JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER!

After a dozy day on Saturday, I could not tear my eyes away from my book on Sunday.  It was quite warm, and very humid, but the author that was apparently a favourite of my father-in-law, (a man whom I knew not, but whose reputation precedes him, albeit posthumously,  as being one of the 'good guys', which apparently is an overwhelming understatement,) had my attention to a degree that only a few authors manage to do!  I am not sure how the All-American hero (as he is proclaimed, and I have no reason to doubt) would have taken to the inwardly shy, yet outwardly (with a lot of bravado) extrovert English daughter-in-law.  My husband thinks he would have liked me.  I would like to think so, too, but if we had nothing else in common, apart from our love for his son, we could have discussed his favourite author!  

My two previous reads did not really keep me on my toes, or on my chair, in this instance, and although I finished them and enjoyed the story line, they were not 'page turners', and I wondered how the author was going to 'string it out' for another fifty pages or so!  However, I am not a renowned critic, nor a writer, so my opinion is mine alone, and will be shared if asked.  

Suffice it to say, my Sunday was relatively relaxing and it was nice to have the opportunity to put my feet up and do very little.  I had written a list of 'things to do' but they were going to have to wait!

The rain started later than predicted on Monday, but came down with a vengeance.  "No swimming this afternoon", came the voice from the other room.  I looked at the 'app' on my phone.  Storms were expected into the night, and there was a lot of precipitation expected for the whole week.  I resigned myself to no swimming and thought about heading home and taking care of a couple of my 'to do' list items before serving dinner.  

"No swimming this afternoon", said the postman, who came in, soaked to the skin, and glad of the rain.  Hailing from Ohio, the Texas weather does not suit him!  "I have been told", I replied, with a smile, despite wondering if there was any way I could dodge the lightening strikes, and take to the depths!  I checked my phone again, as if there would be a change in a ten minute window.  There was not!  We came home, and the rain was tumbling down.

The sound of birds and a slight break in the lower clouds edged their way to my ears and eyes as we exited the car.  The plants were not in need of watering, and looked rather soggy.  I had failed to turn the buckets in which some stood, and they were rather full.  I feared some of the plants would drown, but there was little I could do.  However, there appeared to be a slight break in the storms.  Dana checked his 'radar' and said that it appeared the storm was to the east of us.  Why do I believe the 'app' in favour of the outside, when I want the 'favour'?  I got changed and walked downstairs, waved at my neighbour from under my umbrella, as she looked out of her window, and opened the gate to the patio.  I set my timer, and started to swim.  After two lengths, there was a rumble of thunder, loud enough to make me nervous, and out I got.  I walked back home, under the umbrella, and came inside.   Within five minutes I was headed back downstairs.  The rumbles of thunder were not very close, and the lower clouds had disappeared.  There was a modicum of bird song, enough to make me confident, and I finished my laps.  The pool was overflowing, and the skimmers were full of water. I felt as if I was in a 'posh' infinity pool, where the edges cannot be seen, and the water flows over to a waiting drain.  I received waves  and smiles from those coming home in their cars, windscreen wipers furiously attempting to give clear vision, used to the Englishwoman and her eccentric ways.  The nursery rhyme is rewritten here and is sung, "It's raining, it's pouring, she is bound to be swimming!"  Yes, I kid!  I wonder how my father-in-law would have reacted to my wanton abandonment!  The fact of the matter is that I am married to a retired 'air traffic controller' and I am quite confident in his expertise!  He reads the clouds like I read books!  Regularly and often with a passion!  

Tuesday morning had not seen a subsidence in the water.  One of my favourite pastimes is swimming in the over flowing pool with steam emitting from the surface, and birds singing whilst other wildlife is swarming.  Admittedly, I like not the attack of the mosquitoes, but it does add to the tropical ambiance.  

Despite the promise of rain all week, it did finally subside and it stopped as quickly as it started.  There is rarely a drizzle followed by larger drops and a 'fade out'.  It comes, and it goes!  My 'to do' list was put to one side, yet again, and I was hoping I would not lose momentum!  I had planned to read a chapter, or two, but some neighbours were present in the afternoon, and socialising took priority!  I have some very interesting neighbours, and whilst some think I am completely 'bonkers', others think I am highly intelligent and enjoy passing the time of day in conversation.  I am rather flattered as those who perceive me to be intelligent, are themselves very intelligent!  One of my elderly neighbours attended university, when university for women was only for those who 'could'.  

"Are you capable of buying your own bread?" asked Samantha, as I knew she would not be going out at lunch time, and therefore, not making her usual run to the store, on her rounds, as is the norm.  She was having to take her father to the airport, as he was returning home. She was looking forward to returning to routine, as she had been out of one for a little over a month!  I looked at her with a wry grin on my face.  "Yes!" I said, with confidence.  My nail appointment had been moved to the afternoon, and the chain from where they usually purchase my loaf, has a shop along the way.  Grant asked before I left for the appointment, "Are you sure you can do it alone?"  I shook my head and told him that time would tell.  As if I could not purchase a loaf of bread!

