All the news [about Zana] that's fit to print [no risqué details, sorry]

I asked my dad if all families are as freaky/messed up/plain old weird as ours. He said to
look at it as material for my writing. I do not consider this an answer.

Stepmom is gone to Portland to visit stepbro, so that source of tension is gone. Father
has lost patience with bro and therefore I'm staying away from the house as much as
possible. Dog #2 has eaten most of the plants on the porch. Am amused. Grandparents
not so amused.

I hadn't realized how much I missed thunderstorms. I love them. They make me feel safe
(go figure; I sleep in a metal trailer--not exactly safe) and I can go to sleep like a baby in
the midst of one. Don't know why. But I could never live anywhere without
thunderstorms.

Being back in rural Texas is a bit weird. In Paris I hardly encountered a bug all year. No
insects whatsoever. Now I'm out here and there's spiders. There's other things, but it's the
spiders that bother me. There is a huge brown and white striped one living in a large web
at the head of my bed. Since I'm only going to be around for a few more weeks, I feel like
I shouldn't destroy its home. Like it has just as much right to the place as I do; more,
maybe, since it built its own home. But I switched the bed around so that it's not right
there hanging over me as I sleep. I may be abnormally respectful of living things, but I
have my limits.

I finally understand how the US could have supported the war in Iraq. It seems so far
away, now that I'm back here. Whereas in Europe, it was almost literally in our backyard.
I suppose this is what isolationism breeds.

In writing news, nothing much is happening. At least not with the actual writing. Toni
keeps giving me reproachful glances, but he did that ever since I screwed over his
character.

Read Tithe. Pretty good. Also started The Spiderwick Chronicles. Quite
good. Have listened to obscene amounts of books on tape. Going to library today to get
more. Attic still needs working on, so more story tapes will be needed.

Erg. Dog #2 has just gotten out again. Must go put her back inside the fence so that she
can break out again.