I heard noises that suggested an animal was trying to get out of the metal trash can. I didn't think the raccoon would have any problems--he looks like a fairly big one--so I turned on the patio light then went out to take a look.

Huddled nervously at the bottom of the can was small possum. He(?) looked at me nervously, but when I gently put the can on its side he didn't take long to skitter out.

The can is now on its side, with nothing in it. I'll try to remember to put some dry food in the dish before I go to bed.

I got in to work nice and early today--the first one there. However, a man (of mature years) was standing outside with keys to everywhere (the college "lockmaster") and hurried to open the door for me. And then he started telling me about setting off the alarms (he said the cops responded very quickly) etc. etc. etc. I was trying to figure out how to get a word in edgewise and explain that I was merely a volunteer when the secretary arrived. So she got to hear the whole narrative. And I let myself into the library and shut off the alarm.

It was very slow and dull--it's between semesters. There was one person using the library--he was going through a huge stack of cookbooks. The local morning show had as guest chef a young man who was a new graduate of a local cooking school, so I figured this guy might also have been a chef student. He spent several hours in the library.

This library has a HUGE collection of cookbooks--it's one of its specialties and quite logical, since cooking has been a large part of women's lives for quite a while. I processed the files from a woman who had hosted a lot of dinner parties. It was four cartons of recipes--many of them cut from magazines. And there was a notebook listing everything served at every meal--and who any guests may have been--for years.

I consider cook a four-letter word.

(Same with iron.)

The local "big news" is that Regis and Kelly are doing their (CBS) show live from the French Quarter this week. They're giving New Orleans a lot of publicity, although Kelly acted upset that this was not the season to get beads "by lifting up her shirt."

And President Carter was in town, with Habitat. He's taking some flack about a comment he made re: the current administration, but most of us feel he's right on.

There's a gubernatorial election coming up in the fall here. So far there are a couple of Republicans who have announced, and maybe one Democrat. He was a Republican until Bobby Jindal said he was running. But he's spent more years as a Democrat than a Republican. Very few have announced for other state offices--or are even being talked about.

After spending the past few weeks deep in Louisiana politics--and knowing the advance planning involved--I'm a bit surprised.

Oh well, let's hope elections are the most newsworthy items this summer. (Hurrican season starts June 1.)

I wonder if any wild creature will show up tonight.