Every now and then I wake up feeling refreshed. Today was one of those. With everything we've been through lately, a good night's sleep, uninterrupted, has been a precious commodity. I can at least get up pretty much when I damn well feel like it, but poor Nettl always has something to do, somewhere to go, some fire to put out. I don't remember the last time she woke up of her own volition. Maybe it was that over-nighter we snagged in Tulsa last March. I don't want to sound like I have it so bad, because I don't, but sleep disturbed by phone calls, road construction, blaring car woofers, and bathroom fans have become an unwelcome way of life since 2004. This morning was different...Always thoughtful and considerate, Nettl unplugged the phones before she left for work, and there were no out-of-the-ordinary neighborhood or street noises. I woke up when I was rested, the way life was meant to be before we all got sucked in by the corporate feudal lords, or when we discovered how to make children. I went downstairs and made coffee and the world was good. But that's not what I want to write about. I want to ramble.
WE HAVE ALL NEW NEIGHBORS, AGAIN:
- The college girls who lived behind us since 2004 graduated last spring and their house is now home to a young couple with a baby. What a relief that is! No more drunken girl fights in the street, no more "boom-boom" car stereos at 3 am, no more vacuuming for 2 hours in the middle of the night (these houses are equipped with vacuum systems that work from motors in each garage, and their garage is only about 30 feet from our house).
- The people who moved in across the street last spring finally put their two big Shar-Peis in the back yard after they got loose and patrolled the neighborhood (and scared me, by the way) for a full day. All through our two months of rain they'd kept them roped in the front yard with no shelter. Asshats. They still have the two obnoxious teen boys with their obnoxious car stereos and their penchant for honking every time they drive into the cul-de-sac, and they still have an old wreck on blocks in their driveway, but what can you expect when white trash moves into a nice neighborhood? At least they've picked up the paper cups and Taco Bell wrappers that sat in their yard for two weeks. Or else the wind blew it away. At one point I considered going over and picking it up, putting it in a garbage bag and leaving it on their front porch, but I decided not to because they'd probably suspect it was me; I've already complained about the stereos and the honking.
- I think five college guys moved into the house beside us. I came to that number by counting the cars that take up one half of the circular cul-de-sac these days. I'm not complaining, though, because they're quiet, keep the yard neat and have had no parties. They appear to be middle eastern and the right age to be grad students.
- A quiet family with two small children is now in the house at the end of the cul-de-sac. Cute kids! I can handle kids. Students are more of a challenge, especially the girls who lived in that house last year. Beer cans in the street, cars, parties, boyfriends... Ugh.
- The landlord for that house and the one across the street lives in the house that's between them. Bob's a great guy who comes to some of our parties and always brings wine, food, or flowers. He's seldom home, so that house might as well be vacant.
- I'm on the laptop and using a wireless maus. When I'm typing, why does the cursor jump to some random location in my text with no warning? I'll be typing something when all of a sudden the text is being inserted into something I've already written, causing me to have to backspace over it, replace my cursor and start over.
- Have you ever been using your laptop as I described above and accidentally picked up the maus to change the channel on the telly? I just did.
- Does anyone still use the word "maus", or does everyone just write "mouse"? Am I that much of an old geek?
- Are the Bonnaroo Festivals in Tennessee just a tie-dyed cover for slick money-making? The promoters say they're trying to recreate the peace, love, and music of Woodstock, but with tickets set at $200 apiece and food booths of trendy foods sold by trendy chains, logo-emblazoned ball caps, thermoses, tee-shirts, etc., and showers that are sponsored by Garnier Fructis, I have to wonder. CorporateStock indeed.
- In the master bath, where the "communal" shower is located, there is a narrow wall on which I mounted two 2-pronged towel hooks when we first moved in. Lauren's towel took the top hook while Heather and Nathan used the bottom. First there were three towels hanging there. Then there were two, and now there's only one. I get a little sad every time I look at it.
- There are fewer glasses, bowls and spoons in the dishwasher. There are no Silly Straws, no children's mugs.
- There are no stray Coco Puffs on the kitchen floor.
- I'll probably no longer buy bagels and cream cheese every week. That was Lauren's favorite breakfast.
- I'm having to re-learn how to cook for a small family rather than an army.
- I have to stop this now; it's making me sad.
- Nettl and I are going away this weekend. By going away, I mean that we are putting the red stop sign on the bedroom door. We have a hotel room doorknob sign that we brought back from Vienna. On one side it has a big green spot and on the other a red spot. I invented the following system for the kids:
- Door open: Come on in.
- Green sign: Come in, but knock first and wait for a reply.
- Red sign: Unless the house is on fire, or a courier is at the door with a check for over $1000, don't even think of knocking.
Have a great weekend everybody!
