Foggy, but not raining this morning. I hear a crow. Yesterday: raining, but not pouring and not quite as cold.

Too wet for much of a walk. Had to cut up the brownies from the night before, but they were a little soggy. Not my best effort. They can be the back-ups.

Got to the Land Trust between 10:30 and 11; not that much to do, working on the bike ride. Went to lunch with Deb and had a really nice time. Back to ALT. Becky called to tell me Bertha (Janna's Mom) was in the hospital. As I was leaving, Nancy wanted me to read the final grant proposal request for the case manager position. If it gets funded, it will be $20 and hour, 16 hours a week for 42 weeks, I believe.

Visited Bertha in the hospital while Janna was meeting with a student down in the coffee shop. Bertha seemed fine, she was eating lunch and the nurse was giving her medication. She was out of breath after getting up to go to the bathroom and thought that was not a good thing, so asked to be brought to the hospital. They think she will be released today. I offered to come back if they need me.

Then I picked Ray up and we came home and fed Cameron and grabbed the things he needed to take to the Fellowship. There was a meeting to talk about the mission and vision that I said I would attend and was about 30 minutes late for. Then potluck, then some discussion of Sunday's setup, then choir, then home. Ray still had to make up a quiz and I tried to stay up with him, but only could watch one show before I went to bed about 10. Woke up when he got up at 4:45, but managed to go back to sleep until almost 7!

It's pouring again this morning, with thunder and lightning. I like hearing it on the roof, but the plants don't need more rain and may get beaten down some. The Captain has set out some of the tomatoes and lots of the onion-type plants, including leeks and shallots. And mostly, it's not warm enough in the house when it rains. Yesterday, it didn't rain, although it was partly cloudy and cool--high about 60.

The river is beyond the sluice; both are very full.

wisteria time

We had a long walk and hung out a load of laundry before going to town a little late, just in time for Ray to teach. It was after 10:30 before I got to the Land Trust. I worked on another grant proposal and some more on the bike ride. Picked Ray up between 3:30 and 4 and headed home. We had soup, using up some butternut squash that I had used part of before, and some tired old cauliflower similarly hanging around. I threw in some canned garbanzos, to make it more of a full meal, for protein. It was quite good and did the trick. We did have some popcorn before supper that helped. I finally made the brownies I had started a few days ago--the third batch for Sunday (or second?).

Found an interesting movie called Hancock about a superhero who needs some PR, starring Will Smith. It is funny and sad and intriguing.

(here we have booms that shake the house)

Went to bed a little after 10.

Cold and wet in Athens yesterday; the high was 50. No sun means the house was cold too and the heat ran a lot. Ray and I just walked out to get the paper and peer in the windows of the community center, inching ever closer to completion.

At ALT, I worked on the social worker grant (very part time), the mailing list, and the bike ride. I had more macaroni and cheese for lunch and left about 3:15 to pick up Ray. We went by the Asian grocery to get oyster sauce for dinner, but it is closed on Mondays, so we stopped at Kroger. It was very busy.

I cut 5 baby bok choys--I felt kind of like I was eating the seed corn; they'll never get any bigger. Ray washed them and made the rice. I cooked the dinner and we ate a little after 7. I looked for a recipe tonight that uses squash and cabbage to make soup, but didn't find one. I might have to make one up, pretty hard for me.

Watched the end of Terms of Endearment--and cried a lot. Plus a little bit of Sunny in Philadelphia--did not like it much, although Ray though it was funny. Went to bed. Slept till after 7!

I was without internet for a couple days; there's a lot to tell. But meanwhile, there are thunderstorms with lightning. They woke me up at 2:15 and I don't know if it's been going ever since then--or just started again. But this round has lasted over an hour. And cold.

Friday morning, Deb, Becky and I walked to the clubhouse with Barney. There is a dog groomer there and Deb left him to get a haircut. We walked back along the beach. It was sunny, but a little cool. I played a couple games of Spider, sometimes sitting out on the deck in the sun. I don't remember doing much else that day. Deb went back on the golf cart to pick up Barney. Shortly after he got back, she noticed he was limping and assumed it had something to do with trimming his toenails, so she brought him back. She said it was his ankle (and had nothing to do with the grooming). Deb made an appointment with a vet in Beaufort for that afternoon. For lunch, we ate more of the soup Becky had brought from her freezer and leftover salad and bread. Becky and Kent went to walk on the beach, but I just relaxed. The dog, by the way, stopped limping while they were at the vet's. They examined him and decided a couple of his toes were dislocated. They put them back and prescribed pain pills. So, we had a mellow Barney who couldn't run on the beach with us for the next few days.

I took a bath and got dressed and we went to Beaufort to meet the rest of the group. Ray had driven John and Janna and Ron and they met us at a really good restaurant where we ate in January, Breakwater. It was delicious and fun--the server, Andrea, was excellent. Then we drove back to Fripp (in 2 cars) and I stayed up until 11. We were trying to watch The Big Chill in streaming video and it worked okay at first (even though my screen is a little small), but then it stopped during the funeral scene.

The next morning, Deb and Ron and Kent went to play golf. John and Ray and I walked on the beach at sunrise--pretty nice. We had breakfast and I played some more Spider. Ray worked on his computer some. John pumped up the tires on the boat trailer and the bikes. Ray went out and helped him get the boat ready. It hadn't been sailed in many years (at least 7) and he cleaned and checked everything. Janna and Ron went to the clubhouse so they could do some work on line.

 Becky had brought a couple lasagnas from her freezer, so we thawed and cooked one of those for lunch and got ready to go to the beach. Eight different people take a while to get ready. John and Ray and the guys carried the boat down (not as easy as it sounds). The women took chairs and other things to the beach. But they did not want to go in the water. I went in a couple times, but then went to check on the sailboat. It turned out to take a long time to get everything ready. Mast up, sails up. Carry it to the water and push it out past the waves. The wind had gotten pretty strong by now and I told them, "don't be a hero; don't worry about the boat, if it comes to that." Here's a few pictures, but I was busy during the busiest part. Busy standing downwind of the boat and getting knocked into the water, with my trusty iPhone. (I have lovely bruises and the iPhone is fine, but that was my biggest worry for a while; salt water is notoriously hard on things.) John told Ray to get in the boat and put the centerboard. John was up to his neck in the water holding onto the bow in the big waves. Ray did as he was told and the boat promptly tipped over and dumped him out. No harm to him, but the tiller snapped off at the rudder and the adventure was over before it began. We had to undo everything we had done to get ready, taking the sails and mast down and carrying the boat back. But it was sort of exhilarating. If it had been less windy, they would have been able to sail and they were disappointed, but glad to have made the effort, I guess. Meanwhile, the women had packed up and gone back to the house, where we all took warm showers and started working on supper. It stormed, but we were inside by then.

