Just a touch blue...

Ivan and Annie in Jamaica VT August 2011

My brother's son and his long time girlfriend are getting married tomorrow in Vermont and none of the Smith aunts have been invited.  Only his half sister has been invited-- that is to say only his half sister has escaped the wrath of his mother.  Since Brian died almost eight years ago, I feel this might be a good time to bury the hatchet but I guess not...  I thought I was okay with being excluded and am surprised to find myself feeling sad.  I have thought of them often today and will do so again tomorrow but I won't have much leisure to fret.  Eliza and I and Baby William (I should say Toddler William) are scheduled to drive from Maine to Greenfield and a six hour drive with a 19 month old is enough distraction for anyone.

 
Soon William will be writing a blog of his own.  He is already an adept at the iPad-- turns it on, swipes to unlock, chooses Chuzzle and dabs madly at the game-- or he chooses Plants vs Zombies and makes monster noises while the zombies have their way with the plants.

Today marks two years since I made the decision to become a vegetarian and this picture says why.  I always enjoyed eating meat and probably still would but factory farming is appalling and I cannot let it be done on my account.  Not eating meat has been much easier than I expected it would be-- wish I could be as successful with other dietary restrictions!
John periodically suggests that I might eat local meat raised more humanely but the longer I avoid meat the less I want to go back to it.

This is only the third (or fourth) double pinochle I have seen in all my years of playing.   Michael got it the other night here in Northport.  We played two rounds on each of two evenings and I had only one hand good enough to bid on--  I got aces around and lots of hearts.