Today I made a most unpleasant discovery. When I opened my cupboard to select my morning tea, I was greeting by about 50 tiny fruit flies. This is a total shock, as I don’t keep any fresh fruit or veggies in the cupboard.

I hate fruit flies.

After a little detective work, I discovered that a little plastic single serve bowl of Dole sliced pineapple had torn open and the flies had made a lovely home. They must have just started hatching last night while I slept. Evil, bad fruit flies.

I’ve been chasing them around the house, sucking them up into my vacuum all day!

Of course this isn’t nearly as bad as the infestation in my home many years ago when a forgotten bag of potatoes had rotted in the basement………… yuck!

Every night I take a little stroll through my little garden, listening to the crickets, frogs and bubbling fountain. Keeping an eye out for slime trails so I can dispose of the giant slugs that invade my plants, and curse the obnoxiously bright “safety light” on the back of the building that illuminates the rock wall and my garden with an unnatural peach colored glow. Safety, schmafety. It’s nearly as bright as day in the areas where it shines. I hate light pollution – and it seems to follow me wherever I go. I like night to feel like night!

“Darkness is as essential to our biological welfare, to our internal clockwork, as light itself.” -Verlyn Klinkenborg, “Our Vanishing Night,” National Geographic magazine, November 2008

The horrible light was off for the first year and a half I lived here – and then, all of a sudden there it was. No amount of objecting or begging moved the property manager to turn it off.. Since then I’ve been plotting ways I could destroy it, but it’s simply been out of my reach. if I had access to a 15 foot ladder I’d have climbed up and pulled out the bulb long ago. I’ve also been petitioning the condo manager to turn it off…. going so far as to get signatures from other residents in my building that they wouldn’t object to it being dark out there.

Well. as I opened the door to take my nightly stroll this evening I was greeting by the most wonderful sight. DARKNESS. It’s so dark that I can barely see anything but the stars! I’m so happy I could cry.

Next week I’m going to hang up my orange twinkle lights on my patio – which I haven’t used for almost two years (useless with that bright light shining). So drop by and sit out on my patio with me at night… it’s going to be great!

And keep your fingers crossed that the darkness is permanent!

How do you feel about the lighting in your area?

I’ve been wondering what amusement, what mischief, what possible thrilling prize awaits the little black ants who wander aimlessly around my bathroom floor?   

Yes, they’ve even ventured into the mysterious folds of my pants, lying in a crumpled pile on the floor as I shower.

Where do they come from?  Why are they here?  What do they want??????

It feels like it’s been a long time since I posted and, for some reason, the thought of doing to has been a bit overwhelming.  To break myself back in, here are some random thoughts that have occupied my mind since I last posted.

Was thrilled with the $5 delphinium bouquet I picked up at the local farmers market Friday.

Yes, $5.00

I think I’ll drop by every Friday and pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers.

I get grumpy when I’m too warm.  Anything over 80 degrees is too warm.

I’m glad I have access to a pool when it gets over 80 degrees.  I love swimming – or at least exercising in swimming pools.  And preferably the water won’t be ice cold next time!

Unlike most people in Seattle, I was happy when the heat wave passed and cooler days returned.  I spent much of yesterday planting in my garden (a garden post coming soon).

Hummingbirds make me happy. Don’t have a pic of them, but here’s where they comes to dine every day.  Last night one came by while I was sitting on the patio, and he hovered down at eye level and looked straight at me for several seconds.   I love him.

On the other hand, snails, slugs, spiders and  mosquitoes – still not a fan.

Also not a fan of the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold mean-spirited Prop 8.    Also still not a fan of Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney.

Still happy that Obama won the election and am pleased with how he is engaging internationally.

I’m eagerly awaiting the release of Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince movie!

I think I’ll go see the new Star Trek film this afternoon. Have you seen it?

While I’m gone, please share a few of your random thoughts.

I’ve met several of Ashley’s friendly neighbors while staying here. I’ve talked gardening with Linda and her partner Sara from next door. Another dropped by with her kids, bearing cookies, to introduce herself. Was delighted to learn they have a girl Kennedy’s age.

One neighber, in particular, is very nice and helpful, but a bit odd… an older German man named Werner who Kennedy asked one day “why do you talk and talk?”

He DOES talk and talk…. and talk…. and talk…. The other day my mom stopped by to visit and he kept her verbally captive for quite some time. He tried to convince her he’d met her the day before (it was me he’d met… )

 When I came out of the house she said, “No, I’m HER mother… you met HER.”

