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Our street closed last night and gave us a chance to  mingle with our neighbors over food and drink. It was a nice chance to get to know the folks in the area, and  meet some of the local dogs. (That was a real treat for me!)  The kids ran wild enjoying the luxury of a closed street and the ability to run and bike and scoot without looking for cars. The adults enjoyed the chance to mingle. There was some discussion of how long folks had been in the neighborhood for. That made me feel a little be temporary , as being in a rental we can only guarantee to live here as long as the house is for rent, and as long as it meets our needs.  i did also find out that the landlord tried to sell the house  a couple of years ago when the market was better, but nothing came of it clearly.

We had to use a very very specific format this week and I swear this was the equivalent of a DUI test where you balance on one foot hopping, touching your nose and singing the star spangled banner.

Brown Battered Suitcase, Rolling Behind

Brown battered suitcase, rolling behind.
Bulging full of memories
The train always arrives on time.

Step up to the station, step up in line.
Mind swiming full of apologies.
Brown battered suitcase rolling behind.

Emotional baggage carefully confined
Sanity bears no warranties.
The train always arrives on time.

Emotional blackmail, pay in kind
Celebrate the victories.
Brown battered suitcase rolling behind.

Past and future lay entwined
drowning in familiarities.
The train always arrives on time.

To stay here, simply disinclined
Of to explore tomorrow’s mysteries.
Brown battered suitcase rolling behind.
The train always arrives on time.

I’ve been thinking a lot about social groups lately. The groups that we choose to associate ourselves with. Not groups like family, coworkers or classmates who are chosen for us by some random chance, genetics, or diabolic scheme. No I’m thinking groups like the local Karaoke crowd you join on Friday night, your church group, or other recreational group.

Lately I’ve been focusing on the role of newcomer in an already settled group and am having a similar experience in two diverse groups. With on group, I’ve attended a handful events and been quite, mainly an observer, and wondered if I’ve been noticed. With the other group, I’ve been more vocal, yes i’m new , yes I would like to meet people, yes i’m looking to learn my way around.

In the end, I think part of the problem is that people who look like they belong in a certain group or sect will get ignored on the basis that they look like they belong, so they must be someone else’s friend, sister, brother, responsibility. It’s not their fault either. After all, at some point don’t you have enough friends. Yet as these groups look to grow their group and bring in blood, an effort has to be made at inclusion somehow.

I dont have a solution, if i did I wouldn’t feel as much of a newcomer in these groups as i do now. It does give me a different perspective on the groups I feel comfortable in and charges me with the responsibility to actually come out of my shell and try to meet people.

We lost power last night, around 11:30 or so. it flickered then boom it was out  I stumbled upstairs and looked down the street to see the street lights out and to see a someone clearly fumbling with a flashlight through the curtains .  Sadly  i was a third of the way through  “Dude Where’s My Car” on Hulu. maybe i’ll pick it up again tonight.

The Pig and Whistle is officially open as of today!
There were signs of life there yesterday for a private party, but tonight they’ll throw the doors open and welcome the neighborhood back in. Yay!

i peeked my head in last night and took a photo

One Two Three

One table
Two chairs
Three hours
full of conversation.

One cup
Two stirrers
Three creamers
drained of their milk

One pastry
Two bites
Three pieces
left ignored

One hope
Two people
Three chances
to start again.

One sentence
Two words
Three concerns
shared for the future.

One lie
Two truths
Three  inconveniences
litter the floor.

Three years
Two hearts
One wish
forever swept into the dustbin.

————–

Written for my creative writing class. Note the poem the professor wants, but its what came out.

No worries, this does not mean that there is any distress in any of my relationships.

I dont do a whole lot of Seafair stuff.  Not a lot of it interests me. With the exception of Miss Things parade appearence a few years ago, all Seafair has been is a traffic nightmare. (In years past the Greenwood parade would double my commute.) This year though with the arrival of Miss Bit, I’ve made an effort to get out to some of the kid friendly activities.The Wallingford parade that Miss Thing had done a few years ago, was just as enjoyable for the Bit.  The Greenlake Milk Carton Derby had us all wondering if we could build a boat.

This week was the Greenwood parade, which we found appealing for its proximity to home. After all, all we had to do was walk 3 blocks and there was the parade route.
And what a parade it was. Two groupings of pirates,

a couple of good bands                                           A community garden complete with flowers hopping along.

Miss Bit’s schol was also represented and she kept calling out “Greenwood it’s me! One of your students. I’m over here!”

