Still Here

Well, I have been quite the slug lately haven't I. It's been a quiet week. I've been taking afternoons off from work to get some down time. Everyone at work have neglected to take vacations so there all kind of bunching up for August. I'll be making up the time while everyone else is off.

I haven't been doing much other than a lot of reading and hang outside in the sun. I'm glad I did as the weather got cool and winding this weekend. My Mom's been up at the cabin with my Sis & family so I've spent some afternoons reading on her deck. She's got the prime views of Lake Washington. Bear's been my constant companion and is more than willing to lay in the sun and do nothing with me.

We watched the Olympics opening last night and I was really pretty blown away with the production. I've always found them boring and contrived in past years and was ready to be bored again. Wrong. It was quite the show.

I have been out cruising the malls trying to figure out what to buy to get me wearing something other than t-shirts and sweat coats. So far I've only replaced my sandals ( Once a year weather they need it or not) so not making much headway there. I'm going to have to drag my young girlfriend Cathy out with me to figure this out.

Here's Jay latest project. He's making a Greek folly/ruin which I'm told will be some sort of water feature as well. The columns will be 4-5 feet tall when finished (more middle sections to be added) with pediments over them. I think I'll grow flowering vines up the sides of them. It'll probably be a bit over the top but what the hec. It makes him happy.



We just got back from a trip to Lowes for more concrete. A trip to the book store to stock up and lunch at the local Mexican restaurant, Maya's for lunch. It's a good day to settle in and watch the Olympics and read. It's raining now and grey outside. This week I've torn through "The Worst Hard Times" by Timothy Egans. about the history of the creation of the SW dustbowl in the 1930's - sounds boring but a good read. "Tribute" by Nora Roberts - fluff, but good fluff - Child star trys to reconnect with her dead Hollywood Star grandmother by refurbishing her old home. Last but not least "The Lost Spy" by Andrew Meier. American Communists in the first half of the 29th century and they're connections to Stalin. This ones a bit of a slog and I haven't actually finished it yet. Best taken in chunks and processed slowly, kinda of heavy to read straight through, but the subject is interesting. Today I bought "The Last Queen" (no comments from the peanut gallery) by C.W. Gortner - The story of Queen Juana, daughter of Ferdinand & Isabella. I think I'll start on that after dinner.

Brother-in-law, Pat will be here with the kids for dinner. He's picking up Jay's Sis from the airport. She's arriving back from Moscow after an intensive apartment search. They leave in Sept. for a year and a half job over there. Little Emma's not even 12 and she's already lived in Budapest, Shanghai and Moscow. This will be her second time in Moscow. Lucky kid.

So all in all a pretty boring, if relaxing week. Sorry I've not been around more. I need to go and catch up with you all. Hope your weekend is as mellow as mine.

XOXO

BC