oh wow. nine days. or eight, depends on how you look at it.

august is the end of all things.

joy in the day's being done, however
clumsily, and in the ticked-off lists,
the packages nestling together,
no one home waiting for dinner, for
you, no one impatient for your touch
or kind words to salve what nightly
rises like heartburn, the ghost-lump feeling
that one is really as alone as one had feared.
One isn't, not really. Not really.

J. Allyn Rosser, "Then too there is this"

was recently in atlanta for work, now know why its called Hot-lanta.
basically, this first picture sums up my experience there: driving, driving, driving, more driving & chain-smoking from stress. too much time behind the wheel.
but at least my friend/assistant and i made it to the aquarium! (amazing)

and there's been question lately as to how i put up with so much "so well"...
i'll let you in on a little secret that helped make me who & how i am:

I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
And to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.