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OH NO.

One more day left.  Some people say that after the Fourth of July, it's all downhill.  After the Fourth of July, summer is over.  

BUT THOSE PEOPLE ARE PESSIMISTS.

My dad sometimes says, "Cheer up, cold weather's coming!"  I don't know what that means.

I will be getting my computer back in the next couple of days, I presume, so I can resume wasting my time on the internet and trying to figure out the ending to my book.

I had a wonderful weekend at a writers' meeting.  One of my friends wrote a hilarious story about buying underwear.  It involved taking the escalator up and down several times.  I myself did some thinking about some decisions in my story.  It helps to talk about stuff like that sometimes.  And of course sometimes It's not helpful.

Also recently, I went to the Berkshires and saw Shaw's CANDIDA.  It was great.  Very heavy and Victorian and intellectual.  Ponderous you might say, although tastes have changed greatly in our time.  I love being in that area because everyone seems so smart and well read.  They use words bigger than "futon," and it makes me swoon.

The cats departed with their mommy and daddy in my absence.  I miss them, although I do like keeping the bathroom door open and the garbage in a more accessible place.  GOODBYE HANSEL AND GRETEL.

I did surprisingly well for weight on the weekend.  I was on a tequila diet.

Hot and humid here in New England, dear reader.  Hope it's nice where you are.

A bientot
love,
becky

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Gretel loves me this time.  She was always the more aloof of the two, the one you couldn't find for two or thre days because she  wedged herself into the inner springs of a chair or under the bed.  Speaking of that, I was napping the othr day (I know, dear reader, you thought I was a fount of energy at all times--HAH!) and thought my sinuses were making a weird noise.  Every time I breathed in or out I was making this little high-pitched squeak and it started to freak me out.

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT.  WHY AM I DOING IT.

Then I ascertained that it was not related to my breathing.  What could it be?  My stomach?  God, I hope not.

THIS IS VERY STRANGE.

Then I thought, what if there is a cat under my bed.

And there was.  It was a little bit like waking up after a bad dream and feeling so happy that it wasn't true.  There she was, cute little Gretel snoring away between the suitcase and a box of old photographs.

Speaking of old, I have resurrected an old laptop and am online by a hair.  The other thing about cats is their propensity to get in trouble when you are not looking.  When you are in the same room with them, they are models of grace and comportment.  YAWN.  Then when you are upstairs you hear bangs and thuds and these two do something that sounds like the dining room chair is going in and out under the table.  Maybe they're having a fancy dinner party down there and getting the place settings ready for their friends. 

MITZI, HI.  HOW ARE YOU TODAY?  YOU'LL BE SITTING WITH COSMO RIGHT HERE.  OH YES, LET ME PULL THAT CHAIR OUT FOR YOU.
AND MAX?  DIVINE TO SEE YOU, DARLING, OH YES HAVE A BITE OF THOSE FLOWERS IN THE VASE.  AREN'T THEY YUMMY?  IF YOU NEED TO PUKE THAT UP, MAX, JUST STEP RIGHT OVER THERE NEAR THE CHINA CABINET.

When you walk into a room, you will frequently see them jumping down from the countertop or down from the mantelpiece or wherever they have gotten to.
I WAS ONLY UP HERE FOR A SECOND.  SOMETHING REQUIRED MY ATTENTION AND I WASN'T INTENDING TO STAY HERE.  I COULD CARE LESS.

But anyway, they are cute and inquisitive and heavy nappers.  And Gretel loves me.  She walks on me when I am in bed and I love that.  The only part I don't love is when she settles somewhere on the terrain of me and flexes her claws in and out.  HEY.

Parceling out these June days, dear reader.  They are jewels.
Have a great weekend.


A bientot

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No pix today (keep reading).  But summer vacation is launched  for Hanse and Gretel, my son's two elderly felines who are visiting Grannikins for the week.  It's a litte like working in a nursing home.  Pretty much all they do is sleep , though they get somewhat frisky at least twice a day..  Most of the time they are very laid back despite a few arguments like any married couple.  Feeding time is their opportunity to show me how disappointed they are with what I'm giving them. They each have a way of walking past the food dish and lifting their head in disgust.  WHAT A PEASANT. WHAT A CHEAPSKATE.  I used to be more liberal and generous with them, opening delicious cans of wet cat food for their pleasure, but I learned not to be.

Why?

Gretel ate an entire can of food the first time and went into the living room and puked it up.

That will take care of generous impulses every time.

It gets down to some pretty basic questions when you care for animals.

Do you prefer puke or shit?

