kinda like a nude beach, only without the sand

at almost 20:00, it's still 95°. the only sensible thing to do when we came home was to

• be very very quiet
• run a tepid bath with salts
• soak
• drip dry, spread out under one of the ceiling fans while the other household members took their turns to do the same
• repeat

We've been at it since five-thirty or so.

After summer camp, we attended the science museum's annual member's meeting. We were treated to meeting the new director, an active and inspired (and no small amount inspiring) woman named Nancy. After hearing all the cool things on the agenda for the coming year, we were no small amount excited and it was a bit hard to sit still until they outened the lights in the planetarium and gave us a sneak preview of the laser light show, which was pretty cool. Tomorrow in camp they are going on a field trip to launch rockets, and that will end the Look to the Sky week.

happy solstice

it's hot. they boys and i watched the MegaDome production of Volcanoes of the Deep Sea after i picked them up from science camp. they love camp and i'm liking my new temp job, and so for this week, all seems to be well.

i just finished the last episode of Deadwood, season two. even though this series strikes me as having turrett's, it has grown on me with each episode, and i'm glad it started a third season.

Cooking and dining in the summer has always been a challenge for me, as i seem to wilt like unwatered leaves when the humidity spikes. One of the best things about having the boys' camp downtown is that we get to pick through the farmer's market on the way home. We have gotten quite used to it, and while dinners are a bit odd (tonight was focaccia, bruschetta, cheese and fresh sweet corn on the cob), they are tasty and restorative.

long time no see

yeah, ok, so it's been two months since i've posted. a girl gets busy, you know. but between the house cleaning and the bill paying and the sorting out of my life and the abysmal attempts at making my thesis work, i got shaken out my apathy. perhaps it was that trip to the beach i just got back from (delightful -- totally perfect; i'm counting the days until i go back). so here's the link of the day that had me chuckling to myself while doing the Huge Stack O Dishes tonight. i just couldn't shake it.

happy monday.

the universe, the house, and the whole damned thing

Yesterday, as I was grinding coffee beans, the grinder quit. Just *poof* in the middle of it all. I groaned, thinking the grinder had given up the ghost, even though it was a mere 16 years old. [It was a wedding present from my first marriage. It's outlasted that marriage and the others, many relationships and moves, and still it's with me.] Then I noticed that nothing was working. A bigger groan escaped as I realized the electricity was out. Figuring I had spaced on paying my bill, I collected my phone, my credit card and searched up a bill. The date on the bill clearly read that i had until the beginning of May until late charges were assessed. I double checked: yup, May, 2006. by the time I got the electric company on the line, I was more than a bit confused. Apparently the company had turned off my utility by accident.

Instead of getting angry or frustrated, I took it as a sign from the universe. I paid my bill, was gracious and kind to the apologetic customer service representative, and assured her that as long as the electricity were restored by dinner, all would be well. She regretted that she couldn't gurantee a time.

I paid all my utilities in advance {not one to take the universe's message lightly} and then the boys and I sallied forth to replace the yard-sale microwave we picked up over three years ago. In the process, we stumbled upon Spider Man and Batman costumes, not only in the correct sizes, but on sale, no less. Later in the afternoon, we were in Fresh Market, selecting broccolini when Butch-the-produce-guy came up and asked spidey and the caped crusader for their autographs.

They were enthralled, of course, and obliged.

Fear not, Gotham City. You may sleep well and safely tonight.

With all the work we have done on the house, you would think there wouldn't be anything left to do but sit back and enjoy it. Wrong. We have worked to the bone again today. Where does all this stuff come from? Anyway, after a week, the laundry room is clean and folded and sorted once more. The dry cleaning is sorted out and awaiting drop off at the cleaners. The dishes are done, and i can see more of the dining room; just enough still remains that i feel as though i have dropped the ball somehow.

With a wind advisory on the horizon yesterday, I covered the tender tomato plants and wrapped towels around the fruit bushes. I uncovered them today and they seem much better for it all, and perked up mightiliy when given a drink. Jean-Luc continues to poke holes in the fence and i continue to nail the boards back in place. There has to be a better solution, but this is working for now -- it has sort of become a morning ritual for me.

When The Heroes and I went into the used bookstore on Grandin, they selected a book for me. Confessions of SuperMom was funny and light and a great foil to all this working thing we've been doing. There's still plenty left to do, but I feel confident that my team of superfriends and i can tackle it.

good books, but weird

I'm reading Tim Powers' Last Call. It's a book about gambling and drinking and fate and life and magical meaning and the choices we make. it's amazing, but I can't seem to read much more than 25 pages without drifting off and having bizarre, important-seeming dreams which i can then, of course, not quite remember. Having won the world fantasy award (i din't even know there was such a thing) over a decade ago, I can't quite figure out why i haven't heard of the work or the author, but am glad to have it now. It ranks up there with Little, Big and American Gods.

Read at your own risk.

work day

Just as we finished our work today, the winds picked up. We tucked the garden plants in under sheets and towels and settled in to watch the first Horatio Hornblower story.

What a fantastic hero he is.

The boys and I worked ourselves to near exhaustion on Saturday. By the time Wren and Allen showed up to pick up the dogs for our carpool to D&D, we were weary beyond belief. But there are several dozen new bulbs planted and the laundry is all clean and upstairs, mostly put away, even. Many thanks to Wren and Allen for not letting us become slugs in the den.

We sallied forth to Jax & Mags, and by the time we arrived, our attitudes had already started to improve. The dinner was wonderful and restorative as much as was the company. The dogs had a wonderful time, and we all enjoyed the campaign. After the boys were tucked in, we adults played Chez Geek, a game that had us in stitches until four a.m., which turned out actually to be five.

This morning dawned even more beautiful than yesterday, and breakfast was a calm, restful and delicious affair. After clean-up, I read and fell asleep on the sofa with Tiger and Cordelia while everyone else played outside. I hear a bubble wand sword was involved. I am so glad I went. I feel like a new person, ready to tackle the coming week. What a blessing to have such a great community.