It's the First Thing to Go...Okay, the Second...I think

I haven't posted anything lately.  I know I should keep it up--just in case I get a follower someday.  But, I just haven't posted anything lately.

Now, I could tell you that I have been super busy, what with working all day and jetting across the country to fabulous hotspots by night.  I could tell you that gremlins abducted my blogspot and that it was just recently returned to our planet.  I could tell you that my dog at my post.

I could tell you any one of these things.

But the simple truth is that I forgot my new e-mail address and password.  That's right.  Just forgot. *sigh*  I hate growing older.

I Think That I Shall Never See...

The oak is gone.  Not just the obnoxious dead limb that fell to earth a couple of weeks ago, but the entire majestic tree.

*sigh*

The gaping hole left in the canopy of our backyard eco-system is overwhelming.

I can't bear to look at it.

The neighbor's rationale was that other limbs could have fallen just as easily as the first.  They said removing the tree would give them a good night's sleep when the wind picks up during a storm.  That's what they said.  Their eyes gave them away, though.  Their eyes said "Woo Hoo!  No more leaves to rake!"

150+ years of building ring after ring in its trunk and with the buzz of several chainsaws the monumental oak came down during two long days.

The tree is not forgotten, though.  I will remember breezes rustling the leaves in the spring and the crunch of those same leaves underfoot in the fall.  I'll recall its striking silhouette against the stark winter sky and those huge limbs capped with snow.  I'll miss the cooling shade of leaves the size of dinner plates.

I'll remember these things every time I see the piles and piles of wood still stacked and strewn over my neighbor's entire backyard!  I'll struggle to remember these things when all manner of varmints move in to the wood piles.  I'll remember and I'll look up the statute of limitations on tree murder...

Starlight and Rainstorms

My daughter took me to Starlight Theater last night for my birthday. Starlight is an outdoor amphitheater in Swope Park. It is in a beautiful setting and features such amenities as a VIP restaurant catered by Hereford House. The idea is to enjoy a relaxed meal and then a Broadway show. On the bill last night: Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."



We were fully prepared to endure the residual heat from our 104 degree day--we dressed in cool, loose clothing and drank plenty of water in preparation for the outing. We ate on the patio of the Diamond Club on site and seriously looked forward to the production. About the time we had our dessert, the temperature dropped dramatically.

I'm talkin' 15 degrees in nothing flat. In the Midwest that triggers your Uh-oh reflex.

Enjoy the cooler temp, but have the ark on standby

...or the ruby slippers.

We found our seats and the lights dimmed. Soon I saw in my daughter's eyes the delight she had as a little girl when we cuddled on the couch and replayed the VHS version of the musical over and over and over again. We were awash in the glow of familiar tunes and fond memories.

As the overture began so did the sprinkles. By the second or third musical number it was flat out raining. Veterans to Starlight pulled out transparent ponchos of all colors from neat little packets and quickly gave the appearance of "audience in a baggie." You see the show is never called because of rain. There are no rain checks.

The only preparation my daughter and I had taken was to stow away a compact umbrella. What were we thinking? This tiny polka-dot rain shield was meant to fit in one's purse. It was not intended to cover two grown people. But there we sat. Huddled under the mini-brella. The production was very, very good and we valiantly defied the downpour. The clouds would tease for a while--letting up for a few minutes only to resume the deluge. We left at intermission--not because we washed out, but because lightening had begun to streak across the sky. As we sloshed across the parking lot (thankfully she had sprung for reserved parking) we slipped and skidded in our flip-flops, still clinging to the useless umbrella. We found the car, slid inside and drove home.

As I was spreading my drenched clothing over the towel rack to dry I realized something. I really had a great time! Thanks, baby girl!!

Oak Invasion

About a week ago a limb from our neighbor's tree fell between our two houses.  This was no little tree!  This thing was enormous!  The tree itself is probably 150+ years old and has leaves the size of dinner plates and acorns the size of golf balls.  In fact the limb that fell could pass for a full grown tree.

If it were standing upright.  Which it isn't.

Still between our houses it has been subjected not only to separation anxiety, but extreme wilt in our 100 degree weather--104 degrees today.  The fallen limb is no longer green, no longer exciting, and no longer welcome!

I want the limb out of my yard and off of my house.  I want to see how much grass will have to be replaced and if there is any hope for the portion of my landscape buried under this oak intruder.

Uncharted Waters

I've been considering a blog for a while and now...well here it is.

I contemplated all sorts of themes based on my interests--art, cooking, classical music, spray cheese or Harry Potter--but nothing seemed deep enough to draw the blogging world to my proverbial doorstep.  After a while it seemed okay that I blog just for me; to leave my theme completely versatile and open to change.

Viola!  The birth of a blog...