Coming Soon . . .

. . . great photos and exciting accounts of my trip from Atlanta to Mexico City. It's better than CATS! You'll laugh, you'll cry; it will become a part of you.

I just have to get my computer set up in the fabulous new apartment. And figure out some hilarious and/or depressing stories.

It won't be long....

Because Michael asked what Alabama looks like...

Blue skies, puffy clouds, and softly 'ululating' pastures (at least in this part).

"Little Boxes"

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

Notes:
words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1990
photo by Robert Isaacs, Ticky Tacky Houses in Daly City, 1968

_________________________________________

If any of you have ever watched the Showtime series "Weeds," you've heard this little ditty of a song during the opening credits. (and if you haven't watched it, you should--it's really funny and good). The song was originally written and sung by Malvina Reynolds, back in the 60s. The song has been remade tons of times, but now it seems that "Weeds" has started inviting guest artists to re-interpret the song for the opening credits. I like the idea, but the song sort of loses its kitsch when put to electric guitars or orchestral accompaniments.

So that is why I've chosen the original version (two verses of which are posted just above here) to be my theme song for the week. Yes, I travel in the land down under (down under I-10, that is), visiting my family in LA (Lower Alabama, for the uninitiated).

My parents are graciously putting me up, and all my stuff, in their ticky-tacky box, which is where they moved after selling the family pecan orchard, aka 'the Pecanderosa'. Well, okay, they moved here because my brother was interested in the investment opportunity and thought they'd be happier and better cared-for closer to him. And I can't say that's not true.

But it is Boring here. All the houses on the cul-de-sac look alike, the neighbors wave, and the next street over, and the street after that, and two more across the road all have cul-de-sacs that look exactly like this one and neighbors that wave exactly like these. I turned into the wrong driveway on the wrong cul-de-sac, and of course....they waved. Sometimes I have to take long drives that leave modest tracker carbon footprints through the farmland that surrounds these housing developments, or along the beach road. I know it's the beach road from memory, and signs, and I think that maybe all of those tall condo towers must be facing something worth looking at. But I don't have a pass, so I can't see the beach.

Maybe I exaggerate. Maybe boredom makes me exaggerate. Maybe boredom makes me exaggerate and repeat myself. Or maybe it's those wonderful blue pills that mom takes for her back pain (or used to) that make me exaggerate. She hasn't noticed that several are missing: she actually prefers the red dolls.

Riding Low in the Tracker...

No, I haven't gone crazy customizing the tracker (see it's a tracker, so what?) It's just packed so full, it's starting to look like a lowrider. All it needs is some 20s and neon. This picture is not it, by the way. I've spent most of the afternoon packing everything I own into the poor little car, and I'm still worried that I won't be able to get everything in it. But, regardless, I'm leaving tomorrow with all my things--strapped on top or pulled behind if need be. Now don't worry, this time I'm only going to my parents' house to sort and re-pack. Some things to take with, some to store, and some to just get rid of.

I'll be back in Atlanta on the 18th of July or so. The Mexican is flying in on the 19th to see some sites, and to help me drive back to Mexico. We'll hang around Atlanta for a couple of days, and then head for the border! I hope that everyone gets a chance to meet him while he's here.

I'm glad that things are finally getting going. It seems like I've been planning, and packing, and talking about moving for months on end. At last, things are starting to happen. But I know I'm going to forget something.

What exactly I'm doing awake at 1:36 am...

I left the spider alone, and have been relaxing and reading a book called Boomsday, by Christopher Buckley. Someone else summarizes it better here:

Christopher Buckley's first novel since Thank You for Smoking is Boomsday. In a satire reminiscent of Jonathan Swift's "Modest Proposal," the plot of Boomsday revolves around a blogger's idea to provide government incentives (tax breaks, etc.) for Baby Boomers to kill themselves (er, "voluntarily transition") in order to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security. Outrageous, yes ... but wait'll you see what happens to the idea once the "American political system" gets a hold of it (no spoilers here, go read the book).

Okay, well yes, it is an amusing book, all the political goings-on around Washington, DC. Buckley is clever, and makes some none-too-veiled jabs at our current administration, and at the flawed governmental system in general. Pretty fun.

But. It got me thinking. It's a bit like science fiction, only it's predicting a future that's right around the corner. Unless something is done, our Social Security system will be insolvent in some amount of years--is it 10? 20? (I think these people have thought it out a bit more carefully than I). Also, I can't help but wondering if the much-debated "illegal immigrant" problem could be part of the solution? Who wouldn't want millions of legal workers paying for their retirement?

I've gotten a couple of reports from Social Security about my retirement: If I retire when I'm 65 years old, I'll get something like $300 a month. That's low because many of my jobs haven't paid into SS, but into a private fund instead (which I immediately withdrew and spent each time I changed jobs). On the other hand, my Mexican AFORE and another fund with Seguro Social de Mexico promises a bit more than that, and includes free health care. SO, let's tally, shall we? After four years of working in Mexico, I have more money saved for retirement there than I do after what, 15 years working in the US?

The reason is, I must confess, the Mexican savings fund I have doesn't allow me to take anything out of it until I reach retirement age. The savings funds here have always allowed me access to the money. I guess I need more discipline. My own fault, but I'm trying to work with what I was given!

So that's another reason to live in Mexico.

Come into my parlour...

So it's a slow Sunday, and I'm just sort of fooling around, and noticed a spider had constructed a very nice web between the red lamp and the wall. A fly or two was buzzing around, so I swatted them with a cereal box (anyone want to come over for breakfast?), and then dropped them into the web. BAM, the spider went into action! I couldn't really see because all the action was on a very small scale, but the events unfolded like this: 1. Spiderellymae immediately secured the dead fly, wrapping it tightly with a few threads. 2. She then ran over to the still wiggling fly, and sat on it until it stopped moving. I can only assume she was either poisoning it or vacuuming out its insides--maybe both. 3. After a long time, she went back and secured the first dead fly even better, and then returned to sitting/sucking the (now) dead second fly. Five hours later, she is still sitting on the second fly, who is looking a bit paler than before. Does anyone know if she could possibly putting babies in the fly's body? My biological clock is ticking, and spider babies are better than nothing, I suppose.

Having just seen a couple of those Amazing Earth TV specials, I was inspired to film a highly-detailed stop-action sequence of photos and post it here. This is what I got instead. (My production budget is a little less than theirs). The small orange bit is Spiderellymae sitting on top of Fly #2. Over on the left is Fly #1.

My Nature-Boy act was inspired by my friend Jenny Winny Whiney, who documents the goings-on in her wilderness-esque front yard. I live in an apartment, so I don't get to see rabbits, turtles, etc. like she does. (I also don't have crazy cousins down the road!) Spiders and flies will have to do.

Oh, and the move to Mexico is still on, but I can't think about that today. I'll think about that tomorrow!