Hello, little blog.  I have really missed you.  I have particularly missed all the minutes of "free time" you represent.  I haven't had much of that lately.  And I'm really sad that you were one thing that suffered (not the only thing, mind you, I have a lot of bills and housework to catch up on, too, but I didn't miss them at all).  I have decided that blogging is not really going to be at the mercy of when I have "free time" anymore, it is something I need to do, something that makes me happy.  So I will be spending a little more time with you than I have in the last year.  I have some ideas up my sleeve to make our time together more interesting and productive.  So just be patient with me while I get caught up on all the things you've missed out on that have been happening in my life, and then we'll have some new things to chat about.  And thanks, dear blog, for not giving up on me completely.