Had some more fun, yesterday. It was time to go on a search for as local a stained glass supplier as I could find, and landed on a couple only about 30-40 minutes from home in north Auburn. They're not Big City, but definitely sufficient. It was nice to meet some new glass people and pick up a few things.
Then I continued on into Sacramento. Friend Clay was in town for meetings, so we'd planned to meet for dinner so that I could get the Ultimate European Vacation Report, Deluxe Edition. He and Tyler, freshly graduated from high school, had a 26-day adventure in the Old Countries in true Clay fashion. Before he left, he sent out detailed itineraries, so that, at any given moment, it would be possible to pinpoint a near-exact location and sight-seeing agenda. And, with a few minor exceptions, they kept to the program: Rome, the Dalmation Coast, Slovenia, Paris, D-Day Land, southern England.
Actually, a couple of Tyler's friends joined up with them, toward the end, and Clay went off on his own for nearly a week in England, hoofing it from village to village, through copse and hedgerows, sheep and cows, finding whatever accommodations that were available. The boys did their own thing elsewhere, for awhile. A lovely way to travel, I think. Only once, did he almost have to sleep on outside under a tree.
I heard the great stories and saw the pictures (he'd brought the laptop) as we hung out at a sidewalk table at Paesano's for nearly four hours. I had been prepared for typical summer inferno, but it's been quite temperate AND NOT SMOKY in the Valley for a few days, and it was perfect weather for sitting outside under the trees (have I mentioned that Sacto is "City of Trees"?). I took the camera, but completely spaced. No pics of Clay :o( Here's a picture of Dubrovnic I found that was similar to one he took.
So, after some deadly chocolate torte, I got Clay to the airport in the nick of time. We're not doing a backpacking trip together, this summer, so I'm glad we got to hang out for a bit, anyway.
It was a lovely drive home, sunset to stars, singing along with the Jennys...
You might already know something about the glass artist Dale Chihuly. He works in hot glass (the melted kind) and for many years, now, has produced the most amazing, colorful, fanciful, magical glass installations you can imagine! I've been to a couple of his exhibitions, before, and have seen TV programs and videos of his working processes. Therefore, when I heard that there was to be an exhibit at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, I knew we had to make it a priority. 
On Sunday, Tom and I drove to San Francisco to see Dylan and Chihuly. Dylan is training for a triathlon (unlike Chihuly, no doubt), and had been swimming and biking all morning, so he was tired, already, by the time we hooked up, but we dragged him along, anyway (and he was glad we did!).
I'm posting random shots that I took of the wonderful colors and textures (that's Dylan in the pink one). There's no way to accurately represent the show, of course. Most of the rooms were darkish and featured different phases of Chihuly's professional journey in glass art, arranged and lit for maximum effect. They've got the art of displaying the art honed to perfection. Some rooms were Dr. Seuss, others Hubble telescope. Even with the huge crowd, the works were entirely mesmerizing.
And there was a crowd. We had a leisurely lunch, then we ambled over to the Museum,s innovative new building, thinking we could just waltz in and check out the Chihuly in our own sweet time. Here's a handy tip: if you plan to go on a weekend, anyway, order your tickets ahead of time. They allow only so many (too many) folks in at a time and the admission lines were discouraging, at first. Dylan found a shorter line downstairs, and so we got a 3:00pm slot, having arrived around 1:30. But, it's OK because we had other options to explore. It's an eclectic collection they have at the de Young. Textiles to antiquities. 
Sculpture to paintings--a nice assortment to see. Plus, there's a very cool observation tower/gift shop at the top (as opposed to the lobby/gift shop, or the textile-exhibit/gift shop, or the bathroom/gift shop--no gift shop opportunity has been overlooked). It was a cold (seriously!), gray day, but, even so, the view was terrific.
So, do it. It will lift your spirits. Tickle your fancy. Blow your mind. Raise your consciousness. Warm the cockles of your heart. And cost only $15. Chihuly is showing until the end of September. Here's the de Young site: http://www.famsf.org/ Check it out. Oh, and there's a very cool permanent Andy Goldsworthy piece in the entrance patio on an "earthquake" theme. What more could you want?
We work at home. At our house, we need four distinct work areas. One for Tom, three for me. I gleefully hog most of the work space, around here. Tom's lofty office was our first task. One day, we'll even finish it (it's about 80%), but he can function pretty well up there, now. Then, around March, or so, my indoor "clean" (somewhat of a misnomer) studio was ready for occupancy. It's where I can work on calligraphy, painting, etc (and I have been--watch soon).
