Yep, Mr. Shakespeare. "Love is a Smoke Made with the Fume of Sighs." I Will (no pun there) Return This Home to Normal Scents. It Only Makes Sense

I can exhale knowing that the dead rats on the 2nd floor have pretty much evaporated scent-wise. Now, the ones that met their doom in the floorboards of the dining room are letting their stench go. They are evaporating their carcasses. I keep hoping it will soon be gone, but when I come home from work, it's the first thing I smell. I have deodorizers everywhere and immediately burn candles and incense sticks (thank you, Patrick Kelly). 

This all throws me back to college dorm rooms in the early 90s, and the intentional hippy smell that radiated from many a space. I haven't burned them since those days, but kept the stash given to me by Patrick for a rainy day. Or smelly one. Like a house full of dead rodents. Seems highly appropriate. 

My goal this morning was to wake up at 6, write until 10, get a haircut, head to campus for 5 hours of meetings, then teaching until 7:15. Waking up at 6 gives me space to get ahead of it all, as every one knows that nothing gets accomplished in meetings. And it worked...I even finished an upcoming episode of The Write Time to be recorded this week. 

Dust in the wind. All we are is dust in the wind.

Or burnt incense sticks. Poof. Up in smoke, but a much better smell than decaying mouse meat. 

And I can't help make the connection with Tiffany Jackson's White Smoke. I drove around campus for an extra 15 minutes yesterday to finish the book. As usual, Jackson writes like no other. I wanted to bottle up the smells in my house to ask her, "Is this the scent you were describing in your ghost story?"

I'm sure it was.

Perhaps mice are to me, as bed bugs were to Marigold.

Karal Didn't Want to Say Good-Bye, and Did a Dramatic Departure, Leaping in Mimi's Chair to Give Final Kisses to Papa Butch

 ...and then she slept the entire way home on the thru-way. 

Normally, I take 17, but I thought I'd stay safer on the flatlands with more traffic (and there was much more traffic...actually takes 45 minutes longer to pay for the faster route). Not my preference, but with the temperatures from the weekend, I didn't want to hit any froze patches, nor to get stuck on the side of the road in villages where no one lives. 

Truth also is that on Saturday, when I went to Wegmans for my parents, my check engine light came on. It showed that I had low tire pressure, an emission problem, and a hill-climb something or other. It seemed odd that is sparked all that when it was -10 degrees, so I waited until I got back to my parents and looked it up. Reports showed that it is common for check engine lights to come on after frigid cold weather. Well, on Sunday, when I got up and left Syracuse, the tire lights went off, but the Check Engine light stayed on. I made it safe to Stratford, met Tunga, walked the dog, and then when I headed out for dinner, the lights no longer came on. I think my Subaru simply wanted to be in 45 degree temperatures for a while. Hoping it stays that way. 

Yes, in case you're wondering, there is still the smell of dead mice in my house, but it's not as bad as it was. I talked to my neighbors who live next to the decaying house (who has recently redone all the siding) and they said, "Yep, their house was infested with mice as soon as they started construction. All the critters living in the walls needed somewhere to go and they built nests in their garage." They showed me pictures of their furniture and in one week at Christmas, while they were away, the mice chewed their couch cushions and left feces in all their baby things (they just had a baby). They stayed away for two weeks and had the house fumigated. This must be when they chose to investigate my house and found Edem's bedroom on the 2nd floor. Needless to say, we've made a pact to report any suspicious activity to one another. They reported the man who resided his house is trying to move.

I can't imagine what the inside of that house looks like. For years, we've watched raccoon and possum climbing out of the upstairs windows. It's a mess. 

I'm hoping this phase will be short lived. It's been cold, they're nesting, and their habitat was taken over. It's simply gross. 

Finally, I'm thankful for the boxes and boxes of books that have arrived. One week away, I probably could open another book store. It's a love circumstance of my life since The Write Time began. I just wished I could have more authors on every month!

Princess Karal Would Like to Thank All her CNY Fans for a Wonderful (if not Frigid) Stay & Wishes All Well Until She Returns Again

That was a fast week. Good food, warm blankets, wonderful walks (until everything iced over), and very loud televisions. WHAT'S THAT? Oh. I SAID, "VERY LOUD TELEVISIONS." 

Huh. Oh, you get it.

We finished off the final night with a pot roast, roasted potatoes, focaccia bread, and Cynde's Mac-n-cheese. We also got a Syracuse game in (and they won), as well as many more chews on the toys Karal has hoarded on Amalfi Drive. Boo-Duke. I was rooting for UNC.

But now we are heading back to CT for a crazy week of 14-hour days. It's all good. I knew they were coming, and I'm prepared for them. It's the game I've chosen to play. 

More importantly, I can't wait to finish Tiffany Jackson's White Noise, one of the best books that have hooked me in a long time (and I don't do ghost stories too often). I have a few more hours left and this trip will allow me to finish.

I'm also looking forward to get my mail, to sleep in my own bed, and to be in the pace of the Crandall routine once more. The fridge is full, they won't starve for long, and I feel bad that Cynde needs to return to her daily routine of running errands. I tried to give her a break (no one asked her to make Mac-n-cheese....she just did). 

And with that, we travel onward.

Fancy Smancy, Wanky Swanky. Coldest Day of Winter & We Break Out the Hoffman Hotdogs to Warm Our Hearts. An Amalfi Drive Story.

