And Now for Something Completely Different

Tonight in my yard I heard the STRANGEST sound coming from one of my trees. Really, if I didn't know better, I might have guessed that it was some kind of monkey being attacked by a rattlesnake. "Chica-chica-chica-chica EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-chica-chica-chica-chica" it screeched into the night.

What the hell?

Davy The Unflappable theorized it must be some kind of weird cicada.

HUH?

Cicadas are part of summer in Texas. Really, it's one of the clearest signs that the true summer heat has set in. First you get your June bugs, and then come the cicadas. As a kid, we used to do all sorts of weird things with the dried up skins they left on the trunks of the huge oak trees at summer camp and in our grandparents' lawns. They were great for scientific study, puppet shows, and terrorist attacks. I'm sure any child of Texas could make their own list of cicada skin activities.

And at night, the sound of their song would lull you to sleep.

But what I heard tonight? Honey, I KNOW cicadas, and that was NO cicada!

Only it turns out it WAS!!!!!! Check this out: http://texasento.net/Cicada.htm And make sure you scroll down and listen to the sound files. Because they're not kidding. One of over 40 different species of cicada in Texas (who knew?), it appears these guys have moved into Austin for the first time this year. They are NUTS! I hope you all get a chance to hear one, and I hope they don't scare the bejeebers out of you! I can tell you with relative certainty--if one of these guys ends up in your yard, he won't be lulling you gently to sleep!

Work Blahs

For me, one of the most difficult aspects of freelancing is getting started on a new project. It's hard to get back into the routine--especially if I haven't worked in a while. . Double especially if I have have to get started in the summer when my kids are home and I'd rather be hanging with them at the pool, or playing Blazer Tag, or, to be completely honest, folding laundry and watching Deadliest Catch. The problem is, if I haven't worked for a few weeks it's really hard for me to get back in the swing of things. But swing I must.

I've accepted two small projects that both launch this week. Neither one of them is especially lucrative, and I would have most definitely declined one of them in previous years. But the economy being what it is, and freelance writing jobs suddenly coming as infrequently as they are, I don't really have much choice in the matter.

So starting tomorrow, I have to force myself back in the routine. I'll be working in the mornings, while the girls do their best to fend for themselves in the other room. It's not ideal, but it's how we're going to have to do it. In the afternoons we'll still do the fun summer stuff.

The only real question is when am I supposed to have time to watch Deadliest Catch??

Bleh.

Nothin, really

This little blog got a record number of hits last week. Crazy!! The surge was clearly related to my Girls Rock Camp post, the link to which was apparently sent out to all the volunteers that made the camp happen. I didn't write the post thinking they would read it, but I'm glad they did. I think it's good for people to know they're appreciated.

So, not much going on here. My mother was in town all week. The girls had fun with their grandmother, and that was good. She's on her way back home right now, and Davy's ginormous family is on its way here from San Antonio. I'm cooking like a fool. Brisket's cooking, beans are simmering, potato salad is made, and queso's next up on my list. I've got a huge watermelon chilling with the beer. Now all I need is a nap (ha!) and a strong drink and I'll be all ready to entertain the in-laws.

This is the first 4th of July weekend in years that I'm not playing fireworks concerts in Bastrop and Round Rock, so I'm kind of reveling in the holiday-ness of it all. We may even head out to Bastrop to watch the fireworks tonight. I've played with my back to them for the last 15 years, so that should be a revelation!