Everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.
-Charles Dudley Warner (American, essayist, novelist, 1829-1900)
TIME: 7:17 PM
PLACE: Around town
SUBJECT: The sun
Clear skies yesterday.
Overcast, hazy and t-storms today.
Typical weather pattern for this past June.
It hasn’t really felt like summer.
“I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
TIME: 5:11 PM
PLACE: Six Flags
SUBJECT: Boomerang
With all the rain we’ve been having, I was a little worried about our yearly summer visit to Six Flags.
We lucked out.
It was sunny and pleasant.
Claudia and her cousins are in the 2nd full car from the left.
Her hair is blowing.
*~*~*
I didn’t ride many rides this year.
I must be old.
Instead, I found myself sitting at the exits of rides waiting on children.
I took pictures while waiting.
I noticed that hey replaced many boards on the almost 40 year-old Screaming Eagle entrance cue.
Here is the exit from the Screaming Eagle roller coaster.
I didn’t even get up from my shady spot to take this photo of the group.
Digital zoom baby!
“Having a family is like having a bowling alley installed in your head.”
Martin Mull (American Actor. b.1943, Chicago, Illinois, USA)
TIME: 12:14 PM
PLACE: Edisons, Edwardsville
SUBJECT: Bowling scores
The annual family event for my work.
My boy thought he could beat me at bowling.
When he realized he couldn’t win by pin counts, he decided to see who could heave the ball down the lane the fastest.
He did win that feat of strength.
Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she’s uncool
Cause she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985
”1985”, Bowling for Soup, A Hangover You Don’t Deserve, Red Ruby Productions, (originally by SR-71)
TIME: 11:17 PM
PLACE: “The Abbey”
SUBJECT: Class of 1985
Our 2nd evening of our class reunion was tonight.
It was a little less crowded than the prior evening.
There were classmates here who couldn’t make last night, and some from the previous evening could not make this night.
I didn’t take this picture, but it was taken with my little camera.
I’m in the back giving my cousin bunny ears.
I’m very mature.
TIME: 11:50 PM
PLACE: Downtown
SUBJECT: Tavern sign
Tonight was the first night of our 30 year class reunion.
30 years!
My cousin Kat and I started the evening at this location then walked down to the evenings informal gathering at another bar.
We mingled and caught up with our classmates.
There were a lot of photos taken and posted to Facebook.
(not by me – this was the only one I took all night!)
We ended up back here – as our cars were parked nearby.
“For is there any practice less selfish, any labor less alienated, any time less wasted, than preparing something delicious and nourishing for people you love?”
― Michael Pollan, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation
TIME: 5:14 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Supper made by Claudia and Stella
The girls made supper tonight.
Claudia made a one-pot tortellini with turkey sausage.
Stella made a tomato & avocado salad with garlic.
It was awesome to come home to dinner on the table.
And it tasted pretty darn good too.
TIME: 6:11
PLACE: Mariachi's
SUBJECT: Mirrored wall
I had dinner with some of my cousins.
This back wall at the restaurant has some of the same colors as yesterday’s sunset.
- Anna Godbersen
TIME: 8:32 PM
PLACE: Belleville Crossing Street
SUBJECT: Evening sky
While driving home from our “Target” run, Claudia and I got to witness this beautiful evening sky.
Just look at those colors.
Amazing.
“In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got down off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass, merely remarking as it went, `One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.'
`One side of WHAT? The other side of WHAT?' thought Alice to herself.
`Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as if she had asked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight.”
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter V-Advice from a Caterpillar, Lewis Carroll
TIME: 6:07 PM
PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: Mushroom
”Someone” took a bite out of one side of this mushroom.
It wasn’t me.
“Care to join me for solstice caroling?
[sings in a high voice]
Walking in the grass, it's so fine, don't need shoes in the summertime!”
