Absolute sure signs of spring:  

-The red wing blackbirds, although so far they are sitting silently in the marsh, not making much noise, gathering enough spirit to collectively shy the coming rainstorms. 

-The blue herons are back at our fishing spot. 
-The fog and the rain, always the precursor to the sun. 

-Everything green, inside and out.  Many new plants added to bring in the season. 

-Purple things like crocuses and the hope of the iris.

-The damp chill and the gray as the season begins to ripen, which is somehow more debilitating than winter’s chill, but can be fought against with the lighting of a lamp, a candle burning, the scent of hot oil or sweet grass.

-The high winds, on the tails of which good things will come for those who wait, and for those who are forever in the yard gathering up “spring things” that have scattered.

-Worms everywhere after it rains!

One of these things doesn't belong here:  The DaVinci code, our 11-year-old, and a pile of barbies, fashions and accessories …  and yet, all these belong on the couch with our 11-going on mega-year-old who never ceases to amaze. 

Bekah called to say hello, and oh yeah, she witnessed her first shooting:  It's weird the boxes our adult children will check off these days.  Bekah has had a few: first apartment, her first car accident/hitting a deer (minor), trips to the ER as a "grownup" (minor) and now her "first shooting" (major). 

Chinese food, delivered:  Good for whatever ails thee, on a rainy Tuesday, everyone working hard and trying to do what they are supposed to (meant to) do in this life.  Fortune cookies, all good … “in bed.”

Cable modems and speedy internet continuous access:  Who the hell knew?  Well, obviously, everyone else knew, but we couldn’t get cable access until recently, and I cannot believe the difference it has made in my work.  It’s safe to say I have been reborn, returned to the land of mega production, seeing and believing my way through mega patients per minute.  Transcription has once again become this fluid in my ear and out my fingers experience, “as if” I’m hardly working, just vicariously experiencing what’s out there in the name of medical science and sheer madness.  Yippy.  No more downtime watching that little hourglass freeze up during uploads and downloads. 

What's really sad though, is what happens when cable access starts to feel slow?!?!?!?  then what?!?!?!?  I shudder to think.  Or maybe, if we shudder, we won't have to think.