Solstice plans and a visit from the not-quite-inlaws

It's been a very busy few days. Ms. Red Hair's parents are coming to town at the end of the week. Besides the usual cleaning one must do when expecting guests, we've been making a lot of last-minute improvements to the house. Ms. Red Hair had me under the sink in the 2nd bathroom yesterday, replacing the ugly faucet.

If you've never replaced a sink faucet, this is one of those "box of chocolate"-type chores: you never know what you're going to get. Be warned, it's unlikely to be as easy as they make it seem in this video:

Doesn't that guy look like the dharma-initiative video guy from Lost?

I like to do things myself, but I hate plumbing. I hate plumbing even more than I hate electricity, and I hate electricity. I hate lying on my back with my arms above my head, staring at the underside of a 1980's vanity and sink with water dripping on my forehead. Smelling the damp. Realizing that the wrench I have is too big or too small. That I have to undo all the work of the last 15 minutes so I can find a work-around for the fact that the cabinet drawers are in my way. (should I just chop off that section with a jigsaw? I don't have a jigsaw. how much would something like that cost? what if I took the drawer out? I'll have to take off the drawer face and that probably won't help. maybe if I stick this rubber pipe deal through the hole in the top of the sink. Ahh. yes. f'ing plumbing.)

I said a lot of nasty things yesterday that I'm not proud of. Like about mother-f'ing sinks and leaks. There was a lot of yelling.

In the last few weeks I've made a fence, replaced a faucet, taken down old towel holders and put up new ones, installed a valance and assembled an umbrella holder.

Curly Sue is just about done with the school year and she's been spending a lot of time at my office. I took her to the special 15 minute commune spot on Friday. Ms. Red Hair told me in bed on Friday night that CS said I had taken her to my special place. That there was an ant freeway up a tree, and you had to crawl around a thorny bush, and that I had picked up some litter from the creek. I was touched that she told Ms. Red Hair in such detail--it seems like she really liked it there. I admit that bringing her there was kind of a beautiful experience... she seemed appreciative and respectful. And I felt closer to her for doing it.

Ms. Red Hair has been helping me to plan for the solstice on Wednesday. Our plans so far include:

1) bonfire in the fire pit
2) a rosemary/parmesan bread with a sun on the top (Ms. Red Hair bought a sun cookie cutter!)
3) strawberries and blue berries from our garden (which has only so far produced like 5 of each, so there won't exactly be a feast:)
4) grapefruit soda made with grapefruit from our grapefruit tree
5) a meal of salad and possibly grilling on the back patio, with strawberry shortcake for dessert
6) wearing light clothing, and a toast or thank you
7) bowling.

The bowling thing is what Ms. Red Hair really wants to do.

Ms. Red Hair seemed so interested in the planning that I asked her if she thought maybe she was becoming a pagan. She said that she might be a very apathetic one.