Blue skies and temperatures in the mid-90’s for today. Yes, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, lest you had any doubt, summer is not a-comin’ in; summer is here.

Saturday I got up at 5 a.m. to beat the heat. I think the early hour will be my summer pattern, since it’s the only time when it will be cool enough to garden and do housework. I got my tomatoes weeded, as much as they ever get weeded and picked off some more dead flowers. I wonder why they aren’t setting fruit. This is perfect tomato weather and they are getting plenty of water. Maybe it’s because there aren’t any pollinators this year. I haven’t seen a single bug or honeybee or ladybug all spring.

Saturday afternoon I went to a wedding. It’s fun to go to a social event (reception afterwards) where I know and like so many of the people. I am seriously uncomfortable with strangers, though I can strike up a conversation and keep it lively and interesting with anyone. The seating was pre-arranged and I was put at a table with seven total strangers. (I asked afterward why that particular seating arrangement and was told that the strangers needed a live wire at their table, someone who could keep the conversation going. Guess I’ll take that as a compliment, but I missed talking with my friends.)

Yesterday was hot (96 degrees) and lazy. I got up at 5 a.m. again to work on the flower beds and pots in the front yard. They were in need of a nip here, a tuck there, a trim elsewhere. And, of course water. After church (with a Unitarian child dedication), I just read a book and drank iced tea. My treat to myself. I started this book three weeks ago and this is the first time I’ve had time to sit and read since then. Between the Rivers by Harry Turtledove. Quite good. Obviously an author whose books I’ll read as time allows. (Hah. Managed that sentence without ending it with a preposition!)

It was lovely, having time to read. I miss it.

Today is a fractious day. The 24-hour pharmacy was closed. The gas pump where I pulled up was out of order (gas is $4.48/gallon). Someone was in my parking space at work (assigned spaces). And, worst of all, the computer system is down. The entire network. It fell down and went boom. Big boo-boo. We can’t do a thing except paperwork. I was just talking to my counterpart in the central office and he was saying, “Do this. Do that.” I had to keep reminding him that all of the tasks require connectivity which we don’t got none of, nohow.

It’s at times like these that it becomes obvious who really understands how systems work and who just apes his/her coworkers’ actions (and follows directives) but doesn’t grok the reality framework.