Friday Frying

Summer has set in with its usual severity. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

A quick post to chat before I put up the next one -- it's another "dog dish" post, and I don't normally do two a week -- but LOOK at that cover! How could I resist?

It's sweltering here. In the high 90s with about 800% humidity (which is what makes it so bad) and we have no A/C in our house. Even with my fan, my laptop gets so hot I almost can't touch it. My glasses won't stay up .... just slide on down on the sweat that drips from my skin. By 9:00 it's not safe to be outside doing much of anything. I walked the dog yesterday at 7 a.m., and by the time I was home I was dripping.

We have two more days of this coming (today and Saturday). While I'm reasonably certain I'll survive it, it's really very uncomfortable.

And, although we still have no monarchs, we're making up for it in Milkweed Tussock Moths. Check it out:



They stay in a group like that until they're quite big, completely decimating the leaf they're on and moving to the next. It's really pretty incredible.

Wishing everyone a cool, pleasant and fun weekend! Anyone have plans? I do! My friend, Michele, is coming up for a visit. I can't wait.

=====================

You Should Play Classical Guitar

You have an idea of how the world should be. You have a very clear vision for your life. People respect you for holding on to your ideals. You don't stray from what you believe in. You're the type of person who still believes in changing the world. You passionately believe that things should be better. You have strong emotions. You listen to your heart... it has rarely led you astray.

What Classical Instrument Should You Play?

That's about 80% right!

==================

Drama in Pillar Place

Never say, "oops." Always say, "Ah, interesting." ~Author Unknown

Thanks for your input yesterday -- I'm going to write to Cigna and see what happens. I'm going to suggest that they toss in some flower seeds (I'll even provide them -- I have PILES of dead head/seeds from several butterfly friendly flowers) and become a certified Monarch Waystation. They'll have a cool sign they can post and be listed on the Monarch Watch website.

We had two more successful releases in Pillar Place: Monarch yesterday: 2 more boys. They were lovely. We've seen a few monarchs fluttering around the past few days. We wave. *G*

Also in Pillar Place, we had one small problem that will hopefully end up being no problem at all. One of our "J" pillars from yesterday, Thomas, had some issues shedding his skin and ended up falling off the roof of his box. I remember a couple years ago this happened, and I tried to glue the chrysalis to the roof, but the pupa died almost immediately -- probably from my handling.

This time, I've let the pupa lay on the floor of his box overnight. It hasn't turned black, so it's not dead, and the shell around him has hardened. I've read that they can be handled successfully (if you're careful) once the exterior is hard. So, today I'm going try to reattach him to the roof. I'm not sure how yet -- he doesn't have much of a "stem" so I don't know if I want to glue him because the glue will get onto the chrysalis.

Oh the drama. Now, with my luck, he'll hatch deformed and DD will want to keep him as a pet.

========================

It's hot here, in case anyone wondered. Really hot. I'm dying. My life for air conditioning ...

========================

You Are Charming

You are quite stylish and unique. You have a flair for living well. You have a bit of attitude, but you're definitely not stuck up. You know how to let loose and have fun. You are well liked and a total people person. You are almost always at ease in a crowd. You are a huge lover of life and all it has to offer. You're proud of who you are, but you never brag.

How Does Your Cookie Crumble?

About 25% correct...

===================

Heatwave

Extremes, though contrary, have the like effects. Extreme heat kills, and so extreme cold... - George Chapman

Okay, I realize for those of you down south, it may not sound like much ... but we're in the middle of a massive heatwave up here in the northeast -- temps in the high 90s to 100+ and incredibly humid. What makes this worse is that we don't typically get temps like these, not for more than a day or two, so just aren't prepared for it.

I have no A/C in my house. Not even a window one. So, I sit and sweat and suffer.

This morning, our sediment filter for the house was full. DH changed it out this morning, and it's already getting full again. What this could indicate is that our well is drying out and we're hitting bottom. We aren't expecting any rain for almost a week so it's conceivable that we may run out of water. He seems unconcerned. I'm exactly the opposite, and am VERY concerned about the possibility. I'm praying for rain, and a lot of it.

I can't walk the dog, even first thing in the morning. I tried today, but it's already almost 80 out, and feels like I'm swimming through the air. I don't know if I can take four more days of this. Today is supposed to be the worst day and then it's "cooling off" into the low 90s for the rest of the week (but the humidity is increasing -- I didn't think that was possible).

I want a summer home in Alaska.

======================

In Pillar Place: Swallowtail -- just to prove me wrong, we had two butterflies emerge yesterday: Epsilon and Zeta (both males). This morning, five more were fluttering around: Nu, Mu, Eta, Beta, and Theta (three males and two females). This leaves three more (I think ... the butterflies are still drying their wings so I don't want to open up the box and check).

In Pillar Place: Monarch -- Xi has about doubled in size. It's incredible how quickly they grow. We found Omincron, inside a small curl in the leaf, little bugger. We'd like to go on another egg hunt, but it's just too hot to be tromping around outside in the sun, so it may have to wait until next week.

=======================

Got more writing done yesterday. It's a bit frustrating, though. I can SEE the scene in my head. See the characters as they move and speak, but I'm struggling to convert that into words that bring it to life. Still, I like the story and the characters, so I think it'll work itself out.

