Frosty

My life seems to have become a growing list of things I must read and understand but have put off until "later"....the climate control system in my car, particularly the windshield defrost function, the hieroglyphics on my new camera and why focus can be problematic in certain situations, and the ongoing problem of the relationship between my computer, the external hard drive and the cloud to name but a few. I

OilMan has been 'tidying up' the outside porch even though it will be dark and freezing by the time our guests arrive. I have been arranging everything from cheeses and cured meats to cookies on platters. setting out plates and napkins and and trying to rid the house of the most egregious dust bunnies, even though they have a way of reappearing faster than I can sweep them up. I always think that the best time to clean up the house is after the party when the levels of spilled liquids, crumbs and half eaten food far surpasses a few dust bunnies lurking in the corners, but the impulse to clean at certain prescribed times is impossible to ignore. even when it resists logic.

In hopes of locating a secret cache of food that we may have forgotten about, Ozzie got himself shut into the basement. We could hear his plaintive barks, but were unable to pinpoint the source. Since he has a doggie door that he disdains using, we are used to ignoring his demands for entry and he is used to waiting less than patiently for us to let him in. We feared for the fate of the huge pot of chicken chili on the porch, which is colder and less crowded than the fridge. 

 As his demands became ever more insistent, we finally made a concerted effort and found him in a place he rarely goes. This is a recurrent problem in a house of many entries and exits....I'm reminded of a childhood cartoon in which a long corridor lined with doors on either side is animated by Tom and Jerry chasing each other, popping randomly in and out of those doors,  crossing and recrossing the center hallway without ever connecting....