I had brought a pork roast and the fennel and garlic rub we usually put on it. Deb bought some sweet potatoes and potatoes and the women cut them up and roasted them in the oven with rosemary. Ray washed the lettuce we had brought and somebody cut up some cucumber and a few other things. I dressed it with olive oil and balsamic. It was a very popular feast. Afterwards, they ate up all the  cookies I had brought. Janna and Ron had brought their iPhone docking station and we danced some to the Motown music Ron loves: Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin. Much wine had been consumed by this point and he just wanted to listen to the same songs over and over. We divided into teams for Charades, but some people were too incapacitated to play. Some of us had fun, though. Gymnopedie was probably the hardest one. I had Parks and Recreation and just couldn't convey it. Let me know if you find a good way to do that one. Ray suggested miming parking a car, but don't know about Recreation. Perhaps if I had anyone on my team that watched the show, it would have helped. Then we stayed up until almost midnight, playing games, or just reading the questions off the cards from a game called Wit's End. Kent is really smart and can even make up poetry on the spot.

The next morning, the sun was out and it was 70 degrees pretty early on. Ray and John and Deb and I walked on the beach first thing. Then I made huevos rancheros for those who wanted. Some didn't want eggs, but they had brought other things. We packed and some of us went to the beach again. For lunch, Becky heated the other lasagna and Janna and I made tuna. When she unwrapped the lasagna, we all had a good laugh. It was fudge! Delicious warm fudge you could eat with a spoon. Too bad we didn't know about it the night before. All the homemade bread got eaten and we took some things home.

Ray and I drove home alone, although at one point I looked in my rear-view mirror and there was Kent! When we first left, there was a tremendous thunderstorm with wind and lightning and even a little hail. The next time we stopped, it was noticeably cooler and didn't get above 50 the rest of the day. I had to stop to use the bathroom three times. I am going to have to drink less water in the car! We were home by 7:15 and Cameron was glad to see us. It was cold and overcast. I was glad to be able to turn the heat up. We had some leftover mac & cheese from potluck that we heated in the microwave. It tasted awfully good and we unpacked a little. I watched a little TV, but started to fall asleep before 9.

And that's the whole story. It's till raining, with very dark skies, but the thunder and lightning has subsided.

All alone in the big bed, I luxuriate and stretch, turning over. Although I would rather have Ray here with me, I am enjoying the brief taste of decadence--clean sheets and a queen size bed with soft pillows, just for me.

For a moment, I return to my dream/thoughts of laying out a newsletter or directory, related to the work I was doing this week, but I realize it is beginning to be light. I open my eyes, facing the window. I have deliberately left the shade open a few inches, just in case I slept long enough for the sun's light to wake me. I look at the clock and I marvel, because it is so rare for me to sleep past seven in the morning. I have been waking up at 5 or at the latest 6, for months and years. Yesterday, it was before 4, but that was perhaps partly due to the excitement of coming on this trip.

Ray has been working so long and hard, he gets up before me most days and creeps to the other end of the house so his light and his quiet tapping on the keyboard won't disturb me. I think his stress and unhappiness radiate onto my side of the bed. I think of him and wonder how long he has already been working this morning. Is he luxuriating in the quiet and peace? Or rushing around taking care of things without me?

I give my friend a big hug. She owns this beach house with her sister and has invited us for the weekend. Ray and her husband will arrive tonight--the breadwinners that allow us this luxury and space--time away from the bustle and routine.

I have slept so long that I don't have much time to dally. I am so sleepy and in a strange place that it seems to take a long time to do everything--find a glass...oh, no, I forgot to bring orange juice. I will have water instead with my morning pills (sign of old age?)--vitamins, calcium, baby aspirin.

Yesterday I met with the very helpful man at the Cycle Shop about the bike ride for ALT. He gave me lots of good information (and work to do) and I started getting excited. When I got to ALT, Nancy had some thoughts about the grant proposal I was working on and I did some more on that. A little after 2, I headed over to Lowe's to try to exchange the curtains I bought for them a while ago. I returned the ones I had gotten and they gave me a gift card for the amount. But the Roman shades I was supposed to get are special order only. So, still no curtains.

Becky was supposed to meet me there and pick me up to drive to Fripp--originally 2:00, then 2:30, then 3:00--it was after 3 and Ray had to take the car and go, so we unloaded everything (food, suitcases) into the Lowe's parking lot! About 15 minutes later, they showed up and loaded everything in the van with plenty of room to spare. Kent generously sat in back and let me ride up front with Becky so I wouldn't feel sick. I talked to Shaye at the Fellowship about the directory until I lost phone service. The drive was pleasant and smooth and we were in Fripp about 8:30. Becky had taken some vegetable soup out of the freezer and we had my bread with it. We made some salad too and it was great. I resisted falling asleep until about 11.

It was a good day, although it verged into stressful at times.

Cool in the morning, up into the 80s by evening. Some clouds, but pleasant and breezy.

I was the first one at the Land Trust and was alone there for a while, a not unpleasant feeling. I really like the building, with its big hallway and wooden floors. Nancy arrived and asked me to take a look at writing a grant proposal. She was gone for several hours and I sat at her desk and worked on it steadily, copying from an earlier grant and rewriting and organizing. She seemed impressed when she got back. I also showed her and Nathan the mailing list I have been working on and she seemed pleased with it, too. Now there are some things I need to do to it before we can do the newsletter mailing. I called the bike shop again and am supposed to go there this morning to talk about our fund-raiser. I am a little nervous about that, and then there will be other work to do for it.

I picked up Ray a little after 3:30 and we went to Earth Fare and got some groceries, mostly for our weekend at the beach with friends. My parents will take care of the house and the dog and the chickens. We got home at 4:30 or so and Ray started right in making the macaroni and cheese for potluck, giving me a chance to look at the garden. My Dad had transplanted some tomatoes and onions. It is like having a garden elf to come home and find things have been done for me.

We went to the Fellowship, where the directory proof had arrived. I spent about half an hour looking it over and there are some things that need to be fixed. I was a little disappointed, because some of it has to do with the file that Shaye, the congregational administrator, had sent them, with some mistakes and quirks in it. I will need to talk to her at some length. I also have some questions for Olan Mills. The sooner I can get it fixed and sent off, the sooner we will have our directory.

Choir was enjoyable, but I was anxious to get home and get some things done. Of course, when I got home, it was too late for me to do much. I did make the rub for the pork roast and pack some of the food items.

I managed to watch John Stewart, and most of Wheel of Fortune, before I fell asleep and went up to bed.

I slept a little better yesterday and woke up feeling happier, although I am surprisingly sore. One of the things that amazes me is that the majority of the desks at the Land Trust are not the right height for computer work. I would think everyone there would have back trouble. There is one I can use, but the computer is really old and slow. Maybe I will look for a computer table and just buy it.

