Little Drummer Boy

I read a statistic last week that 30% of adults under 30 still live with their parents. One of them lives two doors down in the house with the perpetually mulch-filled driveway. He plays the drums. The adult kid on the corner also plays drums. Just our luck.

Yesterday was hot, and the man child in the mulch house was playing drums in the garage with the garage door up. I am MASSIVELY cranky this week and I am hearing him play IN MY HOUSE. Mrguy is unwell. This will not stand. I went down to ask him to close the garage door.

I find his dad watering some plants, wearing a pair of cargo shorts and no shirt. He's got his airpods in, and his belly is sweaty and tan. It's so loud. I flap my arms in greeting and mime that I'd like to have him close the garage door. He's all "What?" and takes out his airpods. I yell to him that I can hear the drums in my house, and ask him if he can close the garage door. The right response would be "Sure, sure. Sorry about that"

Man: Where do you live?

Me: Two doors up. I can hear this in my house

Man: There's another guy on the corner who plays the drums

Me: I don't like that either

Man to Man-Child: Close the garage door

Parties

I was late to the Systems department bakeoff, but found the last of their savory entries and their bacon. I squeezed the oil out of the bacon before eating it. All flavors made more delicious by their being eaten off of the Pearl Harbor plate.

Yesterday was our neighborhood party, held by our nextdoor neighbors, the ones who nearly burned their house down recently. Despite this, I am particularly fond of them I love their holiday party. This is the third year, and this party has helped me know all of my neighbors better. It's super fun and they're from all over: Nigeria, India, Otherlandia (can't remember!), and then others are super local and have lived here all their lives (like our hosts).

Speaking of our hosts, they love deviled eggs, so I made some yesterday. That helped leaven my mood. Plus anything that takes me into my spice drawer makes me happy.

Hooray for a splash of smoked paprika and a scattering of parsley.

Plague Of Frogs

What's next? 
Really, People?

The last year at the factory has been so hard, in multiple ways that I'm not at liberty to discuss. It's a slog, but I'm still in love with it and its people. 

Yesterday my boss lost her job to restructuring. I can't imagine doing my job without her with me. 

Also yesterday we learned that one cat (nose) has terminal cancer. Not unexpected for a 22-year-old. But our other boy, ears, is also somehow sick. This was two trips to the vet for mrguy in one day. One biopsy for ears. He is still at the vet's overnight, awaiting an ultrasound.

And an hour ago, mrguy smelled smoke in the middle of the night, got up, saw flames shooting out of our next door neighbor's entryway, called the fire department and saved their house from burning down.

Are we done yet?

 

Christmas Eve 2017

This is my view.

About 2:30 my next-door neighbor was feeling himself. Couldn't hear the topic, but he was drunk and having fun.

Around 4, he was still at it. Not a school night.

At 5am I couldn't sleep, so I rolled over to grab my laptop, which was on the floor. Then the bed loudly collapsed. 

We cleared the debris and I think that mrguy has forgiven me and we are now down here this morning.

Happy Christmas Eve, My People!

Update: my sister, who was sleeping in the Lady Room, directly below us, took the whole night's activities and created an interesting narrative from the parts. Earlier in the evening, mrguy had been out playing a gig. Sis thought that he'd come home drunk after his show and was raving. When the bed broke, she thought something really horrible was happening. This, despite knowing mrguy for almost 30 years. The mama didn't wake up at all!