2010

I just noticed there hasn't been a single post this entire year.  Which means two things - either this blog is dead or I've gotten lazy.  Unfortunately it's the later and I'm not all that sure the laziness is new.

My most recent event was the other day.  I had left the house and walked to my bus stop on a crisp cold sunny morning.  I had sat down and had just pulled out my book when all of a sudden there was Mr. Yellow House walking Rufus - they must have been just behind me.  Normally we usually just do a head nod or some sort of acknowledgment - sometimes a 'hello' even.  But this time, when I look up and see him, he stops and starts to tell me how they thought they had seen one of my boys (winston) out on their deck.  They were worried he had escaped but it turns out it was a neighbors cat that looks similar.  I mentioned that the boys love the bird feeder they put out - it's like cat TV.  He said they were just about to put it out and off he went.  A nice little exchange and we went on with our normal mornings.

The other news I don't think I've posted about (I'm too lazy to look up), is that after a series of short lived tenants in their back apartment, their daughter and son-in-law moved in.  I think it was this fall.  Maybe summer actually.  They leave their blinds open in the main room more than any of the other tenants.  Which means I've had to start pulling the blinds down a bit more often when I'm visiting the toilet.  Which is a bummer as there's nothing I like better than doing my business while looking out the window at the world going by.  However, I realize at night, even with the lights off, and especially when they are having dinner guests over (i.e. meaning there are eyes pointing in all directions including at my place), I really should draw the blinds.  I still probably don't do it often enough, but hey, we're neighbors.  That's gotta mean something.

Well, that's 2010.  We'll see what 2011 brings!

And now the leaves are gone

And I have to remember this. Especially in the bathroom. Especially since there are new tenants. The gay couple didn't last that long (I think only one guy was living there, so maybe they moved into the other guy's place). I think a girl is staying there now, about my age or maybe a little younger.

However, the other day (maybe month now), I was coming home, talking with my dad on the phone and realized when I got up to my place that the new tenants keep their blinds open at night and on full view. It was a strange tv show - watching this guy sit there and play some video game. I still think a girl lives there - based mainly on the type of stuff in the room - more comfort, less just functional. But haven't really seen them yet. I couldn't pick them out of a line up. Lesson learned from that evening was twofold: 1. I don't really know my neighbors, 2. I might want to consider closing my blinds occasionally.

On a different note, this morning while waiting for my bus, I was sitting on the stone wall emptying the contents of my bag trying to find a battery for my MP3 player (I think I forgot to turn it off when the doctor finally came to get me yesterday) and in my limited vision I noticed Rufus walk by! They were on their way back from their morning walk.

Oh and yesterday I saw the dad deliver the mail to the back mail box. I was home early. It was sweet.

You know spring has arrived...

when the yellow house neighbors are flush with new foliage. All the wonderful lilies and greenery are filling out nicely. Even the vines climbing the porch railing are showing life again. The porch furniture is back out and the potted plants have emerged and are along the porch edges and up the stairs. Very nice and wonderful.

There was a little period there though that I forgot about - the time when you open the windows but the leaves are still buds - no insulation between you and the neighbors. But now the leaves are full providing the appearance of camouflage.

For the new tenants, I think they're a gay couple. I forget how I came to this conclusion as I hardly ever see anyone, but think I must have seen two guys together once. They're tall and lanky - New England style. They seem nice, but then again I haven't really seen much of them. But summer is just around the corner so you never know.

Christmas Shopping

Shortly after I got back from Phoenix for Thanksgiving I noticed a gift haul. Mom and dad were walking back from the garage with a Nordstrom bag, Sears bag and a nice 19" flatscreen. Someone's going to enjoy Christmas. Or maybe Hanukkah.

Also, I think they rented out the back rooms. I haven't been walking by the front door lately so haven't noticed if the sign is down. But I did notice a new car parked in the driveway. It's a Subaru with NH plates. Interesting. Can't wait to see the new tennants.

Signage

Last night, I was walking home from my bus after a night on the town doing some business development for my new job. I was enjoying the crisp air of the late fall and the rustle of the remaining leaves on the sidewalk, when all of a sudden I was jarred out of my autodrive. Just as I passed the first large bush of the yellow house I saw it - a very large white real estate sign. At first I thought the house was for sale. I wasn't ready for that. There's been a bunch of change I've been going through both in the personal and professional life, that I find I hold onto what stability I have remaining. Even if it's just the stability that your neighbors are your neighbors. Even if you don't actually know them, they're still a part of your life in a certain way.

