View from the deck

Hey, Barb.

Sorry for the delay in response to your newsy post the other morning. Sounds like a rough weekend overall.  I'm sorry it had to be the way you celebrated your birthday so I plan to help you make it up in August.  I hope you made it to the beach after all and that a day with the kids was exactly the right answer.  I also have to apologize for not sending you a card because I try not to let things like that slip past me.  I just lost track of my days, I guess.

I know I've been complaining about the weather here for months now, but I swear, I'm about ready for medication.  Seriously - our ski resorts are still open.  The thought of a public pool opening is hilarious. All Memorial Day weekend, people were actually in better moods because, even though it was 50 degrees, overcast and gloomy, for once it wasn't raining.  But let's not get too excited...it's been raining ever since.  I'm so tired of it, but it's also making me tired.  I'm so lethargic; all I want to do is nap until summer.  Supposedly, we're going to have an 80 degree day on Saturday - just some random Phoenix day here in the middle of the rain - but I'll believe it when I see it.  If something doesn't turn around soon...argh.

Our weekend was good, despite the gray.  We got the backyard almost totally finished and I'm so pleased with the way it all turned out. There are a few loose ends here and there, but for the most part, it is beautiful.  I just wish we could hang out on the deck and enjoy it now.  The other day, there was a cougar sighting in our neighborhood and J thought he saw some prints in the dirt between our house and the ridge.  He said they might come up to drink out of the waterfall and now JJ and I are obsessed with cougar-watching. How cool would that be?! I mean, you know, if no small children or cats got eaten in the process.  JJ wants to put food out on the deck.  LOL! Dude, we don't actually want to invite them, we just secretly hope for a visit!

M leaves tonight for ten days in Mississippi for his cousin's wedding. It will be a nice break for my worry wart head.  I think I told you that he "accidentally" forgot to register for school this semester so I've been losing some sleep building stories in my head about his never getting a diploma, a job, or a place of his own.  Funny, how I used to be afraid he'd never come home, and now I'm stressed that he'll never move out.

Still planning the 4th of July party at my parents' house but not looking forward to going very much.  I'm tired of trying to talk to them when they're usually drunk and don't remember entire conversations we have.  All my reading and working on self-esteem doesn't prove much of a buoy when my dad gets going on one of his rampages.  And then my mom...well... if denial were the center of the earth, she'd be in China.  You'd think, at my age...you'd think.

My thoughts have been with you, D and all of your family this week.  Keep me posted and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Love you,
A