Greetings all,

Summer is rapidly moving closer towards its end and I am dreading the onset of Fall. I have never liked the Fall . As a child it meant the start of school, something I worried about as I was so shy in meeting others it took awhile for me to get in gear, although it was sooooo much better in high school and college --especially college, where I lived away from home and could be fully independent. Let the partying and the late night hours begin! I laugh now at how easy things were then, and how much I took the time I had for granted.

As an adult summer's end now means that the faculty and students are back on campus and THE INSANITY BEGINS; where there are endless meetings, phone calls and emails to address, and daily driving becomes more harrowing, all the crazies back in full force pushing you out of the way on the slow lane. I wish I had the kind of profession where I had the summers off and I could luxuriate in the time well spent doing the things I so often don't do now - read, paint, draw, relax, something I have yet to learn how to do well given my need to always feel like I am "doing something", regardless of how boring it might be.

Ahhhh. Life. Work hasn't simmered down much since Commencement June 3rd, although it is a bit quieter and calmer for me now. I have been dressing BEYOND casually; jeans, sandals, an Indian shirt now back in style, the resident "office hippie".  Soon it will be suits and more professional attire, then sweaters and boots. About the only thing that I like about the Fall is the changing of the leaves, always beautiful and wondrous to look at here in the Northeast. Still, I know what's coming...WINTER...and I despise that even more.   Now don't I sound cheery, eh? I am fine, really --just reflective.

We've had a busy, busy summer. That goes without saying for me at work these days. I've been involved with the planning of a major motion picture to be shot on my campus and these things are consistently wrought with changes, scheduling adjustments and endless meetings, phone calls and emails.  It's both annoying and exciting at the same time, although some days are truly trying and I wish it would be done already. Still, there is some peace at work now...a bit of quiet, some time to just chill.

Dream started a landscaping business this summer and has been quite successful at it, something that pleases me and makes me smile inside for HIM. He is incredibly happy doing the work, even though this has been an especially hot and humid summer here, and he gets home exhausted and overheated. It is THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING for him --he is so inspired and motivated. I am proud of him and know in my heart that this is it --his dream job! His clients adore him, and the guys who are working for him do as well. He is a good boss; fair and firm, and they go the extra mile for him, which is nice to see from my eyes.

We've had our social things going on too; I wrote about that in the previous message and I am still brooding about the rudeness of others, although I will get over it, something I always do. Lucky star, darling --YOU ARE SOOOOOOO RIGHT ON in your assessment. Though I am mulling over whether or not to host a big shindig again, I think I will follow your lead --to invite a select group of people --the ever consistent ones --and let go of the rest. I don't need to be aggravated while trying to have fun.

My niece, who is 27, and her hubby and 2 adorable daughters (age 3 --almost 4, and 14 months) were here this week while they were heading up to Massachusettes from Virginia for vacation. I adore my niece so much; she is at once a sister, daughter, friend and mother to me (bears an uncanny resemblence to my mom), and I am the same for her, although she is very close to my brother and sister in law.

I am the "cool" aunt; the one she still goes to when things are rough for her, something she doesn't do with the others. I suppose I am just more accepting and understanding than they are -or maybe I am closer in age, really --I was about 21 when she arrived so in a way it is easier to relate to me. Her aunts (by marriage and related to my sister in law) are sweet enough, but more reserved, less open, less expansive in ways. But my own sister cannot be ignored here --she plays virtually NO role in her life (or my nephew's, my niece's older brother, let alone her own kids, the eldest who is about 8 years younger than I am!) and never has. She is is too remote and self-centered to give a damn --for virtually most of my niece and nephew's lives she's not really been in the picture, which is a combination of her loss and theirs, though they don't miss her. How can you miss what you never had? Anyway, the "kids", as we call them,will be here this week as well, probably Wednesday night and will stay a few days before they head back home to Virginia.  We also will be seeing them and my brother/sister in law when we all head down to the Jersey shore to "camp" in bungalows from 8/27-9/4. They will be leaving the area sooner, but there will be time to have fun, relax, get some sun and perhaps see my cousins, although that remains to be seen in light of some things that are happening in their lives right now.

I just finished reading (yes, reading!) this wonderful book called "The World Below" by Sue Miller, who wrote "The Good Mother", "Inventing the Abbotts", which became a movie I have yet to see completely, and "While I was Gone". She writes so beautifully I was completely mezmerized throughout reading it, so much so I didn't want to put it down. When I finished it this morning I felt sad --you know how it is when you get immersed in something that really captures you? That's how it was for me. I want to get her new book "Lost in the Woods", and take that with me on vacation.

There is more news to write about....

I wound up royally fucking up my right knee a few months ago. Sorry about the curse words, but I am a bit unhappy here. I fell down the steps at work during my hectic season --May/June, and though I didn't fall all the way down in a tumbling heap (although I did end up on my butt) because  I grabbed the banister, I did wrench my knee so badly it has been swollen and painful ever since. "Braino" here, otherwise known as ME, neglected to go to the doctor about it. I figured it would go away, as all of my knee issues have (both my knees are basically shot, although the extent of the damage I was unaware of until now..thus, my unhappiness! Arrrggggh!) Subsequent to that injury, I managed to bash that same kneecap in a few times on one of our coffee tables REALLY HARD, and then later, just as the swelling subsided in my knee, I proceded to take a major misstep outside and managed to wrench it again. I couldn't get up at all, so there I sat like an infant wailing while DD and one of his guys helped me get up. It is worse than it was before.

Anyway, I started to have pains in my knees while I was driving; sharp shooting pains, throbs, and spasms. Going up and down stairs at home and at work was painful, and if I was on my leg for too long - say after housecleaning or being the hostess at our BBQ -- my knee would swell up like a grapefruit and walking would really be hard. So was sitting. "Great", I thought, "what's up with that?" So at the urging of DD and my close friend Wendy, I went to see an orthopedist this past Friday, and got the bad news. X-rays revealed that my left knee is SOOOOO BAD I will probably develop osteoarthritis in it and will have to get the damn thing replaced some day. Great. 35 years ago, when I was 15 and running in NYC's Central Park, my kneecap decided to dislocate while I was running and the MDs said I tore ligaments. I dislocated it actually, and now my kneecap hovers to the left side away from the place it should be. Apparently, my knee cap created its own groove, which explains why I don't actually dislocate entirely. I did once, while in my 30's but not since then. It's swollen always, and a little sore, but I am used to it.

My right knee is in great shape too. A bit of arthritis here, and possibly a torn meniscus there, so I have to go for an MRI tomorrow to see if this is the case, and if I need surgery. I will find that out on Friday when I visit the MD. The only good thing is that if I have surgery I will be away from the work madhouse, LOL. I am planning on it.

So that's the story...now I must return to my pasta sauce on the stove...getting rid of the garbage for tomorrow night's pick up..and tending to the furry ones, who are saying "Uhhh Ma, time to eat, ya know??"

Hugs