Lately as usual, I'm reading a lot of novels. This is a really good one. I picked it up at the "help yourself" shelf at the library where I volunteer. And I am glad that I did, it's a very good book. IT's called Taming It Down.

I also just read...A Drop Of The Hard Stuff, another good book. But all about drinkers and the AA crowd, not my cup of tea. But well written.

And this one by Steve Martin, he is really a good writer, Shopgirl. I love his books.

I'm taking a trip back to northern California, to get my belongings that I left up in Kirkwood. But this time it's planned. I reserved a mini-van, with the help of my mother. I've never rented a car before, except once when a car was stolen. But that was a long time ago. So I did it this time through AAA. And so far the Hertz people aren't charging a deposit fee. I was dreading a $200 deposit.

My plans are to leave early Tuesday morning, getting to Sacramento that night. I'm staying with my friends Tracy and Harold. I've kept in touch with friends there, I used to live there. So I'm looking forward to that.

On Wednesday I'm making my way acroos the 50, towards the high Sierras. And then to Kirkwood. I kind of wanted to go another way, through Jackson. But the 50 looks like a good route, through Placerville. Then when I get to Kirkwood I think that my friend Wade will be there to help me load my things. He took them and stored it all, so that the idiot Larry would not throw it all out. I am so thankful that there are nice people, like Wade.

After leaving Kirkwood, I want to go down the 4 highway, to the 99. I made reservations at the Howard Johnsons in Modesto, on the way back down the 99. I chose them because they were cheapest, with an "expanded" Continental breakfast. I like to be able to kind of ease myself into the day, now. And I like coffee in the morning, without having to leave to go somewhere. After that I drive home, down the 99 to the 5. And then home.

I'm feeling nervous about leaving my kitty Nala for this long. She has never been alone for 2 days like this. I may ask someone to check in on her. But that would not really help, as she is afraid of everyone, especially men. I'll need to leave her lots of food, water and just kind of hurry up.

I don't know for sure, but I may not even have room in my tiny apartment for all of my stuff. I guess I'll find out.

School's been fun. We're making websites, in Photoshop and Illustrator. I'm on my fourth site. This next one is the final. I'm not yet sure what I'll be doing. But I think I'm looking at making a fashion sketch site.

I wanted to add, that my mother's been so helpful and understanding lately. And that I don't know how I'd get through some of these hard times without her. I guess that she and I are both working at having a relationship. And it's nice actually, having a mother in my life.

I've uploaded my sketching to a site called Deviant Art, My profile username is Cinamingrl20.