We have had 8 dry days in a row here, a record for this year, when we have had so much rain that everything was starting to take on a slightly mildewy tinge. The WeatherBug (TM) (the local weather program I use) has been quiet, not chirping at me since the last flood watch. It's been so wet that the grass never had the chance to take on the burnt umber tones of late August, crisped to the color and texture of shredded wheat. The pool has only needed to be filled a couple of times, and the weeds have repeatedly taken over the front beds. Despite the heat and tropical atmosphere, the leaves are already starting to turn and flutter to the ground. If you look at them out of the corner of your eye you can just about see their real colors that will start to show in a few weeks.

This week has been in the low 90s, with enough humidity to press the air back into your lungs, too hot even for the dog to brave the shade in the backyard. The wet summer predicts either a long, cold, dry winter or a short, damp, warm winter depending on which alamanc you believe. I wonder what the masses of worm-like catepillars that were crawling all over the garbage can in which we keep the birdseed foretell? I forecast an early end to their short lives, which came true as I washed them off the can and stomped them in the driveway, shouting "Die you scum sucking slime monsters!" My neighbors are starting up the petition now to encourage me to move.

Last Wednesday, on his birthday, my husband had ankle surgery. He had sprained his ankle a few months ago and it never seemed to heal. An MRI showed a lesion on the cartilage and the doctor thought he would need a bone graft as well. The damage turned out to be far less substantial than that, and the doctor onyl had to clean out some scar tissue that was pressing on a nerve. He is, however, in a soft cast to his knee for two weeks and then will have another four weeks or so of recovery. He can't drive for the first two weeks and can't shower since he's on crutches and isn't allowed to put any weight on that leg. He's living in the family room for now, because navigating the stairs to the second floor present a significant obstacle. Although I've only been home with him for a few days, I have some very small appreciation for people who provide care to those who cannot care for themselves. I cannot imagine facing this on a permanent, constant basis, having to clean and feed and bathe someone who is incapacitated.

About 3 months ago we bought a new washer and dryer. Our dryer had developed a mysterious fossil fuel-like odor that would not go away. Considering that it was about 20 years old, we reluctantly decided to part with it. In all the years that I've owned a washer and dryer, I've never had a matching pair. One was always a different color or model from the other and, although this didn't impair their functioning, it violated my sense of symmetry and balance. So, even though our washer was only about 3 years old, we replaced it as well. Rather than just getting a standard washer and dryer, I decided to splurge on the Maytag Neptune (R) models which have electronic touch-screen control panels and lots of cool features (such as a delayed wash cycle, so you can set up the washer before you get in the shower, but not be scalded when the rinse cycle starts up while you're still showering). Before vacation we were washing something the cats had peed on (we can't leave anything lying on the floor or they'll see that as a signal that the article of clothing or blanket or whatever is a replacement for their litter box) and the lid of the washer locked while it made horrible grinding, groaning sounds as if it had been possessed. The Maytag repairman, lonely as he is, could not come until after vacation, so I ended up taking all our dirty laundry to the beach and spent the better part of the week doing load after load of wash. When he did show up, he informed us that something called the Master Control Panel was broken and that he couldn't guarantee a replacement timeframe. Since I was now up to my ears again in dirty clothing, this was not good news. He did, however, inform us that our warranty provided for replacement of the washer if the parts for a repair could not be provided within 15 days. He talked to the store (Sears) for us, and we had a replacement within 2 days. This qualifies as a minor miracle and really should go on the tally list for someone's sainthood.

Strange, but the first site that Google returns when I do a seach on Maytag Neptune is a lawyer gathering claimants for a class action lawsuit.