a task, sorrowful and unexpected...
befell me this morning.
Our wonderful and beloved old hound, Sheba, died in her sleep last night. I awoke very early for some reason and knew what had happened immediately; the smell of death permeated the house. Death does not have a good smell, no matter how short a time it has been since it has taken someone. I came downstairs and it looked like she was just sleeping peacefully in her favorite spot in the dining room, but the signs were obvious. She was cold and still, but her eyes were closed and she looked comfortable, so I don't think she suffered any pain or even knew, perhaps, that her end was come. She was very, very old and starting to fail. Her eyesight wasn't very good and she was having a bad time getting around, especially in the morning, but she was always happy to see me when I came down in the morning or when I came home from work. We'd still go wandering in the woods out back when she felt up to it once in a while. But mostly she would just lay in her favorite spot outside these days, under the shade of our red maple. From there she could survey the gardens and back walk, as well as keep an eye on the front yard. So, that is where I dug her grave this morning and laid her to rest to keep watch over her yard for all times.
I'll tell you, there is nothing wonderful or poetic about death, damn the poets and damn those who think so. There is nothing settling and there is no closure in burying a loved one, human or pet not withstanding. Sheba was a loyal and loving friend and there was never a more gentle soul that walked on four or even two legs and I shall miss her all the rest of my days.
There is a big dog shaped hole in my heart right now. I need to go wander a while, but I'll wander alone this time. I am really, really sad right now and I can't type while I'm crying, sorry.

wander with me...

there's a storm coming...
sounds pretty bad, so I'll be brief;
Have you ever been outside on an unusually sunny and warm late autumn day? You know what I mean, it's warm enough to be outside without a jacket or sweater, lovely, more like late summer than autumn... then, suddenly you realize that, in spite of how wonderful it is at the moment, it will soon be night and it will be long and dark and cold and there's nothing you can do about it, just endure it? You know how that realization leaves a hollow feeling in your guts? Well, that's me these days. And that's all I have to say on the subject.
By the way, there was no new song of the week last Friday, I'm tired of fucking around with Castpost. As soon as I look into a few new services, I will start posting music again and let you know.
I'm going to go wander deep within the bowels of Stately Sad Old Goth Manor, I don't think I want to be watching this storm for some reason, it's scaring me.
Be well, fellow wanderers. Fare thee well.
wander with me...

can you still feed the pigeons...?

you clicky picture, have fun...
wander with me...

mmmm, num-nums...
dinner tonight was a garden fresh mixed green salad with tomatoes, zucchini and onions, with fresh mozzarella and thinly sliced strips of grilled chicken, topped with hummus, washed down with a pint of Peroni. Life is, sometimes, good...
I will wander with a full belly tonight.

wander with me...

hot, hot, hot...
and I'm not talking about that awful song by Buster Poindexter... hell of a time to decide to get rid of our pool. I may even consider dressing in something other than black for work tomorrow. My office isn't bad, but the air conditioner in my Buick decided to go four-up on me. Yes, I drive a Buick. It's red. It has four doors. And whitewalls. And a little luggage rack on the trunk deck. Go figure, huh? Anyway, it is really effen hot for New Jersey this time of year. It usually doesn't hover in the high nineties until August. My gardens are sucking up water like a sponge and everything still looks wilty. Even the plants in the shade gardens have a forlorn look about them. The only things that look somewhat happy are the cattails and tussock grass in the bog, but if this keeps up I'm afraid it will start drying out and I'll have to set a soaker hose out there to keep everything alive. I hope this breaks soon, I still have roof work to do and I need to get it done soon, or I can't move forward on the bathroom renovation. It is completely demolished right now, I've seen better looking bathrooms in back road gas stations. Anyway, I'm just rambling, I think I delirious from the heat. The only place I'm wandering tonight is around the comfortably air conditioned halls of Stately Sad Old Goth Manor.
Have a good one, stay cool.
Fare thee well.
wander with me...

speaking of...
the song of the week, does anyone know of any other way I can post songs to Blogger other than CastPost? I'm not especially fond of it, it is sometimes sporadic and I have to convert everything to mp3 format to upload. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
I'm going to go wander in the woods out back now and visit with the last of the fireflies... they're fading fast.
Have a wonderful evening, my fellow wanderers... fare thee well.
wander with me...

well, it's Friday...
get yourself a Dewar's on the rocks, a pack of Camels and wander on over to the song of the week...
wander with me...

A Public Service Announcement...
Due to budget cutbacks, the Department of Mental Health has closed the Bureau of Rationalizations. Please refer all such matters to the Department of Unrestrained Apathy's Division of Reality Management and Chinese Laundry. No tickee, no washee...
That is all.
wander with me...

sometimes...
I wish I looked better in heels...

I wonder what SondraK would look like in these..?

wander with me...

here's a darling little toy...

for the darling little child in your life...Psycho Sally... with motorized double stabbing action! Gotta get one!
wander with me...

it's Friday...
that means a new Song of the Week! Go have a listen. Tell me how wonderful I am for exposing you to my bizarre musical tastes.
Also, scroll all the way down and check out the comic panel that has taken up residence at the bottom of this blog. Go visit the comic's website. The guy is good.
I think I'm going to sit up all night, drink coffee and read. Maybe listen to some new music - I just downloaded the exquisite "Presenting Lothar and The Hand People" from 1968. Early electronic/psych rock mix, featuring the Theremin, an early electronic instrument; you've probably heard it and not realized it - do you like "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys? Then you've heard a Theremin. But I ramble. I never ramble. I wander. And wander I shall. Have a wonderful evening, friends.
fare thee well.
wander with me...

give a gift...
that just can't be refused...

oh, just clicky picture... you know you want to...
wander with me...

my new boots...

not to be outdone by antisocialite, here are my new boots! yummy, huh? Actually, she is one of the few that might appreciate them...
wander with me...

lazy daze...
what did I do over the July 4th holiday? nothing. well, nothing of note. i was off on Friday, mowed the lawn, tidied up the gardens and got stuff ready for the family get together on Saturday. made the liquor and ice run on Saturday morning, moved the tables around outside, set up the extra chairs. ate good food, had a few drinks, enjoyed the company of family and friends. it was really windy, so a full on bonfire was out of the question, so i built a little one for the roasting of marshmallows and the making of S'mores. had no fireworks, so we watched the gazillion fireflies in the back woods. stayed up late after everyone left, enjoying the night. Sunday i went shopping and hit Barnes and Noble, bought three books; "The Taking", by Koontz; "New World Coming", by Nathan Miller and an un-abridged volume of "The Golden Bough", by Frazer. Plowed through Koontz on Sunday afternoon and evening. Not a bad read, interesting twist at the end. Monday and Tuesday, I put a three quarters dent in "New World Coming", a history of the 1920's with a keen eye for how our times were shaped by that era. mildly fascinating, i must say. i'll knock that off this week and after another insane DIY push on the bathroom, i'll start "The Golden Bough". also cultivated a wicked sunburn on my bleach white legs. i never learn. ever.
i hope you had some fun this weekend. thanks for taking the time to wander with me.
fare thee well.
wander with me...