I read in the newspaper today that this heat spell is the hottest we've had since 2001. I can believe it. Even taking the dog for a walk is a monumental task. She still bounces as she walks, but her tongue is hanging out, and you just know she can't wait to go back inside and is no more happy being out there than we are. There'll be no zoomies today. And that's the truth.
Having Brenda's dog, Bode, here has been a real treat for Gracie. They've been wrestling, tumbling, growling (in fun, mostly), running around, playing tug of war with toys, and generally having a good time. They're both relatively the same size, so it's tic for tac as to who will get the better of the other. Gracie's legs are longer, so zooming is her expertise and she can leave him in the dust. BUT his coat is prettier. Paul says it's because he's two weeks older. Brenda says it's the special Kibble she gets from Petsmart.
I tell you this: Air-conditioning is wonderful! I don't know how we lived before it. Those in Florida, of course, say . . . duh.
Eric leaves today for Rochester at 11 AM for a 3 PM flight back to California. An Eric Story: He loves to ride bikes so while he was here, he borrowed Sharon's bike to ride because Paul left his in Florida, which was fine, since I planned on getting him another one for Father's Day. But I ended up getting him the blu-ray player instead. But I digress: This morning Eric decided to return the bike to Sharon's and ride it back the 12 miles. Brenda would pick him up there and bring him back here. Sharon lives about 12 miles away.
I'm in awe of bike-ride distances. . . Eric think nothing of riding (ex. 12 miles). He not only rides bikes, he's a phenomenal bird-watcher, and when Brenda called his cell phone, (thank goodness for cell phones!) - he said he was just having too much fun and hadn't been watching the time. He hadn't gotten as far as he was supposed to, since he'd stopped several times to bird-watch. Since he was close to Lue's house, she had him drop the bike off at Lue's - about 3 miles from Sharon's, and she came and picked him up there.
Brenda and he are now on their way up to Rochester. They left at the planned time of 11 AM.
Maybe a couple of minutes late.
For the next couple of nights, Brenan has been relegated to the downstairs guest room because we have a visitor for a few nights from Corning, and she took over his bed in the Kids Kamp. She very kindly brought the blue-ray movie "Sherlock Holmes" to share with us, so we watched it last night. That was a treat.
These kids enjoy each other so much. They're either playing board games, ping-pong, or being outside doing hide n go seek or some other variation of it. Stuck in the Mud, Apologize to the Court, and some others. Not sure what's what, but they run around in the woods out back. Somehow the fear of poison ivy that was around last year, has disappeared. Inside a game they like is, Truth or Dare that they played yesterday. It is a computer game, Brenda says, which is a lot tamer than it would be if they were left to their own devices. For ex. Emma had to have someone (me) sign my signature on a piece of paper. Little Ida played also, and they even modified it more for her.
Nancy is in her third tri-mester now. The uncomfortable part comes now. Of the heat: She writes of standing in in cold water (lake Michigan) and drinking hot coffee. Her year's job has ended as of June 30th and she's not working 9-5 any more. I'm so glad that she can rest for the time being, if you can call it resting. Mothers of young children don't rest, they adapt. I talked with her last night and they are planning to have two estimates done on having their bathroom remodeled.
Their condo/apartment was built in the 1930's, a fact I haven't checked, so I'll say, around the 1930's. Which gives them beautiful big rooms. High ceilings, big windows. But also they inherited the wear and tear of an old building. Since Nancy will be home for a while, she can be there for the renovation.
Nancy has a good friend, Liz, who has two young boys near Vincent's age. For the Fourth, they went to a cook-out at liz and her husband's house.
They're putting Vincent in a private school this coming year. It's very close to Northwestern University and is affiliated with it. It goes from pre-K up to Grade 12. Would you believe Nancy had to write an entrance-essay?
Jil and his wife Epril are doing well in the Philippines. They also had work done on their house. New plumbing, electrical work, the usual. His days are filled with transcription work, but they have plenty of time to "play" with their ex-patriot friends. I hate that word. Ex-patriot. I don't think they dislike America. They just made their lives else-where. They celebrated the Fourth of July with a big party with their international friends. Blogs are great ways to keep in touch with family and friends.
So - that's all the news from this part of the woods' edge. What's happenin' in your neck o' the woods?
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