Philip and I are still in Wilmer, Alabama. Today is Mother's Day... and it is also my mother's birthday! I called and gave her my loving wishes... and she was watching some of the movies I sent to her in the mail a few days ago. I got my love of movies from her, you know? I'm eternally grateful for that.

But you know, all those years when my father was out sweating in the hot sun, wanting me to join him to tackle the yard work... and my mother and I were sitting in the air-conditioning, watching Bette Davis... I would never have imagined that I would actually enjoy digging around in the yard. But I do! I love using the shovel to dig up weeds around Philip's dad's pool... I love hard work. Who would've imagined?! I guess it's like when I discovered recently that I enjoyed cooking for Philip... how odd that I, of all people, have a normalcy gene?!

Mike and Allan (the "landlubber lads" formerly known as the "boat boys") drove from New Orleans to Wilmer to pay us a visit and to deliver the futon that my friend Denny bought for me back when I was single a few years ago. Allan surveyed the property and gave Philip some advice on how to upgrade the well-water pump and pool filtration system. Mike helped me pull weeds from the parched soil and dump it in the hollow.

After eating lunch at Waffle House (hey, we're only 20 minutes from white-trash civilization) Allan and Mike left. I finished weeding around the pool and then Philip and I drove back to New Orleans so we could watch the STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE we missed last Wednesday... and THE SIMPSONS (which we taped while watching ENTERPRISE) and QUEER AS FOLK (which I wouldn't watch except that Philip likes it).