Yesterday, Ray and I got going pretty early after our walk and admiring of the garden. I was working on adding names to the mailing list from the thank you letters I wrote a month ago. Kerri, the case manager from the Shelter, showed up for a meeting and I was so happy to see her, I gave her a big hug and told her I missed her. Then I started crying and couldn't really talk to her. I was so embarrassed. The thing is, Meredith will be gone one of these days; she is not particularly vested in the Shelter or Athens. And I will still be here. Heather B. (at the Land Trust) talked to Heather M. (currently president of the Shelter's board of directors) about grant-writing. Heather M. said, "we have consultants doing that." Heather B.: "Meredith doesn't write grants?" "No." "Well, what does she do?" "She is the public face of the Shelter." It doesn't seem to me she did a lot of public events, and, of course, she doesn't know a lot of people. I haven't seen her anywhere since I left. But, even if she does, that is not all she should be doing. And I wrote a grant the same time she arrived that brought in more than $25,000. If they would just have let me, I could have done more, I'm sure. It's not just the loss to me, but the loss to the community that bothers me. I try to be positive, but I don't really believe in the sort of God who is involved in every aspect of my life and does things for a reason, so that something better will come along. I have to make that happen.

Nancy asked me to do a few things, including finding information about comparable salaries in Athens for their strategic plan. I also read over an application they are working on for NeighborWorks. One of the things about the Land Trust is they are so democratic, they slow themselves down. I love editing stuff for them and making suggestions. But Nancy and Heather both have to look at it again, so everything takes longer and they both spend time on it. I'm not sure of the solution, but maybe Nancy should be more decisive--or delegate.

I went to lunch with Becky and we sat outside. It was really nice. After lunch, back to the Land Trust. Nancy asked me to do some work on the newsletter. I have been trying to talk to her and Nathan about the ODB mailing list program I have been working with. If she decides she doesn't like it at this stage, I will have wasted a lot of work. Heather took me to see the subdivision they recently bought. It was in foreclosure and they will build 15 small houses on a cul-de-sac. We think there will be some nice views from the upstairs of some of the houses, as it is on a high piece of land. We were having fun trying to name it. It belonged to the Cannon family, so she was thinking something like Cannontown Heights. Nathan was throwing out ideas too, and then Nancy got in on it. So, it's kind of fun to all work together, but it is a little redundant.

I picked Ray up at 4:30, went home and pulled a few weeds while the chickens wandered around. My Dad had worked some on the garden earlier. Ray mostly made supper, although I did some of it. We watched the rest of Raising Helen and I went to bed and read a bit before 10.

I remembered about 7;30 yesterday morning that I had offered to bring muffins to the Small Group meeting at 10, so I made them quickly before breakfast. It was cool, but sunny when we went for a quick walk and checked the garden. The deer had eaten the orange tulip--before I got a picture of it. but the daffodils and iris are lovely.  And the asparagus are faithfully coming up.

apple tree buds

Asparagus

I enjoyed the small group meeting at Heather's house. We talked about travel and I remembered and talked about some of the great trips I have taken--the summers in Nova Scotia, the visits to France and Spain.

Then I headed to the Land Trust, which was vaguely dissatisfying. I went to Earth Fare and bought a few things before picking Ray up about 5. We got home and I got right to work making beef stew. I had invited my parents to come for supper, as they were just getting back into town from a long trip. They arrived about 6, admired the garden, and talked about the cruise and the drive home. They also were impressed by the paint job in their old bedroom. They left after 8 and I watched some of a movie, but turned it off at 10 and recorded the rest.

I had a weird dream just before I woke up and still haven't realy woken up yet. While I was hanging around looking for jobs and waiting and applying, I apprehended two young boys (hiding in a closet?). One of them had a bizarre physical defect, sort of a bone sticking out of his knee. The woman in that office had me call Dr. Park (the boy was slightly Asian-looking). I couldn't get the phone to work, I couldn't get the number to go through. She called and we got an appointment, but I couldn't understand what she had written down, the boys were gone...So now I am trying to figure out what it meant--I think I should go to Japan and help, or do something dramatic, since I am free to go anywhere and do anything. But of course, I don't really want to leave Ray and Athens. I'm just a bit unsettled. 

Yesterday morning, the choir was singing "Hey Ho, to the Greenwood" and "It was a Lover and his Lass" for the spring equinox service, sort of an introduction to paganism. We called the corners,  East, South, West and North. Ray was the Green Man in the play, complete with a green mask and leaves glued to his beard. It was mainly children playing the parts, but some adults to fill in. He knew it was spring because he could feel his roots wiggling...We danced and paraded and had fun. Two children were dedicated by the parents, even though they were something like 5 and 8. I was reminded of my children, as always.

We stopped at Mary's and got more chicken feed. The cost of our eggs is down to about 50 cents each now, if you take the number of eggs divided by money spent on feed. There's also the coop and the chickens themselves. But we enjoy it. I am not sure they are really keeping down the bugs--they are still eating things in the garden. Yesterday we found an egg in the irises, which are blooming now. We don't know how long it's been there--hopefully only a day or two. The daffodils have started to bloom too, and a couple tulips. But it's been over a week since it rained and I need to water everything today.

We cleaned the windows in the blue room, inside and out, and Ray washed the trim in the places I had not gotten. I spent the most time working on the shade from that window, which hadn't been quite right since I made it. I spread it out on the floor in the empty room and redistributed the insulation and hand sewed it along the rings to keep it in place. It was hard work, but then Ray re-hung it and it looks much better. I need to consult with someone who knows more than me about the best way to make something like this. It is important and they are never quite right. 

We brought up the giant braided rug from the basement, and vacuumed it outside, as well as the pad that goes underneath. My grandmother made lots of braided rugs. I am sure my cousins have them in their homes, too. They are not made of rags, but best quality wool remnants that she bought to make rugs with. Then she cut them in strips and braided them and sewed them together with heavy thread and strong needles (and fingers). There is a place it is coming unsewed and is a little fragile, but fills the room. So, now we have a freshly-painted room with a rug, a window covering, and a mirror on the wall. We will move some furniture in soon. 

We had leftovers for lunch and I finished up some soup I had been making off and on for a couple days--minestrone--for supper. I made another batch of mini-quiches and they are in the freezer now. Ray had started watching a stupid movie while he was correcting papers and I was cooking--The Fantastic Four (?). I wasn't really interested; I wanted to watch the things I usually watch, so wandered around a little restlessly. Eventually it was over and we watched Wheel of Fortune, but by then I was starting to be tired and I went to bed and read for a while after that. Woke up a few times.

Tomato seedlings ready for re-potting or planting

Another beautiful sunny day at Kenney Ridge. We walked around in the woods after breakfast with Cameron and admired the green buds on the apple trees in our orchard. We drove to pilates and had a good workout. Then we went to ALT, where Ray holed up in one of the offices and worked on his laptop, while I helped Mary O. (Katie's Mom) get ready for a home buyer education class. There were almost twice as many participants as she had expected. Is this a sign the economy is improving? I got them all registered and then got the refreshments ready. We left at 1:30.

