OK Let's think re-think this

Alright. Lauri says my life is interesting. Actually, I think my friends are interesting. And yes, it is more interesting, and actually nicer, to live my life than that of a refugee. No contest. I guess I was too overwhelmed by the most fascinating blogs written by my friends, and friends of friends and I kind of felt in blog-competition with them.

Now that I have that straight, let me mention that I have had to pick up people at the airport (well, the bus) too many times lately. You can frequently find me sitting around in the vehicle in the rain outside the Highliner. Last night I picked up no one when I waited for Larry off Air Canada. Later I went back and picked him up off the Hawkair flight. Tonight, it has been Brian from Air Cananda. Now I am waiting for Bighair on Hawkair. But I haven't heard from her, so am wondering..."is the plane delayed?????" Her phone is turned off, which leads me to believe that she is mid flight.

The bus information line has no current information.

So, we wait.

Weekend Update

Well, after a slow start, I have finally got something vital to tell. I previewed the video. I went for a run at Butze. I weeded some of the garden that was particularly and obviously weedy. I almost locked Coco in the crawl space under the deck. Blackie came into the house while my cats were outside and ate all their food. I fed Christine's cats (3 q-tips and 2 hair ties in the empty bowl), let them out, cleaned their litter box (eewww), and then cleaned up and rearranged her outdoor patio.

Now, I am showered and ready to hit the grocery store. Is this not a fascinating life? I can't believe no one has thought to make this into a best seller or a movie. OR BOTH. I await expressions of interest.

Lacking Motivation

Bighair is stuck in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. Larry is on his way home tonight. The cats are jingling around the house, mad at having suffered the indignity of flea treatment this morning. I am looking at the mental list of "what I might do on this Sunday." It's a long list, but I'm having a choosing crisis.

The black cloud of Charles Hays hangs over everything. Underneath there is the weedy garden, paint cans and detritus of recent renos, weekly grocery shopping (which requires a change of clothes at the very least), a run, cooking up things in the fridge before they turn into compost, removing the chipped nail polish on my toes, returning phone calls, reading a book, sorting through paperwork, previewing that video for the FNEd Centre, and, current favorite - blogging aimlessly while stretching out the morning coffee.

I'll let you know if anything happens.

Being on one's own

For the first time in months...there is no one here. No Hockey-Sock and Sophie climbing over the keyboard, playing with the cursor. They have gone to their new home and I miss them more than I expected. Larry is in Nanaimo at a conference. Tristan has moved out - with the cats. Bighair is in Georgia. So, tick-tock-tick-tock, I can hear everything. In my world, silence is rare. Best heard during the swim or run. Not sure I like it now.

Looking out for Ellen

Christine is in Phoenix trying to set up home support for Ellen. I am wondering whether she will become the favored daughter. Ellen has already offered her a cut of what the neighbors are paying to park their RV in the driveway - sort of like a negotiator's fee. Furthermore, mom thinks Larry and I are stealing her things and that we also fired the long-time cleaning lady. Who, incidentally, has been absent due to family concerns of her own.

The great gift here is that Christine has a beautiful manner with the old and infirm. (Hell, that's probably why she likes Larry and me!) She is respectful, thoughtful, and fun.

Ellen forgets, but she hasn't forgotten her dignity and her intellect. She might not remember that she gave us those things (now stolen property), but she knows she is a person worthy of respect - our mother. And we are just the kids. So we'd better know our place and tread down this delicate path with care.

She misses Nelson and she is doing her grieving now, three years on. She grieves with Christine, who she really doesn't know (or remember) but she won't do it with us. It all remains unsaid. Thanks Bighair, for being there today.

Sophie is taking out the duster. She is serious about killing it - lots of grrrrr'ing... 

Me, Larry, and my sister Susan in Massett, July. 

Last days of summer

Summer is at an end. When running Butze today, I noticed the alder leaves falling. School begins on Tuesday, so goodbye to blogging at my leisure, or reading all those books I bought home from Phoenix.