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March 30, 2006
*Yawn* *Stretch* Oh!
There aren't too many people who can get away with waking me from a sound sleep. I was deeply entrenched in a mental romance novel when the phone rang around 5ish this morning. Who was calling me? Why it was none other than that fabulous best friend of mine Holger telephoning his birthday wishes from Germany. He thought it was 8ish here, but thanks to daylight savings time and the six-hour time difference that wasn't the case. Oops! :-)
After wishing me a lovely day and asking me about my birthday plans, we touched upon some business for a few minutes. I'll just pretend right here and now that I did what I was supposed to do (I didn't) and blame it on my brain being lost in translation or something. Even though I have one eyeball open right now, I managed to take care of that neglected business. I'm multitasking already today -- coffee, business, waking up. Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear from Holger and it was great of him to take time out of his work day to phone me. Danke!
HB2M (happy birthday 2 me.) :-)
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March 29, 2006
Since it's birthday week...
... I thought I'd put up one of my favorite bird photos in the photo gallery. What amuses me about this particular photograph is the bird's hairstyle. Imagine the bird standing in front of a mirror raking pomade through its tresses. Who better than me to give silly thoughts like that a voice, especially this week! :-)
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Total Solar Eclipse Today
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has eclipse coverage, part of Sun-Earth Day 2006. Scroll down to the middle of the page for eclipse video highlights.
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March 24, 2006
Birdays
Obviously this is quickly turning into a bird day... and a play on words, so to speak. The Piggy and Tazzy comment reminds me that we've got some birdays coming up soon.... all those extra special people who celebrate birthdays at the end of March and in April. We ARE unique and talented and oh so special, you know. So... for my own calendar keeping, here are the birdays I know of that are coming up... if you've got one approaching and you're not listed, let me know in the comments.
My dear friend Marcus, who turns 29 on March 28.
My own birthday, the 29th year of spectacular happenings, on March 30.
Ned Vizzini, who recently published yet another book, turns 26 in 2 weeks (exact date TBD.)
Kat of Kat's Stuff who turns 29 on April 1.
John of Tazzy and Piggy turns 29 on April 5. (John's the Piggy of the two. winkywink *oink*oink*)
OzG at GDay Mate, who turns 29 on April 17.
That's it for now. Expect additional birday carrying on next week, like on THURSDAY. :-)
This post dedicated to my mom, who continues to tell everyone I'm 29. :-)
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Up a Tree
While I was busy dusting my brain and pondering life last week, I encountered a couple of surprise visitors during my time away. The first one appeared early one morning:
This particular woodpecker is a pileated woodpecker, a large North American woodpecker having black and white plumage and a bright red crest. The common name comes from the Latin pileatus, which means "wearing a cap," referring to its crest. It's a relatively shy bird that prefers large tracts of woodland, and it drums on hollow branches, chimneys, etc. to announce its territory. In reading more about what I refer to as the "PWP," this woodpecker is known to excavate oval holes up to several feet long in tree trucks, looking for insects to eat. That leads me to this other photo I took, which I came across while walking in the woods:
The second visitor was a Northern Cardinal, a brilliant all-red bird with a black mask, the first I'd seen in quite a while.
Unfortunately for me, the cardinal's perch was way up atop a tree and my photos of it weren't as good as I'd hoped. With any luck I'll encounter one again and get better shots. Next time!
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March 22, 2006
Who's to say a coyote can't take a vacation?
Meanwhile back at the funny farm...
Not too long ago, in fact it was Valentines Day to be exact, a super-huge extra-large bucket full of buffalo shit landed on my head. That's expressing it in a nice way. No, it has nothing to do with romance or anything remotely near that; let's just say it could possibly result in paying out boku bucks that I just don't have. Please, don't ask.
Thy name is stress.
Some weeks later, the critters entered the picture. You already know where we left off with THAT incident.
Thy name is stress.
So I left.
Before I left the city I had my hair chopped off. Seemed like a good time to delete 10 inches of luscious locks. I donated my silky mane [that millions of men have run their fingers through (yes that's a joke)] to an organization that makes hairpieces for kids that need 'em due to various medical conditions. After that was done, then I REALLY left.
Thy name is stress with less hair.
While I was gone, a coyote came to visit New York City. In typical tourist fashion, the cuddly coyote quickly crept into NYC's Central Park, traipsing past the reservoir, zoo and some wilderness areas. Who could blame it really? Who's to say that a coyote can't take a vacation and come to NYC to feast on some ducks and other birds, leaving piles of feathers after each meal as its tip. Unfortunately for said coyote, the Department of Homeland Security dispatched local officials to hunt down the coyote after discovering it entered the city without the proper credentials. Television stations showed footage from a helicopter of police and park rangers running through the park in hot pursuit, and this morning the critter was captured via piercings with tranquilizer darts. In case you were wondering, evidently this coyote did not howl at the moon, though it makes you wonder who was around to verify that reported fact.
*sniff* Smells like a dead mouse somewhere... maybe in the walls since there's nothing within sight of my ever-enlarged and bulging eyeballs staring out at everything, looking for any minute bit of movement.
This post is dedicated to anyone currently suffering from a severe bout of stress-induced brain drain. Can't have the highs without the lows, right?
