Pleasant Friday

Last night I opened the front door and was just about to plant my foot on the porch floor when I looked down. Had I not looked down when I did, I would have stepped squarely on a skunk’s back. Good thing I looked, huh? This petite skunk had her nose stuck inside one of the lad’s mud encrusted sneakers. I don’t know what she thought she might find, but there she was. She was not in the least interested in me or the possibility of being stepped on. I decided to use the back door instead, anyway. I haven’t seen any skunks around the yard in the past couple of years, so I was surprised to see one on the porch. Their population must be increasing again. Or she hasn’t been made aware of Terry yet.

This afternoon was devoted to outside work. There were thunderstorms coming and I had to get the lawn mowed, weed whacking done, roses fed, and some other general garden tidying done. Just as I finished up, the heavens let loose with one huge gully washer. Hail, too. Things were a little wild around here for several minutes. There really wasn’t enough rain to water anything adequately since it came down too hard and fast. Most of it ran off, but it was still enough to make the air steamy for a couple of hours.

Shortly after the storm, I had to go pick the lad up from work and the roads were flooded. Really flooded. At one spot, the main drag was so flooded, the firetrucks were there pumping the water down the storm sewers and down one of the side streets leading to the harbor. The police detoured us down another of the one way side streets leading to the harbor. Along with the steamy air came the wet sack of clams smell and I decided that I really like it here this time of year. I *love* that smell.

I also noticed the harbor is full of boats and the tourists are back. Not so thrilled about that.

Oh, and, the lad received his first paycheck of the summer, which is now deposited in the bank. He’s happy with his 43 hour haul this week. For the first time that I can remember, it’s not burning a hole in his pocket. He’s in major savings mode this year. He has been assured entrance into a fraternity this coming year and the Dad and I told him it’s fine with us, but he has to earn the fees and dues required by the fraternity house. Any extra associated spending money, too. Those dollars don’t come out of Mom’s and Dad’s pockets. He’s cool with it.

On the whole, not an exciting kind of day, just a really pleasant one.