Some blogkeeping:

It looks to me like yesterday’s post didn’t go out in its email version. I have no idea why. It could just be a glitch in Feedburner. Or it could be that for some reason, I posted too late for it to go out that day (though I really didn’t, but it’s crazy Feedburner, so who knows?) There’s a chance you might get two posts in your email today. Or not. And now – today – I see that my subscriber count went from 450 to 50. Something’s up.

As I’ve said before, this is a Google service that isn’t being fully supported by Google anymore. It is in that I can change times for the posts, etc, but it isn’t in that it’s really hard to get any sort of answer from Google. Almost impossible. I’m not about to spend one more penny supporting this blog than I’m already spending, so I’m not going to go with another service, all of which are paid.

As always, the best thing to do, and the the thing I prefer you to do, is come directly to the blog. There’s no truer indicator of whether I’ve posted or not than that.

Second item. Sometimes, I get a notice from a webmaster saying my reply to your comment on the blog was rejected and can’t be delivered. Priscilla, I got one for you this morning. I got another one the other day for someone else. This is usually because your email provider has marked it as spam, most likely because they see a lot of mail coming from a certain IP address (my host, which is the host to gazillions of blogs and websites) so they block it as spam. Again, nothing I can do about that. So, if you don’t get a reply – and you know I reply 99% of the time – check back on the blog.

Okay. Enough of that.

We watched Biden and Harris speak yesterday. Compassion, intelligence, clarity, power – I felt hope and, at the same time, a sense of calm that I haven’t had in over 4 years. I don’t kid myself, I’ll get angry again very soon because the Orange Man and all his henchmen will pull out every trick in the book, will call Kamala names, will – as I saw this morning – start spewing ‘birther’ nonsense. I’ll have to keep repeating my mantra: Biden/Harris 2020. Over and over. I’ll remind myself that I’m voting FOR something – much more positive than voting against. (Though that is implied, for sure.)

I’m waiting for a package in the mail. It came from Italy. I’m tracking it. So far, the slowest part of the journey has been here, stateside. I normally have no problems with the USPS. They are stellar. But, now? With all the changes being made as OM (Orange Man) tries to suppress the vote via mail-in ballots? The USPS is moving very slowly. My heart goes out to those faithful employees who are being forced to slow everything down. It’s shameful. Speak out. Call your representatives. We need the Post Office, which was functioning very well indeed before OM and his bogus Postmaster General started messing with it.

End of soapbox.

Side note: Does OM not realize that his makeup stops short of his hairline and isn’t blended on the sides? It’s as if he’s auditioning for some Noh Drama or mime work. Come to think of it, it looks like what in actuality it is: a mask.  An apt symbol for his entire life. I must admit I’m endlessly fascinated by how badly it’s applied. We watched an episode of Frasier  last night in which Marty (Frasier’s dad) applies some spray-in hair dye and it proceeds to get all over everything; chairs, rugs – and it runs down his face. OM’s makeup reminds me of that.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

One morning glory. And leaves being chomped on by some critter.

Everything I planted from seed  is growing slowly because of the drought.  So it was nice to see this little blossom this morning.

It’s very hot and humid here, though we managed to snag some time on the porch this morning. While we were out there, we could feel the humidity slowly increasing. I’ve never been a fan of humidity – that’s a given. It isn’t good for my allergies and I hate having to stay inside most of the day. It’s a big part of the reason I could never live in Florida or other parts of the South.

The big news: Hurrah! Kamala Harris! I’ve been secretly hoping that she would be Biden’s choice and both Don and I were thrilled when we saw the announcement. Of course, I would have supported anyone on that list, but Kamala? BRAVO!

It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve felt hope and excitement and boy, is that a nice feeling!

We’re in the middle of figuring out the logistics for the removal of the trees. We have that corral fence which is smack dab in the middle of the area in which they need to work. We just got off the phone with the owner of the company. The fence is pretty rusty and we’d already been thinking about taking it down; he confirmed much of it would have to be removed so they can get their trucks back there. I do want to keep the section nearest the house intact as it is part of the chicken wire fence garden and the memorial garden. Fingers crossed. They were going to start this afternoon (he called us at the last minute) but we’ve delayed it until we can remove these rusty sections of chicken wire and the posts.

Truthfully, I’m glad we’re delaying it a bit.

I’m not ready.

We did mow everything yesterday before it got too humid out there, even the back forty. Don got to do some mowing; he’s been missing working outside. Today is his last day of antibiotics and that’s a cause for celebration.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

A package arrived from reader Kathy in Iowa. In it were two of these wonderful masks. We love them, Kathy. Don wore his today; he had to make a quick run to the store for yogurt. Thank you so much!

We both woke up way too early this morning. I have to fight that tendency toward irritability that comes when I’m way too tired. I’m going to mow this morning – the front lawn needs it. Plus, I’ll have an activity which always seems to help when I have had too little sleep. So I’m writing this post a bit earlier than usual so I can head outside after we have our second cup of coffee.

Also, we have a heat advisory posted from noon until 8 this evening. Heat indexes going up to 100 degrees. Best that I mow early. I can’t pick a better day as it’s going to be this way all week long.

I read an article yesterday that puts my stresses with lockdown in perspective. It’s written by Danny Burstein, who is a multiple Tony nominee for his work on Broadway. He is married to another Tony nominee, Rebecca Luker. They are enormously talented. I have worked with both of them (on the same show) and two more down-to-earth and kind people you could never hope to meet. Rebecca was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. Both she and Danny had COVID-19. Danny’s experience with COVID was frightening and he is still suffering from lingering effects and complications. Rebecca’s condition has quickly progressed and Danny has had to be her caregiver, even while trying to recover from COVID.

I read it aloud to Don (who has worked with Danny) and both of us are heartsick that these two wonderful people have had to suffer through all of this. I urge you to read Danny’s story. He speaks movingly about Becca and her illness and his fears and being out of work (he was in Moulin Rouge   when Broadway shut down) and worrying about the state of theater and whether he will get any work in the future. Something that we worry about every day. Here’s the link.

My prayers are with them today and every day.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.