Fire in the Hole

In the valley of shadowless death

they pray for thunder clouds and rain

but to the multitude who stand in the rain

heaven is where the sun the sun shines

The grass will be greener

til the stems turn to  brown

and thoughts will fly higher

til the earth brings them down

Forever caught in desert lands

one has to learn to disbelieve the sea

-Genesis, Mad Man Moon

March 19

It's been a hell of a week. However, the most important thing to happen this week, my sister outlaw's back operation, at least initially, has been a success. They are giving her MRI's and all sorts of tests today. She was in surgery for more than seven hours.

Back to me

On Saturday, I got four news tires put on the Toyota. Needless to say, I was beyond surpised when the front driver's side tire blew out while I was coming home on route 8. The tire had less than 300 miles on it.

Jan was still in surgery, so I called my sister to let her know I was fine. A tow truck came about an hour later (he was looking for me on 8 north, when I had clearly told the lady I was on 8 south.) We towed it to my mechanic and then he gave me a ride up the hill to my house.

So I called my boss to tell him I wouldn't be in today (I want them to scrutnize the other three tires, because there sure as hell was a defect in the one that blew.) The tire was reduced to two pieces. The treads completely blew off from the walls of the tires.

So I had to take the day off. Normally, I could work from home, but I have no cable or Internet. In September, AT&T switched to Frontier (without them telling us) and they have been horrible. On Monday, they turned me off for being 60 days past due (which I was not, and have a paper trail to prove it.) They then tried to charge me an extra $150 to turn it back on, at which point I told them to go fuck themselves several times over and without the benefit of lubrication. Henceforth, I cannot work from home because I will not have Xfinity until Saturday morning. But other than that, things are awesome.

It's my life, your world

-Tom Petty

So, I spend the evenings reading aloud to the Doctor. I just read the first two books in Kass Morgan's The 100, about mankind trying to return to earth 97 years after a nuclear war and a global pandemic. They had previously been living in a space station above the earth, but life support is finally failing. They were both great and I just started the third book.

The 100 is also a TV series on the CW. It differs quite a bit, but it's awesome as well. They just wrapped up season 2 a week or so ago.

So, I have the day off. Good thing, because I am knackered. Doctor Wu has been stalking things for two hours, running around like a maniac, pausing to chew my fingers and try to nip my nose, and then he's gone again.

He's so small that he can't jump that high, so I am training him to use and tables and the like so that he can get to his scratching post by the bay window. It provides a stunning view of the Naugatuk Valley. And sometimes he scratces the furniture or jumps onto a table or shelf where he doesn't belongs. If he doesn't respond to my voice after three tries, then he get a call from the water pistol, or as I like to call it; the Pointed Nails of Justice.

Doc just jumped in my lap. It's only 12:30, but I need a nap. My eyes are flickering and darkness is falling over me like a blanket on a cage. Is it really only Thursday?

- - -

Spank my ass and call me Gwen! I slept til 15:00! Then I found out that my axle had broken and that was what killed the tire. They warranteed the tire and it cost $200 for a new axle. But I have my car back and can go to work tomorrow.

Jan is in pain but walking around. Her family drove from PA and upstate NY to see her.

- - -

Mel just texted to say that they are going to go back in to fix a screw or something that must be pressing on something. As janet has numbness in one of her heels. The wounds have not healed yet, so they say it will be pretty routine. At least they are being thorough.

For here am I sitting in a tin can

Far above the world

Planet Earth is blue

And there's nothing I can do

-David Bowie

 Friday March 20th

It's the first day of Spring, but you wouldn't know it because we are due to get more snow. Mel told me last night or I wouldn't have known. Not having Internet at the house is like living on the Island from lost.