And It Begins

We are officially within sight of the "Busy Season". I remember last year thinking that August was just a small island of Busy, and that afterward, things would calm back down. It wasn't true, though. August is busy, September is busy, October is busy, November is busy, December is insane, and January is busy. The next time I will have the chance to be bored is after Valentines' Day. I don't mind.

Tra-la, tra-la!

Did I tell you that my mommy is home from Canada!? I missed her. And my Grandmother called to tell me how much she thought of me when she was having High Tea. It sounds like they had a wonderful trip! The only bad things I heard were that my dad got sick with a fever on the second half of the trip, and that he filled his camera's card and replaced it, but then lost the first one. Also, Gran said the second Tea was less wonderful than the first. I got post cards from both Gran and Mom yesterday. It certainly looks beautiful in the post card!

We watched Night at the Opera the other day, and since then I have researched the Marx Brothers. I'm sorry that Chico was such a horrible gambler, but at least he was good natured about it. Groucho had an incredible thirst for the written word, but was sort of a pain. Harpo was my favorite. He taught himself to play the harp, was a happy person, had only one wife, and adopted 4 children. Doesn't he sound like someone you would love to know? I am interested in watching something that was based on their original vaudeville stuff, now.

It's been a while now, but after that Hitchcock mystery, I watched Murder, My Sweet, which was extremely good! If you haven't seen it, it truly is the point of departure for all those Private Detective movies and the origin of lots of stock mystery characters. Great stuff.

Grant and Abbie are both healthy and happy and doing well. Grant might have a new cavity, this time in a front tooth. I'm sad about that. He's getting taller, too. Good thing it's not pants season yet, or I'd be tearing my hair out trying to keep him in clothes. Abbie is still learning all the bathroom stuff, and doing very well.

This weekend is Grant's birthday barbecue. It might rain, so Josh has cleaned out the garage. That way, he can cook the food in there if it is necessary. And we have tidied up the basement for the kids to play in if they can't be out in the sprinkler. We are going to make kabobs, hot dogs, corn on the cob and cupcakes. Mom is going to bring a cake shaped like a soldier and maybe some potato salad. We are also going to have a watermelon. I think I will make some iced tea, too.

My hair is starting to inspire negative emotions. I have to leave it until after the Japanese Festival, though. It's just getting long enough to put up. Another thing that is causing me grief is the fact that my eyelids are flaking again, like they did when I was a child. I don't know what causes it, but it bothers me. One of the many things I've been putting off is a trip to the eye doctor. Probably by the time I save up the money to go, the problem will have stopped. Oh, well! At least I will be able to get new glasses.

Question: Do you sometimes get the feeling that the other person in the conversation is entirely mistaken about the degree of friendship the two of you share?

I will not be at taiko tonight. Kinda bums me out. I got all ready, but then Andrew said I needed to be at Thursday's, and Josh's mom and dad will only be watching the kids one day this week, and one day next week. Boo. Not to worry, though. This will be over after next week. Then, on to a new shift. Possibly, a permanent one.

Speaking of taiko, I know what I will be playing for the J-Fest set. I will be on Zoku again, Omiyage, the new song Kagura, Hiryuu sandan Gaeshi, shaker for Ashura, and I'm playing shime for Drunken Matsuri. I still have never performed the front of Drive. Sheesh. That weekend is going to be complicated. I wonder what I can arrange....

But I still need to keep focused on the most immediate project: Grant's birthday weekend. Then the next thing is to prepare him for school! ...oh, and that echocardiogram.

I'm reading more Agatha Christie again. I read Spider's Web, and I'm about to start A Caribbean Mystery.

It's not rainy today. I might rush out and spray my trees. Oh, never mind. Here comes the thunderstorm. HA!

Hope you are all in high spirits and sanguine moods. I believe I might just make some tea. Happy Tuesday!