The gray drizzle today was more like real weather than anything we've seen for weeks. It never rained hard, but it was steady throughout the morning. It really brought out the birds, and the snails. It's good to see the garden looking greener again. The quick showers that hit us Monday didn't do much, but this has been soaking through all day.

Summer is my favorite time of year. I like hot, dry weather. But I've never had a yard to take care of before, and I've never lived in the country. It's especially gratifying to see the rain flatten the high weeds in the back yard. It's almost to the point where I can walk on the grass again, instead of having to hack my way through it.

Now, I'm not saying I'd like it to rain all summer, the way it does in some places. I want it to be hot, like it's supposed to be. But I'm not sorry to see this modest storm blow through today.

As long as it's gone by game time tonight.

Isn't it funny how money isn't a problem until you don't have it? It's a delicate balancing act, trying to decide who gets paid and who can wait. It's a sad fact that the people I like the most, because they're easiest to deal with, are the ones getting shafted during the current cash crunch. I know they won't bug me, so I let them hang.

The others, the folks who threaten or whine, get paid in order of how much I don't want to have to talk to them. This is so wrong, but my choices are based on what makes the day go by most smoothly for me. It's hard enough to deal with not having any money without deliberately putting myself in the hot seat.

Today, once again, the big check from the state didn't show up. So once again I'm on the verge of borrowing to cover payroll. If I don't make it back from the game tonight, a lot of checks will bounce.

I'm still working on changing my sleep habits around. The results so far: I'm dragging through the day, more tired than ever. I've been going to bed earlier and getting up earlier, but in between I keep waking up, all night long. I'll keep at it, though, as long as I can take it. In the end I think I'll be better off when I can get up and going in the morning instead of drooping and sagging through the best part of the day.