Wow. Last night's natural fireworks display (storms) was both fun and scary at the same time. There were many lightning strikes close by; I'm almost tempted to walk around the neighborhood and see if anyone lost any trees. One of the local TV stations got hit by lightning, knocking out all of its services except for cable TV. Our power went out briefly. Even Pumbaa the Wonder Guinea Pig got a little scared, and chirped like a bird until I calmed her down. Apparently Miller Park, the Brewers' baseball stadium, got flooded. They must have forgotten to close the side panels, because when I went to pick up Backseat Gaffer from work, the roof was closed but the panels were open and the lights were on. (The Brewers are on a road trip this week.) There were other areas of flash flooding around the city. It is raining again, and it might storm again later.

I've been baking bread once in awhile, using the breadmaker my mother gave us when we moved (affectionately known as R2D2, because that's what it looks like). I made an Italian bread the first time. I didn't have any salt at the time, so it came out bland and yucky. The second loaf I made was a Sally Lunn bread, with eggs and butter. It is very heavy. I need to find a better way to store the bread. Right now it is in a zippy bag in the refrigerator.

I also discovered a big mistake in my bookkeeping, which now tells me I've got a whole lot less money than I thought I did (about $26 worth). I forgot to keep one of the receipts from a purchase I made last week (I think it was my prescriptions). I need a better system of keeping receipts. Usually I just put them in my checkbook holder, but somehow some miss getting in there. I have no idea where the missing receipt was put. At least I know I'm not overdrafting, and all of my bills are paid for the month.

Speaking of bills...my car insurance went from a $37 payment per month in the country to $117 in the city. That's outrageous! I live in a safe neighborhood and I have off-street parking. I may have to go insurance shopping again. It isn't affordable.

I finished the Aran sweater I was working on. It's been on needles in one form or another for about 2.5 years. After I finished it, I cast on a gansey, so I have three things on needles right now: a pair of self-patterning Fabel socks in a green/gold/gray colorway, the Stornoway gansey from Alice Starmore's Fisherman's Sweaters, and the Doctor Who Season 12 scarf. That leaves three projects left on my Stashdown list--another pair of Fabel socks but in a pink colorway for my niece, a pair of socks for winter for myself from Country Classic Yarn for Sox, and a pair for Gaffer from the blue and green Corriedale yarn I spun for him.

Sunday we are going to Polish Fest. I'm looking forward to that. And I'll be signing up to volunteer at Summerfest for Kidsfest Day. I am thinking I'll be in the reading tent, or else stamping maps. Then I'll stay to see Heart. Nancy Wilson is one of my guitar heroes, and I love Ann's voice. I've found some radio presets for the van--one Wisconsin Public Radio, one classic and two 60s-70s-80s mixes (think Jack FM for my Minnesota people). At work, when I'm on early mornings, they play a different station every day, to make it fair for everyone. One day might be country, the next the mix, then the alternative/college/new rock, then rap/hip-hop. Probably no classical, I'd assume.