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Well, I got home a few days ago. I had to play a major game of "what can I live without" while packing my suitcases as still ended up paying a $50 overweight bag charge. I unpacked the other day and so far it seems that everything important is accounted for except my favorite skirt and my laundry bag.

Yesterday I bought a violin! My former one was a rental, on a rent-'till-you-buy program. It was pretty much paid for, and still in the same condition it was when they gave it to me 3 years ago- so they gave me almost full credit for it off of the price of my new one (which, as far as my knowledgeless ears can tell, is a lot better... too bad all my violinist friends live in on the other side of the Mississippi!)

I also got a neat new piano book that I'm looking forward to delving into- but not right now because my sisters' tutors are here.

Yesterday I also got a new library card (mine's been MIA since I left for school in 12th grade), and checked out a book to read for fun for the first time in _?_ years... I read the first 139 pages of King Solomon's Mines last night. It was interesting to walk around the library, too- they finally finished a major renovation and the dark, yellow-walled, crowded 900 section where I spent a couple hundred hours of my 15 year old life shelving geographical and historical books, is now actually a roomy, bright, airy place.

My family is all still alive and the kids (mostly) keep from killing each other. The older of my 14 year old brothers is off touring Australia, the 16 year old brother is already back at school, but the 3 other girls and the younger 14 year old are home.

God bless!