I woke up a little early this morning, before 5. I am calling this nervousness excitement about going to Spain. It is true that I haven't played racquetball in a couple weeks and I probably need to get some exercise. I hate that it's so dark in the morning until I need to leave. It's the only reason I don't like having to be at work at 8 am. It rained again all day yesterday. I was very excited. Vanessa is beginning to get tired of it. The Captain can't work outside. They went to Macy's so she could look for a bathing suit and he sat in the food court watching Fox News and getting depressed.

I talked to the mother of a friend of Molli's who is currently unemployed about coming to work at the Shelter, temporary part-time as an administrative assistant. I have to decide the best way to make the case to the Board. Another possibility is to hire someone through the Council on Aging--they pay older people for up to 20 hours a week of work that supposedly trains and prepares them for employment. The person would have to be really good, understand confidentiality and be more help than hindrance.

One of the interns and I went to look at a commercial dishwasher. The Shelter has been using a lot of paper plates and plastic silverware; I want to change that if I can. BB&T is contributing $1000 and the Board has agreed I can spend enough more to match it. They had a used one that we can afford. The question is will it do the job and how easy is it to install? some volunteers from Baldor are going to come check out the kitchen and make sure it will work. I did a lot of emailing back and forth with the Board and I think I have a better idea of what they can do now. They are not going to be showing up at the Shelter and helping in any hands-on way. But they are generally supportive and encouraging.

I need to finalize the rest of my trip to Spain. Amelia called last night briefly. She is working hard and not eating and sleeping enough. They open today with 2 shows, 2 tomorrow and 1 sunday. Then she gets Monday and Tuesday off. I hope she will get rested up and have some time to enjoy being in Madrid.