Signs of Life

Worried the neighbors might wonder if we've all succumbed to CO poisoning in our home, we spend a lot of time outside in the yard. Those frontline workers have enough to keep them busy without false calls out to our place. They'd end up staying by the fire, having one drink and then another, the next thing you know people in real need are dying. And then there'd be an inquiry, people would lose their jobs, massive overthrow of all the institutions of government as we know them. No, better to be outside and show people we are alive.

Best to make a big, flashy display where everyone can see. On a night when they are likely to be people passing by. Halloween, done in a way that avoids close contact with anyone, takes advantage of lingering nice weather, and maintains order in the streets.

Mostly, though, we are outside in the backyard. Like burning through a half cord of wood mostly.

Calli auditions for one of those nature shows that demonstrates how predators (or prey) can blend into their surroundings and be virtually invisible. Over time she perfects the technique.

Turns out she was hiding as a predator. But she was foiled at the last minute. As she lunged in from behind for the kill, her prey swiftly grabbed her behind the neck and subdued the threat!

Just a lot of hanging around by the fire pit. Good light.

The light for many nights came from the moon. The first was a rarity on Halloween, some kind of full moon combined with the date. Whatever.

Over time the activity morphed into fire plus TV and stretched ever earlier into the afternoon. Also closer to the door, kind of like huddling in advance of winter.

But through it all we ate. And ate. Levi gained a new step toward independence - biking to Kroger on his own to buy stuff. Talk about liberation, having a kid to run down to the store whenever you need something. So far it's been make up stuff - a reason to exercise the independence with straight up exercise on the bike. Only to come home and neutralize the exercise via Grippos.

To help out his health, I offered to have the second half of his vegan totchos.

And we rediscovered an old favorite. Here I make a couple extra bucks as a stock photographer, working spec for the new Sugg's menu cover. More of that evening light you've heard so much about.

It wasn't all outdoors in the past month. Contortion and flexibility, in particular, are best practiced indoors. Then shared online with friends! I'm looking at you lex_inthelex.

And Calli now has a full appreciation that she has been bested by the best. She averts her gaze as a sign of submission. Don't worry, mom's not mad.

We did venture out just a little bit for a getaway to have a fire in a different spot for a couple nights. And a hike through a crowd. And a hot tub!

Good time for before and after pictures. Eva sitting on the edge of a hot tub. One from November 2020, the other from Fall 2013.

Finally, we take the time to remember those who have left us too soon. Levi and I went for a stroll around Lexington Cemetary (on accounta the arboretum was inaccessible due to a home football game and the gals had aerials). We mourn the loss of a wife, and some guy she was married to who went by the name of "Wharton."