So, I had predicted, when the rain began, that Iíd be lamenting itís arrival within three, despite my initial proclamation that it was great to have around.

Appears Iím made of sterner stuff than I thought, but, finally, (enough with the commas!) I have decided that the rain is getting in my way.

Sure, itís great not having to walk the dog. Except that the rain always seems to clear around 10 or 11 at night, when Iím not quite in bed and the dog is not quite settled down, and so the walks have been happening, just at times when Iím more susceptible both to cold weather and to curbs, which always seem higher when youíre sleepily shuffling your feet.

Further, the rain is crimping one of my plans for the weekend, which was to go to the Woodburn Tulip Festival, if for nothing else than to pick up some bulk bulbs for next year. Having just bought my house in October, I found out a little late last year that, as I was considering the prospect of planting some tulips (which The Missus loves), I was running too far behind schedule. So, hearing on a local radio station today that the Festival was on this week, I decided that perhaps I should head on down with the Missus, JLowe and his Lady on Saturday to fetch some bulbs and get some pretty pictures. Until, quickly following that mention of the festival, the weather report came on declaring that weíd have rain all weekend.

Curses! Rainís all well and good, donít get me wrong. But not when it interferes with my mojo. I need to score points, and tulips are a way to do it, and Iím failing miserably.

Which may be okay, in retrospect. Walking my dog, she loves to make runs at peopleís flowers, and though Iím able to restrain her from destroying the front-yard flower strips of my neighbors, thereís no guarantee that Iíd have similar luck on property my dog has easy access to. And JLowe noticed that his strip, out by the sidewalk, planted of last yearís festival bulbs, has been decimated by an unknown intruder thatís nipped the buds right off the top of two or three localized tulips near his driveway. I theorized it was a dog getting walked, knowing how my dog wouldíve shown her appreciation for the beauty that was layed out before her. JLowe agreed with my assessment, if for no other reason than he has two dogs who both have stretched his patience to the very limit.

Anyway, I note that itís not raining now, and that is certainly because now is the time that Iím working. As soon as my weekend begins, I expect clouds to rapidly gather and rain to saturate my very being. Looks like a long weekend of listening to the Smiths, cursing the sky, and sobbing intensely as Seasonal Affective Disorder ravages me until the sun creeps out on Monday morning, just as Iím driving to work.

What a worldÖ