May arrives!!

Aaaah....we will be swimming soon. The HOT summers of Arizona begin in May but the unbearable part doesn't really come until July when the heat doesn't let up day or night. This time of year here is perfect for me...hot during the day and cool at night. Spring lasted forever here and now the 90 degree temps are here and the 100 degree temps will be here soon and they will stay until September. We don't have a pool at our disposal the way we did at Cortina but my plan is to go there most days after school and swim before we come home. We'll see how that goes.

April was long....and sad....and I feel hope for the month of May. I decided yesterday that despite our low funds that Madeleine and I need a vacation so we are going to San Diego and staying with a friend I grew up with for Memorial Day weekend. She has a daughter that is a few months older than Madeleine and they will meet for the first time. Since Jennifer (my friend) and I are the same age and didn't have a child until later in our lives it will be great to commiserate at the joys and difficulties of beginning motherhood in the 40's.

I told Madeleine we were going to the beach soon and she is thrilled!! She did go to the beach in New York when she was a baby - a few times - but she was too young to remember that. Oh ..and we did go to the beach in Florida when were there...once. We visited a friend who lived on Miami Beach on the beach but she doesn't remember that either. She will remember San Diego though and I am trusting it will be a fun, relaxing and memorable trip for the both of us.

I'm also in the midst of looking at houses to buy. Yes...let me repeat that...I am looking at houses to buy. Someone is going to buy the house for me and they will basically be my lender. I will pay them towards buying the house -- a lease to own kind of deal. They will keep the deed and after I've paid some of the mortgage off the deed will be transferred to my name. Interest is minimal...I'm excited. It will be sad to leave this beautiful place we've been for these few short months but the idea that I will own something and that my monthly payments will be cut down more than 1/2 is too good to pass up. I am very grateful. I feel like I've come upon a guardian angel who is looking out for Madeleine and I and making our lives easier than they might have been otherwise.