Five Things Friday
Happy Friday everyone! Quick Friday 5 today. I don’t have pictures for everything, so I am going to pepper this post with some random photos of suburban California flowers.
I don’t remember where I heard about this book, but it was in my TBR on Libby, so when I found myself looking for something to listen to, I gave it a try. DNF. I do not DNF often, especially with audiobooks. I realized that I was about 30 percent in, and I just could not care less what happened next. It’s a western tale, about a Union soldier after the Civil War on the hunt for the man who killed his sister, brother in law, and their infant child. Yawn.
My brother Richard sent me video of this bear in his yard the other day. I tried to upload the video but WordPress says I need to pay for some feature or another. I’ve never had to before, but OK. So you get a screenshot. The bear is hanging out, eating bird seed from the bird feeder. Life in Alaska.
Good news! Kitty Burberry was adopted this week. YAY! I don’t have a picture that you haven’t seen before, so here is a picture of some flowers near our local Best Buy.
I have agapanthus in a pot in my yard, but they don’t flower. Bah! I repotted them last year, and they look healthier than they did last year, but still. No flowers.
It was stupidly hot yesterday. It got to about 100F, which is gross, but thankfully our 47 year old air conditioner is hanging in there. Today is supposed to be a bit better, low 90s. This picture is not from the hot day, but I thought you might like to see that asshole squirrel enjoying the water I put out for him and the birds. He hasn’t done any real damage lately, thankfully.
OK, I haven’t even given you the promised pictures of flowers have I, just one. Sigh.
I went wandering the neighborhood the other day looking for artichokes. Last year, maybe the year before, I found one flowering in someone’s yard. I thought maybe they came back year after year, so maybe I would find one. Nope. I looked them up, and you have to plant them every year. Anyway, here’s a picture of a drought tolerant yard that I like. I like the pretty fig tree.
Here’s a picture of some roses, but look at that eucalyptus tree in the background. It’s looming so dangerously over the house. I like eucalyptus trees, they are cool looking, but they do not belong near houses or roads. We have them behind our complex, and they have taken out our fences a few times. Dangerous.
I could swear I had more interesting things to tell you, but apparently I was wrong. It was a busy week at work, our team of 4 was down to 2 because the other 2 were on vacation. It was the perfect amount of busy for me. No sitting around, but not frazzled. But with no sitting around, I guess I couldn’t think of a bunch of things to talk about. It should be a quiet weekend around here, though Ted is popping down to Los Angeles to see his favorite rock band, Rush, in concert. Maya and I will hold down the fort at home.
Anything exciting going on in your neck of the woods?
26 Comments
StephLove
Similar to your work situation, I am back at work for the first time in a couple weeks and I have several projects, none of which are due for 2+ weeks, which for me is perfect. I won’t run out of work (as happens sometimes) but nothing is urgent. BTW, I don’t think I know what you do for work. I writing marketing materials for dietary supplements, mostly ghost writing for my sister who has a freelance writing business.
It is also very hot here, mid-90s. But before she left town, Beth and Noah finally got the A/C units in the windows, so that helps.
But what’s top of mind for me more than work or the weather is that Beth just left for Wheeling where she may stay for months, caretaking for her mother. I am sad about this because it’s the first time she’s left that we’ve had no idea when she’s coming back and that’s hard.
J
Oh Steph, that is so, so hard. Not knowing when she will be back, and also the reason for her going. SIGH. Hugs to you (and her).
AC
Too hot and steamy for exceitement right now. Hot is one thing, but when you add steamy — very steamy — one wants to stay home and quiet.
J
We’re lucky we don’t get much humidity here. I remember it from when I lived in Philadelphia, and 80 there was worse than 100 here.
Margaret
I like Rush too! That book sounds interesting, but isn’t? I’ve heard of that author. It’s supposed to get hot here for a couple days and I’m not thrilled about that. I prefer 60s and 70s, like our summers used to be. Those book descriptions made me laugh. I had to shudder at the James Joyce one; I hated “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.” Stream of consciousness and run on sentences galore! Nothing exciting here–lots of grandson time though.
Incidentally, when I want to put a video on my blog, I upload it to my YouTube and can link to it from there.
J
Oh, I could try the youtube thing, good idea.
Yes, I prefer the cooler, overcast weather. I definitely live in the wrong place for that!
nance
There used to be a site on the internet that had haikus summarizing classic novels. I loved it. The ones in your image are great, too. Maybe I’ll try writing the haikus sometime. Could be fun.
