I love my mornings.  I never would have dreamed all those years ago when I used to stay up till the wee hours and then sleep till ten the next morning that I’d ever become a “morning person,” but I have.  I get my best work done in the morning, probably because when I’m rested I’m also more motivated.  Today I made chili, a meat loaf and folded a load of laundry, all before leaving the house for work. Of course, I was running 15 minutes late, but still…

Albert has been off work for the last ten days due to knee surgery.  He’ll probably be out 4-6 weeks to ensure a complete recovery.  Thankfully, he’ll receive 100% disability pay for that time off.  Also, it will give him a chance to get used to being at home, since his company is closing the doors on the Houston office at the end of December and he will be joining the swelling ranks of the unemployed. 

We had 2 people laid off in my office last week, too.  Our little band of comrades is down to 7 people now and it changes the entire dynamic of the office.  It also gives me more to do, but I guess that could be construed as job security, right?

But it is a lovely day in Houston and I am meeting a friend for dinner tonight.  We will talk and laugh for 3 or 4 hours and I will end up staying awake past my self-imposed bedtime, but I won’t even notice because I will be enjoying my time with my friend.  And perhaps tomorrow the “morning person” in me will be over-ruled by the sleepy one and I’ll get an extra hour of sleep.  Good thing I got that meat loaf and chili made today.

Looks like it's going to be a good weekend!

Festival in Chinatown↓

These were a little scary↓

Along the walk up to Coit Tower↓

View of the bay from the top↓

Don't you just want to hug this guy?

These guys cracked me up - there was a  lot of squabbling going on over the float with the Pier 39 flags.  Everybody wanted to be on that one and finally one too many sea lions launched himself onto the raft , which then listed to the side, sending 4 or 5 sliding off into the water.

It's a tough job but somebody has to do it↓

Self Portrait

What's a visit to San Francisco without driving down Lombard Street?

Or driving over the Golden Gate Bridge?

It was cool because as soon as we got to the other side of the bridge, we emerged from the fog into brilliant blue skies and bright sun. - fairly typical, I believe. You can see the fog rolling in on that hill to the left. It was alive.

The Good Life↓

You know how they talk about having “disposable income” - money that you don’t need but can dispose of at your own whim or fancy? Well I don’t have a whole lot of that and that’s not what I want to write about, anyway. 

Another thing I don’t have much of is “disposable time.”  Nope, there’s not a lot of whim or fancy going on in my days. But I do miss writing on Xanga and my Xanga friends. So please forgive me for being a “lapsed” Xangan.  One of the people I subscribe to once wrote on her site, “Xanga for Life” and I totally agreed with that sentiment. Now she’s lapsed too.

Does this ever happen to you?  You’ll be going along with your day and something will occur and you’ll think, “Hey, that would make a good Xanga post.” But then you don’t have time to write about it and soon forget altogether?  It happens to me all the time, even though it’s been months since I last posted. I probably need to carry a little notepad and have it handy to write down impressions like that when they occur.

My plan is to post some life updates very soon, but till then,

Xanga for Life!

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Look who was in my backyard sunning himself yesterday. At first we thought he was a copperhead, however upon closer investigation (web-browsing) he appears to be a rat snake. We didn't kill it and did not plan to, but we did talk about capturing the snake and transferring it to a wooded area. He snuck off while we were still debating the issue (in truth, we honestly didn't want to try to capture it just in case he was poisonous). It makes me nervous thinking of poisonous snakes in my flower beds, so I'm glad he's not.

 From the Plaza – Lunchtime Thoughts and Observations

Thankfully the canvas awnings have finally been replaced – the ones that were destroyed in the hurricane last September.  At last there is some shade around the fountains and I can sit out here at lunch and tolerate the heat. My reading tree is rapidly losing its leaves and affords little shade these days. I fear that the dryness and heat of this brutal summer we are having may be too much for it and it is dying.  That makes me sad.

There is a young couple walking around the fountain, she on the elevated ledge that borders it and he beside her.  They are dressed in business attire and both are wearing name tags around their necks.  He is in a sport coat and tie with a back pack strapped on and she is in a skirt and light-weight blouse.  They are talking earnestly, at least she is, and he is intent upon her.  I think they must be here for some seminar or training session and have come outside to get some air and stretch their legs.  I think, too, that he must like her or be very interested in her in order to be outside in 100 degree heat, walking in circles in the sun, and wearing a suit and tie.  I think he must like her a lot.

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This little guy has been hopping around the yard for the last couple of days. Mama is nearby, too.