i got some frames for my photos to put up on my wall (i must say, my photos look a whole lot better when they're framed), but i'm not sure if i'm ready to have such a clean, sophisticated look for my room, especially when i still use giant plastic clear drawers for my main furniture. so i stuck them in the living room above the television where they may have a chance of being admired. i like buying things but i'm so afraid of getting a lot of acquired junk like the last couple years of college. it just made moving a big pain and it sucked lugging all that stuff around, being attached to things that aren't very useful, even if they do remind me of people, places and times. i also bought a pretty mug, bowl and plate, so i won't be completely helpless when my roommate leaves. and, i found this neat little bench/footstool thing on wheels by the side of the road which i'll use for my keyboard chair, and it has a secret compartment underneath it (shhh). there were lots of spiders and webs on it but i cleaned them all off and it's a nice little chair. the cats like to sit underneath and hide, cuz it's upholstered in this fabric that forms a little skirt around the bottom. other purchases: a broom for my porch, and sandpaper.
it was very hot today. while sweeping the porch for the 2 minutes that it took, there were giant salty sweat droplets rolling down my face. that never happens. i think it'll be even hotter tomorrow. now that i think about it visiting seattle in august, the hottest month of the year, will be a good move.

here's a picture of the tennessee-north carolina state line in the great smoky mountains. the appalachian trail was nearby.