Wednesday noon ...

     Mark is on his way home from the dock - should make it about 3 or 4 this afternoon.  The rain has stopped and the fog is lifting so hopefully he will make it intact.
     Nothing much going on for my part.  I ran out of steam on the office clean-up.  I'll get back to that this weekend, along with reading the newest version of Janet's early book chapters.  (First the office, then -- as a reward -- the book.  It's very good, and getting better!) 
     Joyce called yesterday to confirm that we want her to come on Friday to clean (of COURSE we do!  She's only cleaned the place once and I'm already addicted!).  And while she was on the phone, she asked if we would like her son and a friend of his, both of whom are in the construction business, to come talk to Mark about helping finish the barn.  Absolutely!  I gave her his cell number and said PLEASE have them give him a call!  He's been having Jerry help him at $10 an hour, but Jerry doesn't do much beyond holding the other end of the boards, something I could do just as well -- except that I tend to argue with Mark while Jerry doesn't.  (So much for working with me.)  Hopefully, these two guys, unlike Jerry (or me) will be able to actually do the work while Mark "supervises."  The only question is -- for how much?  (There's that money thing again.)  We shall see.  SURE would like to see that barn done (as would the neighbors, I'm sure).
     I'm heading up to Ohio to visit my daughter and father next week.  Looking forward to it -- even if it does mean going to Ohio in January.  (Brrrr!)  It's been way too long, but I ran out of vacation time and had to actually show up at work every day the last few months of the year.  This year I'm going to try hard to spread it out over the ENTIRE year and get up there for shorter but more frequent trips.