Tuesday, July 2, 2025

Hello! Happy summer. It's 5 a.m. and I'm awake, fostering an inner lark that I thought went dormant years ago. Instead of continuing the toss-and-turn choreography in hopes to be wearing myself out and falling back into a blissful summer slumber, I decided not to fight it. I can always take a well-earned midlife siesta later, continuing to perfect this feline art form. Insomnia=1; Lori=0. 

Fortunately, I'm having coffee talk with a bestie later this morning, so some strong caffeine at my favorite venue (Chicory Cafe) will most likely grow some hair on my chest and a few whiskers that I recently plucked on my chinny-chin-chin. I'll leave you with that visual. (You're welcome.)

Like most people on this planet, Steve and I have been keeping busy. He's been learning a new-to-him gig at the library. When he's not there, he's here at home playing zookeeper to our pampered kitties and a mostly feral wife. Thanks to the expert sleuthing from my father-in-law, Steve recently purchased a new-to-us vehicle (2008 Chrystler Dodge) that's sporty, very orange, and barely driven. Its name is Dodger, and he has a CD player! (Love me a car that still has a CD player.) It was a little sad to let go of Kumi the Hybrid, but after 19 years and the last car accident, it was no longer safe to drive even the short 8-minute distance to campus and back. 

I've been busy with academic and creative endeavors, most recently teaching speech communication concepts to middle schoolers at Kids College at Indiana University South Bend. I taught an art class, too, at the Edwardsburg Public Library. Next week I will be teaching Summer Session II, hoping to inspire another class of undergraduates to be able to speak confidently in front of groups.

Have a great Wednesday. Take care of yourself.