After getting some serious help from a stranger in loading the smoker out of the storage bin into the pickup, we celebrated Labor Day with Que. (We returned the Karma by helping a man at the Home Depot today.)

We smoked turkey legs, Italian sausage, a pork loin, hot dogs, eggplant, & poblano peppers and bbq beans. . .served with coleslaw, potato salad and macaroni salad. . .beer, wine and soda. . . The smoke ring was especially fine on the pork loin but I couldn't get Joe to photograph it for the blog. . .this one or the Table. We toasted you all and dug in with forks held high.

I am working on my computer based 'business'. . .since it's all volunteer, it's been put off until it absolutely has to be done this week. . .but Vito insisted we go shop this morning. . .and that put me hours behind. . .

I forgave him for dragging me away from the housework (never-ending) and my computer work when he said we needed to get a new cover for Joe's smoker and a new grill brush. . .so hopefully that will make Joe feel better about not having a place to store it.

Vito lives for shopping. 'Nuff said about that, but it is a wonder that I get anything done around here because he wants to run around a lot. We got the MLB channel on Bright House cable and that is keeping him home more and his $$ in his pocket. (I am pretty tight-fisted when it comes to needs vs wants and consumption --and yes, I am a tree-hugging, organic food growing/eating, recycling kind of gal.)

I also bought pillows since my eyes are swollen and my head stopped up. . .they say that new pillows help with morning allergies. . .spent 40 bucks and got the hypo-allergenic ones. . .giving up my feather and down is hard to do, but breathing comes first as an essential thing. . .ha ha ha. . .getting further and further away from the Ozark farm girl that moved here.

Tonight I am going to go play Mexican Train Dominoes for the first time in my life. I had never even heard of the game before moving here. . .but if I can't garden (the grounds crew sprayed my organic herb garden with weed killer and bug spray). . .I will turn my attention to playing games with the neighborhood girls. Susan is sending me a Mah Jongg game from Japan for my birthday and I will learn to play that, too, but I draw the line at golf. I think. I found a bocce ball set that I might pick up next month. . .but the courts aren't finished, so there is no hurry.

Still counting the days until the pool opens late in 2008. Will I still be able to walk then without the water therapy I enjoy (don't let my PT hear me say I love it.)

Twister is my spine, not a game. Sounds like fun, though, and I cheer your audacity on from the sidelines. I also am delighted to find others who like the Chemical Bros. . .their videos are too cool although the Salmon Dance reminded me of the fish tanks I had to leave behind along with my other critters.