okay.

i've updated the paint-o-rama story & added some pictures. there was so much more contained in the day, such as Beautiful Stepdaughter stopping by at 10pm-ish to see the new bathroom, look for blood, and perhaps collect on a bet. while here, she talked of a planned summer semester abroad, and has it narrowed down to China, Japan or Africa. she has recently decided her passion is interior design and/or urban planning. kind of both, which i think is very cool. she has also decided that spending weekends wasted and barfing is not the way to go about life. which is a relief. although i would not try to influence her decision on where to go for her semester, i did bring my computer down to show her Swirly's flicker from Japan. i mean, talk about urban planning...she was totally in awe of the population density (her words) and we may have made an impression. plus she heard that outside the 2 main cities of china, there are no bathrooms inside. never been - can't confirm. and when she said the words "population density" i knew my sweet, beautiful stepper had learned stuff. and i knew i would work double-secret-triple overtime to pay for any degree she wanted, because she was not wasting her time & our money. and i won't step off that happy thought to compare. the whole extended family (meaning bio & step parents & children) seems to be tensing and gearing up for the train wreck that will be coming back to town in May. we are learning new skills and new boundaries. it will not be pretty, but we have all talked and will stand united. God save the Queen. but enough of that. It's easter, and as near as i can figure, that's a marking point for rebirth and renewal. i suppose the Bathroom Project is a good example. So i wish you all a rebirth of all that is good within you, and a renewal of energy and spirit to accomplish all that life has for you!