I'm pet- and house-sitting near Seward Park. The house is one block up from Lake Washington and the third story bedroom has a balcony that overlooks the lake and park. I've set up dissertation camp on the balcony, complete with a table, chairs, an SPF 50 beach umbrella, an ice chest (which holds my dissertation-related materials), my laptop, a potted sunflower, and a large cup of vanilla spice tea. I'm preparing for Monday's Ph.D. General Exam aka my dissertation proposal defense. Finally, I know! Hence my advertisement for a Man Friday. As I work on the presentation that I'll deliver to my committee on Monday, I glance up periodically to gaze upon the serene view of the water and park. Motorboats, sailboats, and jet skis zip in and out of my view. I wish I was out there playing, but, alas I need to prepare for Monday. I'm thankful for the umbrella because it's protecting me from the sun - and rain. After a few seconds of gazing, I take a deep breath and calmly return to my presentation. Until...
I need to write about boys. Soon. But now...back to my presentation.
Post Script: With 100% accuracy, I identified the sound of the Blue Angels as they flew over Lake Washington a mere 2.5 hours after I posted this. This is definitely the day for loud sounds. I wonder what other loud sounds are in store for tonight?
Vrrrrrrmmmmmmmmm!!!! Vrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! What the hell is that noise? It sounds like a wood chipper. I envision the scene from Fargo. (If you don't know it, you can view it on YouTube at (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qWFhDvURLg). Ahhh - the joys of being in the suburbs. After what seems like a couple hours of this constant, loud and penetrating noise I envision myself shoving the wood chipper operator head first into said wood chipper. I call my mom to complain, then remind her of the time when I was studying for an important exam and she decided that was the perfect time to rake the rocks in the planter under my bedroom window. We laughed. We discussed the need to control one's environment at times. Fortunately, this isn't one of those times because the wood chipper keeps on chipping. How much wood do these wood chipper people have? Not really annoyed, but more as a procrastination technique to avoid working on my presentation (much like I'm doing now by writing this post), I investigate the source of the noise: it's a power washer. Well, I certainly don't know my noises, now do I? The neighbor across the street is wearing those pants and boots that fishermen wear - but no yellow slicker and he's clearly missing his hook-for-a-hand - and he's power washing the curb. The CURB! I didn't know that some people in Seattle had power washers (tisk tisk for water conservation), and I didn't know that some people had such high standards for their residential curbs. Hummm. I remind myself that life is based on diversity. Finally the faux I Know What You Did Last Summer fisherman power washer finishes his project. Ahhhhh. Serenity. I can hear the distant muttering of boat motors, people laughing, children calling for their mothers. Back to my presentation. Until...
Grrzrrrrrrzzrrzzzzrrrzzzzzzzz! Grrrrzzzzrrrrrrrrzzzrrrr! Apparently Leatherface lives next door. I hope he's using his chainsaw to cut trees and shrubs rather than turning unsuspecting passersby into the main ingredient for the family's chili recipe. Otherwise, it's Seattle Chainsaw Massacre right next door. I didn't have to investigate much, because the noise is coming directly from my left. I look down into the yard below and lo and behold there's a man with a chainsaw. Leatherface asks me if he can come across the property line to finish cutting hedges. So long as you don't scale the balcony and turn me into chili, sure thing! I attribute my accurate noise detection skills to my many viewings of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. If there was a Power Washer Killer series, I'm sure I would have accurately detected the power washer noise. I only viewed Fargo a few times - you betcha! - so maybe a few more viewings are in order given my lack of distinction between the sounds of a wood chipper and a power washer. So long as Jason, Michael, and Freddy keep their distance today, it's all good. Chhhhhhhhh chhhhhhh chhhhhhhh Ahhhh ahhhhhh ahhhhhh.
I need to write about boys. Soon. But now...back to my presentation.
Post Script: With 100% accuracy, I identified the sound of the Blue Angels as they flew over Lake Washington a mere 2.5 hours after I posted this. This is definitely the day for loud sounds. I wonder what other loud sounds are in store for tonight?
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