We've been stumped.

Today Doug and I continued our lawn project. Last week we took up some bushes and trimmed a lot of stray plants. This week we removed some stumps that were too big for our limited tools last week, and decided to tackle this thorny plant that I hate and that Doug was at one point (God knows why) attached to. I got his permission to start ripping the plant out, so we started that job. And we are still doing it. Probably will be doing it for the entire fall, too. It has too many roots. Too many deep, thick, winding roots that our shovels and loppers just can't penetrate. And the frickin' boulders that are buried in there with the roots don't help, either. It's not easy shoveling rocks. At about 4pm we got in the car to go to Home Despot and rent a chain saw, but decided against it not too far down the street. Instead, we're saving the rest of the stump project for next weekend. When we get our new oven. Next weekend will be a good weekend.

Right now I'm supposed to be thinking of a place to go to dinner. The stump really wiped us out, so we're not cooking tonight. At first I was thinking Greek, so maybe going to the Farmhouse Grill, but I don't know if I want to drive that far. I do like their puréed squash, though. It's super tasty. We don't know many local places yet, and most of the local places are chain restaurants. I could really go for Blue Ribbon. Problem is, by the time we got to Blue Ribbon it would be late, and then I'd want to bring the food home to eat while watching television (it's been my dream all day long to sit my behind on the sofa and watch some television), but by the time we'd get home it would be cold and I wouldn't want to reheat it because reheating it just isn't the same. We'll probably get Dedham House of Pizza again, but I really hope it doesn't come to that. DHOP is actually not that bad, but what it is is greasy. And fattening. And we don't really need that at this point. Yes, my vote is for Blue Ribbon, but it's just not that convenient anymore.

Maybe a shower will help the decision-making process. I am greasy with suntan lotion and sweat, and also muddy with caked-on dirt. Oh, was today a messy, dirty, tiring day. And the stupid stump is still in the ground! That's the kicker. It is truly humbling to be beaten by a thorny bush. Well, I won't say beaten, since we haven't given up yet - we're just tabling the project for a week. Maybe the squirrels will come along and nibble away at the exposed roots of the bush and when we go out next Saturday to finish the job we'll just be able to pick up the stump and put it in a lawn bag. Oh, now that would be a treat! I'd like squirrels then.

Shower. Food. TV. Sleep. That will be the rest of my day...