Done...

Took two calls to get that jock party shut down, but we did get a good night's sleep. And, the sooner they get sent home, the less drinking they did and the lees the likelihood that they drove home drunk. Good deed done!

Developed three rolls of film today. One was totally blank! And I can't even remember what pictures I am missing, so did the leader go back in the cassette before I even shot it? Probably... and I didn't put a note on it so I may never know. But the last roll from London looks super! If it rains again tomorrow, I may actually print in the basement! It is kind of hard to do that b/c it's been so hot and to black it out, the windows have to be shut. And if daddy is not home, Millie cries for me at the top of the stairs... She's so cute!!!

Parties...

My neighbourhood is real quiet at night which is surprising because the kids across the street from me never shut up, their mother talks like she wants the world to know her business, and the guy next door is raving mad. But at night, you can hear someone sneeze two blocks away...

I have never been a party gal. The one big high school party I went to, I felt bad for the kid throwing it and spent the night cleaning his house and picking up the garbage. Not much tolerance for sloppy drunk people either...

So, considering the above two points, the raging party a block away is getting me p.o.'d. The kid's parents must go away the same weekend every summer. Last year, the party went until after 2 am. We waited for someone to call the cops. Neighbours all wimped out. There was a fight at the party too. You know the type - macho drunk guy hits on other macho drunk guy's drunk gal and macho boys defend their property. Blah, blah, blah... Even the president of our volunteer group couldn't sleep down the hill at his house last year b/c of the party. Sound carries in this river town...

So, when hubby is done watching his favourite actor - Cary Grant in "Bringing Up Baby" - on channel 13 at 11 pm, the cops are getting a call. Hopefully they can find the address, not like the time we heard a guy running down Birch Street screaming he had a gun and was going to shoot the first person he saw! The cop circled the wrong block three times before giving up... duh...

Whatta town!!!

Herbie...

In the beginning of the month, when I had that nasty allergic reaction to the squash vines, one of the rashes seemed to have a mind of its own. Hubby said, "whatever you do, just don't name it, please." So, naturally I named it Herbie. Well, as all friends eventually do, Herbie left.

Then I went weeding again Wednesday at Miller-Kingsland. And Herbie has a new spot on my inner right wrist. Whoa, this is one heck of a rash! I was pulling vines like crazy but they were 5-leaf vines - not poison ivy. So... what am I allergic to? Beats me, but Herbie or any other oozy, weepy rash will not keep this volunteer down.

So my two hour shift this morning was cleaning up the sides of the driveway/entrance to the property. Yes, i do structure my summer days into a schedule... It is fairly high profile, seen by all who drive that road and would make quite an impact. I was so pleased with the job when done and I was a stinky, dirty, sweaty mess! And as I weeded and pulled bad plants, they would brush up against my arms and by default, scratch the itchy oozy mess! Then the DPW came by to cut the grass. They were so nice and offered to cart away all the bags of weeds each time I am there! I know a lot of kids talk about how icky and rude the people are by them. And I know they are right. But that is why I live far from work. Because most of the people where I live are so nice. I walk into town and people say "Hi" on the street. I sneeze while driving and a man on a porch says "Bless you!" People compliment us volunteers on the job we do.

This is a nice way to end the week after the aggravation of yesterday. Because it is politically driven, I cannot write about it, considering the NJ ban on teachers expressing political opinions. So, I remain silent, but not ignorant...

Paris...

Ok Photo people, past and present... There is a tentative meeting for all interested students and parents/guardians on the 14th of September. There will be a representative from the tour company there. If I found out on our first day of work that I have to reschedule, I will post the new date here and on PB Works.

Also, according to Demsey, the "heating unit" - you know, the one that never really kept us warm in the winter - has been replaced. So.... could that mean we may reach a balmy 65 in room 026 this winter? One can only hope!

Oh, and I started shooting with my Diana 35 and I LOVE IT!!!! It is so cute and tiny - much like my first ever camera that took 126 film cartridges - and sturdy! Cue squeals of delight.....

Uh oh...

... I have a hunch the school year starts soon. My other teaching friends joke about not knowing the date or day of the week over the summer. The fact is, I am not sure what today's date is and that is okay with me. It is not because I am lazy. It is because I am just relaxing.

My version of relaxing includes squatting in the backyard pulling out all the bad grass by hand. Others would just spray with some terrible chemical. But you know what an environmentalist I am. And anyway, Little Lucy may someday crawl on that lawn... then put her hands or feet in her mouth... and ingest those chemicals. I also finished painting the rails on the back porch, the bottom of the back door sash and the repaired parts of the foundation in the basement. I also took pictures of some lavender sachets I made and hope to sell. used grandma's fabric scraps and my homegrown lavender! I feel I can take a nap that is deserved once I make a decision about what to make for dinner.

Also plowing through the David Sedaris book. Some advice: do not read in public unless you want the people around you to think you are a lunatic and do not read when a cat is sleeping on your belly unless you want your belly laughs to sent that kitty running... I can't tell you how many times I have wiped tears from my eyes reading this book...

Tomorrow's goals: more weeding at Miller-Kingsland and posting more things to sell on Etsy.

Sharing is caring...

... and I get the giggles when the big high school kids use that term in class. Unfortunately, hubby likes to share sometimes - note, not all the time; he is an only child - and he shared his sick with me. Ugh. Sore throat and stuffiness. So while I wanted to see Lucy last night or tonight, that is no longer a possibility. I also was dying to work at Miller-Kingsland but the rain nixed that yesterday and I feel like poo-poo today. No sleep last night and couldn't even rest on the sofa b/c Millie was snuggled asleep on her red blankie on the middle cushion. So I just wandered and walked in circles in the dark hoping to drain my nose.

I did make some lavender sachets yesterday on the sewing machine. Millie was with me hunting and attacking craps of fabric on the floor. She's so cute!!! And the basement smells of lavender since that's where I separate the flowers from the stems. Better than the usual musty smell!

Finished the William K. book this morning. Should be required reading in all contemporary history classes... got me veeerrrrrry angry.

I did get a Diana 35 and a Holga as gifts from sister and plan to start with Diana today.... if I don't fall asleep first...

Show Entry...

For all you 18 year old students and graduates, there is a call for art at the Arts Guild of New Jersey. It is in Rahway and they extended the deadline for entries. Go to their website at www.rahwayartsguild.org to get the information. I think you are all talented enough to have a chance to get in the show... It is only $30 to enter and it isn't really all that far. Just down the GSP. If I am toiling away trying to get my art shows, you should too...

Tip of the day: wash your hands if you pet a neighbour's cat, unless you want a puffy face and runny eyes... sigh... where is my brain???