(This is a rather long post. If you don't have time to read it, at least scroll down to read the bit my niece sent to me today, near the end...it's fantastic!)
My wife and I both slept late today, though the term is relative when applied to the two of us. I arose very late, at about 7:45 am, while she got up just moments later. For me, 7:45 am is extraordinarily late, as I'm ususually up on weekends by 6 or so. And I went to bed at 10 pm, so I have almost ten full hours in bed. My wife, on the other hand, likes to sleep until 9 or 10 on weekends, but vowed to get up "early" today. But, on my schedule, my wife arose late. We both have been working too hard, I think, and we needed our sleep.
It's been eons since we got up early on a Saturday and went out to have breakfast. We did it today. It was a leisurely jaunt down the road to a homey little place whose middle-aged waitresses were not middle-aged when they began working there a good ten years ago. My wife and I both skipped toast, bagels, bisquits, and all the other breads they offered, opting instead for sliced tomatoes. So, despite having feasted on fried eggs and bacon (for me) and fried eggs and corned beef (for my wife), we left the place feeling virtuous.
After a quick trip to the post office, we hit the road, heading toward the 7 acre place my friend has north of town. We had no plans to visit, my wife simply wanted to see where the place was. So, we drove over and I showed her, from a distance, his place, and then we drove a bit further to the trailhead of the wetlands trail that abutts his place. We had not planned on hiking, so her sandals were not appropriate for the muddy trail, so we stopped and simply looked around the trailhead and watched literally thousands of butterflies, most of them tiny but wildly colorful little things, dart about the wildflowers all around the trailhead.
Off we went, wandering around the area, taking side roads into the countryside and occasionally finding a tiny, hidden lakeside neighborhood with lovely little homes right on the lake. Most of these were beautiful little places, perfectly sculpted into the scenery, but occasionally we came upon giant, new behemouths that were uttlerly out of place in these idyllic little lakeside communities. They looked like they belonged in the mini-mansion sprawl of Plano and Frisco. They are horrendously ugly, unsightly beasts that, while no doubt luxurious inside, look badly out of place and completely intrusive on the lakeside. I wish the people who decided to build those monstrosities would take a moment to soak in what their places look like. I am afraid they just don't get it...that gross overindulgence and blatant displays of consumerism run completely amok do not paint them to be the "successes" they think their raw displays of monetary wealth say about them.
I got off topic. We wandered in countryside, taking in little scenes of nature and admiring the quietude of country life until we got hungry (even after those breakfasts, we've trained ourselves to get hungry 'round midday). We stopped in a place (Prairie House, once a highly-regarded original place, now taken over by cutesy "old" materials, etc.) that is well-known for its chicken-fried steak (I know, to some who might read this, I am a sin against man and nature). We ate the chicken fried steak, which was fairly good though not in my top ten, and talked about the service being about 3 on a 10-point scale. Just after we finished our meals, I felt the little buzz on my belt that signaled that I was receiving a message on my blackberry (I know, I should not carry it around on weekends, but I really, truly, rarely get business messages I need to attend to...I just carry it as a cell phone). Here is the message my wonderful niece sent:
The Dog's Diary
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
The Cat's Diary
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.
In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now.....
1 comment:
What's chicken-fried steak? Is there both chicken and steak in it? (As you can see, I lead a sheltered life -- in more ways than one!).
Sounds like you had a pretty fine day. It's nice to get out to places like hiking trails around wetlands. We spent part of our trail clean-up working around a wetland area and it was very nice -- especially the chorus of Spring Peeper frogs and of the Red-winged Blackbirds that are making nests in among the cattails.
Regarding the big houses along rivers. That's definitely happening up here too. There are lakes and rivers where I've paddled for years and each time I go out, it seems that some new monstrosity has sprung into view along the banks. Fortunately, some of the townships are taking a stand against this kind of land use and are requiring large set-backs for all new housing along rivers. In one township, the building code was changed after one particular instance of someone building a hulking monster of a house with a wrap-around deck that actually hangs several feet out over the river. No doubt there's a great view off the porch, but the house is a complete and utter eyesore to all of the local inhabitants who paddle by in their canoes, not to mention what it has done to the shoreline ecology. I can't understand how it is that some people think it is "okay" to do these kinds of things to the shorelines of lakes.
I like your niece's email about dogs and cats. Very imaginative - and probably not far from how dogs and cats regard their lives.
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