This week I started my two days early. The first day was Monday, and today is Friday. It's the same amount of break as with a Tuesday/Thursday schedule, but it just seems like more.

I'm back to classes that graduated in the early fifties. It's really interesting to read the "updates" of the women--how times have changed.

Today it didn't rain. At least not yet. There was a threat in the late morning, but it passed by.

The weather forecast (Intellicast) has dark clouds on the next eight or nine days.

However, that is standard for the summer. You can practically wind up the weather doll for the forecast--"possible storms in the afternoon and early evening."

Tomorrow I have to go to a drugstore I hardly ever use to pick up vaccine against shingles. They are the only one in town carrying it. And then I go straight to my physician and someone will give me a shot. It's the latest thing on the list of preventative injections. Having had chicken pox at the age of 21 I do NOT want any kind of herpes again!! Just so long as the shot doesn't make my legs and joints ache and hurt more. I draw the line at that.

So, with that errand in mind, I don't think I'll get much yard work done tomorrow.

The critters get two apple cores this evening. It didn't take long for them to make the wrinkled grapes disappear last night. The apple cores will pale in appeal after the grapes. Well, I'm not saying the critters are getting spoiled, but they'll have to deal with it.

The fit is really hitting the shan around here with respect to a bad traffic stop of the mayor of a North Shore town. Seems he sort of hit a barricade or something on the Causeway, exhibited signs of drinking, yet the cops didn't do an alcohol check on him, and ended up letting him go.

People are getting fired right and left now.

At least the doubling of legislators' pay got vetoed at the last minute.

If the local politics wasn't so interesting we might notice things like rutted streets and occassional hurricanes. But they offer a light side and a diversion.

Things ARE improving in New Orleans. There are very few visible signs of the flooding along my regular route. Yes, there are a bunch of vacant lots, but the flood lines have been scrubbed off all the buildings. The big fancy funeral home is still up for sale. I hate to think how the inside must be.

In the French Quarter things are probably pretty much back to normal. It's on high ground and basically did not flood. The city has pulled off hosting several really big events in the past year or so--Sugar Bowl, two Essence Festivals, Bowl Championship series, NBA All-Star game--the list goes on.

But it's slow going for areas hit hard by flooding. There is just so much rebuilding needed. And you really have to start with the infrastructure. The areas I drive through now show few signs of flooding, but I've also been down streets that look almost abandoned.

Enough of that--the people on the upper Mississippi have the all the sympathy possible from this area.

Oh--and the area still welcomes groups who come for a week or two to help rebuild. Habitat is VERY busy. I have a friend who has been putting in a lot of time painting Habitat houses.

According to the clock, it is about time for some palatable (barely) TV.

And my weekend starts tomorrow. Eat your hearts out!!