Good Morning NJ (& The Rest of The World)

Ah, the start of a 4 day weekend (I took Monday off too). In the summer, no less. The weather gods have finally realized it IS summer in NJ too and have brought us some beautiful weather.
A chance to sleep in on a Friday. Except we forgot to tell Bailey, our OLD Old English Sheepdog:

Exactly at 5:30AM, our normal M-F rising time, he started barking. With pillow over my ears, I try to explain to him we didn't need to get up (anyone with a dog will understand that speaking to your dog like he's human and expecting him to understand is quite normal; those of you who have never been lucky enough to have a close relationship with a canine, will just have to take my word for it). I finally managed to convince him to go back to sleep. Two hours later, he started again and I decided that this would be a reasonable time to rise. The LSH is still sleeping; he works for Middletown and last night was the first free Concert In The Park that the town holds in one of Middletown's 48 parks,every other Thursday during the summer, so he was there working, helping to make sure everything went smoothly, and it did.
I decided to take my morning ritual, having my 2 cups of coffee (with Coffee-Mate Sugar-Free French Vanilla Creamer) & leisurely reading the Asbury Park Press, out on the deck. The photo above is a pic I took from the deck back in the spring. (I wish NJ would start burying all the wires underground. They really are ugly).
Reading the paper was followed up by bringing my laptop out here, checking my mail, stopping by a few of my favorite websites, and writing this blog.
So that's where I'm at right now. Sounds like there are signs of life coming from inside the house which must mean the LSH has arisen (either that, or we're being robbed). I do have to do some mundane tasks today, like grocery shopping (I HATE IT!), but I just might stop by my favorite local shoe boutique; I'm looking for a pair of red, strappy sandals with a small heel. Kate Spade Online has been having a great clearance sale this week and did have a pair of red sandals I loved, but didn't have a heel.
So, if I don't "see" you anymore this weekend, let me wish you a wonderful & safe 4th of July, 2009!