Ray needed to mail something. We went by the mailbox at Add Drugs, but it didn't have an afternoon pickup listed on Saturdays.We decided to have lunch there, and Ray asked the employee where he should go to get his letter picked up. It turns out we were  in time for a pickup, if we brought it inside. They don't guarantee pickup at the box for some reason. I love eating at the Add Drug counter--cheeseburger, BLT, fries, Coke with vanilla flavoring for Ray--$7.

the last of the cabbage and lettuce ready to set out

the girls like this weather

something is already eating the bok choy and brassicas

the last of the cabbage from last fall

the garlic are still growing--and looking good!

baby carrots coming up

chard or beets coming up

 a flowering (plum?) tree in the common area

they need weeding already

Painting the blue room

When we got home, it was bordering on too hot for me to work in the garden. I think the high was 84. But it was about 10 degrees cooler in the house and we painted the blue room. The color was exactly the same. In fact, it was hard to tell where we had painted and where we hadn't, except we made sure to paint over any marks. We are really pleased to have finally done that. It only took a few hours. Ray did all the edges and I made some big swipes in the middle with the roller. Needless to say, his job took a lot longer. We washed up and met Ron and Janna at Transmet for dinner, where we sat on the roof terrace as the sun went down, drinking wine and enjoying the evening.

I watched about one show when we got home and went to bed about 10:30, but still woke up about 5. The moon? The temperature? Oh well. Sore shoulders and back this morning, not surprisingly.

Sunny but cool yesterday morning. We went for a walk, then got dressed and drove Ray to his office. I picked Janna up at her mother's and we drove to Roswell for the Roswell Women's Club home showcase. We got to Roswell about 11:30. It was  gorgeous sunny day and Roswell looked pretty cute, with shops and restaurants. The home tour was in a new complex of townhouses, which seem a little out of place  there. There are no skyscrapers around. These are three story homes, joined at the sides. The corner units have tons of windows, but one of the design challenges is to make the middle units light enough, and they succeed very well. The third one we looked at has 3400 square feet--3 bedrooms, really well designed and furnished. The first one had a giant counter, big enough for six stools across the back, with a sink and stove in it. Anyway, it was fun to visit and see the different styles. The one we both liked best was decorated by Room and Board.

We walked past several places to a restaurant called Pastis, where we ate Salade Nicoise with fresh tuna (bright rosy pink). I had  hoped to drive to Bistro Niko, since we were almost there, but there was enough driving in the day without that. The food was very good, but the service was quite slow, so we spent a lot of time there. Then we looked at a couple antique stores. Amelia, you will have to go to Roswell someday. They have a place kind of like Agora, only nicer, with maybe 100 booths. They had 4 corner cupboards, two of which were under $100. Unfortunately, they didn't fit in the Prius. I would have to go back with the truck if I want one. I still need to look closer to home.

We left about 3, trying to avoid Friday afternoon Atlanta traffic. Betty (the GPS0 showed us how to go without getting onto the perimeter and going through spaghetti junction. It took almost 2 hours, lots of lights, but who knows if that was more or less than it would have been going the other way. I picked Ray up about 5:30 and we went to Goodwill, where he bought two pairs of green pants, both a little small. (If one pair of too-small green pants is good, two is better?). I tried on a pair of pants that were too long and a few dresses. We looked at glasses and silverware, but didn't find anything to buy. We were going to the chicken feed store, but it had already closed when we got there.

When we got home, it was almost 6:30. I was worn out and glad to see my garden and my dog and my chickens. It was 82 degrees. I debated with myself if I wouldn't have rather just stay home all day. It was a lot of driving for a little pleasure. On the other hand, of course, we talked most of the time.

Ray made supper while I spent a little time in the gardens, which look great. Some of the baby lettuce and brassicas have been chewed on by insects, though. The chickens are not interested enough in finding grasshoppers, or they can't keep up. I was not that hungry and too tired to eat much, plus the dish (i had picked out) wasn't that delicious. A little TV and bed.

I had a really great day yesterday, I was very happy when I went to bed. Oddly enough, I had trouble falling asleep and slept really badly and now I feel pretty bad.

I spent an hour at Hendershot's helping Jennifer C. with her MacBook (need to record that for the Time Bank). Then I worked outside some. Ray helped and we put compost and mulch around the fruit trees and redid their fencing. He cut down a few of the little cedars, which made us sad, but the orchard really needed it. I did some other work in the garden, too. Something of a mystery--only 2 eggs.

At 3:30, I went to Catherine's and called AT&T; they will send her a new modem. It was much easier than I had expected. The Koches' house is for sale (they moved to Talmadge Terrace) on Springdale; $275,000. Seems like a deal to me, walking distance to 5 points and the bus system. 4 bedrooms, hardwood floors, lovely plantings.

Ray and I stopped at the St. mary's thrift store. He is supposed to be the Green man in a skit Sunday morning, so we were looking for green pants. There was one pair, but they were too small. He bought a couple green polo shirts...Then we went to Kroger and picked up some things, including Breyer's ice cream, 3 for $10! Mahi mahi was $4 a pound, so we bought some. When we got home, I didn't really feel like cooking it. And when we cooked it, it didn't really appeal to me. But I ate most of it. Watched TV, including a little bit of the Fifth Element, one of my very favorite movies. I resisted watching the whole thing for the 10th time, but saw a few of the best parts.

Went to bed just after 10; Ray went right to sleep but I just couldn't quite do it. The moon is almost full; it was quite warm. who knows?  Finally after midnight, I fell asleep, but didn't sleep that well and now I feel kind of nervous...oh well, it will be better. maybe I am sad because it is the end of our "break" and has been pretty fun. Also, I seem to have several (minor) responsibilities piling up. After I cross some of them off, I'll feel better.

Although it was sunny, it was pretty cool and the garden was still very wet and muddy from the rain. We had 2 1/2 inches! So, no gardening. We walked to Nancy's and checked on her chickens--another 6 eggs, but then, she has 10 chickens. I got a call from her later in the day, thanking me for taking care of everything while they were gone. I expected them back Friday, so maybe they came back early.

After we came back, I took a little break and spent some time on the computer. When I had screwed up my energy, I finished washing the walls in the blue room with TSP solution and then started rinsing them after a lunch break. Then it was time to go to a meeting. We didn't leave as early as we wanted, allowing for time at the grocery store, so I was a little late. It was one of the better housing committee meetings, focusing more on rental than home ownership for a change, and I felt like we actually got something done. Joe G. was there from the ASPIRE clinic and everyone was really excited about it. He did not mention a new coordinator and I am not sure he recognized me. I was a little sad, thinking about what could have been--that I would have been an excellent bridge between the community represented at the meeting and the academic one. But I was good; I demonstrated what they had missed, in a small way, by being knowledgeable. For all I know, he supported my candidacy, but it was not up to him.

