8 months later

There where times I wanted to jot something down here - a sighting or a passing on the streets. But as my other blog shows, just like everyone else I had not only hunkered down for the winter but was completely bogged down with life - just trying to hang on, let alone write about it.

But it's spring now - a time for new beginnings, a renewed energy. Or perhaps really I'm just procrastinating again. Either way here's a quick update:

1. Business as usual as far as I've noticed. Not too many sightings over the winter months - nothing seems to have changed drastically.

2. The son I think is still living in the private apartment. This is based not on any sightings - I haven't seen him for months now. But because his car is still there. Although I'm confused about the car. The parents have one car - it has a risdy sticker on the bumper. The son I thought drove a Saturn (we were Saturn buddies after all), but there has also been a black Corolla that's been there for awhile. The question is that this is three cars. They have a two car garage that they keep two cars in. There is hardly ever a time a car is parked in the driveway. And there is no street parking of the vehicles. So were does the third go? I did notice a few weeks ago on the weekend when we had great weather a girl. I hadn't seen her for awhile (it was winter after all). Not sure if she is the girlfriend. She could be someone new. She isn't the sister. But she did switch shoes and put stuff in the trunk of the Corolla. So maybe she's the brother's girlfriend who sometimes stays over but doesn't live there. And this is her car.

3. Early this week I was heading to the bus and fiddling with my MP3 player, I look up and there is the dad and rufus walking write towards me and passing me. I said a quiet 'hi'. Can't remember if I got a head nod.

4. The wife finally finished the painting job. The house had gotten painted along with the trim which required the nice side porch to be painted. However, at the time they had so many lush plants, including some vines, they didn't paint all the spindles and railings. Well, before spring really hit, but once it warmed up - she was out there one afternoon. Paintbrush in one hand, cigarette in the other, sussing up the progress. I'm a little sad as that was one of the few last reminders of the old paint scheme which I preferred. The bright yellow has grown on me a bit. Or rather, the brightness has subsided in my eyes. The only place left is on the back corner of the garage near the junk pile.

5. The wife has been doing alot of gardening. I love the gardens - they are always so lush and the porch is just brimming with new pots of plants. The bulbs have come and gone pretty much (mostly tulips). And now we have alot of purple and pink flowering plants. (Apologies on the names as my vocab of plant names is limited to a handful of the basics).

6. I've been trying to create a seceret language with their cat. She is a long haired (not my style) and mainly spends time outdoors. She meows when she wants to be let in which I hear occasionally. The other day she was meowing incessently (a different meow then usual) and from the driveway. My cat walter was in the window by me as I was witnessing all this. I tried to quietly call to her in my cat language I use with my boys. She could hear it but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I didn't want to call too loudly as it would alert the humans to my presence. In the end she lost interest and focused again on meowing. Yesterday on my way home, she was sitting by the front corner of hte house, right near the down spout in amongst all the plants. I think there must have been a mouse or spider or something as she was intently starring at something at the base of the building. But she wasn't in pounce mode. Still, I called to her in our seceret language as I walked by. All I got was the ear swivel. And I think just one ear at that. Oh well, it will take time.

That's all for now. On another note, I did find out that there actually is one person that reads this. Based on the mundane content, I had anticipated the number to be south of one (i.e. none). But visiting a friend in DC the other weekend, she relayed a question from a mutual friend - "Ask S about the yellow house". I have an audience! Well I did. It has been 8 months after all.

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.