ezloos

Gardening 3/15/09

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:22:48 GMT

We weeded and mulched the front bed and it looks so much better. I trimmed back the rose bush, and pulled a huge chunk of dead stuff out from around it. I think it will be a lot happier. The pink jasmine is blooming, and smells so good. The confederate jasmine is robust. They both survived the drought very well. I deem them both hardy and will grow them elsewhere in the yard.

I weeded the bed with the bird bath in it. I picked up a rock to get the stubborn crab grass, and there was a Texas Blind Snake underneath. We startled each other.

(before I forget)
Items planted within the last several weeks:

Ornamental:
Alyssum
Dianthus
Bachelor Buttons
Marigolds
Red Penta
Texas Star Hibiscus
Firecracker Plant

Herbs:
Chocolate Mint
Variegated Pineapple Mint
Corsican Mint
Spearmint
Purple Sage
Greek Oregano
Lemon Thyme
English Thyme
Tarragon
Sweet Globe Basil
Cinnamon Basil

My Mom bought us a load of beautiful compost and a shit-ton of mulch. She and Molly helped me get the beds in the far corner pretty much under control. I got after the Johnson Grass this morning. The ground is wonderfully soft because of the rain last week.

My plan is to get the last bed cardboarded and mulched next week. Then we can put the cinder block bed where the mulch has been for the last several weeks. Huzzah!

Veggies to grow:
Yard Long Beans
Crooked Neck Squash
Zucchini

For the front bed:
Cast Iron Plant
Turk's Cap
Giant Turk's Cap
Bamboo Grass

I'm very pleased with how everything is shaping up. I'm trying to do it smarter this time. I'm following all the rules so far, so yay!

PS, Rosco and I fished a dead rat out from underneath the ramp to the Little House.

Dreams

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:26:07 GMT

One night this week Chuk dreamt that we had a camel living in our basement. I told him that the camel was probably pretty sad to be living in our basement. (note: we do not have a basement)

A few nights later he dreamed that he let the camel outside. But in that dream the camel could talk. Chuk could only make one word out of the sentence the camel was saying..."San Antonio". He let the camel outside and showed him what leaves were good to eat. The camel was very grateful to be outside and eating leaves.

Last night, during my many dreaming adventures, I kept saying a word over and over to myself.

Perspicacity. Perspicacity. Perspicacity.

Over and over.

I woke and began my day as I normally do. I made coffee, fed the dogs, (pooped) showered. The dreams from the night before tugged at my memory. What did I dream? What was it?

While drying my hair, it came to me. Perspicacity. wtf? Where did that come from?

When I got to work, I looked it up...

keenness of mental perception and understanding; discernment; penetration.
Archaic. keen vision.

I want to give it, I want to get some too

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:33:24 GMT

My new, old favorite song.
I think this will be my new karaoke song. I hope you enjoy...

My new favorite song

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:21:06 GMT

God particles, y'all!

10th Annual 4th of July BBQ & Extravaganza!

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:34:34 GMT

Our TENTH Annual 4th of July BBQ & Extravaganza was a rousing success. You know it's a good party when you finally get everything washed and put away two days later, because the day after the party you only had the strength to eat popsicles (coconut & lime rum-infused popsicles that a guest brought - YUM) and feebly high five each other.

It dawned on me at some point Thursday night that not only was this our TENTH Annual BBQ&E, but ten years ago on July 4th, I asked Chuk to be my boyfriend. He said yes! Later that night, he blurted out to me "I love you!!" and I threw my arms around him and exclaimed "I'm so glad you said that, I've been wanting to say it too! I love you too!" And the rest is history. Our history, ten years of it.

Looking around at all our friends old and new in the back yard Friday night, sharing food and drinks, filled me with such joy. We've made a lifetime of this together, Chuk and I. It's impossible to name anything that we love more than throwing a huge bbq and celebrating life, love and friends. It's how we fell in love.

Every time I am reminded that it's been ten years, it stops me in my tracks and I just marvel at how it seems like forever and just a little while. Time bends and stretches and it's as if it always has been. I love the home we've built together, and I can't imagine living any other life than this.

