Family update:

J seems to be mostly over his cold. This is good, because now I can go back to sleeping in my own bed, instead of on the futon. I sleep much better on the bed, even though I have to share J with the dog. (but if J is sick, I sleep better on the futon.)

I did very little today, other than take a nap. It seems to have helped my back quite a bit. (I've been trying to take a day off since Tuesday, but kept getting sabotaged by stuff that had to be done.)

Kids are off school next week. We're not going anywhere, though. It's tax season. We don't go very far from home until April 16. Even if J's end stays up, there's almost always problems at the other end.

jebra will be glad to hear that I'm going to try to get my fall schedule arranged so that I can drive to Farmington on Monday nights. SR's band director wants to get her into an ensemble next year, either a sax quartet or a mixed woodwind group.

Judy has been moved into a group home. She seems to be settling in well, although Mom says that she may need to move again in a couple of months if she continues to progress. ( lots of detail, much of it extraneous )

Birdies, birdies! Saw a robin in the yard this morning. Still have a few juncos hanging around. The lady cardinal was perched on the deck rail just outside the kitchen window when I was washing apples this morning. She's very pretty. The gentleman was over on the birdfeeder. The blue jays seem to have wandered off for now -- they'll be back when it's laying time. The bluebirds have taken to perching on the garage gutters. There was a grackle throwing peanuts off the tray feeder today and then flying down and eating them on the ground. (well, the ones that the dove wasn't picking up.)