Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

It's good to be home. Now we're just trying to find equilibrium after traveling.  The lawn is mowed, the laundry it caught up, the dishwasher is emptied and put away, cats (except Floyd) are home and relaxing, the truck is unloaded, and we're trying to get settled back into a routine.

Here's what's going on here:

• The property tax notices arrived while we were gone. I've sorted through them and have determined my plan for paying them before the end of January (the ranch and store this month, half the house and shop next month, the San Antonio taxes in December, and the remainder of the house and shop in January -- or by June 30th if something comes up -- that gives us flexibility).
• I ordered the new iPad Air 2 (128G, WiFi).  After it arrives and I get it set up, I'll wipe the iPad2, gather it's accessories, box it, and mail it to my sister, who has a use for it.
• One of the tires on the truck has a slow leak, which was the symptom Mr. L's truck tires began to exhibit when they needed to be replaced.  I had hoped to put off replacing them until after the first of the year, but I may have to do it sooner. I firmly believe tires should last longer than 30k miles.
• The new iPhone and new Mac Mini and monitor purchase may be delayed until a few months into the new year.  We'll see how things shake out.
• I've blogged about Pretty Boy Floyd's problems with several other cats experiencing similar issues, so we'll be converting the cats to a prescription urinary tract formula food, including the outside cats, because we don't want any of them experiencing this problem (and I suspect most of the outside cats around here are inter-related, so this could be a problem endemic to the population, so I want to protect them as much as feasible).
• I managed to get some writing work done during the trip. I'm still struggling with how to identify and gain readership. Reading Tina's commentary on Tammy's post on FB highlighted the challenge writers face in their attempts to market their work and make a living.  I don't have to make a living from my writing, but it sure would be cool. How to do that without destroying the magic? We're all struggling with solving that equation (to play on Tammy's FB post about everything coming down to math -- grin).
• I'm trying to figure out how to upgrade the FM site from Joomla! 2.5 to Joomla! 3. I thought I had the "simple" solution ready to go. I pushed the upgrade button on the test site, and it crashed and crashed hard (this is why we have a test site!). I've deleted everything and am uploading the software now, and hope it will allow me to reinstall everything.  I tried this without a clean directory, and it failed miserably. This is the "not fun" side of playing with tech stuff.

The Week Ahead:

• Continue Polar Bear on the Loose type-in.
• Get caught up on How To Write A Series lessons
• Get the FM Test site operational again.
• Pay property taxes for shop and ranch on Monday
• Visit Floyd -- hope to bring him home this week
• Figure out a way to declutter the two rooms in the house we use the most -- kitchen and parlor and begin doing it, systematically and thoroughly.
• Continue work on Granite Hill
• Get sorted on on whether I'm coming or going and proceed in the appropriate direction with purpose and resolve (or something positive like that)