It's been such a busy spring, I'm sorry to see it end... but I'm delighted to welcome summer: The first of my cherry tomatoes will be ripening any day. After that, it'll be a produce blur. The lightening bugs are impatient, and have been putting on dazzling shows for the past week. Spain was an absolute delight, and I really mean to post photos and a description of our trip. It's just that I was absent during "planting week" so have spent weeks catching up, and am now in "hammock time." Our front patio addition turned out ridiculously well. It really did turn out like I hoped. We added a low cocktail table with a central fire pit powered by a hidden LP tank, and neighbors have been drawn to it like, well, the moths have. Most weekend and many week nights have ended with Steve and me enjoying the fire, and then neighbors inviting themselves and their friends over. I enjoy the feeling of community and am happy to mix drinks and set out nibbles for them. The sunflower fort I built with the four year old across the street is now about a foot high. It'll be 10 feet or taller by summer's end. He keeps coming over to survey the progress and see what else is growing in my garden. I'm keeping him apprised of the progress of my baby cukes and tomatoes and he tastes and smells my herbs every chance he gets. He's never seen veggies grow before and seems fascinated by the process. I've even walked in on him giving tours of my garden to other kids. Since his parents aren't gardeners (though his grandparents are) it tickles me beyond measure to "corrupt" him in this way. One of my coworkers lost her job this month. Her position is being eliminated due to budget realities at the end of the month, and both she and my management seem to be relying on me to mentor her through the transition. She's been working for this non-profit for the seven-year entirety of her adult career, is clinically depressed, and is not coping well, so it's been a heartbreaking challenge. Today she came over so we could take our dogs (she has a greyhound) to the park and then work on her resume. After some riotous play, I ended up jumping into a lake after her greyhound who decided to jump off a dock (to follow Izzy) and see if she could swim (none can... they lack the fat that makes other dogs buoyant). We laughed hard and then we came back to my house to tackle her resume together. What started out as a sad document that drastically undersold her, turned into an honest and impressive chronical of her skills and achievements. I know it'll serve her well, and I could see her become visibly lifted in the process. It felt so good to be able to do something productive in the midst of what seems to be senseless suffering, and I was grateful for her trust in me. After she left, I drove to my twice-weekly ESL tutoring appointment and savored the progress we've been making over the past few months. I wonder if teaching English as a Second Language could be a fulfilling second career for me... one that would enable me to see the world, and continue meeting new people as I get older... which is especially important given the statistical realities of having a husband 15 years my senior... Hmmmm. So far, so good. Oh, I nearly killed myself the other morning. Seriously! It took me 30-45 minutes to realize that the "weird eggy smell" in my kitchen, my sudden headache, spaciness and "brain tickles," my insistently barking dog (a la "Timmy is in the well"), and that "hissing noise" I couldn't locate all had everything to do with the gas burner I extinguished in an expresso brewing mishap but failed to shut off. I finally figured it out when the auditory hallucinations ramped up and I began focusing on what I suddenly realized was the sound of the burner emitting a steady stream of gas. Thank goodness I don't smoke! Needless to say, Steve was a bit miffed when I relayed the harrowing saga to him while he was away on his business trip! I bought a non-stove top espresso maker today because he vowed to throw away my stove top model the moment he returns tonight. Other than that and some life and death familial health sagas that promise to play themselves out this summer, nothing much is going on. I welcome the new season and each and every day thereafter I'm lucky enough to walk this earth...

I'm like the OP--no cell phone, bcs I can't stand the idea of another monthly bill. But...I think it might be handy. We've contemplated getting a cell phone and restricting all LONG DISTANCE calls to the cell phone (none allows over the landline). Since we still have dial-up, that would mean we could be online & on the phone at the same time. And it would simply MOVE the long-distance bill, instead of ADDING an additional expense. Sort the same strategy western_pa_luann used. I remember being struck by how important cell phones were here in NYC on Sept. 11, 2001. if a major storm knocked out all power, the landlines would go dead as well. This is actually NOT true automatically. True, if a falling trees knock over power lines, they'll knock over phone lines (in those places where phone lines are above ground). But in that blackout, here in NYC, NO cell phone worked, and ALL land lines did. The phone company has its own power grid. This was true in many other areas as well. Lots of young people (college age, esp.) find that having their own cell phone means they can keep the same number even if they switch roommates, or towns, etc. No arguing w/ the roommate over whether they've each paid their phone bill, etc.

Straycat.. This is exactly what I want to communicate in this documentary.. as I mentioned on another thread.. many of us have the same voice same stories same thoughts.. I think we have to band together and express ourselves.. what will our society be like in the future if this is an acceptable practice. You know that by treating us the way they do, they are showing their children that this is an appropriate behavior. I have been talking to Mark Sichel about this and he has agreed to be part of my video as well as an advisor.. he said "I have a great deal of information on this now for my second book which I may finish writing some day, but it's all about the success of relationships having to do with virtue & character. People need a higher purpose (like the correctness of family relationships) and a commitment to courage, humility, correctness....or the result is disastrous. Unfortunately the psychopathic narcissistic behavior is encouraged in our world by commercialism, corporate greed, etc" I think he is right on and at the same time.. I feel sadly as you do.. I could not let them in my life.. I could not trust them ever again... they are total strangers.. big big hugs..

At about 10:30 pm last night I got the needle threaded....dumb luck really. I had poked and prodded, and finally got the darn thing through. I wasted no time sewing the button on his pants before I lost my timing. So all is well, but I think I will go on a search for needles with a large eye. The one I was threading was for quilting, and they are tiny. I liked the suggestions of putting a white background behind the needle best. I would have never thought of that. I hate getting old and asking for help, but it is what it is...... Trin