Punch, Punch, Elbow, Elbow

I've recently started going to kickboxing class at the gym, thanks to the friendly encouragement of the instructor, Tony (who Kelly and I subsequently nicknamed "Tony the Assasin"). Fortunately, our regular trainer, Michael White, thought it would be a good class to mix in with our other workouts.

This is by far the hardest workout I've ever done in the gym. The class lasts an hour, with 10 minutes tagged on at the end for ab work.

The routine goes something like this:

-bow to the instructor
-100 jumping jacks
-30 pushups on your knuckles
-20 side kicks from each leg
-20 roundhouse kicks from each leg
-leg stretches
-bring your leg to your ear and hold it
-balancing
-finger stretches
-30 more pushups
-"the splits"
-some more stuff I don't remember, because I have to recover from the splits.

THEN, you put your gloves on and depending upon what level you are you work on that for 30 minutes. I've gone to class five times and I am still working on my punching and elbowing. (Punch left, punch right, punch left, punch right, elbow, elbow, knee.) All around me people are practicing kicking the crap out of bags, and I want to do that too, but Tony says I need to get the punching and elbowing down first. Today he had me hit as rapidly and as hard as I could for a minute at a time.

At the end of class, the students take over for the ab work:
-100 crunches
-50 leg lifts
-50 side crunches (each side)
-50 push ups
-Bow to the instructor

And then you die are super psyched that you did the workout!

Pranked

This morning I got pranked by our house guest from Idaho. They are clever, clever people, those Idahoans.

Linda had gone shopping at New Seasons and guiltily confessed that she had forgotten to bring the reuseable tote bags that we have hanging on the side of the fridge to encourage people to not bring home bags that fill up the recycling center to be mindful of the environment.

Even though I frequently forget to do this, I of course made fun of her. When she left to meet friends for dinner I hung one of the paper bags on her doorknob with a big PostIt note that said, "You killed me." Then I cheerfully went to bed.

Oh. And I didn't clean up the kitchen after Kelly Ray cooked barbecue. Don't judge me. There. I admitted it.

In the morning we found that Linda had turned the tables on us, putting the PostIt on our cutting board, which had the remains of some poor pig on it.

Linda: 1
Sarah Bott: 0

Changing Fast, Changing for the Good (I think)

For almost a year, I abandoned this blog to focus on my neighborhood Facebook page called, "It's Happening in Woodlawn." It started first as an FB page called "It's Happening on Dekum Street," just the same as this blog title. But as it so happened, it attacted a lot of FB fans and I decided that Dekum Street was too narrow so I changed the name to become more inclusive of the neighborhood.

That FB page now has almost 500 fans, which is crazy more than I could have imagined. And, I find, it is no longer "my" page as much as me posting info for the neighbors.

Which is what brings me back to this blog - my blog.

So much has happened on Dekum Street in the past year:

• Concordia University is really making progress on their new ball field. Houses have been removed and from the street you can now see the new library. Passers by will now see the university from the street! Seeing it gives me a thrill - it's like I am more engaged and intellectually stimulated just by looking at it.
• Classic Foods has opened. Hello, fresh pasta and spices!
• Breakside Brewery has opened.
• Rumpspankers has closed, thank God. And they somehow managed to screw up having the nation's first legal cannibis cafe, which I thought was potentially cool.
• The Oregon Community leased the Village Ballroom, which is cool, and they are opening up a non-profit pub in the old restaurant space.

Unfortunately, the eyesore known as 18th & Dekum Market is still an eyesore. And no one has leased the old Sylvia's restaurant. But, so much good has gone on it gives me and I think a lot of others reason to be enthusiastic.

Breakside Brewery Coming to Woodlawn Triangle

From the "Beervana" blog, we learn more about the new business that has leased the spot in the newly revamped building kitty/katty corner to Firehouse Restaurant.

We're getting a brew pub!