Storm

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:29:49 GMT

Last night some wicked storms barreled through the area. Spring in Texas brings volatile weather, and I love watching it happen - I am fascinated by weather systems. It's thrilling and scary to watch the reds and purples on the radar as they creep ever closer. The storms hadn't reached us yet so we watched a movie, but stopped several times to see what was up (and also because Mission Impossible 3 was just AWFUL - Tom Cruise is the only person on the planet who runs annoyingly). Several tornadoes touched down in towns to the north of us. Some areas saw softball sized hail.

These kinds of storms are not to be trifled with. They spawn tornadoes, killer awful tornadoes, the likes of which you never want to witness. The town of Jarrell, TX was all but obliterated on May 27, 1997 by an F5 tornado. F5s have winds from 261 mph to 318 mph. A category five hurricane has winds in excess of 155. That tornado killed 27 people and devoured an entire subdivision.

That storm hit Austin afterwards, I remember that day very clearly. I was off work, so I went to Deep Eddy Pool to hang out. Just as I settled on my blanket under the giant cottonwood trees, the sky suddenly darkened with roiling greenish clouds. There were flashes of lightning, but no thunder, it was extremely eerie. I decided to pack up and head home pronto. I lived five minutes away from the pool, and by the time I got home, it was pouring. The amount of water coming out of the sky was unbelievable. It was like being under water.

I had no idea what had happened to Jarrell, or what was going on elsewhere in the city. In North Austin, a tornado ripped the roof off a grocery store. The store manager had all his customers huddle in the meat locker while the store disintegrated around them. An F4 hit a lake community to our East. All I knew was I had never seen the sky look that scary, and that water was pouring into my apartment from the air conditioner. Literally pouring from the vent, like a water fall. It was raining so hard, and the wind was blowing so hard that it was pushing the water down the air vent from the roof. I had never seen it do that before, or again.

My Dad called. He was freaked out and wanted to make sure I knew something serious was happening. He said to gather my things - purse, keys, anything that I would need with me and get ready to bug out if I needed to. The second floor of a rickety apartment building was not the best place to be in a tornado. I distinctly remember him saying "You have a situation here, girl!". He spent a lot of time worrying about my well being in those days of living on my own.

I didn't see a tornado that day. I've never seen one, and I hope I never do. Yet, I can't help being completely fascinated by tornadoes, and the weather systems that spawn them. The terrible maw of nature is both horrifying and beautiful to behold. The sheer power of air, water and the right conditions is mind blowing. Winds that can lift a car and move it a quarter mile are both terrifying and awesome.

The storm line finally reached us about 10pm last night, bringing lots of rain, lightning and pea sized hail. The thunder upset the dogs and they insisted on getting in bed with us. I could hear thunder for hours after the storm swept to the south of us. It sounded like distant kettle drums, and I knew the counties to the south got a worse pounding than we did, but no serious damage.

We'll get to repeat this late tonight, early Sunday morning. We're in the middle of a weird pattern. Last night a cold front came through, slamming into warm gulf air. Today, a warm front is coming from the south, bringing more gulf moisture. Another cold front is expected to come through again late tonight, starting everything all over again.

Good news from the stars

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:07:04 GMT

My weekly horoscope says:
Aries
The exercise in All Signs above is an excellent thing to explore this week. So many people are discovering your talents this year. It's almost as if you were in the closet. People with influence and power are suddenly impressed with what you can do. This is encouraging and thrilling. You're prepared to work hard now, but at least, your rewards seem to be at hand! This weekend when both the Sun and the Moon are in your sign, please think about what you can do to further enhance your image, your appearance, and your style of relating to partners and close friends. Hey -- when Noah built the ark, it wasn't raining.

Go read yours:

http://www.georgianicols.com/weekly/

Did you miss me?

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 07:26:54 GMT

Come here, let me hug all of you ...... mmmmmmmmm

Oh, bitches, so much has happened. So much is happening, right now as we speak.

I saw BATS!! tonight. That means Spring is really here. Which means the heat is right on her heels.

