Serene Scene

...

...

...

...


...
I don't know how I happened to end up with another bonus, unexpected day off...
They called me up n said the schedule was changed, Thanks Creator, I really need it. (Is my boss reading this?) I trust that somehow I'll miraculously have enough money to get by without that day's pay. (This better not be every week).
...
Another gorgeous n warm day for this place where Fall should be showing up cold anytime.
So I washed some area rugs, hung them on the deck-rails, n did a few things I'd been waiting for time to do before it gets cool out. This neglected place needs a major overhaul. It's hard to hear about every one's fixer-upper stuff happenin' plus watching the new McMansion getting built to the hilt across the hill, when I'm still in 70's original-n-falling-to-pieces-materials in here.
...
Let's just say the neighbors are gonna have a view of me on my deck from their new deck. (I'll hang up a screen n stay low-). They've also managed to totally block the water view on that end of the road from here (Grrr)! I'd like to toss those loud nail guns right over the bridge today too- woken-up after only a couple hours again.
...
The best part of this night off is getting to watch new shows. Bionic Woman is next on my itinerary. I saw the old one back in the day, starring Farrah Faucet, n it was so lame for effects. The new one looks like much more fun in the commercials.
...
Off I am, asking in writing seems to be getting good results lately!

Whipped

All work n no play makes SnaggleTooth's posting difficult to keep positive.
...
Day Off hit the weather jackpot today. Blue sky, nice n warm temp with a light breeze. I got all the stuff I'd wanted to accomplished before places closed, n spent the later day hanging on the deck with Mischief while doing a few other chores. If only I didn't feel so somber.
...
The day was good yesterday, too, but I was sullen, overshadowed by the act of kitty-burial. My eyes were so red, I did all the errands with my sunglasses on. After I got back from the store, Mis n me had a good food party. That was the first time in her life she was home alone.
...
What seems strange to me is it feels empty in here, as though a huge presence has been expelled. No more checking on Turtle all the time, trying to find her, trying to get her to eat. Guess it took up more energy from me than I'd thought.
...
I have so many chores to catch up on in here n not enough time n energy now. I spend way too much steam on the job, n not enough on home. Until I can manage to get approved for several days off in a row, my arms will continue to be muscle sore. Deep-hole digging didn't help much, either.
...
At work, instead of only dealing with the very heavy objects three nights a week, I'm covering the other guy's vacation, so until he gets back, it's much heavy lifting plus a viscously fast pace to keep up every night.
...
Keeping up this much energy-churning out was so much easier for me even just ten years back. I know it's good for my heart health n also my bone-density-strength. Most people who don't know me well think I'm way younger.
...
What's not as good for me tho- is the constant stress being poured on top of driving myself very hard already- by one of the young bosses. I guess that's what they're for, driving us all nuts!
...
I still believe that whipping a horse who's already running as fast as he can doesn't make him run any faster, it just pisses him off! I keep telling them to find younger people to do my job. Usually tho, younger folks lack the needed diligence. Apparently older folks have learned to put up with much more crap.
...
Lately, I'm just not being as quiet about what I'm putting up with. After all, without complaining, no one ever figures out what is wrong n how to fix it... Maybe the older we get, the bitchier we get!
...

Today's pictures are of the train station on Rear Main Street in the Center of town. The location n planter of flowers is the same. Catch the wave going up the stairs on the building across the way- I love driving past that mural. I'd like to have time to do some of my own. (Having a building to spatter on would help too).

Autumnal Equinox '07

...

...

...

My companion Turtle left me behind to travel beyond today. I'm going to miss her company n silly ways. Especially how she chewed off every string toy Mischief, her littermate-sister, ever had. No toy mouse's tail was spared.

Now Mischief n I will have trouble finding some one to get angry at around here. Even the wires are safe again. I blocked off so many things from her reach because of her chewing n clawing compulsions, it'll take some time to undo.

I used to tease her by calling her "Fluffy." Although she had a nervous dispositon sometimes, she was a great friend to have around.

Here she is last December helping me out with paperwork by the window (Notice the blooming Christmas cactus). There's another good shot somewhere in the Archives, ( here). Turtle had been ill for the past few months. She shared her life with me for eight years, for which I'll always be greatful. She always reminded me of my previous tortoise-shell tabby named Teri, n shared so many of her traits it was uncanny. I couldn't help but love her too.

I'll never think of the day it turns into Fall the same way again...RIP

Downline

Here's two of my favorite boy-friends from down the street. It was a pretty good book to read, too. They both helped (interrupt) me post all that stuff (very slowly) last summer. They were actually pretty good for my before bedtime visits. I'll have to go visit them again soon with out being busy on the computer.

I hope this cold goes away soon so I feel up to it. (Cough, cough).

Day Off has been moved again so I can work even more days in a row this week! Guess I'm just not tired enough yet...

Well, back to the chicken soup.

Have a good week-end all you healthy ones!

Hey, hey,Hitchin' a Ride...

Ride bumming wierdness followed me in my errands this past Day Off.

...

King Richard's Faire began in Carver up the road on Labor Day, n sometimes they'll be strange non-local characters hanging about.

