This is a disgusting summer between the gypsy moths, the unceasing heat and humidity, the lack of rain, the toll that’s taking on the trees, bushes, the ornamental garden we simply can’t supply with the water the plants need. But the summer vegetables are exploding. We have so many tomatoes we give them away. The same with beans, eggplants, peppers. We generally manage to grow only a few eggplants but this year, we’re inundated with them. I feel like they’re pursuing me in my sleep. I spend a lot of time looking up things to do with tomatoes, beans, eggplants, zucchini, patty pan summer squash, sweet and hot peppers. I have files of printed out recipes now. Friday we made ratatouille to serve tomorrow when old friends come over for dinner. Then we had dinner art the Manso’s in Truro, Peter and Anna. Today I’ll make baba genoush and put together a salad nicoise for my old friends Eleanor Stein, Jeff Jones and Kathy Boudin. Have known them since the 60’s. I am still making my way through the poetry manuscripts sent me by the returning poets who will be in a workshop here on Columbus weekend. I had to stop to judge a contest for the Comstock Review. I have judged five contests so far this year. I enjoy judging them as it exposes me to work of poets I don’t already know. I have been writing poems in spite of all the farm work. It’s been difficult large ly because three days ago, the condenser that operates the air conditioning in my office and in the livingroom died. it was cleaned and tested just two weeks ago. the company that installed it and who cleans it says they can’t send anyone before Monday. It is hot, it is humid and my computer doesn’t like this weather any more than I do. I have given up trying to find a kitten at least for a while. I’ve talked Woody into getting a male kitten this time instead of a female. I want to keep the balance. But I am trying not to think about it until after Labor Day. Besides manuscripts and the poetry contest, I just finished On Trailsby Robert Moor. I found it extremely engaging until the very end when he gets a bit too philosophical and grandiose for me. But through 95% of the book, I learned a great deal and enjoyed his writing. The other book I’ve been reading in snatches is The Left Side of My Life by Dana Robbins [Moon Pie Press]. I’ve found many poems in it I connect with and she can write and writes well about everything from her grandmother to the disappearing Monarch butterflies that I too love and miss. Well, off to cook now. It is a little less humid today. The cats feel it too and have been playing ever since I got up and probably before.