Today has been a poopy day (Laurel's been up since 0500, for starters) so I thought I'd make a very brief list of reasons I have to not complain too much.

1. I have a new keyboard -- an IBM Active Response Pro. The extended keys on it are spaced differently from a standard 104-key layout, but it's only a minor annoyance. Robert jokes I haven't seasoned the keycaps yet because he can still see all the letters and they're rough to me, but he's right since I average around 40,000 keystrokes daily (cf. my Project Orca stats).

2. A new windowbox is hanging over the deck railing by the back door and will, hopefully, have my nearly-germinated portulacas blooming by Memorial Day.

3. By the end of the weekend, I should have a purple clematis (Jackmanii, in case you're interested) planted by the mailbox and Fiesta double impatiens (they look almost rose-like) in the pots flanking the front steps.

4. I don't have to cook dinner tonight.