On my way between store hopping on the busiest traffic island was a tall, thin girl in a flannel shirt (looking like she was a Carverite), pacing back n forth n looking starved n cold in the cool breeze. She stared at the drivers stopped at the lights. She carried a crinkled cardboard sign, "I'm passing through the area, I'm down on my luck. Can you help me?" Panhandling isin't extinct. I saw lots of people giving her dollars, so I didn't feel guilty about not having anything to pass out the window.

...

Hopefully she caught a ride n a spot to crash, n not arrested, or kidnapped, cause she was gone a few minutes later on my way back. That's a dangerous thing she was doing, n perhaps she was dangerous herself. What a way to live!

...

I'm having a quality issue with a new employee messin up my stuff at the drugstore with my one-hour prints who forgot to make the CD I ordered, so I had to go back the next day for it. In the course of my normal planned busy Day Off condensed errand run, I cleaned out the stuff laying around the truck cab in preparation of stopping in at the oil-change place on the way back. Normally the passenger seat is covered with work-related n emergency gear with no room for sitting. Change n odd items have previously dissappeared before, so now I hide all stuff in the locked cap.
...

In line at the drug store, I was greeted by a stranded neighbor, who'd just missed the last trolley of the day. Our kids were all friends on the block growing up. She's been having many health issues, n I know her well, so I changed my planned itinerary to drive her back home n backtracked to the oil place. I rarely waste fuel like that, but it was worth saving her the pain.

...

I just thought it was magical that I had just before bumping into her, cleared off the place for her to sit! Also, I wouldn't have been there then at all if the picture person hadn't messed up.

...

On my way for fuel I saw yet a third person seeking a ride, a large guy thumbing down the Avenue. Maybe this is a cool-day surprize trend or some kind of sign...

...

After getting back home for the day, openning mail, n putting supplies away, I go to load up the latest round of pics in the puter. That new girl has much to learn, cause she screwed up again- the entire slide show is upsidedown! Upsidedown watery sunsets, garden pics, n house construction, I can't believe it! What a dweeb-

TG I have a paint program to rotate them all, cause I'm not willing to go back out there a fourth time for one roll.

.

Is that a sign too? (of what?)

Here Piggy, Piggy-

...
...
The weeds take over all the available spaces. There's an alien plant on the Cape, masquerading as a lumpy, white, Queen Ann's Lace, who's maruading our countryside. It's tall, it's bold, n very abundant.
...
Still, the Hogweed makes a beautiful, water view wild garden at the bridge-abutment edge over the little cove just down the road.
...
...
The tourist numbers are rapidly diminishing, n the cool air temperatures have moved in this week. I've closed the windows, but not yet closed up the storm windows.
...
So many chores are vieing for attention before winter arrives, far too many were put off due to overworking this summer. I'm sure I'll regret it later when I decide it's too cold to bother at all.
We finally got some rain this week, the remnants of Humberto, n some gusty breezes.
...
One of the Boston Channels has brought back the original Star Trek series with Dr. Spock n Capt. James T. Kirk (Sun 2am). As I'm watching it now, I'm reminded of seeing it the first time with my Dad eons ago on another planet. The place where I was a minor vote in all descisions, such as what was being watched on TV, listened to on the radio or phonogragh, who I could visit, talk to, what I would eat.
...
I've been doing all those choices as the main power in my life for decades now, yet I still don't mind being reminded of those times. The campy costumes, lame sets, sonar echos, indicator panels, n over-acted plot drama. The show's alot more amusing now than when I didn't understand it as a child being forced to watch that show, or not see anything before bedtime. Now I choose to watch it again, n like being reminded of sharing a fondness of Sci-fi with Dad.
...
There's a fake-fur covered, spear-throwing giant bashing the lost, disabled shuttle Galilleo on Tores (due to an ion storm) with a huge, fake rock... n it's making me laugh! Especially the arguements between the Logical, Bones, n Scotty.
...
I've managed to come down with the cold going around at work just in time for Day Off. I hope it's gone when I go back. I'm doing the Echinachea Tea n Chix soup thing to head it off at the pass. Here's hoping this does the trick.
...

Colds are like weeds. They spread n spread, n stuff-up my head!

Prim n Proper

These primrose bushes grow on a road-side berm above a salt marsh on the way to the narrows in the center of town.

It's impossible not to look at the cove full of moored craft every pass down the way.

I had a tough time narrowing my choice down to one of these, so you get all three. They were just gorgeous to see this year.

All I can decide today is I really need to rest- So off I go to shower n get some shut-eye ...

May your way be lit with blossoms.

Where have all the Flowers Gone?

...

...

...

This is the beginning of a series of nature's local gardens with a water view to be posted soon .

(I think the 911 victims deserve many flowers....)

Despite the second dryest August on record here, the weeds are flourishing.

SnaggleTooth's Q / A Today

..

...

...

...

...

...

...

Q: Where were you 6 years ago today at 8:50 am?
A: I was working days at a small software company in the production room with five other people.

...

Q: What were you doing when you first heard the news?

