The Simple Woman’s Daybook for Monday, August 18, 2008

Outside my window…It’s gray and drizzly. Tropical Storm Fay “might could” (as they say in North Carolina) hit us later this week.

I am thinking…About giving up the Internet—shutting down this blog, closing my e-mail account. The web can be both a blessing and a curse. One makes friends and wastes time, receives support and receives criticism, all at once. Sometimes I long for the “olden” days of my own life, before I ever bothered with any of this. I miss the beauty of hand-written letters, the comfort of anonymity. Lately I feel I’m in hermit mode; I wish I was invisible. I know it will pass, and I will probably still be here, blogging away, a year from now. But this is what I am thinking today.

I am thankful for…People who aren’t afraid to pick up the phone and call someone who’s been on their mind. Carrie, a very sweet and lovely woman from church, called me last night. She’d seen me at Mass on Saturday evening, looking harried, and wanted to make sure I was all right. We talked for quite a while, and I felt so refreshed when I hung up. I’m a phone-phobic, and I’m sure I’ve missed many opportunities to be a bright blessing to others as a result.

From the kitchen…Tonight we’re having taco salad. I’ve got some lettuce in the fridge to use up, and it will be a nice way to enjoy some of the last cherry tomatoes from the porch garden.

I am wearing…A watermelon-pink T-shirt, black shorts, tennies.

I am creating…A school day routine for myself and my kids. Today is my oldest son’s first day of 2nd grade, and I am homeschooling my 4-year-old for preschool this year. Between lessons, homework, and chores, I think we’ll be best off having a fairly stable routine in place.

I am going…To call my parents this morning and see whether or not they’re thinking of coming up to our place in the event that this tropical storm becomes a hurricane.

I am reading…Venetia by Georgette Heyer (still) and Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. Captivating was one of the resources used by the teacher of the very first Bible study/apologetics class I attended at my parish. It’s a wonderful book; so many of the things in it resonate with me: “Yes! That’s exactly how it is!”

I am hoping…The bus stop problem gets resolved soon. The guy who drives my son’s school bus is not the nicest person. He refuses to stop at our cul-de-sac, even though it is not out of his way at all, and even though it is the safest course of action. Last year’s efforts to fix this through the department of transportation failed miserably—our case got shuffled to someplace outside our own city, and we received a form letter which indicated that no one had even READ our request or looked at an existing bus schedule. Long story. Very irritating. But now we’re not alone; the lady across the way has a kid in kindergarten. She and I are DETERMINED to get this situation straightened out, for the safety of all our boys.

I am hearing…”Go, Diego, Go!” on TV, and Charlie and Levi playing with their toy food and dishes.

Around the house…All the laundry is done—folded and put away. What a feat! Brian has work today—getting ready for the fall semester. I really need to vacuum (didn’t I say that last week?).

One of my favorite things…Scented candles. I have this one that claims to be gardenia scented, but really it smells more like Jessica McClintock perfume. I catch a whiff of it every time I go near my dresser. Bliss!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Clean bathrooms. Vacuum. Put tabs on file folders in the (now organized) filing cabinet. Finish reading Venetia. Try not to stay up too late watching Olympics. Start homeschool lessons with Charlie. Catch up on correspondence.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

These pretty little flowers grow on vines all over the place at Echowood. They seem to like to stay close to the house—mostly I’ve seen them on the hibiscus (as shown here) and on the ferns that grow near the porch in the backyard.

Be sure to visit Peggy to read more daybooks and/or to get the guidelines so you can do your own.