Staring at a Squirrel Butt and Other Fleeting Thoughts from the Patio

Staring at a Squirrel Butt and Other Fleeting Thoughts from the Patio

Dust in the Wind, by Kansas is on the radio. I love this song. I think I can say this song has officially moved into my Top 10 List of Songs I Like to Listen To Loud Because of the Guitars and the Lyrics Have Meaning Beyond My Comprehension. 

I just got home. It is not often the house is empty and I am home alone. I grabbed a beer and came out back.

I hate shopping. Well, I actually like grocery shopping believe it or not, but shopping like today, playing Easter Bunny kind of shopping, kind of makes my stomach perculate and makes me nauseous. Maybe it was the floppy ears and the furry Easter Bunny costume I had on, but I felt like everyone was staring at me for spending too much money on things we don't need. I did however, buy some mulch and spackle to make me feel more manly and like I have a purpose in life.

So I am sitting out back on the patio. Of all the places George the Cranky Cat could choose, he has crawled up on my lap and he is sleeping with his face buried in my armpit. He is giving me little grippies with his claws. I am leaning back in the Adirondack chair and Dust in the Wind is playing, and I realize, how ironic, dust is falling on me from above. I look up and I am staring at a squirrel butt. He is chewing away on something and the crumbs are floating down on me like yeah, dust in the wind.

"...nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky...." go the lyrics.

I look to the sky.

Seven black silhouettes are gliding about a mile or two miles in the blue, cloudless sky above me. Friggot Birds? Turkey Vultures? Friggot Birds sound much more regal. I watch them soar. I never saw a wing flap. How cool that must be. I wonder if they even realize how cool that is, and if they even realize how lucky they are to be able to soar like that. I think I can say that being a Friggot Bird has officially moved into my Top 10 List of Animals I'd Like to be Reincarnated As, If I Don't Come Back As A Golden Retriever.

I think about the concept of Time. The idea of continuous movement. Capturing a fleeting moment. Every snapshot started somewhere, and its story continues, yeah, like dust in the wind.

You can probably guess. I've opened another beer.

I look to the Earth.

Oak trees. Palm trees. Pine tree. Shrubs. Green grass. Cedar Fence. Our little plot of the Earth. Two American Goldfinches swoop and disappear. They almost reflect light - their yellow bellies and black wings blurr as they dive by. A red Cardinal sings from the top of a nearby tree. His mate must be close. And I have a squirrel butt in my face.

Wind chimes. Our indoor plants are outside, radiating warmth in the sunlight.

I think about work. I have so much to do. I chase the guilty feeling away, but it lingers. I know where I need to be come Monday morning. I'll find the time.

Time. Dust in the wind. Capturing a fleeting moment. Home alone. A passenger plane is silenty heading north. Full of people. Way above me. Looking out their windows. While I look at them. I wonder what they see. I wonder where they are going. I wonder why are they going to where they are going. They all started from somewhere.

I wonder what they will do when they get there.

Their story will continue and they will never know for a fleeting moment I saw their plane. And that I am writing about them at that very moment as they flew over my neighborhood.

A black and yellow butterfly comes over the fence and kisses the grass. A green, really green chameleon steps into the sun. He almost sparkles. Why do I call chameleons He? And butterflies She?


They both are gone in the fleeting moment I look away.

Continuous movement. Their story started somewhere. And will continue.

A red Honda CR-V backs into the driveway.

My fleeting moment is over. Dust in the Wind. I smile.

Two boys nearly fall over each other getting out of the car. Talk about continuous movement!

A particular wife waves Hello and points to a carload of grocery bags. "Whatcha doing?" she calls out.


I look up at the squirrel butt, not really knowing how to intelligently explain how I have spent my rare, fleeting moment home alone...


On queue, George stands up, arches his back and I can almost hear him say,

"Come on. Song's over."



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Matthew's Quick Banana Banana Bread

For the longest time, any question you asked Matthew, the answer would be, "Banana." So it's only fitting to find a recipe for a quick Banana Bread that he loves to help make.

Hey Matthew, what is your favorite word?  Banana.
Who is the best Dad in the whole wide world?  Banana.

2.25 Cups All Purpose Flour
1      Cup Sugar
3-4   Well Mashed Ripe Bananas
.5     Cup Butter (1-Stick)
2      Eggs (Smashed, No Shells says a helpful 4-year old)
2.5   TSP Baking Powder
1      TSP Vanilla Extract
.5     TSP Baking Soda
1      Pinch Salt
2      Fruit & Nutty Granola Bars (optional but preferred)
1      Small Child preferably named Matthew

. Preheat oven to 375F degrees

. Grease and Flour bottoms and sides of (2) 5x9 Loaf Pans

. In a large mixing bowl mash the bananas and crumble in the Fruit and Nutty Granola Bars

. Combine all the ingredients and mix at a slow speed, scraping the bowl often

. Increase speed to High and mix 4-6 minutes. This particular small child said that is too long and the mixer gets too heavy. He then falls to the floor and says he is an alien. Be prepared to finish the bread yourself at this point.

. Pour into pans and bake 25 minutes - until surface is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

. If bread is not done after 25 minutes, we've found that turning oven down to 350F for another 5 minutes does the trick.

. Let cool in Pan for 5 mintes before removing.

. Upon completion, DO NOT leave the bowl, utensils and pan in the sink for Mom to clean!  :)

. Enjoy


. Banana.

San Pablo Fun Run

San Pablo Elementary Fun Run

Today, we woke early and participated in the San Pablo Fun Run. What a beautiful morning on the beach! A 2.5K doesn't sound like much - start here, turn around at the cones and come back. Here's your ribbon. Thanks for participating... Wow.  I am old. Or maybe I only have 1 lung and my parents never told me. Not sure.

Paul & Cheryl took some great shots form 3 blocks and 6 stories up. Special Thanks go out to our friends that feel more like family.

We have a Matthew Story....

Race started at 8:30am. The plan was for me and David to run the 2.5K and Mom and Matthew to walk it. The Race Starts, and Matthew grabs my hand and we begin to jog.

Cool, Matthew actually wants to run. Great Father-Son bonding and I figure once he tires, I'll hand him over to Mom, and then me and David can kick it into gear.

After about a block, Matthew looks up at me, tears streaming down his face and he wants me to pick him up. "No way" I say, "I can't run and carry you, just hold my hand and we'll keep running. It's okay..."

I'm kinda thinking he must freaked out in the pack of people, being 4 and being basically only a foot tall. But I wanted him to find a pace and run with me for a bit. He puts his arms up and cries, "I just wanna get home! Pick me up, I just want to go home!" Tears are pouring down his face. I pick him up, give him a squeeze and hand him off to his mother. "He wants me to carry him. Here." What an insensitive Dadman...

David joins me and we take off.

Well...

As it turns out...

It was not the rush of the starting pack; it was not the fact he is only 4 years old; it was not the fact he is only butt high, jiggling butt high as the case may be, and he could not see the light of day in front of him...no...

This poor kid heard the starting pistol go off to start the race...and thought everyone was running away from the gunshot to get safe......

True story.

Poor kid.


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