It was a new day yesterday...

But it's an old day now. (Jethro Tull)

Started it all off with a walk in the woods. Then it was two volleyball games back-to-back. I am co-coaching a 13-15 year old girls' team. We are in last place of 5 teams, but we sure didn't make it easy for anybody to beat us yesterday. We won a match out of the six we played. One time, we'd have won the game if it weren't for a player ducking out of the way of the ball and letting it hit her on the back - instead of hitting it back. I have to show good sportsmanship - signed a paper saying I would, but I swanee, it's disappointing that we have lost every game (6 of them now). Our team has greatly improved since the first game, but I so want to win. I feel bad for the girl I picked in the drafts that happened to be the top player in the league. It's obvious that she knows what she's doing, and confidently executes great plays on the court. I was hoping the kids would copy her. They still can. There are a handful of more games. I am thinking of doing some magick or something.

The birthday girl.

Our final stop was a cigar bar near C.W.'s house that had a great jazz ensemble. I couldn't breathe in there, but the music was good.

On the homefront...

Not time for much else these days, but I still fit in my walk this morning. My woods are so glorious around this time of year. I have been able to make long, hard days of the first two days of the week in order to have the middle one to myself. I've got beef stew on the stove, clothes in the dryer, some hung and others folded on the bed, dishes have been done, and I've even had a nap. Now, time for my precious afternoon tea. I miss this tea ritual when I am working.

This past Saturday was my baby's birthday. That's her new parakeet named Buddy. Buddy may have to go back. He hasn't made a peep since coming into the house. I've been playing Beethoven for him today, hoping he decides it's okay to live here. We celebrated the happy day with 7 of her closest friends who came early Saturday and stayed until the next day. They didn't want to go home, but I forced them to. It was time.

Today, is my best friend's birthday. May she have many more. This isn't a great picture of her; she looked very pretty the night I took this back in July. We are going out this weekend to celebrate her 49th.

I just love those Virgo girls. Julia was almost a Libran, but true to her Virgo nature, she accomodated me.