Are you there, Blog? It's me, Ariel

Although I'm seriously doubting anybody is reading this blog anymore after my very long absence from the world of blogging, I've decided to continue indulging myself with various musings about different issues on my mind and pictures of my increasingly adorable baby daughter. Hurricane Ike left us not only without power in our new house for nearly a month but also made it impossible for us to get cable and internet until nearly four weeks after we closed on the house and moved in. Let me tell you, friends, I have been absolutely STARVED for interaction with the outside world; I probably won't turn the TV off or close my laptop for a solid month. Anyone who is reading may consider themselves warned: this blog is going to be plastered with stuff over the next little while.