I would seriously start burninating stuff if there was a flying ant day here. I really can't fucking stand ants. Of any stripe.

1. I start a new dance class tonight! It's a basics class with the same teacher who does the props class. I'm contemplating trying out for her troupe when they have auditions in November, and in order to do that, you have to be in the Thursday night class, which has the Tuesday night class as a pre-requisite. I'm nervous about being able to find the correct damned parking lot (fucking Fells Point) and I'm also going there straight from work, which should be fun.

2. I'm really getting tired of being late all the time. I'm having a super hard time getting out of bed in the morning and getting motivated to go anywhere. I think I might need to book a few days off that are legit days off where I don't have to go anywhere or really do anything except sit on my ass at home.

3. Then again, I am excited about all the things I have going on. I've got dance classes to go to and witchy events and crafty events that I actually host, but still, the spirit is willing but the flesh is oh so tired.

1. Yay! I have some contract work that I can do from my home base. And it's good stuff and it's working for a good person too.

2. It's warm here but not brutal like it was late June. Fatcat has been enjoying sleeping in the ceramic bathroom sink since I keep my place in the low 80's during the day. She FILLS the sink.

3. Tomato plants are not terribly happy due to the overabundant rain and heat. I'm hopeful they'll perk up a bit now that conditions have improved. Otherwise, it'll be a very lean year.

I would seriously start burninating stuff if there was a flying ant day here.

LOL. Americans make a big fuss about cicadas that hatch every 23 years. We get this shit every single year. You can't even open your mouth without ants flying into it. And they're big, because they're queen ants, the bodies are about half an inch long, and with wings about three-quarters of an inch.

I insist on seeing a photo of a sink full of Fatcat.

1. Trying to work movement into a job that is even more sedentary than the already very sedentary job I had for 13 years. Luckily the restroom up on the 4th floor is nice enough to be worth the stair climb to get to it.

2. I am already tired of mowing my lawn and it is only July.

3. Kitchen too hot for much cooking. Hummus and pita, you are my friend.

1. I had a terrible vivid nightmare last night that I am still thinking about off and on. Didn't sleep much after that, so I'm also really dragging today.

2. Learning new software at work that only I am using. It's one of those situations where the time up front to learn it will eventually translate into time saved when using it. But, I'm on my own for troubleshooting, and I'm under some time pressure with the project for which I am learning it.

3. Trying to prioritize several home repair projects that need to be done in the next couple of months.

I too wish never to experience Flying Ant Day, and almost as much want to see a photo of Fatcat filling the sink. And it is gorgeous here, knock on wood, neither too hot nor rainy.

1. It is lively at work today, but in little spurts with quietness in between. I like it, it keeps me on my toes.

2. I am seriously behind in my Finnegan's Wake reading. I don't know why this makes me feel so guilty. It is, by and large, a fun book, not a moral mission.

3. Looking forward to my first yoga class in a series I signed up for on Thursday night, and my last half marathon of the year on Sunday.

Ditto on being Anti-Flying Ant, and Pro-Fatcat-In-A-Sink.

1. We are with my in-laws, which means we are at the beach. Beach! But also, computer helpdesk! Attics! Cleaning things that the elderly can't reach!

2. My husband's college roommate and life partner before I became his life partner is also here at the Beach! with his family. They drove all the way from Redmond to North Myrtle Beach with their two small children. They are insane, but we are quite happy to see them. We are going to the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach proper tonight to hang out.

3. I made a pineapple upside-down cake, it's in the oven right now, and it smells divine.

oh god flying ants. we had those bastards in Ohio and they can seriously all go die in a fire.

1) it is 100 degrees in Boulder with no current relief in sight and we are fucking melting. Proper A/C is extremely rare in this region with most older places having (at most) a swamp cooler, which merely makes things humid and moldy and smelly without doing much actual cooling at all... and the mister and I have already had our annual Shirty Discussion About Purchasing An A/C Unit. Grr.

2) the cooling unit in my office chose this week to shit the bed. Again. See #1

3) our new rescue kitty is teh awesomest. He gets along swimmingly with Resident Cat and just has the most fabulous personality. He's not clingy-needy but just social enough to come say hi to folks and sit in laps where he's invited. He also likes to roll on the floor and have his cute little white belly stripe rubbed. And (his coat was in DIRE shape from the shelter) he even let me groom all the mats off him with a minimum of fuss and lots of purrs and cheek rubs afterwards. Which is great because I really did not want to have to lion clip him and rob him of his considerable sangfroid.

Flying Ant Day. Sensibly filmed from indoors.

So glad we do not have flying ants!

1. Pug had patella surgery last week. She goes in for a check up tomorrow, but so far, seems to be doing well. She wants to run and play! (She can't, for 5 more weeks.) Also, I am convinced that I will have west nile virus (from the mosquito bites from taking her outside) before this is over.

