Miser Family Update -- belated version

Life continues to be rich and full in the Miser Family household.   It's so rich-and-full, in fact, that I feel like I'm falling behind (not only in recording these updates, but in catching up with my kids, taking care of myself, etc).

So, super quickly, what's been happening with us?

A-child.  Does she know what this object is?
And it's not even plugged in!

• My husband went to Russia.  Because, y'know, International Year of the Periodic Table, and the Russian due Mendeleev is the person who kicked this whole thing off.
• I-daughter:  no idea what she's been up to (see "not catching up with my kids", above).
• J-son:  has a temporary, one-month job helping a local army base feed Wounded Warriors.  Is hoping to save his money to pay for driving lessons.  Has a new girlfriend.
• N-son:  has been working outside with many, many bugs.  Bug spray would be appreciated.
• K-daughter: is off hiking in Montana with boyfriend and A-child.  
• A-child:  is off hiking in Montana with her mom.  Also did a photo shoot with some really adorable pictures coming out of it.

As for me, I'm trying hard to keep up with my students, who keep giving me homework to grade. They give me so much work!   

Also, over the weekend, one of my buddies invited me to go for a 25-mile bike ride with him.   Now, a bunch of years ago I made a New Year's resolution to "exercise gregariously", which means I try to work out with other people instead of by myself.  But as an off-shoot of that resolution, I decided that when anyone asked me to exercise with them, I had to say "yes" unless I had a time conflict.   My sister found out about this resolution this past summer and made good use of it, wearing me out with daily Fitness Blender workouts in the morning.  So even though I felt like I was overwhelmed and needed some quiet "me" time, I forced myself to say "yes" to my buddy.  And I'm so glad I did: we rode through the golden corn fields and green tobacco fields that surround us, passing Amish buggies and barefoot, straw-hatted children, in perfect September weather.   It was a fabulous reminder of a big, beautiful wide-open world.

And that's the news from our family, which continues to be wealthy in our adventures.   May you and yours be similarly prosperous.