The Random Files: On an Easter Sunday

Today is Easter.  The whole Jesus shindig and whatnot.  Celebrate your own way:  candy, bunnies, church, eggs,  family dinners, skinned knees, wine, prayer, NCIS marathons...whatever.

***

Today, while trying to get the dog outside, I noticed two grackles exiting my old gas grill on the back porch.  Apparently they are creating quite an elaborate nest--twigs are protruding from the front lip of the grill.  It seems all barbecues are on hold as the grill operates as an avian nursery...

Spring is a time of regeneration and warm weather.  Turn off the TV.  Step away from the Interwebs.  Put all phones--yes, that includes the cell--to ring straight to voicemail.  Go outside and spend a good long time with the quiet world outside your door.  What crazy sounds are the local birds making?  What smells are carried to you on the breeze?  When will the cicadas begin the summer hum?  What stars are spinning overhead as the sun drops past the horizon?

What is your world without the chatter?

***

I am loving the web comic called Girls with Slingshots.  I found it a few months ago and have enjoyed keeping up with the adventures of Hazel and the gang.  I love the ghost kitty....Doooooooooom!

One of those days

I'm having one of those days where I feel pulled in a zillion directions.  I hate this feeling.  What do I want, you ask?

1)  Sunlight.  Although it isn't sunny today, I am noticing the light.  I don't know if it is considered a wavelength?--but the strength of the light.  It isn't as weak as it is during the winter.  We're on the cusp of the spring thaw.  The sun is also coming up earlier.

2)  Moon.  Full.  Enough said.

3)  Outside.  I want to go for a walk but I have a million things to do that require my attention.  Also, it is muddy slush with ice patches on the road.  Still not the greatest walking conditions.

4)  Grading.  Ok.  Well I don't really feel pulled to do this except the deadline is tonight for grades and I should just suck it up and finish.  I suppose complaining takes more time than actually doing...

5)  Writing.  I just put together another piece of my puzzle yesterday and now I'm wanting to write but I won't until I get this stupid grading done.  I do enjoy death scenes.  Does that make me perverse?

6)  Reading.  I'm sucked into Patrick Rothfuss' book The Name of the Wind.  I am enjoying the voice and the structure of the story.


Moon Report:  100% of full.  Full moon.
Outside:  Soggy snow and mud.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My V-gift? A lovely snowy morning. There are open patches among the grey cloud cover which allows the sparkley blue through. Not much snow...maybe quarter of an inch?

My morning: wrote a letter, joined facebook, sent tons of emails and worked on my family tree. As you can see I am steadfastly avoiding the dish-filled sink.

Moon Report: 72% full. Waning gibbous.

Parrot love

Moon Report: 65% full. The moon is waxing gibbous today. [I secretly like to say the word gibbous.]

So the parrots are screeching like banshees in the living room because I turned on Sesame Street for them. They love the songs and all the odd noises and are doing well by imitation. However, Linus has picked up this very weird metallic twirrr and he sounds like Wall-E and I don't know where he learned it.

Linus is in love with my sister. He says "Hi, Erin" over and over even when she is not here. Then he'll say "Come give me kisses" and makes a smooching sound. He has also taken to humping Erin's arm when she is around unless we keep him very distracted.

Gabbi is singing songs of her own invention. Sometimes I can hear fragments of Led Zeppelin and "Row, row, row your boat" and "E-I-E-I-O" as well as the theme from Oklahoma. What is nice is that she yells at the dog for me and I don't even have to bother much anymore. She tells Dobby when to sit, to go lie down, to knock it off, and to go outside.

Max is being much more sociable now that he is able to run from one couch to the other without much effort. Unfortunately he is also able to stalk you for food when wheedling and flirting isn't getting the job done. And if I have anything with cheese he'll fling himself like a velociraptor without waiting to be invited. And after nineteen years, he's learning new words too.

mystery

It's almost 11:30pm and I was dead asleep. Someone knocked at the front door. Even the dog woke up and he doesn't wake up for much after ten.

However, I am now very confused because not only was there no one at the door, but the motion detection lights were not on and all the neighboring houses were also dark. There is only one possible way for someone to get to the front door without triggering motion lights and no one was there. Believe me I went to check. There weren't even giggling kids anywhere around the street--the night is cold and clear enough to be able to hear them anywhere around.

I thought it might have been a neighbor in an emergency...but no. No one was there.

only finished a second book this month

Between moving the business one town over and cleaning up the old place, I'm exhausted! Both my sis and I ended up with terrible chest colds! So I have no time yet.

I did read Joyce Carol Oates book Beasts.

Although it was a short novel and easy to read, it just was not my cup of tea. It was definitely a character driven narrative and all done from a first person POV. One of the reviews said something about a gothic novel feel--but it never once felt like a gothic novel to me. Drug induced insanity.

I usually like JCO's writing. However, I won't be recommending this one.

almost done

MOON REPORT: waning gibbous. 87% full.

Well the business will be officially closed at this location in one week. We still have another month to go on the lease so I don't have to kill myself to get the place emptied of furniture and whatnots. Yay. I am THRILLED to bits to be out of a town that can't tell its head from its tail.

Now on to the new venue. We've teamed up with LifeSpaces to provide decor and funky gifts for them. I'm hoping this will be just the miracle we've prayed for. Besides, I've always wanted to do interior decorating! And we'll also offer personal shopping (for gift and decor related items) for those who are seeking something special.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Notable Passing

Johnnie Carr
Civil Rights Activist and Amazing Woman
May your family and friends find peace.