Got back home this afternoon – sort of.

My computer is away until tomorrow, and I have no access to any new photos, or to e-mail on this computer. I’m switching from Aperture to Lightroom, and it feels pretty strange. I will get through it, it just might take a day or so.

I’m getting lessons in the new photosystem tomorrow afternoon and will hopefully have my system working tomorrow night.

We had the most beautiful time, we stated at a gorgeous Victorian Inn – the Brandon Inn – and Sara, the co-owner, said there were friendly ghosts, children playing in the mirrors.

We didn’t see any. We had a sweet celebration of our eighth wedding anniversary, Maria insisted on paying for the Inn, I insisted on buying a spectacular dinner with lots of wine, lobster, beet salad, and calamari.

Maria dropped off her wool at the Vermont Fiber Mill, she’s doing some neat things with it, she’ll get it back in a few months.

I don’t think either one of us realized how tired we both were, we crashed in the big and spacious inn bedroom and didn’t wake up for hours. After dinner, we crashed again and slept well into the morning.

We are fortunate to have Nicole Tanton taking care of the farm and the animals. I got a joyous reception from the dogs, Bud was squealing and jumping for joy, Fate ran to the door to get outside to the sheep, and Red is too cool to jump around, he came over and put his head on my knee.

We talked.

My problem is that I don’t consider writing to be work, so I never expect it to tire me. I guess it does. I am happy to check the new Bishop Maginn High School Wish List and learn some great news –  that three computers on this list – Acer Chrome laptops – sold over the weekend, along with more than half of the summer reading books and companion Graphic Novel – Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, – the perfect choice for refugee students.

There are several more copies of the novel and five of the graphic novel. This is the summer reading list for the school, and our help will spare the students and the school from spending money on these books – they don’t have much.

We are also hoping to buy  25 Acer Chrome laptops – the price has dropped to $202. 50. These purchases are tax-deductible. Three more computers to go on this list, I am estimating we have purchased nine or ten now, almost halfway there.

We’re putting up a few at a time, we will get there by September, I believe.

I’ve researched these computers intensely, as has the school. They are perfect for students like these who are still learning English and had no access to computing.

(If you prefer, you can send a donation directly to the school: Principal Mike Nolan, Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 122012. Thanks.

The school has no technology, and is also seeking help getting microscopes into the school. There is no longer a single working microscope at Bishop Maginn, the science teachers are desperate.

Thanks for supporting these very deserving kids and teachers.

So I’m home, glad to be back and a bit unnerved by the fate of all of my photos and my ability to publish more easily. I know a lot of people who use Lightroom and love it, but I can’t shake the feeling that a part of me is off somewhere in the hands of others.

It is good to be home writing again, I missed it. Maria is off at a Belly Dancing dinner and I have more things to write. Thanks for reading me, I had some good time to think.