Living in La Libido Loco

I woke up 20 minutes late on Friday. Not because I overslept, I just kept hitting the snooze button. So, I was cranky and out of sorts. I am one of those people who have to "ease" into the morning (I get that from my Mother) and the line between asleep and awake is not definitive, but fuzzy. I never look morning directly in the face; I just give it quick, furtive sideways glances. So, I usually get up 1 1/2 hours before I have to leave for work.

I remember my Brother Pete telling me once he woke up like 15 minutes before he had to leave. He said he took his shower at night, so in the morning all he had to do was shave, get dressed, fill up his thermos and go. I can't do that...

I can understand showering after work if you are, say, a construction or a factory worker (I did it for 15 years) to get that cutting oil or sweat smell off you at least for the night. It reminds me of something that makes me smile even now. When I worked in the factory, it was the only place I ever have been where you washed your hands BEFORE you peed. Anyway, I need a morning shower to sort of slap me in the face to ground me and bring me back to reality (again, I blame my Mother).

Note: Before you start thinking I am picking on my mom, let me explain. My father was mostly facts and figures (he was an accountant, after all), but my mother is all about feelings, intuition and dreams. In my life, I can work the hell out of a spreadsheet (thanks, Dad) but I really live the rest of my life in in what the Australian Aborigines call the dream time.

I had a 10:00 to 11:00 AM meeting at our Building 3, so afterward, I went to Lowe's (it's on that side of town) and bought an inexpensive push mower. My riding mower is fine, but with its big turn radius, it leaves large amounts of uncut grass in the corners of the yard and it takes a long time to cut them with the trimmer (and it's difficult to get it even, using that method). The Lowe's guy insisted on loading it in the car (it's mostly put together and in a big box), so I thanked him. When I got home for lunch and took it out, I was even more grateful! It really was bulky and heavy.

Before I left to go back to work, I shut off the furnace. Then I flipped up the window security stops (they only allow each window to be opened four inches) and opened the kitchen window (too high to reach without a ladder) and my bedroom window (right out in front of God and everyone). I figured the house was still secure and would air in my absence.

I had to go to Building 73 in the afternoon and noticed it was uncomfortably warm out there. I actually turned on the car's air conditioner. My dashboard information center said it was 84 degrees! When I got back to Building 50, I checked the Weather Channel and they said it was "only" 80 degrees.

After work, I stopped at CVS for a couple of prescriptions and then went to the corner gas station and filled my gas can up. I sloshed some gas over the side of the can, so I will have to leave the trunk open all night to air out (its okay - Volvos don't have trunk lights). Then I went home and treated the cats, changed clothes, etc.

I checked the indoor temperature and it was 72 degrees F. (I programmed the "winter" thermostat to stay at 70 when I am home, and 66 when I am not or I'm sleeping). So, I opened up a few more windows and let more of the fresh air in.

Then I composed my Weekend ToDo list. It's pretty damn long and I hope to get as much done as I can (a lot has to do with how fast these strong southerly winds dry out my yard). I printed it off and posted it on the fridge (like I always do). Then at 6:00 PM, I went outside to assemble the push mower.

First, I set out the saw horses and set a board on top (it's easier for me to work standing up rather than bent over, working on the floor). Then I set the mower on the board. I put on the rest of the handle and ran all the control cables. Then I started installing the wheels. I got the first one on when the phone rang.

It was my friend, B___, and, since we hadn't talked in a while, I switched to the living room phone and settled in for a nice chat. When we finally finished, I was more hungry than ambitious. So, I gave up on the mower assembly and made dinner.

Now, I had nothing planned and all my leftovers are gone. So, I perused my pantry and the freezers. I ended up making pierogies with saut�ed onions and sour cream. I had bought a different brand (Dudek, supposedly handmade, and on sale) but to tell you the truth, I like my regular "Mrs. T" brand better.

I ate dinner watching a taped pirate movie (Cutthroat Island, starring Geena Davis) but I fell asleep about 3/4 of the way through it (hey, who cares? It's taped, I've seen it a hundred times and I can watch the end some other time).

I woke up at 4:00 AM for a bathroom break. The first thing I noticed was that I still had all the windows opened a crack. So, I checked the thermostat and it was 71 degrees in the house (way warmer than the aforementioned usual nighttime 66 degrees). Then I checked the outside thermometer and it was still 69 degrees F., so I let them be. Come on, fresh air!

Then I noticed I could hear music. I realized I'd left the radio on in the garage. So, I put my bathrobe and Crocs on and went out to shut it off. I flipped on the light, went out and turned the boom box off. I went back, turned off the light and opened the door. As I was stepping inside, I felt the brush of a hairy animal rush past my leg. Damn Caley!

But, when I turned around and turned on the lights, it was Scruffy! What the hell? He never does this! Must be the fresh air. In spring, all of us mammals are living in "La Libido Loco," (hey, the sap rising isn't the only thing, I suppose).

So, following my instinct, I turned the lights back on and spent a good ten minutes trying to corner and capture him. No way! Too many places to hide under. Finally my intelligence kicked in (I've dealt with house cats for a long, long time) and I told him, "Hey, you want to spend some time in the garage? I'll check back with you in the morning!" I shut off the light and went back to the office to fill in the Blog.

About 20 minutes later, I heard these piteous meows from the garage. So, I relented and opened the inside garage man door. In walked Scruffy, looking abashed.

I finally went back to bed to finish Friday.