Summer, Sort Of

The semester is finished, the grades are in (and have been for a few days!), the students have graduated, and my summer is beginning, sort of.  Yesterday I did a couple of hours of yard cleanup in the back, and I still have tons to do but I will just peck at it daily until I get through it.  Today I spent about four hours with my friend L --, taking her to lunch and then to the airport.  She's on her way to China with the university and I know she'll have a great and informative three-plus weeks.  Tomorrow, I'll go back to doing some yard cleanup with the goal of being able to mow the back yard very soon.  I also have a few academic chores to complete, plus starting to pack the books to move out of my office by the end of June so the physical plant folks can come in and paint it and replace the carpet.

Yeseterday's yard work has left me sore.  I had to do a lot of bending and pulling of weeds, so the backs of my legs are stiff, too.  Tomorrow I'll get the big rake and get the dead, dry weeds out of our northwest corner, and pick up more branches that have been blown out of the tree.  When that's done, and if I am still able to move, I'll mow.

Later this week, the Emperor and I will pack up and take off for San Diego again, to see Dad.  We'd hoped to stop by his son's house on the way, but they're all down sick with something so we're going to skip that and try again on the way home.

Also on the agenda is the construction of a Regency day dress with all the underpinnings, plus the writing of some letters for the Acastas.  For the two new-ish lieutenants, I want to print out ball invitations.

Thus, there is some fun on the schedule right alongside the work.  To be honest, what I'd rather do more than anything else is to sleep, and hang out and read.  I can do a little of that, but not enough to suit me at the moment.