But this last week, Big Progress was made on the two other areas I demand for my working well-being! 
You know about the shop. We had the trenches for the electrical conduit dug a month, or more, ago. Then, the basic wiring went in. But it took awhile to rearrange (for about the 38th time) all the junk in there so that the lights, outlets and switches could be installed. Now we have those things and we are so happy with the results! It's so bright in there! Today, we finished assembling the glass work table and I unpacked all of my glass and equipment and arranged it all in the spaces. So cool! In addition to glass work, we're planning woodworking and ceramics areas. If I can, I'd also like to save a corner for some printmaking, as well. 
The hardest problem, actually, has been what to do about a sewing area--especially the fabric-storage issue. I have an enormous quantity of fabric, accumulated over the years of stage design and banner-making.
Last week, I finally unpacked it, refolded it, and crammed it all into the shelving, drawers, closet and under the bed in one of the guest rooms. It fits! Just barely, but good enough. I have a peaceful, easy feeling about once again having access to my wonderful fabric (ahh)! One small problem remains--where to do the actual sewing. Haven't yet figured out where I will set up the machines. Hm.
It's quite wonderful to have finally set my materials free from their cardboard bonds! It's like having brand new stuff--like opening Christmas presents! Who knew I had so much clear textured glass?! There remains a bit of, uh, organization in the shop, as you can clearly see, but it feels more and more like home...
Rachel stopped by for a quick visit on her way from the Sacto airport to Truckee, yesterday afternoon. So we hung out a bit at the second Nevada City street festival. 
Got some munchies, looked at art, bought some cheese, ogled at old cars, listened to music. It was fun. Here are some pics. Rachel was planning to pick up a friend at the Reno airport around 11, which became 1am, then later. Have no idea when her friend actually arrived, last night, but it was all due to Dolly wreaking havoc in Texas...
Also, just one more photo of a long-neglected (like, in the snow) plant gift that decided to make another appearance of its own accord. I had no idea what would pop out--a beautiful yellow calla lily! On the other side of horticultural irony, the eighty little seedling I've been coddling along for three months, are almost all kaput (sigh). Eighty potential herbs, heirloom tomatoes, beans, cukes, watermelons, etc.
One little pathetic bean seedling even produced a measly little bean from its little peat pot prison. So valiant! The irrigational system in the garden is really just about done, but so many other things have been, well, taking up time, and, oh well...I'll get some more planted soon. But, hey, the berries are going pretty well! Seriously! I mean it!
Deep breath! Ahh! It's not crispy clear again, yet, but the air is greatly improved in the last 10 days. This morning, the Union reported that there are only 33 active fires left of the nearly 2100 that started from the electrical storm on June 21. 33! We can handle that number blindfolded with one hand tied behind our backs! Walking backwards! With teaspoons!
They (those Guys That Keep Track of Stuff) say that it these fires comprised the biggest Fire Event in recorded California history. Amazing, since I remember a certain fire in 03 near San Diego that turned day into night in a few hours. There were firefighters from all 50 states and many other countries, including Australia and Russia (Russia?) working up here this last month. And I had no idea that there was a retrofitted DC10 retardant bomber in the arsenal. You can aim with that thing? And what IS that orange junk they throw around so profusely? (must google...)
Actually, it's people like us, living out here in the boonies, that make this a problem in the first place, of course. This area--indeed, most places in the West--should burn, now and then. But, of course, we want it then, not now. The ideal would be a low fire (stays on the ground) whipping through here every few years. 
That's why we're asked to clear low brush and branches from our land (ladder fuels), to keep the fire from climbing trees and destroying them. We've got some more work to do, I'll have to say. It's why a Big Hungry wood-chipper is pretty high on our wish list. Our house is metal-clad and we have a 2500 gal. water tank (with fire hose spigot) nearby, which will help, but, well, as I said, we have to burn some calories out there so that our house doesn't.
Meanwhile, here are some random, completely-unrelated photos of patio flowers I took, recently. I planted some succulents, some of which can be seen in this cute little dish garden (the lovely pot was given to me by Friend Ruth). Fire safe, for sure, those succulents. And they look like alien life forms, some of them. Then there are my little Columbines. This kind (Crimson) are native around here, and I bought it at a local nursery. 