========================

You Are Sideburns

You are quirky and a bit of a goofball. You don't take yourself too seriously, but you do pride yourself in being unique. You take something ordinary and put your own twist on it. You have a naturally funky sense of style. You are the last person you know to get stuck in a rut. In fact, you're well known for not really having strong habits or patterns. You shake things up before they get boring. You're constantly changing and evolving... no one can keep up!

What Kind of Facial Hair Are You?

HAHAHAHAHAHA... no.

====================

Too Hot!

Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones. ~Sydney Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir

Had a great day yesterday -- spent it with a friend who came up from Massachusetts. The time flew by and we didn't really DO anything except chat! Well, we went to a UBS and Barnes and Noble, had lunch, walked the dog ... but mostly we just gabbed.

A good day.

Today is supposed to be brutally hot. I actually just got back from taking the dog for her walk since it'll be too hot in the next hour or so. DH and DD went out on the lake, but I have no desire to go, so I'm staying home for some alone time.

I think I might have a nap. I'm exhausted this morning already...

Otherwise, nothing new here!

What are you doing this Memorial Day weekend (for my USA friend)?

======================

Your Life Will Be Calm in Ten Years

You're the type of person who takes things as they come, and you do your best not to worry. You know that there's a lot in this world that you can't change - and you're not about to try to change it. You are confident and content. You don't feel like you need to push too hard. Try to break out of your comfort zone every now and then, though. Have an adventure! You are risking complacency.

What Will Your Life Be Like in Ten Years?

This couldn't be more wrong!

=================

Hot Hot Hot

Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones. ~Sydney Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir

I broke out my fans last night. I can't believe it... but yesterday it was 350 degrees here with 900% humidity.

Okay -- 89 degrees with exceptionally high humidity.

I kept praying for a thunderstorm to clear it out, but it never happened. When I went to bed (at TEN O'CLOCK -- which, if you know me, you know that is really REALLY late) it was still almost 90 degrees in my bedroom.

We don't have A/C. We really almost never need it. We use window fans for the night to suck in the cool air, but it's only the first week of May, so the fans are still stored away.

But last night, at ten o'clock, I went crawling around in the storage space behind one of our closets and dug them out because there was NO way I'd be able to sleep otherwise.

Even with the fans, it was a struggle. The last time I looked at my clock it was midnight. I'm tired.

And it never did thunderstorm.

It did this last year ... May was summery and warm and then along came June: wet and cool. Seriously messed with my gardens AND with my DH's boating. I really hope that doesn't happen this year.

=====================

Do you like sequels?

Mostly I do, as long as they are as strong as the first book. I cut my romance teeth on Jude Deveraux and her Montgomerys and Taggarts. I loved reading those books and seeing how everyone was related to everyone. I read all of Nora's series. I'm a fan of Catherine Coulter's FBI series (though not so much the last one...), and read all of Jayne Ann Krentz / Amanda Quick series she's been doing lately.

I'm writing a sequel (well, a couple actually) and hope the second book is as well received as the first.

As a reader, do you like revisiting friends?

As a writer, do you enjoy writing a sequel? Do you find it easier or harder (or both)? Why?

======================

You Are a Hearty Breakfast

You are down to earth and mild mannered. You don't tend to make a fuss. You can be a bit stubborn at times. You know what you like, and you don't tend to change your mind. You like to stay in your comfort zone. You don't really like surprises or change much. You aren't complacent... you're just practical. Why mess with what works?

The Breakfast Test

Yep.

======================

Happy Anniversary

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year. ~Paul Sweeney

Today my DH and I celebrate 13 years of marriage. I use the term "celebrate" loosely, because it will probably entail a greeting of "Happy Anniversary" when I wake him up and not much else, lol.

We were going to take a weekend away this year, but the logistics got too crazy. Finding someone to watch the DD and the Dd is tough. My in-laws and the one friend I'd trust to keep DD all don't like dogs. And boarding the dog costs more than my frugal self can stand. We can't go out to dinner -- DH's long hours at work preclude that. So, we'll just wish one another a happy anniversary and go from there. One of these days we'll get away. Heck DD turns 18 in eight more years. Maybe DH and I will go away then!

:-)

==========================

It's hot here. Sometimes I think that the earth's tilt has changed a little bit because it sure seems like our seasons have shifted by a few weeks. The past few years everything seems to come just a little later. The weather we're having now is typical for late July, and I bet we have a longer fall. Last year we didn't even get our first frost until October!

Regardless, it's going to be brutal the next couple of days. It's hot (high 90s) and it's VERY VERY humid (which is what gets me). We don't have A/C because we really seldom need it. But OY.

It makes it especially tough for the dog because she's got so much energy, and we just can't take her for walks or play with her between late morning and early evening. Poor puppy.

DD is angry because I won't let her bake cookies.

**sigh**

==============================

You Are Right Brained in Love

When it comes to love, you go with your gut not with your head. You have an open heart. You fall in love easily and get hurt just as easily. You are spontaneous with relationships. You go with the flow and don't worry about the future. You are romantic, empathetic, and caring. More than most people, you really love being in love.

Are You Right Brained or Left Brained in Love?

Um.. No.

====================