Daily musings of a retired digital artist/designer/musician/party goer/etc.

I have discovered, the hard way, that my decades of immunity to poison ivy has ended.  Late last week, I was clearing out some poison ivy, as I have done many times in  the past, so that those who are allergic to it won’t be in contact with it.  It had spread into pathways and had become impossible to avoid, and it had to be removed.  Normally, I am careful about contact, surgical techniques used to avoid getting it on myself so that I don’t spread it to others with incidental contact, both direct and indirect.  However, there was a lot of pruning to do in a short time, and I got sloppy.

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Fortunately, it’s restricted to my left arm from the sleeve (t-shirt) to the wrist, and the worst of it is above the elbow.  It’s not as bad as many have described to me, so my immunity may still be partial.  I was cutting the runners, the parts below ground, which are the most potent part of the plant, richest in sap (which is the irritating agent).  And those rubbed up against my arm as I was loading the trash bag with the clippings.  I didn’t think a whole lot about it, other than I would need to wash up thoroughly before making contact with others.

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Live and learn.  I’m still not afraid to clip it in the future, but I will be considerably more careful in a HAZMAT state of attention regarding contact, with protective clothing.  Until then, I get to ignore the urge to scratch.  It really isn’t that bad most of the time, and there is hydrocortisone on the rare occasion  that it does demand attention.  Most of it has already subsided in a couple of days.  And I am being careful not to make contact without immediate washing, since I don’t want to re-infect myself.

Took loppers to a mesquite tree today, ended up with a lot of smoking wood for the coming party (2 weeks away).  It also made it safe for people to walk around, as all the thorns are at least seven feet off the ground.

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Also weed whacked (with a 4 HP high wheel trimmer) some rather tall weeds in the low spot here (hadn’t been mowed this year).  Amazing tool for heavy brush.

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Also shook down black walnuts from the tree in the orchard.  I think we’ll have a nut cracking contest at the party.  (Hehehehehe.)

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Nice that the weather has been cooperative.  Very pleasant working conditions.

It’s autumnal equinox at 10:09 PM CDT (local).  Switching over to the dark side.

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Maybe I’ll get some rendering done as indoor time increases.

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Happy equinox!

Shifted furniture in the room today.  The computer desk came away from the window, which makes for a very strong backlit glare on sunny afternoons.  Now the desk is against the wall with the window over my left shoulder.  It makes for considerably less eyestrain when working afternoons.

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Above the desk now is a print of Claude Monet’s Purple Poppies.  I can swing the chair around and use the futon as an ottoman, a definite plus, as the office chair is quite comfortable.

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Only one item, a short filing cabinet was removed from the room, but it gives considerably more space and flexibility this way.  And the cats all seem to approve.

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In other areas, I have been getting deep into Weebl’s Flash cartoons.  Prawnboy has captured my brain and won’t let go.  I even had to avoid shrimp dishes at Morellia’s last night.  I was afraid I’d hear them talking in Prawnboy’s voice as I ate them.

Several times this month, I’ve heard people say, “Sure is hot!”  I usually reply, “Yeah, but it’s not like last summer.”  The typical response is, “True.”

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I was driving around Austin a couple of days ago, on the brink of rush hour, and the car’s outdoor thermometer jumped around 104° and 112°F.  Granted, this was not in the deep shade, but rather out in the sun and atop concrete or asphalt.  Still, it was 100°F in the shade, and that is plenty warm.  To attest to the heat, I saw three cars blow their engines, steam and smoke abounding, something that just isn’t a common everyday event.

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Consequently, all the physical outdoor chores are done early in the morning with a shower before 10AM.  It’s supposed to be like this all week.  Pretty typical weather for August in central Texas, all told.  Another three weeks of this to endure, and then it breaks (usually mid-September).

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But that’s okay.  I have enough to take care of my time indoors.  And if it keeps up, I may even find time to render something.  Been eating rather well this week….

Post #100….

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Back near Austin, and it’s been a social two days.  Music each night, me the designated driver.  Lots of catching up and giving reports, etc.  Haven’t played any music since I got back (though I did order a new guitar case for the meenie).  Having blown out my voice at music school, though not severely, just a few of the most intense notes were missed, I wasn’t even singing along much, despite my knowing most of the tunes.  But it was fun.

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The big news are the two new kitties in the house, one of which is crawling all over my shoulders and purring loudly and stealing my reading glasses as I type.  Macaroon (Maki), a classic brown tabby, is the older of the pair, and the higher jumper.  Kimmy (name subject to change) is solid black (haven’t found the exception hairs yet), the younger of the pair and while a darling, is still prone to nursing.  Both are about 4 months old.  Candy, the three year old resident is thawing slowly to their presence, but hardly thrilled about their arrival.  They are both natural mousers and are instant experts at the stick and string game.  They are even good team players.

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Not invited to the all girl pool party this afternoon (no big deal, I’d rather relax here, having partied enough).  Besides, someone needs to introduce the dogs to the kittens.  And I have some work to get done.

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I finished killing off the yellow jacket nests in the barn.  27 sizable nests at the final count.  Hundreds of larva all the floor, along with the adult wasps.  They had reach critical mass and a new nest was being started every few hours and accelerating exponentially.  No stings in the process, having gone in with full clothing, hands and face the only exposed parts.

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Blue bird skies (zero clouds) at the start of August promise some real heat, first of the summer.

Good progress at the hotel,  in more ways than one.  A sense of relief, even though I’ve turned my back on the hotel and left it’s lobby for the last time.  It was good creature comfortable, a good working environment.

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Less than two days to go until returning west.  There will be music tomorrow night, second week in a row for music school.

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Summer rain shower has passed, cooling and steaming.

Half way to departing from my stay-over in Bryan.  Enjoying the hotel life, working on web site structure/design to hand over to the coders.  It’s clean and comfy.  Client needs the comfort and coolness.  Not a bad view either.

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Critters getting fed and attended here when not in the lap of luxury.  But that’s okay, I don’t need 67°F all day.  It’s good to get back out in the warmth.

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Got most of my personal errands run, bills paid.  Things look pretty good right now, but next month is the real test.  Not that July wasn’t a challenge.  But August is the make or break month.

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Not much time to render right now, but life is full here in Bryan, Texas on a Saturday night.  Can’t complain.

Heading to Bryan sometime in the next 36 hours.  Not sure exactly when at this point.  I’ll be there for at least a week.  It will mean less comfort, but better bandwidth.

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I have business to handle in Bryan, so it’s a good move at this point.  Also a party during the period, so that should be fun.