Happy Monday, y'all. I can't believe we're already halfway through this month. Summer will be over before we know it! We are in the midst of a major heat wave, with actual temperatures of above 100 degrees for several days in a row. It's been pretty miserable and looks like it's not going to let up anytime soon.

Father's Day was a non-event for us this year. Chris had to work the weekend, and Alexis spent a few days with grandparents, so I ended up having the house to myself for several days. Chris and I started watching the new season of Stranger Things. No spoilers other than to say it's pretty messed up and gruesome. I'm interested to see the direction it goes, though.

Surprise, surprise, we're still not fully unpacked. I'd say we're 90 percent there, though. The biggest accomplishment from the last week is getting the guest bedroom organized. That's where pretty much everything got put when we first moved in, so it's a relief to have some order in there. Chris is putting in a fence for the backyard so the dog will have more room to roam, and he'll soon have a building like he's been wanting back there. Once the building is up, a lot of our overflowing storage will finally have a home, and we'll be able to get the last few remaining things from where they've been being kept the last few weeks. Next on my list, is getting some décor put up. I've yet to hang a single picture or decorate a single shelf!

Now for the big announcement. Although I've dropped some hints here and there, I've been guarding a secret for the past several weeks. At the end of last month, I was approached about teaching middle school English with a heavy focus on writing. It's a career path I've considered several times over the last ten or so years, but I've never had a solid reason to enter the field. Turns out, the school has a daily morning show that is in need of a sponsor. Considering my near-decade background in television news, I'm kind of a perfect fit, and there's the possibility of expanding into more aspects of the media business in the future. Not to mention, I'll be able to finally get my masters and open the door to teaching journalism at the higher level, which has been a long-term goal for awhile.

This is a decision that I didn't make lightly. In fact, my husband and I talked about it for weeks before I even agreed to a meeting with the principals. In the end, it was an opportunity I couldn't stop thinking about, and even before I met with them, I was excited about the possibility. It all became official last week, and I'll go through orientation in mid-July with the first day of school being August 2nd.

Now before anyone jumps to conclusions, I am not leaving the magazine. I will remain the publisher and still be in charge of all the local aspects of it. Obviously, some things will have to change. With the current economy, there were already some changes in the works to begin with. The most immediate difference for me will be the hours during which I work on stuff for the magazine. The rest is still being figured out, but this magazine is my baby and something our area desperately needs. So don't worry - it's not going anywhere so long as I have any say in it.

Speaking of the magazine, this is a big week for our next issue. We're trying to recover from the last two months, which have been incredibly tough. I know that's not a unique experience as all small businesses are struggling with the rapid increase in prices everywhere. So I'll be pushing pretty hard to make up the difference we've been seeing, as well as looking for new ways to maximize page space.

In other news, Alexis has art camp every afternoon this week, so that'll be good for some uninterrupted work hours. Plus, it'll keep her busy without me having to worry if she's overheating in the backyard.

Well, that pretty much covers it for me this week. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and stays cool in this crazy weather!