1. So, last Friday was my last day of freedom before the start of a new school year. I tried to have fun and figure out what to do to have fun and make it memorable. I started by going to Mass, which I do most summer mornings. I got my stuff together mid morning and went shopping at a mall. I came home for a late lunch. I pieced part of one of the new quilts for these winter babies. (I have 4 quilts in various stages of non-completion at the moment.) I watched part of an HGTV show, but I had seen it before and moved on. I waited for hubby to call because we were meeting at Cracker Barrel for dinner. But, traffic was bad so we ended up eating bratwursts at home. I think I need to begin the summer by making a plan for the last day next year.
2. Saturday morning we cut the grass. The temperatures were in the 70s but the humidity was very high. I was sweating like I have never sweated before. Sweat ran in my eyes and I couldn't see. I had a crisis moment when a bumble bee landed on my arm and didn't want to leave. I took a chance a laid my arm out on the mower so that it would vibrate. The bee flew away. I figured either that would happen or it would make him mad and he would sting me.
Later, I thought about stopping by Walmart, but it was a tax holiday and the parking lot was full to the next county. I changed my mind and just got groceries at Schnucks.
3. Sunday the senior associate pastor had a very good homily about focusing on the things God wants. He gave a very nice, concise summary for growing in Christian life--1. Make time for prayer; 2. Prepare and receive the sacraments, 3. Live the vocation we have been called to, 4. Give to help those in need, and 5. Use the time we have been given for service. Sounds to me like a good outline for faith formation should I ever be called to serve in that capacity again.
And I picked up tomatoes again from the church garden. We are almost getting tired of them.
I used to say that there was a time of year when the only way you could get rid of tomatoes was to stand by the side of the road and throw them at cars. (Not that I ever did that.) But hubby has felt sorry for a co-worker who keeps bringing give away tomatoes to work and nobody wants them so he takes them and they are accumulating. And I am NOT canning tomatoes this year.
4. Monday I went back to school for the meetings. I was happy to find out what my friends had been up to this summer. My friend the music teacher had been headed to Door County, WI when last I saw her. She made it a personal goal to eat fish and cherries every day. I think that will be my plan if I go to Door County again.
I made mini-meatloaves for dinner Monday. Mini-meatloaves are one of my very favorite dinners. Hubby hates them. But, I feel that since I cook, I should be able to make one of my very favorites once in a while, right?
I was really tired Monday after only a morning of meetings and an afternoon of working in the library. Working in the library was not fun because it was cold (like the arctic) and I couldn't find things.
The whole week was a jumble of meetings and open house, but NO BOOK FAIR to start the year. Am I getting smarter, or what?
5. On Wednesday we had "pretend that the armed intruder is shooting up the school" training. A bunch of police and military-like security people were the trainers. (On Tuesday the ambulance had to come for one of the trainers because the training had become too intense and one of the people being trained threw a desk at him and hit him in the head. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this training is not a good idea.) That is a nice relaxing start to the school year, imagine that someone is coming to kill you. But I survived and learned how to use a school chair to lock a door and tie and phone cord around a door handle to keep the bad guy out. And sadly, I figured out that I am in a very vulnerable position in the library. But, unlike Columbine, we will try to escape should such a terrible thing happen as a school shooting.
6. My brother is coming to my mom's this weekend. I hope that he has a good visit. I plan to go up one day this weekend to see him.
7. And this coming Monday in the school district in which I work, the kids will be back. I have missed them. The first days are sort of overwhelming for them and for me. It won't be long before the book club starts back up and I meet this year's cast of characters.