I'm up before sunrise to enjoy the pre-dawn coolth. The tomato plants have recovered nicely from their hammering yesterday, the cats are on the prowl for unwary mice and the dog is snoring, stretched out on the floor behind my chair.

It's so delightful to be cool and fresh in the morning. I'm tempted to be totally irresponsible--skip grocery shopping, ignore church services, leave the dishes unwashed and just kick back and relax until it's too hot to stay in this room and I'm forced out into the "real" world again.

There are several books calling my name, but top of my list is A History of the End of the World by Jonathan Kirsch, who is, by the way, not only an excellent writer but a fascinating speaker. Wouldn't it be lovely to have the time, take the time, to dive into the book and not re-surface until lunchtime?

The dog agrees; the cat wants to be fed first.