Bamboo Secrets

4 weeks

Where oh where has the little Ball gone? There are only tire tracks marked by wilted bamboo. No flat remains were located. The vicinity shows no other sign of the final bamboo ball game move...

Perhaps it was kicked down the hill. Maybe it found a new home where it will play on in glee with a child. Maybe it just decided to roll along on it's own in the gusty breeze, for a rolling ball collects no moss.

Have fun bouncy ball. Don't let me find you this winter in the defoliated woods cast out like so much other trash!

Sharps n Flats

My week has been much longer than usual. Beginning on Memorial Day, one of my truck tires suddenly developed a semi-slow leak, causing it to go completely flat every time I turn around (10 minutes to a half-hour). At least I finally figured out if I park with the valve-stem at 25 past 12, it's ontop of the nail, n leaks air more slowly, so about 10 psi will stay in there, saving me some time.

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I've been spending between an hour, n an hour n a half prior to each ride anywhere blowing it up to driveable pressure using my mini compressor which plugs into the cigg-lighter. It can only run up to five minutes at a whack before getting too hot, then I need to wait about ten minutes to go again. If I overdo it, the itty-bitty motor will fry n die. Then I'll be stranded, so I'm careful with the running time.

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Once driving along, the air pressure escapes quickly, so that I have to constantly find more air compressors to cross town. Of the four stations right at the plaza up the road, only one is working (the last one I checked, naturally).

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Now I finally have my system worked out, so I can get the seven miles down the road to work on time. (Don't stop for any errands, except at two compressors) Sitting there waiting around for the mini-compressor another hour or so after work is a real bummer tho- I'm not getting home until after five, n I'm missing alot of sleep hours.

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If only this wasn't rent due time, I'd be able to see the tire-plug guy with enough bux in hand to fix-it up. This is one chore which won't wait until the third week of July (Stimulus check). Of course, I'll have to go without more sleep to get the repair done. No rest for the weary (me).

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I've been putting off getting new front tires for awhile (thanks to the heat bill). A new one would've gotten the nail anyway. This week I found out that my space-saver spare tire isin't any good either. It holds air almost as well as the flat tire. The rim is so rusted n flaking I wouldn't put that lumpy thing on my wheel hub (It's an accident waiting to happen). So I need a spare too. Luckily, I didn't find out in the middle of a longer road trip...

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Most folks subscribe to triple-A, n have a cellphone to call them, (Not me, at this point). They wouldn't have been able to do any more than I did already, anyhow. I'd still have to wait around. The air would leak out just as quickly, the spare would be just as bad.

Everytime I park I'd still need to whip out the little compressor. I got it at Benny's about a dozen years ago for under $20 bux. It's paid for itself a hundred times over in saving my day in a pinch on many occassions. I just wish I didn't need it so many times this week. I really hate the extended time-needed-in-prep factor.

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Remember, We are all only one nail from being nailed!

(But it didn't stop me...)

Mulch Mountain

It's saturday on Memorial Day Week-end on the Cape. The party people who've previously been reported to drive me crazy with noise are nowhere to be heard. This is highly unusual... Most folks must be saving their fuel bux for the 4th of July-

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There are some visitors around, but in my immediate nieghborhood, I can see only two more homes being occupied. The roads have seemed slightly busier, but it's not as busy as years past at this time. Alot of the regular townees have been out walking around in the warmer temps. We're used to feeling suddenly crowded in, n avoiding it all, but this first week-end of the summer season seems very calm.
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It's good that I get to sleep before work, but unsettling that there's going to be a large economic impact on my home zone.
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The shopping plaza had mountains of mulch to move with the little tractor back at the beginning of the month, to get ready for the summer crowds. Every time I see these images, I think of the mountains of chores I have to do...

Shimmer

The way the water appears like dimpled glass in this shot really appeals to me. It was taken the same day as the previous pic, a few minutes later.

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I may not get to see any sunshine later today, with the drizzly cloud-cover prevailing. I'm so beat from working early after previously working late, I could sleep for a week. Then our company's holiday week-end orders are going to be a mile deep, so everyone gets to either go in earlier or way later, then they'll all feel as bad as I do today.

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Also not helping, I've caught the achy-bug thing going around this week, add-on the pollen head-ache n being dizzy from allergies, n I'm not up to the summer kick-off party at all! Maybe the neighbors won't be really loud yet n let me get some rest, but that would be unusual...

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A big MAP-truck parked on the bamboo where the ball was hiding the other day. I wonder if I'll find it flat this week. I don't have any other plans this week-end, besides chores n trying not to spend any money again.

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Back in the old days, I remember my mother insisting I attend a BBQ at her place every year on Memorial Day. Then we'd all walk down a few blocks from her house for the big, loud parade, with marching bands, muskets getting fired off, n the Elvis impersonator on the float. My ears always hurt after that! I had never imagined that I'd learn to cherish those memories, n that the yearly ritual would suddenly cease with the passing of my mother. I haven't gone to a parade in years.

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Now I get to work most of the week-end, n just want to sleep!

Enjoy your BBQ's!

