I just spent 20 minutes visiting with a good friend of mine, one of the first friends I made when I moved here 20 years ago. She's the mother of a woman who became my best friend, half of a couple which made up the quartet of my ex-husband, myself, Brook and Dan. Brook and Dan: they lived in a one-room cabin without running water. She worked with me, part time, then moved on in her career climb until she was head of the County Youth Bureau, a very professional job. She finally said she needed more--like, indoor plumbing, and a man who had a real job and a commitment to a relationship that included real communication. We all adored Dan, who has a great intellect and sense of humor, but who keeps most of what's going on with himself inside. I've seen him within the last 7 or 8 years, spent some time with him, just the two of us, and since I don't take him too seriously we had a great time together. Anyway, Brook's mother Ann was here to see me and in the course of her visit she told me that the land next to their 40 acres was sold and the survey that was done revealed that the parcel of land their house (which is a special, owner-built home with only solar and generator-provided power) sits on is not on their property, but rather on the parcel that was sold. This has been an understandably huge and emotionally stressful deal for them. They think they can buy the land from the new owner and it will all work out but she's worried that, if they can't they will have nowhere to go. I told her they can certainly move into my house, with their 2 dogs and 4 cats. I have an entire upstairs that was built to support a second family. She was moved to tears. I always offer my house as a home to people in need: I have all this space, and it's certainly available to people who need a place to live. People I can stand to live with, of course. I told her that if they're going to live there for any length of time her husband will have to build an outside entrance and will have to finish the upstairs kitchen.

Before she came I was playing with pictures posted by my sister and my niece, trying to decide which one I want for my desktop image. First I had Molly's view of Torca, then I settled on Jenica's view from the bluffs at Silver Lake. I like to change images often, makes that part of my life interesting. I spent a lot of time on interlibrary loan this morning, both clerks are out. One is due in 10 minutes ago. I sort of enjoy ILL, but it's really frustrating here because we can only find the books about 75% of the time. I don't understand where the books are the rest of the time.

I had quite a weekend. Friday night was Big City Bingo, the 16th annual. There was a record crowd: 51 people. We play for prizes that are picked up at yard sales, donated by people, baked goods, etc. I talked Fred into picking a 5" TV set that you can plug into your car for me when he won his 2nd time. "DON'T WATCH TV WHILE YOU DRIVE!" every told me. I won't, I just thought it was really neat. Do you know how cute a 5" TV is? Now I can listen to Oprah on the way home from work. Or not. Anyway we had a lot of fun and I didn't win a single thing, which was GOOD. The grand prize was a change purse made out of a toad, front legs and head intact. Totally gross, but Jim Nadal, the winner, wore it around his neck proudly for the rest of the evening.

Saturday afternoon the Hawkeye Conservationists (shoreowners' assoc.) met at our camp, so I was the hostess. Prepared refreshments and set up the porch for them. We had about 20 people, not bad for our annual meeting. We have 75 members, which is good. All went well, uneventful, with good suggestions for programs for next year. Linda is our new president. After the meeting Tess followed someone somewhere and was gone for more than 3 hours. I searched frantically for her, including 2 trips into the bog, one going halfway up the bluffs before it got too dark so I turned around. I cried, deciding that I'd lost 2 dogs this summer. I searched the roadway for her body. There was still a car in the bog parking lot at dusk, so there was a chance she was with the people who where on the bluffs. Sure enough, after 8:30, in total darkness when I went to camp she was running down to the boat house in a frantic search for me. Of course I cried harder when I found her.

Sunday dinner was at Bill's camp, hosted by our good friends (who also put on Big City Bingo). He's a judge, they're from Mass. I like them a lot. We spend Columbus Day weekend together. Anyway, Ken made his baked beans so it was a special occasion. I stopped at Linda's first, to welcome her and deliver some fresh eggs I picked up in Peru Friday night. Erdvilas invented a new drink for me, which we call The Lost Dog, in honor of Tess. After dinner I prepared food for my book group, which met at the boat house. All 6 of us were there, discussing a book entitled "We are gathered here," about life in the Adirondack iron mine regions in the late 19th century. We had a great time and everyone liked the book and the refreshments. Stayed for 2 1/2 hours. Lin even called me up last night to tell me how great the evening was--good hostess, good food, good book, she said. I made a crab dip with crab meat that had been left behind by some camper a while ago. I didn't think it was that great. I had tons of cut up vegetables with 2 kinds of dips. Good organic juices with seltzers to mix with. It was a really nice evening. Next book we're reading is Wicked by Geoffrey Maguire. About the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz.

And now it's today and the day is nearly half over and I have little to show for my time. I've got plenty to catalog for Tupper Lake. Old travel books. Has much changed in Colorado in the last 20 years? I think so, but apparently they don't. We had a good laugh about "Walking Barbados" on Friday. It's hard to get a flight to Barbados, you never know where it'll be once it starts walking.