(That would be "Thou shalt not covet", if you lost track. "Thy neighbor's goods," by the Catholic numbering system.)

Jeeves and Bertie

Bertie

Roni's cats, my grandkitties

Rich is an ex officio member of the Loretto school board, after putting in his 3 years (one per daughter) and another one. The Sister principal wanted him to stay on, just because he had worked so hard, and because things are poppin' right this year, and since he really wanted to stick around.

Last night was the first Board get-together of the year. With our children in private schools, or in special programs in public schools, we have been in over our financial heads before. I remember taking a 6th-grade Bernadette to a meeting or party one time at a classmate's house in Fair Oaks. Huge house, horse-acreage, and a carpet one could sink kneedeep into. Monica had a friend who lived next to the Country Club. I don't think she ever recovered. I've been to the houses of some of the major Sacramento movers and shakers. One get-acquainted party was in the Carriage House, for goodness' sakes! So last night's house wasn't a surprise, but the total wave of envy I felt was.

It's not all that far away from here. For starters, they have about an acre. The back yard has a couple of golf holes, a basketball/tennis court, a pool and spa, a fountain and pond, and lots of nice vegetation. I turned greener than the scenery, and that's before I looked around the house.

Oh. My. God.

It's just beautiful, is what. The kitchen has the island, etc., yeah, yeah, I can deal, but then I got to the party room, the den/bar/family room. OK, I am SERIOUSLY jealous. I want this room. I want the two-story ceiling (and the cleaning lady to go with it, yes.) I want the bar. I want the sink. I want the cabinets and the entertainment center.

Yep. I have to trash most of the stuff in our den/family room/ship room, but I can actually copy a lot of what I saw last night, and I want to do that. Of course, the "easiest" way would be to win the lottery, but somehow, I don't think that's the path we will take. Covet covet covet, this would be me.

On the school front, it's good news. The nun's order will buy the acreage to expand the school, especially after one of the most socially responsible nuns spoke up for Loretto. The County has asked for Yet Another Report, this one on the historical significance of the water tower and chicken coop on the property. The school board member with the swimming pool company has mentioned runaway machinery, oops, on the property. Still, it doesn't seem that there will be any problem with attaining the new acreage. The other girls' school in Sacramento has some problems, but Loretto is completely full, and then some.

Sigh.