I've been holding off posting this until the lease was signed so as not to jinx things. However, getting everything done by snail mail between California and Massachusetts has been taking a bit longer than we anticipated, and I can't stand not to mention it. So at the risk of jinx, I post this anyway:

purpleglitter and I are moving in together at the end of the month. We're moving into one side of a wonderful duplex in an historic district of Arlington. We're near the bike trail and a stream. I'm going to be able to see a good variety of birds just sitting on the back porch. The place is idyllic. I'm very excited.

I will miss the house_of_clocks. Unlike last time, I will not be taking the clocks with me. Last time the household moved, this time it is individuals moving. It's the end of an era for me. Perhaps those who are in the house after me will continue the tradition, perhaps not. I hope they will, as it would make me happy if the house_of_clocks still existed.

Things are changing so fast. You'd think I'd be used to rapid change by now. Perhaps I am, and I'd just have to experience a period of time without rapid change to notice.

As purpleglitter was leaving for work yesterday, she came across Cloe Longfang attacking a blue jay. purpleglitter chased Cloe away and called me. I came out and put the jay in a box and took him out back to purpleglitter's screen-in porch. He was such a beautiful bird and i was so worried about him.

I called an animal rescue. They were very nice, but very busy and didn't make it out to pick up the blue jay until early afternoon. The person who picked up the jay said that he had a broken wing, but the wing was still responsive and he had a good chance at recovery. I hope the jay is alright.

I've spent most of today and a good deal of yesterday helping purpleglitter with her pre-move. Making boxes, packing, bringing stuff downstairs. The birds in the new apartment, each got to spend a little bit of time just enjoying the outdoors and listening to the outdoor birdie sounds. I keep hearing a finch up here still, perhaps it's Isobel's ghost.

I made sure to catch the sunset this evening, as I won't have the spectacular vantage point after purpleglitter moves. I took a number of pictures, and will likely be posting them from the house_of_clocks tomorrow. I've got 30-60 minutes of work to do, then I'm off to bed.

Tomorrow morning at 9:00 the movers arrive. I'm about to disconnect this computer and bring it down.

I went to one of the most wonderful yard sales I've ever been to this morning, less than a block from the house_of_clocks. The place was absolutely mobbed, but the stuff was awesome non-standard yard sale fair and the prices were the best I've ever seen apart from the free stuff shop. I got a bunch of bead/buttons shaped as Chinese coins, two stuffed squirrels (a momma and a baby), a travel box of oil pastels, 2 blank sketch books, 2 cool lockets (on of which I gave to purpleglitter), a pair of vintage cat's eye glasses, and a stand-alone chrome ashtray for the front porch — ALL FOR FOUR BUCKS!!

I had a very nice walk today. I started off at the house_of_clocks. I wasn't intending to walk, I was just sitting on the porch killing time waiting for purpleglitter to pick me up in about 45 minutes. I lit up one of the Romeo y Julietas that Christian gave me, and took off.

I went down to Spy Pond, walking past the sundrenched flower gardens by the sidewalk. I turned onto the park path, which I haven't actually done since the park was reopened. I have to admit the park improvements look nice and there were plenty of geese pecking at the grass on either side the path - as there should be.

Sitting alone on a rock by the path there was a grey-haired woman singing. Her song was in perfect harmony with the shining pond and trees. I stood there and listened and looked out over the pond. I gave her a wish pod before I continued on in my journey.

I walked under the bridge, and back to Mass Ave, then back home. The walk put me in one of the best moods I've had in some time. purpleglitter soon picked me up for travels to Home Depot and the Chai Café and here I am still glowing from a perfect walk.

As I stated in an earlier post: the old house_of_clocks, which due to its dilapidated condition was sometimes called the Crackhouse of Clocks, was completely renovated and turned into a condo a couple years after we moved out. purpleglitter and I went to the open house today to check the place out. The layout of the place was virtually the only thing that was familiar. The place is astounding, wonderful. I'd love to move back in if I could afford it. Even if I could afford it, however, the housing market is poised on the verge of a giant bubble burst and now would definitely not the time to be buying.


( tour of the renovated old house of clocks )

Still haven't heard back from the wildlife rehabilitation people. I took the squirrel down to the parking lot behind purpleglitter's apartment to try to see if it could go away on its own. I got it out of the box, but it just laid there on the ground. I tried to pick it up, and it just walked a couple steps and laid down again. On my second attempt, I put it back in the box and brought it back up to the porch. I spilt a little of the water in the box, but it is a warm day and it should dry rapidly.

A couple hours ago, purpleglitter noticed a squirrel outside her apartment that while alive was not moving. She called my attention to it, and we decided to try and help it. I attempted to see if it could move, and was able to stroke its back with a piece of cardboard without it running. I used a piece of folded cardboard to try to pick it up. It ran a couple feet then collapsed again. I did end up successfully picking it up and placing it in a box. I called Angell Memorial to see if they could help, but they said they would most likely just euthanize it if we brought it in. So, purpleglitter and I put the squirrel on her back porch along with some water and food and wrapped the squirrel in a silk skirt for warmth. I think it is safer in the box than laying on the ground outside the house. Something would surely have come along in short order to harm it. I have the box set up so that it will be easy for the squirrel to get out, but hard for anyone else to see the squirrel is in there. I hope it is okay, and I will check on it in the morning. An empty box is what I hope to find.

