she*had*a*thirst*for*knowledge

After coming back into this frigidly air-conditioned workplace of mine from a break, I’m almost enjoying that 102 degree Fahrenheit weather out there.

This is brilliant! And it keeps going and going.

Two anecdotes:

1. I was sitting on my back porch one morning this past weekend, or perhaps the weekend before. I heard a lot of strange animal chattering and looked up. I was surrounded by about a dozen squirrels, all looking intently at me, waving their tails threateningly. Some were on the ground, some in the trees. After reading about the German rampaging squirrel, this situation had me worried. I thought maybe I should back away slowly into the kitchen. I stood my ground though and watched them for a while while they watched me. For the rest of the morning the girls and I could hear the squirrels chattering and chasing each other through the trees and on the ground. Maybe it was mating season?

2. On Monday morning, while waiting for me to lock up the house, Matilda was bouncing on her yellow bouncy ball (thanks! Christy!) in the backyard. Then she screamed because she almost bounced right into a squirrel carcass. I had her show it to me. It was pretty well on its way to being decomposed already, strange we hadn’t found it/smelled it yet. I didn’t do anything about the dead squirrel, just shuffled the girls into the car, and off we went to school. And I’ve been wondering since then, gee, do I need to dispose of this? Is it going to start smelling bad? Why hasn’t it started smelling bad yet? Can I just leave it for the vultures to pick at until the bones are left? Do we have vultures in Chapel Hill?

My grocery bill for the week came to roughly $25. The girls and I went out to eat for $10 on Saturday, and tonight I think I’m going to get a club sandwich for maybe another $10 or less.

I’m learning about how to make meals last for days, how to use non-meat proteins in a somewhat creative fashion, how to vary the starches so one doesn’t get bored (rice, couscous, pasta, and so on), and how EXPENSIVE fresh fruits and vegetables are - I’ve been relying on frozen vegetables, but still have to stick with fresh fruits. This learning is due to necessity, but I admit, I’m feeling pretty proud of myself.

FINALLY!!!! I’ve been saying for years Playmobil needs to make an Ancient Rome set, and they’ve FINALLY DONE IT. Not available in the USA until September though….

My hair’s getting longer than it’s been…uh…longer than it’s been maybe since I was 16 years old. And yet I’m already feeling the urge for something more like this. But nah, this longer hair is such a novelty I think I’ll hold onto it for a while yet.

1. Schooner’s song “Make Me Mad” heard on their myspace page.

2. Hearing Jenny’s voice on the phone at work instead of the usual work-type stuff.

3. Remembering standing on various street corners in D.C. last week waiting for the lights to change, bare-legged in a new skirt, wind and sun in hair. That was a very happy time.

4. Matilda dancing.

5. Witch hazel (I think) in bloom around town.

6. Music fanzines from the mid 1980s I get to flip through at work. Makes me wanna ditch this blog thing and start a fanzine instead, almost.

It’s good to remember some concrete happymaking things at times like this. Should remind myself to do this exercise more often.

Innes later told me this was not what he wrote the song about at all, I misunderstood, but for me it still spells out this moment perfectly, the peak of a magical and unreal phase of my life, a group of adolescents in the countryside, each beginning to face the fact that people aren’t safe after all.

– From the Clientele’s blog, From Brighton Beach to Santa Monica

Oh yes, it’s that time of year again.

Girl scout cookies on the snack table at work = girl scout cookies for breakfast.

YUM.

1. Locopops is opening a storefront in Chapel Hill, in the same building where 3 Cups is located. This is very happy-making.

2. I found my first grey hair on my head this very morning. I’ve been expecting this to happen this past year, so I’m not surprised. I’m just glad I stopped dyeing my hair so I can see those grey hairs pop up in their natural setting.

3. I am moving into a new place in Chapel Hill this weekend - if you are the sort of person who sends me things in the mail, e-mail me and I’ll send you my new address, rsdchen at gmail dot com. It’s a funky place, with a great location, not bad rent, so I’m pretty excited about it.