Yes, I’ve been too quiet here lately.  Here’s a variety of observations for your reading pleasure.

I’m still on Lesson 5 in HTRYN.  I did complete about six more index cards.  I still have many more to go.

I’m heading back up to Central TX next week.  I didn’t get nearly as much done as we’d hoped down here in San Antonio.  I did get the lawn mowed (it will need it again before I go); the front hedge trimmed; mulberries picked before the birds found them; the patio hedge trimmed; the hot tub drained, cleaned, and filled; the patio cleaned of weeds growing up through the bricks; many of the weeds pulled from the back yard; several trash trees in the back yard cut back in preparation for chopping them out; and hubby made progress in getting the new sill in for the garage in preparation for more progress on replacing the asphalt driveway with brick.

We made two day trips up to Central Texas.  One was to return the bathtubs.  The second was for an unexpected but pleasant visit with friends from Ohio who were traveling through.  Next week, I’ll get to have dinner with my oldest niece who will be in Waco for training — she’s buying a Curves franchise, and that’s where they do the training.  I’m pretty excited to be able to get together with her.  I’m so proud of her for her drive, determination, and how she’s turned out in life.

I still love the iPad.  I think the 16G model is going to work out just fine.  There’s been an issue regarding USB port charging.  When plugged into the USB to sync with iTunes, it says it’s “Not Charging,” but, in fact, I’ve noticed that as long as the laptop is powered on (mine never goes into sleep mode while it’s plugged into AC), the iPad does charge slowly.  It may take a couple of hours to go from 73% to 84%, but it does charge.  It’s been a couple of more hours, and it now shows 100%.

Dazzle, our elderly spaniel/chow cross, had a morning when she didn’t want to get out of her doghouse last Sunday.  Hubby enticed her out with a can of dogfood.  I thought we’d be mourning her very soon, but she’s been fine since then.  She’s at least 16 years old, and she’s amazingly spry.  But we know we don’t have much more time with her.

Something’s been bugging me since Monday.  It started with sniffles, sneezes, congestion, and a scratchy throat.  A cough is developing.  No fever.  It must be something in the air, but I don’t know what it is.  Either way, I’m miserable with it, and I know several of you who stop by now and again are feeling similarly, so you have my sympathy.