crayzeeee

Funniest thing today - a squirrel crossing the road and then going up a tree, carrying a whole flower in his mouth. The image is taken with my phone camera so its not great.

my job's rewarding moments

Something I have just remembered.

A friend of mine has a blog in which he just wrote a piece about being bitten by ants. Reading his post brought back a very strong memory for me, so strong that I once again felt the disappointment and longing from that day.

I was in Primary school, which means that I was younger than 13, perhaps as young as 9. We went on a school trip. I don't remember where or what for. I know we were packed into a combi bus and there was no aircon. The bus was very hot and very loud and all the kids were in high spirits. We stopped on the side of the road, and again, I don't know why. I do remember very clearly that there were some clouds in the sky but not enough to soften the glare from the sun. I was one of the last people to get back on the bus and while I was waiting I felt first one, and then a few, and then many tiny, incredibly painful pricks, all over my legs. I panicked, not knowing what it was and flailed about, jumping up and down. It hastened my getting on the bus considerably and it took some time to find all the red ants that had bitten me and were stuck in my socks etc.

Of course the bites are not where the disappointment and longing come from. I think the things in life I coveted most was stationary. I have always been a stationary fiend but stationary is something you get for needs, not wants. Shortly before the school field trip my Mom had bought me a set of sparkly, shiny, multi-coloured pens. I loved those pens. I kept them close to me and I used them judiciously to make them last. These kinds of pens abound now that I am an adult and I have bought many since then, but none have meant as much to me those did. Somehow, those pens made me feel special to my Mom. She is also a stationary fiend and there is no question as to where my adoration of the stuff comes from. Pencils, long and sharp, writing paper with kittens and flowers on it, cool to the ball of your hand and pens that feel weighty, where the ink slides out onto the page so that words come smoothly from your mind.

To return to my story; when I had divested my socks of ants and the bites were calming down, I realised that my pens had fallen out of my pocket. All of them. It was my own fault for overreacting and I was devastated. I recall the feeling SO clearly. Everyone on the bus was still loud, the sun was still hot and I was miserable. I did not want to cry, I was beyond that, I was incomprehensibly disappointed. My lovely pens were gone and there was no way that we were going back for them. I would not even ask. I think the worst part was knowing in the back of my mind that my Mom had enjoyed giving me the pens. I doubt that she would now recall it, and even then they were never mentioned after she gave them to me. I did not say anything about the pens being missing to anyone, it was too petty, and at that age - how would I explain - they were just pens.

Like a poppy seed stuck between two teeth, I have returned to this memory again and again in my life and wondered did someone find the pens? The next people to pull over? Did they dessicate, fade and die? Will I ever find a set with gold stars on them that writes quite like that, and feels as precious?

A-dorable

We had a little baby puppy of four weeks in our office yesterday. She widdled everywhere, but cos of her plump little romping and happy nibbling we forgave her. And ahhh the puppy breath.

a use for my large teapot

To make tons and tons of lovely cooling iced tea for the summer!

My strange job

When I walked into my office on Monday there were two large garbage bags full of these tiny jerseys for dogs. It is unknown who donated them, or what we are going to do with them.

My Basil's back and we're gonna have a party

I thought my basil was dead so I planted lemon balm, which the basil obviously liked cos look: new leaves.

Another thing I love about the US of A

Fireflies have been lighting up my yard for the last couple of weeks. It is extremely peaceful to sit on my front steps and just watch them in silence. I love the tiny zip of yellow light as they glow while flying. I also love to try and guess where they any one is going to show next.

Violet and Sammy snuggle

Aren't they cute sharing a chair like that. There are no chairs in my workplace that do not have cat hair on them.

Gabby the wee beagle who wees.

Gabby is my new best friend. She is a beagle mix who is living in the mens' bathroom. She guards her food and toys and we are teaching her how to share before she will be adoptable. She is also not potty trained. After cleaning up pee spots in my office four times in a day I kicked her out, and put her back in the bathroom. She is getting much better though and I think she will be doing her business outside by the end of the week. She is a very smart dog and responds well to training, also, she has me wrapped around her little paw. She knows just how cute to be to get me to play or give her snuggles. How could you resist that face?

A few randoms from my week

Most importantly, a cookie shop has opened in c'ville. Luckily, it is not on my usual route and only on my go by the Library on my way home route. I was drawn in by the smell and then was served by someone who may have been an elf, diminutive stature, big smile, cutesy high pitched voice. I purchased only four cookies, which was very hard to do. Two raisin, craisin and oatmeal and two walnut, ginger and citrus peel. My goodness. They were so delicious I nearly was unable to save two for the next day.

One morning this week while brushing my teeth I was contemplating the back yard and saw something mighty strange. A squirrel, determined to redecorate his tree. It is the only explanation for his behaviour. First he yanked and pulled and hung on a piece of vine till it came loose of the tree and hung in a long strand down the tree. Then he very carefully twirled it like twine and then taking the long end, he wrapped it around the tree. Once it was satisfactorily around the tree, he began to touch each leaf and put it in a position he approved of. It was so strange to watch.

