I finally found a spot to park tonight, it took an hour.
There was some big goings-on, probably several, to judge by the amount of people and the different subsets of evening wear. Valet services were out all over town so many of the possible spots were being used by whoever had co-opted them. Their was even a guy selling spots at the downtown post office lot for $5 each. Tell me how that’s legal? It was getting difficult just to get in and get to your post box.

Anyway, I’m tired, and I want to cry. And the weekend is coming which means solid days of driving around every couple hours and limited library openings. I may start making it a habit to visit a fast food place on the weekends, order a soda or kids happy meal, and then find the most isolated corner booth, plug in my headphones and study as much as I can.

But as I was settling in my hammock to have a good whimper, Keegan came over and flopped her head over the edge of the hammock.

After 5 minutes or so I felt, not better, but a little stronger. And the idea about the fast food place came to me. And how immersing myself into my studies makes any day better.

She’s laying down now, under the hammock. All I need do is drop my arm over the side and my hand lands on her noggin. And what do fingers automatically do when they encounter dog ears? They scritch the dog ears.

Calming influence indeed.