I am totally stoked about this because, (a) the former eyesore building that was a blight in the middle of the triangle is now a beautiful corner building with loft apartments and an eco-roof, and (b) neighbors are really going to like a brew pub - which I assume will also have food, adding to the offerings at Firehouse and Good Neighbor Pizza.

Here's a note from the brewpub owner posted on Beervana's blog:
"Hey guys and gals, this is Scott and we are indeed opening Breakside there in Woodlawn. Work inside is really going to get kicking next week 1and we plan on officially opening our doors April 1st. Feel free to stop in any time and check the place out. Once we get the beer rolling in Feb or so, we'll hand out samples to anyone in the neighborhood who wants to say hello."

Cheers,
Scott Lawrence
Breakside Brewery

It's happening on both ends of Dekum Street!

At one end of Dekum, Concordia University is taking out two blocks of single family housing and converting the area into a new soccer field.

At the other end of Dekum, two new developments are nearing opening -- Dekum Corner, a totally renovated building; and Dekum Coffee & Pie.

I wait with great anticipation these developments on Dekum Street!

The Amazing Transformation of My Neighborhood

Another blighted building in my neighborhood is getting a make over.

Six months ago, nothing. Now we've got a fine Italian restaurant, a pizza joint, a yoga studio, a breakfast place.

Life is good!

Nude gay male toga party in my back yard!

[UPDATE] I added a picture. See the red arrow pointing at the yard? We have a birds eye view of that yard from our upstairs.

Ok, this crappy cell phone photo will have to do until Madeline figures out how to download her, evidently much better, photo.

So, on Saturday evening around 7pm, I was reading in my room and Madeline excitedly knocks on the door, opens it, and hisses, "There are a bunch of nude men in the back yard!"

"What?" I said, puzzled. (Is this another one of my weird dreams?) "In our yard?"

"Yes! Come here!" I jump off the bed and go into her room and look out the window, and sure enough, over the fence at the neighbors house directly behind us, are about 20 totally naked men. It appeared to be some kind of Roman themed party, because some of them were wearing garlands around their heads. Other than that, they were having drinks and chatting with one another.

Yes, I know the picture is not that good, but look toward the top of the photo at the duplex, and if you use your imagination, there in that small yard is a cluster of nude middle aged men! Priceless!

We laughed our asses off! We shusshed each other for fear of being caught peeking! We rolled around on the floor out of sight, laughing hysterically! I could not believe they would have such a gathering where we could obviously see everything (and I mean everything).

Elle, Madeline's 11 year old daughter, did not find it as exciting as we did. "They're old," she shrugged dismissively and went back to her book.

THAT is the most exciting thing to happen at my house -- I think ever. I hope they do it again! Soon!

And the only reason I mentioned that they were gay was because I can't think of a bunch of middle aged straight guys thinking that would at all be fun. Correct me if I'm wrong!

Deluxe Arbor!

I don't know whether to call it a covered patio, arbor, or pergola. But it is going to be damn big!

And yes, he built that himself.

Firehouse Restaurant: we run into and old pal and meet some new neighbors

Last night, Kelly Ray and I wandered down the street (wait, what am I saying -- we rode our bicycles) to Firehouse Restaurant for a "small plate." You can choose three small plates for $12. I chose:

-Oregon chevre and homemade flat bread, with Oregon-grown champagne grapes (they were tiny!). I all but licked the plate of the chevre it was so delicious.
-pickled vegetables -cauliflower, carrots, and rutabaga (never ate it before, can't spell it now, but I liked it)
-crostini with pork confit (OMG, this was delicious).

Kelly chose a bowl of mussels ($12) and the crostini with pork confit. I don't like mussels, but they were big and pink and he said they were wonderful.

We split a bottle of red and over the course of the hour or so that we were there, sitting on the patio, folks chatted back and forth from the tables. One couple had a little dog with them, who behaved very nicely (his dad said the secret was the bag of treats in his pocket). Another couple came in with their dog, who looked like a spaniel of some sort - they got her from the Humane Society and didn't know. She was seven years old and a little more feisty. The dogs were well behaved and people seemed to delight in coming over to pet them. We all exchanged where we live -- everyone within ten blocks, and how nice it was to be able to walk - and bike - to a real restaurant.

