Mid-Summer Musings

It's July 8. I have been on summer vacation for 6 1/2 glorious weeks, with 5 or 6 left to go. It has been wonderful.  Since my last post, Beau Sadler and Hunter Mahan have arrived.  Beau came on April 22, and Hunter came on June 3. They are perfect and precious.  I've been to Broomfield 3 times since then; first, to help when Beau came; second, to attend my last nephew's graduation, and third, in mid-June to stay with Hunter and his family for a lovely long weekend. (That was Frederick, technically, not Broomfield!). And I just got back from 4 days in Utah, spending the 4th of July with Holly, Eric, Lisa, Hondo and the girls. Michael had the holiday off, so I took the train from Grand Junction on Wednesday night (quite the adventure--it was delayed over 5 hours, so I didn't arrive in Provo until 2:30 a.m.!) and he drove to Orem on Saturday morning.  We all watched fireworks together, BBQ'd several times, and just enjoyed being together!

I think I'm on post-trip letdown.  I've spent today a little restless and perturbed. Oh, I got several things done around the house....that merry-go-round never stops....but I wanted something more.  Don't you just hate it when there are projects you know you want to get done, but you have zero motivation to do them?  That list is extensive.  I should write it down somewhere and post it on the frig...maybe that will motivate me.  Phhhhhttthttht.

Part of my problem is that my brain is starting to think ahead to the new school year.  STOP IT! I'm sure it stems from the fact that I'm doing summer library every Tuesday, so my body never fully checks out of the facility. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love doing it, and surprisingly, it doesn't make me feel like I never left--I still feel like I'm getting in plenty of summer. However, I'm thinking ahead and pondering things like what kind of a display I'd like to set up for Back-to-School night, and how I can find a way to fund my book purchases for the coming year. Not much I can do to prepare for them now, so I wish my brain would put them on hold.

I should give a little update on the dogs.  Josie is still with us. She and Viva had one more huge fight a few weeks ago, when Michael and I were both out working in the yard.  The circumstances were similar to the Easter weekend brawl....two or more people out in the yard with them, and she just suddenly turns and attacks Viva.  I had the hose (I was washing windows), but spraying them did nothing.  Finally Michael picked up Josie by the skin at her neck and haunches and threw her over the fence into our neighbor's yard. So I went online to post a request for a new home for her.  Squat. But here's the thing.....my niece Lily suggested a Facebook page for animals in CO that need new homes. Well, I posted a listing for her, but it was downright depressing.  It is frightening how many animals are out there that need new homes.  And maddening how many people use that page to further their own causes--some advertising their pet-related businesses, and some just climbing on their soapbox to judge those who are trying to do right by their animals.  It was too much.  I removed Josie's ad, and here she still is.  I decided that we will just make adjustments, starting with not ever allowing the two of them to be together whenever two or more people are outside. We'll either put both of them in the house--Josie in our room with the door closed, and Viva in the living room--or we'll let one stay outside and the other inside.  I'm sick of it. I don't want either of them anymore, but I can't find them new homes, and I won't have them put down.  If there's another attack, however, I may change my mind, no matter how much the people at the vet's office try to convince me otherwise.

One last happier thought--I am thoroughly enjoying our Mahan Girls' Book Club.  It is so fun to all read something together and then do a group face time to discuss it.  I look forward to it each month.  It's harder for a couple of them to get the books read on time, but it's so much fun to be sharing.  I have bright, intuitive daughters, and it's a pleasure to listen to them analyze and express their feelings about the books. Another area where modern technology can improve relationships and help expand our horizons!

There.  Are we good for a while?  I think I am...now to go start that rackin', sackin', frackin' list of projects to get done before summer disappears........ wish me luck.