Anne Sexton says it best:
http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/annesexton/9322

2007 Meme

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:21:29 GMT

Stolen from Polly
(sorry, I don't know how to do cuts)

Where did you begin 2007?
My backyard with friends and fireworks

What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Married

Were you in school (anytime this year)?
School of life

Did you have to go to the hospital?
No

Did you have any encounters with the police?
Nope

Where did you go on vacation?
New Orleans, stayed in town

What did you purchase that was over $500?
Oral Surgery

Did you know anybody who got married?
Went to a sweet garden wedding n March

Did you know anybody who passed away?
My Aunt. Had to put my old cat to sleep.

Did you move anywhere?
No

What sporting events did you attend?
None. But I watched lots of college football

Describe your birthday:
We were in New Orleans, had a fancy dinner, then went to see a brass band

What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2007?
Played live on stage with my band.
QUIT SMOKING

What has been your favorite moment(s)?
Spring was particularly fun - hanging out with old friends at SxSW.
Surprise visit from my best friend who lives in Dallas.
Hanging out with friends in the backyard drinking margaritas.

What's something you learned about yourself?
It's been a pretty introspective year for me. I'm due for some self realizations.

Any new additions to your family?
Made some new friends!

What was your best month?
March/April

What music will you remember from 2007?
My band's music

Made new friends?
Yes!

New best friend?
We'll see

Favorite night out?
C's birthday dinner the other night was really good

Any regrets?
Nope

What do you want to change in 2008?
I'm going to get a new job.

Overall, how would you rate this year?
Much better than last year

What would you change about 2007?
Nothing I can do about it now.

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
Um, this is sad...work

Have any life changes in 2007?
Quit smoking!

Change your hairstyle?
Several times

Have any car accidents?
No. Knock wood, spit, etc.

Buy a new car?
No

New BF/GF?
N/A

Get a new job?
No :o( - NEXT YEAR

Do you have a New Year's resolution?
I don't do resolutions.

Do anything embarrassing?
I don't want to talk about it

Buy anything new from eBay?
I've never purchased anything from eBay

What was your favorite purchase of 2007?
Art! I bought a painting from my friend and a sculpture from a 14-year old artist. Also, I discovered some great jewelry on Etsy. C's birthday gift was a big hit - Microbrew Beer of the Month Club, he loves it.

Get married or divorced?
No.

Get arrested?
No.

Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
I'm not allowed to watch "bad tv"

Did you get sick this year?
Other than hangovers, I don't think so.

Start a new hobby?
No new hobbies

Been snowboarding?
What is snow?

Drank Starbucks in 2007?
I can't help it, I like the gingerbread lattes

Are you happy to see 2007 go?
I'm not happy with how fast time slips by, so, no.

Snaked from Polly

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:31:17 GMT

1. When I'm drunk, I tend to.....
Talk a lot, get bossy(ier)

2. Shots or beers?
Wine!

3. Do you have a drinking buddy?
My husband and a few others

4. Do you get angry?
Not really. But I can be a little outspoken.

5. Do you puke?
No, thank god.

6. After 7 drinks who are you?
I'm telling you what you should do with your life!

8. Tequila does what to you?
Makes me happy!

10. Vodka makes you?
In excess, will make me insane!

11. Do you smoke when you drink?
Two weeks ago, the answer would have been yes. I quit smoking, so I haven't had a chance to try drinking excessively without smoking. Wish me luck.

12. Do you pass out?
No. I'm always last man standing. Always.

13. Do you drink girly drinks?
Ick. No. But my dog likes them!

14. Do you drink alone?
Doesn't everyone?

15. Worst drink you have ever had?
Hm. Nothing comes to mind. I try to stay clear of stuff I know I won't like. Like weird herbal liqueurs.

16. Do you play drinking games?
No. Drinking is fun enough.

17. Favorite Beer?
Dos Equis

18. What is your favorite shot?
Cowboy Cocksucker (sweet, but sooo good)

19. What will you NOT drink?
Gross heavy beers, weird liqueurs

20. Are you a lightweight when it comes to alcohol?
Hell no, I'm a professional. Many years of practice.

22. Do you ever drink Bacardi Silver?
Not on purpose, I prefer Cruzan

23. Do you like frozen drinks?
If they're not too sweet. As a matter of fact, here, let me do it.

24. Do you drink liquor straight?
Bourbon

25. Do you ever drink out of the bottle?
Of course. I remember drinking champagne straight out of the bottle at our wedding.

