Yesterday was so hot. But today should be somewhat cooler, and then tomorrow and Thursday we've got rain in the forecast, so maybe Maine will become more like Maine again.

Early this morning we had another bat in the bedroom. We can't figure out how they're getting in, but clearly there's a gap somewhere. The Alcott House certainly has had its share of wildlife excitement this summer: deer in the driveway, raccoons in the flowerpots, groundhogs munching up the cauliflower plants, squirrels scrabbling in the walls, bats flitting over the bed. Of course I am grateful there haven't been rats, which is what our Chicago kids have to deal with.

At least Little Chuck enjoyed the bat. "It's a bird! It's a mouse! It's both!" he squeaked. "This new home has everything!"

I'll get back onto my mat this morning, then back to my desk. I've managed to pull together a decent draft syllabus for my upcoming Poetry Kitchen class, I'm making good progress on the editing project, and Teresa and I have started to rough-cut the shape of next year's conference. My brain is beginning to function normally again: my imagination is returning; I'm starting to think again. It seems silly to chalk this up to "I've got a pet in the house," but honestly that's what's made the difference. I'm so much happier, so much more pulled together, when I've a little body to hug and tease and chide and (maybe this is most important?) story-tell about.