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PEACE ON EARTH

Was the night before New Year’s Eve and everything was looking daunting – pouring pounding driving rain and Giovanni needed to go home (UPTOWN) – I had to go to Riverridge for my way older brother’s birthday celebration – G was going out on a date – then everything started going sideways, even the rain – and the streets filled with water – G’s date cancelled because of too much rain! My niece called to say Riverridge was flooded!

What to do?

G and I decided to go get a pizza at Wit’s Inn and just stay close to home and chill. I called Mr. Homeland Security because I hadn’t called him back and had promised to, so he was game to be spontaneous – then TL called and he was game to join in – suddenly the four of us were having a grand old time eating pizza and having cocktails with the pouring pounding driving rain outside.

It happened like that.

Early this week a rat died near the LaLa. The neighbor told Giovanni it was my rat and he should dispose of it. MY RAT?

Come to think of it, I do have a rat name Nick, but I thought he left because I hadn’t seen him in a while. So was it Nick the Rat that died? And why is it my rat? It was in the driveway – THEIR PRECIOUS DRIVEWAY – that’s not my rat – last I saw my rat Nick he was scurrying around the garbage looking for someone else’s food to eat.

I went to the LaLa at dawn after waking up at 4:30AM, then went to Pilates, and then back to the LaLa where I worked on that house from dawn till dusk. My achy breaky muscles are in need of a deep tissue massage. Here’s some things – Giovanni was there working with me all day – painting doors and mudding cracks. He is from El Salvador. He told me Ken is a numbnut (not his word) and I said I know. He said it would be better to have Bob and Casey – the two carpenters who came and worked this week – but they were young bucks with their own issues – so here’s the deal – CARPENTERS HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES – no but wait so do Electricians – one talks about the other one as soon as he is not around. What goes on? Come on, boys, can’t we all just get along – sheesh, worse than girls.

Meanwhile I have copious shelves for the credenza but like two for the bookshelves and maybe three for the pantry – who measured and counted out these shelves? – inquiring minds want to know.

J told me she heard there was an alligator spotting again in the bayou. I told her I’m never quite sure if these are true or not. Today the Parkview newsletter said there was a five-foot alligator spotted near the Jeff Davis end of the Bayou (where the Can is – which btw is having it’s 100 year anniversary in 2007) – the alligator was partially wrapped with duct tape. (Holiday wear?)

Some nice person put up holiday wreaths on the the Dumaine bridge. Nice touch. Thanks!

Do you ever read her column? It is syndicated from The Washington Post – she is so smart. I sent her an email after reading her latest. It was a letter from a woman signed “starving for his attention” to which Carolyn responds:

“…when it dawns on you, is that people can be busy; people can be slow to date, slow to trust, slow to find you physically attractive; people can be confused, distracted, scarred, grieving–all of them openings for optimistic projection.

But when they enjoy somebody’s company, they seek it. Unless he’s transparently happy to see you, don’t weigh yourself down with hope.”

Well put.

One is a magnet with a woman resting her chin on crossed hands – the caption reads: “Tell me more.”

One is a steel paper weight from Steve – the caption reads: “Every wall is a door.”

One is a piece of paper with a quote by Joseph Campbell – he writes: “We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

Last year, on New Year’s Eve, I was sick as a dog with the flu and sick in the heart from love(s) gone wrong, and at midnight I hung my head out the window and listened to the fireworks. A text message came from NY saying the New Year would be approached with “eyes wide open.” I was numb – unmoved by his message, by the freshness of a new year, and unmotivated to get off the couch and seek alternatives.

This year, I am taking a different approach to the New Year – I’m aiming for good health by heeding my body’s call to rest right now. My plan on New Year’s eve is to surround myself with people I care about and who care about me. My heart is on the mend and it has grown stronger where it was broken. No longer a silly girl who gives all for love.

2007 might not be about anything BIG – it just might be about getting up and doing it again – but I will celebrate my victories as they come – moving in, moving on, and moving up.

This guy who used to work for me liked to tell me about how everyone needs to stand back for a moment to be sharp. He thought I was a whirling dervish. As mentally draining as the LaLa has been, this week it has been a physical drain, and between the two, I opted on Friday night to stay in, drink some hot tea, curl up with a book and unread newspapers, and let the Bean lay on my feet.

I’m exhausted.

Tonight most of my nieces are over at my brother’s house because they have come in for his 60th birthday. I have taken to calling him my way older brother. The birthday dinner and cake activity are tomorrow night, so I opted to skip the dinner tonight.

Like I said I’m exhausted.

It happens infrequently.