Submitted entry: Something is weird with the weather, I think. Since this morning the stove has been sometimes belching sometimes pouring smoke into the yurt. I emptied the ashes, then cleaned the chimney (which really did need it) and still it didn’t help much. Tonight the wind has picked up and it started to snow a little and everything seems different – the stove is sending its smoke outside again. My eyes and lungs still feel it though.

After a morning here updating the FAQ and putting in yesterday’s entry we all went to a friends house for her daughter’s birthday party. It was a pretty good time and it was great for Paul to see the other kids – it’s been a while since he’s seen anyone close to his age and particularly a little older. And this time he saw what I’d call his best friend so he was glad to be there.

I think I’m about to fold up the computer repair business. It never really made much money and when it did I had to go to town or farther to do it – rarely for more than $20-40. So in that sense I guess it defeated the whole purpose in my being here. That, and the fact that I just don’t like doing housecalls much. Going to businesses is fine by me, but since I have done this the majority of my calls to peoples’ homes have been weird. From people drinking and watching porn, hunting shows and pro wrestling while I worked in the living room to hearing far too many personal details of a client’s life – it’s been weird. I think that people automatically assume that since I’m at their house I’m their friend and if I’m their friend they act accordingly. When I’m at a business it’s different – people maintain some professionalism which I appreciate a great deal. So we’re going to work hard to drum up future web business – we’ve got one client coming up, one moderately active client and one very active client that will be active for a few months at least so things look good for the near future. That, and the gallery, which seems to be getting a little more traffic (but so far no sales). I’d like to see the gallery activity pick up – not just to get our income up, but to also help out the people we’re exhibiting.

And now dinner’s ready (yes, I’ll wake up Sage soon) – tonight it’s Hungarian Goulash with rice. Tomorrow we’re off to town, then Wednesday I might have my last computer repair call. Then Saturday it’s another parent/child get together. Life is getting active again. Socially, though I think I feel like hibernating. I am liking being a homebody these days – hanging out with the people here on the land and not much more. I enjoy going out when we do but getting motivated to do it isn’t as easy as it was a few months back. I guess that’s what happens when things feel really good with all the people you live with…