There's a Girl

I realize as cold weather decends on us there will probably be less postings - be it because people are outside less, or I am near windows less.

Anyways, I believe it was the end of last week as I glanced out there was a young woman I hadn't seen before (at least not that I recognized from the back). She was walking purposely down the driveway and up to the private back door. I didn't see if she knocked or went right in. I think she might be a girlfriend.

Brief Sightings

Yesterday as I was walking home from the bus stop reading my magazine, I passed the yellow house and realized someone was outside. I glanced up quickly and there she was bending over watering the pots on the front steps. The best part was there was Rufus just inside, looking out. All you could see was his head through the screen door - perfectly centered.

Then later that night, as I sat down for a quick bite I heard conversation and there was almost the whole clan - all except the father, and I think Rufus. The daughter and her boyfriend were standing with Goblin on the leash. Mom was a bit to their left and the son was sitting on the steps of the back private porch. Not sure what they were talking about. But it made for an interesting circle. And ended once and for all my lingering doubt that the son and boyfriend might have been one and the same person. I didn't think so, but now I know.

Son on Cell at Corner

This is an overdue post as the sighting occurred Sunday evening, over a week ago - 8/19. I had had family visiting for the weekend so didn't have any sightings. But after they had left I had run to pick up something I had bought off craigslist in the next town over. On my way back, at the same intersection I spotted the son in his car - just at the end of our street, I saw the son again. As I was crossing the busy street, almost home, I noticed someone standing on the corner talking on the cell phone - it was him. It was weird though, because it didn't seem like he was talking on the phone while walking somewhere. It was more like he needed to have a private conversation, away from the house, so had gone down to the corner of the street for the call. That doesn't really make any sense, but I only saw a snapshot of him as I drove by. And that's it. Pretty quiet. Although last week I saw the husband one evening sitting at the kitchen table, a fan sitting on a chair pointed at him with remote control for the TV that I knew must just be around the corner and out of sight (for me). It had been a hot and humid couple of days.

Oh! And I almost forgot. As I was walking to the bus stop, ahead of me on the sidewalk was the daughter heading to the same bus stop. We both sat on the stoop of the house in front of the stop. I ended up sitting right behind her on the bus, although I got off before she did - I think she went to the end of the line. The funny thing, was a few stops after ours, a fellow with dreds sat down next to her. It was interesting comparing the two types of dreds. I wonder what the maintenance is like - how does one wash them? I don't think I have the look to be able to carry them off, but she does - not everyone can.

Goblin sighting

Yesterday I was coming home when it was finally still light out and as I rounded the corner onto my street and there, down a ways I saw the little pug. I think his name is Goblin and the boyfriend was just letting him out for a bathroom break - not a walk as he was barefoot (the boyfriend, well and the dog too I guess). The daughter and her boyfriend live two houses over from me, so I'm almost sandwiched by this family. That's all in the sightings - been out of town on the weekends and working late in the evenings, so not much overlapping time.

Son and Saturn

Yet again, I was out of town this weekend so not much to report. However, after battling summer traffic to get home, I was just a few blocks from the apartment, crossing the busy street which is a tricky intersection. I was just thinking they need to mark the lanes better, as people never know where to go and there are a bunch of blind spots. I wanted to just blast across, but was good and cautiously entered the intersection, ready for someone to cut me off - due to the blind spot. Which someone turning left almost did and I realized a moment later, that it was him! He was driving his silver Saturn and I recognized him. I thought it was neat that our two Saturns got to meet, inches from each other. When I got home, I double checked, and the garage was open and the car gone. Still not sure who he really is in the whole family tree. I wonder if his car is a standard too.

Party

Opps - this didn't get posted last week - not sure which day it was.

I got home in the evening a bit late and realized while walking up my steps that there was a party next door. It was a nice low-key adult party. A good dozen or so guests chatting and milling around out on the deck and inside. The setting was wonderful as it was a perfect summer evening, cooling down a bit after a long hot day, and they had in amongst all the wonderful flowers and gardens candles lit. It just added so much charm to the party. I ended up going to bed early but feel asleep with the pleasent sounds of people chatting, glasses clinking and laughter.

