Can’t Make Up Its Mind

It was a very wet weekend, but only cloudy this morning and not too warm, and since the grass was pretty dry, I finally got the lawn mowed.
Now it’s sunny and hot, and I can hear the drone of someone’s outdoor power equipment. All I can think is, “You poor b*.”

Crybabies and Typhoid Marys

It’s a pity that software development, a noble profession, has to be performed by software developers.
I am so tired of dealing with egotistical spoiled brats, a sentiment echoed by some of the more candid recruiters I know.
To add injury to insult, they finally found the source of an outbreak of measles in the John Hancock Tower which made almost a dozen people sick. It was an unvaccinated computer programmer – from India – brought over by Investors Bank & Trust last month.
This little exercise in cheap imported labor (he was brought over to Boston, home of some of the finest universities in the world, including MIT just across the river, because of his “expertise”) is costing the taxpayers $400,000 in vaccines.
In addition, several hundred workers at three companies were told to stay home.
Measles can cause severe complications in otherwise healthy children and adults, including encephalitis, a painful and sometimes fatal disease.
Computer programming: a noble profession. Too bad it has to be practiced by programmers who make other people sick both with their attitudes and their airborne diseases.

It’s Raining, Aren’t We Lucky?

James Edward thought it was great to play in the “wain” yesterday, setting up a “secret clubhouse” in the back of the truck with his dolphin umbrella and recruiting Emme and me to make little aluminum boats (a rowboat, a Viking ship) to float in the wheelbarrow (“I sail the seven seas, har, har”).
Guess that shows having fun is all in your point of view, and when he’s in a good mood, James is a cheerful and entertaining sort.

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Gardener’s Diary

Took down the fairy rose last night, and this year, the hydrangeas have blossoms, a fair number of them.
The day lilies and larkspur are close to blooming. The Montauks have recovered nicely from their end of May pruning. Only one of the big dahlias “took”, and something is eating its leaves.
The plant with the yellow flowers started blooming this week. The flower boxes are doing well, especially the nasturtiums, which seem resistant to most of the pests.

Perfect Day

Bob acquired a decent rod and reel, plus a tackle box and lures, as prizes from school, and for months, we’ve been talking about asking a male friend or relative to teach him to fish.
We couldn’t figure out who to ask, though, and it so happened that a bait and tackle shop in Falmouth had their sixth annual children’s fishing derby this weekend. So, Grandma volunteered to bring Bob, figuring he’d get some pointers.

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“The Mosquito” Explains It All

When my youngest grandchild (aged 6) comes to visit, he brings a sibling to serve as “translator” because at least half the time, I can’t understand what he is saying.
Indian and some Chinese speakers drive me up the wall. Inscrutable is one thing; incomprehensible is another.
I watch the “Seth Cohen” character on “The OC” move his mouth, but am oblivious to the witty dialogue which my son greatly enjoys.
What do these things have in common?

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Grandsons

The little boys were here two nights ago and most of yesterday, but the high point of their visit came at the very end, when I drove them around their neighborhood in the truck.
This was a consolatory gesture, since it was impossible to do any outdoor activity because of the rain, and we got the animal shelter too late for the visit I’d promised. Besides, I figured it was equivalent to a hay ride, without the hay, and that used to be permitted before the Association had to cancel for lack of funds.

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