8.1

August first -- this was going to be the month that we tried to get a budget under control.  We want to see what it will take to live on one salary.  But, already, with Emmie coming and we haven't even moved into the new house...well, how's that supposed to work?  I know, September will be the first month!  I knew there was a solution!

On Craig's List I found a nice dining room corner cabinet that I think will work well in our new dining room.  It will be a nice place to display china/crystal plus hold stuff. It's by the same maker, and in the same finish as our dining room table, so I think it was a good find.  Of course, you might wonder how buying new furniture is part of the downsizing plan...well, it's a perfect piece for a smaller dining room -- that's the answer.

Rode my bike to the gym this morning and found a better route -- less traffic.  

I also added a new link on the right -- to EmeraldPlanet.  It's the organization that Sam, a man who also lives in the house were renting, heads up.  His bio is the first one on the site.  He's leaving for the Olympics tomorrow and I asked if he would be blogging from there -- they will be adding to the site, so I think it will be cool to know someone who's over there.  I'm SURE they'll have lots of environmental stuff to talk about, if they can get a breath of air to talk with.

Mom and I went to the National Gallery to see the Afghanistan exhibit -- beautiful. We had a tour with a very knowledgeable guide.  AND, a big first, Mom and I discussed the merits of using a wheelchair for portions of our visit, and she agreed. I pushed her around before the tour started, and we went and saw another cool exhibit -- Martin Puryear's work.  Then when it came time for Afghanistan, she had enough energy to walk.  All in all, it worked out so well -- and the museum just had the chairs all lined up and ready for people to use.