It's a Saturday. Day 3 of a 4 day weekend. And I spontaneously awoke at about 6:30am.



I'm not feeling at all energetic yet, two hours later, but there remains no arguing with the wakeful.



So I'm still not being productive.



Theoretically, some chunk of today is to be filled with a long-overdue visit with a couple of ladies in Dorchester, possibly to include the new man in their life, but I've been unable to confirm this, and thus have no information on address or timing (though I think it likely to be too early yet) ... so if you've any thoughts of alternative excuses to avoid some of the housework that craves my attention, or ways to reward myself after accomplishing some of it, please do let me know. And if you're mrsdiomedes, I bet you can guess what to do...



I have a couple loads of laundry to finish folding and filing. I have many flat surfaces to clear, and the associated paper and other detritus to sift and sort and file and toss. There's a large stack of recycling to haul out to the bins, if my building-mates haven't already overloaded them. I scrubbed the tub Thursday before heading off to fandamily dinner, but didn't touch the rest of the room, and it could use a go-round with mop and sponge. The Room of Doom is getting worse, as I still haven't fixed that closet shelf, and so the intended closet contents are *also* in the main room, and much that shuld be vertically organized is spreading across the floor due to lack of shelving....



Getting through all that is not likely to happen without company. Which is not to say I need assistance in the doing, if that's not your thing (though it might be useful in rehanging the closet shelf...). But some conversation, moral support, and general human contact would definitely help me keep focused on the tasks at hand. Alternatively, I could do this for you, if you have stuff to do with an actual deadline, or we could trade positions over time...

Thanksgiving.



Gratitude for surviving the past year -- just at the time the hardest part of surviving the *next* year begins.



Yeah, I'm grateful for the friends and family and tangibles and intangibles I have. And happy to have survived, and hoping to continue that.



Soon, I'll be encoffeed, and drive off to the parental estate, there to mildly overindulge in food and drink with parents, siblings and -in-laws, nephews, an uncle...



There's always room for one (or more) more, so if you're in the greater Boston area, and are feeling the lack of such an event ... ping me quickly. My IMs and email will be online, but I'll be away from the machine after 1:30 pm or so, until sometime very late tonight.

My 88 year old grandfather's 82 year old kid sister; my mother's godmother; my great aunt Barbara, died Wednesday, after a long illness. Not unexpected, but still another mortality reminder in keeping with the season.



The wake was Friday evening; funeral and such will be Saturday morning.



My folks seem to be dealing OK. My grandfather is definitely on his way to the other side, but can generally carry on a lucid conversation when he can hear the other person. Sadly, his hearing seems to be getting more variable, or at least less able to discern one voice from many, these days.



I didn't know Barbara well, and don't have strong memories of her, but this reminds me that one side of having a large family, is having a long list of farewells to make, one way or another.



And so it goes...



I'll be spending a sizeable chunk of tomorrow, after the funeral and following general social, with my own godmother, my mother's (11 years younger) kid sister, only 13 years older than I. She's had a bunch of transition the past few years, including moving to Nantucket, getting married, dealing with the sudden death of her new husband not even a year later, opening a B&B in Maine, and more and more. She tends to look to me for spiritual and social counsel, which I have so far been reasonably able to deliver. Hopefully I'll be able to help her get her feet steady under her once again.



Late tomorrow, there are two parties I aimed to attend, before these other events crept in. I may trim that to one, and I'm not yet sure which. One is in Burlington, the other in Westminster. I'm inclining toward the latter, as the guest list includes many people I see far less frequently than most of those likely to be at the former, but I may yet make it to both. We shall see.

tonight, it's pot pie from the farmshare bounty ... some veg something to go with ... and fresh baked Toll House cookies. all accompanying Sci Fi Friday and likely earlyish to bed.



tomorrow, laundry will no longer be avoided. the second fallen closet shelf will be remounted properly, as the people who built this place should have done. perhaps I'll even get the room of doom converted to somewhat organized stacks of labeled boxes.



then, Drum & Dance. it's been a few months, and my drum's in better tune than it's been for a year or more, so...



Sunday, a couple of friends celebrate their weekiversary, and many folks who weren't able to attend the wedding will gather to celebrate less formally. I should be there.



what am I forgetting? where else am I supposed to be? what do *you* want to do with me? join me at one of the above? Speak up!

I'll be going here tonight, after a brief post-office nap --

A quick reminder about the Halloween Show.

Wednesday October 31st, 2007

The Lucky Dog Music Hall

89 Green Street Worcester, MA 01604 //508.363.1888

doors @ 8:30pm // 21+/$8

Google Maps



Do you have free space in your car?

Do you need a ride?

Use this HUMANWINE carpool message board to help organize yourselves.

http://www.HUMANWINE.org/carpooling



Be sure to put down your contact info (email, myspace, IM etc.) and where you are coming from.

*Note this page will die after the show*







11:30pm Herra Terra Worcester Locals bring a whole night a Halloween home.

10:00pm HUMANWINE Donation buckets, CD, T-Shirts etc. Available at this show.

09:00pm What Time Is It? Mr.Fox You can't miss their set. They are our favorite band in Boston!



*note* WIN A PRIZE! COME EARLY IN A CREATIVE COSTUME!



Our very own Holly Brewer a.k.a. (HUMANWINE's Ma) is nominated in the 20th Annual Boston Music Awards for Local Female Vocalist. Click the image below to vote for her and all your other favorites.





LONG LIVE ART RAH! RAH!

-HUMANWINE

You should too. If you ping me soon, and can get to somewhere roughly on my route (I-93 south to I-90 west to I-290 east to the show) you might could even get a ride.



If you're not going where I am, you should go see Booty Vortex at Johnny D's in Davis Square, where I'd be except that I'll be at that other place.