This will be kinda shortish, I have a headache… a really bad one. I don’t often get them so there is a specific reason for it I am sure. (like not drinking enough water or getting enough sleep)
My mother made the trip here safe and sound. The kids have been hanging off her since she arrived (goody bags in hand). It is good to see. 
Since my ‘weirdness’ rant I have had a chance to talk and email with a couple of homeschooling moms in the group here. The one I’ve been emailing with does use schedules and curriculum! I nearly fainted. So we’ve chatted a bit. The other I’ve talked to and found we have more in common than I realized. Again, that is very nice. I’ve also heard from a couple visitors making me feel less lonely on this quest. Thank you ladies!
Did you know you can’t buy Red Devil Lye crystals in Columbia? NO ONE carries it! So I had to break down and order it from Rainbow Meadow. I swear it arrived the very next day! So now I can make soap again. Huzzah!
I am still plugging away at spelling lists using Natural Speller and The ABCs and All Their Tricks. A great combination! The first gives me ideas for what lists to use and activities to teach them with. The second gives me more list ideas and most importantly… the WHYS of all the different spelling sounds.
The Japanese language chip issue is still ticking me off. I can’t return it because it is already opened but I finally got to play it on my computer by using my camera as the adapter. 
Of all the rube-like work arounds. It IS a freaking driver issue with that POC adapter they sent with the chip. The whole reason I went with them is that I wouldn’t need to buy an iPod (or the like) to use their $30 software. Yes, I want an iPod but not for that reason!
I will not be buying from Pimsleur again. The customer service was very poor AND I am not impressed with the performance of the software. Autorun of course didn’t work. Neither did double-clicking. I had to right-click and select ‘run as’ to get the program to run. You can be sure I explained my feelings to them explicitly. 
OK. My head is killing me. Signing off now.