All in all, a lot of fun. Next year maybe Miss Bit will join the “parade club” at school and be part of the parade. Either way  I get the feeling I’ll be sitting on the side curb  waving at the kids and dancing to the bands.

So I can officially say I’m back to attending church, on and off. Last week was Broadview UCC. This week was University UCC. The contrast is pretty clear between the two congregations. Going back to Broadview, i did have some of the initial “Where have you been” questions. Thing is they were cloaked in hugs and care and I knew that folks genuinely cared about me and wondered where I had been.  Sure I shrugged it off, and made a point of not hanging around for coffee hour, but the worship and the care was real.  
University again felt fairly anonymous. I came in right as service was staring and opted to sit up in the balcony. Since it was a small group, we circulated during passing of the
peace and someone asked if i was new. That was nice.  After service I didnt run out right away but  had a cup of coffee afterwards during the reception. I wandered around and looked at the different things going on, but really  I felt like a little lost puppy.  i finished my coffee and popped out over to Trabant to wait until the library opened.

I find University to be appealing because of the size of the Congregation and what a Congregation of that size means. There is a young adults group for those beyond youth group, a parents group, family events, a LGBTQ group. (Broadview does have one, but well.. I was never invited, and didnt want to push my brand of Q on them) There is an alternative style service held on the occasional Wednesday nights. There is a lot going on. I find it appealing because it reminds me of growing up in Downers Grove. I’ve said that before and don’t want to sound like a broken record but, it’s true.

Anyway, i need to figure out where i fit and where i want to be. i think its going to be a long process figuring it out. On the other hand, As i told  someone in the house hold this morning. “It’s ok if I go to the other church, after all God is in both places.”

While I love my new tupperware. Particularly the refirgerator set that I just got. But I still like bento stuff.
And  i’ve been looking for this set ever since I saw Lunch in a Box talk about it.

Why? It’s lock and lock.  They are easy to clean, they seal tight and they are functional. It’s  a coordinated set. Two food trays, one drink cup, all in an insulated back.
Why? Because I  have been looking for one and havent been able to find it.  So that makes me want it more.

Anyway I got it in dark blue instead of light blue and found it at Central Market in Shoreline. Leah only let me get one, though I’m tempted to call up there and see if they can get it in orange or burgandy.

It’s Johns ** fault really. You see he’s my neighbor. They are a pretty standard family 2 kids, 1 stationwagon and a sports car, slip and slide in the back yard etc.  He’s raising boys. Loud rambunctius, screaming so loud it seems they are killing each other , boys. As the male role model that he is John must do his duty and properly prepare his boys to be boys. He’s extremely gender biased about this. We see basketballs and nets (one for each boy) Baseball team jerseys , the whole works sport wise.

Since he’s raising boys, he also has to model the way to cook like a man. The grill comes out every other week or so. A standard kettle grill, kingsford briquettes and lighter fluid.  i’ve seen this happen twice. The first time, I sat in the kitchen watching him butcher hotdogs thinking “He’s doing it wrong” The second time, the night before last, I sat in the living room eating dinner and  could smell gas. i was sure there was a leak.  I poked my nose around the house looking for a spot where it might be stronger, going down to the basement where the heater is (We have gas heat now) Nada. Sticking my head out the door confirmed it. John was barbecuing again.

I bought my new grill in self defense. I’ve missed grilling and smoking and it was time for me to get active again. I understand the conviencence of gas grills, and enjoyed using them, lighter fluid just  ruins the atmosphere in my opinion. I couldnt let  the standard for outdoor cooking in our neighborhood be  lighter fluid and kingsford.  So a new grill was purchased, and I’ve been putting it through its paces.

I got an invitation from John last night. Our neighborhood does the  “nights out” thing, where th block closes and we mingle. the invitation says a couple of grills will be going so we should bring our main and something to share.  I wonder if I could wheel my grill out.

To make  you drool, here is a picture of the smoked turkey from last season. I think i might do another one of those this year. (Hmm wonder how that would go over for the neighborhood potluck…….)

**Not really his name

This really is a neighborhood for cats. First there is Mr Pants, whom you’ve all heard me talk about before, Then there is Sasha who came into the yard on Friday as I was barbecuing ribs, she stayed in the yard a good 3 hours hopping from person to person begging for pets, lazing in the sun, stealing  Leah’s blanket, and Miss Bit’s seat.

Tonight I also met  Gatsby  on the way out for coffee tonight, to this last one  who greeted me on the way home.

Cute huh? (He’s a polydactyl and he wanted to know why I was fussing with the camera and not petting him.)

He’s pretty but boy he doesn’t look so smart does he?