursday for another two work day week.  I had fun with work the first week, this week, maybe not as much.  I think I was tired from traveling and maybe felt a little like I needed to find my place again after they got along for a week without me.  I'm having a hard time being patient with myself about learning names.  There are 80 kids!  However, I still have to think about the names of the 12 kids that are in my class.  I'm getting them, but feel slow about it.  And I made two embarrassing mistakes while teaching.  One was starting the simplest form we have with the wrong strike and the other was skipping three when counting out jumping jacks.  These things happen, of course, but did they both have to happen this week?

Davan, Anthony, my MIL and I went to the Ringling Brothers Circus Friday night.  Anthony saw the advertisements for it when we were watching the Olympics and insisted that we needed to take Davan.  It was okay.  Talking about it afterward we decided on this analogy.  If you say that Cirque du Soleil is like Disneyland, then Ringling Brothers is a bit like riding the rides at a state fair.  I actually enjoyed the animal acts a lot, but I wonder if I'm being insensitive to animal rights then.  There were protesters outside, even!  So, looking around a little just now, I think the jury is out a bit on if the animals are mistreated or not.  It looks like there was a fair amount of mistreatment back in the 80s and early 90s, but not recently.  It's certainly something to think about.

We're spending the weekend doing a hodge-podge of activities.  I went to class at Poekoelan yesterday morning after Anthony and I walked Ranger together.  Davan and I did some dinner prep together and then played a game while Anthony went for a bike ride.  I went back over to Poekoelan to practice for an upcoming green sash test - one of the testers asked if I would attack for holds for her.  In the evening, we had nachos for dinner and Davan made lemon poppy seed muffins for dessert.  Oh, and Davan showed us a dance she'd created while I was out of town.  It was great, but I didn't record it.  I'll see if I can get her to do it again for the camera.  This morning Ranger and I went for a run, then came home to participate in Sunday morning pancake making and eating.  I went to help for a bit with cleaning for the test (the whole school had to be cleaned prior to tests - it's the tester's responsibility, but others usually help, as it's a big job).  Davan cleaned out her clothes drawers.  We took stuff to Goodwill.  Davan is at rehearsal for Seeds of Hope.  Anthony is on another bike ride.  I'm going over to Do Jump to pick up the directors' baby shortly to watch him for the second half of rehearsal.  Then we'll have pizza for dinner tonight before the week starts over again.  Whew.  Actually, there's been a lot of time for reading and just chilling out, as well, even though it sounds busy.