Long time gone

[wayfaringwordhack]

Back when I said things should be back up and running in the "middle of the month," I should have clarified that I meant middle of June. *wails*

That's right; we still don't have a new graphics card, but I've installed a new radiator fan and have removed the side of the CPU so that I might blast the whole system with a standing fan. Yeah, not the best solution considering all the dust it lets into the system. But you do what you gotta do to use the pc. 

I feel like I've been disconnected forever, so here's my assorted news:

I didn't even get to blog about them properly, but  mana_trini and I got to do two lovely things just before the pc fiasco.

The first was that we went on an all-day dive excursion to the northern coast of Grande Terre. 97% of our dives here have been in the Passe en S, so it was a nice change. We even got to see a new-to-me species of dolphins as we were motoring back to Petite Terre.

Then, the following day, J and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. We had a romantic little bivouac on Bandrelé Island, just the two of us. It was wonderful to lie on the beach of a deserted island and watch the stars. I saw seven falling stars that night, one for every year J and I have been married. 

When we got back...pc problems. Not long after, I got sick again. Just my luck. Every tiny little airborne thing has to settle in my sinuses and lungs. I think a lot of it has to do with the house we are currently renting. Hopefully things will change in the new place.

Yep, you read that right. We are moving. Just before our anniversary, we got confirmation that our request to stay a third year has been approved. We should move at the end of July into a two-story "house," with a teensy garden and a balcony that has a view of the lagoon. Yippeeee! That's the good news. The bad news is that it is (understandably) more expensive than where we are living now.  Translation: I'm going to have to get a job. *sigh* On the one hand, I'm bummed because I dread teaching here. On the other, I think I'm more productive when I don't have unlimited time on my hands.

Things have slowed somewhat on the writing front, where prose is concerned anyhow. I compose better on a pc, and that's that. I have, however, been doing a lot of worldbuilding and have designed a language for one of my main countries. Very fulfilling stuff. I'm going to be better prepared to make my people and world real when I get back to storytelling.

In other sundry news, it seems to be blackout season in Mayotte again, and I'm probably going to have a very small burn scar on my face because of that. Lemme 'splain.  No electricity = lots of candles. One of said candles was burning juuuuuust beneath the spoon in my teacup. Silly me didn't see that, and when I went to take a drink...sizzzzzzle. Ow.

And now you know the highlights and low-lights of my past few weeks. Well, almost. I forgot to mention the centipede in the bed. On my leg.  Thankfully, I shooed it off without getting stung; because of that, I even felt guilty for smashing its guts out. C'est la vie. Or c'est la mort. Whatever. Anyway, it begs the question: Why me??? J has yet to get bitten or harassed by the critters. It's always me.

Comments

[cathemery.livejournal.com]

When you figure that critter thing out, let the scientists know. I want something to make me less appetizing to the darned mosquitos and fleas!!

I'm sorry about all your troubles. The new place sounds charming. I hope you will be able to find work and have no problems affording it!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Not very comforting being critter bait, is it? Before coming to Mayotte, I hardly ever got harassed by mosquitos if Julien was around. They largely prefered him. Of late, I don't even have that going for me. :P

Yeah, that's the word for the new house: charming. Compared to all the other houses we've visited in Mayotte, it does have a certain wow factor. I think it is the wooden staircase. Never seen that before here.

[footlingagain.livejournal.com]

It was wonderful to lie on the beach of a deserted island and watch the stars. I saw seven falling stars that night, one for every year J and I have been married.

Oh, magical!

Sorry to hear that your pc troubles continue, though at least you have a solution of sorts for the moment.

Mixed emotions on the moving news, too - really glad you're getting such a lovely sounding house, sorry to hear you're having to take a job you dread. You're resourceful, though - you'll be alright :)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm trying not to let the dread conquer me. I'm sure it won't be as bad as I've made it out to be in my head. :P

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Didn't your mom ever tell you that you'll poke out your eye if you leave the spoon in the tea mug? :p

And poooooor centipede. It spared you, but was the favour returned? Ohhh no...repaid with smashed guts.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

No, where I come from, we drink a lot more ice tea. And besides, I push it out of the way with my finger. :P I can't believe it didn't burn my finger first.

And I feel guilty about the centipede! But I was in bed, under a mosquito net, and didn't have anything to trap it with to get it out of the bed. Not to mention I was royally pissed about already having to turn on the light several times to kill the mosquitos that had slipped into the net!

[mindseas.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you had a wonderful anniversary!

I think insects do react differently to different people. Hymenoptera always go for my son and sting him, but they don't bother me. I amazed him the other day by prodding a wasp out the window with a pen. I don't know if people smell differently to them, or what. In ages past, I caught and released bumble bees and tarantuals in glass jars, without incident. I also kept scutigera centipedes, the long-legged kind, as pets. I like them (they prey on roaches), but not the short-legged centipedes so much.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

N'djema (our three-legged cat) preys on roaches, too--chasing them is her favorite pasttime after eating and sleeping. And she doesn't sting. :P On a more serious note, though, I'm starting to feel guilty every time I smash a centipede, so I think I'm going to start collecting them and putting them outside.

[pjthompson]

Congratulations on seven lovely years and the new house!

Bummer about the job, but I'm like you in that regard: I'm more productive when I have other things to do.

Hope your PC returns to you soon.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Thank you muchly!

Yeah, it's a bummer, but trying to see the bright side is the best way through the tunnel, I think. ;)

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Do I even have to say it's because you're the sweetest thing in that house?

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Do you know that centipedes chase and devour roaches? *smirk*

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Oh. Well, uh... we'll just let that slide then.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I think we should. ;P

[rabiagale.livejournal.com]

Does that mean you'll be moving to the big island (Grand Terre?)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Nope, we'll still be on Petite Terre. :)