Dead Bat Found, No Explanation from Dog

Good ol' Saturday. One can clean, catch up on a couple chores, maybe start a project. In between laundry and dishes, I spied a small black pile of something on the first floor landing, under a plant. Upon closer inspection I see that it is a bat carcass. Husbear and I were out of the house for a long while on Thursday night, it may have happened then. If I was home while Pickles did his catch and kill number, I would know it. These remains could quite well have been there since Thursday night. Yesterday I slept late and rushed out the house for work, then came home and watched tv, certainly not looking in corners. Today I looked in corners.

Hot off the Press, Bat fools Pickles

Today around midnight I was sitting on the couch with Pickles, who was sleeping, and Peretz, who was sleeping on the floor, when I saw the familiar winged movement of a bat nearby. I tried to grab Pickles who didn't notice at first (because he was asleep) and saw that Peretz was tracking the movement of the bat as it flew around the room. That's interesting because he's sort of blind.

Pickles woke up and started mucking about wildly and I got up and opened my good luck good bye bat window and turned off the lights in the living room, turning on lights in other rooms (in an effort to keep bat in darkened room with open window). I went into the kitchen where Peretz was already hanging out, waiting to go out and pee. I put him on his line but didn't open the door (wild Pickles was still loose). Then I went to the living room where Pickles was standing on a chair next to the open window looking like he could jump out the window and get free which freaked me out (this dog is no fun to go chase around the neighborhood). I saw that he was looking out the window and next to the bookcase by the window. I saw that I also didn't notice winged creature anywhere about, moving. S/he could be behind the bookcase, hiding from crazy dog. I dragged Pickles to the kitchen and put him on his line, letting both dogs out.

I wandered around the downstairs looking around, turning on lights and nothing, no bat movement. It had only been ten minutes, not even, could the bat have really wised up that quick and got out? That would be nice. Pickles was over by the window looking for bat. I made a few more laps and then let the dogs in. I closed up the window and looked again behind the bookcase. Pickles made his rounds as well and camped out in the corner, where the bat was last seen (by him). We hung around the downstairs for another 30 minutes. No bat.
Did the bat really get out and away from Pickles, the bat killing high jumper? I'm going to bed now with that belief firm in my sleepy time reality. I like the bats' learning curve

I spoke too soon. After finishing that last entry, Pickles left the comfort of my bedroom and raced down the stairs. I heard noise and then the barking started up. I dressed and came downstairs, closing all the doors I could as I descended. Sure enough, there was the flying around, dog-tailed mess. I repeated my action, turning on lights, opening window and the bat came in the bright kitchen and went into the dark pantry, then flew back out and went out into the living room. It's again quiet. I did not see the thing get out. Can I trust it did and go back to bed? Is it again behind my furniture, ready to come back out and raise another ruckus? Perhaps I'll bring Pickles up to my room and close him in. I'm not going to leave that window open all night, though.

Bat o Rama

Today I called the bat guy and he said that bats are found in houses this time of year (mid summer) because the juveniles venture out of their lairs for the first time and don't know the way out and instead, come in.
He's been getting 4-5 calls a day to help with household bat problems. It would cost $250 to have him come in and give an assessment. He won't make the bats go away for $250. He just visits the bat home and gives a bat lowdown. "Well, I've put up with them for 10 years, I can put up with them for a while longer. I'll call you when you're less busy. See you in September." was my response.
        Cut to 2:30 this morning, I am awoken by the undeniable Pickles barking frenzy which means only one thing. No, he doesn't want to watch Sabrina again, he wants to catch the juvenile bat which is flying around the first floor. I hear David close his door with a firm non-interventionist policy and after 10 minutes of sporadic and annoying barking I get up, put clothes on and a hat, and go downstairs.
      Staying low to the floor, I run over to the window which worked for me recently and open it wide, then I grab the dog and put him on his lead, which comes inside from the back porch, just to keep him out of the way. He runs to the end of it from the kitchen and dining room, barking and being annoying. The bat circles the downstairs and once ventured up to the second floor. I crawl onto the sofa and watch the open window.
      The bat circles and circles again, going nearer and nearer to the open window. The dog, on the opposite side of the house, does not see the bat when it is circling by the window. He eventually winds down, thankfully. I find that it is his frenzy which makes the bat visit so unpleasant and stressful. If I can just get him out of the situation, I am more apt to save the bat's life.
        It takes a good 30-40 minutes and positive thinking from me but the bat does finally circle its arc tight enough and then, poof! disappears outside. Window gets closed, Pickles gets released and searches the house in vain, I take cold shower and now, to bed.