Came home, popped previously thawed macaroni and cheese into the oven, strolled around admiring the plants. Went to potluck and choir, came home and watched TV and went to bed about 10:30. Some people had been talking about how much they liked Modern Family, so we watched some of that, but didn't love it.

Pitch black this morning and I didn't really feel like getting out of bed; started reflecting about my last job and decided I needed to get up and think about something else. Ray was already hard at work in the other room.

Hard rain in the morning. Ray dropped me off at ALT, where I worked on the bike race sponsorship packets. He took the car to have its oil changed (free because of a card that we had stamped 6 times previously) and then went for his hair cut and beard trim. I was there almost 4 hours, but didn't see Nancy or Heather.

Back home, I baked 4 loaves of wheat bread and a batch of cookies and made chicken soup with squash and mushrooms for supper. The rain stopped and I let the chickens out in the wet for a couple hours. The rain gauge said 2 1/2 inches! The plants should be very happy for the next week or so with all that rain followed by sunny warm days. It's supposed to hit 80 this weekend.

I walked to John G.'s house with Cameron. He stayed outside whining during the Community Center meeting. He didn't get a walk in the morning and I was glad of his company. It was still a little light when we walked home.

Caught most of About a Boy on TV, a good movie. If you haven't seen it or read the book, do. My favorite combination, funny and touching.

The time change has made our schedule more normal--now we are going to bed about 10 and waking up about 6. Last night, I went out and looked at the plants after supper, while it was still light. It is raining already this morning, which will be great for them. And give my sore shoulders a break. Potatoes, beets, radishes, chard are just coming up. Other things are growing so well--enough rain and warm sun--that you can practically see their progress from one day to the next. When I am not working in the garden, I am re-reading gardening books and thinking about the chores that need to be done next.

Yesterday morning, I got 7 eggs from Nancy's chickens in addition to my 3. Gave them fresh water and some more food. Let mine out for a while in the morning while I was clearing a patch to transplant the onions into.

After lunch (the last of the Gypsy Soup), we headed to town. I was scheduled to meet with Heather at 1. We talked about the bike ride fundraiser and I did some work on that. I need to go by the Georgia Cycle Shop and talk to a man there to get some questions answered. The registration info sheet and form are ready to distribute. Ray picked me up again before 5 and we went home, opened the windows, let the chickens out, enjoyed the evening.

Made omelettes, using 4 of Nancy's eggs--bright orange and tasty--and some bits of broccoli from the side shoots of the wintered-over plants, plus onions and mushrooms. Ate them with leftover rice. I love to feel like I am using every little bit of food we have left hanging around.

For some reason, our satellite company, DISH Network, said we got a year of STARZ free as a good customer bonus. No catch, they'll even turn it off at the end of a year. Last night, we saw the new Alice in Wonderland, no commercials. It was quite fun. And I stayed awake until it was over.

Another wonderful day with lots of gardening. Ray had to teach the kids at UUFA, or we would have stayed home. We didn't get much time to walk because of the time change. When we got home, we ate some leftover soup with spaghetti and then I worked outside for a few hours. I planted some spinach and weeded around the beets. Ray gathered pine straw for me to put around the strawberries. I really just want to sit there and watch them until they produce some berries. I don't know how I can keep from just putting them in my mouth the minute they are ready, but there should be twice as many as last year. He worked on weeding the blueberries and putting pine straw around them. Can't wait for them either!

The chickens didn't lay any eggs; of course they would have been an hour later because of the time change--there should be three early this morning.

Started supper in the morning, a good plan for me. Finished it and put in the oven--good and filling, but not gourmet. Watched a rather strange movie on TV and went to bed--the clock said 10:30, but I wasn't really sleepy. Slept until almost 7.

peach tree in bloom

It was a lovely day, with a high about 70 degrees, even though it was just above freezing when I got up. The windows were open for several hours.

Ray slept in, after staying up late. He has been fascinated by the earthquake and tsunami, watching lots of coverage on his computer. I cannot say I felt the deaths of thousands, because it was not until after I heard about it that I was very saddened. I can imagine the many people lighting candles for their relatives and the many whose homes are lost. But Ray is incorporating it into a midterm exam for one of his classes.

peach blossoms

We bagged pilates class and walked to Nancy's house to check on her chickens while she is out of town. There are many more of them and a big feeder and waterer. They seemed happy to have more food, but there was plenty. One hen was in the nesting box, but she says they have not been laying. Since we have so many eggs, that is fine with me, but it is a mystery.

I worked on the garden, weeding around the strawberries; they already have a few blossoms. The peach trees are blooming beautifully and I saw bees doing their work. I did some weeding in the spinach as well. And added manure to the strawberries. I let the chickens into the beds and hope they are eating lots of baby grasshoppers. I am imagining a run that goes around the outside of the garden, to keep them from wandering into the woods, which they seem to prefer.

Just before noon, I was so hungry and tired I could barely eat. Ray made me a lovely sandwich on  homemade bread and I perked up. We had some canteloupe, too. It wasn't great, but it was a different fruit. We are out of apples and bananas.

I made a double batch of brownies for Alison's reception in a few weeks. I need to make 2 or 3 more like that. I started the mini-quiches too, but it turns out I don't have any Swiss cheese, so they are waiting in the fridge. (http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1373732) I spent some time looking at cookbooks.

Chickens taking a dust bath

Nancy S. came by to get some lettuce plants and asked if she could buy some eggs--the first I've actually sold. As long as they keep reliably laying 3 a day, it doesn't take long to get a dozen. Although I need some for mini-quiches and brownies...And my parents will be back next week. I hope I have a dozen to give them. Anna was with her and her boyfriend, Hallem?

I spent some more time outside and also started a soup for supper--Gypsy Soup from the Moosewood Cookbook. It is so yummy--chickpeas, sweet potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes and some interesting spices. We added some leftover pasta and some spinach from the garden and it was great. We had talked of going to the gymnastics meet, but Ray wanted to see Harry Potter at the dollar theater, so we ate a bit early and went to that.

There was a line, Saturday night, 7:00, but it moved along. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I spent my money, but I had only $2 and some change. Ray had none. He was quite annoyed, because he had asked me and I had assured him I had $9. He was able to scrounge enough from the car (parking meter stash) to pay for a second ticket (the dollar movie is $1.99). And we had almost $2.50 more. But the cheapest Coke is $3.50...

The movie was good--excellent special effects and the depressing brooding atmosphere of a world gone wrong. I found myself admiring the beautiful settings and thinking about the logistics of making the movie (gruesome makeup, love the clothes), rather than really getting into the movie, but I am not the target audience. Here is one of my quibbles--if they can transport themselves to anywhere in the blink of an eye, and carry around a giant tent and many other heavy items in a bottomless purse, why can't they solve all their problems? Once you start using magic as a literary device, where do you stop? Also, it just wasn't that fun to watch. I liked the McCarthy-esque witch hunt, in which people were accused of not being witches--as well as Hitler-style arrests for not being purebred. How about the cool, multi-room tent with wooden floor? And the strange, spontaneous dance sequence, choreographed just right to not seem like professional dancers, but two awkward friends.