26. Are you drunk right now?
Sadly, no

27. Do you consume more than 2 alcoholic beverages on daily basis?
Not on a daily basis

28. Do you drink a lot of wine?
It's my poison of choice at the moment

29. When's the last time you drank?
I had *a* glass of wine last night

30. Name someone that will repost this drinking survey-
no idea

31. Ever been streaking while drinking?
Not to my knowledge. I did dare my husband to run out in the middle of the street naked to prove his love. I learned two things about him 1) he loves me very much 2) do not dare him to do crazy things at 1am while drinking!

32. Hot tub/pool naked because of alcohol?
Yep

33. Failed any college courses due to alcohol alone?
Nope

34. Ever woken up & said "Dude where's my car?"
No

35. Ever carried someone up & down the same flight of stairs due to their drunkeness?"
No, I'm a if-you-can't-walk-then-I-ain't-dragging-your-drunk-ass-around kind of drinking partner. Fair warning.

36. Puked in a friend's car?
No, but I threw up on a girl on 6th Street once, and my friends pretended like they didn't know me. Bitches.

37. What is the last alcoholic beverage you drank?
Wine

Day Three Ramblings

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:07:07 GMT

I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed and some deep cleaning done on Thursday. I chose that day to be the day that I quit smoking. And guess what - it's going pretty well. Of course, having four gaping holes in one's mouth is a good deterrent to not puff on yucky cigarettes. Also helping are the narcotics the nice doctor gave me for pain.

So here I am, day three of not smoking, day three post tooth-yanking. Inexplicably, the teeth, or lack thereof hurt a little more today. I think because I've eased off on the narcotics. I'm getting a little tired of being slightly out of it. Yesterday I made some red beans and rice (from a box, scandalous!), and it took me ten minutes to fully understand what the instructions were telling me. I finally had to read them aloud. Sad.

My dogs have been constant nursemaids. As a matter of fact, I just glanced down and they're both standing very still gazing up at me. Weirdos. I shooed them off because that's a little unnerving. I mean, I love to be worshiped but sometimes they take it a little too far.

I'm very tired of soft sweet foods. I want something substantial, but I don't think I'm quite ready for that. Unfortunately, I threw up the lovely sweet potato soup I had prepared in advance of my convalescence, so that's off the menu. I'm considering chicken and rice or chicken and dumplings, but wouldn't you know, it's 80 degrees today, and the thought of such warm foods make me break out into a sweat. Plus, a brief peek at recipes on line look rather complicated for my drug addled brain. Maybe I can make the soup part, and talk C into doing the dumplings (he claims he doesn't like them! what kind of southerner doesn't like dumplings?).

I'm finding that today is the first day that the cigarette craving is starting to kick up a little. Right now I'm having my morning coffee, so I think that's triggering it. I was warned about day three. Apparently it takes 72 hours for the nicotine to leave your system. But I'm strong and will overcome. Plus, I still have nasty open wounds in my mouth and there is no way I'm putting smoke in there. Oh good, the thought made me gag. That's a good sign, right? Fuck you cigarettes!

Open Letter

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:15:42 GMT

To the Older Man Who Flipped Me Off-

Dude, was that necessary? Did it make you feel better to honk and make ugly gestures at me while I was letting someone back out of an awkward parking spot in the busy shopping center parking lot? Do you know I did that even after the bitch in the SUV cut me off at the stop sign? Do you also know that I would have let YOU out, Older Man, if you were in that awkward spot? I bet you wouldn't have flipped me the bird then.

Were you so much in a rush you couldn't wait TWO MORE SECONDS to get to where you were going? I noticed that your companion looked pretty miserable and defeated in the presence of your ugly nature. Is that the way you wanted to start off the holiday weekend?

When you so emphatically flipped me the bird (and oh yeah, I DID see it in my rear view mirror), I had to stop myself from jumping through my sun roof to do an impromptu dance on the hood of your car. So I did the next best thing by blowing you a big fat wet kiss. I hope you saw it through my dusty back window.

