I’ve always heard that nothing compares to being a parent, but it is unlikely that I will ever have children. Why should I marry or have children? Straight people marry to have children, but I already have children! My niece and nephew are my children. I love them dearly. I had the joy of my life for a second time yesterday, as I held my nephew in my arms. The first true joy was six years ago when I held my newborn niece. To hold him in my arms and see his tiny hands and tiny feet, as he looks up at me….Well, the only thing that could possibly be better is holding a son or daughter of my own in my hands, but like I said, that is unlikely. My niece and nephew are the next best thing and I love them with all my heart.

Whether your hanging out at the park, the beach, the lake, or the mountains, Summer is officially here. Summer begins today with the summer solstice.

I will admit, most of the time I dread doing yard work, but it’s only dreading getting started. Once I’m out working in the yard, I usually quite enjoy it. I’d enjoy it more if these guys were helping, but I’m off to do some yard work anyway.

Sometimes, I come across a picture and it’s such perfection that it takes my breath away. This was one such picture, and a friend suggested that the picture itself suggested “anticipation.” I had to agree.

The thought of anticipation fit very well with my true moment of zen this week. I was sitting outside at a coffee shop at a local bookstore with a friend of mine when my friend struck up a conversation with a guy about the book he was reading. We began talking, and this man and I realized that we were both teachers and began talking about where we taught. Come to find out, he teaches at a university where I had just applied for a position, which I related to him. Then through pure coincidence, he’s in town visiting with family, but is in the history department and happens to be on the search committee for the job to which I applied. We had a little mini interview and hopefully, it will lead to me at least getting an interview for the job.

So I await with anticipation to see if I hear from this job or from any of the others I applied.

Today is the last day of the cruise. I will no longer be seeing such sights as above, but we will be docking this morning in New Orleans. If we get off the ship early enough (and energetic enough) we will walk down to the French Market to Cafe du Monde and have beniegts and cafe au lait. It’s always delicious, and though always crowded, it never fails to be one of the highlights of any trip to New Orleans.

I was driving home yesterday from my niece’s graduation, when I spotted my favorite thing about summer: hot shirtless guys in a Jeep. Usually, you don’t see this unless you’re at the beach, but I’m guessing these guys were on their way to the beach. There are few things that I find sexier during the summer.

I have had the house to myself this whole week and have quite enjoyed stripping out of my work clothes as soon as I get home and remaining naked unless I have a need to go outside. It’s been quite liberating to just be naked and free around the house. I can cook, clean, sleep all naked and not have to worry about covering up and feeling the restrictions of clothes.

All of my life I’ve had a fascination and love of Superman.