Well the real estate sign was for renting the back part of the house. So now that puts the whole question of the son back into the forefront. Maybe he wasn't the son. I just assumed that because he had hte same style sense as the daughter (black, goth like, etc). But maybe he was just someone who rented. The awkardness of interactions between the son and the parents could have equally been explained that they were relative strangers. Now I have to admit I'm 50/50. He still could have been the son and just moved out for whatever reasons and now the parents have the opportunity to rent the place. Who knows. I wonder if I will ever find out. I wonder who the new tenant(s) will be.

Renovation on the Inside

They might have been doing some renovation on the outside of the house earlier in the month (there was a sign on the front yard), but they are definately doing some work upstairs. I always thought the back room on the second floor was the master bedroom. It's really large and has rows of windows on three sides of the rooms which have some wonerful mullions. Generally that's all I see as the blinds are always kept closed. But recently they've been left open for awhile. There is rolled up used carpet out by the back door (what I think of as the separate entrance) and I'm thinking this must have been the sons mini-apartment. You can see that there are stairs that lead into this room directly.

One afternoon I saw the dad painting in the room - trim I think. They're also doing some painting in the little room outside this big bedroom. I think it's a hallway, but it's hard to tell. They've been at it for awhile now, several days now if not weeks (I'm having trouble keeping track of time lately).

Last night, walking up my sidewalk on my way home I looked up and the lights were on and blinds were up for another room on the second floor. You could see an easel and some paintbrushes, so think this must be the studio. I know the mom is an artist as she had some of her work on display at the local art studios this summer. Of course, I only learned about it after the fact.

So they must occupy and use the front half of second floor of the house, and the back half was the sons. I wonder what they will use the space for now. Their house is about the same size and layout (long and narrow) as the house I grew up in. I remember my dad saying he was going to move after we grew up as it was too large a house for just two people. I think their house is a little smaller, but still large.

Moving day

I was going to post this before I headed off on my trip to Spain, but there was a moving truck and boxes galore a few days before I left. I was busy with my whole whirlwind of packing for my trip so didn't really observe much. Since I've been back I've only seen the dad and Rufus on their way back from their morning walks, so I guess anyone is fair game. My bet is that the son moved out of the back. I believe he had a girlfriend living with him as well as there was both a saturn and a corolla that weren't the parents I don't think.

Today and yesterday there's been a bunch of pickups in the driveway but I think they have some renovation work going on for the outside of hte house. As I settle back in maybe I'll figure out what has changed. Fall is starting so the leaves will soon fall.

Heat wave siting

Today should be the last day of the heat wave we've been having since this weekend. The neighbors have been eating outside on the deck/porch but I've mostly been out of town. However, this morning, I head out the door hoping to get to work early. But get stuck in that abyss of bus service (they usually come fairly regularly - there are three lines that come by, but there are spots where you can wait double the normal time). I'm sitting in the sun, thinking there is a breeze and it's early, but I have a black dress on and am starting to heat up and the bus just isn't coming. I just want to be in the bus, but it is nowhere to be seen, but keep thinking it should be here any minute. If I had known, I would have sat a few doors down in the shade. As I'm waiting, I pulled out the knitting and am on my second row when I look up and there is the dad and Rufus walking down the street. Rufus is nicely closely shaved, which makes him look like he is keeping cool (considering he's a sheep dog). As they pass we share hellos/good mornings. Soon afterward, my bus I'm waiting for finally arrives and I'm transported on an AC bus to an AC subway to an AC work. Trying to stay cool. I just hope my boys are staying cool back home.

Contact!

I just realized I meant to blog about this earlier but completely forgot. I think it was Tuesday of this week, I was coming home from work before running off to pick up my first farm share of the season, make a pit stop at Trader Joes before heading off to yoga. I was walking and reading my latest book (The God of Small Things). It was a great sunny day with everything in full bloom. As I'm heading past their driveway, I notice that there are several people mid-way down. I believe the dad and the mom, but it was a quick glance. I think I did mutter a "hi". As I rounded the corner and headed down the sidewalk to my front door, running through the hedge that separates the property is Goblin barreling towards me. He's a pug (or something like that, sorry, don't really know my dogs). He was all excited and he said "hi" and I got to pet him for a moment before he ran back to his folks who were calling after him. And that's that. My first real contact. He seems like a sweet dog, really friendly and happy go lucky. Plus he's always so fun to watch as he warbles along on his short legs and chunky body.

On a different note, I'm still torn about another issue. I've really been enjoying their majestic gardening they have. They've planted all their annuals and everything is just so lush and vibrant and colorful, even all the potted plants on the side deck/porch. I really want to take a picture and share this gorgeousness, but feel like up until now, the anonymity (unless you know where I live), is respectful. Posting a picture of their place - even if taken where you wouldn't recognize it from the street might be too much. But it is so wonderful.

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.

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.