I know I've been slacking on updating my blog lately. I'll blame this on the fact that I have a lot of other things on my mind. We've been told by the bosses that Chris won't be needed to come back here and teach next year. Student enrollment is too low. Therefore, come August 1 we are officially unemployed. It's a stressful postition to be in, to realize that we have no set plan for our family in the fall. Chris has applied for several jobs, and has had a couple of interviews so far. One of them took place as we were driving through the mountains. Thank heavens for Skype! Here we are driving through mountan passes and tunnels, yet somehow he is able to participate in an interview with a committee sitting half way around the world. Technology is amazing. As we haven't heard anything from yet, we taking the stance that "no news is good news". If we aren't able to land a visiting professor job, it looks like we may have no choice but to head back to Tucson. At least there Chris can work as a TA and get free tuition. Ack, I can't stand the thought of living on that tiny salary again. Food stamps, WIC, Medicaid, all that goes hand in hand with being a TA. I don't want to go back to that life again.

Accompanying this uncertain future we're facing has come a fair amount of stress. It's odd, because I don't feel stressed mentally. I keep telling myself we'll be ok, something will come along. I truly believe that too. I know we'll be ok. However, although I tell my mind that everything will be ok, my body is still exhibiting all the signs and symptoms of extreme stress-outed-ness. I have a cold, the third one this winter. Maybe this is due to the pollution, but usually I only get one (if that!) cold per winter. Also, I've had a sick tummy for about a week and I find myself getting lightheaded on a pretty regular basis. I've taken to walking every morning to try and combat this stress. Exercise always does wonders for my mental well-being. The walking is already making a difference.

We told the kids we are moving back to the States. They're very happy. That makes me happy.