When we got home, Ray made popcorn and then we had ice cream and cookies--all delicious, but not quite the same as having it at the movies. And not great for my digestion to eat so late at night. We were up until 10:40 (old time). I woke at 5:30 (old time, 6:30 new time), to roosters' crowing, even though it is still very dark.

The other thing I spent some energy on yesterday is fantasizing about opening a restaurant. I have a list of names and menu items. I figure we can make it friendly for knitters and maybe sell some craft items, too. And books and games on the walls? Cozy Corner...Mom's Cozy Corner...Treats from Days Gone By. How much money could I lose? I can freeze the cookies--buying ingredients will be the most expensive. Rent, utilities, publicity. $10, 000? It might be really fun. After the movie, I thought, yes, if there were a dessert place, we might very well go there. As Becky pointed out, I will have to learn to stay up late, at least until I have a reliable employee to lock up.

A good, productive day at "work." They had gotten software from Tech Soup, but the Activation Key didn't work, so all the software had a red bar saying, this software has not been activated--I was afraid it might stop working. You used to have only a certain number of uses (30?) before it wouldn't open. The Activation Key on the software package did not work and I couldn't find any information on the volumes of MS help, not even a phone number to call. But when I called Tech Soup, they said the information was in an email that they had sent. Nathan swore there was nothing in an email (this was in November), but they resent it, so I was able to follow the link and the instruction to get it working right on all the new computers.

I worked some on the bike ride fundraiser scheduled for May, including a phone conversation with another volunteer. And Nancy asked me to proofread and check a grant that was being submitted yesterday. It really felt like I was productive. The grant is for two full-time housing counselors. Of course, there is a question of whether the federal government is going to take away all CDBG funding, but it was still a good proposal. And Heather told me to check the paper on Sunday.

In other news, it was pretty cold here although sunny enough to be warm in the car. I made a shrimp and broccoli stir-fry from my iPhone, reminding me of Amelia, cooking from her iPhone. And listening to music. Ate, watched TV, went to bed by 9, read some. Woke up about 5. It's Saturday--pilates, maybe some gardening if it's warm enough, maybe the gymnastics meet at 4. Ray is off next week, although he will be working a lot. Maybe it will feel a little more relaxed around here.

I had a good talk with Heather about what I want to do. She is thinking: work with clients, volunteers, and grants. I said that sounded great. I said it was important to have a clear understanding of everyone's responsibilities. I did some preliminary work on a Mary Reynolds Badcock grant. They have an online form that you fill out and send in before doing a full-fledged grant proposal.

I had lunch with Becky again and it was great--I walked from the office. The temperatures were in the 50s and it was wildly windy in the afternoon. I didn't really have enough warm clothes, but it felt good to walk.

We didn't get home until almost 5:30, but I let the chickens out for a little bit. They absolutely didn't want to go back in. Ray and I spent quite some time shooing and corralling with sticks, but eventually they were persuaded. We had a quick and easy supper that used a cabbage from the garden that wintered over.

I went to a meeting of the Kenney Ridge Finance committee. I am the bookkeeper this year, which is not particularly difficult. There are only 4 meetings, so I should be able to handle it. Last night's was a little over an hour, but the rest should be even shorter.

We watched some shows and went to bed by 10. I have been dreaming a lot more than I usually do. Last night included some dreaming about coming back to the ASPIRE clinic and preparing a reception of some sort, even though every knew that the other candidate was chosen. There was also something about immigrants and a disaster. Dreams are so weird. But I didn't wake up until almost 7. Just feel a little off. Maybe breakfast and a walk will set me right.

Rain rain go away. It was gray and rainy when we walked yesterday morning. It wasn't raining much when I went to the Land Trust after I dropped Ray off. In fact, I didn't bring my umbrella in. I did bring my lunch--a sandwich on homemade bread. When I was ready to go, it was pouring. I actually couldn't leave when I wanted to, because I had left my purse etc at the desk where I usually sit, but the person in that room was meeting with someone with the door closed. I didn't want to interrupt; kept thinking she would be done soon. I mainly worked on the mailing list.

I went to Catherine K.'s house. She has MS and her mother had asked me to come over and see if I could fix her computer.  What she really meant is get her back on the internet. The computer is fine. Catherine knows more about her computer than her parents do, but none of them could tell me the name of the wireless network when I called. A network was showing up, but the password didn't work. Catherine's mother had given me the name of the man at PeachMac who had helped them set it up and I called there. He said the network started with H_ and so I knew that was not the one listed. Heather also pointed out that the iPad was working fine and wasn't it using the same network. I fiddled with the iPad a bit (fun!) and looked through a book Catherine had (iPad for Dummies), eventually determining that the iPad is much like a big-screen mobile phone and was accessing the internet through the phone line. I tried to call AT&T but got cut off when they were supposedly transferring me, so I gave up on that. I told Catherine and Heather they need a new modem.

I picked up Ray in the pouring rain and we went home, made a salad, went to potluck. One good thing: I talked to Kay about the installation reception. I dozed off in choir and we went home a little early. Ray stayed up late and I woke up early. I went in the other room to read and finally went back to sleep, after realizing I hadn't registered for unemployment compensation this week. My computer wasn't accessing the internet, so I had to go down to the basement and unplug the router before I could register. I am supposed to do it on Wednesday, but hopefully it won't be a problem.

Raining again. 

Yesterday's high point was Ray's birthday dinner at Last Resort, with the Captain and Vanessa and Becky and Kent. It was really fun; I'm not sure how we managed to spend so much, even with a $50 gift certificate. Ray had a drink and steak and wine and dessert. The tiramisu that Vanessa and I split was possibly the best I've ever had. At the end of the evening, the Captain and Becky were singing old songs that they both remembered the words to. Ray enjoyed himself and went right to bed. He really liked some of his birthday presents, especially the shoes Molli and Amelia (and Adrian) got him. They are slip-on shoes that are good for walking. (I was concerned because he has been walking in his boat shoes, rather than take the time to lace up his hiking boots.)

Other than that, I worked some at ALT, went to lunch with Becky and enjoyed the last meeting of the writing workshop--for now. Another one starts in 4 weeks and I am currently signed up for it. Hopefully, I will write some between now and then. There were some amazing things shared--including a woman who wrote she had been locked in a closet and tied to a bed by her wrists--I think as a child. She is a calm and dignified person--it is hard to imagine these horrible things were done to her. I urged her to share them with Project Safe. There were two or three works mentioning homelessness.

I spent some time nearly booking a flight to NY for spring break, leaving in 4 days. There were some fares that were a little less than what I originally found. But it seemed stressful and expensive and Ray needs to stay here and rest. Our chickens and our garden and the spring weather are all good reasons to stay close.

