March 3, 2000 -- 1:55 PM EST

I'll be gone over the weekend, back Monday. I have social things planned, I have work, and I also have.... tan tada DAH!

Beams!

I have stacks of wooden beams of pressure treated lumber laying out drying in the garage. This is exciting to me.

I don't build things very often, much less iguana caging but it's spring time, and it's time to get a start on the iguana outdoor cages so they can enjoy the nice hot baking FL sunshine in the summer.

So. Now I get to play with power tools. Muahahahahaha!

I'll probably rope Paul into doing some of this work -- like when I am ready to lift the cage up and put it on casters. But this cage is mainly my baby, so I get to show him up. I am a better carpenter than he is. At least design-wise. I plan things more than he does.

I have to admit the turtle deck was a good job for him -- that was his last bit of carpentry and he did a lot better at planning more -- it shows. Unlike some of his other cages, this thing is rock solid and doesn't lean. Maybe me building a cage will hurry him up to finish the other deck! Then I have to write up the plans and webify them for my iguana stuff -- total other web site.

Busy girl. THIS is why I go to gym. There is no sense in being fit if you aren't doing anything good with it. I think hauling around many heavy 2x4's this morning counts as a workout. Secretly I am thinking I might go out and buy a circular saw.

Janis and Stump better be happy Mommy is making their cage first in the patio. The other guys have to wait til the yard is fenced in.

I want to try to get all six iguanas large roomy outdoor aviaries done for the summer before we worry about enclosing the screened patio and arranging it so they will be warm and safe outdoors in the winter. I have this vague idea of removable paneling and heaters. I need to get this sorted out ASAP and way before kids arrive on the scene.

I can't have babies and iguana living in the same house, but I also won't give up my lizards! They're my babies too!

~Astrophe