Earth, Wind, and Fire

photo courtesy of aroundcarson.com

This is what I couldn't take my eyes off of last night while I drove home from work. Dry lightning (another new thing to me) created a substantial brush fire in the Northeast of Carson City. It started Sunday and burned until it was contained today. With up to seven fires burning in Northwest Nevada resources were scarce, the sky was black with smoke and the fire went on for days. It was scary to watch a hillside burn from my ridge across town. I can't imagine what hell it would be to be living near the fire in North Carson City. I was driving behind a car today whose driver was casually flicking his cigarette ashes out the window and I seriously would have liked to kick his door in or pummel him on that outstretched arm. Folks, we've got record high temperatures, afternoon thunderclouds with dry lightning, and mountains ready to blaze up with just the slightest provacation....do you think you could use the ashtray in your car! GGRRR! The thunderclouds finally opened up today and let loose some rain.

My other preoccupation: closing escrow this week. Besides the paperidge, which I spoke of previously, it seems it is not possible to close a house without the inevitable last minute details that require digging through boxes of old tax returns, tracking down stray W-2's, running to an office store to fax documents, making far to many phone calls, and being glued to my cell phone. Consequently, I feel as if I am in a constant state of distraction, have an amazing compulsion to make lists and of course, forget said list and needed documents when I leave the house. Monday I jumped in my car for yet another errand and realized I had left my keys in the house and had locked myself out. Bravo! Luckily, I had the forsight to make and hide a spare house key...for which I promptly patted myself on the back.

Generally, I imagine myself to be handling this process fairly well, I have to laugh at myself when life smacks me and says...silly girl, you are sooo all over the place. I took my sister with me today for the final walk through. Good thing, I was just so busy gawking and admiring my soon to be new abode that I really would not have noticed any of the repairs and such we were there to inspect.

Finally, I must share a moment that makes me a proud aunt. One of the best conversations I had with my college niece when she was visiting: As we are driving up the highway from Minden to Carson City we are discussing books. My niece keeps a list of books and authors she wants to read (that really must be the auntie gene).We talk about her books and authors and generally get all geeky and bookish. I am thrilled that some of my favorites are on her list and that I can gush about this or that book while my niece nods and bobs her head in that way that only another bookish gal understands. I am just so thrilled that she loves books and that I can share that love.

AuRevoir Bob

I found Bob's mom. During one of Bob's visits I put a collar on him with a note taped to it asking if the owner of the cat we call Bob would call me. She called. She lives four houses up on the corner of our street. She was very grateful that we contacted her. Especially when we told her we were moving and if no one claimed Bob, Bob would be moving too...so strong has my attachement to Bob become. She seemed very suprised that Bob had taken up residence here part-time. She claimed that Bob came home every night. Ha, that Bob...catting around in my yard at all hours while Bob's mom thinks Bob is home safe in bed...Bob must be a teenager. She laughed that we named Bob since we obviously have no respect for gender. She calls Bob Monkey, having no respect for species. Still, I am grieving the loss of Bob's company. Bob was here for almost a week after we spoke to Bob's mom. Then suddenly Bob no longer appeared. No Bob for almost 10 days. I miss Bob. Bob was very attentive and liked to be scratched and would sit in my lap and just hang out. Bob was a very relaxing end to my work days. Bob was just a great, sweet cat and I will miss that sweet face.

Stacks

I was warned. Though many things go into buying a home it appears the paperidge, in vast quantities, is the thing people remember most. Large manila envelopes full of stacks of paper have arrived at my house. Yikes! It doesn't help that I am still toting what feels like cotton balls around in my head making it difficult to absorb any information of the printed variety. Then again perhaps the denial is wearing off and the shock has set in. I'm buying a house. WTF! It appears my mind will be sifting through various stages of thought and emotion over the next two weeks. I'm feeling roller-coaster-ish. A good aspect of it all is that half of my stuff has been in boxes for over a year. Imagine my suprise, when I actually get to unpack them, at all the forgotten treasures stored therein. Whee, it'll be like christmas!

Meanwhile, I should be packing BUT my angel from Flagstaff (aka College Niece) is visiting so there's much to do with her. We are going out to Virginia City today. I have yet to visit this old mining town. We've gone to lunch and a movie earlier this week and browsed used books in town. So that's the plan, even though my mind wants to toy mercilessly with odd words and phrases from these stacks of paper I am off to have a little fun and roam old time Nevada.

Down for the Count

AAAGGGHHHHH! I'm sick. I stayed home today. I had chicken noodle soup and vast quantities of kleenex. I am chugging orange juice. I think today is the worst of it and tomorrow I will feel better. Lesson learned: as soon as you utter the words "I never get sick" you will and it will happen when there is too much going on. I have learned to roll with the whole succumb to it, loll in it...because I do know that is what my body wants and needs. Loafing in bed and watching crappy television...just because.