Spongebob, “Krabby Land”, Season 3, Episode 57a, April 3, 2004
TIME: 6:08 AM to 6:50 AM
PLACE: Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
SUBJECT: Woodhenge
I convinced the husband to wake at an ungodly hour to be at Cahokia Mounds at 5:20am to observe the Summer Solstice Sunrise.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature did not cooperate.
The rainy weather refused to leave and the sun was not visible.
Still, we heard an excellent explanation of the post circles and we hiked up to the top of Monks Mound for some spectacular views.
(The mound bisected by the back middle post is Monks Mound.)
The steps leading to the top of Monks Mound
Looking west from the top of Monks Mound
The east side of Monks Mound
(for perspective, you can just make out a person standing on the top at the far right)
There were many deer on the site.
These guys were hiding out in the tall grass.
~*~*~*~
TIME: 2:44 PM
PLACE: The car
SUBJECT: Sleeping children
In the afternoon, we had a graduation party to attend.
They all complained about how the back seat was too crowded now that they are older.
It didn’t stop them from all falling asleep on the hour-long ride there.
TIME: 3:43 PM
PLACE: Pond at Brother-in-law’s
SUBJECT: James and a fish
We did some fishing while we were there.
TIME: 7:53 PM
PLACE: Fresh Thyme Market
SUBECT: Shopping carts
Claudia and I dropped off Oreo at Petsmart for a bath and nail trim then went to Fresh Thyme market to pick up Claudia’s granola.
While there, I embarrassed her by taking a photo of the shopping carts.
TIME: 6:25 PM
PLACE: Back yard
SUBJECT: Butterfly
I am sooo glad it’s Friday.
Taking the girls to see the new Pixar movie “Inside Out” at 7:15 tonight.
Let the weekend begin!
“Uninvited guests are often most welcome when they leave”
― Aesop
TIME: 5:59 PM
PLACE: Pantry
SUBJECT: Bird
Somehow, this bird got into the house.
The cats and dog were going nuts.
So was the oldest daughter.
The bird pooped twice before we shooshed him out the back door.
All those utensils went straight into the dishwasher.
“On this June day the buds in my garden are almost as enchanting as the open flowers.”
- Francis King
TIME: 6:18 PM
PLACE: Side of house
SUBJECT: Wild coneflower
The wildflowers that the husband planted last year on the side of the house have re-appeared with a serious intensity.
Even when they are just beginning, the coneflowers are some of my favorites.
TIME: 6:27
PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Bug on blue plastic rain barrel
Rained all day.
Supposed to rain all week.
The silver lining?
Our rain barrels are full.
“It is difficult to see why lace should be so expensive; it is mostly holes.”
Mary Wilson Little
TIME: 5:20 PM
PLACE: Outside
SUBJECT: Leaves
I don’t know what insect/disease is doing this to these leaves.
And I’m sure it’s not a good thing for the tree.
But, they do look pretty.
TIME: 2:25 PM
PLACE: Across the street from the Auction Center
SUBJECT: Chelar Tool & Die, Inc. Designers and Manufacturers sign
I took Stella to her first auction.
She learned:
1. Don’t act interested in the item you want.
2. Because if you do, someone else will try to out-bid you.
3. But that’s okay, because there is usually something else you would like to bid on.
4. It helps to make friends with the person who is working the wagon – he can pull out the only item you are interested on in the box so you can bid on it by itself.
5. Don’t get caught up in the bidding war. It helps to have a wingman (your mother) to stop you from spending too much on something you don’t need.
6. The one item you really, really, want is always at the end of the last wagon of the day.
7. But, sometimes, you can get the lot moved to the front of the last wagon so you don’t have to wait (see #4)
She had fun and now wants to go to more auctions.
TIME: 9:09 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: James’ birthday cookie
Instead of cake, James had non-tradtional birthday brownies and a large chocolate chip cookie this year.
I had them pipe “Happy Birthday Jamesy” on the cookie.
The decorator at the bakery added the heart over the “e’' just because.
TIME: 10:09 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Jack
He was watching a bug fly around the kitchen.
I was watching him.
