Of this fan. We put Granny and Papa's window fan in tonight. I remember it being in their kitchen cooling the house on Lee St. Now, it keeps us cool and extends windows open season significantly.

Mysweetwilliam brought home steak tips from Maine, and we grilled up a package tonight for dinner. To go along with the steak, I cut some of the lettuces we have growing in a container and made a yummy salad with Michigan strawberries, walnuts, and goat cheese. I added a few mint leaves too. Then, I picked some basil for a caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, sliced cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. We topped the steaks off with caramelized vidalia onions and mushrooms for dinner extraordinaire!
Tomorrow night, we'll probably have sandwiches.

I have been a "collector" of various and sundry things over the years. I think it started with stuffed Easter bunnies named Debbie. At 16ish, my Aunt Dot introduced me to the phrase "I love you more than a hog loves slop." I started collecting pigs. For most of my adult life, I collected "attic antiques" which just means they aren't worth much. I collected porcelain slop jars (chamber pots), coca-cola stuff, and glass insulators. Over the years since I met mysweetwilliam, I found it easier to let go of those things. I have no coca-cola stuff, and the chamber pots, pigs, and bunnies have long been sold/donated. But the insulators have moved from SC, increased in number substantially in NH, nearly got me arrested in IA (acquiring them from poles), moved to Texas (where they sat in boxes 4 years), and finally displayed on the back porch of the Ring Dring Ranch.
Today, I boxed up dozens of them and took them next door to the yard sale. I still have a reasonable collection on the back porch, but it is no longer a hoard.

Last year when we undertook the landscaping project at the Ring Dring Ranch, we had a miscommunication with the landscaper. We wanted to move Grandma Dring's roses, but the landscaper dug it up and discarded it. Mysweetwilliam retrieved it, planted it in the back yard, and we both kept our fingers crossed. Today, I caught a glimpse of red from my office window, and decided to head out back for a look. Sure enough, it is flourishing.
I'm thrilled!

It's been too long since we had sushi together. I have missed my son; it was good to see him.

Big Bexar generally positions himself right outside my office so he can keep tabs on his dad. Last week, after William left for New England, Bexar positioned himself mid-hallway. He was waiting for his daddy. Today, it looks like he finally gave up. He's been right beside me all day. I miss William, but have to admit having my sweet little pup within arm's reach sure is nice.

I'm having a bit of trouble with loneliness while Bill is off galavanting all over New England. I've finished all 107 episodes of Ghost Whisperer, taken naps, and even tried exercise to pass the time.
I hate doing laundry, sometimes buying new clothes just to avoid it. Today, I emptied the hamper and sorted the clothes. I figure if I do a load a day, I might finish before William gets home.

Since Bill built me an office, I have been religiously keeping a to do list. Today, I had some typical work things on the list:

• LC welcome kit letter
• Founding members letter
• BrainDrain posts
• Guru addresses
• Buy gift cards

I had some after work things on the list:

• buy birdseed
• get milk
• deposit check

Then there was this one thing I never really expected to see on my to do list:

• get ordained

DONE.

We did our open water dives this weekend at Gilboa Quarry just outside of Findlay, OH. We took the camper down on Friday, and spent the weekend right there at the quarry. To get our certification, we had to complete 4 dives and do a variety of skills including the dreaded mask replacement skill. It took me 4 tries to do it. Apparently I really like to breathe through my nose. I knew this skill was going to be my only challenge. So I stressed several days before we went, and felt like I was going to die the whole time we were there. On Saturday after the dives, I managed to force down half a bologna sandwich. I could not eat at all Sunday until we were done for fear that I would spew. Mask removal is the last skill on the last dive. I tried it twice on dive 3 though because my instructor knew I was going to need support. I should have done it on dive 1 so I could have enjoyed myself.

This photo was actually taken between dives 3 and 4. I am about to go in and do the mask removal/replacement. I know I don't look afraid. I was trying to be a good sport.

Because Bill and I also did a Peak Performance Buoyancy class, we got to do a third dive yesterday, making our total dives for the weekend 5. The last dive was all just swimming about. I enjoyed it the most.