The next morning as I was getting ready for work. He was out doing the regular routine of letting Rufus take a bathroom break while still in his bathrobe, and he started moving some of the extra chairs off the deck from the party. I think it was a good party.

NIght gown

Yesterday morning, while in the bathroom, I noticed movement down by their side door. He was standing at the door, with the door open, looking out, and assessing the impact of the rain we've been having for awhile. And he was still in his pajamas, which were none other than a night gown. Although, I guess it's called nightshirt for the men. Like the one we see Scrooge wear in Dicken's famous novel. You don't see that too often these days.

More flowers

I don't know if I've mentioned before but one of the great things abour my Yellow House neighbors is their wonderful flower garderns. In the front, along the side and in the back - all fully developed and full of diverse and wonderful flowers and lush green. Even on the side deck and the front porch, in the window boxes, vines crawling along the side railing - everywhere. And it keeps expanding. Of course as the season changes, new blooms emerge. But while sitting on the toilet and enjoying the greenery, I realized that even more has been added and just then out she comes to inspect the latest additions. A few annuals down by the driveway and I think a few more pots on the deck. She definately enjoys the plants which I would have never guessed if I had just met her - she doesn't seem the type.

Late Night

I had a late night Wednesday. It wasn't until after 10 pm and I was heading home via public transportation. As I was getting off the bus, I noticed in the review mirror that another person was exiting too, and I think it was the boyfriend. If it had been earlier and I wasn't so tired and the song on the mp3 wasn't so good, I might have turned around and struck up a conversation. He's actually the only one of the characters I've talked with, months ago while waiting for a really early bus one morning. Instead I just walked home briskly and he walked behind a few paces.

Morning

On my way to the bus this morning, when I walked by their house, I noticed she was out on the front porch looking at how the flowers were doing. She was in a bathrobe I think, the kind that zip up and have an interesting print. She was somewhat screened by the bushes and plants so I pretended not to notice her. I was going to say "hi" but felt a little like it was an invasion of privacy.

Sewing

Last night I noticed that someone was at the kitchen table sewing. I think sewing a button on. It took me awhile to figure out who it was until he stood up - it was the husband. So he can sew, at least a little bit.

Just before going to bed, I heard piano playing. It was a somewhat simple tune that was a little hesitant. At first I thought it was my downstairs neighbors playing - they moved the baby grand into the basement. But than I realized it was the tv as there was spoken voice and dialogue and that it was coming from next door. I couldn't figure out what show they were watching, but am going to guess/pretend it was some PBS doc. You have to love summertime when the boundaries of separation crumble as people open their windows to deal with the heat and we kreep into each other's spaces.

Rufus

Last night I happened to see the husband and wife at the kitchen table. Not eating, just sitting there - I don't really see their heads from my angle, but think there is a tv just out of sight that they were watching while talkng. The funny thing was Rufus, he was sitting there, with his head perched on the edge of the table, all dog like. Almost like he wanted food and was giving the old dog eyes - except I didn't see food. He's a cute dog. Ok, she's a cute dog.

This morning when I walked past their house, I noticed dozens of green beer bottles. The paper bags that held them the night before had disengrated with the rain and they were exposed over the tiny lawn between the street and the sidewalk. Except it wasn't beer - just tons of old fashioned ginger ale bottles.

Who is He?