My Friday night excitement!
TIME: 5:31 PM
PLACE: Front
SUBJECT: James and his license
My favorite son turned 16 today!
He passed his driving test and obtained his initial restricted license this afternoon.
Love my boy.
Summer,it turns me upside down
Summer, summer, summer
It's like a merry go round
I see you under the midnight
All shackles and bows
High shoes with the cleats a clickin'
A temperamental glow
The Cars - Magic
TIME: 7:05 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Chalkboard
I searched for-ev-er on Pinterest and Google images looking for summer chalkboard ideas.
I did not care for them.
Well, except for the way “Summer” was written on one.
So, I designed my own.
Utilizing a lyric snippet from The Cars.
Ahh, the summer of 1984 – it was awesome.
“Rigid, the skeleton of habit alone upholds the human frame.”
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), British novelist. Mrs. Dalloway, p. 62 (1925).
TIME: 4:12 PM
PLACE: Chiropractor’s office
SUBJECT: Skeleton model
My lower back is still very painful.
I left work early to visit the chiropractor again.
I hope it starts to feel better soon.
TIME: 6:55 PM
PLACE: Medical Building
SUBJECT: Landscaping & a bee
James had an appointment this evening for his yearly sports physical at 7pm.
Before we went into the medical building, I snapped some photos of the landscaping.
There were several bees being very busy in the sea of yellow flowers.
Daisies are like sunshine to the ground.”
Drew Barrymore (American Actress, b.1975)
TIME: 6:34 PM
PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: Flowers
I did something to my lower back.
It’s been hurting since yesterday morning.
I went to the chiropractor today – but it’s still killing me.
On the bright side, the daisies I planted last year are blooming nicely.
PLACE: Olympika Bar & Grill
SUBJECT: James’ pancake breakfast before
TIME: 10:53 AM
PLACE: Olympika Bar & Grill
SUBJECT: James’ pancake breakfast after
And I wonder why my grocery bill is so huge.
Why is a pigeon like a clock?
It keeps going “Coo-Coo”
Bert’s pigeon joke
TIME: 7:33 PM
PLACE: Drive up ATM
SUBJECT: Pigeon
This guy was sitting on the ledge in the drive-up ATM lane.
After I completed my transaction, I looked back and he was still there.
No one was behind me, so I reversed, rolled down my window and took his picture.
He didn’t seem very concerned.
I drove away and left him standing there.
There has never been a better office communication system than the coffee break.
Unknown
TIME: 6:46 AM
PLACE: The Office
SUBJECT: Box of Stevia
This post-it note has been on this box almost as long as we have been in the new building.
We moved in here in October of 2012.
I don’t think a lot of co-workers use Stevia.
TIME: 6:58 PM
PLACE: South 11th St & West Main
SUBJECT: Pavers & Sewer Cover
After yesterday’s excitement – the husband and I needed a soothing beverage to take the edge off.
We meet some friends of ours at 10th St. Baking Company for some drinks.
They hit the spot.
TIME: 6:47 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: DramaQueen’s car
I get the phone call at work right as I am leaving for the day.
Claudia and her friend had gone to the St. Louis Zoo today. On the way home, in rush hour traffic, she rear-ended the car in front of her.
Luckily, no one was hurt.
I met them and exchanged info with the other driver.
I’m just going to pay to fix their car out-of-pocket.
The Miata is probably done.
“I tell you to think black thoughts and you come up with that?!" the lieutenant had screamed. "Is a guinea pig bad? Do you consider a guinea pig the representation of all that is evil?"
Maybe... if it's an evil guinea pig.”
― Frank Beddor, The Looking Glass Wars
TIME: 6:02 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Guinea Pig
This is Albert.
He’s a classroom pet – only, not at our school, at another school in the district.
My husband is friends with the teacher.
She (the teacher) is the daughter of an ex-girlfriend
…Don’t ask.
He agreed to let Stella rodent-sit him for the summer.
Because we don’t have enough animal in the house.
