Festivals

Today the activity outside my window is bustling. There is an arts festival on the promenade this weekend and vendors have been setting up cabanas and canopies all day. I don't envy them - it's really hot out there.

I like towns that have fastivals. Its nice to give the residents something fun to do - and the crafts and indulgent food tents are just icing on the cake.

I won't get to visit this festival. Unfortunately I don't live in this town. But I'm glad that I get to see it progressing.

Bagels

I have this wonderful little bagel deli down the street from my office. I first discovered their lunchtime bagel sandwishes - chicken salad is heavenly - and now I've gone for breakfast. A toasted bagel with cream cheese is always a yummy breakfast.

I don't understand, however, why they put so much cream cheese on a toasted bagel. It's really overkill. The flavor is great, but I like it to compliment the bagel not the other way around. And, on a hot toasted bagel, it melts. So when you pick it up to eat, your hand is invariably covered with creamy goo.

It is my humble belief that the best part of a toasted bagel with cream cheese is the bagel. The chewiness, the flavors, the texture - all parts of the more important part of the combo.

So, it's decided. The next time I go for a breakfast bagel - I'll tell them to go easy on the cream cheese.

The Promenade

I love the area I work in. I wish I lived here.

Outside my window there is a wonderful brick promenade on both sides of the Creek. There are benches, grassy areas, and fountains. On a couple nights each month they set up a canopy and have banks play at the outdoor amphitheater (stepped tiers of grass.) They are setting up now for a festival this weekend - marking off booth spaces, putting up a few cabanas. This morning I arrived to find someone sleeping on a bench inside one of the cabanas.

My favorite thing to watch from my window, however, are the dogs. They love to play in the small fountain. It's just a small round pool with a little jet of water shooting several inches up - just enouch to keep the water moving in the pool. This morning there was a very large German Shepherd romping around the small circle. He made galloping laps around the edge of the pool and tried to catch the water spraying up. It was fun to watch.

Its supposed to be pretty warm today - maybe I'll walk down for ice cream later and enjoy the promenade.

It's a Monday-Tuesday

Long weekends have one inherent problem. I can't keep my days straight for the rest of the week. I set the trash out on the wrong night. I miss TV shows that I wanted to watch. I forget doctor appointments.

Yes, I had a doctor appointment this morning. I was all the way to the parking garage at work when I realized I was supposed to be there. I called them and said I'd be a half hour late and dashed back. They fit me in quickly and I was back on the road about 15 minute after getting there. They told me I could have rescheduled, but nothing else they had was convenient. I'd already told my boss I'd be an hour late - and I was 57 minutes late - so I just made the double trip.

So much for a short week requiring less gas in my car.

Weekend

Another weekend is coming to an end. I did some planting, got my shopping done, made bread, visited with both grandchildren, watched several episodes of a Shark marathon, finished a book, caught up my classwork, and re-colored my hair.

I suppose that's not bad.

Outside

Have I mentioned that I have grown to hate being outside? It's nothing personal - I used to love the great outdoors. But it affects me differently now.

Yesterday morning I cut my grass and spent some time outdoors with my daughter in the afternoon. All day today I've had a sinus headache.

This evening I was outside planting some tomatoes, herbs, and flowers. Less than an hour. I came back in with no less than 9 mosquito bites!

The great outdoors seems to harbor some ill will toward me. Some grudge from days gone by. I don't know. But the feeling is becoming mutual.

I think someday in the future if I could have any outdoor space that I want, I would want a balcony high above the mosquitoes or a screened in porch under the shade of a large tree. I like the outdoors now when it's not really outside.

A Day in the Park

I spent the afternoon with my daughter and granddaughter. My granddaughter is a joy. She's happy and cranky - playful and ornery - talkative and pensive. She's a delight. And she seems to enjoy me.

We played, took a walk, visited a playground, and played some more.

I think she knew the day was winding down when she was in her daddy's arms after a diaper change and reached out her arms for Grammy. It made me feel wonderful.

Grandchildren are great. But I am so tired now.