Guess the best we can hope for is up and down and in and out, computer was out again yesterday. It's not our condo complex but the provider on the island(needed to get that in because I was complaining a few days ago that I had my suspicions it was actually the condo), not sure what their problem is but I guess I just have to deal with it.

I was talking about cell phones with a friend the other day, particularly about how dependent we are on them and how although I'm definitely hooked, I hate it. Well ditto for the Internet. Actually double ditto. It makes me crazy that I'm crazy when I can't get on and see what's happening or get in touch with someone, or pay my bills or check my bank account or whatever... Just a few years ago, I had a computer and I was hooked up to the Internet but I was not dependent. Got to find a way to break this habit. It's like dieting, you still have to do it(especially where I live now) but you have to do it in moderation and with discipline and not get completely crazy when it's not there. I'm sincerely gonna work on this.

Also, along with this computer thing spent some time thinking about "justification". Like justifying why I'm so attached to the computer. I really need to be comfortable in my own skin and learn to really think through the things that I say and do. Then there is no reason to have to justify these things or make excuses for my actions or beliefs. Now there is also a responsibility to not intentionally hurt other's feelings or trample on their beliefs.

Need to remember to work on all of these things. The goal is to keep getting better, right?

More things to pray for.

Yesterday ended up being a pretty productive day after all and today the internet is back. It's a little sad that I am so excited by that, but hey......

Woke up with a sore throat this morning and have had a hard time getting going all day, all I want to do is sleep. I am learning to listen to that and try to take it easy, better to have a lazy day than be sick for two.

Our weather has been and still is beautiful. It's actually cooled off some and not too humid. Watching the Tropical Report, Igor is beginning to turn but not dramatically enough for me, I wish it would make that 90 degree turn that they keep predicting.

Being so intense about the weather has made me think about other things that I can't change and how I really want to handle those things in my life. I believe the real test of our agency(our right to choose) is not so much about the circumstances or things that we choose as it is about how we handle the things, people, circumstances, etc,etc,etc that are sent our way. Lately I have witnessed some people getting really "excited" about things that they really can't change and that are really pretty trivial(at least to me) and I think about how when I was in my 20's and early 30's I used to be sooo like that. I'm not sure what mellowed me, maybe just age, but I really want to handle myself better. I do realize that so many things are trivial or "small stuff" and that there are things to be passionate about but you really have to be careful. I think in the long run we all want to be remembered more for our compassion and kindness that our ability to intimidate or bully others into getting what we want. Just something to ponder, see what happens when I have a lazy day. Best to keep praying.

Sitting in an Internet cafe trying to catch up. Our condo complex has new managers and I have no trust or faith in them. Maybe it is coincidence but since they have come in we have had more problems with various things. Currently it's the Internet service. They blame the provider, Innovative, and maybe that is true, but I'm starting to suspect otherwise.

Anyway.... we came down here this morning to do some business and I thought I would take this opportunity to blog. don't want to get out of the habit. It's strange how disconnected you can feel with cut off from the Net. I don't really like that feeling.

Weather has been beautiful. We have been watching the Tropical Reports and they assure us Igor, who is taking a direct bead on the islands will turn to the north shortly. Keep praying for this, we sure are. This storm is a monster and even if it came within a few hundred miles of us it could do some serious damage. May it be a "total" fish storm and head out to sea.

Got some great news yesterday. Our dear friends the Gordon's had a turn of really good luck. Well not actually luck, they worked hard for this,not to mention the prayers that I know have been offered in their behalf. The news is that Bobby has primary custody of his daughter Nicki, hopefully now they can settle down and have a more normal life, at least I hope that Bobby can, I know that he has done everything possible in the last few years to assure that Nicki already has the most normal life she can. Rick's and my best wishes go out to them with the hope of a very bright future.

Got some unfortunate news yesterday about Rachel, she has gestational diabetes. I know she is upset about this turn of events and we are too, but also know that she can get through this and maybe it will be a blessing in disguise, helping her to get even more healthy. It's not uncommon for some women to have diabetes during the end of their pregnancies, and it does go away after the baby is born. Our good wishes and prayers are with her. We are also thinking of little Mavis(most likely not her real name, buy my name for the unborn baby) and hoping that both she and Rachel will come through this with flying colors. Keep praying.

Rick is being very patient waiting his turn on the computer and since he has some work he needs to do, I'll sign off and hope we get up and running at home later today.

Remember prayer does work so keep at it for all!

Just so nobody thinks I'm getting lazy about my blog, we have been having trouble with our internet provider. The connection here at the condo works but Innovative the local Cable/Internet/Phone company has been blinking out from time to time. This affects our Internet service as well as the TV. We still don't watch much TV but we will wait until 50 minutes until the hour for the Tropical Report on the Weather Channel, and the TV will blink out right before it, frustrating. Even more frustrating is when I log on to the computer get on the Net and start checking out some of my favorite spaces and I "get the boot" because the connection was lost. Anyway...just so you don't think I'm losing interest or getting lazy or something like that.

