I just got back from a month in Texas and a weekend in Tampa.  Having abandoned my house for a month, I was trepiditious over what I might find. Well, I was not disappointed.

I got in by evening, so I deposited the dog and drove over to get the cats. Visited with John and kids and hauled the cats, litter boxes and stuff back home.

The grass looked like a wildlife preserve, there were bugs running around my dishwasher, and biggest surprise, there was a big wet spot on my ceiling upstairs, where it had dripped on the carpet for who knows how long! I poked a hole in the ceiling in case the water had built up, as the popcorn had already fallen off. I thought it might be the rain, but I suspect it was air conditioner back up. Threw down towels, put down a container for drips and went to bed.

Today, I cut the grass, flushed out the air conditioner drain, picked up my mail and threw out junk, shredded the usual bank checks that they send you hoping you will borrow money.  Actually, I took a shower after the grass and before the mail pick up.

My shoulder muscles are recovering from lugging a portable typewriter and a duffle bag that had six extra pounds added because my suitcase was overweight from baby clothes that Ali had sent back, as well as an "antique" coffee grinder that I bought.

Well, the grinder works nicely as its manual and the coffee perks well in the pyrex pot on the stove. The typewriter I bought for $10. for Lisa, and an identical one sold for $104.00 on ebay today (with 35.00 for shipping) So, I feel good about that.

I had hoped that I would lose weight from climbing Ali's stairs twenty times a day, but no such luck. But I think my cardio is better! Guess I will take up walking to the Blockbuster, since I signed up for a trial membership. A friend's husband is managing a store and he gets credit for signing up people.

Nice to be home. But the neighbors are still here.