Virtual Quill

With the summer still quiet before this university town wakes up (and the two of us settling into our new marital state), I’ll report on what’s going on back in Domain with Kell and her cousin Sheila.
Only recently did Sheila become a real presence in the family’s life; before that she’d been this shadowy figure of rumor and tall tales. It turned out that those outlandish stories were only partially embellished by Kell and Elanor, and that she really is as eccentric as advertised. She sees herself as a “seeker,” but that seems to be a self-rationalization for a past that’s careened through myriad reinventions without adding to the development of genuine inner growth. I hate to say this, but for someone in her late thirties she strikes me as being a teenager...and the absolute antithesis of Kell.
And now Sheila is in a very serious relationship with Frank Mangle. I noticed that at my wedding reception that they were quite lovey-dovey...but that the body language of Frank’s daughter Leona was pretty uncomfortable. I chalked that up to Leona being in the presence of Rhonda. (Rhonda used to date Leona’s current BF Edgar...and that awkwardness was the reason Edgar wasn’t at the wedding. Of all the no-shows, at least he had an excuse!)
According to Kell, Leona is very protective of her single Dad, and I can relate. She wants to make sure Sheila is the right choice for him. It would help Sheila immensely to cultivate a relationship with Leona, but she’s neglected that. With Kell’s insistence she’s trying to play catch-up on that score.
Today's question is a personal one: do you think I'm being too judgmental about Sheila?

Missives from home tell me that Kell’s hunting woes were a temporary thing (as I’d suspected) and that she got her timing back in short order. It will still be interesting to see how she and Desdemona get along as partners, being mothers-in-law and all. Come to think of it, Fenton and I should probably be concerned. Hunting involves lots of sitting around waiting for prey to come along, so that copious downtime will likely be filled with conversation about us.
Shudder
Thanks to all the readers last week who offered decorating suggestions! First, both Fenton and I do have separate offices within Tree that neither of us touch. Fenton’s is essentially his “bat cave” as someone pointed out. Someone else offered a Steampunk idea, but as much as I like “Girl Genius” that’s not really my style.
About my reference last week to 40-minute showers, yes, a 40-minute bath would be just as effective and would save water. Tree will also be aware of 40-minute intervals between when the faucet stops running and the water is let out.
It’s quiet here at Beige University. The summer classes have ended, and the fall semester (which includes my first Masters degree courses) begins in four weeks. Since this is a “university town” with little here besides the school, one can easily imagine tumbleweeds blowing down the streets. That’s fine; it’s given Fenton and I space to acclimate ourselves to our new life before a whirlwind of activity descends upon us.
Today's question for those of you in school: How are you spending your summer?

Okay, Fenton didn't exactly carry me across the threshold when we returned from our honeymoon. He flies me around so much on a daily basis, it would've been redundant.
The first thing we discovered when we got home was a privacy situation. Now, I've been living here since early this year, but I always slept in a bed while Fenton hung from the ceiling, so there was no...intimacy involved. Now there is. swoon
Except Tree is aware of every movement occurring within her system, including things we'd rather keep between the two of us. After some initial consternation we told Tree about our concerns and she had no problem respecting our wishes.
Basically it's this: Anytime the shower runs for over 40 minutes, Tree shuts off her awareness functions in the bedroom. "Nuff said.
The rest of my week was spent sending Thank You notes to those who gave us gifts...including the ones who bailed at the wedding. I hope those people feel guilty about not coming...and that a sweet, cordial Thank You note from me twists the knife a little more.
As I write this, I'm taking a break from redecorating Tree's interior. Tree and I have actually been concocting this ever since the engagement.
My question: Any decorating suggestions?

No typo; I’m happy that Fenton and I will be dependent on each other forever.
It’s the last day of our honeymoon. We’ve packed up and are ready to check out of our rental unit for the flight back home. (No, Fenton won’t be carrying me that far! We’ll be on a commercial airliner.)
We’ve had a wondrous time here in Silicon Valley, but we’re eager to get home and start our new life. I told Fenton about a weird dream I had in which I turned into a bat, and he allowed that he had one about becoming a hedgehog. A sign of unity, I guess!
The big news was back in Domain where Fenton’s mom was fired from her office job and almost immediately hired by Herd Thinners, Inc. Her new title Liquid Assets Collector - Junior Level. It doesn’t pay as much as her old position, but she’s grateful to work in the place that accepts her for who she really is, and where she doesn’t have to live a lie. I know she’ll be a highly motivated employee, which I’m sure is another reason R.L. took her on.
She was paired with Kell who, true to her Type A form, tried to come back from her injury before getting her hunting timing back. This could have ended badly, as even one case of Not Meeting Daily Quota on an employee profile can have devastating results for a Staff Predator. Desdemona, however, had a unique but effective solution. (Kell just had to take care to rest and maintain hydration for the next 24 hours.)
Being in flight, we'll miss the Fourth of July fireworks. To my American readers, how do you celebrate today?