My eccentric neighbor (hooray!!)

Now let me talk you through what you're seeing here. It's a man about 90 years old on a motorized low rider tricycle. There's two little dogs tied to the bike - they trot smartly along side the bike. There are three large birds, one on his shoulder and two on a contraption made out of pvc pipe. He's got an Evel Knievel helmet on.

Needless to say, I LOVE MY NEIGHBOR MAN!!!!!

Evidently, BG doesn't give a damn

It's time for the Sunday soccer game across the street, and BG has seen it all before. What was a thrilling experience for him just three weeks ago is old hat now. Too bad. I love having a ring-side seat. The field was empty when I started reading Sheila O'Malley's Skyward Part 2 and by the time I was experiencing an emotional meltdown-in-a-good-way, the guys started in with their hilarious warm-up exercises. So bouncy! So gangly! So utterly faggy-in-a-good-way! I especially love the sideways skipping and the leg twitching - so Twyla Tharp. I think there's a famous Monty Python skit - the League of men with funny walks or something - and I get twenty minues of that. Lovely!

Then there's Gus, the old codger whose participation skares the hell outta me. He's actually pretty good, and the other guys don't hold back around him (okay, they hold back a little, but not enough to screw up their game). But when he falls - oh my - the slow-motion roll to the ground gives me palpitations. So far, no broken bones, no ambulances called. But really, can we make it through the Summer without a disastrous kerfuffle? Hang in there, Gus! And if you have to break something, please do it on a Sunday when I'm outta here.

Ooh, the clouds are rolling in from the North

Check out the big shadow being cast on the mountains by the big wet cloud moving in. I know I'm overdoing it with the pictures of the mountain view from my desk, but I'm so awe-struck by the dramatic changes that go on. Tons of blue sky. It's a gorgeous day. About 50 degrees now. A perfect day for daydreaming about Ben Marley.

Spring is just around the corner . . .

It's barely perceptible, but the straw-yellow lawn of the park across the street has a slight green tinge. BG noticed, too. He was bouncing around here last night like a Spring chicken. It seems also that my road, which was recently re-sidewalked and repaved, boasts fresh new paint markings. "Do not park here!" screams the yellow curb.

I met my neighbors today. They're so nice - a gay bearish couple named Jones and Chris, mid-thirties, who have five male dogs whose names escape me, and who confirm that the neighborhood is "Awesome!" I'm so glad! With BG and me, this is now definitely a gay enclave. Can tiki-torch backyard barbeques be far behind?

Storms a-comin'

We just had about a half hour of hail, and it dusted the mountains with a sprinkling of sugar. Love it when the cloud bank rolls right up to the edge of the mountains, but doesn't go any farther. Rain and snow predicted for Tuesday.

BG on the Case

Here's BG vigilantly fulfilling his new role as Captain of the Neighborhood Watch, Montgomery Park Precinct. He keeps his eagle eye on all of the doings, from soccer games to (expecially) dog parades. And when a van parked illegally in front of the house yesterday and a huge rambunctious family began to disgorge themselves , I thought he was gonna have a hissy. He seems to have memorized the parking code violations. "Six-oh-two in progress, over." He's aching for a walkie talkie.

View from my PC

I just took this while seated at my computer. It's the game these guys apparently play every Sunday morning. What an insanely fabulous view to enjoy while blogging! I mean really!

Yesterday there was a sweet little birthday party being held under that large evergreen. Balloons and everything. But I hadn't unpacked my camera yet.

Early this morning I took my huge handmade wooden rocker (a steal on Craig's List) outside to the back patio and enjoyed the sun, the breeze, and the birds chirping. And the yapping of the Chihuahua next door. The dog finally calmed down, or else her human let her inside. Whatevs, it was lovely.

Chores for today: rubbing my new retro dining set (also a steal on Craig's List) with revivifying orange oil; finding my iron; storing a few boxes of records in one of the bedroom closets; and just enjoying being home.