The cold, damp months of winter cause amnesia I just know it. I'd forgotten the taste of vine ripened tomatoes. No, not the "vine ripened" tomatoes I find in the grocery store all year long. I mean the ones that are picked and eaten within hours. I remember when I was growing up we'd pick a tomato off the vine and down it would go. The Farmers Market is great. I can get home grown tomatoes there. But, I think the best flavor comes from the tomatoes friends and family share. I think it's the love.

Cantaloupe and Watermelon. Wow, Bill and I have eaten them by the bushel this summer. I can't remember a time buying multiple watermelons and not throwing anything but the rind away. Mom used to use the rind to make watermelon pickles. I never cared for them so I guess I won't make that a 'wished for' activity.

Last week we bought a bag of Windsor cherries at the Farmers Market. Paid $2.59 for that one pound bag. Dad was really lucky the years his Windsors brought in 30 cents a pound. I saw a pound bag in the grocery store yesterday for $4.99. I never appreciated the belly aches I got from popping those cherries in my mouth all summer! Nor did I appreciate any of the other fruits Dad grew the way I long for them now. Funny what a little age does to one.

I've joined the on-line version of Weight Watchers. That program has always worked best for me. I think it's the reminder that what I put in my mouth really does matter. I'm not hungry either - and that's normally a real challenge for me. I sort of feel like the commercial where the woman places her hand, palm up, on her forhead feigning exhaustion. But, with the fruits and veggies in the house I just pop a little carrot or a bite of watermelon and feel great. The wonderful thing about Weight Watchers is that I use the "point system" and I can eat anything at all. I was trying to count carbs - what a drag. It really does all come down to calories. I tell myself this after a real successful first week. The ankles aren't swollen anymore - and that means alot of that 5.8# was water. If I can lose 2# a week I will be very happy. After all, this 57 year old woman isn't going to drop the weight by the wheel barrel full every week.

An added benefit - Bill's sugar is in relatively good control. I'm feeding him things he should eat. I'm cooking at home. He still wants to go to the Thai restaurant, and I can tell that. However, he isn't saying much and is getting full at home. I know the Thai food is full of sugar - the numbers don't lie, but I was allowing him to run a show he can't run and keep the sugar in line. So we've gone from a mid-200 struggle to low to mid 100 range now. He's like a baby though - sleep, eat and potty!

Summer weather - mid 90's with a feel-like temp of 100 to 105 again today. Sure beats the snowy winters of Northern Michigan, but the humidity is difficult to deal with. We have to have a pro-time and another doctor's appointment this afternoon. Won't be fun, but we won't be outside long. Today isn't a day to stroll in the park! It's 8:40 a.m. and 77 degrees already. We haven't been to the pool since the big storm of a week ago. I guess it's probably cleaned up - but I bet the water isn't even refreshing as hot as it is.

Yesterday we went to our usual nail salon. They are usually so good to us. When I get a pedicure Bill gets a manicure (manicures aren't anything new to Bill). Since he has such thick toenails and I don't like to cut them because of his diabetes he also gets pedicures. Yesterday we went so that I could get my nails filled while he got a pedicure. By doing this he doesn't have to wait for me a real long time and he doesn't get as anxious. Usually works great. Well, we went in together. Andrew greeted us. I explained Bill would like a pedicure and I needed a fill. OK, OK, understand....A lady came in after we did and she wanted a pedicure. (Guess it was the pedicure day because 5 of 6 chairs were filled.) Andrew had pointed me to his chair for my fill. I told him I'd just get Bill settled. Got Bill in the chair, turned around and Andrew was filling a basin (lady was in the chair) to do the other lady's pedicure. I sat the entire time we were there waiting for Bill. When he was done, Andrew just finished the other lady and told me he was now ready to do my fill. I took him aside and told him that it wasn't going to happen. I was so frustrated. We are regulars there. They know our situation. Andrew's mother had a stroke last summer. (Of course they took her back to Vietnam to be cared for by his siblings when her dementia got too difficult for them.) Lots of apologies. I told them I was sorry too, but we wouldn't be staying and I was very unhappy with Andrew's decision to move the other lady's pedicure ahead of my fill. Clearly Bill and I had come in before the other lady, Andrew had pointed me to his chair, but because I needed to help my husband he chose to do the pedicure and allow me to wait.

And so life goes on. My frustration of yesterday is gone after a good night's rest. I'll find someplace to get my nails done. Maybe today we can go and Bill will be able to wait. But then there are the doctor's appointments and the heat - oh well, watermelon sounds good to me!