It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

Whilst continuing to tidy up and organize this past weekend, I was privy to the lovely storage-above-the-garage area, largely ignored for the past 15 years. I hauled my heavy duty shop vacuum up the stairs, extended the electrical cords and began to search for treasures as I discarded old boxes kept for unknown uses.

To say that everything stored there is mostly everyone else’s stuff is quite true. To say that what I acquired in the vacuum was mostly mine, is also true. The winner for items other than dirt were: green boa feathers, (Everywhere!) metallic pompon strips, (From days of yore, obviously) floral lei flowers from the self-made PVC pipe “tiki bar,” and of course, grass skirt strips from the costumes matching the tiki bar. Yes, I acquired an entire wardrobe room in that vacuum, even though my costumes are all kept in one outdated toy box. Somehow, they get used and slowly leave their souls to my attic floor.

Next – I’m going to try and find a home for some concrete cinder blocks which the builder of our home left here 28 years ago. I’m on a roll, anticipating the reopening of the world!

(That reminds me of a song – Jesus Jones’s Song, “Right Here, Right Now..”) Lines from the lyrics which stick in my head: “I was alive and I waited for this…right here, right now, there is no other place I want to be. Right here, right now, watching the world wake up from history.”

Well, the song is actually 29 years old. Just a little history repeating…

While cleaning up around the house this past weekend, I found evidence that my son had brought home a stripper. What was he thinking? He’s not really one to get involved in anything like that, and I wasn’t sure if he needed someone to show him what to do? I didn’t know if he even had the proper equipment! He managed though, and things turned out great on the first try.

It was a success! The table looks beautiful.

When shopping, I try to connect with people, even though we are both masked and standing in the same aisle searching for what is or isn’t on the shelf. You can tell when someone is smiling whether they have Irish eyes or not!

Grocery store cereal aisle:

• Me: Hey.
• Other human shopping: How’s it going?
• Me: Oh it’s going well. How about you?
• Shopper: I feel like I’m making life and death decisions, you know?
• Me: I do. There are too many choices here.

Perhaps my fellow human was referring to the pandemic, but the cereal aisle always overwhelms me. I think we could narrow the whole thing down to about five and be good. It takes me forever to find what is on my list.

Target store while shopping with a friend:

• Friend to six-year old girl with sparkly pink boots: Wow! Those are sure pretty boots! (Actually, I didn’t comment on them because I was secretly coveting them.)
• Dad of girl: Can you say thank you? She liked your boots?
• Girl: Thank you. (Presumably mumbled because I didn’t hear her.)
• Friend: You’re welcome.
• Dad: You can put your dress down now.
• Friend: Don’t give it all away!

And finally, in the candy aisle of the grocery store:

• Me, thinking: Ooh…Dark chocolate or milk?
• Radio in the store starts playing the refrain: “Just walk away Renee…”

No soup for you!

Yes…sharpen your scissors today if you need an activity for your entertainment. I found my scissors sharpener when I was cleaning out my sewing mess, and voila! It works!

We could do knives, too, but let’s not push it. How about fixing a photo that was out of its frame for the last five years? Or hanging wall art you received for your birthday six months ago? Possibly gluing felt on a doorstop you have had for almost three years, thus insuring it doesn’t scratch the floor any more? Pumpkin-izing your decor? (Apparently I have a pumpkin fetish. I brought them all out to get a jump start on Fall.)

Yes, it was a full morning yesterday with no monumental accomplishments. (Other than the photo finish!) Along the way I listened to the Today show in my pithy performances, and Renee Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton musical fame) told us that if we just make it through this year, we’ve accomplished a lot. Her advice: don’t stress about not learning a language, or the piano, or painting your music room as you had planned back in April. Just keep going.

In light of that, I share this fun – albeit impossible score for the year – sent to me via Pabs. Hoping the musical can end on a high note!

Whilst running errands and finding myself in a few positions requiring “reverse” in my little Escape, it dawned on me that the back-up camera was just that. It was only for “back-up” or an emergency. I can’t successfully use it at all. My brain is not wired that way.