So Tuesday night, I notice that the daughter and boyfriend come over with their little pug - Goblin. Such a strange dog for them. She is in her usual flowing black layers with her messenger bag that has rubber spikes sticking out the front. And the boyfriend has gone all retro and has his hair greased ala Fonzie style, or maybe I'm thinking more like Danny Zuko from Grease - you get the idea, well at least the era. A moment before, I noticed the son had come home and before heading up to the studio apartment, was petting the cat who was laying belly up on the driveway (she runs away anytime I try to come near her - she spends time over in our garden a bit). The daughter seemed in good spirits and the boyfriend was jolly. I noticed the son had come down and was talking with the boyfriend. So that at least takes care of the doubt that I had that maybe they were one and the same person - they look a bit similar - same height and style of dress. Although the son is more quiet and timid. I think they ended up having dinner together but I got the impression the son wasn't part of the festivities. He really does look like the daughter, so I do think he's the son, at least the brother, but why wasn't he eating with them. Does he not eat? I've never seen him partake in any of the meals, inside or outside. He had weird body language with the boyfriend too. A bit uncomfortable. Maybe he did something earlier in life that hurt the family and now is slowly returning to the family fold. The only person I've seen him comfortable and at ease around was the cat - which I guess doesn't count since she isn't a person.

I've been spotted... I think

Yesterday, I was walking back in the evening and the wife was out on the sidewalk, sweeping up some of the clippings from pruning the bushes. She glanced up as I was approaching, but not being uber social with strangers, she went back to sweeping. I was thinking of saying hello as I passed, but felt a little odd, carrying a duffle bag with a cat in it (we were returning from the vet). That, or I'm just shy and chickened out. I walked a few more feet to my sidewalk and turned down. I think that's when she realized I was the neighbor (do keep in mind that I think I see alot more of them, then they of me). But than later that evening, after cooking dinner, I was sitting down in the back room to watch tv and eat. I was right near the window. I looked out the window just as she coming out the back door and noticed her glance up at me briefly. I've been spotted. It was such a brief moment, I'm not sure if it occurred. And I wasn't watching her - I was watching the tv - so I think she felt like she was invading my privacy more than I hers. She than went on to talk with her son for awhile in the back - she must have intercepted him while he was heading into the back apartment. Strange body language - a bit formal. So I'm not sure it's the son anymore. Or maybe it is her son, but only by marriage. I don't know. He does look alot like the daughter.

Roller Skating

Yesterday afternoon around 4 pm I noticed the daughter coming outside with rollerblades and knee/elbow pads. Except on closer inspection it wasn't rollerblades but good old-fashioned roller skates. She spent time practicing reversing direction up and down their driveway. I realized that there were a bunch of white marks from her braking. Since she was all in black with the dred-locks, I wonder if she is part of a local roller derby team. This seems a lot more likely than her just casually skating down the bike path. It's a fairly combative sport. The other question is what does she do that she is home in the late afternoon (I was out 'sick')? I think she works in writing, but maybe I'm confusing her with her boyfriend Steve who I know is a writer.

Rufus and traffic

I was sitting waiting for my bus. In the sun. Getting hot. And noticed at the end of the block that Stan?(I know that's not his name but will have to do), crossing the busy street by my house, with newspaper in hand, walking rufus. Except he was crossing against the green. Not something you normally see. And traffic was stopping. Something you quite often see. And still astounds me (I'm a NYrker). It was an interesting sight - Stan in shorts and tee with black socks and sneakers. Rufus (who I know is really molly, but I didn't find that out until months after watching him/her, so the name I gave has stuck - unfortunately the misassigned gender trips me up). Rufus completely sheared strolling behind. (S)he's a sheep dog - so come June gets a massive pruning. And than they were gone and I was back to waiting for the bus. In the sun.

Dinner Outside

Last night the daughter was over for dinner and they were enjoying the weather and eating outside on the deck. I noticed while heading to work that in the recycling bin there was a tobacco chew tin - I think it's the brothers. Not sure why he wasn't there at dinner. Also, the boyfriend wasn't there either. Just the three of them.

Son

This weekend I realized that there is a new member to the family - their son has come back for awhile and is living in the back studio apartment. I saw him lock his bike in the garage and he has a Silver Saturn (I think the perfect name for the car is Pluto). I had thought at first he was the boyfriend - Steve - they both have the punk black died hair look. But he does look like his sister.

I haven't seen him eat with mom and dad yet in the kitchen - but they did all go out for dinner the other night - all freshly cleaned and the long punk hair slicked back.