More of the same & a cup of coffee

 We’ve suffered through another wave of 100°+ temperatures, so the garden is looking particularly bedraggled right now; nothing but cherry tomatoes are producing, but I see lots of mini bell peppers coming on, the lemon tree has set a good crop of fruit (which won’t be ready until maybe March), some of the grapes are beginning to blush, & my three lone sunflowers burst into song, then quickly faded away.

I’m already plotting another Fall/Winter garden (pun intended); I’m going to skip the cabbage this time, but I would like to try the cold weather tomatoes again, as well as lettuce, spinach, peas, carrots, onions, & broccoli. It’s also time to divide the bulbs & plant some new ones- I’d like to put in some iris along with more daffodils & tulips.

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Work is again taking too much of my time; I’m back to working on Saturdays (just a couple of hours) for the foreseeable future (more state mandated reporting which I’m trying to preempt before the October 31st deadline) & then Friday, the teller I cover for at lunchtime had to have emergency surgery to remove her gall bladder. Chaos naturally ensued (remember, we are already down one teller due to “budget” cuts), particularly when I steadfastly refused to “volunteer” to cover her 3 days a week in addition to my regular duties. Yes, I know- I’m a bad person, not a team player, inconsiderate of the company’s welfare, yadda-yadda-yadda.

Oh well.

Fire me.

Please.

I dare you.

I double-dog dare you.

I didn’t think so.

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Ravelympics are jogging along; I’ve finished my hat (that’s the brown-on-brown swirl pattern below), two dishcloths, two of three cat toys, & have only 40 rows left on the last sock. I probably won’t get through with the last two dishcloths, but I only threw those in at the last minute, just in case (well, you know the team is called “Overly Ambitious”).

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In a totally unrelated event, I went back to the doctor about my elbow. It has been nearly 5 months since I fell, & I’m still have limited range of motion & swelling in that arm. He was a bit concerned at the continued inflammation & booked me for an MRI, then off to the orthopedic specialists for consultation. I had the MRI on Monday afternoon & the results will be available to the doctor next week, but I don’t have an appointment with orthopedics until September 23^rd; after Monday, I’ll be calling every day to look for any cancellations (Kais*er doesn’t do waiting list call backs.) Anyway, it was an interesting experience; the only things I removed were my shoes; I laid facedown on the table, stretched my arm out above my head, & the tech placed a mini-machine around the elbow region; he gave me earplugs & a pillow for my head, then rolled me inside the big scanner. It took about 15 minutes altogether, & although it was pretty loud & startling in the beginning, I found the rhythmic sounds soothing enough to doze off.

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It’s official.

I can no longer deny the inevitable.

Sam is a senior in high school.

My baby!

I gave him his class ring- it’s huge & it fits his man-mitts.

When did that happen?

He talks freely about his plans, which I’ve had a few months to get use to but am still ambivalent about:

-2 years at the local community college, studying Criminal Justice

-Into the Navy for a minimum 4 years stretch

-Apply to the Police Academy while finishing a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice on the GI Bill

My boy wants to be a police officer.

I am equally proud & terrified; the truth is, it makes sense for him.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it.

To quote Aunt Mame- Why did I ever get him those damn long pants?

Sigh