Last week, about mid-day Wednesday, the water supply to our home was abruptly cut off. For the next several days, it stayed off, putting the entire family in a dire, and unsanitary situation.

Apparently, a water main broke nearby and needed to be dug up and repaired. A minor inconvenience under normal circumstances, but when you have four kids all home from school, the inability to flush a toilet quickly becomes an issue.

Fortunately, we have some wonderful friends who not only made sure we had water, but insisted on having us ... ALL of us (two adults, four kids and even the dog) ... stay with them in their home until the situation had been resolved. We stopped by twice a day to make sure the cats had clean water, and all pets were fed, but to be welcomed into a home like that was completely mind boggling.

In the past when this has happened (and we have had water shut off for more than a few days on several occasions for similar reasons), relatives have provided buckets to force flush the toilets once or twice a day. But only that. You'd think with children involved, relatives would have stepped up a bit more ... guess that just shows how my kids have meant to them, and how much more loved we are now.

It's sad, but geeze it's a hard lesson to take.

On a happier note! I am officially attending college. My classes start July 20, so everyone wish me luck. It's been 17 years since I graduated High-School, so this was a big decision for me. Fortunately I have the support of my wonderful wife, amazing kids, and incredible friends. I'm determined to go all the way, to get a Master's degree and prove that I CAN do this.

Sunday marks the twelfth anniversary of my marriage to =Dolphinryder ... I can't believe she's put up with me for this long. The marriage has had ups and downs, but every down just made the next up that much sweeter.

Here's to you, hon. And to 88 more years. Remember we get to renegotiate once we hit our 100th anniversary.

Oh, and my oldest son wants me to write a comic for him to illustrate. How cool is that. I may even have to get him a DA account set up.

Well ... that's it for me ... stay tuned, new Feature coming up next week.