One more thing. Though it pains me considerably to have to include this, but in this day and age there's little choice, the DOHS (that's short for Dept of Homeland Security) was NOT involved in the coyote chase. At least not that I am aware of. winky wink. :-)
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March 13, 2006
Round Four
Last time on Dancing With the Mice, intruders 1 and 2 had made their presence known and plans were hatched for expulsion from the premises. The Expulsionator stopped by this a.m. After a thorough exploration of all crevices, cracks, holes in the wall and what-have-you, he stuffed holes with steel wool and sealed them shut. Later on he deposited packets of tasty treats in strategic areas, laid out some glue traps and then bid me farewell.
Evidently I'd been misinformed as to where the intruders would go when the little varmints began experiencing sour stomachs. According to The Expulsionator, their demise occurs "WHEREVER."
Oh joy, oh delight, oh ewww. :-)
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March 8, 2006
Vienna Philharmonic: NEIN.
The emails have been drifting in from friends who tried to help me get tickets for the Vienna Philharmonic 2007 New Year's Day Concert. All received the same response I did: NO. Oh well, it was terrific of them to try on my behalf, so to those who did, thank you very much for your efforts! It will be nice when (hopefully) one day I can blog that I got tickets. Until then...
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Finished, Finally
Though I finished the 26 Things November 2005 a while ago, I finally got around to uploading all the images as well as tweaking the category template. Yay me. ;-) Meanwhile, the shift.org/26 things site seems to be suffering from spamalot. Bummer.
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Birthday Discounts
It's that time of year again and the discount cards are rolling in for this year's birthday extravaganza. $10 off here, $10 off there, another $10 off elsewhere and a Get $15 off with a catch: on your next purchase of $60 or more... Pfft.
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Round Three
Intruders will be treated to a smorgasbord of go elsewhere goodies on Monday, courtesy of the building management. This should be quite exciting, given the little poison-laced cereal packets usually thrown about one's homestead; you know it's going to be a fun time when the little critters rip open that packet at 3 in the morning. Oh yeah, I can't wait.
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March 7, 2006
Round Two
Intruder #2
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March 3, 2006
Black Shadow
When the corner of my eye registered a black shadow on the floor, at first I thought it was my own shadow that developed from overhead lights above me. After a double-take, I realized that it wasn't my shadow but an intruder, a non-resident of my dwelling. Instinct had me leaping out of my chair, my heart beating wildly, the words holy fucking shit! flying out of my mouth. My eyes fixed on the floor and I stood there and watched the critter scurry into the garbage bag that lay on the floor in the kitchen. After what seemed like minutes of staring at the bag, even though I know it was mere seconds, my brain rapidly searched for the mental file folder labelled "weapons." What was handy? I thought. My data search complete, I settled for a flat wet mop and a flat dust mop and grabbed them both.
Slowly, quietly, I approached the rustle in the bag on the floor. I gingerly placed the edge of one mop under the corner of the bag and folded it over, closing the bag. Uncontrollable rage ensued. I slammed and pummeled and hammered away at the bag on the floor and didn't stop until I felt that whatever could be alive was rendered lifeless. Eyes ablaze yet transfixed on the bag, the dark outline of SOMETHING in the bag registered in my brain. I hoped it was what I thought it was and quickly set the mental tape to rewind for items deposited in the newly created coffin: tissues, cardboard, no food items....
When my rage abated, my mind addressed disposal of the dead body. I knew I didn't want to pick up the bag for fear that the thing inside the bag might only be dazed and not dead. A mental horror film of the critter leaping out of the bag began to play in my mind, and I immediately stopped the film. No need to cause further shock to my system by venturing down THAT road. I quickly deduced that since no one was around to help me, it was up to me to get rid of the body and quickly.
I pulled a clear plastic bag from the cupboard and opened it, and faster than you can say the word MOUSE, grabbed the bag off the floor, put it in the larger bag, tied it up (in case pummeling didn't work asphyxiation would be guaranteed,) grabbed my keys, flew out the door, down the stairs and out the door to the garbage pails, where I deposited the offensive and hopefully deceased carcass.
It took hours before my breathing returned to normal. Thoughts of critter relatives scurrying around my home induced nausea; there would be no dinner this evening, replaced by a human being ready to defend itself and ready to pounce on the slightest noise or perceived movement.
I have had more than my share of construction noise, critters and even birds down the chimney. Experiencing intruders such as the one I encountered is part and parcel when living in the city but I am done. This was the very last straw. I am SO done.
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March 1, 2006
The Quiet Ones
While pondering life as I tend to do, I was thinking (always a dangerous thing) about some of you who have been particularly quiet. Not quiet with blogging necessarily, just kind of quiet, and that had me thinking (always a dangerous thing - oh, I wrote that already) some more. For instance, Al at Fulton Chain hasn't popped 'round these parts in a long, long time. Sure we exchange the occasional email, but ever since he moved further upstate New York he's been MIA. Makes you wonder what he's been up to...
Then there's Nicholas at taliesin's log who's been busy writing about women in music and so on. Not that he's commented ALL that much here, but still, at least a snarky email or something would be nice... *wink*wink*
And hey, how about Chubsy-Wubsy, who hasn't commented here in like, 3 years? :-) I'm not going to say more about that particular person but will just let it float here... it's a brain fart or something.
As for the rest of you, my Frappr Map is looking pretty pathetic right now and it's not as if you don't know how to add yourself to it. So go do it! It's March 1 and you want to blow sunshine my way, I know you do!
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