Thursday Thirteen

As has been my habit this year, on the first Thursday of each month I've been making a note of the good things that happened in the previous month.

So without further ado, here are the great highlights of June!

Uncle Buddy (rear) and Cousin Kathy.

1. We had a week-long visit from relatives from Chicago. Uncle Buddy, Aunt Marjean, and cousins Kathy and Don stayed with my mother-in-law, but we helped her play hostess and went on various day-trips with them.

2. The tomatoes ripened before July for the first time ever! They were scrumptious. The idea of a tomato sandwich had us dancing around the kitchen.

3. A doe and her fawn (there's a video of them at the link) has been staying around the house, and another with twins has shown up in recent days. They are great for the video camera.

4. I spent time doing research for my thesis, which I must write in order to finish my master's degree. I have a had a good time doing this.

5. Classes resumed for summer session. I am in class two nights a week, and loving it.

6. I lost six pounds in the month of June.

7. I exercised for at least 2.5 hours every week in June.

8. I read Dante's Inferno, Thomas the Tank Engine, Grimm's Fairy Tales, and the Arabian Nights. I also read the short story The Monkey's Paw, which I highly recommend reading if you somehow missed it in English in high school. If you suspect I did this all for class, you would be right.

9. I had a birthday in June, and grew another year older. I am not yet 50 but I can see those numbers heading down the track in my direction. However, I had a terrific day.

10. My husband gave me a color Nook as my birthday present.  It's a neat little device. At the moment, I am more entranced with the idea of downloading classics from Project Gutenberg than I am with purchasing new novels, but I can see where the thing may have its uses. I do not think, though, that e-readers will completely eliminate books. I do think they will put a dent on the profitability of publishing.

11. Other birthday presents included a gift certificate to the Swinging Bridge restaurant in Paint Bank and a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble.

12. My niece, Zoe, had a dance recital, and I spent four hours on a Saturday watching young girls dance and whirl around the stage at the Roanoke Civic Center. I was pleased that I was able to see my niece's talent. She did a fantastic job.

13. My husband also had a birthday this month. He's on the other side of 50 and he is a great fellow. I am honored and humbled to be his wife.

Lots going on in June! I could have listed a few more good things about this most recent month. I hope I can say the same about July!




Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 198th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.