Off the deep end…

I wonder if Ellen and Reid think their dad has gone off the deep end on issues of nature and the environment. Could be. Hey, we’ve all got to commit to something.

—————-

May 13, 2013

Ellen/Reid: I’m up in my office, occasionally sneaking a peak out the window to watch the pair of bluebirds flit in and out of their nesting box to feed what must be at least a couple of young, hungry birds. People persistently want to open the box to take a look and we have to shoo them away. One of the old biddies who sticks

The nesting box is occupied by blue birds about this time of year. I may electrify the perimeter to keep prying hands from opening the door.

her nose in everything around here objected to those instructions, and Felicia set her straight that we paid for and put up the box. Serves the old gal right. Leave the birds alone, lady.

It’s cool here this morning and it feels good. We’ve had the sort of May you’d expect; relatively pleasant with nice temperatures. But that comfort is fleeting. Heat and humidity will have their way with us soon enough.

It was so great to see you guys for Emma’s birthday. Three generations under one roof. She is a little controller at this point and there’s a sense that she knows she runs the show – at least for now. That was a nice gesture, Reid, with the surprise shave. Liz must’ve liked that. It makes you look younger

Connectvity…

Henry and his buddy Tucker, the black Lab, cool their heels in Ellen's living room. No doubt once the picture was over, it was off to the races - again.

As I see it, connectivity has multiple meanings.  The popular sense as used by Ellen and Reid involves wires and tech gadgetry.  Then there’s my way.  What you see below is a recent note to three of my dearest friends – Diana, Jim and Pam – back in the old stomping grounds.  We used to play cards together.  I miss them a lot but I don’t want our continental drift to widen the gap any more than it is now.

———————-

December 15, 2010

Pam/Diana/Jim: Why I’ve not done a better job of staying in touch is just beyond me.  I was trudging around at noon today wondering why that is so and then it hit me that I could get off my butt and send you guys at least a short note.

I really miss you guys.  I miss Des Moines.  Stumbling upon friends has been a hit-and-miss proposition at best down here, and most of those that I do have are golfers.  Jim, as you saw it’s just a different way of living down in these parts.  If you’re not from here, well, you are insulated from the rest of the genteel society. 

But I suppose I’m here to stay unless something really whack happens.  The arbiter in the move or stay equation is real estate and the weather.  No way could I possibly hope to recoup what I’ve got in my little townhome.  Prices have fallen like a stone and there’s not much hope on the horizon.  Time on market figures to be about 200 days if, as the mini-Allen Daltons down here say, the house is priced right.  It’s just the Home Marketing System, Southern style.  Stuff just isn’t moving.  It’s really tough on those that over-bought when prices were at the tip top.  If I was certain it would sell for even in the ballpark of what I paid for it things would be that much easier to simply pull up and go.  As for the weather, it just seems hard for me to deal with severe cold any more.  It’s been in the lower teens here the past few mornings and it’s been excruciating to get in the car and drive the half hour into the office.  Maybe it’s that it is a damp cold.  I don’t know, but it does cut to the bone.  But enough whining about that junk.

Jim, I need to know how you’re doing.  Diana, how are the girls and where are they?  And Pam, what are Nick and Sam up to?  Every once in a while I pick up some hearsay about various folks from Meredith and RES, but it’s pretty slim pickings.  I don’t know what Ray is doing or the Prengers or anybody else for that matter.  Since I’m so lousy at spending time on Facebook I guess I’ll just perpetually be on the outside looking in.

Don’t do a whole hell of a lot for fun other than try to golf now and then or ride the Harley.  I’m dating a woman now after nearly five years and it’s nice to have a companion.  Dating down here is a whole different world, and that could be construed to not being too good.  But I found a nice one.

Part of my world is going to be decided in the next few weeks and if and when that does happen I will spread the word to the three of you.  I hope you guys are still playing cards now and again, and if you are, deal me in.

Elizabeth Edwards’ letter…

Mom gets a kick out of a mechanical St. Nick. Nice to see her smile for a change.

It was poignant yesterday to read that among Elizabeth Edwards last duties as a mother was to write a letter to her children with instructions about how to go about their lives.

Of interest is that of all the mediums she might have chosen – video, audio, etc. – she chose the one option that is most personal and private and likely to have lasting meaning.  What is distressing is her children will never have the chance for a follow-up.  While we might want to see what she wrote, it’s best that it is for her children’s eyes only.  We should never see it.  Some things best remain private.

Perhaps her final act of love will move others to follow suit while they still can create their own lasting impressions.

—————–

Today’s letter to mom isn’t in the same category as Elizabeth Edwards, but I do get the opportunity, unlike Ms. Edwards, to spread my love over time.

December 10, 2010

Mom: We’ve had better weeks than the one you just endured.  But it sounds as if everything is working out for the best.  I’m glad you got some good care at the right time because you needed it.  I’m still trying to make heads and tails out of what happened, but your other son will fill me in on all the details.  At least this is happening before, and not during, Christmas.

It’s been exceptionally cold back here.  Even I’m frozen.  My lettuce and herbs went goodbye when the temperatures hit about 15F in the mornings.  It’s just a raw cold that penetrates right through you.  But for the most part there is no wind pushing it so that’s good.  It might climb into the 50s this weekend but the weather guys say it should be frigid during the next week.  Yuck.

Well, I’ve been trying to make some bird feeders for the kids and for my kitchen window but I appear to not have anywhere near the woodworking skills that dad had.  In no way, shape or form do I stick to the rule that says “measure twice, cut once.”  I do just the opposite: I eyeball everything and then make a wild guess.  Let me tell you that doesn’t work out so hot.  The results show it.  The cuts are crooked and a little bit too long or too short.  I didn’t bother to get the right wood screws.  Hopefully the only things that won’t notice the errors are the birds.  I hope to install one of the feeders at the window sometime this weekend.  Small houses don’t cost as much as I’ve dropped on these things.  Ellen wants one so that’s all that matters.

Reid is thinking about going to graduate school in New York City.  I’m a little apprehensive about it but as Andy and Joe have both shown, there are worse things than getting an advanced degree.  The big questions are what will he do with it once he gets it and how will he pay for it.

I’ve been nursing a bit of a cold since last weekend’s cold snap.  It hasn’t stopped me from working (or appearing to work) and I’m feeling quite a bit better than I was Monday and Tuesday.  I made a pot of chili and had some baked chicken last night, neither of which were as good as yours but for guy food they were okay.  I had a couple of beers and who knows, perhaps those helped, too.  Hey, you always told me to drink liquids when we had a cold.  Beer is liquid, isn’t it?

My Christmas shopping is done, and the kids got all the basics they asked for in terms of cold weather gear.  That made the shopping pretty easy, and most of it was done on the Internet and already has been shipped.  You could say I took the easy way out.