Very Busy Good Week.

As busy as it's been in the past months or longer, I do appreciate a day where I can just sit at home and read the papers and a book and write a bunch. On the other hand, I hate being idle and non-productive. More than a day of that makes me feel dumb for throwing it away. Even waking up later makes me feel that way. There's so much to do.

Saturday was kind of like that and then we ended up going to Jeanne's mom's place. Which was fun. Sunday was good. Jeff and Margaret was in town so I met up with them and hung out. It's always good to see them and actually great for my own self-being. It makes me appreciate what I have and Jeff has a way of reminding me what I have to offer and look forward to. He gives me the perspective and release that just builds up inside of me because I let it and don't see any way else.

So it was good to spend a day with them and just relax and have some good times. Margaret's family is all good and fun as well. They are all very welcoming and good people. I also got an eggplant plant, fennel, leeks, and cherry tomatoes for good measure and also in case I don't produce much or anything in my haphazardly arranged and developed garden.

We check out the pedestrian bridge and the Missouri in its flood state and then drove to the casino to check out where they're at. Still bringing in the gamblers.

Monday was more good times. We drove through Council Bluffs which is always interesting. We went up to Fairmount park for a picnic with the Waughs and others. Good stuff, good food, good conversations.

Jeff and Margaret'll be back in a week or so. Looking forward to that. We then headed home to relax a bit before heading back out to the mom's for dinner with Charlie and Maria. I like these because it's relaxing and the mom always has an appetizer spread out with good stuff...such as real guacamole with Trader Joe's vegetable chips, spanikopita, brie, crackers, salmon, smoked some other fish, sesame sticks, spring mix, cherry tomatoes, almonds, grapefruit mimosas (non-alcoholic)...and I keep eating the entire time.

Ayana was being protective of "her" toys and everything Cecilia went for she grabbed, so we kept giving Cecilia more so Ayana would grab them and have her entire arms full and kept dropping things but kept going so as to protect her toys from being played with. Their relationship progressed well through the evening even amounting to a huge in the hallway as we left. Ayana's forward momentum toppled them over and Cecilia's head hit the trimming on the post. That night, I stayed awake watching huge gusts that sounded like a tornado and the maple tree's huge limbs were swaying five or more feet and I thought it would bust down and crash through the roofs. I finally fell asleep and awoke to clear skies, sunny, and gd cool. Great day for a hippie to go out and think poetic thoughts about nature.

Tuesday I had a bunch of errands to do. While running through my French lessons and my Cypress Hill/Ice Cube (same era and affiliation) drive-mix bumping, I made several trips to Home Depot to pick up plywood and 2x4's for the other book shelf. I got back home and was really nice out so I measured out and cut the 2x4's to length and put together the shelves. All the while I grilled the teriyaki chicken I've had marinating for a week and dry-rubbed the last two pieces of steaks.

After all this I loaded up the old book shelves, some food, and dropped ice cream to John and Sherri (this seasons last Thin Mints batch) and the shelves and food to Megan at her new place. I met her roommmate John who's super cool. Gotta hang with him. He built a mini-ramp in the basement and is an independent contractor. I want to consult with him and if time help him on jobs.

Yesterday we moved all the books from the current shelves, moved those shelves to the garage and I put together the shelves. It would've been done quickly but our drill is a residential one and left out all winter so the battery is weak. I did what I could and set it to charge while we went to meet the family at the Durham for the Pulitzer Prize photo exhibit. It's all pretty depressing stuff. A lot of death, destruction, and a side profile of a young Phil Anselmo with a snake...lot of pot smoking in that dude's future.

We wanted to go eat and Rick's boatyard was a suggestion, which I wanted to do to look at the river and I've never eaten there. I suggested somewhere with a good salad bar and we weighed our options and went to Ruby Tuesday's. I know. I'm making a point to try the other good places popping up but I really wanted a salad bar and somewhere sit down but quick since the kids were getting ripe.

Today I'm at the library reading the paper and gonna hit the Sunday Times and go home, relax and go to Maria's parents' place in Ponca Hills. Charlie brought his bike so if time permits, I want to hit the roads and bike paths. Again, good food there.