And then, ducking into the side door I saw Ron Paul (not the politician, the restauranteur) and his wife. Ron Paul is giant in the Portland Food scene, a master player in Portland's farmer's markets, and has been working for years on a permanent public market, like Seattle has (of course, ours will be better). Here's the website: http://www.portlandpublicmarket.com/index.html

I got to know Ron Paul when I worked for Vera Katz. He was frequently in the office and is a real, genuine nice guy. (Trust me when I tell you I met a lot of jerks during that chapter of my life.) It is always a delight to see him. And his connection to Firehouse Restaurant is that he used to work with Eric Rose, one of the owners, many years ago (he hired Eric away from Starbucks, back when Starbucks had only 44 stores--that's how many years ago).

I asked our server to send a bottle of wine to Ron Paul and his wife, with my compliments. He came back and said they had just returned from a wedding, where they had consumed quite a lot of wine, so were just having a glass. ("Great! I just saved $25 dollars!" I laughed.) Ron Paul came back out of the side door and we had a great big hug and I introduced him to Kelly Ray (to whom he said upon leaving, "Keep her out of trouble." Why do people always say that? What do they know?!) We caught up on who's doing what to whom, and he caught me up on the Public Market.

I love the Firehouse Restaurant. It is exactly what I wanted in my neighborhood. And let me tell you - that pork confit? Delish.

Homey sweet homey

Elle, our young houseguest from New Orleans, laid right down next to the dogs on their new dog beds.

Awwwww.

New Visitors from N'awlins

Last night, our two house guests from New Orleans arrived, a woman and her 8th grade daughter, who are relocating to our fair city (even if Money magazine snubbed us this year out of the top 100 places to live).

It's always a huge relief (and I'm not overstating it) when people check in and there is an instant rapport.

The mom is totally cool and down to earth - wearing flip flops, which was the first sign. Gave me a hug right off the bat, which was the second sign. Walter was sticking her head through the cat door and grinning, and both mom and daughter asked if she could come out, which was the third sign. And then, all the animals - including the cats - came out and were generously and lovingly petted -- ok! You can stay!

They are renting both upstairs rooms for a month while they search for their new neighborhood.

David checks out today, but he has found a house to rent, and Nora checked out on Saturday, and into her new house she bought. They became friends, and will remain friends, so another chapter of the Dekum Street Guest House comes to a close, and another one opens.

Good tidings, friends!

Firehouse Restaurant is Open!

Last night Kelly Ray and I strolled over to Firehouse, the new restaurant in the rapidly becoming cool "Dekum Triangle," which is about eight blocks from our house and just four blocks from the Woodlawn International Guest House.

The restaurant officially opens on Friday, but last night they had a preview party, and I think that other than the owners, I was the most excited person there. I've been biking and driving and walking by for six months, watching their progress, and am just so excited for my neighborhood to see this kind of development.

We enjoyed some wine and delicious food, mingled with neighbors, and I just bathed in the joy of having a very, very cool place that I can walk to!

Here is the description and some pics I took last night.

Firehouse is a new restaurant opening on the main floor of the historic Dekum Firehouse in NE Portland, owned by Eric Rose and Matthew Busetto. The focus is on the food they love to share with friends and family-simple, honest, ingredient driven and guided by seasonality. Firehouse will feature local meats, sustainably harvested fish and seafood, and regional. farm-direct produce. Central and Southern Italian influences and the wood-fired oven, rotisserie and grill, highlight these ingredients and allow the simple, honest flavors to shine. Firehouse will also be featuring house-made breads, pastas, sausages, and cured meats well as pastries. A vegetable and herb garden on the grounds of the Firehouse as well as a variety of fruit trees will provide the kitchen with additional fresh picked produce in season.

