A late turn

...of the summer wheel. Somehow, I missed Solstice.

I usually don't pull two cards for the Choice position. Up to now, it's been an "either or not" situation. This morning, I wanted to expand on the notion. "Why choose?" is a nice option - wiggle room for a storyteller. 

Pretty clear that this one is for me. 

I'm packing to spend a week with Charlie and plan on bringing stuff with me this time. Stuff to keep me OFF THE PHONE. 

Stitching, thread to prep, cloth, my Tarot, a good book or two, and the big laptop where the writing happens. 

The last week I was there, I went nearly empty-handed and found that I needed my own tools. Cartoons and Lego don't go all that far for me anymore.

Bailey and Salem are working through missing Camilla. A neighbor kitty, Lily, has moved away with her master. I offered to take her if a post-divorce situation left her homeless. Thankfully for her, her human is steadfast in his devotion.

I will also be over there with a shovel, liberating some irises and cannas.

I haven't discussed it with anyone out loud, but I would not be averse to the Cat Universe Distribution system blessing us with a full house once I've finished my summer travels. A super catio must be a part of this. 

Once, there were four.

 

And monkeying around with machine-made, store-bought stuff is entertaining. Feels a bit like graffiti.

Housekeeping

I was taking out some trash. Long overdue.

The bodies will never be found.

 

a switch-up

 

At first, I didn't know what to make of this. Did I own it, or was I drawing for others? I never ask anything of the cards when I do Choice, Chance, and/or Change. These cards didn't fit that pattern. I was empty-headed for a minute. I need to learn to accept that state- "No Clue". Then, the story told itself. 

We all have it in ourselves to pull our shit together, to come up with whatever works best for ourselves and those we care about for the best outcome. We have the power.

~O~

Finally, I got in the pool. There was a lot of work to do. Scrubbing that can only be done while you're in it. Skimming, vacuuming. Checking the hoses for leaks. I have the chemistry down to a relatively inexpensive science. Colin did a great job on a significant patch. There's a lot that can go wrong, so I remind myself that we got this pool in 1998 and that nothing lasts forever. Savor it.

But once the work was done, I climbed aboard the mighty River Rafter (complete with drink holders) and read over some of the story I've been working on. Writing still does it for me.

    It's late and I'm sore and tired. Bit off a bit too much for day one. 

A higher place

I did a worry rag out of my personal stash earlier in the year. 

Mindless stitching that resulted in a wretched mess. 

This morning, I sat with it—no music, no radio, no TV, just stillness—and started removing all those pointless stitches. Good progress was made and I took the time to assess my place in the day rather than let the uncontrollable bullshit set my course.

These bits and pieces have been with me a long time. I don't want to waste them.

Colin is becoming quite the chef.  I don't think I ever garnished anything in my life. Fresh chopped green stuff.

Chicken Parmesan made without mozzarella cheese and chicken thighs instead of breasts. Eating what's in the pantry and freezer these days.

What now?

 

Remember to breathe.
 

A week in Oz

 

It doesn't happen often that they are in the same place at the same time, so I always pay attention.

The pool pump was rescued, and the burgers were well done. 

Charlie was scooped up and returned to his world.  Mine is kind of small for him, but we had some fun.

This is the latest we've had the pool up and running in many years.  Maybe swim season will push deep into October this year. 

And, as of this writing, I still haven't been in the water. Soon, soon. 

As summer unfurls, I'll be in two places, balancing. Early in the week, I was with Charlie and Nibbler in their world and doings.  Then Charlie came back here to my house for the first time since Christmas. 

Colin was ready with the Bijou Lacativa Art House Movie Theater, complete with recliners, popcorn, trailers, shorts, and the feature chosen by Charlie at the last second: Star Trek IV. A good time was had by all!

I don't know what I'd be doing with life without him.

He's very interested in time travel and What Ifs, but I've been clear to show him that even the slightest tickle of history has a domino effect on the present.

Along with that comes the responsibility for one's actions and moment-to-moment choices. Sober stuff for an almost eleven-year-old, but he's a never-ending river of questions, and I'm just an old wizard who's kept some precious memories. 

Nibbler seems to be frozen in kittenhood, and we are all fine with it. 

No kings

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I got a good night's sleep for the first time in ages last night. To know that there are so very many people who feel like I do. I also thought about those who wanted to come out but couldn't for many reasons.  There is still much to do. 

The weather goddess worked in our favor here in Georgia. There was thunder in the air. Thunder in my heart. It wasn't until after I got to the park that I realized that I did NOT have a current copy of registration or insurance. Sure, e-versions are legit, but I had no idea if local LEOs were on their last nerves. I actually pulled up behind a unit parked in front of St. Margaret's to ask if my banner was illegal, plate being obscured and all. 

I put on my flashers, got out, and went around to the back of my car to get a look. Opened the trunk, adjusted the banner, and closed it before approaching the police car. Then I realized that my actions in that moment would have been highly suspicious, possibly terrifying to an officer who was pulled over doing paperwork.

 I walked off to the side with my hands empty and visible, only to find that no one was in the patrol car. I got back in my car and headed out. My crumbling vertebrae might keep me from walking or running, but nothing could keep me from driving. The local park was not a rallying place, but it was busy enough to gather some supportive honks and waves. The few miles to home were uneventful. As I pulled into the driveway, the skies opened for real. 

