Real deal..

 I’m falling away from this already. The doubts seep in like the rising riverwaters and try to drown out my convictions and my intentions.

We had a lovely weekend. My daughter and her husband drove down Friday night and met us at the little homegrown Irish pub around the corner. Frank and I took off the next morning though we were both a bit hung over. I remember saying I wanted to spend the entire weekend a little bit drunk the way I was just then. I did an admirable job of it. We took the dratted cooktop back to Oakbrook Mall and replaced it with a new one. I repeat: I will NEVER buy anything from Sears EVER again. We had lunch at a lovely Italian place in the mall. I had a mushroom and gnocchi plate, delicate and delicious with a glass of cold citrusy sauvignon blanc. Frank had a sausage and tomato risotto. We shared a dessert platter and coffee and then headed into Chicago. We stayed at the Sheraton and never did find out the origin of the "Event" taking place there where elegantly dressed people drifted about, their identities hidden by fancy decorated masks…

The next day we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and a long session with coffee and the New York Times. The quiet was amazing! I missed the boys but reveled in our alone time together even more. I called from time to time but my daughter had it all under control, no big surprise. The boys were as good as gold for her, well..mostly. We stopped by an Ikea on the way home and found the closet doors we’d been coveting for the toy room/bedroom downstairs for half the price we’d budgeted for. Gleeful! We got home just as the sun was setting to many hugs and kisses.

So very tired tonight.

Lots of springtime flood waters around us. The newspapers call it "record-breaking". I find that hard to believe. Certain areas flood every year. I had just remarked to Frank a week or two ago that I was surprised by how low the rivers were. A few days of rain and suddenly.."record-breaking"..? Odd.

I bought a book yesterday. An honest to goodness book. I like the heft of it in my hands. I’d forgotten how lovely a real book is..smells..feels. It’s about the words yes..but more. Perhaps I will let it go when I am done, lend it, leave it. Sign my name in it and see what happens. Ebooks are a good thing, tidy, helpful, convenient. But they will never replace the elegant beauty of a real book.

I’m having major problems giving up sugar this time around.