[ forgive me ]

I hope you'll forgive me. I simply haven't been in the mood for writing much lately. I think about it. I wanted to do entries on interesting things about my trip to Europe, my trip to see Formula 1, and Matthew's mother's visit. I think of things to write, and yet they don't come forth when I sit in front of my computer.

The truth is, I didn't have the best time in Indianapolis. We went with four people, two of whom are a rather volatile couple. On the first morning, at breakfast, the female snapped at me, which is usual, but I just wasn't in the mood for it, so I said to her, "Ok, I didn't know that. There has to be a nicer way for you to tell me." I didn't deal with the airports and travelling while still suffering from jet lag just to be yelled at about something insignificant by someone who is supposed to be a friend.

We didn't see the couple much the rest of that day, and when we did they weren't especially nice. I just kept trying to be pleasant. The next day was completely different. The female was like my best friend and we spent the day gossiping and having fun. I really wondered if she was on some sort of medication, but I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. We didn't see them on the third day and on the last day they were back to their grouchy selves. I was glad to be headed home.

I had fun when Matthew's mom was here, but was stressed about getting the apartment clean and then stressed about making sure Matthew didn't stress too much (which he did). She brought up the anthrax thing and I made my general dismissive gesture of waving my hand in the air and declaring it silly. No one is going to mail you anthrax. I just don't think it is a legitimate concern. She looked at me like I was on drugs. Part of the problem is, I'm just not up on the news. We don't have television and we don't get the paper, so the only way I find out what is going on is if I go look at cnn.com, and I haven't wanted to look at cnn.com. Ignorance is bliss. I fully understand that educating yourself -- staying on top of developing news -- is one way that people cope with a situation such as this, but it's not my way. I'd rather focus on cooking dinner and taking out the recycling. This is one of those times I am so happy to live a small life.

Anyway, I am sorry about this lack-of-writing phase but it's just something I've got to work through. Bear with me...

Oh, and do you have any idea how I could go about identifying this plant? It has small red hairs on the stem, but otherwise it has no distinguishing features...