Some people have pyro tendencies

Me: I was thinking. When we take down the privacy fence in the backyard, we could put in a line of bushes to hide the ugly fence.

Tim: By "ugly fence" you mean the cyclone fence?

Me: Yes.

Tim: Huh.

Me: And we can burn the privacy fence, since we're not sure how to get rid of it.

Tim: Sure, but we'll have to make sure we don't burn down the neighbor's garage.

Me: ...

Me: I meant burn it in the fire pit. Not while it's still standing.

Tim: Oh.

May starts the best summer ever

I'm hugely excited about summer this year, even more so than usual. It's not just for the typical reasons, either (no more snow, guaranteed three-day weekends, gardening without mittens and a scarf, etc.)

This summer is packed with outstanding entertainment. I'm not even joking.

We start the May with the release of Angels & Demons, the prequel to The DaVinci Code. I thought Angels & Demons was outstanding--even better than DaVinci. The chases through Rome, not knowing if they can make it to the next clue in time...it was a page-turner. Read it before you see the movie. If you already read it, pull it out and read it again. It's worth it. If you're really lucky, you could fly to Rome and follow the Path of Illumination across the city. Just don't cause as much trouble as our boy Robert Langdon did.

Next of my list of exciting releases is the new book by Rick Riordan--The Last Olympian. If you haven't checked out this series yet, I highly recommend that you do. The author cleverly weaves Greek mythology into modern day life through the adventures of a young boy named Percy Jackson. Start with The Lightning Thief and work your way through. Sure, the books are written for the younger crowd, but who isn't a kid at heart? You'll love every minute.

And now for something more adult, every summer for the last nine years (yikes! I'm that old!) I've looked forward to the release of the next Stephanie Plum novel from Janet Evanovich. And if the title--Finger-lickin' Fifteen-- is any indication as to the hijinx and hilarity that ensues, I might call in sick to work that day just to read the book. June 3 is the day. Mark your calendars and, please, don't call me on June 4. I'll be reading.

Moving on to July to the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. We've been waiting an awfully long time for this one, so I have high hopes. I realize the release date was shuffled around a lot (I think it had a lot to do with Harry appearing nekkid in Equus), but I'm ready for my dose of HP6.

That's my summer in a nutshell. Books, movies and more books and movies. I love summer!

The best hiding spot ever

Last week, I used the last of my Christmas gift certificates at L.L. Bean. When I came home from work today, my package had been delivered.

I knew it was delivered because as soon as I pulled into my driveway, I saw this:



Do you see it? I bet you can't. It's hiding under the doormat that is just a little bigger than the box.


See it now? No thief would think to look there.

This reminds me of all the times I don't feel like taking my purse somewhere, so I leave it in the care covered with a tissue or a piece of paper. There! No one will ever see it now!

Saving it for a rainy day

Yesterday I was cleaning the guest room for the weekend visit of our friends. As I'm cleaning, I spot a box that's been sitting on top of our printer for a long time. So long, in fact, that I don't remember a time when it wasn't there.

Up until this moment, I've been willing to accept that Tim is going to work on the computer and needs the discs, cords or whatever is in the box to get the job done. Only thing is, I haven't seen Tim working on the computer.

This is about the time I also notice the box our Mac Mini came in the came area.

Now is about the time when I explain that I'm a Thower-Outer and Tim is a Squirreller. I've come to realize that this is good for a marriage--two people who have opposite tendencies. Plus, without my habits, the house would look like Redd Fox's house in Sanford and Son. And without Tim, we'd have nothing but the couch and possibly a throw rug.

So, here I am looking at the box for our two-year-old computer. I turn to Tim and ask, "Why do we have this box still?"

He gets this goofy grin and says, "In case we move."

What? First, the Mac we have can fit in my purse (almost). Second, the way the housing market in Michigan is heading, there's no way we're going to be able to move before this computer takes a shit. So, why the box?

"It's a nice box."

Oh, my.

Moving on to the second box. This box was way more interesting. The first item was an empty box of printer toner. Saved "just in case." Well, it made a nice home for a few dust bunnies. No chance. That box left the house. Next we pull out the cell phone boxes from the phones we bought about two years ago. Followed by the cell phone box that came with Tim's phone over a year ago.

Which begs the question--Are you saving those to move, too?

We came to an amiable compromise after some serious laughing. He can keep the Mac box and the most recent cell phone box, but in the Man Cave out of sight.

That's one of the great things about being married to a friend. You can laugh with each other and at each other. It's perfect.