1.  Wow...  it seems like everytime I get the itch to write a blog post it is a Thursday.  I just doesn't feel right to post on a Thursday, unless I do a 13. 

2.  Happy "belated" 4th of July, today being the 5th!  Having the 4th fall on Wednesday felt odd and was kind of a bummer.  it's really hard to get back into the swing of things.  I work Wednesdays through Sundays, so it wasn't as bad for me and I had a nice little mini vacation, but I feel for the people that had to work two days and then go back again for another two days.  Today is like another Monday for most and I observed a bunch of mentally work challenged people!

3.  I spent yesterday in my pond with a cooler of beer and sunshine.  Kevin brought his jeep down so we would have some music.  It was a nice relaxing, do nothing day.  I am still water logged!

4.  I fell asleep by 8 p.m., missing the fireworks that I nagged at Kevin to buy.  I truly am a lightweight these days!

5.  We have a dog named fish!  No not really, but my dog is a swimmer!  He loves the water!  He swims everywhere....  across the pond and then swims the whole perimeter.  Its quite amazing and kind of comical to watch.  I've never had a dog that enjoyed the water.  

6.  Samantha had told me that Toby had swam across the pond, but I didn't realize the extent with which he likes to swim.  He goes over his head, without a worry.  I now can see where the term "Doggie Paddle" came from. 

7.  I spent most of yesterday morning cleaning up my record albums.  They were out of their jackets and very unorganized.  My mother gave me all her albums from the 60's & 70's when I left home.  Low and behold, I'm looking at a Cat Stevens album and pull out this piece of cardboard from inside the jacket.  It has a note on it from one of my Mom's old boyfriends, telling how he was at a party with Cat Stevens and he went out on the balcony and smoked a joint with him.  At the end he signed it "Hope you and Chrissie are well...   Oh and by the way, here's an autographed photo for you."  Sure enough, in this cardboard is Cat's picture, signed "to Kathy from Cat" in black pen.  It's really cool and what a find!

 8.  Big Brother starts tonight.  I love having a DVR and can't wait to watch it!  I am a big fan of all things "reality"

9.   My bird has a bad habit.  We've always left the door open so he could come and go as he pleases.  His new thing is that he wants to land on my shoulder or my head anytime he see's me.  It was cute at first, but is now getting a little annoying, constantly having to duck away from the bird.  He'll land on me but when I bring him back to the cage, he knows I'm going to shut him in, so he flies away!  Funny how smart animals are!

10.  I will have my new cell phone next Tuesday, in case your wondering.

11.  Samantha is getting a little homesick.  She is having a great time but says she misses being home too.  She will be home on the 18th.  My mother and grandmother will also be visiting that week.  They are driving her home and coming to visit us and my aunt Colleen.

12.  Remember my bear story from last week?  My girlfriend Becky had the same experience a week later!  Is bear population increasing?

13.  Why can I never think of 13?  It never fails.