I wasn’t the last person in the world to see Episode 3, but it was close.

I went to see it with Mom, Dad, and Bekah tonight. And what can I say? All the critiques I’ve read about it were true. (I haven’t read that many, so don’t start poking holes into my statement, now.)

I’ve always been ambivalent about prequels. They’re not all that fun to write, since you have to work from the past and make sure (almost) everything fits that has already happened in the present/future. Prequels are a bit of a let down in any form, because the story of the past that arises from the present/future stories is always nostalgic and the stuff of legend. Writing what really happened always disappoints. That’s probably why I’ll never write any more than Binding the Hunt, which is a prequel. So shoot me.

However, I will say this:

I am old enough to have seen the very first Star Wars movie in the theatre. I don’t really know if I did–I would have been three, after all–but I know I saw the rest of them in the theatre, and they formed a good piece of my childish imaginings.

I never really wanted a sword for Christmas. I wanted a light saber.

And that should say it all, in truth.

Just a note this morning: I started The Eyre Affair yesterday, and I’m enjoying it immensely. It had just the right touch of humor to tickle my funnybone, and Thursday Next is a wonderful character. Not to mention the setting! Wow. Impressive! I hope there are more than two books in this series!

(Thanks, Jenny. Good call!)

Ethan and I were playing outside this evening when I turned around and saw a strange dog round the corner. It was a small dog, kind of scruffy, with medium length brown and white fur. Kind of looked like a sheltie mix.

Luckily, it was very friendly. It went on its way after a bit of tail wagging and smiling, and I told it to be careful. No tags, but a newer collar.

This makes stray dog #8, I think, of the ones we’ve seen around. There are a couple we see quite often (a bloodhound and what looks like a pointer, both without collars at all) but most of them hopefully have just slipped their chains or fences or whatever and are

There’s a leash law in Georgetown. Dogs aren’t supposed to run around loose. Obviously, it’s not a law anyone reinforces, but I really don’t like the idea of strange dogs appearing in my backyard, especially when I’m in the backyard.

The stray cat problem is worse, however. There are feral cats all over the place, and I believe the only reason why I don’t have kittens in the shed is because of Mabel. Over the winter while Chloe was in heat, I saw no less than seven strays around my house.

In my opinion, if you have a pet, you have a responsibility for that pet. Would you let your two-year-old child run around the neighborhood without any supervision? Then why allow your dog to run around the neighborhood without supervision? Cats are a bit harder to police, unless they’re indoor only cats, but at least spay and neuter them so the population doesn’t keep rising. In the long run, they’ll be healthier and happier.

Oh, and while I step down off the soapbox (I’m getting a bit tired and I think it’s high time I go to bed) I just wanted to mention something monumental:

The Green Room is done!!

I have one box and the white cabinet to get out of the living room now, but they’re both too heavy for me to carry upstairs myself. Other than that, it’s done.

Now, onward. I have the entry room to clean up, the hallway to pick up, and the rest of the stuff in the dining room to put away. If I get all of this done by the time I’m on vacation, I will be very happy, and can spend that week organizing my office as one of my things to do.

This morning, I woke up early, took Mabel out, wrote for a nice quiet hour, and then decided to take some pictures. (Below.)
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lemon balm around the side of the front porch, and the rest of the stuff I have to plant somewhere. The windowbox will stay there–it has yellow-eyed grass, lavender, and lemon thyme planted in it.
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Look at that lettuce and spinach! On May 10th, it looked like this
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how far I have gotten in the digging out the sod for the combining flowerbed. Ethan’s been helping, as you can see by his tools. Lemon balm in the background. If you compare the two pictures
you can see I’ve actually gotten quite far, but I still have a lot more to do. Urgh. (For some reason the lemon balm looks smaller in today’s picture. Weird!
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roses, peonies, and what look like Queen Anne’s Lace but what is evidently something else, since Queen Anne’s Lace doesn’t bloom this time of year.
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Whew!

Well, for getting a late start, I got a lot done. Or at least it feels like I got a lot done. (And I can’t believe it’s already 10pm!)

Let’s see. I got the last big chunk of lemon balm planted beside the front porch (in two spots, it should do great), some more of the first flowerbed weeded, and some more sod taken up with my new flat shovel. I am working on clearing up the mess that is currently blocking the porch steps. Whew indeed.

I also fixed up a terrarium for Ethan’s new pet, Turtle. Yes, she is a turtle. Ethan named her. It looks nice, and I’m hoping she eats so we can keep her. (We’ve had her since yesterday afternoon.)

And earlier I rearranged Ethan’s kitchen center, put away all his food and stuff, and moved it to a more permanent position in the kitchen.

For once, I got something done on a Saturday. I’m half surprised.

Oh, and I brought back two of my windowboxes (one has some cress that came back this year in it, the other’s empty and will be planted with chives, more than likely), my one remaining hibiscus, some dirt to repot my tea plants (I’ll do that tomorrow, hopefully), and made some tea for all my plants. Not too shabby.

I have licorice mint! Mwahaha.

(Actually, I don’t like the flavor of licorice. However, think of the possibilities! I wonder what licorice tea would taste like?)

It rained, so I’m just now getting outside to work in the flowerbed. I’m also very obviously going to need another spot to put more mint. Hrm.