True. I am used to unstrapping the seat belt, hoisting myself over the back of my seat, and navigating my way out of the position I am in. I’m quite adept at it, bobbing my head forward and backward to make sure I’m in the clear. I can bomb down the driveway that way quite quickly. I cannot, however, use my camera and get out of a driveway smoothly. I also cannot back up a vehicle towing a trailer.

That’s about it. I think those are the only two things I can’t do.

You know I send individual emails or replies when you all reply, but I thought, “Hey! Write something!” So here you go.

Apparently, we had more than one bat episode in junior high. I only remember the one, probably because it was up close and I was in that corner where the bat was? I still stand by the fact that we needed a new school and they were visible evidence.

Here is a photo of my tricycle which Dad teased me for buying with an additional dollar! The impatiens really are gorgeous.

I would update you on the deck, but it is still not finished. Railing is needed next. However, the pergola has been attached! And somewhere, somehow, I must have texted the word “pergola” to someone, because I have gotten pop-ups and emails about pergolas in my inbox. Even my “word genius app“ – which gives me quizzes and fun facts, asked me for the synonym of “pergola,” – two days ago! I think I’ll text “diamond ring” next to someone. See what happens?

Finally, I went to grab the bright green tag off of a shrub I was planting yesterday, and it was a praying mantis! I hope it is eating the insects and planning to stay awhile.

Over and out.

We have bats in the belfry! Well, in the skies. Two of them graced my horizon as I sat on the porch watching their flight. They reminded me of the famous seventh or eighth grade “gymnasium bat” that visited the girls P.E. Class.

The poor little bat was just scared, and the fact that he was in the gym made it clear why we were building a new school in our town. Anyway, you can imagine girls screaming and cautious of a teenie little guy with erratic flight patterns. I don’t remember how we managed to get him out of there, but I’m hoping we got out of class early! (Gym class was my least favorite of all.)

Just updating the Nat Geo episode for the week.

We got out of Dodge on Saturday – and actually got to drive for a couple of hours. I began the trip with a nap, and awoke to a paradisiacal vision – an entire highway exit devoted to fireworks’ sales! “Fireworks City.”

As I longingly eyed the many outlets, I had that subtle thought about how they really are illegal, and I suppose that is where most of my “neighbors” go for their big displays. We were operating on a time line so I didn’t bother to mention stopping. Also, it really would have been way to tempting to walk in there and walk out with nothing. But I can smell the gunpowder as I write and see the vibrant colors in the night sky.

Unfortunately, I can also smell the smoke from the wildfires burning hundreds of miles away and see the glorious sunsets via the Saharan sands. So don’t worry…I’m still leaving the displays to the big guns of the city. Just day dreaming again.

It’s probably been the most difficult part of all of this pandemic fervor – canceled travel plans. And how do you make new plans when you have no idea where foreign countries you might like to visit will be in their battle? I have found a solution, friends!

Lately I’ve been watching the History and Science channels, devouring the UFO shows and investigations of UFO sightings. And then I go to Nat Geo for explanations of the universe, black holes, quasars, stars. When I get to thinking about “what else” is out there, it makes my world seem bigger, even if it’s only for twenty minutes on the sofa in between painting-my-house episodes. And thinking about how minuscule we really are in this universe, makes my problems pretty minute. Even if it’s only for twenty minutes on the sofa.

At this point, an alien abduction might be a welcome change! A chance to visit something totally new. Travel therapy.

It’s taken me a year to get the gist of this particular comic strip, “Macanudo,” but it’s coming around to a semblance of humor. I’m not the only one dreaming of travel.

This pretty photo reminds me of my “floral” bicycle. I have a three-wheeler with a basket in the back, now toting impatiens which are blooming supremely well. I bought the bike at an auction with my father, at our last outing before he passed away. We had a great time chatting with others and viewing the “goods.” I wanted an old bike – there were about 50 there – and I really wanted the tricycle.

The bidding started at $1. I participated and got the bike of my choice for $2. I was elated, of course, thinking of the stunning addition it would make to my yardscape.

My dad just laughed. He told me I could have gotten it for $1 but I bid it up! Even as ill as he was, he was still having fun with me. My bike reminds me of that cheerful time with Dad.