these days of leiderhosen

For today. I am thankful for Kevin Smith, people who will let you laugh as loudly as you like and not shy away, summer duvets and indoor plumbing. I have purple sneakers on order.

When reminded, I celebrate the birthday of Danish naturalist Carlos Linneaus. It seems fascinating that one person would be for naming everything, creating genus's, categories, boxes in which to place every living thing be it bird bee flower . When we name our Otises and our FinnoulaLoolas we trot after Carlos with our need to make it ours.

It's late Sunday afternoon, deep in the Santa Rosa hills. The Steven is inside with his handsome Zen Teacher and his wife. I am taking advantage of being of no purpose and, after testing various spots, have found a corner of the half finished deck over looking the garden to read my book, knit my latest sock and talk to you. I must have picked a good place as there is a very large dog bed as well as a meditation cushion and mat just to my left. Zowie one of the two sheparding dogs shows up every 10 minutes to make sure I've not wandered off. The air is blue with eucalyptus and oak with a big handfull of orange herbs thrown in. There are more birds and butterflies that can be counted. The sun is going down. It might be Eden even with the hawks and turkey vultures. My nose is running. Disgustingly. Oh. Dear. GHAWD. They have sheep! Wacky four-horned sheep!  

I do not know if it's fucking allergies or some godforsaken virus that's hopped the species divide from Lola to Otis to Finn to Yours Truly but I am all asniffle. After a morning in the South Bay, I am back at home in bed with Finnoula (who is feeling better). Ma & I went to the Mark Adams show at the San Jose Quilting museum, mostly pieces were massive woven tapestry pieces from 1950s to 1990s. Very curious and greatly varied. Photos and links to follow. Turns out there is a massive mural by Mark Adams I walk by every day, not two blocks from here. Asked Mum straight up if she loved my Dad and she said "Yes." straight up. Surprised me. Huh!

Reading: Mary Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser . I picked this up at the rented condo in Tahoe late last month. When I came home I bought my own hardcopy, further proving that  ten cent books with $3.99 in shipping through Amazon threaten to collapse every bookshelf in the house even though every corner of the house is filled.  I am charmed by the writer's story telling. Mary of Guise was cute as peaches. Mary of Scots' execution was spectacularly horrifying and well documented, down to hand drawn diagrams. Work: Z'okay no, actually. I actually get to breathe and not stress over every flipping piece of paper. Medication: My meds have taken a dip and some very funky turns have left me staring exactly where I was a decade ago. Hopefully the rebalancing and sunshine will help. On the Needles: The world's ugliest socks composed of bits and pieces of  leftovers I haven't the heart to pitch. It's been a lesson, wearing and making socks. I wear nothing but ...

The number of people I'm truly fond of is very small.  They include many people I've never met face to face and people I've known my entire life. When one goes missing or passes on, I feel this vortex in the space they used to occupy. I wonder if I miss them more because my circle is so very small. It's getting smaller all the time. I'll be looking into this: Line by Line .

From WNYC: R adioLab Episode: Colors! Dogs have two color receptors (blue and yellow), humans have three (red, blue and green) and the mantis shrimp has 15! Fifteen! And look! Isn't he pretty? http://planetanimalzone.blogspot.com/2012/05/mantis-shrimp-amazing-beautiful.html