Hello, Monday. You’re back. I hope you are in a better mood than you’ve been your past few appearances. Yeah, yeah. I know. It’s not your fault that you have to be the first day. Suck it up, buttercup. That’s what the rest of us have to do.

The hummingbirds have either gotten more active in preparation to migrate or I just happen to look up and catch them at the feeder more often. As hot as it’s been, I’m hoping it’s a sign of migration which means cooler temps coming soon. We’ve set all sorts of really yucky records–high temps, high-low temps, days over 100. Those record low temps that are high? Yeah, they are our normal high temps this time of year. Mother Nature is totally off her meds.

Let’s not talk about writing. I had one semi-productive day. I suck.

The first two weeks of September have not been my favorites. First, having to say goodbye to Jake. I picked up his ashes and brought him home last Wednesday. Friday was 9/11 and the PTSD–as always–kicked in. And it’s too frickin’ hot to do much of anything but sit under the AC.

Why yes, I’m in a whiny mood, why do you ask?

In sports news, Stormy had a game Saturday. Due to heat and Toby not wanting to get in the car, we stayed home while LG went. His team played a higher-ranked team. They were leading 2-0 until the field ref got involved. The game ended up a 2-2 tie. After the game, the side-line ref apologized to the coach. Then the field ref came over and also apologized for calling a lousy game. Whoppee. Didn’t help the kids out any. Stormy played well so that’s what matters. I hate politics in kids’ sports and it happens way more than it should. In other sports news, my Cowboys pulled off an upset, taking down #6 Oregon and beathing them 39-31. They were 21+ point underdogs. We cheered, Toby barked. Fans took down the goalpost and carried it across campus to the Theta Pond where they “dumped” it. Now, OSU being a “techn ical” school, the engineering students were front and center, there were hard hats, there was organization and complete safety. There were even kids IN the pond to ease the post to the surface. Crazy kids. Love ’em.

In reading, I’m still in my Kristen Ashley “happy place.” Her books both irritate and delight me at the same time. I laugh, I growl, I roll my eyes. Her Rock Chick world is a good place to hide when the real world crowds too close for comfort. I’m down to the last two books of her Dream Man/Rock Chick/Dream Team series. I haven’t decided if I’m going to listen to the Chaos books, which is an adjacent series. I’ll see. That said, I’ve gone from being behind in my Goodreads reading challenge to now being 10 books ahead. If I’d quit litening, I might actually work on writing my own book but my head–and heart–just aren’t there. Not right now.

I meant to buy some chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie mix last week to make last weeks Tuesday Treat but I forgot. Maybe I’ll add it to this week’s list. Thing is, I’d probably eat the whole damn pan and I’ve already put on almost 10 pounds from where I want/need to be. So yeah, I probably won’t. I keep saying that I’m going to start taking walks with Toby but when it’s already 80 degress at 7:30 a.m., that’s a big ol’ NOPE! I could really use some fall weather about now.

Headed off this morning for a six-month check-up with my opthamologist. They’re doing the full range of tests–dilation included. That means LG is my designated driver. I’m hoping Toby will “get in the damn car” to go with us. Leaving him home alone leads to small (and sometimes large) disasters. We can close off some of the rooms but not all and he always finds something to tear up that he’s not supposed to. His other training is going well. He just has this stubborn mind-set about getting in the car. He likes to go. He just won’t get in. At 160 lbs. (maybe 155 now since he’s on a diet), we can’t just pick him up and put him in. Anyway.

Those are my whines for the week. What’s up in your world?