Eucalyptus attacks Trigger El Nino apocalyptic vest
25-10-15 12:24 Family
Santa Barbara’s El Niño preparations have begun. In expectation of a wet winter, (dry) creek beds and drainage basins are being cleared out. Debris that was blocking storm sewers has been removed. The neighborhood alliance plans to clear branches and leaves from the roof drains and gutters. Citizens are reminded that water does (sometimes) fall from the sky. The weather channel is in apocalypse mode and..
“I’m unimpressed, Nazy,” I explained. “Why should we listen to someone who can’t even deliver autumn weather in October?”
“Say what?”
“It’s been too hot for too long. It’s October. I want cool days and cooler nights. It was 92℉ yesterday. If they can’t get autumn right, why should I believe their warnings about the winter?”
“If it does rain, it will be very messy. There was a big mudslide in Los Angeles when it rained last week.”
“The operative word is ‘IF’, my dear.”
We’re preparing for Halloween as we reach the end of this abnormally warm autumn. This week, Nazy and I went to a fun costume party at a friend’s home. Last year we went as a pair of bananas — an eccentric costume choice that limited mobility. This year we borrowed Tom and Melika’s Lion King outfits. Except for Nazy’s ‘tunic’.
“You’ve had that tunic since we were married.” I exclaimed.
“It’s not a tunic, it’s a long vest. They call it an Abba in Iran.”
“Abba is something else,” I thought.
“We bought during our trip to Iran,” Nazy replied.
“I’ve always liked it,” I replied. “Obviously not many occasions to wear it,” I thought.
In preparation for Halloween, Nazy bought a pumpkin that she carved into a Jack-O-Lantern. And, since Tiger is supposed to wear a costume to his music class on Tuesday, we picked out a nifty batman cape and mask. The grand(est)son was unamused. He likes hats, but capes are a horse of a different feather. And, speaking of horses, Tom and Melika, unable to find their Lion King costumes, had a somewhat different idea.
Newsflash: I just got an email from my car who says that it is time for service and time for me to check my windshield wiper motor.
The grand(est)son has no worries about becoming attached to his shoes — he out grows out of them too fast to attach. His vocabulary is also increasing, making it more difficult to feign incomprehension when he uses actual words to ask for something that I really don’t want to do. But, on the other hand, most often he just wants to have fun. He’s learned to play Hide and Seek. And when he wants to do that, he just says: “Hide”.
He also likes to have someone read him a book (or two or three or … eight or nine). He loves playing with his cars - and with the…
“…. amazingly tolerant cat,” I noted. “Monster lets the baby ‘hug’ him. When Tiger becomes too annoying, the cat simply walks away.”
“Have you noticed, Dan, that Jamsheed likes to pretend that he is a cat?”
“Excuse me?”
“He lies down on the floor next to Monster and stretches out.”
“At least he’s not licking his..”
“Dan!”
Regular readers may recall that Nazy hurt her back a few weeks ago when she slipped down the steps. This week, she decided to take on the Eucalyptus stump in our yard. Several months ago, we had to cut down a giant, but drought-stressed, Eucalyptus tree that been dropping debris, some large debris, into the yard. A huge stump was all that remained of this once mighty tree. The tree, a regular attendee of motivational speeches, viewed the loss of 50 feet of crown as an opportunity. New growth sprouted all around the stump. For some reason, Nazy was concerned that this malevolent tree would rapidly return to limb-dropping mode. Accordingly, she attacked the tender, but tenacious new sprouts. The sprouts hung on — for a while. Then, as Nazy was really leaning into the pull, the sprouts, scenting a chance to counter attack, let go. Nazy fell backwards and now has a somewhat sore butt. But she still looks great!.
“I’m unimpressed, Nazy,” I explained. “Why should we listen to someone who can’t even deliver autumn weather in October?”
“Say what?”
“It’s been too hot for too long. It’s October. I want cool days and cooler nights. It was 92℉ yesterday. If they can’t get autumn right, why should I believe their warnings about the winter?”
“If it does rain, it will be very messy. There was a big mudslide in Los Angeles when it rained last week.”
“The operative word is ‘IF’, my dear.”
We’re preparing for Halloween as we reach the end of this abnormally warm autumn. This week, Nazy and I went to a fun costume party at a friend’s home. Last year we went as a pair of bananas — an eccentric costume choice that limited mobility. This year we borrowed Tom and Melika’s Lion King outfits. Except for Nazy’s ‘tunic’.
“You’ve had that tunic since we were married.” I exclaimed.
“It’s not a tunic, it’s a long vest. They call it an Abba in Iran.”
“Abba is something else,” I thought.
“We bought during our trip to Iran,” Nazy replied.
“I’ve always liked it,” I replied. “Obviously not many occasions to wear it,” I thought.
In preparation for Halloween, Nazy bought a pumpkin that she carved into a Jack-O-Lantern. And, since Tiger is supposed to wear a costume to his music class on Tuesday, we picked out a nifty batman cape and mask. The grand(est)son was unamused. He likes hats, but capes are a horse of a different feather. And, speaking of horses, Tom and Melika, unable to find their Lion King costumes, had a somewhat different idea.
Melika, Tom and ‘Trigger' 
“I bet is was tricky to drive to the party,” I said to Nazy.
And, speaking of costumes, there was great sadness here as Nazy finally persuaded me to discard my ‘comfortable walking in the garden’..
“…dilapidated, ugly, falling apart..” Nazy interjected.
“shoes.”
“You bought new ones, Dan!” Nazy claimed.
“You made me do it.” I retorted.
Newsflash: I just got an email from my car who says that it is time for service and time for me to check my windshield wiper motor.
The grand(est)son has no worries about becoming attached to his shoes — he out grows out of them too fast to attach. His vocabulary is also increasing, making it more difficult to feign incomprehension when he uses actual words to ask for something that I really don’t want to do. But, on the other hand, most often he just wants to have fun. He’s learned to play Hide and Seek. And when he wants to do that, he just says: “Hide”.
He also likes to have someone read him a book (or two or three or … eight or nine). He loves playing with his cars - and with the…
“…. amazingly tolerant cat,” I noted. “Monster lets the baby ‘hug’ him. When Tiger becomes too annoying, the cat simply walks away.”
“Have you noticed, Dan, that Jamsheed likes to pretend that he is a cat?”
“Excuse me?”
“He lies down on the floor next to Monster and stretches out.”
“At least he’s not licking his..”
“Dan!”
Regular readers may recall that Nazy hurt her back a few weeks ago when she slipped down the steps. This week, she decided to take on the Eucalyptus stump in our yard. Several months ago, we had to cut down a giant, but drought-stressed, Eucalyptus tree that been dropping debris, some large debris, into the yard. A huge stump was all that remained of this once mighty tree. The tree, a regular attendee of motivational speeches, viewed the loss of 50 feet of crown as an opportunity. New growth sprouted all around the stump. For some reason, Nazy was concerned that this malevolent tree would rapidly return to limb-dropping mode. Accordingly, she attacked the tender, but tenacious new sprouts. The sprouts hung on — for a while. Then, as Nazy was really leaning into the pull, the sprouts, scenting a chance to counter attack, let go. Nazy fell backwards and now has a somewhat sore butt. But she still looks great!.
For last week's letter, please click here.
The Grand(best)son and the Pumpkins
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