The original firehouse was built in 1905 in the heart of the community of Woodlawn. Matthew and Eric, along with Matthew’s wife, Elizabeth, who will be opening a naturopathic clinic on the second floor of the building, and with the help of numerous friends in the community, have refurbished the historic building from the ground up, doing as much of the work themselves as possible, restoring some of the original luster and bringing new life to a beautiful building in this revitalizing community.

Eric and Matthew have an intense passion for food and cooking, with over 35 years combined experience in the restaurant and food service business. Eric was the general manager of the pioneering Ron Paul Charcuterie for nine years where he began to develop strong relationships with local growers, and purveyors. He later joined New Seasons Market at its inception as its food service director developing and overseeing the deli and specialty cheese programs. During that time he intensified his commitment and focus on working on relationships with local farmers, ranchers, fishermen and cheesemakers. Matthew has worked in restaurants, beginning when he was 16 while growing up in the Bay Area. He continued to work through college until he finally gave in to his passion and committed himself to kitchen work full-time. After working along California’s north coast he attended the California Culinary Academy to be closer to his Bay Area home and hone his skills in San Francisco at Restaurant LuLu and MoMo’s. After a 3 year hiatus in Alaska, Matthew and his wife Elizabeth moved to Portland looking to be involved in its burgeoning restaurant scene. After working at clarklewis Matthew began working at New Seasons Market, for the last 2 years as Store Chef, and it was there that he and Eric met.

Eric and Matthew plan to continue their efforts towards sustainability, building relationships with local producers and purveyors, and strong neighborhood and community involvement, that were a major part of thier focus at New Seasons.

Spring is springing!

My yard is beginning to bloom. I love my yard! Roses, poppies, fuschia, and excitingly --artichokes! I've got two tomato plants in the ground and some basil. Not planning a large vegetable garden this year - I need tall raised beds to keep the dogs out of the produce, and not sure I'm up to building them. But, knowing me, I'll change my mind and put them together one of these weekends.

Pictures of My Gnome

When we were in Boston a few months back for the Howe Cup, I got a few snaps of Kelly with: the Mayor of Boston, the University of Texas women's tennis team, and the Seattle squash team. He's very poseable. Kind of like the Travelocity gnome. He loves the ladies the best. Awww.

Firehouse Restaurant: one month and counting down

I cannot wait for Firehouse to open. Matthew and his wife Elizabeth, and Matthew's partner Eric, are great new neighbors. Last evening, the dogs and I took a stroll down to their place to see what's going on. They've got the new raised beds in, with lettuce and tomatoes showing, as well as fruit trees and an herb garden. The stone patio is finished --that was a labor of love, painstakingly built, rock by rock. This place is going to be epic - it is going to be the new cornerstone of the Woodlawn Neighborhood, I believe. The historic building already is, but having sat vacant for so long, it lost its lure. Now, we are poised on the verge of a renaissance.

Here is the news release:

"Firehouse is a new restaurant opening on the main floor of the historic Dekum Firehouse in NE Portland, owned by Eric Rose and Matthew Busetto. The focus is on the food they love to share with friends and family-simple, honest, ingredient driven and guided by seasonality. Firehouse will feature local meats, sustainably harvested fish and seafood, and regional. farm-direct produce. Central and Southern Italian influences and the wood-fired oven, rotisserie and grill, highlight these ingredients and allow the simple, honest flavors to shine. Firehouse will also be featuring house-made breads, pastas, sausages, and cured meats well as pastries. A vegetable and herb garden on the grounds of the Firehouse as well as a variety of fruit trees will provide the kitchen with additional fresh picked produce in season.

The original firehouse was built in 1905 in the heart of the community of Woodlawn. Matthew and Eric, along with Matthew’s wife, Elizabeth, who will be opening a naturopathic clinic on the second floor of the building, and with the help of numerous friends in the community, have refurbished the historic building from the ground up, doing as much of the work themselves as possible, restoring some of the original luster and bringing new life to a beautiful building in this revitalizing community.

