Great thunderstorm last night; sounded like we got a good amount of rain. Unfortunately, I had trouble falling asleep and was reading until after midnight.

Captain and Vanessa came to church with us and enjoyed the service very much. It featured a South American band, Incatepec, with the choir joining on a few songs. Maybe you know Somos El Barco...? "Somos el barco, somos el mar, yo navego en ti, tu naveges in me...we are the boat, we are the sea..." There were some poems and readings about leaving your country and trying to live here. But of course, I needed to be there at 10 and the service doesn't start until 11. I was able to find someone from Kenney Ridge who was going to give my parents a ride, so that was good. But it just added one more stress to my day. I baked some cookies for the bake sale first thing while I was making the panakes. I am starting to feel like there is always something to make me tense...and that makes my back hurt. After the service, we went out to lunch, which was also pleasant.

Then a little quiet time, until Captain went out and picked beans and other things. I washed and cooked beans and froze some, and a few peas. After supper, I looked at recipes for this week and then watched a little TV.

Yesterday was busy. Ray and I took the lawnmower to be fixed--all the way to Winder. There's not a good place closer. My Dad wanted to take it to Watkinsville, but Ray thought it was better to take it to the place we bought it. We had to take the truck and the Captain wanted to drive it and was unhappy that I said we would go. It may be a couple weeks before it's ready and the grass is already way too tall.

Then we had to rush home and switch cars to get to Pilates a few minutes late. There was a substitute teacher who wasn't bad, but I like Amanda, our regular instructor--not that she isn't allowed to go out of town for the weekend. We stopped at the Farmer's Market on our way home for bread and potatoes.

Then we were home for awhile. We had a light early supper of steamed veggies and salad before heading to the Roller Derby. Captain had wanted to go for while and I got an email about volunteering for it, so we went for it. Ray and I were supposed to be there at 5:30, although there wasn't much for us and the other volunteers to do, except get ready for the intermission entertainment. We brought chairs and set them up for Vanessa and the Captain. They sat right in front at the corner and were at risk of having someone in their lap, but it didn't quite happen. Ray and I ate hot dogs and French fries and even snow cones! It was really hot in there and the snow cone was cool. At half time, we distribute glow bracelets to the children who participated in the hula hoop contest, and gave out water bottles to ones we identified as winners. It made me miss my little girls--I could have brought you home a glow bracelet! We saw a few people there we knew, including the mayor, but it was mostly a pretty different crowd. It was fun that we knew one of the Classic City Roller Girls--Cindy Wunder. But it was a little stressful; it seemed likely that she would get hurt. An interesting and intense sport that I know a lot more about now. Lots of officials and a commentator. Silly names, like Poke a Dot and Hella Blitzgerald. Outrageous costumes, involving short shorts and fish nets--one of the opponents had silver hot pants or booty shorts as Jenna Black's mom said.

On our way home, we stopped at Dairy Queen to get milkshakes at Vanessa's request.

I slept fine until I woke at 4 from a bad dream. I was traveling across country by bus and was pleasantly surprised at how nice the bus was and how fast it was going. My Mom wanted me to get off at one of the stops. Not sure if she was in the bus with me, or outside waving me down. Anyway, I got off without anything, my purse or suitcase or even my phone--and the bus left without me. I couldn't find an office to ask about it and I was stuck somewhere with nothing. I woke up sweating and shaky. It's funny what seems like a nightmare, the content is less important than the feeling. Do you think it means I feel like my life is out of control???

I was awake a little in the night, but now it's starting to be light, it's a little cooler and it's nice to be Saturday. I admit to a little retail therapy yesterday. Becky called me as I was about to leave work. "I'm at Coldwater Creek and everything is 50% off!" I called Ray to say, "Shall I come pick you up or shall I go to Coldwater Creek with Becky?" "Do that one," he said. So I did. We tried on lots and lots of thing and advised each other and finally had to whittle down what were actually going to buy. I bought several skirts and one t-shirt. It will be fun to have plenty of skirts to choose from. They are definitely cooler for summer.

My office is quite hot. It is a cinder-block building and I insist the thermostat not be set below 78, since I pay the bills, including the electric bill, which is many hundreds of dollars. When I get there in the morning, it is hot and stuffy. I put on the fan. If it feels cool, I check and see if the thermostat needs to be turned up. When the air starts running, it is not too bad. But by mid-afternoon, it is really hot and I am glad I get to leave.

I wish Molli were here. I would have bought her some things at Coldwater Creek for her birthday yesterday. It used to be, I would say she could look through what I bought and pick out a few things for herself. But now she has lost so much weight, she needs a smaller size. I will say, the extra larges were a little loose on me, so I got some larges. The only thing I tried on that was too small was an XS mislabeled as an XL... usually some things that should fit are too tight, so that was encouraging.

