This that and the other...

A few things that are neither here nor there, but are things that I wanted to mention...

*First, on Tuesday the UPS guy just brought me a new pair of Keens. I don't know why I like this brand of shoes so much, but it is now the 3rd pair I own, and they are fantastic. Here is the pair I got the other day... I don't think the picture does them justice, but they are really cute in real life! I have a pair of Keens that I got about 3 years ago and they look like they are brand new. I have worn them from Newport RI to San Francisco, CA and every place in between. When I am someday rich, I'll just have Keen send me a new pair of shoes every time they come out with a new design!

* Summer homework??? That's what Caitlin thought when she got the letter in the mail a couple of weeks ago and opened it. She signed up for Honors English this next year and the teacher has sent out quite an assignment. There is a list of vocabulary words a mile long, parts of speech questions, reading assignments, and the list goes on. To guarantee that these kids won't blow this off until the day before the first day of school, the teacher has promised a test on the second day of school and has said that you won't do well if you don't get started soon. After looking at the vocab words alone, I agree! After the initial shock of getting the homework, and the whining about how her teacher already must hate her, Caitlin has buckled down already and started the dreaded summer homework (welcome to the real world Caitlin!!!).

* Philip has decided that he wants to be a rock star. And when the schedule for summer school classes came out in March, he begged me to let him take the beginning guitar class that will ensure his success in his newly chosen career path. I finally relented, but with strings attached. I would let him take the guitar class provided that he would take the Intro to Jr High class along with it. Caitlin took it a couple of years ago and I thought it helped her feel a lot more comfortable getting started. He's three days into these classes now, and is fine with the Jr High class, but is loving his guitar class and thinks that he should get a guitar for his birthday now!

*Basil is growing everywhere I have planted it in my front yard - and more! I really really really love those tomato/basil/fresh mozzarella appetizers that are so popular lately, and decided to try my hand at growing basil. It's not to bad - even here in this hot climate if I make sure that there is shade they seem to do well. I even have renegade basil growing in a pot that I didn't plant it in, but am letting it grow anyway. How fun it is to run out and pluck a couple of leaves off and put it on my sandwich, pasta, or omelet. I haven't actually done my appetizer yet for fear that I'll eat the entire thing at once.

* Philip got a cool letter in the mail a couple of weeks ago inviting him to be on the jr high cross country team. The letter said that he had been noticed in elementary cross country and they really would like him to run with them this fall. They are having community runs on Tuesday nights this summer. We finally went to one this week after having been out of town so long, and I think he was happy to see all the other kids there. Lots of high school kids were there as well so I think it acts as inspiration to the younger kids. Now to buy him a decent pair of shoes.

* I have a love/hate relationship with chorizo. I love it, but hate that it's bad for you and kind of get a little grossed out if I think of all the animal parts it's probably made from. So, it's easier just to avoid it. Caitlin loves it a lot though, so when I was in Trader Joes yesterday, I thought of her. There was a package of Soy Chorizo! Who knew? It was only $2, so I figured it was worth the risk and brought it home. I made it for lunch and no one could tell that it wasn't the real thing. And, for once, I ate my chorizo and thoroughly enjoyed it!