9 20 pm pdt [ first day ]

Today was my first day of summer. It was amazing to me to wake up to a blank calendar. Nothing written for today or tomorrow. During the course of the day I made plans to babysit tonight (which is where I am now) and have lunch with Charles and his travelling companion tomorrow.

I figured it couldn't hurt to start the summer off with a little extra money. I am still trying to save to make this year's IRA contribution (I still need another eight hundred or so). I am also sticking to my plan to dedicate myself to cleaning and organizing our place this summer. Than means I need to pick up a few more storage items as well as some more bookshelves for our ever growing DVD collection. I am also considering selling off most of my CDs.

Matthew told me today that he wants to buy a house in the next four years. I told him that means that we need to get married in the next four years. He just smiled. I've already taken to telling my mom that I'll make her a grandmother by two thousand ten. This statement consistently elicits a groan and prolonged pleading and negotiating for a more contemporary pregnancy. As if I have a choice. I've told my beau that he needs to propose and that I'll say yes, so now it's all up to him.

I haven't played a single computer game since I gave them up, and I haven't even really had the urge. Right now I am excited about summer projects including fixing up the garden, learning to make my own pop-up books, organizing my closet, and cleaning out the garage. It isn't glamorous, but it appeals to me. I'm also going to see if I can shop a book to my current publisher. I want to do so much.

I know the summer will turn out to be much shorter than it looks to me now, stretching out in front of me. I will be making ten trips to the City to take the girl I nanny to an art class and I'm hoping to turn those days into adventures filled with friend on lunch breaks and hours of genealogical research at the library.

My only major concern is how to beat the heat in our little apartment that gets so hot. Perhaps we will invest in an air conditioner.

This family has the most incredible orchid I've ever seen, a Dendrobium which is taller than me. It is an amazing sight.

I've just been up to the bedroom and the youngest child is still awake. I hope she's asleep by the time the parents get home.