Whew

Well, the SO and I had a disagreement about the status of upkeep on the piece of yard on the south side of the house.  Afterwards, we went out to do yard work which turned in to transplanting 3 large azaleas that had been growing in our front yard for 17 years.  It took two teenage boys, two adult females, 2 broken shovels, 1 intact shovel, the truck and a moving strap to get the suckers out of the ground.  Two of the larger ones have been moved up by the house.  The pieces of the smaller one have been moved to the backyard.  Let's hope they grow.

The eldest announced (after we told him he had on inappropriate shoes) that if the slaves could build the pyramids of egypt in sandals, he could dig up a bush.

How does one argue with that?

The youngest wanted to build a catapult type contraption to hoist it out of the ground which would involve timbers, straps and a sling.

He tends to overdo.

We attached a moving strap to the base and pulled it out with the truck but not before spraying the front yard with mud because, you know, it's rained a little.

There was no yelling, no screaming, not throwing of tools.  It was actually a fairly pleasant experience if you over look the mud and sweat which, who can really when it's all over you.

The problem now, besides keeping the transplanted bushes alive, is the upkeep on the front yard.  It's no longer hidden from the street so we have to mindful about that.  Mowing will have to be done more than twice a year unless we decide to declare it a nature preserve.

I've sent for the paperwork on that.

Right now, the SO and I are sitting our our patio eating popcorn and working on the computer.  Life it pretty good.

Commercials

Can someone please tell me why people think I will buy their product if they use their child to sell it?

Today

Well today ended with a rush of adrenalin.  My SO calls.  "They fucking left our son at the state park!!!"  I'm...wha????  The 8th grade went on a field trip and to Meaman state park and some how they managed to leave 3 children behind.  The school didn't know it.  Apparently the bus driver just left.  People were rushing around trying to find them.  Two teachers raced back to the State Park trying to chase my SO down and stop her.  It was a mess.  The other two parents were in the office with me.  The police show up then leave once they (and we) found out that the kids were at the visitor's center and were safe.  I guess leaving children behind isn't criminal--just incompetent.  For 15 minutes, I felt like all the other parents out there who have lost a child.  It's horrible.  It's helpless and it's enough to make one eat nails and spit out needles.

He's fine.  You'd never know from him that something weird happened.  Go figure children.

I want to hold someone accountable, but I just don't know who.  Or if it's even worth it to stay upset about it. 

Good grief.

Happy Mother's Day

To all mothers out there.  We had a wonderful one.  Our youngest got up and made cheesy, garlicy scrambled eggs with bacon.  It was delicious.  Then both the youngest and the oldest gave me a very cool new tool.  I've used it twice.  It's an Expedition Tools HK1 Adjustable Wrench.  This is what it looks like

ThinkGeek :: Hydrokinetic Adjustable Wrench :: Zoom!

I've already used it twice.  Very Star Trekkie.  They are getting my SO a new blender.  They asked what she wanted and she told them that it must grind ice up for margaritas so they did a search.  I'm not sure what they found because it hasn't arrived yet.  I'm curious. 

The SO and I went bike shopping.  We found a very plain beach bike which we are taking to Florida in a few weeks.  We also fixed a bike we had here.  It just needed some WD40 and new inner tubes.  Now it's good as new.  That's the one I'll be riding unless the oldest wants to. 

All in all, it's been a great day.  Now, I have to make a list of things that need to be done on the house.  Apparently Mother's Day only last a few hours.

On Turning 50

I just did it.  People ask me how it feels and all I can say is it feels the same as yesterday but not as good as tomorrow.  Nothing to it.  The only thing I need to change is exercise.  I don't get nearly enough of it and that's my fault.  I must get back on that elliptical.  We're also looking at bicycles which I think I can do.  Walking aggravates my back which is a product of my ample stomach.

Anyway, back to 50.  I had a small party which I didn't want and will freely admit that but am happy that I have friends who insisted.  It was nice.  Intimate.  Surrounded by people who I consider my truest friends who could be here.  I have some who live far away and couldn't make it.  One sent me a fabulous, beautiful bottle of tequila.  And it's delicious.  I had to taste it.

All in all, it's been a good time.  I'm not skeered of aging.  Several of my friends who are already over 50 have told me that it only gets better.  I believe them and am looking forward to this decade.  I wonder what changes and/or advances we'll see.  I wonder if the collective consciousness will become aware of the need for each of us to care about our neighbor.  I wonder if we'll see peace and sane prosperity.  I just wonder.  50 is cool.

Sunday

Was beautiful.  I got out and cleaned up some leaves and a pile of sticks and tree limbs that we've been collecting with the intention of burning them in the firepit in the backyard.  Didn't happen so I just hauled them to the street.

I mowed the backyard with a weedeater.  It's not that large obviously.  What amazes me about that backyard, though, it just how much yard trash it generates.  Good god, it never stops.  Sticks, leaves, just tree crap everywhere.

I was going to try and get my motorcycle started.  Something's wrong with the float.  I didn't find that out soon enough today to work on it.  Guess it'll have to wait until next weekend.  I can't afford a mechanic right now so I'm going to have to feel my way through it.

There's still work to be done on the house.  I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed by the thought.  I don't know how to do it all which bothers me.  I have some roofing work to do, rerouting of the water heater vent, painting, jacking up the house.  You know, general home owner shit.

Perhaps I should sell and live in the RV. 

Spring has Sprung

...all over the place. I've washed pollen off every horizontal surface I have and that includes indoors. We have an attic fan that we run. It's huge which means it sucks in all sorts of things through the window screens.

We've had our first baby visitor. Our lovely newest cat decided to bring us a screaming baby bird the other night. Thank goodness he has sense enough to take it to the bathroom. I still haven't decided why they've made that the killing room. Fortunately, the baby bird was alive and well when I retrieved it from the cat's mouth. I took it outside and put it where I thought it would be safe and where its mother could find it. I'm trying hard not to think about what happened after that. I will always believe that it's safe and growing.

We went to the Jimmy Buffet concert in Dallas last weekend. My first Buffet experience and I must say it was a grand one. RV's everywhere. People everywhere. Costumes and booze EVERYWHERE. One guy even brought a hot tub on a flatbed trailer. Wow. We're going back next year.

I"ve got to get my bike running. It's time to get back on it. It calms me. Better than a therapist or drugs. I can't explain it. One would have to ride to understand and I recommend that everyone buy a motorcycle and ride ride ride. It's awesome.

Nothing of much substance here. My SO is maintaining although I'm noticing that she's tiring much more quickly. I'm still holing out hope for a cure soon or at least a better treatment regimen.