A: I was printing Fisher-Pierce update floppy labels on the thermal printer, 500 pieces, n listening to the radio speaker just above my head.

I couldn't believe what I'd heard. I didn't think anyone else was listening, so I turned around to the people working on a mailing at the table behind me n loudly asked them,

"Did he just say TWO planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers?"

Then the radio guy repeated it. When they reported a short time later that Tower 1 had collapsed, we all ran into the empty day-care room across the hall (without permission) n watched footage of people fleeing the huge dust cloud on a tiny 9-inch black n white TV set. We were soon shoo-ed back to work by the AH boss.

...

Q: Do you still vividly relive your feelings of that day?

A: Yes, after hearing the radio announcement I had the horrible shadow of dread over me, n a tight knot in my stomache. I didn't want to be at work anymore. It didn't seem important. I could picture the plan co-ordinator's skinny, dark, curly-haired form laughing n dancing with glee.
I dwelled on how the victims felt, on the planes, trapped on upper floors, jumping, unable to get down elevators, everyone in a panic. Time running out. Resigning to death in a deafening roar. Surprized. All becoming part of a suddenly pulverized huge human n cement pile. So much anger, horror, n beginnings of grief going through my mind.

(I felt these things before I heard about them, before I saw n heard the news later that evening.)

I had so much trouble working n concentrating on work the rest of the day until 5pm. I couldn't wait to get home where I spent the next three days n nights glued to the news reports n footage I'd missed while at work that day.

...

Q: Did the events effect the way you live your life?

A: I've changed in many ways. I'm braver, n I never feel safe, or get complacent.

Now I always pay attention to the news. I stopped working full-time there n stopped stressing-out on that place with the un-reasonable bosses. They didn't deserve the devoted nature of my hard work. They lacked compassion.

After that day, I got bolder in my convictions of what I will n will not do.

A couple months after that I successfully took a road trip 1600 miles to South Florida by myself in my new truck, then back home, (because I wanted too).

...

Q: Do you still get nightmares with that theme?

A: Yes, I've always been paranoid of large airplanes, n sometimes have the one of dying that (tower-smack) way. I've had PTSD in the past, n had many bad dreams in my life-time, alot after 911. I've had many dreams about the ghosts of the dead. The frequency has eased up recently, TG!

...

Q: Did you or some one you know lose some one who lost their life that day?

A: I didn't personally know any of the victims, but Yes, my musician friend, Bruce, lost a close, old-home-buddy he grew-up with in Sudbury, MA onboard flight 195.

He moved further up north after that, I haven't seen him a long time.

Some one from my home town was scheduled to fly but got bumped off the flight.

...

Q: How does this anniversary date affect you?

A: I honor the dead, light a candle, n pray. I remember.

Sometimes I get paraniod another terrorist act will kill alot of people on this date again, pray it won't, n try not to go out anywhere.

...

Q: If you were in charge, what would've you done differently than George W. in response?

A: Don't get me started! Just about everything, including concentrating on educating people of Islamic culture n countries on why Americans n themselves don't deserve to die due to religious differences.

Can you say, covert operations? Cutting all Bin Laden family oil business ties, ect.

No excuse, George!

... -----------------------------------------...

Go ahead n feel free to interview your-self:

(copy n paste if you like)

...

Q: Where were you 6 years ago today?
A:
Q: What were you doing when you heard the news?

A:
Q: Do you still vividly relive your feelings of that day?

A:
Q: Did the events effect the way you live your life?

A:
Q: Do you still get nightmares with that theme?

A:
Q: Did you or some one you know lose some one who lost their life that day?

A:
Q: How does this anniversary date affect you?
A:

...

Lord Bless the undeserving dead n all their survivors-

Labor Day

... ... Summer ran with the ball

... ... To herald Autumn's fall.

... ... Remind Winter to chill out

... ... Before Spring sprouts back to life.

- by SnaggleTooth

(jotted down with pen on paper Labor Day 07)

There's No Place Like...

...

...

...

...

SnaggleTooth's Puter has made it home, YAY!

...

Two months n two weeks without free-will access here is far too long-

...

I've got a few things in the works for display, but it'll take a few days to get this puter up to it's tasks again. Seems a few drivers are missing (ie: CD drive, ect) n I can't even get a back-up disc done yet. Also can't update my photos to post.

...

This is the longest work-summer-season I've ever put in on the job too. On four occassions since June, I've had to give up Day Off for the busy season. The OT helped me pay for this machine, but wow am I exhausted!

...

Along with the normal summer noise I've been missing many sleep hours due to the house being constructed on the house fire lot right across the corner for the past three weeks. An update of the (progression or degression) view off my deck will be up on the PhotoEssayhf blog soon after I get the CD drive to work again.

...

My first two days off in a row in about a month have just arrived, n too much has been pushed aside n stacked up. Mail, errands, basic chores, there's lots of physical catch-up to play... but here I am.

...

So much has happened, (or not). Haven't made it into the water over my head again since last reported. My tan is very minimal compared to most summers. I've had so little time for folks, fun, n any extras. I'm so out of touch.

...

The game of Catch-Up begins...