at play . . .

you can take away my television, my iphone, and iTunes but do not touch my photoshop!

comings and goings . . .

Saturday, we tried to get some stuff done outside that has been needing doing.  You know, the gutters cleaned, the driveway pressure washed, a big old ugly bush that thinks it wants to move into the garage, removed, a bird house nailed back up on the tree . . . stuff.

we got off on a rough note when the nozzle of the hose refused to come off so it could be attached to the pressure washer.  after fussing with it for half an hour, we called defeat and pulled off the second hose from the pool deck, but meanwhile, we started hacking at the bush monster that was infiltrated with asparagus grass . . . think major prickers.

what had once been one bush had multiplied to five and getting its roots out proved tricky, especially when one particular swing of the axe brought up bubbling water.  ut oh.  trouble in river city.  at first we thought it was part of the sprinkler system . . . we should be so lucky.  it was the water main.  yup, we sliced and diced the main.  the city wouldn't come out because they are not responsible for anything past the meter.  thank you very much city of my dreams.

it should be told that i only have problems requiring the help of a plumber on weekends.  sigh.  Jorge was inundated but came over to turn off the meter and promised to be back in the afternoon.  he was not happy with the root system that would need to be cleared out before he could fix the pipe.

five people against one bush.  the bush was winning.  but we managed to get out two of the five root systems around the break before Jorge returned.  color him happy.  it didn't take him long to actually get the water going again.  hooray.

the side walk is no longer black and moldy.  instead, it is pristine and walkable.  the troops will return on Saturday to finish up. 

in other news, it has been coolish here of late.  any excuse for a fire works for me.  i still have a half cord from last winter and it is perfectly aged and starts up easily.  the only thing missing was fat wood and it arrived last night by Big Brown.  marshmallows are on my shopping list. we are good to go til spring.

yesterday was, be nice to me day.  yoga, lunch with Joanie and a 90 minute massage i had bought last summer from Groupon.  a little supper.  a little wine.  kidlet home.  perfecto.

this morning Pip's radar went off early.  she smelled a rat.  and hid.  a seven pound cat is not easy to flush out from under a king sized bed when she has heard the word:  V E T.  finally captured and caged . . . poor baby . . . we headed off for her yearly checkup.  she is happily one very healthy beastie.

and with that said, i am crawling back under the covers.  wake me come April.

Trial of the Century

We the jury find the defendant, Bear, guilty on the misdemeanor charge of: withholding cuddles.

We the jury find the defendant, Ninja, guilty on the felony charge of: withholding cuddles.

We the jury find the defendant, Pippin, guilty on the manslaughter charge of: withholding all the cuddles.

...
...
...

I want my cuddles, damnit!

- Kidlet

it was and it wasn't . . .

8:15 a.m., i was in the kitchen wrestling with the T, filling his gut with a hot mixture of breading, broth, spices, celery and onions.  meanwhile his giblets were bubbling softly with veggies, bay leaves and more broth.

9:00 a.m. and the dip was made, brownies dripping with caramel cooling, salad and veggies prepped, deviled eggs cooling.

another load of laundry, dishwasher running, floors mopped.

finally i settle down with a mug of swisse mocha and call aunt ida to check up on her.  aunt ida is the 9TS's favorite aunt.  she's in her late 80's/early 90's and lives in jersey.  spunky.  caring. fragile.  out of the blue, she tells me how she was listening to glenn miller albums one night as was her custom and she started to not feel well.  as she headed off to grab an aspirin, she did a dance step or two.  her son, jackie shouted, "you go, mama" while her husband jake, chorused in with "swing it, ida."  

problem is, jackie died ten years ago and jake's been gone for twenty.  and no, i had not shared my thoughts on visitations, but dammit, i want mine.

11:30 a.m. in the shower.

12:30 p.m.  removing mr. T's tent and taking his temperature.  peeling taters.

12: 40 p.m. popping the brussel sprouts into the oven.

as the minutes tick by, the asparagus and mac and cheese also find their way into the oven, the turkey comes out, gravy is made, taters are mashed, turkey is carved . . . it was a three person enterprise . . . ham sliced, drinks poured.  cranberry sauce jiggling.  yes it had can marks decorating its side.

jackie pulled me aside and whispered that joe requested not to be seated at the 9TS's place at the head of the table.  check.  craig pulls me aside and requests not to be seated at the head of the table, his old seat would be much appreciated. check.  a quick rearrangement of seating and we are all stuffed along the sides with craig and the far end where he belongs.  the 9TS was definitely there in spirit if we had anything to say about it.

and so we noshed and chattered and laughed and noshed some more.  then with little room left, out came the lemon meringue and pumpkin pies and the brownies.  burb!

and so when the last of family left at 7:00 something, i realized we had made it through our first Thanksgiving without the 9TS.  it wasn't easy but sharing the loss among the seven of us made it seem less daunting.  kidlet was right.  it wasn't the same but we were forging new traditions.  thank you oh wise, kidlet.

the simple things . . .

Joe the barber and my 9TS.

best dressed . . .

what do you do when your fur coat isn't quite stylish or warm enough? 

you add a boa: 

with the help of your big brother.

and that's how you stay warm and on the best dressed list.

if i ruled the world . . . part one

it would not be dark at 5:39 p.m., standard time or no. good grief, charlie brown.

when you open the fridge and can't remember why, there would be a post-it letting you know.

butter, goat cheese and sour cream would have no calories. 

red wine would be the basis of the food pyramid. 

there would be no melanoma, Les would be free and clear and the 9TS would be here beside me.

peace, health and happiness would be a way of life.

bear would stop beating up on poor ninja.

cat litter would change itself.