Busy work, Folks
A lot of big work going on over here. The baby bird obsession has been lifted. They split.
I’m having my house painted. Have to. It’s time. I was very concerned about the bird’s nest in the front at the top of the roof and the little chickees. Black Phoebe babies. I almost postponed the entire job. The painter said he’d work around them and wait. I was kind of freaking out about it. Yesterday they left. No more bird shit all over the steps. So, gone. Relief. Moving on.
My brain latches onto things hard. Things that take me out of myself. Things that stop the world from spinning in my head. Things that stop the panic. Things that give purpose, small purpose. Things that make me feel like I have accomplished something in the real world. Things that hold back the realization that the entire cycle of horror in this culture is starting again. It’s the little things.
For instance, I needed to buy a new cat fountain. It’s a basic one. Petsafe. The original model. Sammy liked to drink out of it. It was caked with hard water deposits and just getting nasty. I cleaned it the best I could and it wouldn’t work anymore. So, I thought, trash. I got eight or so years out of it. It’s okay if it's garbage now. It’s not a huge purchase. Just get another one of the same. I do that with things that I could upgrade. I get attached. So, I trashed it and got a nice one of the same model.
While unboxing the new one I looked at the instruction manual. There were specific instructions about removing deposits. Even step by step instructions on how to disassemble the pump to get them out of there as well, which I assumed was the problem. So, I had some time. I like to do things.
I got the old one out of the garbage. Disassembled the pump, soaked everything in a vinegar and water solution for a few hours. All the deposits came off and the pump started working again. Now I have two fountains. Can I say I ‘refurbished’ it or is that a stretch? Like, if I wanted to put my old fountain on Craig’s List or eBay could I say 'refurbished Petsafe fountain?'
Is it odd that I felt a major satisfaction in getting it going again? I didn’t renovate a car. I didn’t strip a piece of furniture and restain it. I am excited though. I feel the same way when I do laundry. Not interesting conversation starters. ‘This is the pet fountain I refurbished.’
I built a cat door for the window as well. It's like my job. Home management. I once rewired the charger of a hand vacuum because my cat had chewed through the wire. It barely works but I don’t replace it.
Hardware stores are meditative places. The noise stops and your mind is filled with possibilities. Building things and places mentally is calming.
I do think about life and the world and the ends of both while I do the things. It’s my process, I guess.
Today I talk to a true film artist. The singular Paul Schrader about his work and God a bit. Thursday, I talk to Warren Zanes, formerly of the Del Fuegos, about his new amazing book on the making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska. Great chats.
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron
A New Cat Fountain.