Shoom

Memorial Day is creeping up on me too fast. I've got a gazillion chores to do in the warmer, dry, daylight, but my free time is so limited I don't know how I'll ever get caught up..

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I've been working nights for a few years now, but still find I tend not to feel like doing much around the house after it's dark. Most of this is due to not seeing as well in the shadowy, low-light, while trying to keep the electric use as low as possible.

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Then there's the curious bumble Bees out in the yard who keep chasing me around. I refuse to kill them, n they haven't stung me yet, but I really hate getting interrupted before I'm done with the hand-mowing. The other day I actually finished up the lawn mohawk at 10 pm in the dark (by street lamp).

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Now that the price of fuel has gone up over $3.75 I'm trying not to drive much. Never mind wasting a gallon to mow- I'm sure my neighbors all thought I was a nut using my handtools, until this year, that is! The truth is, I like the quiet much better than the loud, intrusive motor noise. Besides being way cheaper, I don't mind the exercise like some folks.

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I finally got the hose turned on to wash-down the pollen off the truck when the rain hasn't. The oak trees, as predicted, are spewing pollen clusters all over this week. The Maples are foliated, but most of the other trees are still in progress. I started on the deck-garden. So many containers to clean out, plant, n re-pot. Most of the little evergreen trees need more root-space. If only I didn't need sleep, to have more daylight hours to do stuff.

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Today, I slept later than usual, then got alot done before the Preakness horse race glued me to the tube for a few minutes. Big Brown has a shot at the Triple Crown, n seems to run like Secretariat (if you remember him). At least there were no fatalities this run. (I'm glad I missed the Derby).

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Then I heard Old Senator Ted Kennedy was med-flighted off-Cape to Mass-Gen, but turns out so far he's ok- had a seizure, n will get tests. I had my pic taken with him in DC once, when I was a Girl Scout (group shot). The famous Liberal Democrat has been through the mill in his lifetime, but has also worked like a horse in the governmental process for the common good going on forty years now. Good luck to him. Looks like he'll miss out on the Cape Memorial Day fun this round.

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I've got a few more chores to do (at 3am) before turning in early, in my dimly lit place here. The spinach still costs only $1.50 (dinner). I hope it keeps me energized for all that's ahead this week.

Ball 3 Weeks

Btw- Bamboo can grow seven feet tall. Ball is playing hide n seek. It's getting difficult to spot from most angles now.

I Want Money Now

Stimulus payment schedule
http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=180250,00.html

I have to wait until the middle of July (Rats)!

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A tree fell in the forest.

Did anyone hear it?

Does that mean it didn't fall?

Why didn't someone take it for firewood?

Forest folliage will soon be blocking this view of M-cove from the path on the hill.

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The news of the Myanmar cyclone disaster has been compounded by news of the Western China earthquake. So many affected people in so little a time span. World News Now last a.m. was reporting on the chinese newspapers, n how they've never been so open with the information.

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Complacency has again- Left the building!

Mom Time

The rain stopped Saturday in time for a dry, late afternoon, The tulips out in the backyard are up, as usual, just in time for Mothers Day.
In the side yard blue Periwinkles n purple Lillies of the Valley are showing blossoms also. No need for the store bought, cut variety here. I enjoy them live on the plants better, anyway.
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The breeze was cool, n very few folks were outside late on Saturday afternoon. I hiked up onto the hill as the Sun worked it's way down near the horizon through the trees. It was the optimum time without much pollen or insects to observe all the plants in their upheaval to rapidly sprout folliage, n fill in all the spaces I can see-thru.


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It's a rare occassion I'm able to do such a thing without an instant allergy attack. Usually I can't wait for the trees to be done with their pollen fling. Next week, I'll prob have that familiar Oak-head-ache throbbing away again.
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But for now, I'm amazed n greatfull to get to enjoy the few hours of daylight after errrands on Day Off.
(Thank non-Rx allergy pills) .
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Working nights has been the pits lately, because I can't get anything needed done unless I sleep less hours to beat office hour deadlines. The tired has really been catching up with me. I've been grouching out like Oscar in the can. I'm really needing that tax-rebate ASAP (*where is it?). Time to sleep before the summer noise won't let me is tough to do lately. There aren't enough hours for it all.
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Now for Mom Day, I don't get to rest either. Yep, I have to work all night after being up all day again.

Have yourselves a splendid time. Appreciate that rare time off-

Ball2

The forest has been growing another week, as the ball sits without being kicked...

Note that the item is approx 12 inches in diameter, n is located less than 30 inches from the road.

Breaking Waves

So much is going on. I've got so little energy left after hand-mowing the over-grown lawn. Every day I've had off has rained, thwarting my plan to mow before it got too tall. Today it began with precip, but then dried up enough to give me no excuse to ignore the chore longer, n besides more rain is forecast for the next several days. (I expect my connection to be messed up.)

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So much is going on in the world. Cyclone Nargis has afflicted Myanmar, formerly Burma, with an horrendous aftermath to deal with. Yet another case where mixing religion with leadership policies is failing at it's most inopportune time. Another government is proven oblivious of it's peoples plight. Aid shipments awaiting destinations, are being ignored while folks have no food, water, or shelter. It's yet another case of an unusual water-related natural disaster, n another high death toll.

