Well, as of tomorrow it will be one year since C and I were married. It’s about time, don’t you think, that we get our long promised wedding pictures up on the web (available from our home page) and remove the remains of "Just Married" from my car. Both projects are still in process. Charles is having fun enhancing the pictures he scanned in by removing garbage cans from dance scenes, or apparent flames from relatives’ heads. What a wonderful year it has been for the two of us, and so full of the promise of many more. With the picture project we have also had occasion to reflect on what a great party we had a year ago. Thanks again to all who were able to come celebrate with us. My only regret is a paucity of pictures of our guests. If there are any lurking around that we haven’t seen, please let us know and send us a copy.

We were able to select our seats for the new ABL (it’s a whole new ballgame!) team in Seattle, the Seattle Reign. They are sweet seats and we’re excited for the games to start. Hooray to Olympic gold medalist Venus Lacy, who just signed with the Reign eschewing more dollars in Spain to help support one of the women’s professional leagues that is starting up in the US. (Yes, there are two: the ABL, and the women’s NBA to start up sometime next summer.)

C is still in love with his job. He doesn’t understand why I have experienced so much frustration and difficulty in pursuit of my writing. He is doing what he wants to do and likes to be and stay at work. Why would I need to take all of the solitaire games off the computer or have days in which I didn’t get anything done if I am doing the writing I want to do? He has a good point. I will be pondering that and trying some new things out for a while as I figure out what will make me happy. I have been dreaming recently about being in school and really feel as though I need my intellect engaged again. I haven’t picked a class yet, but I feel the need for at least one this fall.

My mom was able to visit for a week before she started teaching school and we had a grand time. We put up 42 quarts of applesauce and 7 peaches after fully equipping our house with the canning necessities. She said she ate better at our house than she had in a long time. Granted we trotted out some of our best dishes that week, including SR’s halibut recipe and JK’s tomato basil soup, but we do that for ourselves too. We definitely stumbled upon a good thing when we started planning our menus for the week. We pared down our shopping time, go out to eat mediocre food less out of desperation, and we don’t get so darn grouchy for lack of eating.

While mom was visiting, her best and oldest friend AVC came to stay the weekend as well. As expected, folks were up until after 2 a.m. talking. We went sailing together (C and I finally were on the water together!) and saw the sights from the Spirit of Washington dinner train. We had a fabulous time.

I am looking forward to river rafting this Labor Day weekend with the gang and a visit by my youngest sister-in-law M in early September. I get to impart my words of wisdom about college and life in general to her before she goes off to Northwestern. I suspect she will listen but not fully believe me until she is there. Then she can tell me how wrong I was and I will feel old.

But until that time, life is great, the weather is beautiful, and visitors are welcome.

Hope your summer is just as nice,

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