two for two

Almost two years ago, this coming Thanksgiving to be exact, my brother from MA was visiting and my neighbor's father hit his car. Hit and run, leaving the scene of the crime, leaving my brother to contend with a situation that was infuriating and frustrating. This afternoon my other brother, who lives a mile or so away, was visiting and suddenly there was my neighbor waving at me through the door (we disconnected the door bell for Halloween, easier on the dogs) which was more than a bit disconcerting. C, wisely figuring something was up, went to deal with the wild waving... and now my neighbor, and extentended family, are two for two - they hit my other brother's car. I am not really certain, but, while backing out of a driveway is fraught with all sorts of issues and complexities, I am certain that it really isn't all that difficult!!! I am guessing that either we shouldn't park on the street anymore or they should have their driving licenses revoked. I also guess I should be happy that she didn't leave the scene of the crime and came to tell us directly... I guess.

happiness is 2 3-way switches

I realize this looks like any average double switch switch plate on a wall, which it is - but really it is so much more. Two weeks ago there was a single switch in this location that lit the light on our deck. If we wanted to turn on the floodlight in the back yard, say when a dog was out there at night taking care of her nightly business and we wanted to make certain she was not up to something nefarious, we would have to go ALL THE WAY DOWN to the basement. So very far, OK, not really, but sort of inconvenient when you didn't want to do that and just wanted to go out the back door by the kitchen. So, emboldened by my colleague C - he seemingly can do just about anything- I ran a new line and cut a larger hole for the double box this would require and fit it into the space. Then I tried like crazy to understand the various wiring diagrams for 3 way switches until I gave up and called C in. She is electrically inclined and makes new cables and stuff for TV equipment and the like, so of course she had it figured out in no time with a bit of help from our friend youtube. I then wrapped more electrical tape than is necessary around anything and everything and put it all back together. I cannot begin to express the joy I now have at the back door turning on the light when I take the girls out at night. I guess we all must find our little delights where we can.

letting go

So, for the first time ever in my teaching career an object of personal importance disappeared from my studio classroom. I never should have left it out unattended, but, well I did... and have in the past. Was it's disappearance an honest mistake/mix-up or was it an intentional pilfer? I do not know, but I do know my iTouch is gone. Upon first discovering this fact last Friday I felt as though all of the oxygen had been sucked from me, later I was annoyed/angry - the task of changing all of my passwords and then updating various other devices was a real pain. Now I am just plain sad, not because the touch is gone - ultimately it is replaceable I suppose - but because my trust has been broken. Though not having my music to choose while in the studio will have an impact in the coming weeks, but there are ways around that. The older I have become the more I have hoped to place less importance on objects and I suppose this is just another test, but I don't think I have aced it. I just haven't let go of the whole trust issue yet.

heaven here on earth

Kindness of the fabulous photographer who should really be working on a portfolio of his own... I give you my little bit of heaven on earth, which despite the family strings that come well attached, remains my most favorite place in the world. This is where I go in NH and have spent a part of every summer here ever since I was born. Columbus Day weekend was fabulous.

the slacker has posted...

My brother informed me today that I have been a total slacker when it come to blog posting and that in honor of Izzy's youthful love of the autumn as evidenced by her puppy-like behavior seen during the fall months that I should put up a post honoring her. So, here she is in all her glory last summer in NH as captured by the same brother who called me a slacker - though he said it with love.

enough

I am all for taking breaks while working, in this case scraping, caulking and painting our garage, but the forced breaks from the rain today are a bit much. Just saying, enough with the rain already.

a little love for the cat

Just in case people think I dote on the dogs too much by making them outdoor beds and the like... here is Tobey's box o' grass. She loves it!! I planted it a while ago in a planter that has been designated just for her and finally the grass is mature enough to withstand daily nesting, I think.