I arrived back in Boston yesterday afternoon. The trip home was relatively uneventful. My flight left St. Louis at 7:05, and I have found that morning travelers tend to be far less eager to strike up a conversation than evening travelers.

I saw my Uncle Dizz for the first time in many years, Thursday. When he saw me he exclaimed "Haven't seen you in a long time. You've got breasts!". He's a very nice guy, who is apparently doing quite well these days. It was nice talking to him again, even if my visit to his house was brief.

That evening I stayed up until 2am talking with my mom on the back porch. We discussed many difficult issues and I still feel a bit not-here, but I'm glad we had the talk.

purpleglitter, zarthon and I were planning to go to a reading by Augusten Burroughs yesterday evening, but I was far too exhausted having only slept 2 hours the previous night. Maybe some other time.

purpleglitter's landlord destroyed Aleister, the hollow tree we buried Isobel in. The scattered pieces of Aleister were strewn about the ground in front of the back fence.

purpleglitter pulled her car up to it so that we could use the headlights to see while we sifted through the rubble for the box we buried Isobel in. I found it scattered amongst the remains of Aleister. The box had opened, the millet and the wish pod still inside. I found Isobel in her shroud nearby.

I dug the detritus out of the box and place Isobel back in. Afterward, we drove around trying to decide what to do.

Isobel is on the back porch now, we will rebury her tomorrow.

Out of curiosity yesterday, I did a search on Google for the address of the old house_of_clocks. First I tried "1261 Mass Ave". Nothing. I tried "1261 Massachusetts Avenue" and found the building. Finally, trying a combination of both approaches with "1261 Massachusetts Ave" I found the old house_of_clocks being listed for sale as a condominium. Having passed by the old house_of_clocks in Arlington Heights many times recently, I knew that the old apartment was being sold as a condominium, however it was interesting to read the description given of the place:

Arlington – $409,900 Spectacular renovation in 2004. This top floor 3 bedroom unit features new kitchen with granite, stainless appliances, ceramic tile floor, and new baths with ceramic tile floor. Hardwood floors throughout, spacious living room, private W/d, rear porch, large storage area, and deeded parking for 2. Windows, heat and hot water systems new in 2004. Steps to the "t" & shops. Don't miss this one! Listing Information Amenities and Features Listing ID 70332410 Near Public Transportation Price $409,900 Swimming Pool Bedrooms 3 Tennis Court Type Condo Walk/jog Trails Sq. Ft. 1,256 Baths 2

The apartment I remember is quite different. It was billed as a 4 bedroom with 1 bathroom. It definitely didn't have anything like stainless appliances, ceramic tile floors, or a granite kitchen. The building had neither and still has neither tennis courts and swimming pools, I imagine that the references to those in the listing are meant as "nearby" as is with the bike trail and public transit.

When we lived there, the entire three decker was completely run down and neglected by an elderly landlord that was in over her head trying to manage her many properties. Due to the dilapidated condition, we used to jokingly refer to our place as "the Crackhouse of Clocks". purpleglitter is making arrangements for us to look at the place as "potential buyers". I'd really love to see the changes. I doubt I'll recognise it at all. Just from the times I've passed it, I can see how much it's changed. The white picket fence in the neatly trimmed front yard advertises the new nature of the place. Time moves on.

IN THE OLD HOUSE OF CLOCKS

photo by purpleglitter

Upon leaving purpleglitter's apartment, I noticed another interesting set of tracks at the bottom of the step. Bunny tracks! I haven't seen a bunny in Arlington as long as I have lived here. I always figured there was too little open area available for them to move in. I guess there is at least one bunny living in our little section of Arlington (not counting merryperseis, of course).

One of the great things about snow is that it is so easy to see who's come calling. As was the case last winter, there are raccoon tracks on purpleglitter's back porch. Proof our neighborhood friend is still around, although the trash barrels knocked over and strewn about regularly throughout the year had left little doubt.

I had the oppertunity to pass by the original house_of_clocks today. There were several cops in front, walking up to the portch. Ah, just like the good ol' days.

I just watch the Arlington Town Day fireworks with purpleglitter from her back porch. It was quite something. Very loud and bright. The finale was great and we had one of the best views in town. I love purpleglitter's new apartment.

We have a new roommate: ivyvigne! He's genderqueer, genderfuck and don't really care which pronoun is used for them, so i'll use he for now, and maybe switch later. We had tea and long conversations on a variety of topics on the back porch. I can tell he's someone I'll really get along with. Yay! That's one worry down.

I took my walk rather later today. Missed neitherday and was firmly in morning. But, I did notice several pennies embedded in the rubbery crack sealant. I wonder just how many coins are in the streets of Arlington. My theory is that there are too many to have fallen there during or shortly after construction, and that cars running over coins embed them into the street long after construction. To test this, outside my house I have placed a penny. Assuming no one is insane enough to stop in the street to get it, I'll have my experiment. If, over the course of days or weeks, the coin becomes embedded, I'll know that coins can be embedded at anytime into the street. If it stays on the street and doesn't even make a dent, I'll know that they must be embedded during or shortly after construction or take an exorbitant amount of time to be embedded.

-----

After placing my penny, I leaned against the side of the porch and looked out at it and smiled. After I stopped leaning, I discovered that the porch had been recently painted, and there was white paint all over the sleeve of my lovely black dress. I went in and cleaned it as fast as I could, and got all but a small white line off. Nothing I can't fix with a black marker.