The Oriental Lilies are reblooms from a Mother's Day gift from Dylan, last year. I totally ignored them out on the deck, until they started to sprout, again, this spring. So, don't throw those babies away, after they've faded! It was a fun surprise! I have some yellow Calla lilies following suit. I just love stuff that thrives on neglect!
So, on with the day! I can hear the murmuring--"what's going on with the electricity in the shop?" What a coincidence! Happens to be my next topic...
So, what's gotten into us? Though we've always loved live music, we haven't often spent the time (or $) to go hear it. Granted, we were, ourselves, making quite a lot of it at church and church-related venues, but besides that, it was rare for us to go out to hear a person or group perform. For our Dylan and Rachel, on the other hand, clubs, concerts and festivals have been an integral part of their lives.
But, here, in Nevada County, live music almost comes up to your door and drags you out to hear it. You'd have to be a hermit to avoid it. It's at the Fairgrounds, the Miner's Foundry, the street festivals, the gas stations (well...). It seems that where there are more than 10 people gathered at any one time, there's some kind of live music going on. Classical to Hawaiian, it's around somewhere nearby.
Last Saturday, I reported that we'd gone to the KVMR anniversary celebration to hear a few bands (some snappy Reggae, among others). Then, when Tom was gone, this week, I took myself on over to both Nevada City's and Grass Valley's Street Fair/Growers' Market parties. GV's happens every Thursday evening. NC's is bigger, but only Wednesday nights in July. We go to all of 'em. They all have lots of music, from Rock to Jazz to Folk to a Guy With A Guitar Doin' His Own Thing. 
Grass Valley had Great America Taxi (some leftover Leftover Salmon sounds) and several other bands, last week. Nevada City (a long walk away) led with Masang Marimba Ensemble and about four other musical groups (all playing simultaneously) plus the ever-present belly dancers and Amazing Yo-yo Guy (he really is amazing!).
I was so impressed with the Marimbas, that, I dragged Tom over to see them Friday night at the Miner's Foundry. So much fun! They are the teacher and various students (from the last several years) of a class at Northridge State. It was a combo of African and Central American music. They brought with them, two Zimbabwean dancers, who tore it up! Tom enjoyed it, as well, and (I'm not making this up, a la Dave Barry) was almost ready to get up and dance with the rest of us. Next time could be it!
The California World Music Festival was at the Fairgrounds Thursday through Sunday. We attended on Saturday. It was the Pinnacle of Our Live Music Week. No! It was the Pinnacle of Our Live Music Experience, maybe! Seriously! 
There we were, sitting in our lawn chairs, a few feet from the outdoor stage and the microphones of the Wailin' Jennys, some of our favorite performers of all time!. And that was just after (sitting in the same lawn chairs in front of the same stage), listening to Moira Smiley and Voco, another one of our top groups (wrote about them in December after a concert in the Odd Fellows Hall in NC). We followed both groups around all day, to different stages, and filled in the gaps with some interesting Vietnamese music, nan wraps and Lazy Dog ice cream. It was a wonderful day! 
We chatted a bit with both groups (I thought of so many interesting questions AFTERwards, of course) and snapped some pictures. But the music! I'm a total harmony junkie--and Tom is a total chord junkie--related obsessions! And these groups are the Ultimate Fix! Beautiful and interesting music! Since I can't say enough about them, I'll quit trying, but check them out, if you haven't already. Do it!! Here are their websites: http://www.thewailinjennys.com/ http://www.moirasmiley.com/
I hope our kids are proud!
Many days are like packages that, when opened, contain the stuff that you have put in the box, yourself--the chores, the meals, the work. But sometimes, there are little surprises tucked inside.
This morning, having neglected a certain birthday gift purchase almost too long, I dashed over to the Ben Franklin store for some things I'd planned to pick up for weeks, but for which I hadn't made the time. After I'd chosen the items and lolligagged in the yarn and art supplies for awhile, I went to the bead section to find something for a basket, maybe.
As I was perusing, an older woman--it turned out she was 75--mentioned the high prices and suggested a better source for such things at a big discount (http://www.firemountaingems.com/). I asked her if she made jewelry (I ask the critical questions--she was generously adorned), to which she answered in the affirmative (duh), and which kick-started a conversation that covered many subject areas from airline travel to crocheting to her background in software programming for NASA). 