It was sprinkling and I gleefully cried out – “Oh, it’s raining just for me – I miss Seattle.”

He looked at me and said, “It’s good we’re all different – good to have different kinds of people.”

I assumed (and I imagine you will too) that he was going to launch into a verbal essay about how some people like warmth and sun, and some like rain and cooler temps, etc…. but no. No, that’s not what he said.

Instead, what came out of his mouth was this….

“Yes, some people are big (as he held his hands out kind of wide… and I can only assume he was referring to me), some are smaller (as he moved his hands in a little closer… referring to my mother???) and some are even smaller still…. I like them all. It’s good to be different.”

My mom and I exchanged perplexed looks and I couldn’t decide whether to burst out laughing or punch him in the mouth.  I opted for standing there dumbfounded,followed by a quick escape to the back yard.

I arrived in Salt Lake Thursday night.

I am staying with Kennedy at Ashley’s new home while her parents celebrate Justin’s graduation from nursing school, their 7th Anniversary, and enjoy a 2nd honeymoon in Hawaii for 10 days. 

Here’s what I’ve been up to the last few days…

Playing in the backyard, making the Kwanzan cherry tree “rain pink.” 

Making exciting discoveries of new flora – such as a wisteria just starting to bloom.

And, of course, taking pictures.

Meals at Cafe Rio. 

Daily walks to the park (only a block away from the house) where Kennedy pretends the play equipment is a big ship, surrounded by shark infested waters. 

And watching a little bit of Scooby Doo and lot of Phineas and Ferb – and their pet, Perry the Platypus (who is actually a secret agent). Who knew such delights could be repeated over and over again with “On Demand” cable.   

A LOT of Phineas and Ferb.

Kennedy says she’s going to marry Phineas (the triangle head one).

And she’s been singing this song all day.

Enjoy.

Well, not actually the last day of happy – just the last day for this meme.

 Very happy that tonight, the song that has been in my head the past three days (including all through my dreams – I hear it in my head upon waking) is finally OUT of my head.  It’s a great song – from one of my favorite musicals, “A Little Night Music” called “You Must Meet My Wife.”   Stephen Sondheim is so clever….

Today I was very happy to attend the 2 year anniverary party at my favorite local art store…. and to be able to partake of the melon and strawberries they were serving.

I was also delighted to find the biggest, most delectable, shiny, red, sweet and delicious organic strawberries on sale at Central Market.  Yum.

And thrilled that I maintained my weight again today!

You? 

Today I was really happy to discover I had maintained my weight from the day before – not up, not down.  That’s the whole goal of this hcg Phase 3 stabilization – but can be quite challenging.  First day I’ve done so since starting P3 10 days ago.

Was happy to hear about how happy Ashley is about the birds visiting her yard.   Birds and flowers…  It’s genetic. 

Happy I gained another web design customer this week.

And I’m happy that I only have one more day of this meme….

 How about you?

Today was another beautiful day – in the mid 60s – perfect for walking along the river again.   Today is a bit of a repeat on yesterday’s happiness….  there’s a kind of perpetual happiness I feel whenever I look at the beautiful area in which I live.  Even after 5 1/2 years of being here, each time I go out I sigh as I look at the evergreens, and ferns, and flowering bushes and trees….  I really love it here.  It makes me happy.

 I was also happy that my experiment at making a mock Chicken Milanese turned out ok.  Certainly not up to Machiavelli’s standard, but pretty tasty, and a nice change from my usual fare. 

Also happy that there is a good chance that the evil bright safety light on the back of my building will be turned off.   Some of you know how very strongly I feel about obnoxious lighting, and how disturbed I was when this light was turned on (after a year of living here).  So I’m happily looking forward to the potential of dark nights in my little back yard again.

What made you happy today?

On this, the 5th day of my journey on the happiness train, I am still reeling with the joy of my 90 minute massage.  Wow – what a difference I feel today!   My low back has been bothering me for a few weeks and today it feels so relaxed!

In fact, it felt so good that I went on a walk along the river….  walked nearly twice as far as I usually do because my body felt so good!  

And while I was walking, hearing the croaking frogs, watching the ducks and geese, and seeing the wildflowers growing all made me very happy.

I’m also happy that Biz has hopped on the train on her blog today.

You know the drill – what are you happy about today?