Eric and Matthew have an intense passion for food and cooking, with over 35 years combined experience in the restaurant and food service business. Eric was the general manager of the pioneering Ron Paul Charcuterie for nine years where he began to develop strong relationships with local growers, and purveyors. He later joined New Seasons Market at its inception as its food service director developing and overseeing the deli and specialty cheese programs. During that time he intensified his commitment and focus on working on relationships with local farmers, ranchers, fishermen and cheesemakers. Matthew has worked in restaurants, beginning when he was 16 while growing up in the Bay Area. He continued to work through college until he finally gave in to his passion and committed himself to kitchen work full-time. After working along California’s north coast he attended the California Culinary Academy to be closer to his Bay Area home and hone his skills in San Francisco at Restaurant LuLu and MoMo’s. After a 3 year hiatus in Alaska, Matthew and his wife Elizabeth moved to Portland looking to be involved in its burgeoning restaurant scene. After working at clarklewis Matthew began working at New Seasons Market, for the last 2 years as Store Chef, and it was there that he and Eric met.

Eric and Matthew plan to continue their efforts towards sustainability, building relationships with local producers and purveyors, and strong neighborhood and community involvement, that were a major part of thier focus at New Seasons."

Spring is trying to kill me

This year, the allergies are more fun than ever!

Claritin (last year's wonder drug) wasn't working, so I switched to Zertec - at the urging of Jennifer, who suffers similarly. Zertec kind of works, but in the same way as Claritin, but I am up half the night with a seriously stuffy nose - the kind that doesn't let you breathe. I went to the pharmacist yesterday and he told me to take a Sudafed decongestent, also, so now I'm on that. The thing is, nothing lasts for 24 hours. Hell, I'd settle for a good 12 hours.

The bedroom is littered with tissues. The bed is littered with tissues. "Gross," proclaims Joan (nurse). Yeah, well walk a mile in my snotty shoes.

When will it end!?

Awesome Landscaping Service

I hired someone off of craigslist to do a spring cleanup of my backyard - weeding and spreading of bark dust.

It cost a bit - about $240 including the bark dust delivered, but it was WELL worth it.

Mr. Venegas and his two sons came and did an awesome job. They were thorough, fast, professional, and very courteous. They came at 6:15 and left at 9:15 pm. My front and back yard look just like when we moved into the house. And there's nothing like the smell of fresh, fir bark dust.

If you are looking for someone to do yardwork, I highly, highly recommend them. 503-309-0327 is their phone number (Emmanuel is the son).

Now, we'll have to limit the dogs to the outdoor pen. They aren't going to get free reign on the back yard this summer.

Jackman Clematis

This is the flowering vine I am thinking of planting to block out the view of the neighbors next door (the ones with a full court basketball court in their yard, which I can see and hear every minute I'm outside).

I secretly want to plant blackberries, because every time their ball hits the fence it will splatter them. But I don't think blackberry will climb like that. I suppose it would also splatter my house.

Oh, it's happening on Dekum Street, alright.

My crimemapper report for last month. Don't these people have jobs? Chores? Dogs to walk? Kids to tutor? Why are they bothering us with all of these unsavory crimes!

