It certainly has been a while, hasn't it?  Seems like I hardly have time to answer emails these days, much less entertain the Muse.

We had quite a busy and fun summer; the best I can remember in a while.  We camped a few times, both alone and with friends.  Paul came for a visit and we so enjoyed our time with him, as always.  Dave raced in the Texas State Time Trial Championships and placed quite well, especially considering it was his first year to compete and the fact that he was coming off a week of enjoying Paul's visit with less than two weeks to train and prepare for the race.  It was a learning experience for us both - him as a racer and me as the support team.  We know next year that the hotel was good, where to eat dinner, where to park, etc.  Yep, he's planning on racing next year with a serious period of training for it. 

We suffered along with the rest of Texas during August and September in the extreme heat.  It was, and still is, very dry here in the Austin area.  Thankfully, all family and friends made it safely through Hurricane Ike with minimal property damage.  Although targeted at one time and forecast for wind and rain, the Austin area had no rain whatsoever.  Unfortunate, as we really needed it.

My first experimental garden kept Dave in tomatoes all summer.  Not bad, not bad at all.  I've expanded the garden with a view to having a fall crop of something...we'll see. 

Needless to say, we did no camping during the hot summer months but now have hopes of getting away over Thanksgiving. 

The first weekend in October saw us in Lufkin for The Pineywoods Purgatory, a charity bike ride I have done several years but had not done since 2000 or 2001.  This is one ride I wanted Dave to experience and wanted to show him the Piney Woods of Texas.  He enjoyed both and we had a nice weekend away, getting in a visit with my cousin that Friday evening.  The bike felt great...kicked some ass up some hills...I have missed that.  Sarah Connor is alive and well, just lurking a bit below the surface of everyday activities.  Good to know that.

I've hit the big 5-0 in years.  Funny, I sure don't feel 50!  Well, most days, anyway.  Dave was so sweet and surprised me with a big banner, balloons, and other "50" decorations.  So sweet!  It was a nice day...we were off, so I spent all day working in the back yard.  Wonderful.

My drum classes came to an end for a while but I'll be sneaking in a private lesson or two each month.  Will be getting some drumming in at a circle facilitated by my teacher once a month at a church not far from here and then I'll be facilitating a circle at a church near here once a month.  I'm really looking forward to getting a group going....hopefully it will take off and be a nurturing event for all participants.

Interestingly, the chakra focus at this stage of my life is the throat chakra....I've struggled internally this year with my identity a bit....the working woman, the wife, the housekeeper, and...gee...what about ME?  I've missed teaching Reiki, volunteerism, etc. at times so much it literally aches.  Drumming has sort of crept into my life again, more deeply this time.  The drum....finding my "voice."  Makes ya go "Hmmm....."   Time will tell where this new direction is taking me.

I redesigned my Reiki Web site, and I invite you to take a peek at it here 

Dave got me an MP3 player for my b-day and I have already loaded it with tunes.  Music has always been such a part of my life...I need to hear my music at times...Right now is John Denver from The Wildlife Concert.   Ahhhh....."Calypso" - I have actually been on that wee ship way back in my early teen years....thank you, Dad, for that.

It has been one year since Mom passed.  I still miss her.  Still want to pick up the phone and call her.  I'm okay...I'm thankful that her suffering was not prolonged, and I know her spirit is out cruising with Dad's. 

All in all, life is good.  Life is damn good, actually. 

Peace, all!