Sometimes, like yesterday, I feel like my life is so routine, there is really no need to write it down. It's not a bad life, it's just fairly predictable. Get up, work on the computer until it gets light, eat breakfast, go for a walk, pick tomatoes, go to work at the Land Trust. Thursday, I did a couple minor things that people asked me to (like finding out where to recycle styrofoam), and picked up the lawnmower at the repair shop).

Yesterday, I spent hours on the phone with HP, trying to figure out how to get our new computer connected to the internet. Eventually, the technician, who had a heavy Indian or Pakistani accent, said he would send packaging and a shipping label so we could return it. In between, I had to perform all kinds of tests, includling creating a diagnostic CD (fortunately, Nathan was able to get me a blank CD). Several times, I was on hold while he checked with a supervisor, who was the one who finally told me the instructions for returning it. The ethernet card, which is integrated into the motherboard, appears to be defective. After they receive the computer, which is after they send us the return label and packing materials, they will fix it in 7-10 business days. He did offer to cut that time in half for an additonal charge. I laughed and said, "no, I am not going to pay you to repair the brand-new computer that we bought from you but doesn't work." Fortunately, ALT will be able to manage, although it will be nice to have it. The other thing I did yesterday is drive to the recycling center, a little ways out, to take the styrofoam packing materials. Turns out it is not really styrofoam, but plastic, and they do not recyle it. They did take it, however, for some special need, fortunately.

Ray and I went to the pool yesterday. I got tired of swimming pretty quickly, I guess because it has been a while. It was pleasant to sit there in the shade. 

We were home by 4:30. I spend a lot of time and energy on eating these days. Ray and I are trying to eat a lot less carbs and it seems to require an incredible amount of planning. Plus we are eating garden produce as much as we can. Quick, what can you make using tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes) and chard, but no pasta or tortillas? And plenty of protein, but no red meat. It's hard, if you are trying not to use processed foods and to eat good and interesting things. I read cookbooks for hours. We made tomato sauce with ground beef for the freezer. I peeled the tomatoes (by dunking them in boiling water and then cold water) and Ray cut them up, as well as the other ingredients and started cooking it. In addition, I made an eggplant omelet. It was okay, but eggplant sauce with pasta is so much better. And, of course, cooking requires cleaning up, which he does generously and graciously. The meat sauce was too hot to stick in the freezer last night; we left it to cool. It should be okay this morning.