Smart Bat?

Today is bat weather and earlier tonight as I watched the last episodes of Downton Abbey's season 2 with the dogs, I saw a piece of plaster fall from the living room ceiling, from where I think they keep appearing (there have been 2 or 3 bats in July), and I thought, "I bet I'll see a bat tonight." I fervently hoped I was wrong.

David came back from Worcester and he and Chris, our houseguest, went to bed. I woke up around 4 feeling high blood sugar so I went downstairs to test it and take some meds. As my foot hit the ground on the first floor I heard that plaster sound and a whirring and I knew that my prediction had come true, before even seeing the creature flying around the kitchen. "Shit." I muttered and noticed that both dogs were off somewhere, prob in David's room, so I did something I've been wanting to try all summer. I went over to one of the windows in the living room and opened the top half, removing the screen so there was a wide space leading to the front yard (outdoors). I choose this window because it was at the end of a straight shot of space, meaning the bat could fly through the dining room into the living room and with any luck, keep flying in the same trajectory out this window. Also, it was the easiest to clear of any impediments. I went back to bed.

Of course I couldn't sleep. For a half hour or more I lay there, worried about the open window, worried about the  chaos the bat made in my house whenever they come to visit and Pickles sees them and chases them around barking. I hoped that the bat would escape and eat a giant load of mosquitoes to make up for all of the ones I was letting in my house. After that long sleepless time, I started to imagine one of those pesky squirrels who live in the neighbors front porch finding its way into the screenless window and then what a chaos that would make. It worried me.

I got up out of bed and hoped I would be able to muster the courage to go downstairs and check the premises. I couldn't imagine doing it but I put on my robe and a hat that I had at hand and went downstairs. In the bathroom I grabbed a large coffee table book to fend off anything flying at my head. I peeked down the stairs for flying movement. Nothing. Hoping for the best, I continued downstairs and found nothing flying around, nothing hanging on walls, no squirrels either.

I took care of my business from way back prebat times, all the while looking around for movement. Nothing. I closed the screen and went upstairs, feeling hopeful but skittish. Perhaps now I can go back to resting, now that I saved a bat's life.

I can't get enough of these bunnies.

Coffee Troubles and old news

I need to catch up with ya'll.
Kid's on tour, boiler is on the fritz.
Last night I had a dream in which I lived in a house where all the coffee cups were kept out of my reach and the coffee was a horrible hot water/oil combo. The coffee wasn't a smooth liquid drink, the hot water had a oily clump of something floating in it (like oil), which was supposed to be the coffee part but it wouldn't mix in to make a brewed-together mixture. All I could taste was hot water.
I didn't like it.

He's a nice boy, rent him the apartment

Last Saturday I went to Kingston, NY to take part or observe shows at the O positive festival. The Kid lives there now and interns at a recording studio and lives with a guy who is heavily involved in the O positive festival. Sal played with a group that was covering a song written by Pauline Oliveros for Sonic Youth as well as a couple other improv tunes she was arranging for the festival.

That started at 2 and I left Gfield at 11 in order to get there on time. I found that taking 91 to the Pike to the Thruway was the easy way to get there in just over 2 hours on the lovely sunny Saturday. I even stopped at the thruway stop just north of Kingston to use the restroom and buy the best honey crisp apples I ever had. They were picked very recently and washed by the lady from the farm who was selling them so I bought my $6 bunch of 7 and happily ate one on the way into town. Seriously the best apple of my life because things were just a little magic that day.



I bought my O positive wristband at Dominicks on the corner and found the Kid easily and after starting the conversation which was going to last all day with us, started to observe Pauline Oliveros in action, giving direction to the crowd around her who was ready to perform her piece. "If you find yourself in unison with someone else, change your sound" and things like that were her clues to the group and they dispersed, rocks in hand. I walked a little bit away and bought an ice tea at the farmers market which was happening on Wall Street and began to hear voices calling out names of people. It was the group performance. I followed Pauline as she walked slowly toward BSP calling out, "David! David!" which amused me greatly. They all clanked their rocks together and I guess the general public was somewhat alarmed and annoyed by the noise which also amused me greatly.