I also resisted the urge to pin you in behind me when we made our turn finally - because that is not the point of driving Texas friendly. The point of driving Texas friendly, Older Man, is to be courteous to other drivers sharing the road. We need that especially in this town where traffic is so bad. I'd like to think you learned a lesson today, but I doubt you did. I expect you'll continue to spread ugliness on the road leaving unhappy drivers in your wake.

But you know what? That won't deter me from being a courteous driver. I'll do the same damned thing next time, no matter what sourpuss is behind me.

Happy Thanksgiving, Bird Flipping Sourpuss. I hope you and your miserable companion find some happiness this joyous holiday season.

xoxoxoxox
Sooze

Saturday Morning

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:32:22 GMT

I've been off since Thursday. It's been really, really lovely. Chuk and I have lolled about watching movies and eating leftover Halloween party food. We've had activities outside the house everyday, so we're not just holed up like weirdos.

Halloween was fun. Chuk decorated the front yard - dug some graves, had fog machines, a green laser, spooky spider webs and hung various gory faces and skulls and such. We didn't have many trick-or-treaters, maybe two or three small groups. Mostly the neighbors across the street who declared our house the spookiest on the block. WE WIN!!

The trick-or-treating here is sort of disappointing. When we lived on the East Side, we had hordes of children, and always ran out of candy. I think part of is we live on the corner of an extremely busy street. Also, because the time change was later this year, the kids lost an hour of darkness. Next year, I'm going to be more generous with the candy, because we still have a whole bunch left.

We had an intimate group of friends over, including my brother and his new girlfriend who I met for the first time. I like her. She's sweet and worlds better than the last one. Good job, bro!

Speaking of the time change, that's tonight. I hate it! Whyyyy do we have to fool with the clocks, WHY?

Haunted

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:24:51 GMT

Scene:

At work, looking out the window, waiting for a phone call. She sees a pick up truck parked on the street. She can see into its bed. It's dirty and there are some shovels, and a rag? Oh, no, that's a chicken.

A chicken - in the back of the red, late model double cab truck with bumper stickers. White, with a red comb. I called my coworkers over and we all confirmed that yes, it was a chicken.

We watched the chicken for a while, and y'all, I was worried about it. Something didn't look right, aside from the fact that there was a chicken flopping around in the back of a truck parked on a street downtown. It looked uncomfortable.   I thought it may have even been tied up.

As you can imagine, it was concerning to us, but we didn't quite know what to do - so we conferred, quite a bit actually, until one of us said "Can we please not talk about this anymore, it's giving me an empty feeling inside". One of the other of us decided to write a note on big pink paper "YOU HAVE A CHICKEN IN YOUR TRUCK".   I sent her downstairs with a piece of tape - then I watched her.

She put the note on and then went around and peeked over the side of the truck and sort of recoiled, and hurried away. Moments later, she was upstairs and told me that it was bloody. She said it had blood on it. She's too short to see over the side of the truck - it was one of those big ones. She couldn't see if it was tied or not. But I knew it was, just because of the way it was moving.

I can't speak for my coworkers, but I watched all day. I didn't know what else to do.

Finally, they came back, and we barely missed seeing them get into the truck, but there was a woman in the passenger's seat, and as they backed out, I identified the bumper stickers and made a conclusion about them. Recent immigrants probably, visiting the consulate around the corner. They backed up, and the chicken started flopping around, and sure enough, it was tied to the truck.    It was awful. Awful. We really did discuss all the possible options.

Confession:
We explored every option, but no one idea really stood out as a good one. This is horrible but, at one point, and this is when I know I'm really awful, I began to giggle about the absurdity of putting a big pink note on a stranger's truck alerting him of the fact that he has tied a chicken in the back of his truck.

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:24:17 GMT

Tonight, something happened to Steve's foot while he was running through the yard. I think he got stung. Whatever happened really hurt his little foot. At first I thought it was a sticker, because I saw him running across the yard, and then he stopped and started chewing on his foot. From where I stood, it looked like it kind of hurt. Usually if he gets a sticker, and can't remove it himself, he hops over to me and lets me remove it. But he never shook it off. I panicked, and called my Mom. While she tried to help me figure out what happened, looking in her dog medicine book, took the chance to tell me all about what has been going on while I haven't talked to her in a month.

