I promised a gratitude list, but I just do not think I can get one together yet.

It was quieter this weekend. Miss Teen went to Homecoming Dance at one of the "other" high schools in town with what I would call a date. Of course, I was corrected: "It's not a date Mom, we're just friends, he's not my type, he's all into ROTC, but I had fun and everyone wants me to come to all the dances because apparently I am so much fun." Do all teens have this type of pressured thinking and tangential thoughts? I thought those were symptoms of mania or schizophrenia?

Thank God, it has been raining enough that the arena at the barn is too wet to ride son's horse. When son first got this horse, I realized that the barn policies required that a Parent be around when he rides because he is less than 13. I thought that I would hate having to hang out at the barn. But, really I like it. It is relaxing to be around the horses, people who love the animals, and to be outside enjoying the weather. My husband hates it there. All he sees are the flies and the smells, but I like the completely different pace of activity than anywhere else in my day. Having said all of that, it has been a relief to have a weather induced break from the horse. Instead I worked in my yard still cleaning up Katrina damage. Now I can see visible improvement to areas that are right by the driveway and as such were bugging me everytime I pulled into the garage.

And today, I got to do something I have been craving for four days. I went to the big bookstore. When I am in New Orleans waiting for Miss Teen to have her class at NOCCA I usually visit a few small bookstores within walking distance. But I have been craving the magazine rack at Barnes and Nobles. We don't have a book superstore yet in my town but today I had to take son to a birthday party near his school thirty miles down the road. While I killed time during the two hour party, I went to the bookstore. After skimming six or seven knitting magazines, checking out the sale tables, and making sure there wasn't anything I just couldn't live without, my cravings have been met. Until next time.

Maybe this is a gratitude post after all; gratitude for a slightly less hectic weekend, gratitude for the rain, gratitude for the big box book store.