# Crime Type Date/Time Start Date/Time End Day of Week Distance

1 THEFT FROM AUTO 08/07/2007 4:30 AM Tuesday 0.41 mi
2 OFFENSE AGAINST FAMILY 08/08/2007 12:00 AM 11:59 PM Wednesday 0.26 mi
3 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 08/08/2007 11:00 PM 08/09/2007 3:00 AM Wednesday / Thursday 0.17 mi
4 SIMPLE ASSAULT 08/09/2007 9:06 AM Thursday 0.15 mi
5 SIMPLE ASSAULT 08/09/2007 9:06 AM Thursday 0.15 mi
6 DISORDERLY CONDUCT 08/10/2007 12:25 AM Friday 0.36 mi
7 RUNAWAY 08/10/2007 5:00 PM Friday 0.20 mi
8 SEXUAL ASSAULT 08/12/2007 1:00 AM 4:00 AM Sunday n/a
9 RUNAWAY 08/14/2007 12:30 PM Tuesday 0.17 mi
10 RUNAWAY 08/14/2007 7:30 PM Tuesday 0.17 mi
11 SEX OFFENSE 08/16/2007 10:00 PM Thursday n/a
12 SIMPLE ASSAULT 08/16/2007 10:00 PM Thursday 0.31 mi
13 VANDALISM 08/19/2007 3:00 AM 7:00 AM Sunday 0.28 mi
14 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 08/19/2007 10:00 AM 08/21/2007 6:00 PM 0.22 mi
15 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 08/20/2007 2:24 PM Monday 0.35 mi
16 DISORDERLY CONDUCT 08/21/2007 12:49 PM Tuesday 0.46 mi
17 NON-RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 08/21/2007 9:57 PM Tuesday 0.40 mi
18 NON-RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 08/21/2007 10:00 PM Tuesday 0.40 mi
19 DISORDERLY CONDUCT 08/21/2007 11:18 PM Tuesday 0.31 mi
20 DISORDERLY CONDUCT 08/21/2007 11:18 PM Tuesday 0.31 mi
21 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 08/22/2007 7:00 PM 11:00 PM Wednesday 0.05 mi
22 THEFT FROM AUTO 08/26/2007 12:00 AM 8:00 AM Sunday 0.05 mi
23 THEFT FROM AUTO 08/26/2007 12:00 AM 8:00 AM Sunday 0.05 mi
24 VANDALISM 08/27/2007 12:10 AM Monday 0.11 mi
25 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 08/28/2007 3:00 AM 3:30 AM Tuesday 0.35 mi
26 RUNAWAY 08/29/2007 8:00 AM Wednesday 0.35 mi
27 VANDALISM 08/30/2007 1:00 AM Thursday 0.31 mi
28 UNSPECIFIED PHONE THREAT 08/31/2007 12:09 AM Friday 0.50 mi
29 VANDALISM 08/31/2007 5:00 PM 09/04/2007 8:00 AM 0.23 mi
30 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 08/31/2007 5:00 PM 09/04/2007 8:00 AM 0.23 m

Cold snap!

It was freezing here last night on Dekum Street. Even Kelly, the heat making machine, was chilly. I woke up several times feeling like I was camping. But we were in that in zone where we didn't want to get up to get an extra blanky.

It's happening in Woodlawn! (It really is! Unfortunately....)

Crime! I signed up for CrimeMapper notification by the Portland Police Bureau. They will send you a monthly summary of crimes committed within x-distance of your address. This arrived yesterday.

