CRA...ZZZY Week

Starting Monday with the Boston Marathon bombing and right through today chasing down the second suspect. So much of the activity has been around Jessica's apartment in Boston (Cambridge) I have talked and texted with her often this week...sharing emotions and fears. What motivates someone to take such drastic actions. It has been unthinkable. She is working from home today with locked doors and window shades drawn. I watch the television and recognize areas we have visited near her apartment. I will be glad to end this week feeling safe.

Home Again Home Again

It is always nice to get away from home but there is nothing quite like getting back home. There is something to be said for the quote, "all the comforts of home". After being gone for a month the first few things to be done are getting some food in the house and then the catching up on the mail. We stopped the mail and just had it held at the post office. I think a month is probably about as long as I would ever do that for again. While most of the bill paying is done online these days it is amazing how much mail can accumulate. Fortunately our Post Office has locked shred recycle bins so I was able to cut the pile down by about 75% before I even left the post office. We were fortunate that nothing urgent came in the mail. Steve had been called for jury duty in April but we were able to defer it for a month and the new jurist questionaire was the only item that needed immediate response. He has never been called to serve as a jurist and feels it is unlikely that even if there is a trial he would be selected to a jury. More on that for the month of May.

So with groceries in the house and the mail back on schedule it was nice to have some springlike weather this past weekend. We both golfed on Saturday although the ladies quit after 9 holes. The springlike temperatures were buffeted by a cold wind that made it somewhat less than enjoyable. Sunday was very pleasant temperature wise but with 20-30 mile an hour winds not exactly a golf day.

Next on the spring home front is the yard. Although the grass is not growing yet there is plenty of winter debris to be cleaned up. The John Deere is ready to go as I planned ahead this year and had it in for service before we left for Florida. This time last year I was planting my flower boxes but I think this year that task will be waiting until the Mother's Day last frost warning. Strange how a week or two can make such a big difference in the ground temperature.

The birds are all back and the swallows and the bluebirds are checking out which accomodations they will be nesting in this year. I am hopeful both of my bird houses will be occupied because it is so much fun to watch the birds.

As I write this Jessica is in Stockholm, Sweden working. She left on Friday and visited with a friend over the weekend and then will meet with customers in Stockholm, Helsinki, and finish the week in Amsterdam. Those of us that have ever travelled on business know that is a busy week but being young helps. Her passport already has more stamps than I have accumulated in a lifetime. Mike is fine and seems to be glad we are home although I have not seen him yet. Spring Special Olympics started this week and he is participating in soceer and track and field. It will be good for him to have some after work activities.

As I look for a quote to end:

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

John Howard Payne (1791 - 1852)