Rain, rain, and other stuff

Gonna be busy today. I'm having lunch with some friends so we can plan some little trips. We began talking at the last potluck, and the idea just sorta popped. We talked about a number of places we would like to visit around the State and in nearby states. One friend is my neighbor who has a small RV that can sleep up to six, although we recognize that four is probably enough for any given time because sleeping six and having room for six when we are up and moving around are two very different things!

We are from our 50s to 70s. We are planning fairly short trips to places that are a pretty easy drives and will probably spend just 1-3 days at a site and return home. It was interesting when we talked before that we have so many common interests, places that we haven't visited or visited many years ago: Carlsbad Caverns, Chaco Canyon, Bandelier National Park, Mesa Verde (CO), The Four Corners area, Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest (AZ), The Gila Wilderness, etc.

Today we hope to get down to some more serious plans, actually settling on some locations and schedules established. I'm very excited!  I think it will be a lot of fun!

This evening I'm going to a meeting with artist friends. It is the final planning meeting before a big event next week. There is an artists studio tour next weekend, and the kick-off event is a pre-tour glimpse at the local fine arts theater. Artists will display one or two items at the event, and the community can come to get a peek while having noshes and sips. I'm going to be helping with the noshes and sips, although I don't know exactly what I'll be doing. I'll probably be setting up tables with the food or something of the sort. I know that volunteers sometimes even pass trays of food in the crowd. I 'spect I'll find out tonight what I'll be doing. Well, if they are organized, and if not, I'll find out next week when I show up! Whatever!

Tomorrow will be a slower day, but I'm ending the day with a fun event, too. My friend Zoë is celebrating a birthday, and 7-8 of us are taking her out to dinner. I'm looking forward to it. It's basically the group I've had Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with the past couple years, as well as a couple other birthdays through the year, and we always have lots of fun together. It will be a good time, for sure.

It looks like we will have rain again today. The clouds have overcast the sky in the last hour or so, and I think I heard a slight rumble a few minutes ago. Jaz is snoozing, so perhaps it was something else. The sun periodically peeks out so who knows. I hope it doesn't rain a lot. The Rio Ruidoso is already running too full. It is nowhere near me (in fact, no river is close to me), but it is a bad sign when the rivers begin to be that full. The forecast is for heavy rains, flash flooding expected, today and tomorrow. I'll probably stick to the house tomorrow except for the dinner.

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On a different note, and a big change of topic, I'm wondering where everyone is???? Caroline mentioned this recently, too. I'm having visitors, but usually few comments. Occasionally, I have a bunch of comments on a post that seems to touch people, but otherwise it seems very slow. I know with summer's end coming into view, we are all busy and preoccupied with stuffing things into these last days before we return to the school-year schedules. When I look at my trackers, I see that I'm still having quite a few people stopping by, but not many of you are leaving comments. I understand. There are lots of times when I read someone's blog and the topic doesn't grab me or inspire a witty comment. However, I enjoy hearing from you when you stop by, so occasionally would you leave me a note, even if it's just "Hi!"?? I admit to needing to have my ego stroked!

And that being said, I need to get my booty in gear and get a few things done and then get ready for the lunch. I'll be seein' ya!!