She, then, opened up what I supposed was her purse (a very reasonable assumption), but which turned out to be her traveling jewelry kit (her actual "purse" is her pocket--much safer when she travels). She showed me a little zippered pouch containing about 10 tiny ziplocks, each with a pair of earrings inside. I oohed and aahed. Then told me to choose one. Of course, I politely declined-- repeatedly. Oh, no, I couldn't possibly...But she insisted, so I chose a nice pair with silver and hematite beads. As she pulled it out for me, she explained that she loves to give earrings away to folks: people she meets or who wait on her in some way. In her kit, she carries the findings and tools that allow her to change the top of the earrings if the recipient might prefer a different style (posts to french hooks, for example). She figures she gives away about 1000 pairs a year. We chatted a few more minutes, then she wished me a good day and went off to the check-out counter.
Jewelry-making and crocheting keep her mind off of various kinds of chronic body pain, she told me. But, I'll bet that the fruits of her labors and her generosity also assuage others' pain, as well, from time to time. I hope to bump into her, again, soon. I could use something with a little green in it...
The air is better, today. Tom is in that air on the way to Ontario, as I write (Tues. afternoon). Brother Ken is having heart valve surgery, tomorrow. We're expecting everything to go fine and hoping for a quick recovery, of course.
Meanwhile, here are some random pictures taken the last few days...
We went to the street market in GV, Thursday evening. There was a pretty good Beatles-imitation band playing and I know how folks love photos of fruit.
Saturday, we went to part of the 30th anniversary party of the local Pacifica radio station (read somewhat left of, uh, the Left), KVMR ("30 years in your ears"). 
They curtailed the outdoor part due to the smoke, but there was constant live music inside the Miner's Foundry--and a fencing demo (the kind with swords). Our favorite band was Mystifya ("mystify ya"), a reggae group. Lots of people were dancing around. Now, I am all for dancing. I am. I wish I did it more. I hope I will. I think it's great to be able to express one's self through movement of the body. 
So much of that has been lost in our culture over the centuries. But I have to say that some folks' dancing tells me more than I want to know. Just sayin'.
Sunday, it was off to see WALL-E. Of course, I loved it. Tom did too, though he has just a bit more trouble suspending his cynical side than I do. Loved the art, the humor, the message, the whole package. I WALL-owed in WALL-E. Gonna buy it, so's I can check out all the funny little visual references wedged in all over the place. I'm an animation aficionado, anyway, and this is a pinnacle. Great fun!
Today, I'm beginning to tackle the Fabric Problem. More about that, next...
Hoo! Smoky! Cooler, but perhaps the smokiest day since this all started nearly three weeks ago! 90 was the high, here, today.
Meanwhile, back at the Police Blotter,
"3:59 p.m.--A caller from the 200 block of Dorsey drive reported he misplaced his vehicle within his apartment complex." [not the sort of thing I'd be mentioning to anyone, much less the police..]
"10:17 p.m.--A party on French Avenue with a bonfire was broken up by police. The people extinguished the fire and went inside." [more heat, more smoke, more sparks. Can't have too much of those, these days...]
[Taken together:]
"11:46 p.m.--A caller reported people were lighting batons on fire in the Commercial Street parking lot. Police advised people not to light things on fire." [Then...]
"11:56 p.m.--A caller reported people were still lighting things on fire. Police stood by as the people gathered their things and left the area." [Who are the most irritating subjects of this story? The Tattler? The Firebugs? The Police who didn't break the "things" over their dumb heads?]
"3:23 a.m.--A caller from the 18000 block of McCourtney Road reported people in the bushes waving their arms. Officers contacted the people and transported them to the Yuba County line." [If there's anything this county won't tolerate, it's criminal arm-waving.]
"7:32 p.m.--A man called from a store on the 1000 block of Sutton Way to report he was urinating behind the business when a man in his 40s came up behind him. Police checked the area and could not find the man."[Can't a guy get some privacy around here?]
"10:15 a.m.--A caller from Vista Avenue reported a man was standing in his front yard and yelling. Responding officers found it was a man singing badly along with his iPod." [ouch]
"3:49 a.m.--A 911 caller reported he could not urinate. Deputies traced the call and cited the person for improperly using an emergency number." [who knew the police didn't catheterize?]
"6:03 p.m.--A caller from the 200 block of North School Street reported a squirrel was running around and around in circles for over an hour. The caller was worried the squirrel might be rabid. An Animal Control officer advised police it is breeding season for squirrels, which would explain the behavior." [Wildlife question? Call the police]
"6:07 a.m.--A woman from the 12000 block of Ridge Road reported a man was watching her for a month. The man was possibly somewhere on the perimeter of her property. While she was on the telephone, the woman confronted the man and he said he parked in front of her house and sneaked over to his girlfriend's residence so her parents wouldn't catch him." [he must be a real catch]
And, finally, my dad sent me a bunch of photos of the art of this guy, Livio De Marchi. Crazy wood work. Check it out: http://www.liviodemarchi.com/index.htm
Amazing!