It wasn't rainy, cool and partly sunny. After I took Ray to work, I went to Small Group Ministry. There were two new members there, bringing the group to 9, which is great. They have some mental health issues and the facilitator had her hands full trying to conform to the structure of the group. It wasn't as enjoyable as other times, but it was still good to hear about people's lives. I tend to think of everyone as variations of me, but the focus of other people's lives can be very different. One person said she has a diagnosis of schizoprenia that she has been trying to fight.

I went to ALT and heated up my lunch, more chicken and spaghetti. Someone else (an intern?) was using my computer, so ended up sitting somewhere else. Worked on importing mailing list into ODB. Only 50 items imported. I will try to figure out how to get the rest. After working with GliftWorks for a few months at the Shelter, this seems out-dated and I can see some of the flaws.

I only stayed a couple hours, because I needed to buy a few things at Earth Fare before I picked Ray up. Came home, let the chickens out, admired the garden. Built a smoky fire. Made supper, watched TV, went to bed.

Yesterday morning I ate leftover mini-muffins (and yogurt and applesauce), walked the dog in the rain, bathed and dressed in black, and headed to the Fellowship. We sang and enjoyed the service. Afterwards, I talked to some people. I met my parents for lunch and invited Ange to join us. We said we would meet at Last Resort, but it was too crowded, so we went to Casa Mia instead. They had brunch. My parents met me at Ray's office, where we left one car for him, then drove me to the Classic Center.

There wasn't much I could do for a while, just waiting for the tech crew to set up. They had only had an hour to get ready. There is a church that meets there in the morning (who had left a lot of litter). Then there were some things that didn't work quite right. Eventually, we were set. A group of women performing a Zumba number ran through their routine first. Then we did a cue-to-cue for the contestants, getting a preview of the show (without costumes). I sat in the sound booth, following along on my script, with a headset on, telling the union sound man when to push play. He had to deal with adjusting the volume on the various mikes (and the video) and making sure everything worked right. Part of my job, it seems, is to be reassuring and calm that everything will be fine. I enjoy it and it is not very stressful, since this is my fourth year (I think).

There were many really good performances this year and it was a lot of fun. Joan spoke movingly about domestic violence--about a little boy who asked her to teach him taekwondo so he could keep his father from hurting his mother, for instance. Going into the show, they did not expect to make as much money as they had other years, because of the economy and the difficulty of maintaining the same level of excitement about an event like this. At the end of the night, we were all practically in tears. They raised over $92,000! I wish I could say I had come up with the idea, but I did have a small part in making it happen.

I visited Ray and my parents and lots of other people I knew during the two intermissions--and paid for 10 votes for my favorite couple, who started out gathered around a trash can, to the tune of "The Sun'll come out tomorrow..." and then changed to "Movin' on Up" from the Jeffersons. It was cute and they were having a great time. And she is white and he is black.

After the show, Ray and I went to the Last Resort for dessert with Becky and Kent. It was nice to have him home. I fantasized about a dessert restaurant, like we used to have--The Flamingo Room or Sweet Indulgences. I wondered if it would be possible to make a success of it.

It was after 11 when we went to bed and I woke dreaming of tragedy and homelessness. But all will be well. For me, anyway.

Yesterday morning I ate breakfast early, walked with Cameron in the cold rain out to get the newspaper and back. Took a bath, including washing my hair with my new Bumble and Bumble shampoo and conditioner. I packed up all my baked goods, taking some out of the freezer, talked to Ray on the phone from Cloudland Canyon. He is fine, although one of the students was so car sick, they had to stop twice for her to throw up. Poor kid. He is making pancakes for them about now.

I got to the Fellowship and there were already some visitors from other congregations, as well as many of ours. Coffee had been made and some breakfast items set out (Krispy Kreme donuts, which I did not taste). I added a few of my mini-muffins and kept watch to replenish as needed, but there wasn't much interest. I guess I wasn't feeling very sociable, because I stayed in the kitchen, greeting UUFA choir members as they arrived with their food and reassuring them that it would be reheated (or whatever). It was kind of amusing that whoever arrived started telling me about their dish (or asking me questions) just because I was standing around in the kitchen. I signed up for a morning and afternoon workshop and got my packet of music. It didn't seem like 100 people--I don't know if the rainy weather kept them away or 100 isn't that many.

A little before 10, Kay arrived to take charge of the kitchen. I helped her a little, putting silverware in baskets, before going to the opening. Amber said that one of the presenters had (abruptly) resigned from her job and they had to find others to fill in, just on Friday. Rev. Alison welcomed people and even led a workshop on music and ministry. I like her more and more. We sight-read several songs with Amber, Kathy and Kevin, before breaking for the morning workshop. I worked with Kathy and sopranos and altos on a song based on The Hobbit. It was fun to have someone else trying to coax the best sound from us, but, as usual, made me appreciate Amber even more. Kathy suggested we should sing like Julia Child and I should have liked her jokey style, but it didn't feel as affirming as Amber's.

I lined up first for lunch. There was tons of food, covering every surface in the kitchen. After I ate, I stood around to be useful, but there was really nothing that needed doing. In the afternoon session, I worked with Don, a young man who I liked even better, but still not as well as Amber. We learned a very difficult piece with syncopated rhythms--If you can walk, you can dance. We sight-read a lot more pieces, including a marriage song and a song about death, that both made me cry.

I had a lot of leftovers to take home--cookies, which will be great and keep well. Mini-muffins, which need to be eaten immediately and can't be refrozen. And one loaf of sliced bread I made Friday, that I put right into the freezer. I would normally be making pancakes this morning, but i just have to eat muffins before adding any more bread!

I got home about 3:30 and my parents had been there and brought in the mail and left some laundry. It was raining, sometimes lightly and sometimes more heavily. There was only one egg, so I didn't let the chickens out. I called my parents and they had gotten one egg. I rested a while, reading my book, and put away clean dishes and tidied a little. Then I headed to my parents to pick them up and drive to Hull. (I took them some mini-muffins).

We had dinner with a man named David and his step-son, Nasif. David's wife is Brazilian and she has been spending time with her father, who is sick. They would like to bring him to Hull, but he would not be eligible for Medicare and they would have to pay for any medical expenses out of pocket, which they cannot afford to do. So David and his stepson are in Hull, while she is in Brazil. They are quite lonely, being more liberal than most of the Hull residents. They have lived there less than 3 years. David taught physiology (?) at a medical school on Domenica for many years. Not sure if that is where he met his Brazilian wife, but they came to Hull because David's mother was dying here (I think). He spoke proudly of his mother, who dropped out of school at 15. At 76, when her second husband died, she went back to school, to college, and graduate school. Her master's thesis was an authorized biography of Buck Owen. They lived in Bakersfield, California--his mother and Buck. Not sure how they ended up in in Hull.

