Old Chauncey is looking raggedy, with his huge winter pelt just starting to tangle up. I am thinking seriously of taking him to a groomer and getting him shaved as spring gets closer. I hear it is humiliating for the cat. Even if it reduces the tick count here in the house, I wonder if his fur will grow back next winter all even like it is now. I told Bro Phil about this idea and he was laughing so hard we almost drove off the road. Apparently most folks do not shave their cats. Anyway, it is very alarming to find ticks all over the house so why not? At least I can pick them off easier. I will post a picture of Chauncey if I do get him shaved. It might be a bit ugly...

Here's whassup: Nothing. Couch is great, gotta new TV, gotta new camera, shoulder is ok, my back went out (and came back in again), and I had some pricey dental work done. The Date is no longer a love connection and my christmas cactus plants keep blooming. Guess it's all calm.

I think I stopped posting because at some point I started feeling pretty narcissistic. Who in hell cares about my random thoughts? Why spend any time recording what I am thinking? God, it's boring enough inside this head without making it available to any wandering person. So I am about out of the posting-your-deep-thoughts stage.

I am thrilled that I bought a new (to me) couch from Sis Chrissy. The one I had was awful, but I really didn't know that until it was out on the porch. I was wondering why no one wanted it. Then I really saw how old it is. Funny, it just looked tired to me till it was outside. Then the truth hit me: I was living with a horrible couch for years.

The new one is fresh and comfy, lovely burgundy chenille with dark wood arms, very soft and yet supportive. Yeah, I paid too much and it was a f*cker to get to my house. I loved it the whole time Sis had it and finally have it. Funny how one piece of furniture can make a room.

This morning the Date surprised me by showing up with a strong friend and his truck. They took away the old couch, which was a sleeper and extreeeemly heavy. So now the porch is nice again, the couches are sorted out, and life as we know can continue on its cute little path. Serenity.

Yesterday I got my (new to me) little chain saw out. It is 8 inches, with a retracting pole soyou can saw stuff without having to be near the blade. This is the neatest gadget. It's even electric, and I don't even have to pull the cord.

I wanted to just trim branches, like I did with Bro last year. Boy, did I miss him. My little project got too big for me and wore me out so I only did about a third of what he and I did as a team. (Bro can really get a lot done.) The yard is full of branches now, and the guy next door has an assistant who needs money and will come clean it up for me. I only stopped when I cut the cord and blew a fuse and had to f**k around with that old fuse box, bound to happen. Now there will be a few minutes of fixing the cord when I get the saw out again.

It's little but very heavy with the pole reaching up over my head. My arms and back are very sore, especially the left arm. That surgery in February is about healed up except when I do enormous projects, then I really feel how weak it still is. Use it or lose it.

Tomorrow the Date is moving my old sofa away to Good Will, then moving a new (used) one in for me. It's great: dark red with teak arms. He also has to move my love seat into my computer room and do a lot of associated moving of this and that. Hey, I do not have a truck and I can't lift anything. And the Date is willing --- so, put him to work. All in the name of home decor.

I suppose I will have to cook him up some kind of meal. He does not know my cuisinart history and will be surprised, since I usually only have chips and walnuts around the house. I keep using his labor and not allowing any romance so that better be a yummy meal, for sure.