The buzz was for fish, and in the background Mike was texting about pizza possibilities. I know myself, and definitely know my parents, and began thinking, "There's no way in hell any of us are going outside in these temperatures. Even Karal walked outside with trepidation. As her nose hit the temperatures she turn right back around. I already scoured the freezer and knew there were Hoffman hotdogs on display. I figured they'd be better in my stomach, and so that is what we had for dinner: green beans, rice, and wieners. Can't go wrong with CNY's greatest treats.

And it's not even summer. 

We woke up this morning to -18 degrees and by 10 a.m. it should reach 0. The high today is 20, but it will keep on climbing. I'm glad I'm not in New Hampshire with the -108 degree windchill. That doesn't sound like fun at all.

Today, the goal is to stock the folks up with more goods as, I know this is hard to believe, mom is 100% out of chocolate. When I made her Sundae last night there were no candy bars to crush, Peanut Butter cups to smash, or Godivas to grind. How could ever single drawer where she stashes her candies be empty of her treats? These need to be replenished, because they are her lifeline.

Hoping Wegmans isn't too insane. I also wish I had a car starter before taking off to get groceries. All will be well.

Good Advice, Mark! If I Mess Up My Hair, I Can Add More Height so That the Nephew, Sean-Man, Remains Shorter Than I Am

On Wednesday, I told Abu and Lossine that Sean got his license and Jacob Charles is heading to high school next year. I remember when they taught J.C. to walk. They didn't believe me, so I took these photos to update them. I also sent to my cousin, Mark, who remains the tallest in our family. He suggested I tuft up my hair to keep my CNY height status (hence the before and after look). Of course, Sean-man can do this, too, and who knows what Jake will do in the next couple of years. Dylan came close, but I think he ended up the same height as me. 

Jacob & Sean are a fusion of Casey, Cynde, and Me. It depends on the angle and the move, but they are definitely Crandall-influenced. The Barnwell genes are there, but the Crandall genes are there, as well (which includes the Ripley influence). It's beautiful. 

Casey is still short. She wears boots with heals, but it doesn't help. 

And today begins the 24 hours of frigid temperatures. I've been able to hike every day up here, but I am thinking I should spare Karal from freezing her paws off when it gets as sub-arctic as it will. 

I had a successful Thursday prepping websites, advertisements, emails, etc. with summer work - fun to work on July/August events in February. But I achieved! 

As for Chic-fil-A. I can live without it. The occasional sprint across an airport and having to stop for something fast...well, that's a treat. But spending that kind of money to order out for a family meal? I'm not sold. If I am going to spend that amount, I'd rather go out to eat somewhere with good food. When did fast food get so outrageous? I mean, it's okay. But $15 a head okay? I don't think so. I can live without it. 

TGIF. But I wish this was the TGIF into retirement! Ha ha!

Who Does It Better? Ms. Karal (who is in my spot) or Papa Butch Who Can Zonk Out in Any Spot? They're Definitely Feeling These Temperatures

The classes were taught and I visited Abu at Syracuse Academy of Science dropping off class sets of Home of the Brave, Outcasts United, and When Stars are Scattered. It seems appropriate to bring the books full circle, as we had great success with these books with Ubuntu Academy and I thought it would be the perfect purchase to give them in memory of their father. Now, he and Lossine can pay it forward with the young people they work with at both the middle and secondary schools of Syracuse.

I also was able to get a new toilet brush for mom's bathroom, a new coffee pot for me, and best of all, 1/2 Moon cookies from Harrison Bakery (you haven't had a 1/2 moon until you've had one from there) (in Kentucky, they are cow cookies and in CT, black & whites). 

Today, I am going to design, write, plan, grade, and get ahead (from under a blanket as the temperatures begin to plummet). Maybe I'll join the others on their naps as they look mighty comfortable. 

And I will be okay with these temperatures, as long as I'm able too get a walk in (don't worry...I'll bundle up). 

Thankful for technology allowing me time and space to work from Clay. And mom even ordered me an early birthday present!

This Is the Face of a Scholar Teaching Online While Attempting to Get a Semblance of Time-Away in a Make-Shift Trip to CNY (to see the parental units)

I knew the hardest part of this extended trip to Syracuse would be the days I needed to teach. I'm used to the 14-hour sequence, but am not sure that my parents are used to someone who works that long, who sticks to himself, and who is rather non-communicative (hey, I did do a Wegmans/Walgreens run...I did well). 

This morning and afternoon, I teach the last of my classes, a conglomeration of 40 students between two sections with the intent that next week, we head out to schools (which is another layer of arrangements that go beyond the call of duty and are somewhat difficult to navigate from a state away).

I got my roast beef sub yesterday at Wegmans, though. All is well. Today is another day. 

I am, however, looking forward to 2 pm when the teaching obligations subside and I can breathe a little bit at the house I grew up in (mainly to get food, see people, and attend to family gatherings). I know this week was a good one because the meetings were null (that's hard to believe, but I seriously didn't have a single meeting this week, and know I will pay next week when every second of the day is scheduled by the agenda of someone else.

In truth, I want today's classes to end so I can do a visit to Syracuse Academy of Science to see Abu and Lossine in their schooling environment. It's long overdue and I can't wait. Hoping I can hop over before their school day ends. 

And that means there are only 2.5 hours of teaching to accomplish before I can make this happen. I can then put my books away for a couple of days and enjoy the sub-arctic temperatures, frigid toes, and impossible wind-chill. 

Hey, it's CNY!

And it's officially February.