Vol. Left-over margaritas No. from Cinco de Mayo

May Greetings:

This is a precious month, the gateway to summer when you slather on the sun screen and roast as you cook hotdogs on a grill for all the teenagers in the neighborhood. And if you also serve up a swimming pool, (yea, you) all the still-breathing males could also be gawking at the teenage girls wearing thongs, while parents of said teenage girls sit on the sidelines drinking -- lots.

You would think May, the precursor to summer, would be just perfect weatherwise. However, sad to say, Las Vegas is already 105 degrees and there was 8 inches of snow in Wyoming. And I wonder what notable sins the bulk of the Las Vegas and Wyoming citizens committed to bring the wrath of the Regional Weather Minions. The sins must have been phantasmagoric and hopefully, fun.

In a week, off to Scotland, Edinburgh (supposedly the least rain in May but chilly, always, so no thongs), then over to Glasgow, cruise up to the northern Scottish Orkney Islands (I will find Thor's Hammer) and Shetland Islands (I will find the ponys), then the fjords and Bergen, Norway, and walk through the original Hanseatic League buildings from Medieval times. Home through Paris, which sounds sexy, but believe me, De Gaulle airport isn't.

No applause, but maybe a brief smile:

Why do hummingbirds hum? (They don't know the words.)

No, this is not an advert: The title for my new book will be THE CHARMED HOUSE OF HERRIES. (1842 London, mystery/magic/romance). I have no clue yet when it will be published, but will, trust me on this, I will keep you well posted and maybe the occasional guilt-trip.

Okay, guys, how do you kiss in Spring? (Tulips)

A curving up of the mouth?

Does everyone think the Oklahoma Thunder will win the NBA championship again this year? At this point I'm sort of hoping the Spurs (with 7 foot 4 Wembe) could perhaps, maybe with lots of prayers, pull it off.

Happy last half of May, and this is important so don't forget -- The baseball player who makes the best pancakes is - ta da - THE BATTER.

Catherine

The Golden Gate in May

Sunrise over Angel Island in San Francisco Bay