Nebulous Mooch

Most of you know that we’re trying to move to London. The plan is to move in the next couple months, but the visa situation is quite difficult. Being the procrastinators that we are, we’ve waited until now to get the visa situation together.

The UK government wants to know about my job here and how much money we have in our bank account. We need to provide proof that we’ve been living together. One of the questions on the form asks where my spouse is right now. I was tempted to write, in the living room.

Some friends have said we can stay with them while we find a place to live. That was nice of them. They’re probably regretting it now that my husband has called them to tell them that the UK government wants a copy of their mortgage and a list of the names and ages of all the people living in their home.

Once we get this visa stuff sorted out, we’ll rest for a bit and try to figure out shipping our things about two week before we leave. Just kidding–we’ll probably wait until three days until we leave.

I have to admit that I like to go to my blogs several times a day and admire them. Not that I’m self-obsessed or anything. I just like to watch the videos and look at the pictures. I don’t actually read any of the posts. If I did, would that make me self-obsessed? Okay, okay…I do read some of the posts but only occasionally. On the very rare occasions that I do read them, I focus on their flaws…not their brilliance. I’m not saying that I think they’re brilliant or anything. If you think they’re brilliant, who am I to disagree.

Anyway, since putting Saturday’s post up about the animal guts in the parking lot, I can’t admire Nebulous Mooch anymore. The picture is way too disgusting. I’ve considered taking the post down, or at least removing the picture, but other members of the family protested that decision. So the picture remains.

Since the picture of the animal guts will remain, I’ve decided to post a picture that is more pleasing to the eye.

Shortly after my husband left for his gig this afternoon he called me on the phone. “Go outside and look on the ground next to my car,” he said. He was driving my car at the time.

I just wanted to make a few announcements today. I have started a new blog. For all of you who don’t know it’s called The Art of Balanced Living. It has some recipes and things about self massage and general wellness. It’s great. Really it is.

I’ve also started a Mog. It’s a MySpace type thing but it’s all about music. One look at The Last Played List on my Mog proves that I really do listen to my husband’s CD.

My final announcement is that I’ve finally finished the revisions of The Box. I just have to give it to someone else to read before sending it out. I’m also nearly finished the first draft of Flying Lessons.

That’s all the news.

This is what I often hear coming from my stepsons bedroom.

I’m starting to think he has a miniature Chinese village. When he closes the door he pulls them out from under the bed and they sing and dance for him.

There is an English version of the song too. This is even better than the original. I love the singing and the awkward way the words are forced to fit into melody.

The front of our apartment complex is shielded from the main road by thick shrubbery and trees. The trees arch out over the sidewalk providing shade to pedestrians. The trees and underbrush used to be so thick that you couldn’t see into it. When we went for walks I could always hear things scurrying in the bushes. That made me feel quite nervous. I don’t like scurrying.

Recently the trees have been thinning out. I’ve noticed this more this month than others. Yesterday on my walk, I noticed that the apartments were clearly visible through the trees now. In some places you could easily walk through the trees. The branches of the trees have been sawn off in many places. I wonder if this is the work of our apartment’s ground keeping service or if it’s been done by someone else.

About a year ago I noticed an old bald man on the side walk with a hand saw, cutting the branches from the trees. After that, I realised he’s out there every evening, sawing away like a man on a mission.

One evening we went on our walk late and walked by him. He didn’t have his saw this time. Instead he had a large stick and he was beating the thin branches of the trees wildly until they broke.

What could he be doing? I’ve run through all kinds of scenarios in my head. Maybe he has a fireplace. Maybe he’s building something–a giant bird’s nest or something. Maybe he really doesn’t like trees. I don’t know. I want to ask, but I’m afraid. Somehow I don’t think talking to a crazed man with a saw is a good idea.

I really like food blogs. I love looking for new recipes on the web. I especially love the pictures on these sites. They always make the food look so delicious and appealing.

Can you say pile of turds? Who wants to see something that looks like that on a recipe?

I’ll keep on trying. Maybe I’ll figure something out. The food tastes good and that’s all that really matters.

My husband values his time and doesn’t want to waste any of it. When my stepson is doing his math in an insufficient manner, my husband spends a lot of time trying to explain the ways he’s wasting his time and how to make his work more efficient. My husband doesn’t seem to understand that children aren’t usually searching for the time saving tips he values so much.

Recently he’s decided that using a computer mouse wastes precious seconds. He spent Sunday setting up a bunch of shortcuts on his computer and learning how to navigate it without the use of the mouse. He is so excited to show everyone who comes over to visit. Unfortunately, no one else shares his enthusiasm.

Just a few seconds ago he made a big show of shutting down his computer. He does it by pressing Control and Escape at the same time. Then he presses U twice.

When I asked him how he shuts his computer down, he was thrilled to tell me. “You think it’s so exciting that you want to write about it on your blog!” he said.

The other day he was sitting in the living room staring off into space. “What’re you thinking?” I asked.

“Shortcuts,” he replied dreamily.