2. Actually did some craft-y sewing this weekend.

3. Have a social event I'm really looking forward to this weekend! We stayed pretty close to home last weekend (see 1).

Senyar- I read your comment about flying ants aloud to my fiance and he screamed!

1. We moved this weekend and are officially in our new place! I am glad to be almost done with that headache. We still have a ton of boxes to unpack but the kitchen is finished and there is a place to sit down and the bunny is safely ensconced in his new corner, so I feel semi-better. I think we were too optimistic about how much from the previous large apartment would fit in the new small apartment and I want to get rid of stuff but don't know what.

2. Wedding is in less than 2 weeks! AH! I feel so unprepared, logistically. We still have a ton to do that we were putting off til after the move, but I guess that is now. Crap.

3. The bun seems to hate the new place (and all change and pretty much everything). He won't leave his litter box unless I pick him up and carry him somewhere and he won't leave the place I carried him to, either. Also he is being a priss about eating and not deigning to even lean over the edge of his box to get his food, so I am hand feeding him. I wish he would stop being such a scaredy cat/jerk and get to the fun exploring stage that I know he will hit soon. He didn't react this badly to our last move.

I'm rather happy there are no flying ants here. I wish all the camelback crickets would jump into a bonfire.

3. Today was my 2nd day back at work. Nothing's changed in the past 16 weeks which means I'm back to putting up with stupid crap. I wish my dad would hurry up and win the lotto.

2. This is kidlet's 3rd week in daycare and that's going really well. She's a sweetheart so they all love her.

1. I was volunteered to have a cookout for friends. It should be fun even though it means I have to clean the house.

1. Did the Brooklyn Bridge Swim on Sunday morning; swam from Brooklyn to Manhattan in the East River. I was one of the slowest people (seriously, 5th from last) and it was hard and kind of scary because the nerves get to you like you can't breathe but I did it and I'm glad! The weather was so beautiful and it's not a view you get every day.

2. Stynxno out of town all week. It's extra work caring for the house, baby, animals by myself, but we're doing OK. Had a pal over for dinner/dessert tonight and that was fun. Now I just have to get the dishwasher loaded, boooooooo.

3. Work very busy! I've been making myself a to-do list for the next day this week and it's helping with the avalanche. Hoping things calm down soon. Either way, we go on a Canadian cruise in about 3 weeks.

That is awesome, TPS! Congrats on the swim.

So proud of you, TPS! You brave strong bunny!

Rmless2 - I hope your bunny acclimates, soon. Mr. Munch would probably sulk in a corner as well. It's so scary when they won't eat!

TPS - that's amazing - congrats!

You're brilliant, TPS.

My best wishes to The Senator, rmless. I'm sure he'll soon find some cables to gnaw on.

1. I'm bored and in need of something to do. I was looking at a couple summer writing conferences, thinking that might be fun, but I'm a little late in applying, and they're not cheap, even as just a commuter, so we'll see.

2. Sunday's my birthday. Jon and I were planning to go to City Island for some yummy fried shrimp and clam strips at Johnny's Reef, but it's supposed to rain, so we may need an alternate plan. I'll be 47. Yikes. Three years to AARP. (At least I'll get discounts.)

3. Discovered something cool for our cruise in August -- a waterproof camera case! For $20, it sure beats shelling out $200+ for a waterproof camera. The little Cannon I bought last summer will fit right in, and we can take pictures on the beach, in the pool, snorkeling. We're going on a boating/snorkeling excursion in St. Thomas where you can see young sea turtles (Jon loves turtles), and this case should work great. (I'm bummed we'll miss your barbecue, TPS -- our flight gets in that Saturday evening. You're very brave, by the way, to swim in the East River; no stray body parts floating by I hope ; )

I felt some bodies but I assumed they were all fellow swimmers! I didn't look too closely :P

Good news- today I was awakened at 5am by the melodious sound of Senator tearing apart our moving boxes, having left his safe zone!
Still no progress on him being a total jerk though.

A really busy Summer so far.

1. Retirement is the new normal for me. It is still a adjustment to not go to work, not think about school district stuff, not obsess about issues that used to be my responsibility but are no longer. It is good though.

2. Been spending a LOT of money. New roof, new Prius (the V model), and new ductless heat pump on the way. During this heat wave, I got a portable air conditioner. With our casement windows, I have to block the opening with plywood from the inside. Pretty unsightly but it works for now until we get bids for the new unit. I am typing this from my cool living room, which is nice. Then move the unit, plywood and duct to the bedroom for over night.

3. Wife has horrible allergies, which the heat exacerbates, due to the fact we cannot open windows. She is seeing an allergist Friday.

Best wishes, rmless!