Dinner was delicious and was preceded by a Brazilian drink with a kind of sugar cane liquor, lime, sugar, and wine. I liked it quite well. We were joined by David's neighbor, Tammy, who has been a member of the Fellowship for years. She is a PA at the University health service. Naturally, we had a discussion of health care in the US, and the costs and prevalence of malpractice. The evening was quite pleasant and I was home by 9:30. I thought about TV, but went up to my bed and read instead. I couldn't quite finish my book before I fell asleep. During the night, I woke up several times to heavy rain, but finally didn't wake up until almost 7, when the sky was lightening (although still raining--no sunny heat for me today--I had to turn up the thermostat).

It is National Unplugged Day, from dusk yesterday to dusk today, originally based on interpretations of the Sabbath. I did not watch any TV or use the computer yesterday evening and I was trying to decide about blogging this morning, but I am not reading my email or going on the internet otherwise. I don't usually watch TV until evening anyway.

It was rainy all day and in the 40s and 50s. In the morning, I took Ray and his gear to his office. He got the van and should have left about 12:30 with the students, driving up to Cloudland Canyon near Chattanooga. I don't much like the thought of him driving a van full of students in the rain. He said there were enough professors that they would take turns, so that's good. I don't think the cell phone service is very good there, so I am not surprised I didn't hear from him.

I spent a couple hours at ALT, still playing around with Salesforce.com. Printing mailing labels from there is impossible; you have to export them and then merge them in Word. So I downloaded ODB and will see about using it. I talked to Nancy some and looked at the other things I am working on a little. I left at lunchtime and went home to my dog and my chickens and my house, even though it was cold and rainy. I did break down and put on the heat. I even got a smoky fire going that helped some. I made bread and ate leftovers for lunch and supper and washed my dishes. I listened to music and chatted with Molli and Amelia. I went out for a short walk after supper in the dusk with Cameron. Then I went upstairs and got into my nightgown and my bed and read some. I fell asleep about 8 and slept until after 5.

Went for a longer walk yesterday morning, then took Ray to his office. Worked at ALT, had a long lunch with Becky. Got the thank-you letters in the mail, although the postage machine and I don't seem to get along. Some of the letters were mailed with a copy of the program from the event, and they went through the machine all right, but the meter mark didn't show up. Nathan ran them again with the same result (.88 cents each wasted--hmm, money-saving postage meter?), and finally put stamps on them. I guess you can't put a note to the postal service that says, "we paid for these."

Picked Ray up after 4:30 and drove him to the library, where I picked up a couple fantasy books--kind of like comfort food to me. Went to pilates while he was at the Democratic Committee Executive Committee meeting. Only two of us in the class--a great workout. I have been having some trouble with my left arm and shoulder and she helped me with it. The most likely culprit seems to be the chair and computer setup at the Land Trust, which is kind of sad. I don't want to jeopardize my arrangement by complaining and I don't want to give it up, but I can't really just ignore continually worsening pain in my arm and back. I remember (during the night or early this morning) that I actually brought my own chair to the Shelter from home for similar reasons. I feel kind of funny asking them for it back... they may have gotten rid of it. It is awkward and seems a little petty, but if it saves my back, it is worth it.

Then I went back to the library and picked up Ray. We stopped at TransMet for supper. By now, it was almost 7 and I was starting to be stressed by not having eaten. I have read that diabetics should not go more than 5 hours without eating. I am not yet diabetic, but pre-diabetic, but I am trying to avoid actually getting the diagnosis, and following some of the guidelines. The pizza was delicious, but I hated getting home so late.

I spent some time on the computer and the phone, checking out fares to the northeast for spring break, now that I know I will not be working. But they are too high, no deals left this close to time. And since I am not working, we won't be going anywhere without a really good price.

I went to bed a little after 9 and read some of my new fantasy novel before I fell asleep. Unfortunately, I woke up again before 3, with my shoulder hurting and other things on my mind. So I went in the red room and read for a while and dozed some before getting up. Ray is packing for his trip to Cloudland Canyon with some of the students (and professors). When he goes there, I remember the time my sisters and I went there. It was really nice.

Worked on thank-you letters and the mailing list at ALT. Ate leftovers at my desk for lunch. Went to Earth Fare to buy groceries. Picked up Ray. Went home. Sunny and pleasant. The chickens were out. Captain and Vanessa were there.

Finished chili and made salsa for potluck. It was very well received (I didn't try it myself). I got a terse, bureaucratic, form e-mail telling me someone else was selected for the job at UGA. It's okay. Didn't fall asleep in choir. Watched a little TV.

Another warm morning. My Dad arrived before we even took a walk, to take a bath while Vanessa was at yoga, after a little time on the computer. The baby lettuces are looking good after the inch of rain we had. I picked some spinach and lettuce that had wintered over, and there are a couple cabbages I could harvest.

I dropped Ray off and was at ALT about 10. I worked a couple hours on the thank you letters and then went home for lunch, partly because the weather was so nice. My parents were just getting ready to go. I had leftover breakfast casserole for lunch and did some vacuuming, before getting back in the car to drive to the writing workshop. I felt bad because I had not really made time for myself to write this week. I'm unemployed and have no children to care for; it's not as if I am too busy. I just don't make time. I need to decide what's important to me. Obviously, planning meals and cooking are important. Walking is important. Apparently, watching TV is important.

Anyway, the workshop was relaxing and inspiring. This week's assignment is to spend some time in silence, an idea I have toyed with for years. There is a yoga group that holds silent retreats and I have been tempted to go. I think I might hate it. Am I afraid to be alone with my thoughts?

I picked Ray up and we came home. I had thawed chicken cacciatore for dinner and it was quite yummy. I made some more cookies too.

I watched a few things on TV and then came up to read for a while before bed. I fell asleep about 9:15, waking up several times when Ray came to bed and then got up about 4 or so, but I managed to stay in bed until after 6. It is starting to be a little light now and I feel great, although I have some aches in my back and left arm.

Chickens staying near the coop

The sky looked like this.

It was threatening to rain all day--heavy clouds and very windy. I worked at ALT for a couple hours, then went to lunch with Becky and Deb. It wasn't raining yet; we ate outside. More time at ALT in the afternoon, sat in on a conference call about some software to keep track of homes and homeowners. Picked up Ray before 4; went home and spent a little time outside with the chickens.

Funny story: my Dad called during the day to say he had stopped in at the house. He got an egg and stuck it in his pocket for safe-keeping. But apparently it wasn't very safe...made a mess in his pocket. He was just telling me for my records.

They stayed a little close to me since the weather was so wild. I put them up about 5:30 and went in, fed Cameron, and made some delicious supper. We had recorded the Oscars and only watched part of it the night before, so we watched the rest, skipping through the commercials. But it went on and on, I had trouble staying awake. And then, it turned out, the show ran over by 15 minutes, and the recording stopped. So, we didn't see the finale, even though I know the King's Speech won. Went to bed about 10.