Anyway, he's still favoring that foot. I'll skip over the part where I looked at it and he growled in a disgusting and snarly manner. That's a direct result of the games we play with him. For years now I've told C that we really need to stop playing "Give Me That Dog" and "I'm Takin' Him". Now I can't even look at his foot without fearing for my life! He totally snarled at me and tried to bite me while I was feeling his foot. Part of it is that whatever happened, hurts. I can't find any obvious trauma, so I can only assume I was right and he got stung. I just gave him a doggie dose of benadryl, I bet that makes him feel better. Poor dear.

Creative Visualization

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:46:49 GMT

He signs the papers and they dance in their new house.

She places her letter of resignation on his desk, and feels GREAT

Courageous, she ventures forth

Wednesday

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:56:57 GMT

It's Wednesday. Wednesday. I kept thinking all day it was Thursday, but it's not.

It was cool this morning, Fall-like. A cool front bullied its way through yesterday, making a total mess of morning drive time. Very aggravating.

But this morning was cool, and it made my heart sad a little. I always feel wistful this time of year. It feels very much like an ending. Every year! I'm all mopin' around because I'm mourning Summer. Goodbye Summer, I hardly knew 'ye, what with all the cloudy days and rain, and flooding. Wait, come to think of it, maybe Winter will dry us out. Get us back upright.

Perhaps then all the MILLIONS of crazy-ass insects and spiders the like one normally sees in jungles and rain forests will get frozen and not come back next year. They are completely out of control due to all the rain. The torrential and non-stopping rain.

Omg, how boring am I? I'm talking about the weather. Sorry.

In other news, Chuk asked if we could have a buffalo as a pet. I said no.

It's Done

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:58:37 GMT

Rest in Peace, Mogra.

I knew Mogra's mother - her name was Hell's Bellz. We called her Bellz. She was a tiny black cat just like Mogra. We were young, and poor and didn't get her spayed in time before she got pregnant. The likely father? Spike, a stocky black stud. We lived across the street from Treaty Oak. Bellz got pregnant after the household broke up, and I declared I wanted a kitten out of the litter. I chose her before she was even born. I wanted the smallest of the litter - and oh was she tiny.

She was so small, I could hold her in my cupped hand. When she was a kitten, she would perch on my shoulder, her huge yellow eyes like two moons. She was always a weird little thing, looking more like a bush baby or some kind of rare marsupial than a cat. Her feet were no bigger than a nickel, but she had full sized claws that constantly snagged on the carpet, my clothes, everything. Quite honestly, her claws were sharper than her intellect. But what she lacked in common sense, she had an abundance of sweetness. Petting her was awkward because she so passionately loved being touched. She'd writhe and twist and knead with her sharp claws, leaning into me.

I named her Mogra after my favorite incense at the time. It smelled so good, but I've never been able to find it again. I later realized that Mogra means Jasmine in Indian. It's also a river in India and means mother too.

This morning, I played her favorite album - Treasure by the Cocteau Twins. I turned it up really loud because in her old age, she became deaf. After her breakfast of real people tuna and ham, she sat in the den and listened. I haven't played that album in years.

I feel strangely still and quiet. The gentle hum of her existence is gone - one melody line in the symphony of my life has faded out.

Goodbye, my dear sweet friend. I love you very much.

Oh my cat

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 05:36:09 GMT

I'm taking Mogra, my cat, to be put to sleep tomorrow.

My cat.

She's 17, or there about. She's been with me from the very beginning of my adulthood.

As a kitten, she was tiny enough to hold in my one hand. She's not much bigger now.

This is very hard.

Is this thing ON???

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 07:19:33 GMT

for my virgin post-
I give you THIS

Hello! Here I am alone in my thoughts.

tonight I watched 300, and while I found the movie to be in my opinion, kinda boring, really liked the soundtrack, and I will be buying it shortly, with the grand idea of choreographing a tremendous live action interpretation of the idea beyond the killing.