My younger sister was a rabid Rush fan in her youth. I had no idea they were still touring. Heck, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney AND Ringo Starr are still touring/making new music. Old rockers never die.
Great news about Burberry! He was so sweet.
J
Regarding Rush, their drummer died about 10 years ago. This is their first tour since then, they have a young woman drumming now, she’s amazing.
NGS
I read “News of the World” by Paulette Giles and I thought it was so good that I actually bought it as part of my nephew’s Christmas present last year. It’s disappointing to know that the Giles catalog isn’t very deep.
It’s our busiest season at work, but that’s okay because in another two weeks it will be over and I’ll be able to relax in July. At least, that’s the plan for now!
J
I wonder if it’s just not a me book? It was so westerny and revengy. Both big yawns. The only westerns I like are about horses, lol.
Lisa’s Yarns
That bear is cute but I am glad he’s not in my yard!!
It had been so hot and humid here with highs above 80 for the last 10 days or so. I was excited because we came to my parents yesterday for the long weekend – but the temps dropped and it’s in the 60-low 70s and very windy. Boo. But we will be back lots of times this summer and the boys are still having fun. I hope the temps cool for you. I know you desperately need rain! We do, too.
J
I hate humidity! Sorry that the weather is going to be too cool while you are visiting your parents. We don’t get rain this time of year, so that’s pretty much out of the question. We get all of our water from snow melt and reservoirs.
Michelle G.
Ooof. 100 degrees is rough. I don’t do well with heat. I loved the abridged classics! Hilarious!
J
Heat is the worst. When I was young I used to enjoy it, laying by the pool or whatever, but those days are long behind me.
DB Stewart
Live in Alberta but I too have a bear story from earlier this week…while driving in the country it ran beside my vehicle almost like it was racing me!
J
Oh goodness, who won? That would scare me, I’d be afraid it would collide with my car.
San
Ugh, yes, it was stupidly hot here too. I didn’t even want to hang in my hammock! LOL It’s a bit cooler today.
J
Yes, today is better, though we have had the ac on.
Jenny
This week we got squirrels and bears instead of cats! From what I understand, black bears aren’t that dangerous. I guess it would be disconcerting to see one in your yard though
Ugh, 100 degrees!!! You’re hotter than we are, but we have the humidity (yuck). I like the flower photos!
J
I will take 100 here over 80 in humidity any day. That humidity is horrible!
PocoBrat
I laughed out loud at this: “about a Union soldier after the Civil War on the hunt for the man who killed his sister, brother in law, and their infant child. Yawn.” Because it would be so unlike you in real life to respond with a yawn to such a depth of tragedy…
It feels like th heat has been oppressive, J… I hope you get a break soon. (NOt even going to comment about your AC in case I unwittingly jinx it!)
J
Yeah, I should have reacted to the depth of tragedy, right? Instead I was bored. SIGH.
Today was a bit cooler, and tomorrow is supposed to be even cooler. Our a/c guy says that he can keep fixing ours so long as they make the parts, so that’s something. Not good for our planet, because a more modern unit would be better. But they’re so expensive!
Stephany
The heat is so oppressive. And, like Jenny said, we have the damn humidity to deal with. I just try to stay inside as much as possible, blergh.
A black bear! He looks so cute and snuggly. Ha.
J
When I showed the video to Maya, she asked if she could pet it. She said the bear would know she is pure of heart and thus not harm her or even walk away. HA is right.
Gina
Oh I hope Ted had a great time at the concert!
It is just starting to get hot here today, the heat advisory started today, but it’s just starting to feel yucky right about now.
Just about every 3rd or 4th yard in my neighborhood has agapanthus. I just planted some Spanish Lavender and we will see if I manage to kill it. I will certainly kill the Sweet Alyssium I also just planted, the heatwave will probably do it in before it can establish.
And my goodness, 47 year old A/C! That thing deserves its own documentary!
I hope you are all doing wonderfully!
J
Thankfully it has been MUCH cooler here since I wrote this post. It’s been typical Bay Area June, which means cold in San Francisco, and mostly 80s out here. Boy, Europe is getting hit hard though! UGH.
There are so many agapanthus around here, I feel like they should be easy to grow, but man, I cannot get mine to flower. SIGH.
I love my 47 year old A/C!