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As the Dust Settles

The cockroach, the wasp, and a couple of mosquitos have paid the ultimate price for their attempt to invade our new abode. I'm sure they will be missed by their families and friends, but the message is clear, "Do not mess with Miss Maria." We are awaiting an autopsy report on the roach. The question is, did the aerosol spray kill him, or did he drown in the excessive amount used to try and kill him? Watch this space for the official report.

(I'm learning that addressing a lady, it is best to proceed her first name with Miss, regardless of her marital status.)

It seemed like we haven't moved for a moment on the afternoon of July 4, 2015. I am standing on the deck of our new abode in Mandeville, LA: cooking Beer Brats, lusting after potato salad, tomato, cucumber, and onion marinated in olive oil /  balsamic vinegar and my cold NA Beer. No, it's true. I was definitely not on the second-floor porch of 1039 Highland, where I might have been having we not moved just a few days ago now. And the company was as good as it gets, but not the same. The hot, humid temperature disappeared for a few hours as a wet and stormy front moved North of us and deigned not to disrupt our picnic. We ate outside until some of us beat an honorable retreat from mosquitos. It always amazes me that the little devils love to bite some and spare the others.

Danny and I watched golf and reminisced about our own attempts to play the game and how much we love it even though neither of us is a threat to anyone playing the game today. PGA Golf is like a lot of TV sports. The guys make you think it's easy. They can't fool the spectators like me. I've played the game. I'm sure it's true with baseball, soccer, basketball, and the rest.

The ladies helped Maria organize her studio. This is no small thing, as the studio is a maze of boxes and totes piled willy nilly throughout the 18 x 18-foot room. Maria went from a frustrated (didn't know what to do first) to a smiling, laughing ruler of her domain. I have become more understanding of the league of women and their need for one and another. While the fringes of the area are still rather chaotic, there is a work table, and her tools are within steps of where they need to be. I think I felt anxiety and frustration leave the house that afternoon as the boxes empty.

We are really settling in. One certain indicator is my job for today, getting our new lawnmower started. I say new, but in fact, Maria scored a super deal at a yard sale. She bought an almost new Toro lawnmower and a Homelite gas-powered weed wacker for $85. Now to get them running and working for us.




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