Hopefully, you won't have to choose and also hopefully they recognize and accept their fate as litter box users.  

Enough of that. More computer problems, yaay!!! Once again I rely on the Blanche Dubois strategy--using the kindness of strangers to get by.  Well,  that's not true.  They are my very good friends and don't seem to mind me ducking in here at all hours of the day and night to check emai and blog.

Water problems also from my pump/well system which is run by the same gerbils in the same wheel that run everything else here.  But I am Living the Dream, dear reader.  

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CELTICS, BABY!

GREEN!!!

OH YEAH!!!

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We don't hate the Lakers. At least we don't hate them with every fiber in our beings. We only look down our noses at their good weather and show-offy sunglasses. We save our true loathing for the other group.






With that in mind, one can watch the Celtics/Lakers playoffs without too much angst.

CELEBRITIES SPOTTED IN THE CROWD (but I can't get their pictures to show up):
1) Sly Stallone looking truly odd, as though he has been in a fire or something. I'm glad he can enjoy the game. But don't give us any of that Rocky crap, gloating and waving your fist in the air. Don't act like a Yankee fan.

2) Jack Nicholson. He is why we tune in, isn't he? God, I've got to see Jack sitting courtside so I can feel the hate. Get this rivalry thing turned up. It's been a long time, but Jack looks exactly the same. He was with his daughter during the first game and I confess to a sharp intake of breath, thinking OHMYGOD, A REALLY YOUNG ONE! But no. She was drinking water with her dad and looking totally too cool for the room.

3) And speaking of that, Curt Schilling, who has raised Dorkhood to new levels in his white tee shirt with Celtics Larry Bird shirt on top of it, had his daughter next to him as well, who was texting to a friend. I AM SITTING COURTSIDE AT THE NBA FINALS, BUT I HAVE BETTER PLACES TO BE.

4) Hugh Hefner was also with his daughter. Or maybe it was his granddaughter. YOU ask him.

5) Tobey Maguire, looking very un-spiderish with his mouth open for flies to get in.

6) several Red Sox players showing solidarity




A good time was not being had by everyone, one senses. Maybe Will leaves the toilet seat up.
Anyway, I'm starting to get into it. Go Paul! Go Celts!


Thanks to the Boston Globe for these.
A bientot on a fine June day
love,
becky

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QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE MARRYING already sounds pretty good to me and the fact that it is written by bestselling author Melissa Senate doesn't hurt either. In fact, it sounds as though it ought to be handed out at wedding expos, though nobody at those events wants to deter anyone, I'm sure. You're not already married, are you? might be one. As soon as I read Melissa's book, I will know if that is on the list. Great title, though, and hats off--veils off--to Melissa. Here's a little more scoop:

A very popular New York Times article lists fifteen questions couples should ask (or wish they had) before marrying. Ruby Miller and her fiancé, Tom Truby, have questions 1 to 14 almost covered. It's question 15 that has the Maine schoolteacher stumped: Is their relationship strong enough to withstand challenges?

Challenges like…Ruby's twin sister, Stella. The professional muse, flirt and face reader thinks Ruby is playing it safe. And that the future Mrs. Ruby Truby will die of boredom before her first anniversary or her thirtieth birthday, whichever comes first.

Challenges like…sexy maverick teacher Nick McDermott, Ruby's secret longtime crush, who confesses his feelings for her at her own engagement party.

But before Ruby can plan the wedding that may never be, Stella announces she's pregnant by a one-night stand whose name might be Jake (or James? Maybe Jason?) and who lives somewhere under the glittering lights of Las Vegas. Ruby and Stella hit the road to find him—with a lot more than fifteen questions.

And after three thousand miles, a stowaway relative and hitchhiking teen lovebirds bound for an Elvis wedding chapel, the Miller sisters might get some answers.

“Senate’s prose is fresh and lively.” –The Boston Globe

Bio: Melissa Senate is the author of seven novels, including her debut, the bestselling See Jane Date, which was made into a very cute TV movie for ABC Family, and Theodora Twist, her first YA. A former editor of romance novels and teen fiction, Melissa lives on the southern coast of Maine with son, his Pokemon cards collection, and their two witchy black cats. She’s hard at work on her next YA for Delacorte, and just sold her next two adult novels to Pocket Books.
Buy this book
HERE

A bientot dear reader
love,
becky

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I saw this painting at the Tate Britain just last week. It is on loan from the Ponce Museum of Art in Puerto Rico, where it has resided since 1963 and I feel terribly lucky to have seen it.

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