Some days are a little less smoky up here, now, mostly due to the incredibly hard-working firefighters from 40 states that have conquered nearly 1500 of the 1800+ separate wildfires that have barbecued the top half of the state for the last 17-18 days. There are some very stubborn areas still burning, though. And of course, there's nothing like record-high temperatures being added to the situation to make it more interesting for everyone. Our outside thermometer registered 98 the last two days (high last year--92, once). But, not too far away, it's at least 10 degrees hotter in the Valley and 114 in Redding. Tomorrow (Wed), maybe higher.
For us, it's a mere minor inconvenience. We moved critical elements of Tom's office down to a bedroom on the lowest level during the day. His real office is on the third floor of the tower area, which got up to 92, yesterday--nasty. Two flights down, we've got a high of 78, no matter what. That's without the A/C, which we ran once last year just to test it (it works). But, since we can function just fine without turning it on, that's what we're doing. The kitchen gets to the mid-80s in the afternoon. So we stay down here all day...
...until it's cooler. Then, like little nocturnal woodrats, we come up for a snack. We also usually watch a little TV in the evenings (there's a nice ceiling fan in there and lots of doors/windows to open). A guilty pleasure, these days (including Tom!!)?--"So You Think You Can Dance". No kidding. I don't know how it happened, but there it is. We were hooked from minute one. I think it increases my appreciation of the athletic limits of the human body even more than the Olympics. Extremely entertaining. And it's a humane judging process. Then, naturally, it's right back to "Masterpiece Theater"...
Here's a way fun thing to watch. The only thing I'd change is the end. Such a waste of a perfectly good, well, you'll see...http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1820683
Also, because I didn't have anything more appropriate, I put up a shot of a butterfly (pale tiger swallowtail) on the catmint that I took yesterday.
Yeah, we had clean, clear air all day on the Fourth of July! Ahh! So, we went on a picnic to Condon Park in Grass Valley. Hadn't been there, yet. It's a large, wooded area with a meeting house, pond, bocce courts, skate park, disc golf, ball fields, picnic areas, etc. The picnic tables are near the frisbee golf course. The only frisbee golf I've ever played is on backpacking trips where we choose a tree or rock as the "hole" as we go.
I like to team up with Dave Kaiser because he's so nice and such a great frisbee tosser that he can well make up for my substantial deficits and not be crabby about it. Oh, the picnic. I'd made sandwiches and stuff, then we picked up "It's Its" at Safeway for dessert. Love them. And I hadn't realized that if you play disc golf, there are proper discs which fit into a proper bag (usually green) to carry around. Of course, there are. I saw no random-vintage day-glo orange Frisbees (sigh).
From there, we'd hoped the Grass Valley Museum (also a place we've never been) down the road would be open for a few hours. Isn't the Fourth all about history? We'll try another time. 
Then, we drove to one of the trail heads at Empire Mine SHP to hike in the woods, for awhile. It's quite beautiful, plus there's the bonus of old rusty mining equipment scattered about and fenced-off toxic tailings to lend that certain rustic quality to a trek.
I wore my Maui shirt. Hey! Have you seen these color-changing ones? Indoors, they're black and white, and in the sun they turn colors! I love that. Check it out.
And what would the Fourth of July be without seeing an uber-violent sci-fi action flick? So, it was off to Sierra Cinema to see "Wanted". Hint: not for kids. It delivered as promised, and the special effects are very, well, special. Soon, there'll be a "Morgan Freeman" game, along the same lines as the "Kevin Bacon" one. Does he make 25 movies a year? And who looks like Angelina Jolie? She's got to be a cyborg of some kind.
We skipped the local fireworks show. The firefighters are camped at the fairgrounds, so there wasn't any parking. Somehow, I don't know, waiting for the shuttle with thousands of other (very nice, I'm sure) folks at 10:30pm sounded unappealing. So we watched 'em on TV. I know it sounds pathetic. But the Boston Pops show has the best fireworks program in the universe. The one at Washington DC doesn't hold a candle. We've taped them for these last many years and, whether we see local displays, or not, we can always count on being wowed by Boston. Seriously. They're amazing! Don't scoff 'til you've seen them. And I love Keith Lockhart, the Pops' conductor. So cute.
