Quadsville

Mom's short. Only 5 feet tall, petite, healthy skin and a short hairstyle. My sister and I have both told her we don't think she looks old, even with the gray hair, but she's worried that she'll be a victim of ageism and won't get hired.

My sis and I have both given her our opinions, but she wants second (third, fourth, fifth...) opinions, so please tell me what you think she should do.

Let me make it clear that I DO NOT EVER want to find a dead body. Maybe it's just that these places look a little ominous and creepy that gets me thinking that I should be on the look out. Or maybe it's just a journalist's instinct to look for the out-of-the-ordinary. Or maybe I have watched too many episodes of "C.S.I."

I just finished a great run on the RI bike path west of the Centennial Bridge down to the railroad bridge. The beach is just emerging from the water again, so there's all sorts of washed up stuff. No bodies, I'm pleased to report. Only dead wood and lots of birds, groundhogs, turtles and rabbits that were very much alive.

I'm having a great time cooking with my CSA veggies. CSA, for the uninitiated, stands for Community Supported Agriculture. I pick up a cooler full of fresh veg every Monday from Teresa and Steve of Teresa's Tasty Produce at the Bettendorf Farmers Market. I bought a half-share in their farm this year - my first CSA experience.

It's been great to get fresh veggies (and strawberries! and chives!) every week. I've challenged myself to eat what is in season and try to limit my produce to what I get from the CSA or buy from other local growers. So far, so good (though I did break down and buy some mushrooms at the grocery store this week).

This week, I made a very tasty stir-fry with cauliflower and cabbage from my CSA, farmers market green peppers, green onions and garlic, and store-bought curry paste and hoisin sauce. Delicious. Cabbage is something I never buy in the store, so that was a new experience for me.

I also made my first from-scratch rhubarb crisp with rhubarb from co-worker Joe Engel's house and some CSA strawberries (which are the best I've ever tasted). It feels great to eat fresh food and support local farmers, not to mention that the produce lasts so much longer since it's picked a few days before you buy it and hasn't spent a week or more on a truck.

I usually wake up when I hear the woosh of wind and rustle of tree leaves, just like I used to somehow wake up every time my daughter stirred in her crib. The wind means the rain is seconds away, so I make the rounds to the few windows I've left open to make sure it's not raining in. Then it's down the dark hallway to the living room to flip on the TV and make sure we're not under a tornado watch or warning. Last stop before trying to get back to sleep is Gwen's room, to make sure she hasn't kicked off her covers and is sleeping soundly through the storm.

Last night's thunder was particularly spectacular. I was awake for at least 45 minutes. When I went back to sleep, I had dreams of jumping out of airplanes with nothing but a little Cracker Jack parachute.

There have been a few nights lately where, not only am I awakened by a middle-of-the-night storm, but I have to delay bedtime to stay up with fussy weather (and a 6-year-old who doesn't easily fall asleep to thunder and lightning).

Maybe we'll get a break tonight. I rode my bike into work today for the first time in a week and a half. Clear blue skies, beautiful, breezy mid-60s temp, sparkling river and soaring pelicans. It was delightful.

Anyone else out there losing sleep over the weather?

I helped out yesterday at field day at my daughter's school. I managed to sunscreen my kid and about 20 other children and remembered to goop up my arms, face and ears.

Oh, but I was wearing a v-neck shirt and completely forgot to put sunscreen there. So it's red. Except for a 1-inch square where the pendant I was wearing rested. It looks like a reverse bullseye.

Anyone else out there searing strange sun tattoos into their flesh?

I almost got blown off of both the Centennial and the Government bridges today. My light little car can't stand up to wind. It was a struggle to stay in my lane. Makes me glad a didn't bike to work today. I'd be in the river.