(no subject)

Reading Material:	Bill Bryson's African Diary by Bill Bryson
	A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
	+ asst. romance novels and children's books

Looked up the spider. It was an orb weaver spider: Argiope aurantia. I told Alan the common name. He was unimpressed. 'I could have told you it was a Black and Yellow Garden Spider.' It disappeared for a day, created a very large egg sac, at least an inch in diameter, and then reappeared looking rather diminished. I wish I could have seen it at work, I can't imagine how it created a golden brown ping pong ball. Apparently the baby spiders will hatch this fall, but stay inside their lovely abode and snack on one another as they wait for spring. I read somewhere that the abode is so lovely that a couple dozen other species of spiders and wasps are likely to emerge from it as well, a regular party in there. I've taken to feeding one of the local ferals. I moved the cats' water bucket off the porch and set it in the gravel as part of an effort to reduce the number large slugs excreting and mating and leaving slug trails all over the house. It seems to have worked, but this oasis is now attracting raccoons perhaps. Alan called me out the other night to see a family of five clustered around it. I know that raccoons are Wild Animals (Danger!), but I can't help it, I thought they were cute.

That's the doings in the yard, how's it with me? I can't complain. I'm enjoying the change of seasons. Aidan is thriving. Connor has some issue or other and this makes me sad and worried. All his teeth have been in now for a couple of months, but he's started holding his cheeks and being rather cranky the past week and a half or so. The doctor didn't find anything at his check-up. You'd think I would just be able to ask him where it hurts. Hah! Back to the doctor I suppose and probably to the dentist too.

Oh! We sold the Civic. Yay! Whoo-hoo! *do a little dance* Only took 3 days. It's not gone yet. Not being experienced with this car selling thing, though that is not much of an excuse since we just helped Mom and Tim to make the same mistake, we didn't smog it before putting it up for sale, so the actual exchange doesn't happen until tonight. I'm not sure what to do with the CRX. Put some of the Civic money into it and keep it, or sell it too and get yet a different car. Going from a newer car to it does make one feel very much as though one is driving a go-cart. I can't believe I drove it on big, grown-up freeways for so many years, surounded by SUVs that could fit it into one of their drink holders, feeling for all the world as though I were driving a real car. But it's got sentimental value, it's paid for and cared for, blah, blah, blah.