Almost exactly a year ago, <a href="http://www.suburbanoblivion.com/2007/05/29/no-internet-for-you-two-days/">I lost my internet for two days</a>. As the much-forwarded cartoon goes, 'I love my computer because my friends are in there', so I admit I had a hard time with those 48 hours of no contact. There was a huge sense of relief when everyone was back at my fingertips again.

Coming off <a href="http://www.suburbanoblivion.com/2008/05/15/where-in-the-world-is-suburban-oblivion/">almost a full month of forced WWW-abstinence</a>(no, it wasn't given back, I had my own line set up), there is little such relief this time. Circumstances here have changed so much in the last month my head is still spinning. The hum-drum of suburban existence has been replaced with daily fights, constant worry, and that annoying fear of change. That's one fear I'm going to have to get over soon, because the changes are only just beginning.

Some changes I'm not sure will be liked, and this is something that will be affecting my readers. I have found myself cut off from more than the internet, as the paychecks seem to be going to a different bank account now, and I no longer have any access at all to any cash. With a credit card bill and cell phone bill to pay monthly(who knows what will be next) I've got to do something to start bringing in some money for myself. So, my hopefully-patient friends, I will be selling out and starting to do some paid reviews here on Suburban Oblivion. I have always stayed away from these things in the past, not wanting to distract myself or my readers from what we all come here for- a bit of a laugh, and a feeling of "Yep, I've been there too!". I promise I'll do my best to keep the paid content clearly marked and as few and far between as circumstances will allow.

On a brighter note, not all of the change is bad. <a href="http://www.suburbanoblivion.com/2007/11/12/from-pink-to-red/">When I posted last year about turning 29</a>, I ended it by saying

"The French have a saying that life is too short to eat bad food or drink bad wine. It has taken me till 29 to grasp this, and I plan to not only embrace it, but revel in it."

At that time I had no idea how true it would end up being. No clue how I was about to make a series of decisions that has dumped me into both a train wreck of a divorce, and an amazing journey of self-discovery. I am learning more every day about who I am and what I want, the value of the friends who have rallied close, and to have that feeling that as hard as all this is now, I know I am on the path I am meant to be on. That in the end, things will be as they should.

Around my last days of being 29, I will be starting fresh in many more ways than I ever anticipated. I don't know that my days of bad food and bad wine are over just yet, but I do know 30 isn't looking half bad after all.

NO PARENT LEFT BEHIND

ACTUAL NOTES FROM PARENTS TO THEIR CHILDREN'S TEACHERS

I promise you cannot read these and not laugh out loud. These are real notes written by parents in an ALABAMA school district. Spellings have been left intact.

1.    My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.
2.    Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.
3.    Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
4.    Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.
5.    Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
6.    John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
7.    Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.
8.    Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
9.    Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
10.   Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
11.   Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday. She had the shits.
12.   Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.
13.   Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
14.   Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.
15.   I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
16.   Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
17.   Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.
18.   My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. S he spent a weekend with the marines.
19.   Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.
20.   Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.
21.   Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
22.   Please excuse brenda She has been sick and under the doctor.
23.   Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sorethroat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.
Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids.

This got picked up by the Huffington Post online. Check it out!

http://tinyurl.com/yqvzzx

Asshole.

http://tinyurl.com/23u8wj

Did an interview with the Boulder County Business Report for cre8buzz, it's up if anyone wants to check it out! :)

http://www.bcbr.com/article.asp?id=88199