Birdie birdie

Sitting out back while the girl cats have a yard visit, I can hear the magpies and bluejays going at it. Loud screeching discussions over peanuts from the feeder two yards over, with plenty of avian swearing at the assorted cats and neighborhood dogs. No crows today, although sometimes they get in on the act. There is usually a pair of mourning does nearby, and their third wheel. I have to wonder, because when I walk to the bus stop, that dove is often hanging out with the magpies. One magpie most of the time. I know the doves pair bond, could this be a lonely single looking for love in all the wrong places?

Happy Mother's Day my shiny heinie

Catching up:

We sold dad's house for $52K. Between the mold in the basement, which meant it had to be stripped completely, a 40 year old furnace, bad walls upstairs, the driveway, the brick porch cracking off, and the FOUR major cracks in the foundation, it was take and offer and run.

I was in the hospital with diverticulitis. At least I didn't have surgery. I still awful; food is the enemy.

Went to NM to take Wayne's things to Sue. That was interesting and a nice break, but too soon after the hospital (one day) to have been as much fun as possible. Spent too much money.

I miss mom. Dad was born on Mother's Day, so double dip the pity. Sprinkle on the ghosts of my almost children, and Kim's untimely departure and I feel like crap today.

Poetry

I found a poem I wrote for mom when I was maybe eight years old:

You are worth more than heaps of silver,

You are worth more than heaps of gold,

You are worth more than heaps of diamonds,

And peanut butter sandwiches.

(Some memories are well worth digging up)

The never ending Argh

So.

The insurance on dad's house is due. Oh yay. The money is evaporating.

Taxes due soon. Dad always owed.

The demolition guys left the furnace off with the pilot light out, and the gas on. Way to blow up the house, guys. Larry couldn't turn it back on anyway, they broke some of the wiring. AAA will have an HVAC guy out Monday.

They took off the face plates on the switches and outlets and let the live wires hang, tripping a breaker.

The house key is in Salt Lake.

Larry had wood and repair supplies set in the carport, next to the headboard. The king size headboard which matched my dresser. The clean up crew took it all, even the big uncut sheet back in the backyard.

Someone stole his blue handtruck out of the shed. Fricken thieves.

We still need to paint (?), repair the plaster walls, rip up the carpet and clean. And pay the bills.

Marvin had peed in bottles and hid them in the backyard. WTF?! Dude, use the damn toilet.

This will pass. This must pass.

Take any offer, just get rid of the place.

New Year

This is inauspicious. Ringing in the new year with cough syrup. My sinuses had been acting up, and I had a low cough, but after yesterday's exertions on the short hikes in Snow Canyon, I have a full blown snotty, puke-y, wretched cold. That sucks.

Snow Canyon does not suck. Very mellow, very beautiful, very accessible. Love Snow Canyon.

http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon

slice of life

Sitting in a hot tub, third story balcony, au naturelle, with a cold drink. The breeze across my face is cold and brisk, about 30 degrees. The water, warm. The view: snow capped mountains to my right, not far away, red rock bluffs and cliffs covered in snow, like a rainbow. Or bacon. Nice. Very nice.

Ghosts

I am learning about my parents, their lives before I was born, dad’s friends in the Navy, through old bills and letters and photos. I learned dad’s Navy buddy named his son after him. This stuff had been in the house a long time, but mom said leave things alone, as did dad, and as an obedient child, I did not rummage. So now I am looking at old photos of people who were dear to my folks, and I don’t know a thing about them. Who is that family in front of a Christmas tree without a mom in the photo? Whose 40s wedding? The sailor with the tattoos in Japan? The dancing lady in the pasties and a scarf? Those handsome dogs? The men in the Japanese jazz bar?

Label the past. Talk to your parents.

I found the ornaments which are in my childhood pictures. More importantly, in Wayne's childhood portraits, which mean they are a good ten years older than I am. so glad I bothered to sort and save. I nearly just let them go.