Engleberts in Missouri [miz-er-ree]

Amber moved to a new apartment this week. Her apartment is in a four-plex building and is about a year old – still very clean and in good repair. The new place is huge compared to her previous apartment. She had been living in a very small studio apartment with her roommate Jamie for the past 2 years. The studio apt was so small that Amber couldn’t pack/stack boxes and still have room to stand!

She’s still rooming with Jamie (and a new friend Audrie) but has her own room with private bath. Her apartment also boasts a balcony, full kitchen, living room, and (ta da!) washer and dryer. Her next mission is to clean up the old apartment so that she can get her security deposit back. Could be a problem since there are several carpet issues. I think a can or two of Goof Off should fix it right up.

Today was also tuition day. Writing out checks for Amber and Vicki’s college tuition is always fun. Luckily, Amber will be done before the next 2 kids start (Thank Goodness!)

This is getting ridiculous! Another bank robbery in our little town. It’s the 6th one this year. Four of them have been at Great Southern Banks (thankfully we don’t bank there!). Apparently, the branch on Range Line is particularly easy to rob – 3 times this year! The even better part is that NONE of the robbers have been caught! This really shouldn’t surprise me as Joplin has a long history with bank robbers. Bonnie & Clyde had a shoot-out here in April 1933 and Ma Barker and her boys lived in nearby Webb City at one time.

And I’m not the only one. Based on the number of blogs out there I’d have to conclude that everyone else is hooked on them too. I love reading other people’s blogs. I’m fascinated with that glimpse behind the curtain of their lives. I think to a certain extent we’re all Peeping Toms or voyeurs. I love to go to open houses even though I’m not in the market for a new home. I just want to see inside. How did they decorate? Are they neat or cluttered? When I’m taking a walk in the evening, I’ll peer inside the open curtains of homes on the street as I stroll past. Maybe catch a glimpse of a family dinner or a couple relaxing in the living room. Maybe you even hear a snatch of a conversation or an argument.

Maybe I’m just trying to check how “normal” my life is compared to other people. My sister-in-law once said that one of the reasons she loves living in Chicago is that, whenever she feels her life is out of kilter, all she has to do is look around the city to confirm that her life is fine and that there are plenty of people out there with lives that are just as crazy (or more so). It is kind of comforting to look around and see that your own life’s not so bad.

I’m going to give this blogging a try instead of our regular newsletter. Hopefully, you’ll come to our family’s website and get a glimpse of the crazy life at our house and it will reaffirm that you are normal – whatever that is.