I could not purchase a loaf of bread without a comedy of errors ensuing beforehand!  It had been raining in the area of my nail lady's salon, but thankfully it had stopped.  I say, thankfully, because my car was still gleaming, and I did not want it (selfishly perhaps) to rain on 'my parade'.  I entered the store, asked an associate if he could point me in the direction of the bakery, and walked to the left, past some very appealing peaches.  I picked up the bread, walked back past the peach stand and saw that the price was as tempting as the fruit.  "3 for 99c" it read.  Into a bag, I put three peaches, dropping one, and chasing it under the magazine rack, before retrieving it and headed to the check out.  There was one manned check out open and a dozen self-service plates available.  On to the scales went the peaches, and a price came up, in excess of what was on the sign.  I was confused, and went back to the stand.  It appeared that the sign was for avocados, which were not actually on the stand, but no doubt nearby. I decided that the price for the peaches was worthy of the fruit and went back to complete my purchase.  "I don't understand.  I have no peaches.  It is saying I have peaches", said a confused customer who had taken my scale!  I shrunk back, realising that I probably should not have left the check out without cancelling the purchase.  I went to another check out.  I placed the peaches on the scale.  The screen showed an option of two types of peach.  I had no idea which was my choice. I was sure I had not been given a choice on the first round. I tried to scan the bread, but it would not scan.  Once again, I left the scale, and headed for a person!  I am not sure why, but when I opened my purse to retrieve the amount owed for my purchases, I dropped my keys, threw a couple of notes on the counter, dropped another couple and managed to spill change all over the shelf in front of the cashier.  Eventually, I left the store with my bread and three beautiful, if somewhat traumatized, peaches!

"No!  I cannot buy bread alone!" I announced to Grant when he came over at the end of the day.  I repeated the same to Samantha when she rang to say her father had cleared security and was on his way to the plane!  How would my father-in-law feel about the foreigner who had married his son now?  I am sure he would have been gracious, and I could have discussed the intriguing portion of the book I read the previous night!

Pitter-patters were on and off for the rest of the week.  Humidity rose and evenings were quite sticky.  The mornings were very pleasant before the sun rose.  Another week was over, and the weekend was moments away.

I had managed to accomplish a fair bit on my 'to do' list, and was satisfied with my progress.  It was silly to not be satisfied as there was little I could do about it!  Saturday morning was a 'normal' morning as far as routine goes.  Having been 'out of routine' for a month, it was good to be back!  

Pleasant as my afternoon was, I did not get as much read as I had thought I would.  The lovely couple who had played ball with the boys were at the pool, and when the wife had decided she did not want to 'catch' anymore, the husband sighed, "Where are an Ollie and Jamie when you need them!"  I was quite delighted when the wife told me that they were the sweetest children, and I should be very proud!  I told her that I was and thanked her for the compliment.  We chatted for hours, and finally, after discussing several restaurants, recipes and the British Bake Off, they went in search of dinner!  I remained in my chair and got back to the book!  I would have stayed until the sun went down, but I thought that would be unfair on Dana as he was probably hungry and whilst not incapable of making dinner for himself, would wait for me to eat.  

It was with delight that when I watered my plants, as there was no rain, that I noticed some new shoots on the somewhat sparse stems.  The scorching heat had wilted, and burned some of the leaves, and left the plants somewhat forlorn, but it appears the rain and bright sunshine without the searing rays, have brought back the 'little ones'.

Sunday, Sunday!  Again!  After a storm hit Saturday night, leaving a few puddles, the sun came out in the morning, and disappeared behind clouds several times. There is no rain in the forecast today but of course, that does not mean there is no rain about!  My book awaits, and I am quite looking forward to reading some more.  It is doubtful I will finish today as there are too many pages left, despite the speed at which I am finding myself reading.  I wonder how long it took my father-in-law to read a book.  Did he savour it?  I would think so, from what I have heard of the man's character.  He did not do things 'by halves'.  I think he probably would have liked me.  My mother-in-law did!  As sweet as she was, I think he would have accepted her word!  "You would have liked my dad", my husband often says.  I believe I would.  I am not sure my husband would have understood mine!  However, I am sure they would have got along very well.  

Time and tide, etc., and we are heading to autumn.  Autumn in Texas, of course, is a mystery.  It could be summer, it could be winter, or it could be a mix of both.  One can never tell, but we are heading there like a runaway train!  Whistles blowing and steam flowing!  I would have liked to have known my father-in-law and would like to think that we would have 'hit it off'.  Some things are just not meant to be, and others are left to the imagination.  Somewhat like .......... another story!