News of Brian Wilson's passing rippled through my dreams. My friend's mother engineered a surprise sixteenth birthday party for her daughter. I only had to walk two houses up the street in my finery. The boys even wore jackets. 

I was very intent on making an impression on a certain young buck. Then someone flipped Pet Sounds over to side two, and I remember being completely spellbound by my first time hearing "God Only Knows". This may have been the moment. 

After all the teenage foolery of the Beach Boys' music, where had this miracle come from? I'm pretty sure I went home soon after. Alone and fine with it. Thank you, Brian, for opening that door.

Caught a few

 

Back to back storms washed through .  There was very little dye wandering loose in the final washout. 

When I get back next week, there'll be another dyefest. A run at some hot colors.  Cherry kisses, red plums, mulberry gold, and tangerine. 

Some of these will get tendered with some heat. 

Chasing blue

The new table is such a good fit. Longer and narrower than the wooden one.  The table Jim built in 1997 needs a little work (Jim tended to overbuild, something  I always appreciated), but we've brought it down to the pool deck to serve as a cook's table and shade nook for cats. They like to watch when I'm in the water. Any day now.

The memory of the color, Bonnie Blue, is drifting. The color was retired by either ProChem or Dharma when I got the container of dye powder. It was old when I first used it.

For years, I hoarded bits of cloth with that color. Always aware of what it was when I used it. I'm sure there are a few bits of it in The Blue Wave.

Twice this morning, when I was mixing colors, samples on wet paper towels made me go "Yesssss. Bonnie Blue". I think I found it, but I won't know for sure until tomorrow. 

It was 85 degrees in the full sun today, and I declined the tent and forgot my hat. The threads will be cooked. 

If I was hot, I didn't notice. There was great music.

 

I live close to the edge to be near.

They're here,

They're near.

Restless love, feral souls.

And they know when I need them

coming through sweet and clear.

I open my heart with blue,

and they all rush in.

music filling the spaces between memories. They know what I needed to hear.

The algorithm was a visitation today. One of Jim's favorite pastimes was playing DJ. 

 I'd be futzing around in the kitchen or tucked up in a chair, stitching, and he would dig through our record collection, cueing up the most intriguing segues. Many times made me make that "Oooo" face and give him a high five. 

He had a voice for radio but never cared to fake the patter. He let the music speak, and he was eloquent. 

Today, I discovered how to see the history of what my music app played. 

For me, this was a keeper.

June Blues

              It rained! FREE RINSING!

That's a twin-sized, fitted linen sheet under everything, soaking up the goodness.

 

No Kings Day

 

I never made an effort to learn the geography of California. Bigger, better, and badder than all the rest is how I think of it. Way out of my league, personally. Grace helped me do a little better. Northern California seems like Paradise.

This map, taken from a trusted source, shows the six-block area where the protests are taking place. The rest of LA is going about its business. This is not making light. This is the perspective from someone who lives there. The shitweasel would like it better if everyone thought the whole city was in flames. 

Like many, the disturbance in the Force emanating from Los Angeles had me on edge all day yesterday. It was pouring on and off all day with blazing sun between storms. I hid out in the studio and hastily added NO KINGS to the back of my IMPEACH 8647 banner. 

I had to do something. Anything. Phone calls to the representative's voicemail seemed weak and impotent. 

I won't be marching anywhere on Saturday, but the plan is to park my car in a public place and drape the banner on it with a couple of large magnets. I will be sitting in it or close by, depending on the weather. 

Forecasts say it's going to rain on his parade in DC.  I wonder who he'll try to blame that on?

Late in the day, I took the banner to the local park to get some pictures. It would have been good to throw something down for scale, but the second I got out of the car and took a few shots, the thunder gods spoke. Loudly.  

I got it scooped up and back in the car as the skies opened. LOL..a weatherproof sign.      67" x  51" - a two-person, two-sided banner

NO KINGS is only hastily basted here. A couple hundred more stitches will finish it as the days tick down.

I could have nailed the lettering in place with machine stitching, but my thinking is that the gorgeous piece of linen underneath will become a Victory banner when the Shitweasel and his ilk are plowed under the dirt. 

stumble and keep going

 Sized and sleeved, but I keep wishing for a way to do something to bump up the contrast.

I do it often enough to make me wonder.  Focus on shapes, line, and movement, but lose sight (or is it a sacrifice?) of color and contrast. 

I'll be home for a bit. Charlie is going to Day Camp.  What memories! I loved day camp, but I can't recall if I sent my kids anywhere. (I did, Jake just reminded me of the summer camp at the weedy little pond at Putnam Park in Carmel).

I remember that the modeling clay was cold and smelled like cola. I remember getting dozens of tiny cuts on my fingers from making tile mosaics on tin cans. Nothing much was asked of you if you had a preference, so I mostly spent the days in the basement art department. Nine ways to make brown! Early influencers - chalk, clay, and poster paint.

He told me he was excited about going to a Stripers game. That's the Atlanta Braves farm team. Cool Ray stadium was so close to the apartment where they lived, we could watch the Friday night fireworks. I'm not sure if he remembers. 

So I gave him my hat, which I'd been dragging around, mostly unworn, for over a year. I adjusted the fit and watched him see himself in a different light. 

We were both surprised in different ways. 

Come color

 

Not quite yet, but soon. A fountain pen turned on me. Ice Rink blue was everywhere.  

A lightweight folding workable is coming. I ran all the dye shakers through the dishwasher before I went away.

In good time...a good time. Like these from Summers gone by.

The play