Welcome sweet Springtime

- Jo got me this cool pot hanger for Christmas and last Saturday I got the green pot from Ace Hardware. So it wouldn't look empty, I put this silk ivy and Spanish moss in it until I could find a good shade plant. But I realized this Saturday that a couple of energetic wrens are building a nest in it, thinking that it will be a dandy place to raise their Spring family. I sort of wish that it wasn't right next to where the sliding door opens, but I am happy to have them. They were busy all day today flying up with nest making items in their beaks. Sophie was briefly entertained before she went to nap.

April beauty, purrs and purrs

- I look forward to that turn I make in the morning on the way to work when I have a brief glimpse of midtown skycrapers. It's just at that moment right before sunrise when the city is just coming awake and it's still lit up for night.

- Outdoors everywhere is so beautiful right now. The flowering trees are spectacular.

- We have hit a cold snap though. Bonus for me - I got my kitty to snuggle all night. When I woke up at one point and turned over, she remembered where she was and purred and purred.

A-Z, family and Roar!

- This artwork is at the entrance to the Georgia Association of Educators. The squares are A-Z, but the E and Z are missing. I particularly liked "G" and "L". "G" is in braille and "L" is a hand demonstrating that letter in American Sign Language.

- Lots of family ups and downs right now, but it was good to talk and email with sisters and nieces. It also made me miss them terribly and wish that I could give them hugs.

- The Lion King at the Civic Center was fabulous. When Simba was practicing his roar, a small child in the audience chimed in with his own "Roar!" and made everyone chuckle.

First times

- I'm reading Robert Fulgham's "From Beginning to End - the Rituals of Our Lives." In the third chapter he talks about "first times." It is a nice break from fiction. A couple of my first time rituals:

- The first time I open email every morning, I love the first glimpse of who has sent me a message.

- I love the first sighting or hearing of my kitty in the morning. Since she has gotten older, I catch my breath until I know she is OK.

It's Friday!

- My Sophie sometimes camps out on the bathroom rug while I take a shower. This morning she left for her daytime sleeping place when I stepped out. I guess she's making sure I'm OK and not drowning.

- The rather taciturn bindery technician usually just nods at me when I come through the back in the morning, but I still smile at him anyway. However this morning, he beamed and said, "It's Friday!"

- A very nice lady called yesterday wanting to offer me part-time work. All that time looking for work and the offers started pouring in after I found a job.

Living life

- The Fun Girls lived up to their name last night. We saw a crazy play "Avenue Q" at the Fox. My chest hurt from so much laughing.

- This morning I glanced at the Chick-fil-a on Howell Mill Road while approaching the traffic light and saw several young women sitting at a table. I wondered what they were discussing so intently at 6:45 am.

- When I got home I had a voice message from Sally thanking me for the birthday card. Someone at church had organized a birthday card collection that we would send to her in one international Fedex package. She called every one of us from England to thank us for the birthday card. My message said "The delivery man arrived this morning with the package and said Happy Birthday, Dr. Sally Jackson!" You gotta love the UK.

Fun frock, admiration and happy news

- The gals at Curves have just the best time with this wooden cat they named Ivy. They decorate it seasonally and Saturday it was wearing an Easter frock. Several months ago someone left it facing the front door and they discovered it when opening up.

- Gayle's mother died and I looked around at the funeral service and noted that I was sitting with all the women from the church I most admire.

- The best news of the weekend: Amanda got a wonderful job at a local plantation. The position fits her perfectly.