Fall starts this week according to the calendar (and based on the earth's rotation and position of the sun, etc) on Friday the 23rd.  I could tell even if I didn't have a calendar in front of me.  It was 49 degrees this morning (9 C) and I needed a jacket to go to work.  The sun is definitely lower in the sky and the nights are cool enough to need a blanket.

It's also Elanor's birthday tomorrow.  She'll be 28.  I remember the day so well.  I sent Pk off to work in the morning at 7, like always.  We were living in southern Maryland at the time, miles away from everything. 

I called him an hour later and told him I was in labor (it was a few days overdue) and he came right home.   Fourteen hours later, (after countless games of UNO during which Pk took total advantage of me and cheated) they pulled Elanor from my body, all 8 pounds 9 1/2 ounces of her, with forceps.  The doctor was tired of waiting.  She had good strong lungs (I could hear her all the way down the hall) and was the largest baby in the place at the time. 

She was strong and determined and let us know when she was happy and when she wasn't.  Curiously, she seemed happier undressed and Pk could always tell what kind of day we'd had by the amount of clothing she was wearing at the end of the day. 

She continues to be bright and funny and adorable.  And looks so much like her father that it looks like he was cloned and I had very little to do with her creation. 

Happiest of Happy Birthdays, Elanor!  You are still one of the lights of our lives.

I am fighting off a sinus infection and spent the weekend sleeping.  Literally.  All weekend.  I got up Saturday morning, took a shower, put a load of clothes in the washer and then fell asleep in the chair until close to 4.  At that point, I put some dinner on the stove, ate, and went to sleep.  Sunday was a repeat with just a bit less sleep.  Today, I'm hoping to stay awake until lunch time.  If I'm struggling, I'll go home early.  Monday is my busiest day so I'm going to try to stay and finish out the day but we'll see.

 I got a summons for federal jury duty in October.  5 week trial if I'm chosen.  Mon-Thurs.  I am hoping I won't be chosen but that's out of my hands.  I've sat on a murder trial before and I can tell you, they are not nearly as exciting as television would lead you to believe.  And I'm not sure I can bring anything to do.  I'm going to bring an old pair of bamboo needles and a small skein of yarn.  That way if they confiscate it, I won't miss it.

Time to go find my charts and check the messages and generally start the day.  What I'd really like is to take a nap......