I'm not exactly sure why, but it makes me nervous when Charles Osgood isn't on CBS Sunday Morning. They usually have good fill-ins, but I always wonder why he's not there...Is something wrong? They did say he'd be back next week. Whew. It's such a staple show of my week and Charles has the most soothing voice, he's enjoyable to watch, and he even plays the piano for us sometimes! I kind of wish I knew him personally. So, it's disturbing when he's not on. I don't like it. And, since the show starts at 7 a.m. here, it's not good to start off thrown off so early. At least I found some powdered creamer tucked away in the cabinet, that my sister bought while she was visiting, so I don't have to drink my coffee with milk again.

Not whole lot has been going on. I'm trying to hold down the fort until Will gets home. Dixie requires a lot of watching because she likes to dig near the fence outside, and I don't trust her inside if I can't see her. I've been exhausted this whole week. I finally got away from the pups for a few hours and went out on the lake with my friends. I tubed with their daughter, but the water was ice cold. We were bounced off the tube, and by the time I got back on the boat I was numb. Brr. I wonder if the water ever really warms up here?

Fun in the sun! It was 80 degrees on Thursday with beautiful blue skies!


Becoming friends...


Dixie says, "Hey Maddie, I'm going to go ahead and take over your bed, okay? Thanks."

I feel a little bent out of shape...



...I had to drink my coffee with milk this morning. My creamer was bad. And I tried the creamer first to check if it was still good. So I had to drink milky coffee to get rid of the sour creamer taste in my mouth. It's been that kind of week.

Been thinkin'...

This weekend I had a lot, a lot, of think time. Will has been gone and there was yard work to do. So much yard work that my fingers keep slipping on the keys because my arms are shaky - that day-after shakiness that is accompanied by very sore muscles that are screaming for a hot bath (but are being ignored because I have to go to work in a few minutes). I weeded, planted, transplanted, spread mulch, mowed, edged and Home Depot-ed. I was so tired last night I could have gone to bed at 7 pm. I did all of the work iPod free. I'm not sure why other than I like to hear if Maddie is barking so I can tell her to hush so as not to bother the neighbors. I did see those neighbors out in their yards doing similar things, although the wives came over to chat (with clean hands...) while the husbands worked. Would have been nice, but at least I got the work-out and the sun (yes, there was sun...not warm sun, but sun nonetheless).

So, while I was thinking here's what I thought:

-I can't wait to go to my cousin's wedding in Michigan in a few weeks. The weather should be beautiful and we'll get to spend a lot of time with family. I'm envisioning cook-outs and lots of lounging. We're spending the first two nights of our trip in Chicago because Will has never been. I love Chicago and can't wait to share it with him.

-I think I have decided which vehicle I would like to get. We think we'd better go ahead and replace my car while we can and hope to avoid two car payments, at least for two years. More on this after I test drive...(I like to make up my own mind about these things, with Will's input, and there are so many car snobs - not all [6] of my reading faithful, of course - and I want to go form my own, uninfluenced except for professional reviews, opinion. Know what I mean?)

-I'm more than ready for Will to get home. Hopefully it will be late tonight/middle of the night, or at least by when I get home from work tomorrow.

-If I had about three thousand dollars to spend on our yard it would be gorgeous and functional and much more maintenance-free. Instead, it is pretty, still functional, but requires some (lots of) work. I can live with that. It got me outside all weekend and I really, really enjoyed finished products. One thing's for sure - It looks a WHOLE lot better than it did on Friday!

-I don't want to work this week. But I have to. Let's hope those sixth graders are ready to see me two more days! Friday with this class went okay, but it could be much better. I am counting on them to make that choice today, and I'm going to do everything I can to facilitate that. This is a group of really good, funny kids, who have been plagued with a less-than-stellar regular teacher. It's too bad. Hopefully today's sunshine will be felt inside as well!

I hope you have sunshine, too.