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posting a few things today, as i FINALLY got a connection online, altho it took a drive to Mishawaka to get one. the one that existed in our neighborhood is either 1) shut down cuz the owners are on vacation (which is the one i'm hoping is true) or 2) shut down cuz the owners moved. either aren't a happy proposition for me right now, as i'll have to really slow down the online connection by using dad's phone, or doing all my online stuff in public. the public thing isn't all bad, but, as i tend to get emotionally when writing, it could get a touch uncomfortable.

Dru was here for a week from Wed July 11th thru Wed July 18th. she spent the first and second nights with us. she and i spend Thursday together shopping and going to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (not a great movie...more of a placeholder til the next one comes out, if you ask me). i got to hang out with her a bit more the next day, too, as i took her to the mall to shop with a few of her girlfriends. the other girls were only there for about an hour and a half, so she and i spent more time wandering thru the stores. we did a lot of talking, and i got to know my niece better.

she really impressed me. she's got that whole teenager-ie thing going on, but she also has a grownupness that is startling. she seems very self-assured. it gives her the appearance of being older than she is, and the effect is a bit unsettling for this aunt of hers. she's almost 15, and it was almost as if we are equals. i like it, but it takes a bit of getting used to. she's an adult for crying out loud! how did THAT happen?!?!?!?