In the BSP people applauded and there were announcements in the darkened room and the mood changed from the sunny streets of Kingston as a 6 piece band began to jam, lead by a female vocalist and I was able to enjoy the music and relax. There was another drummer besides the Kid playing and they sounded together with it and I couldn't help but think of when EggEggs has two drummers. Ted and Jack really get a nice beat going with each other and everyone benefits. The two drummers behind the music in this song were good and I was proud of the Kid and glad to hear him do this sort of improv drumming, which is what I hear all the time with EggEggs and I couldn't help but wish he would play with them sometime. Maybe at their Hudson, NY gig in Nov. He said that they screwed up a bunch of times but it wasn't screwing up because it was improv. I just said it sounded nice. Matt, the guy he lives with, played guitar and there was another guitarist and a bass and the woman singing.

Afterwards, he drove my car to New Paltz after swinging by the apartment where he lives. Poor Kid is on a pull out futon couchy thing albeit in a nice little basement spot. It was obv that although Matt and his girlfriend were very nice to put up with him, it was time for him to get his own place. Today (the Saturday I wrote this blog), he told me that he found a place above the record store but he wasn't able to get it as the landlord told him he wanted to rent to someone who "has a job". I told him to tell the landlord to call me, I have a job.

Last Saturday we went to the town where I lived from 1984-1988 so I could to get Italian deli treats. This never happened but the time he and I spent walking around the campus was special and restorative for me in the way only QT with Kid can be. I am driven to write this blog so I can remember that time. I showed him the tripping fields of the college (named by Grace Slick back in the day) and the lame dorm room buildings, the building where I visited my German professor and such like and so on. I may have told him too many stories about my college years as they were mostly full of debachery.  I didn't have many stories to tell about the amazing astronomy class, great brunches or woman studies discussions. I guess I could have told him the story about how I restarted the literary magazine and printed "Gnu Pulse" but that seems like a boring story.

We walked around town for a bit after he expressed amazement at the proximity to the campus. He also did a little comparison of the campus vs. the SUNY Purchase campus. I could hear his thought process as he considered attending SUNY New Paltz. I enjoyed the discussion and was okay with him opting out of a future there. We bought music and I showed him where I had lived in town (Broadhead, Main Street and Main Street) and told a story about my nutty roommate who spray painted on the brick outside our apartment window and tried to deny it. We also discussed living out of parents' homes and how it felt.

We drove back to Kingston and parked, getting some coffee, again at Dominicks, where the proprietor recognized us both from previous (and separate) visits. After I took my first sip of the double espresso he brewed for me he asked, "How is it?" and was actually watching me drink it, genuinely interested in, (maybe how impressed I was), if I liked the taste. The taste of the espresso was worth noting and I'm glad he made me slow down and acknowledge and enjoy the flavor. I may not have noticed its silky buttery taste had he not inquired. It was damn fine espresso, he obviously did not let the residual last water flow go into my cup.



The Kid and I leisurely sauntered down Wall Street, toward the old Dutch Church where we lingered outside before the show, enduring the mosquitos and examining the artwork Matthew's girlfriend had designed which he helped her install: A webbing of red yarn/string amongst tall trees in the cemetary which laid right outside the church. The red string was strung in straight lines between the trees and around the trees in a figure eight. It was very cool and I took a few pics of the Kid with the string installation behind him. There is one included here. The Kid's face is blurry but the string is visible as is the setting sun.

Soon we gave up on the mosquito-y outdoors and sat in uncomfortable pews to hear the Lonesome Sisters, who were pleasant with their sad country song harmonies and guitar/banjo switcherup and funny brief patter between songs. Then Ida played with a third person, a woman who played violin and harmonized with the vocals. I would have liked an hour more of their music with a chaise lounge option. After them was Ruthy and Mike, who I had forgotten I enjoyed so much. Ruthy is a powerful singer and wow, her fiddle playing can be so subtle and strong and full of surprise grace notes. I was very startled but quickly realized that was why I loved the Mammals like I did back then. The last band was a very dynamic mess of a group from Brooklyn with about five or six white people playing old timey but cool young hip bluegrass type music which was cool. I'd like to hear them again so I guess that says it all. We both enjoyed the show very much and I was also happy to know he liked that old time bluegrass/etc music that I like. I didn't know that he did. I said to him, "I didn't know you liked that stuff. I really like that." He answered, "I like it when its the right time and place for it and this was the right time and place." Which is a kind of non-answer and I'm intrigued by the Kid's response. Does he like it? Did it just not really bother him at the church? Is he sometimes in the mood for it and tonight worked for him? Does he not really like it but it hadn't bothered him at this show or these folks were good enough to dig? Was it because Ida is so amazing? I'm on the edge of my seat from his ambivalent and diplomatic assessment.

