We're doing this!

#41 is happening! Hubby and I just got preapproved for a mortgage this morning! I've still got the shakes thinking about it. I had almost given up on the idea of a house anytime soon, but we realized two weeks ago that maybe we were ready. We're planning on staying in this area, now's a buyer's market, we've got the money for a downpayment...we could do it! Sunday the 22nd we met with a realtor I got in touch with after asking about a house that was an amazing deal (but already off the market) and went to look at a few houses based on what we told her we wanted in one. As of noon today, we've got a preapproval letter for when we find The One! We're actually househunting now!

On top of that, my story for Camp is almost done! Three more days, 4500 more words, and I'll have a finished book and be able to mark off #29! I can't believe I've made it to both of these points. I can't wait to look at my finished first draft and know I finally did something I have never done before with my writing...

And I read book #35 over the past few days, The Mystery of Lewis Carroll by Jenny Woolf. I've read Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass before and never though much about the man behind the works. Jenny gives readers an insight to his life no one has had before simply because she FOUND things about him no one has had before. Lost letters in college collections, his complete banking and financial records... I feel comfortable saying Jenny's probably a foremost expert on Lewis Carroll. Which is pretty cool considering she's a longtime family friend. Jenny and my mother became friends over a Disney chat room when I was in elementary school, and, living near Disney World, when Jenny finally flew over to see it, we went out to meet her. A lot of my childhood memories are dotted with her visits to America and her gifts. A freelance travel writer, she always sent me something from the latest place she visited: books and candies mostly. It was fascinating to get a taste of other cultures through her. When she retired from travel writing, she began to put her efforts into researching Lewis Carroll and now has two books published about him, this one being the first to see worldwide publication. I'm so thrilled for her success, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to read her book. If you like biographies, take a look at this one.