Ten days of school left over here

There are only ten days left for our schools in my town. Crazy pants. Isn't there like an extension plan I can purchase if I think my kids just need two more weeks of school? I'm not ready for summer break just yet.

My goals for the summer are: camp more, have my children cook more, spend time in the garden every day, and ya know, work out and stuff. The kids just want to be at the pool. Their one criticism of our trip to Europe last summer was that it really cut into their pool time.

Jon and I have been reading really depressing articles about weight loss. Have you read these ones? The ones about how losing weight actually slows down your metabolism so that it's like your body wants you to gain back the chub? Not the most encouraging information, but we press on nonetheless. Do it anyway.

It's my husband's birthday today. I got out the "You are Special" red plate for the occasion. He's pretty much working from morning until late this evening so the birthday celebration is going to have to be postponed until a later time. He's the greatest. He is gentle and funny and super smart. I've said this before, I'll say it again. Marrying Jon Dunbar was the best thing I ever did in my whole life. Without him I would be a miserable dummy.

I'm driving to St. Louis for a gig on Saturday. I'm real glad to be getting out of town. I'm glad to be going on a drive for the sake of music, meeting friends around that music, and catching up with people I don't get to see very often. I am amazed at the live show. The past three or four shows I've done have been exercises in showing up and finding gold. Every time the gold has looked a little different either and that's why I love it so much. You never know. You never know what you'll find when you pick up that guitar and start singing. You never know when you sit down at that table to give a few songs a listen. If it's been a while since you've experienced that, I highly recommend you do it. If you are a performer who can't remember why it is you write or sing, I highly recommend you book a gig and sing your songs. Someone out there needs them. And, really, you never know.