rat patrol

Jackie found a rat in one of his traps this morning, after five weeks. I hadn't heard any scritching down
below for several nights but there have been other quiet spells during this process. I hate the fact that I hate those rodents so much -- they're just trying to survive, after all. But I do hate hearing them. So I'm hoping I won't get another visitor anytime soon -- I had four quiet years after the last invasion, which was up in the attic. 

I'm hunkered down this morning; I'll have to walk over to Paige's to pick up my CSA delivery at some point. Yesterday I walked through Silver Terrace and up over the hill to the Visitacion Valley Greenway. And back. Maybe six miles? Monday I hiked with KW and friends up to Sweeney Ridge. It was chilly but the sun came out now and then. 

I probably need a shower. Easy to lose track of the days. I had a brief phone chat with mom yesterday -- we were interrupted by a helper. She has her new hearing aids and isn't all that happy with them. I'm sympathetic to her point of view, of course. As usual, N and D were not interested in what I had to say -- mainly that we should be careful about putting Mom through a process -- and spending m+d's money (not our own!) -- to get these things that she might not end up liking or using, even if she *should* . . . but who knows, maybe she really will benefit. I hope so. 

The Solstice

They say the sun will come back
at midnight
after all
my one love

but we know how the minutes
fly out into
the dark trees
and vanish

like the great ‘ohias and the honey creepers
and we know how the weeks
walk into the
shadows at midday

-WS Merwin

 

year-end drift

Another chilly, hazy day. The little dogs across the street are yapping and their human companions are admonishing them, as usual. I am low on energy. I got a bit of lotion in my eye this morning. I am officially still working but all I've done today is a second pass at a blogpost. I'm drifting. 

I spent hours making lasagna and a couple of side dishes yesterday, even though my little dinner party had to be canceled because n was exposed to someone who has COVID. I wasn't thrilled by the way anything turned out, so . . . maybe the cancellation was for the best? I'll have to make room in the freezer for most of the lasagna.

I had lunch with SN on Friday and did the upper Market St. stairway walk with Meg and her family on Saturday. SN is having some difficulties with V -- or rather, V having difficulties, aka feelings he doesn't know how to talk about. The usual, I guess. Meg and family don't seem to be having any difficulties at all. 

 

white Sunday

 

Chilly but sunny days have given way to white mist and rain. I haven't done much today -- zoomed with both parents, is all. I had Friday off and went to Concord with mag to look at dining chairs, then to Carquinez Strait for an all-too-short walk (it was about 4pm when we finally got there). We ambled around the Franklin Ridge loop, and then drove back to Berkeley in time for me to get to games night at C+G's. 

Yesterday I walked to Alemany farmers market -- the usual. On the way home I passed a man lying in a doorway with a coat covering his head and neck and his hand wrapped around his dick. I just kept walking, feeling grateful that he couldn't see me seeing him. Also feeling like maybe I should do something . . . but what, exactly? I have committed many sins of inaction in my time -- if I believed in Heaven, I would have to say that a failure to take action is the thing that will keep me out. 

Anyway, it will probably be raining, or rainy, for most of the week. If we're lucky, it'll add to our scanty water supplies.