Author: Rene

Thanks, Sister. Very clever.

With the doors open and the insects returning, I have myriad flies practicing their “zooming.” It’s a given when the weather is this gorgeous and the doors are open. However, I do not worry about swatting them or ridding myself of them. I know where they end up!

While vacuuming, I went to my music room, aka the “insect cemetery.” This room faces southwest and it seems to be where the little fliers go to “rage against the dying of the light.” I had been ignoring the room since the temporary suspension of “The Tipsy Trio” nights. Oops. I had quite a few burials in the dynamic Dyson.

Of course, while in there, I brought out the music and entertained myself. I didn’t give the insects a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” but rather pounded out Dido’s “White Flag.” The words, “I will go down with this ship,” seem to have been appropriate.

I have got to get back to Tipsy Nights. I am definitely out of practice.

This creature was in my garage as I went out to mow yesterday. Do you think “she” was getting back at me for stabbing her little one in the gut this past weekend? I “shoveled” her out and sent her on vacation, too. Then I hoped I wouldn’t mow over her! Apparently, this one had already been in my neighbor’s meadow as she was mowing.

There is just no safe place when the weather is good and we’re out in the ‘hood!

Yesterday’s email presented me with the opportunity to order “Highlights” magazine. A sudden flood of mixed memories engulfed my brain. The dentist subscribed to “Highlights.” This was where my love/hate relationship with dental procedures began.

First of all, on the door to the office was the name ”Geo.” We kids thought that was a silly name, not understanding it was the shortened version of “George.” Second, there was a treasure chest in the dentist’s office, full of miniature figurines and odd stuff. You could play for hours with it – and sometimes we had to since three of us kids were visiting on occasion. Third, the magazine. It was fun to read!

That’s the end of the fun. I think Geo earned his halo for putting up with kids. He didn’t tolerate tears well, and when you had to have a tooth pulled, wisdom or not, you got the Novocain and that was it. I didn’t mind the tooth-pulling, but I hated the cleaning and the cavity filling.

Now, you won’t find a magazine at the dentist or doctor. Or a treasure trove of toys and entertainment. Think of all those germs we ingested as kids playing with other kids’ germs?

We didn’t know how lucky we were!

It seems that the neighborhood chatter centers around our hawks. As far as I can tell, they have relocated to their vacation home, even as they continue to rendezvous on our chimney. Perhaps the squirrel chased them away?

Yes, we have relocated another squirrel. Lest you think we’re nuts, they are devouring the siding of our house on the second floor!! We could cut down two huge pine trees to potentially solve the issue, but that seems like an unfortunate decision. Thus, we snag them and move them to their vacation homes. Hopefully we get my son rooftop to spray the rodent repellent which is “guaranteed” to work.

The hummingbird we have in our neighborhood is delightful, and I’m hoping he makes a stop once I attempt to lure him yet again. I’ve gone through feeders every couple of years and have yet to have them share in my desire to feed them.

The coyotes were out in force crying two nights ago at 12:35 am. I assume we are down one rabbit in the count.

I accidentally killed a snakelet while ripping out dead rose bushes. He was a cute little thing, too.

And that, my friends, is the Nat Geo report to begin your week.

Well…good luck! Let’s see if this one comes through. It’s just “cute.”

Oh yes…back at the beginning when my resolve was fresh and “Spring cleaning” had a nice ring to it! Remember that? Only one closet made the cut, and even then, there was a box I ignored until now.

For every Zoom call in which I have participated, I have been wearing one of the hats from my varied collection of 39 chapeaux. It has certainly streamlined my hairstyling. One day, as I was wearing a pair of plastic gloves out in the world, I thought about the box of gloves I have from some adventure I took with my sister. I probably bought a box at a Goodwill with her, or inherited them from an estate sale my Dad attended. Anyway, they are elegant evening gloves, Easter gloves, beautiful gloves. I decided to wear them when I go to Home Depot.

As far as the spectacles – well that was another collection I had for grins. I’ve worn them for outright silliness, as none of them, save my grandparent’s glasses, have a prescription in them. Lest you think this olio was taking up lots of space, it all fits in a shoebox. If you need a pair of fancy gloves or wonky glasses – let me know. I have a few to spare!

Wasting time on Pinterest gave me a few chuckles. Thought I’d share them, even though you may have read them or are tired of all the hoopla. They still made me laugh.

• Another Saturday night in the house and I just realized, even the trash goes out more than I do.
• At the store there was a big “X” by the register for me to stand on. I’ve seen too many Road Runner cartoons to fall for that one!
• The dumbest thing I’ve ever purchased was a 2020 planner.
• Pretty wild how we used to eat cake after someone had blown on it. Good times…
• If only I’d have know in March it would be my last time in a restaurant, I’d have ordered dessert.
• My mom always said I wouldn’t amount to anything lying on the sofa, and yet here I am, saving the world!
• And finally…

Yesterday afforded my neighbor and I the opportunity to get out in her convertible and run some errands. Exhilarating! As it was lunch time, we chose to imbue a little cash into the economy and drive through the Chick-fil-a. Wow.

Never has a business been more synonymous with efficiency! Now, if you didn’t know what the menu offered, you could have seriously stopped the presses and hampered the whole system. However, if you knew what you wanted, you were ushered through as drivers were ushered out. Even though the line of autos wrapped around the building, it was a continuous flow. The order-takers walked with your car, you whipped out your credit card at the first stop, and then got your goods following. Swift, easy, and impressive.

I’m thinking this whole quarantine business is making us take a good hard luck at all of the unnecessary things we do. As a matter of fact, I don’t carry a purse anymore. All I need is an Eddie Bauer Adventure vest which acts as my carry-all, and I’m good!

P.S. This was not a paid endorsement of Chick-fil-a or Eddie Bauer, although I do enjoy both.

Since the beginning, I am proud to say we have done what we are supposed to do, even though we were doing most of it anyway as a “common sense” procedure. (As in washing our hands and sneezing into our elbows?)

Our neighborhood has taken to calling our little weekly events the “CoVid Cantina” nights. It’s three families, socially distanced, providing socially distanced appetizers or pre-packaged numbers. Nobody really has to touch anything. We can all be apart, and we can laugh together and celebrate what we need to. We started back at St. Paddy’s day, and last night continued with CSU graduates, Patt and Pelli in our presence. It would have been a hugging night, but – it was a proud get-together with hugs to follow.

I love our Cantina nights. We have some crazy entertainment on occasion – like balloon-animals and crowns created by my son. It would be great to be able to sit closer and hug each other hello and good bye. The time will come.