Yodit

My aide Yodit has a huge family wedding this weekend, so she won't be working her usual shifts here.  One of my other regular nighttime aides will take over.

He's a good aide, but I will miss her.

Email

I only had 6 emails waiting for me today.

It's odd how that number fluctuates.

Somebody Who Matters

In a commercial for a new CBS show this fall, the hero is told to take a pill so he can become "somebody who matters."  Well, he's already somebody who matters.  We all are. The major religions tell us that.  Science tells us we are all unique creations in the universe.  That matters.  The essence of democracy is that everyone has a right to weigh in on public policy concerns.  We are all equal as citizens.  We all matter.

It's too bad CBS seems willing to skip over all that.

Aides

My daytime aide company is still trying to put together a permanent aide rotation for me.  That will get more difficult when the aide with the most hours now goes back to college in a couple weeks.

I hope they can keep it to two or three aides.

Saturday

This past Saturday, I'm told, the aide company didn't have anyone to cover the first shift.  My regular aide happened to call in, and she was free, so she came.

It was lucky for me that she called.

Hillary

If Hillary Clinton is such a lead pipe cinch to be elected president next year, why are there 16 Republicans, and maybe more, and at least four other Democrats in the race?  Most of those people are experienced politicians who presumably wouldn't waste their time on what they thought was an unwinnsble campaign.

Just a thought.

Good News

I went to the urologist this morning for a scope, and I'm still cancer free.

I'm in the yearly check up phase of the treatment now, which will likely last the rest of my life.  It's not fun, but given everything, it's not terrible.

My Bucs

My Pirates are off to a slow start since the All-Star game, but I think they'll be okay.

They still have one of the best records in the majors.

Nervous Week

I'm feeling as well now as I have in years, but I go to the urologist for a scope Thursday morning.

I don't see why that shouldn't go well, but I'll be glad when it's over.

Wet Stuff

We've had a very wet July so far, but the weather people are saying the next few days should be dry.

California is finally getting substantial rains, too, which is good.

Back To School

Gabby, who has become one of my main aides, will be leaving soon to go back to college at IU in Bloomington.

Hopefully, they'll find someone as good to take her hours.

Baseball

The second half of the baseball season begins today, and my Pirates are in good position to make a run.

I think they have a good chance to win it all.

A Good Day

I watched the baseball All-Star Game, and the New Horizons flyby of Pluto seems to have been a complete success.

Yesterday was a good day.

More Storms

We had some big storms move through overnight.  There was plenty of lightning.

Fortunately, my place didn't lose power.  I saw on the news this morning that others did.

Storms

A storm has just about passed through here.

It was no big deal, but another storm is supposed to come through tonight.

ILD

The push to return to the Moon, which got a boost from my Hawaii conference last year, continues to move ahead.  A proposal for an International Lunar Decade to focus attention and resources on developing the Moon, which was adopted at the conference, is gaining support internationally.

I'm very pleased.

Strike Two

Well, that top agent rejected my second novel.  I guess that's why she's a top agent.

Maybe I'll try one more with her.

Adjusting

I don't know if the company has worked out a permanent schedule to replace Philip yet, but it has done well by me so far in the aides it has sent.

I'm adjusting.

Emails

I've been getting 20 or 30 emails a day lately.  Today, I had 8.

Go figure.

Wildlife

So far this summer I've seen ducks, geese, smaller birds, rabbits. and squirrels in this apartment complex.  I'm pretty sure there are other species around, too, like chipmunk and skunk.  Many dogs live here, too, which probably keep the wildlife on its toes.

It's a nice place.

Visit

My brother Joe and his wife Robin came for a visit on their way from Lima, Ohio, to Chicago.

We had a good time.

More Agent Stuff

I sent that same agent another query for another of my novels yesterday.  A couple hours later she asked to read the full manuscript.  I'm thinking if the first novel I sent her had been a disaster she wouldn't have asked to see another one.

We'll see what happens.

Rejected

Well, that big literary agent who asked to read one of my novels rejected it.

So, I just have to keep plugging away.