Ray is headed to the coast with students. Unfortunately, it is supposed to be rainy and cool. He is a little stressed, gathering the ingredients for pancakes and other breakfast items and packing them in the cooler. He needs things for the lesson as well: a folding shovel, flags, a compass...things he has had and can't find. Maybe they are at his office, he can't locate them in the garage. Of course, he needs personal things too: a towel, insect repellent. Finally he tears off in the truck, hopefully with everything he needs. Because there is a home football game tomorrow, he can't park the truck at his office over the weekend. I would happily drive him in, but he will probably get back very late Sunday (11 pm?) and doesn't want me to have to come get him then. He will leave the truck at my Dad's and either take a bus or have someone drop him off there and then drive home.

I take my walk with the dogs. I walk a mile every morning. It is not very hard, especially as the weather is cooling down. I often don't feel like doing it, mostly because I am thinking of other things I need or want to do. But then I think of my Mom, who did this same walk many days, even though it was much harder for her. She thought is was very important for her health. I do it in her memory and so that I may be even healthier at 83 than she was.

Some mornings I do some gardening after the walk, but today is pretty hot and I have somewhere to go, so I don't stay outside. I feed the dogs their breakfast and go in. I have laundry to hang out, that I washed yesterday. Ray usually does it, but it can't wait until Monday! There is a big spider on the clothesline. I keep moving the line and she keeps scurrying out, trying to keep from being crushed by the pulley. I don't want to crush her either, but I don't want her to fall on me or jump in my direction! She's really big! A big insect flies past me. It is a praying mantis and it lands on the side of the house, lime green. They are good, in that they eat lots of insects. This one is injured; I think it is missing a front leg. I'm pretty sure it's the same one I accidentally caught in a window when I was closing it. I heard a crunch and opened it again and it fell to the ground. I'm glad (she?) is still alive and hopefully eating bugs, and maybe laying eggs. It takes a little longer than usual to hang out the clothes, since I am trying not to crush the spider, but I get them all out. It is a warm and sunny day, so they will dry easily.

Then I go upstairs to bathe. Yes, I really take a bath almost every morning. It is an extravagance and I feel a little guilty about using so much water. It is my meditation or therapy...and the water is heated by the sun, so at least I'm not using electricity for that. I don't usually stay in very long, but it is relaxing even for a few minutes, and I think it is good for me.

I dress carefully, choosing khaki pants and and orange shirt--something for Fall. I grab a brown jacket to look professional, but not too formal. I close up the windows and curtains before I leave the house, keeping the cool air in and the sun out. I grab an apple, not really enough for lunch, but better than nothing. I don't have anything to make a sandwich with and don't think I'll have a good way to heat up leftovers for lunch. Besides, I may be able to meet Becky or someone else for lunch.

I close the dogs in and get in the car with my briefcase/pocketbook....