That was it. It was a fine day. Today, the smoke came back.
I know--it doesn't quite reach the entertainment pinnacle of Secession Days, with miniature horses, baby emus and, um, well, I guess that was it. But we really enjoy the Thursday Night Grower's Markets held in downtown Grass Valley during the summer.
They started in early June, but last night they kicked off the more elaborate version. First of all, local growers have precious little to offer until about now. Onions, herbs and some more onions. Last night, though, there were fruits and veggies of all sorts to choose from. More restaurants and food concessions were participating, activities for kids popped up, and vendors, most of them familiar from other such events (more fancy soaps!), plus others, lined both sides of the streets. 
And entertainment. Two or three kinds of music, set up at the extremes. Last night, the kick-off, featured a Caribbean/South American-sounding group which also paraded through the streets pounding their eclectic drum cadences surrounded by a random assortment of dancers followed, of course, by the local chapter of the Democratic Party-a fun bunch. Quite the spectacle, as you can clearly see.
Thousands of folks come out to mill around and buy stuff. It's fun! We ate interesting food, met some nice folks, and, for the first time in the last ten days, the breeze fairies moved the smoke in a different direction. It was a glorious evening!
So, most Thursday nights, you'll know what we're doing. In a couple of weeks, Nevada City does pretty much the same thing, but on Wednesday evenings. Spices up the mid-week rhythm of the summer, for sure.
Oh, and hey! Just before the Market, and on the same street, we went to the historic (isn't everything?) Del Oro Theater to see "Hancock". We liked it. Don't expect too much. It's a comic book story, for heaven's sake. Silly. And kind fun. Jason Bateman is really good.
Happy 4th (cha cha cha)!
If you're like me, you can't get enough pictures of miniature colts. If you're not like me, well, tough noogies. So, here's another photo from Secession Day. There might be more. It could turn into a theme, or something. I took plenty of pics.
One sure sign of summer, in these parts, or, should I say, in our house, is the annual scorpion dance. I don't know as I quite understand it, yet, but tiny scorpions can be found on our bedroom carpet, from time to time. Hence the dance, part (yow! I almost stepped on a scorpion!). Mostly, when we find them, they have died, already. Wool carpet fibers are the kiss of death to these teensy predators, apparently--our natural defense against the baby assassins-in-training. I thought this one (in the photo) was dead, and I slipped a piece of paper under it to return it to it's own environment, in a respectful way, of course. Turns out, it was very much alive and didn't particularly want to go outside. But, with a sudden burst of energy, I was able to get it out the door (yikes! It's mad at me!).
I'm sure it's happier. I am. The question remains as to why we're finding them so regularly indoors. I did get stung, last fall. A medium-sized scorpion was lurking under one of the mountains of cardboard we had lying around outside and and took issue with my trying to move the stack elsewhere. It hurt big time for about 5 minutes. Then, it suddenly stopped and there was no more pain, and no mark, as if it had never happened. Curious. One of these days, the mystery of the miniature scorpions will be solved. Until then, we're glad for the wool carpet. 
Yesterday, sputtering in the smoke at home, I drove up to Truckee to meet Rachel and go for a hike. It was refreshing and clear up there, at the time, though, a few hours later, it became just as smoky as our house. The breezes are equal-opportunity bringers and takers-away of smoke all over northern California, these days. And there are now around 1200 fires still burning. But for the duration of our walk along the shore of Donner Lake, it was clear and bright and wonderful. I loved it. We chugged along, chatting all the way.
Then, we got the munchies and picked up some bagel sandwiches to eat at her house. She and Megan have left, as of this morning, for a music festival called "Rothbury", near Muskegon, MI (here's the website http://www.rothburyfestival.com/ ). It looks like a very cool event. She has a knack for getting herself to the cool events. The music ranges from Dave Matthews to Snoop Dogg and everything in between ("Trampled by Turtles" and "Kraak and Smaak", for example).
Meanwhile, she starts her new job in about 10 days. She and Megan will be working for the same company from home (or whereever). Should be a nice arrangement, for awhile.
Also, meanwhile, Tom is actually taking four whole days in a row off from work. Starting today. But it's kinda quiet. I need to wrap this up to to make sure he's not secretly checking in. Gotta leave the house (smoke has cleared, nicely, for the moment). Can't decide whether to go see Wall-E, Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Hancock...Review soon.