On an evening when one of the staff members gave me a lift home we saw something truly uplifting. A young man, on a moped, wearing only cargo shorts and a helmet. No shirt and no shoes. Surprisingly, it was not his bare torso that was uplifting, although we did take a moment to enjoy that too. What entertained us so much was how he leaned forward, helmet to the handlebars while going uphill. If he had got off and pushed it would have been faster. Above the raucous sounds of our laughter you could just make out the bltththhttttt of the teeny engine on his valiant moped, and if you concentrated really hard you could almost hear his will power making the bike go fast enough for 8 lane traffic at 5:30 in the afternoon.

Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening

I have been so impressed with C'ville's thunderstorms. She really does take this very seriously. No piddly little crack and run storms for her.

The thunder rolls and the house shakes. Lightning actually lights the sky and even through the bedroom curtains and blinds I can see constant flashes like cameras in the stands at a soccer game.

Before the storm there is an eerie light, the lawn is turned a strange green, it's really indescribable so I won't try. First, the birds get all-a-twitter and then they go quiet. In that moment the little flashes of lightning bugs are most prominent in my garden. Then the thunder and lightning starts, taking turns or over-lapping, like a firework symphony while the wind and breezes dash here and there. After that has gone on long enough Henry slinks for cover under the couch or bed (as pictured) and Oleo follows me around the house for reassurance.

Then the real stuff starts, so much rain. It pours and pours. Diving into a swimming pool would seem an ineffectual way of getting wet compared to this. Torrential rain? OH that's what they mean by that!

I think the storm ALMOST makes up for the last four days of being a walking puddle.

How you can tell it's hot and humid

- the cats are practically bald they have moulted so much
- the birds at the feeder are not eating the seed, only drinking the water
- I actually dug out our ice-trays
- Even my Mamma would wish for winter
- Peeing is so hot, you'd rather not
- Thighs stick together when you walk (despite aforementioned fat-melting hopes)
- Cold showers don't actually work
- Salad is better than take-out Chinese food
mmm Can't remember all the other things I thought about as I lay here perspiring gently.

Missing my husband

I know wishes won't wash dishes, but I am trying that route for a little while anyway. This is where I realise that K does actually do some of the housework. Especially my least favourite things, including dishes and... SIGH... mopping the floor.

Water, water everywhere

Summer has exploded upon the valley of c'ville. I thought that growing up in Namibia would prepare me for any heat that the good earth could deliver. Then I experienced DC and found that I was wrong. THEN I thought that DC had prepared me. I got up yesterday at 5am. This should be an hour of chill, of cold feet on the kitchen floor and goosebumps. Yesterday I walked outside into a fog of heat and wet. It was so gross.

In fact gross pretty much describes the experience of these few summer days completely. I feel gross. When I lay on the couch yesterday and the sweat instead of evaporating was just dripping I truly felt like I was melting. It did occur to me hope that if I started melting, maybe the fat would melt first and I could find aircon before I started to lost muscle tissue. This was when I was rescued by a dear friend who offered me her home and her aircon. She has it all over her house, it's wonderful.

When I got home last night I went upstairs to the office and turned on our teenytiny aircon that we have up there. Then I made a little nest directly under it, and the cats and I passed a night of sweatlessness. I am somewhat concerned about anyone who comes to visit for a weekend, they will have to bring their own fans.

I mourn for Basil

My purple Basil has died. It grew an insidious mould and in spite of trimming it just passed quietly in the night. I will replace it with lemon balm. Wish me luck.

Aliens have landed in C'ville and they are hideous

Cisco is a puggle, which is a pug mixed with beagle. I cannot understand how people can think pugs are cute. When people talk about Cisco, they diplomatically say: he has TONS of personality. Which he does. When he first came into my office, I was not enamoured but as I got to know him he has grown on me. He is super smart and very sassy. Also he is soft like a cat. When he gets adopted I will miss his heavy breathing and occasional snorting.

pics

For photos of K's trip so far.
http://picasaweb.google.com/keir.soderberg/SaMoz

My favourite is the melted gold being poured in the dark so that the flames are flying up from it.

husbandless

Most of you will by now know that K is in South Africa. He left last week and will be touring SA and Mozambique for four weeks and then Namibia for another four. Then he comes back stateside and instead of coming home he goes straight to Tennessee for a conference. This makes it NINE WEEKS that I will be husbandless. I am through one week and so far it has been ok.

I go to bed at 9 most nights. I have found that there are a number of things that husbands do that are useful. They can put things away high up. They can clean on top of the fridge. They can make excellent pizza that I can never hope to copy. They are warm in the bed when it is chilly. They can carry out the trash to the curb. This last is particularly important. It took me some time, entertaining the neighbours across from us I am sure, grunting as I first tried to carry and then rolled it along my lawn. The real trick is not letting it touch your clothes and leave nasty, sticky residue behind. The thing that husbands are most useful for are hugs, and that is something that it is hard to not have in your life. Big arms, warm and strong and a chest to hide in.

no more yet

A week has passed and my plants are still alive. Something is nibbling on the marigolds though. They are all taking on a decidedly moth-eaten look. Whatever it is has been sufficiently distracted by the marigolds and left the herbs alone. I have one pot with only Marigolds and the local squirrel has taken to burying things in it. I am curious to see if anything interesting sprouts. Thus far all is well but I am not optimistic and will not be purchasing thyme for some time. (hehe, thyme for time, hehe)