Yesterday, Saturday, we had big plans for a fun filled day(Rick's words,not mine) we were going to go to the beach in the early part of the day and out to dinner and a concert in the evening. All outside activities. Well when we got up it was pretty cloudy and windy, not lookin' too good. I suggested we get dressed right away and go to breakfast. We did, it was good(I love eating breakfast out, it feels so luxurious to me) then because it didn't look like we were going to get any beach time in, I suggested we go over to the Divi Resort, cause I wanted to pick up something I had seen in their gift shop for Macy. While in there the skies opened up and the rain came down in buckets, the wind was fierce and the ocean was really roaring. On our way home we decided that the beach was out and it didn't look good for the "concert under the stars" either. Since the rain was letting up a little, I suggested we go by Rick's job site and he would show me the new sign. When we got there it turned out the construction crew had decided to work and they were sitting out the storm in their trucks(they were going to have to sit all day). So....we came home with all of our plans for a fun filled day scrapped and Mr. Excitement took a 4 hour nap. I spent a lot of that time cleaning up the mess that the storm made in the kitchen and entryway because we had left the windows open. When Rick got up he finished up the clean up. We did have a real nice dinner at home and played a game and watched a movie, and I was content. The best laid plans and all of that.

Today, Sunday, our official day of rest. We had some real good meetings at church. I had to teach Relief Society and of course, was nervous. I do think the lesson was pretty well received. Their was a broadcast fireside tonight, but because it was a Church Education System broadcast geared to Young Adults we opted not to go. It was a good day and all but I woke up with a terrible headache(more low pressure, I fear) so I felt exhausted.

Hurricane Igor(category 4 today) is out there but the projected path puts it pretty far north of us, so we should be good. The storm in the Caribbean that caused us so much grief yesterday, is expected to reach Tropical Storm strength but it is past us now. There is one more Tropical Wave coming off of Africa that looks kind of ominous, so this is no time to give up on the prayers for our safe passage through hurricane season. We also pray that Haiti can escape, not only the hurricanes but even the heavy rains that would be so devastating to the people there who are still living in tent cities. Actually we keep praying that all of the storms will be "fish storms" heading only out into open waters. There is no breeze tonight and the humidity is high, not my favorite weather conditions, makes it real warm and muggy. Thank goodness for the fans.

Yesterday we went to the Babcock's in the afternoon for haircuts. No not me, I actually have decided to grow mine out, much easier to pull up and get off my neck and out of my face. Rick was sorely in need to a haircut and the salon's all charge about $50. Sister Babcock bought some clippers and has been cutting her husband's hair. We thought his hair looked pretty good, so when she offered to cut Rick's we went for it, she asked me if I would cut hers, thus haircut day. Rick's looks great and I hope Sister Babcock is happy with hers.

Today we had a nice relaxing day with no expectations. Rick worked in the morning but was home pretty early. I got a load of laundry done, some light cleaning(just a general fluff and buff) and a lot of needed paperwork. I finished putting the groceries away from the shopping trip yesterday(my favorite thing to do, NOT) and then we went to the pool. I even cooked a real nice dinner(we've had a lot of salads and thrown together things because it had been so warm). The temperatures have dropped and so has the humidity, it is wonderful. Just another day in paradise. Keep praying the storms pass us by.

Some "island thing" had our Internet down for two days, just another glitch in paradise.

Went to the church social thing last night and as predicted, it wasn't so bad, actually it was kind of fun. Unfortunately, I had a real severe breathing incident, like a major sinus, asthma, allergy, some sort of horrible attack. Came home and was miserable, took a decongestant, some ibuprofen and went to bed. Have had a groggy feeling all day(probably the drugs) and my throat still isn't completely clear. When I started thinking about what could it be, I figured it was some sort of allergic reaction to something at the church, but this hasn't happened before, then I remembered that the senior missionaries have been cleaning out and organizing the library. When we first got there, I went down to the library to visit with Sister Babcock and spent some time in there. The only thing I'm real allergic and pretty sensitive to is mold and I wonder if there is some mold in and among all those books and papers that were stacked in the library, in this climate it's not a far stretch to think so. Anyway....I am going to have to be careful about that, hopefully, once they are done organizing and things aren't so "stirred up" it won't be so bad. Just one more thing!

Didn't do much today but lay around and read, trying to get over the breathing incident and the result from the drugs. We were supposed to deliver the twin bed back to the missionaries but that didn't happen. Well tomorrow is another day, Hope to be off to a better start and finish tomorrow.

What an absolutely, totally and completely beautiful day! We did almost nothing, in true holiday fashion. It felt good. Back to the daily grind tomorrow, of course,here on St. Croix, you can hardly call it that.

Got roped into attending the Branch Activity tomorrow night, one that I really had planned on missing, but one of the dearest and kindest sisters in the Branch asked us to bring the Primary President(she doesn't like to drive after dark), since the Primary is in charge of this activity(although they have been kind of pre-empted)the President really needs to be there. Couldn't refuse Sister Dye(the Primary 1st Counsellor, who made the request) so I guess the Lord wants us there. I'm sure I'll have more to say about it tomorrow.

I need to pray for more patience and a kinder heart.