It is an overcast Monday morning but comfortable and not muggy. It’s the birthday of my dear friend, Jeff Carter, and two cousins, Scott Cleaver and Jessica Richardson Driver.

Today’s weather will be, as it has been the past twenty-four hours, a surprise buffet. We were to have storms pass through last night, but they bypassed the Miami Valley. Today? Who knows? It does say we shall reach 81 degrees. My weather app just alerted me that there are potential thunderstorms this afternoon.

Yesterday, I accomplished one entire email to a friend. More than a dozen or more to go. But one is completed, and it received an immediate response. All Sunday, I was exhausted and could not locate my energy button. I did manage to accomplish a good deal of research, something that has been rather sporadic the past few months. Sunday afternoon and evening was a shortened teaching schedule due to students in shows, but I felt the success of those with whom I got to work.

I was in bed by 10 PM, and I suppose I slept well as I feel refreshed; however, the grumps settled in, sometime through the night, and I have not shed them as of 7 AM. I guess I already have one goal on my list for today. The FabFive has either adopted my grumpiness or something is in the air as they have been bickering and fighting over tiny things this morning. Erma just tore after The Colonel for walking too close to her! The Old Girl turns fourteen this next week but she has tons of spunk.

On with the day…

“When we get to the beach”

By Hollie McNich

i screamed
sprinted to the sea
flung off shoes and socks
ran towards imagined heaving waves
and jumped each tiny trickle that I found there
with just the same excitement

you stayed back
took your socks off more timidly
giggled at your stupid mother
eventually took my hand

we jumped together
and we jumped together
and we jumped together

three hours later
collapsing on our backs
we made angels in the sand

the seaside always made me
want to scream

now
with you
i can

Make it a great day!