birthday swim at Horsehead Beach

OK, I'm way behind...and today is not the day I'm going to fill you in. I'm behind on my school work, too. It rained off and on all day yesterday and last night. It's very dark, even though it's after 6:30.

I finished my book review last night, which I will present today in class. I have reading to do and I have an assignment for tomorrow's class (that was due last week).

wind patterns in the sand of the empy parking lot

view from Dinda's

birthday lunch--clams and lobster

wild turkeys

I had a good trip and I'm glad to be home with hubby.

Some pictures from the first weekend, where we buried my Mom's ashes and went to my cousin's daughter's wedding at the Rod and Gun Club in Maynard, are gone. My phone jumped out of my pocket into the ocean Sunday evening when I was canoeing. It was really dumb of me to take it, and especially leave it in my pocket while I was paddling. The good news is that I was able to get an upgrade, so I have a 4S now, a "better" phone, and it only cost me...$178. The phone is $99, a deal, but there is a big tax on phones in Massachusetts, plus I bought a case, plus the $36 upgrade fee...

Weather was not great most of the time, but I love having a view of the ocean. My Dad and I played Scrabble three times. Once he won by a lot, twice I won by a little.

Last weekend I spent with 4 close friends from college. We lived on the same hall freshman year, most of us got married right after graduation and went to each other's weddings. That was before Facebook and we haven't done a great job of keeping in touch. Two are divorced, two are very wealthy, all of us have kids, but only one has grandchildren. One lives in California, one in Pennsylvania, one in NY, and one in Massachusetts. Katie invited us to her family's summer home in Rhode Island. It is gorgeous, many rooms with private baths, and a public area with a stone fireplace, and tons of windows with ocean views in every room. Katie and I went swimming on the last day, in spite of the weather. She has two Newfoundlands. One is only three months old. They are big, but gentle and pretty darn lovable, except for the slobber. Only Katie doesn't ever tell them no. So they will steal food off the table or counter if you turn your back. Or go in your purse to eat snacks if you don't keep the door closed.

rainy view from Katie's house in Rhode Island

Claire and Deb

The puppy, Blue

The  traveling went well, but I was pretty worn out when I got home. I forgot to mention that I had a bad cold from the day before we left, the kind where you take cough medicine and eat cough drops and don't sleep very well. I am pleased, though, that no one else apparently caught it from me.