I got back to Gfield by midnight.

hurricane irene

I've been waiting for Husbear to post a blog but he hasn't in a week so I guess I will do.

There is a hurricane on its way. We are not on the coast but there will be a big wind/rain situation around the gfield area. People are nuts about the storm and we did do a little shopping for it and some preparations:

I brought in the this, brought in the thats, worried the wind and water will ruin my lovely flower garden. I hope its just a lot of rain and plants will stay put.
I should probably pick all the tomatoes off the vines.
It's really humid. We just walked the dogs and we were all sweating and panting by the end.

I would like to start on my next zine but not sure I can settle down.
I keep remembering hurricane bob when I was living in a small house in the middle of edgartown, ma. It was a rental with a tiny yard which we never used so we didn't need to really batten down anything. We just eventually feel asleep and woke up to a load of debris strewn about the town/island.

more news later

dog gets stalked

I've lived in the bricker since 2002 and walked Pickles up Wells street since June, 2003. Pretty much ever since then I've seen this dog hanging around the corner of Wells and Allen Street. I don't know his/her name but I call her Snowball.



Today, when I was walking him, there she was, on the other side of the street, following us, not only on her side of the street but at a distance down the block.



I'm pretty sure its the same dog, but we didn't get close. Pickles was half interested in her but only because I kept pausing to take her photo. I was bemused by her checking us out, as ever. This is not the first time she's watched us. It's kind of cute, probably because there is no chance for them to mix it up.

first time for (almost) everything

Yesterday, I really needed to clean the bathroom at the Bricker. It looks great, except now there are little ants invading but we'll deal with them later. While cleaning the bathroom, other areas nearby suddenly became adjacently cleaned and I found these.



I've had these for years, I'm not even sure where I did get them-- could have it been Hampshire College? I have many odds and ends from doing the end of the semester clean up back when I worked at the school store. Anywho, I've held onto them and just for a giggle, and because I've always intended to, I decided to put them on ebay to see if I can get a dollar or two.

I've purchased from ebay but I've never sold. First, I looked up to see if there were any for sale already, there wasn't. Then I searched for them on google and found an old listing of someone selling them on ebay on March 30 and they got 35 pounds. That seemed like a good deal. So I listed them.

I've gotten 10 views and one question: "How much would it cost to ship these to argentina?" answer $20, but no offers. Is that the way it goes, will I get all the offers at the end of the 7 days? Will I get my 35 pounds sterling? Should I have waited until Paul does something like play at the royal wedding or get married or divorced again before listing these? I would like to get that money and relieve my house of just one thing it doesn't need. Stay tuned.

holiday

Usually the town of g'field picks up my trash on monday morning but today was a holiday so it was put off until tomorrow. This morning I was driving away from my house around 8:20 and the neighbor's recycling was out and a bag of newspapers had gotten loose in the wind and was blowing across the street where there was a loose pitbull mix (he looked like a cross with a roddy and was a tawny brown) running about within the paper whirlwind. It was a curious sight.

Later, while walking my dog I noticed that the papers were all gathered up and ready for tuesday pick up. it was then I remembered the scene I had witnessed this morning.

no longer a honeymoon..

David and I have joined his parents and his brother+brother's gf in a small compound inland from kailua bay. Kitchen counterspace is miniscule and the sink is a single. There are only three "glasses" and none very interesting or cocktail-worthy although 2 match and can be tolerated. There is no shotglass nor can i find the black garbage can outside, as is advertised.

