*deep breath*
The craziness is beginning... I'm finally posting here...

Yes! So! I was gone all day today, but that doesn't count. I'll be gone all day Tuesday, but that doesn't count either. Friday we're leaving for IL for my grandparent's 50th anniversary party. I shall probably be without any sort of internet, and even if I did I plan to spend as much time with my cousins as I can. (I have close to fifty cousins, most of whom I haven't seen in about six or seven years and many of whom have been born since then so I haven't met.) I will return Monday or Tuesday.

However, the following week (That is Tuesday, July 26) I am leaving for Harp Camp. Where I don't have internet, and if I do I'll be too busy harping or swimming or mountain climbing or staying up late playing card games, or organizing skits or taking pictures or going to the aquarium! (This is in Chattanooga! If you are an HWer interested in encountering me in the Chattanooga area there are two or three places that can be arranged.)

Harp camp ends on Sunday, but I'm not coming home then. Then I'm going to stay with the Clemens while they're filming. I'm not sure when they're getting done... (Wednesday? Thursday?) and thus I'm not sure when I'm coming home and...

I have no clue what happens then. College is supposed to happen this fall, and I don't even know when that is, where I'm staying, etc. So you'll get an update about the rest of my summer. Somewhere in the middle of this madness I turn 21 too... which is going to make life interesting.

So! Now you know, when I fall of the face of the earth and resurface, that I'm still alive out there somewhere.

Sounds like you'll have a fun summer, Katie! We shall miss you!

Have fun in the midst of all the madness!

Have fun, Cane! We'll miss you!


(By the way... this is my 1,000th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I don't see what everyone thinks this is an ominous forum. Really now?

Anyhoo! It sounds like a lot fell onto your plate! I hope all goes well and that you have a splendid time while you go about your activities and arrangements.

It will be good to have you back when things are done. ^^

~Calen

Have fun, Vanya! Sounds like you'll be very busy!

*wishes her summer looked that fun * *waves hankie * See you when you get back, Katie!

Well you are certainly going to be busy. Have fun. *Insert bittersweet smilie here*

Bye, Vanya! Have a good, if insane, summer!

Have fun, my dear Hurricane. Come back to us soon.

I hope you hurry back from your business! Hurry back Cane... Hurry Cane! (get it? Hurry-cane?)

I guess I'll see you sometime today.

Where do I begin to explain why I've been avoiding and will continue to avoid ya'll? I've been home for three days, but I don't think I've logged into HW since the day before I left the Clemens.

Before I left the computer had become infected with some kind of obnoxious virus thingy and I thought the problem had been resolved but while I was gone it came back. And we couldn't get rid of it. So, lo and behold, we must reinstall the operating system.

Of course my family switched to the Ubuntu installation, but that wasn't fully set up either. No printers, no video, etc. The first day I set to work on it I reinstalled windows, which deleted my boot loader, which I spent hours trying to get back, finally reinstalling Ubuntu. Long story short, I dumped Windows altogether, but I spent 2.5 days staring at progress bars as I installed and updated and upgraded and reinstalled. It's rather difficult to do anything when you're restarting the computer every hour or so, or when you're running a 5 hour download, so that's one reason why I haven't been around much.

The second reason I'm not around much is just real life. My brother's birthday was yesterday, my sister is leaving on Sunday, the triple birthday party is on Saturday (and I looove planning for that. ) deliveries keep happening, and deliveries without a working computer add to the complications.

And the third reason is something I can't quite explain. A sort of reluctance to take back up the mantle of responsibility, the strange lack of desire to do anything online, a sort of pointlessness to it all. These days I'd rather find a book to read, or bury my nose in Lightning Ranger or find some sewing to do than even look at my e-mail. And I'm not sure why... I can't very well blame the entire internet for my indecisiveness...

All that to say; I'm here but I'm not here. I'm home, but I haven't really returned. I do check my e-mail at least once a day, so if there's any problems you can shoot me a message and I'll read it, but hopefully there's nothing life-threatening going on because I'm not paying attention.

And I am sorry. I'm having a really hard time right now, and it's going to continue for the next two weeks. My fellow Marcher Lords, my fellow Council Members; I know I have somewhat abandoned you, but I will return eventually.

Don't fret about it, Katie. We understand. Just relax, enjoy life, and come back when you feel ready. HW isn't supposed to be a burden or a stress.

Thank you for telling us, Katie. I hope you get everything worked out.