# Crime Type Date/Time Start Date/Time End Day of Week Distance
1 SIMPLE ASSAULT 07/14/2007 10:45 PM Saturday 0.28 mi
2 DISORDERLY CONDUCT 07/15/2007 6:00 PM Sunday 0.37 mi
3 SIMPLE ASSAULT 07/15/2007 10:45 PM Sunday 0.41 mi
4 THEFT FROM AUTO 07/16/2007 12:00 AM 07/17/2007 1:30 AM Monday / Tuesday 0.37 mi
5 SIMPLE ASSAULT 07/16/2007 2:30 AM Monday 0.17 mi
6 SIMPLE ASSAULT 07/16/2007 8:30 AM Monday 0.45 mi
7 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 07/16/2007 10:00 PM 07/17/2007 8:00 AM Monday / Tuesday 0.35 mi
8 THEFT FROM AUTO 07/17/2007 9:30 PM 07/18/2007 8:15 AM Tuesday / Wednesday 0.46 mi
9 RUNAWAY 07/18/2007 5:30 PM Wednesday 0.40 mi
10 THEFT FROM AUTO 07/20/2007 7:00 PM 07/26/2007 2:00 PM 0.42 mi
11 DISORDERLY CONDUCT 07/21/2007 12:37 AM Saturday 0.36 mi
12 ROBBERY 07/22/2007 1:30 PM Sunday 0.39 mi
13 THEFT FROM AUTO 07/24/2007 4:07 AM Tuesday 0.39 mi
14 THEFT FROM AUTO 07/25/2007 12:00 AM 8:27 AM Wednesday 0.29 mi
15 NON-RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 07/25/2007 4:30 PM 07/26/2007 8:00 AM Wednesday / Thursday 0.26 mi
16 VANDALISM 07/26/2007 3:35 PM Thursday 0.36 mi
17 DRUG ABUSE 07/27/2007 3:15 PM Friday 0.46 mi
18 DRUG ABUSE 07/27/2007 11:13 PM Friday 0.42 mi
19 DRUG ABUSE 07/30/2007 12:22 AM Monday 0.21 mi
20 RUNAWAY 07/30/2007 7:00 PM Monday 0.39 mi
21 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 07/31/2007 12:30 AM 12:30 PM Tuesday 0.44 mi
22 SIMPLE ASSAULT 07/31/2007 5:06 AM Tuesday 0.45 mi
23 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 07/31/2007 11:30 PM 08/01/2007 7:15 AM Tuesday / Wednesday 0.50 mi

I like my signs

Two of the signs were removed overnight. I still find it ironic that the signs that say GARAGE SALE and WE BUY UGLY HOUSES and PUPPIES FOR SALE (which has been up for three months) go without molestation. But for some reason SLOW DOWN--CHILDREN AT PLAY are removed.

Dog pen: fini

Yesterday we (and by we I mean Kelly) finished the dog pen, which will lodge Henry and Walter during the day, so they don't have free range over the house. Henry always went where he pleased, but now that we have Walter, we figured it was better for the house and the cats if they had their own room.

Henry hates it. Walter seems ambivalent. Last night we put them in the pen at bedtime, didn't hear a peep upstairs (of course, what could drown out SPARTICUS?). I put them in it when we got back from our hike this evening, along with some delicious bonesickles, and put a few drops of "calm fear" dog herbs that I got at New Seasons (for $10--what a sucker). They were alright for awhile, but then Henry commenced howling. He's stopped, hopefully back to his bone--- Nope, there he goes again. Well, hopefully he will stop before the new guests move in (Sally Ann, poor thing, is used to the disruptions of animal farm).

God bless the Baptist church (praise Jesus!)

There is not one but two events going on across the street tonight--praise Jesus!

I am sitting on my sofa and I opened the front window for some cross ventilation--praise Jesus! Thank you for this home!

Across at the house/day care there is a gathering of people dressed in white and --hallelujia!--they are blessing the Lord for something--praise Jesus--and praying (solemn voices), and of course I look out like a white spy from somewhere, and they are standing in a circle.

Simultaneously--praise Jesus!!!!--the choir is up and halelujiahing at the churce (COGIC) on the corner. I love the choir. It makes me want to dance in the front yard--praise Jesus!!!!

I wonder if I make brownies if it's too late to bring them over. I tell you, there's nothing like living across from a church. I don't care whose house and whose god it is--they are generally great folk.

Praise the lord (whomever he or she may be, I have my own muddled thoughts, of course)

BREAKING NEWS: the circle of people dressed in white is going to the church! It's going to be a good night on Dekum Street, friends. I am going to open both windows and enjoy the music.

Those !@#$%^& taggers are at again

Up and down Dekum Street with their gang tags: SUR, 18, everywhere.

I took so many photos and filed so many reports around the holidays, I don't have a lot of energy left for it. But if it doens't get reported, it doesn't get cleaned up.

ONI seems irritated by my many reports, claiming, "We're just a one person office." I am not sympathetic. I will continue to file reports and ring their bell. Or, as my mother said, "Rich people write letters." I'm not rich, but Mom did teach me how to write letters.