How long since you backed up your computer?

We came home from camping and I turned on the computer only to find that my hard drive had crashed. We took the CPU into the computer doctor and he said the hard drive needed to be replaced.



Unfortunately, I have not been good about backing up my hard drive. Yup, a no brainer but how many of us really do it? So, my checkbook, all my pictures since 2003, my email addresses and email communication, my downloaded music from iTunes, just to mention a few things, are all on the bad hard drive.



We will be sending the hard drive in to have it "recovered". I'm praying that all that stuff can be recovered and if not all of it, at least all of my pictures.



I've been having computer with drawl. I didn't realize how much I use that particular piece of machinery until it was gone. I walk by the monitor and stop to look up the weather, or check my email etc. and it's not there! Dan hands over his laptop as soon as he walks through the door in the evening because he sees that crazed, "I gotta have my computer time" look on my face. I guess it's my link to the outside world.



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We are under a frost warning for tonight after having a beautiful, sunny day today. Suppose to be 35 -40 degrees tonight. I covered the tomatoes and peppers - not ready to be done with those. It's still August for crying out loud! Fall is just around the corner.

Great Outdoors...

The family went camping this past weekend with some family friends. After packing up most of our house, we headed north to a beautiful campground on the shores of Leech Lake.

We borrowed a vintage camper that Dan couldn't lay anywhere in without being in the fetal position. :) Remember what we camped in as kids? So, we threw the tent in also and guessed that having the camper along would at least ensure good weather for us. It also meant that we could bring Samson along and have a place to pack all the stuff we need to spend a few days in the great out of doors! Otherwise, we look like the Clampets going to Beverly Hills with things hanging off the back and top of the vehicle. The kids really don't enjoy having to sit on their sleeping bags and hold a pan of brownies.

Anyway, we got to the campground around 1 pm Friday and set up our little home away from home. Our friends showed up with their three children in tow an hour or so later.

We enjoyed sunny, warm days and cool evenings, campfires and fishing (for nothing I might add), swimming and frog races, hiking and great conversations.

The first question when we got home was, "When can we go again?"

I'm 40 - the big 4-0 - forty

Carleen and I celebrated our 40th birthday this past Wednesday. To celebrate this momentous occasion we decided it was time to do a girl trip. We've talked about it since we graduated from high school - yes, way back then - and we've talked and talked and just never did anything about it. There's something about turning 40 (I CAN say it) that makes you realize that life doesn't slow down for you, it just keeps spinning faster and faster. So, with our other sister, we decided to book a weekend trip to Chicago. Just girls, no children, no husbands, just girls.

We landed at Midway around noon on Thursday and we hit the ground running. We ate and walked and shopped and talked. We took a skyline tour at night out on a boat, we visited Navy Pier and Wrigley Field, we took in the annual air show on North Beach where the Blue Angels showed their stuff.

We ate some of the best food I've ever eaten. An awesome steak, and Chicago style pizza and hot dogs,and some goulash at a cool little German joint that played great 80s music in our honor (or at least I like to think so).

We didn't get to any of the museums or art galleries or the top of Sears Tower (now called Willis Tower - like that'll stick!). So, I guess it means we just have to make another trip there. I would love to take the family, there are so many things to see and do!

We did have a great time! Thanks, sisters!

On the "L" subway right after we arrived. We took the L from Midway and got close to our hotel. Then, we got a little lost and noticed we were getting some strange looks from other passengers. Did you know that you can get DNA testing on your children so you can actually KNOW who the daddy is? I am such a small town girl - the thought never occurred to me until I read that poster on the subway. Any who, we headed up to the street and caught a taxi to our final destination a few blocks away.

A view down one of the many streets.

Chicago skyline from the boat - sorry for the blur.

Deep dish Chicago style pizza from a place called Ginos. Cheese is on bottom, then homemade sausage and pizza sauce on top. It was excellent!

North Beach where we watched the airshow. Just me and 2 million of my closest friends.