I spent most of the day working on the newsletter, a very tedious but eventually satisfying activity. Trying to fit everything on four pages (really only 3; have to leave room for the address) requires editing and changing the size of everything and rearranging. Meredith was working from home preparing a presentation; she has a grant workshop this morning. So it was a little more relaxed at the office and less distracting.

Ray and I had a nice lunch and then I bought some things at Target for work: baby carrier, answering machine, milk...

We were thinking of going to Town & Gown's opening night for Carousel, but it was sold out. All four of us stayed up until 9:30 watching the spelling bee on TV--kind of nerdy fun. I think I was the first one to fall asleep.

just a quick word because I'm running late. We babysat for Amber and Flip last night, starting at 9. They just went out for a drink and some adult time. The children were asleep and we watched the end of a video we had started the other night. This is when I hate living in Georgia. Hot and humid every day. Too hot to cook. Too hot to be outside....

Work went pretty well. M. asked me to format the newsletter and work on the financial policies. Paid some bills (beginning of the month). Went to a training about leadership, which didn't teach me anything new. Lots of books and resources talk about having a mentor. I would love one...but it's not that easy to find. I once asked Gwen O'Looney to be my mentor, if I remember right. I think she said she didn't have time... Most of the people I know in my field are significantly younger than me... hmm...

My father had a minor accident Wednesday night. I suggested he cut back on his driving. He was very unhappy and blamed me for making him feel worse. Pointed out that I had an accident not long ago, so maybe I should cut back on my driving...

foggy and groggy this morning. Thunderstorms made my alarm clock blink all night. weird dreams and a slow start.

Yesterday? I can't remember....Choir rehearsal: I kept falling asleep. We are singing Sunday with Incapotec (not quite right, some South American musical group from Athens), very fun: drums, bass, saxophone...but the choir members don't really know the music. I missed a few weeks of rehearsals too. I am sure it will be fun. Elizabeth is worked up about the Israeli attack...I agree with her, it's terrible. She was giving out postcards and I signed one, to send to the president objecting to our giving them aid. I made the bean snap. Ray was setting up his computer. He got a new one at work and brought the old one home, so that's pretty fun and he'll be able to work at home as much as he wants.

My favorite thing at work yesterday? I went to Manning Brothers and bought new plates, bowls, cups, utensils for the residents. Some of the ones we have may not go in the dishwasher, so I bought enough for everyone. I couldn't get everything in 6 colors, but hopefully it will work out. The different colors help us to keep track of who is leaving dishes in the sink.

I had a webinar in the morning about Pathways, the software used in Georgia to keep track of information about homeless people. It is required when you get money from HUD. I used it before, but it's been a few years, so have to take New User Training. I couldn't hear her very well and there was a lot of keeping  attendance and other stuff. The nice thing about a webinar is you can do other things at the same time. I looked through a lot of old stuff on my desk for filing or throwing away.

Nothing more to report. Gray and overcast, but not too hot yet!

Foggy again this morning; very humid and not great for sleeping. I had weird dreams about travel and yard sales...staying with people I didn't know. Chris was there...he's been on my mind lately, I guess because of his birthday and his upcoming bike trip.

Yesterday was the first day of June. Time to do reimbursements and other new-month work. I didn't go to lunch, planning to go home early but somehow didn't leave until 3.

It rained early and late, but there was enough hot sunny weather for the Captain to be out working and getting exhausted. He was too tired and busy to pick chard, but my mother did it. I was surprised and impressed. Spent a while standing at the sink cleaning the chard thoroughly, piece by piece. I decided Monday that I need to wear shoes when I'm working standing up to help my back. It seems to make a difference.

Vanessa spent some time looking at the pictures from the trip and then some of the old pictures I have. I finished the first sleeve and started the second.

Yesterday turned out to be fun. I called Becky and Kent and Deb and John and they all said, yes, they could come for dinner, including Lara! Becky got some ground turkey and beef to make burgers and we thawed a second package of shrimp. We heard about Lara's graduation (Arnold Schwarzenegger was the speaker) and watched videos from Deb & john's trip to Taiwan. We drank two of the bottles of French wine and it tasted pretty good. One was the Chateau Ventenac that the Captain bought  6 bottles of and the other  was the Corbieres. I liked the Corbieres better, but it was 2009; he liked the Ventenac better...John & Debbie brought some US red as well, and some Terrapin beer. I made foccaccia--it was pretty easy and delicious.

It rained off and on all day, sometimes misting, sometimes thundering and lightning. We got in a walk in the morning, after I made some blackberry muffins with the last of the blackberries from the freezer. The Captain managed to spend some time working in the garden, but it was too wet for me. He picked some more peas and I shelled them, cooked them, and threw them in the potato salad. He also picked more lettuce for a green salad and I made dressing. But I don't know what I did all day. Looking through cookbooks some, I even dozed a little.