There is a ghost in the house

He is pale and chalky with a grumpy expresson on his face.

We are painting the living room this week.

Thanksgiving

We spent Wednesday night at my brother and sister-in-law's house, where she cooked her second turkey ever and did a splendid job. The bird was roast stuffed with carrots, onion, and celery and basted with a dry white wine. My brother made the sage dressing. My neice helped with the rolls. My nephew stayed in the living room, absorbed in his new Kong video game.

Thanksgiving day, we took my mother to Horseradish Grill for their prefixe Thanksgiving Dinner. Very good meal. Excellent wine that, although I enjoyed it very much, I would have never ordered if I'd seen the price per glass. The Silver Oak 2001 cabernet sauvignon is very rich, dry, full bodied, leggy, and woody. It's a lovely wine from Alexander Valley.

Today, with any luck, we'll start work on painting the living room (finally!).

What I found out yesterday

I saw an amazing tree that had shaped itself like the steps it grew over behind the DWR store in Buckhead.

I discovered that sound of the train passing overhead at the WhiteHall bridge at Lee and Ralph David Abernathy sounds just like a gigantic didgeridoo.

Monster and I discovered at the B-Complex show that we have neighbors who we can actually spend time with and not be driven mad. I ran into some old friends at the art event who, it turns out, live on the same street we do!

fretting over Thanksgiving

I sent out a group email to my family with only one response from an uncle about Thanksgiving Day.
Monster will probably be going to Alabama to be with his family for the holiday. My brother's family spends the holidays with his in-laws. That leaves me without a clue on what to do with my mother. I'd love to spend the day puttering around the house and trying new recipes for the possible Winter Solstice gathering here but I don't want her to be alone on any of the holidays. I think the best possible solution is a very nice dinner out but I do need to leave an opening for Monster, just in case he's around, to join us. Most of the favorite places are booked solid already except for those with a first-come seating, which a wait that she can't or won't do on her bad knees. I asked to be on the will-call list at HorseRadish Grill, in case there are any cancellations.

I had too much to dream last night

I don't know what got into me but last night was heavy and sleep laden. Many bizarre images invading my mind even as I was knodding off. The dreams just kept getting more vivid and odd and the sandman was holding me in a tight embrace.

Changing Weather

Yesterday was a record-setting high temperature of 80 degrees. Today the forecast is for 64 degrees.

You Are Apple Cider

Smooth and comforting. But downright nasty when cold.

What Part of Fall Are You?

home cooking tonight

Cooking a meal of vegan brats, sauerkraut, and potatoes with Monster tonight. Yum.

Yesterday, Sandy and I hung with Pam at the new house. I folded unidentifiable (to me) baby items and organized some of the stuff in the new nursery in the house that she and Seth have declared is their Final Move. Met their son Jex Raven who was five months old Saturday. He's a big happy baby who is very vocal.

Later Monster and I met Chaz at Little Azio for some eats before Chaz headed home to see his wife who was due back in a few minutes and Monster and I went to EyeDrum for the last night of the Switch show. I am so happy I got to see that. The show was dedicate to light and it was also a performance night with no less than five theremins being played simultaneously during the night.

After work last night, I went to JoyCam's house to deliver the remote for the Sony Television and pick up Monster's new hot glue gun that he'd lost during the giant puppet making. Sat for a few minutes in the kitchen chatting with Joy, who was making pizza dough for pesto snacks, and nibbled on fontina cheese. The Sony TV is in a new home at Joel's house because his TV died so it's in a good home now. Joy will get the remote to Joel, who has been at their house a lot lately.

After the JoyCam house, I took a CD of Halloween photos to C, who had a beautiful altar de muertos set up on her back deck. A friend who is in Mexico now had sent her many wonderful sugar skulls, skull cookies, and pan de los muertos that she'd used to set up her altar with along with photos of departed friends and marigolds. Just lovely. I had thought setting up a similar alter for my father and Monster's father, who both passed on this year along with both of my grandmothers, but never did it. Now I really wish I had. It's kinda a kill-joy for me when Monster is not so much in to festival and holidays like I am. I need to move and think much more independently at home in order to ensure my happiness in the future. To his credit, Monster was great for the Halloween Parade and an excellent puppet builder.

FunLisa and Brant have been hanging around with each other since this year's parade. Monster and I might join them tonight for billiards and darts. Seems like the best way to spend this Friday night, since he's let me know that we will not begin clearing out the living room to paint tonight. Not yet but soon.

What was that noise last night?

Last night I woke up to a loud roaring noise that sounded like a jet 20 feet from the room. I have no idea what it was. The sound was slow in passing. The clock said 3:30 a.m.

Halloween

was fun.


I actually had real live trick or treaters. Most even in costume. It was great.

I took the leftover candy to work to remove the temptation from home. Otherwise I know I'd be having twizzlers and jolly ranchers for breakfast.

Next year, I must get to know the neighbors and make the house better lit and more attractive.