However, my bed is comfortable and there are 2 bathrooms. Close by is Kailua Bay which was the best swimming I've had since September at Cape Cod and that vacation had turned out rather dreary at times, for swimming purposes. So yesterday, when David, his parents and I arrived at Kailua Beach Park, after finding no parking at the closer by Kalama Beach Park, I found myself ripping off clothes and tossing possessions aside to thrust my body into the gentle, welcoming and playful waves that folks were already enjoying. The water here covers the most wonderful cream-colored sand and I found only exultation at this swimming location. It was religious. David, Jim and Shirley also were swim-happy.

Afterwards we went to Rai Rai Ramen, a nearby noodle joint and found satisfying bowls of soup, except for Jim who only had shumai. After he and I tasted David's chicken curry soup, we both vowed we would get that next time, although my spicy pork and tofu soup was damn fine.

David fetched his brother and the neighborhood suffered a brown out. This morning the newly arrived Texans woke me while suffering from their jetlag. At 6 am or so they were escorted to a sunrise location by the Russells. I cleaned up the kitchen and cut up the pineapple in anticipation of their return. Also made another pot of coffee for David if he ever emerges from his separate 'snore quarters'. Listening to the new Radiohead, per Sal's tip.

swimming swimming swimming swimming swimming

here in honolulu, we rent a hotel room just for one night before decamping to the Kailua compound. in front of the new otani Kaimana Beach Hotel is a lovely beach just east of waikiki beach where David loves to swim. it lies just inside a reef and is mildly more private than the city beach. this is good and bad. good because its more mellow and spacious and close to our hotel room. bad because there are no surfers or townies to stare and gawk at rudely.

yesterday after checking in we went immediately to the beach and it was hot and it was lovely and we swam, floated and grinned. later, after dinner, david wanted to swim again and we swam in the darkest twilight before the huge moon honored us with her presence.
this morning after attending the mad and lovely farmers market at diamond head we came back to hotel room and changed, heading straight back down to the beach. the water was lovely and different today at 9:30 am than it was yesterday at 2:30. the low tide showed off the coral reefs we stayed away from, happily floating about in the deep sandy shallows. I saw a large school of fish hanging out with us humans in the same area. These fish were about 4-7 inches long. they were shiny and silvery, psychedelic to behold.

New Best Friend

Esmerelda, or as Peter calls her, Oggie, as in "Oggie the doggy"

Later that day..

ate a great buffalo burger at Bullshead and felt like a million bucks afterwards. We hung around Peters freakhouse for a little while then he drove us around San Fran and it was beautiful. Going down Market Street in his vw toward the east side scared me a lot, even when I was sure of his good driving, all I could do is fret and think things like, "what if the brakes go?" I related my nervousness to everyone by recounting the many scenes from the movie "What's up Doc?" when during car chases through San Francisco, large plate glass windows being walked across busy streets get run into incessantly.


But with Esmerelda at attention between me and Tanya in the back seat we cruised happily around, finding Bay Front Park an industrial wasteland and hail on top of Crissy Field. Very pretty as the sun tried to break through during a walk around the beaches of and here we are back at Tanya's looking out on South Ocean Beach pre-pie time and the sun is trying to reassure.

San Francisco, February 2011

Fun. Yesterday we flew into SF and it was like summer. After this Hard Winter, that was a pleasant paradise. Today is crazy stormy and wet, but maui wowie is a happy treat as is Peter, Teresa and Emerelda. Fun.

new blog

http://cookiesfromasource.blogspot.com/
I'm inspired by cookies and a book from gourmet. I am going to blog about cookies I am making from this book's recipes. I thought it might be amusing.

Adventuresome Humpday

Things which have happened to me so far today:
I wore a white shirt and looked really great with a vest but after I got to work and sat with myself quietly for a time I could smell old BO on the shirt which I have had for a while and wash as frequently as any other neatnick like myself. I then sprayed myself a little bit with CVS lemongrass and grapefruit scented body spray and now I cannot stand myself. yuck.

I corrected a co-worker who had sent out a company-wide email with misspellings IN THE SUBJECT LINE, causing her to unsend the lot and write a do-over.

I referred to myself as "small potatoes" and kvetched about a co-worker's arrogance.

I had a nice hotdog and greens plate at Hope and Olive for lunch. Read the police reports aloud to Val and had a good ol' time. Then drank a double espresso which was not at all bitter.

Looking forward to watching some more dvd episodes of West Wing tonight.

This Makes Me Happy

sunday oct 3

i cut myself washing dishes and david turned on the heat.
it was a big day.