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Hopefully I never have to report on anything like that occurring in my home zone. As the ice melts n the sea level rises, the likelihood of these gargantuan storm effects increases. I've been watching that Al Gore movie again, (n just before that happened too).

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So at work- this dude I was trapped working with the other night, was talking about how the civilized world as we know it is going to end very soon, like within a year n a half! Don't you know Nostrodamus n the Bible even say so? "It's starting now, with the rice," he kept on n on.

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I believe I've mentioned preferring not to talk while I work previously on ESR, (In case you were paying attention). Apparently, some folks are getting a bit paranoid. They didn't realize I had them beat by a few years already...

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No, I don't believe anyone predicting to know about what will happen, because I don't think anyone can know. It's all we can do to figure out how to survive what we have to deal with, as life is, day to day.

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There is so much to react to, with the state of the art communications getting the word out. There are more people living in danger zones with higher world population. I truelly wonder at the cruelty of these disasters, both man-made n natural, but realize I can do little about them, except bear the knowledge.

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These worldly tragedies makes me feel a large burden of loss, even tho I didn't personally know the victims. It amplifies my gratitude of appreciating every day alive, even as I work myself to a frazzle in my effort to maintain self-sufficiency.

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On the homefront, If it weren't for everyone trying to avert a constant barrage of economic disaster, it'd be pretty boring around here. Soon the tourists will arrive, n complain about the additional price burdens as they waste resources left n right, but still party n have fun, as I still have to work. Memorial Day is but a few weeks away.

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So much peace about to become noise, is about to be going on...

One Party

Here's the best shot I could get from my perch on the stairs last Sunday. The little man in the blue-striped shirt couldn't believe this was all for him.

Bamboo Shoots Play Ball

The faded, old ball has been sitting next to the woods across the road for a week now. Wonder how long it'll sit there, n how high the bamboo will get over it before some one decides to claim it.

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Somebody plucked the daffodil the other day, finally (on May 01). Wild weed-lillies are overtaking that area now, but I know where to find the bulb. Now I just need non-rainy daylight to dig it out.

Blerror

Something has gone amok with the connection to my machine. Perhaps the phone line thru the trees has run afowl since the storm we had this week. Sometimes the boat-radio anteneas heading to the boat ramp do it too. I'll have to call for another line test.
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So please excuse the missing posts being put up later than the post date, due to having written them, then having been unable to upload images or publish them before my ultra-slo connection dropped-
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This is so inconvenient! UGH!
Try again, n again...

UPDATE: May 03, 7:09 PM -
Phew- my first regular speed connection in 3 days!
I still think my phone only shorts in the rain, because it has stopped. After an hour of calls to get a line test and the result, the phone company claims it must be something inside the house, although I bet it's the same problem which happened with the line last year, when I last went around in circles with the phone company, who'd claimed to run a test, n didn't... Better luck next rain storm-

MayDay

("*Image to be added when the connection God allows." It just took no fewer than 20 tries over 3 days to add this visual...)

Today, I went back to my fav beach spot for one more time before the tourists crowd in, to witness the free sundown show. It was high-tide, n the gulls were at the water's edge awaiting their washed in dinner.
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Alot of folks are eating carefully lately. I shop the bargain bin myself, n spend very little at the market. I don't ever buy full priced bread or canned goods. If I had children to feed these days, I suppose alot of pasta n rice would be on the menu, with thin helpings of meat n veggies spread thru it, instead of as separate items on the plates...
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I remember the good old days when my girls lived off of Ramon noodles purchased six for a buck. I'm curious what those same groceries I'd bought then would cost today, as the prices continue to sky-rocket beyond reach.
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A woman at the meat counter today exclaimed "No one can buy this stuff!" to which I added,
"Think I'll become a vegetarian..." I was kidding, tho have cut back drastically to a couple of small meat items per month.
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Only rich folks can buy the steak these days. Who can possibly afford $25 on only one part of one meal? Only on rare, special occasions (at restaurants) has that been spent on one plate of food in my presence. I can't even remember the last time I could afford a roast anything. Never mind the preferred organics. Fresh produce has been outrageous also.
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Walking through produce I actually found fresh "State Farm" bagged spinach for $1.50 - Of course the trade off- it was choppy, had some bug-holes, n a few foriegn objects to wash off of it. A little extra time n labor for that buck off. I'm cooking it right now.
I'm weird like that. I'll just eat a little spinach for dinner. (Makes me feel strong like Pop-eye). I'll save the leftover for a few random bites after work next week. I need iron, n Lutien helps my vision health. Even Mischief likes it, n begs for it.
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Luckily I get to fill in some of my menu holes with quality cast-offs from work. That's good n bad, because I get tempted with all the sugar stuff. Thank goodness they stopped making the triple chocolate thing!
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On the water's edge I found a few more empty whelk shells to bring home for my garden shell pile. n window collection. The birds must like to eat those.
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Happy bargain shopping... (spinach is better than seaweed!)