Unique Like Everyone Else

Sew Crafty Halloween

 Happy (belated) Halloween, Everybody! 
Say hello to Liechtenstein and Finn!

 

sources: http://hetalia.wikia.com/wiki/File:Traditional_Liechtenstein.PNG and
http://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/File:Finn.PNG

 

Whew!  J-Girl and I really put our sewing machine to task this Halloween!  J-Girl made her skirt and sash from scratch, altered a black blouse from Goodwill into a corseted vest, and fabricated a black stand-up collar out of the vest scraps.  J-Boy's Finn hat and backpack were experiments all the way, sculpting, pinning, cutting, sewing, fitting (seam ripping, repinning, refitting, sewing wrong sides out, seam ripping....I think that backpack was put together and taken apart every step of the way!)  But the results made for a happy kid!

 

Whoa, J!  Watch out for that Aperture Laboratories Test Subject!  He's aiming a portal gun straight at your head!  I always thought it would be cool to get inside that mind of yours, but, hey, I didn't mean it literally! 

 

ALTS, aka "Death", aka "Dr. Jekyll", is looking quite official in his Lab gear and identification badge!

 

 ALTS was hanging out with J-Boy a few weeks ago and had this great idea that they could make portal guns with Big Daddy's help.  BD was game and took the boys to the hardware store to research and commandeer some materials. 

So creative!  I love that he bought a couple of small, white trashcans
(see in the background, there?) to cut out the molded, curved plates he needed.

J-Boy's peers and younger recognized his character right off,
but ALTS got "the nod" from all the older teens and twenty-somethings.  :)

With their backpack candy collectors, the boys quickly developed a system to deposit the treats.  At first they struggled with their own bags, then taking each other's candy and putting it into the rightful bag, and finally, just putting the candy they got into the other guy's bag.  The coolest part of this system is that they got to know what each other liked, candy-wise, and started picking the other guy's favorites to put into his bag for him.

 

J-Girl has been a big fan of the anime Hetalia for a couple of years now.  She has made various cosplays (a fan contraction of "costume role play", I think.  And I think calling the anime fans' dress up clothes "costumes" is like calling an "action figure" a "doll".  Ah, but I digress...)  Last year she was the character "Taiwan" and her friend Ray-Ray was "Hungary".  They went to the Anime Expo in LA this summer as "Liechtenstein" and "England", and this Halloween they dressed as alternative renditions of those same characters.

 

 She magically whipped up Ray's blue cape and vest after school on the 31st, and Big Daddy got to work on that little blue top hat.  Bless her heart, she was working all the way up till it was time to head out trick-or-treating.

 

I took the opportunity to snap some shots of Neighbor B. and her buddy.

The girls headed out solo for the second year in a row.  I guess it's a rite of passage of sorts.  We left with the boys before they headed out, and they were gone when we got back.  So responsible, though.  J-Girl made a note and set out our candy for the trick-or-treaters to take.

We brought the bowl in when we got home, and leave it to J-Boy to notice
that "one piece of candy is being contradictory to the sign."

Let it be known that Big Daddy and I NEVER dress up for Halloween.  I don't think it is necessarily burn out from all the themed college parties we attended way back when, so much as we've made the holiday all about the kids.  But this year, perhaps because our kids are now in junior high and high school, or because there was an expectation that Big Daddy costume up for work at the freelance gig he's got right now, but he got into the spirit and put together an awesome boxer costume for himself.  The piece de resistance was the championship title belt he crafted from cardboard and high resolution internet photos and had slung over his shoulder. 

 

Even cuter,  however, is the fact that he's since hung it on the wall in our room. 
Unless Clive Owen comes a-knockin', Big Daddy will forever be my undisputed champ. ;)

The belt hangs proudly next to the cowboy mask that J-Boy gave him for Fathers' Day this year.  Wait a minute....is this actually Big Daddy's "vision board"????  Well, I made one in 2010 with a new refrigerator and a tortoise on it.  If I'm still waiting on those, then it may be a while before these goals manifest for the man!   

 Finally, because we had been invited to a Halloween party, I had to come up with a costume, too.  Goodwill glasses and dress, a borrowed wig from J-Girl, and I am ready to go-go!

We sure had a good time!  The best was running into someone I met at the party a couple days later and them not recognizing me because then I was a blonde!  Ha-ha!  I don't know that blondes have more fun, but I could see having some fun in a disguise!  Hey, J-Girl, I'm gonna keep that wig for a little longer, 'kay?  Yes, a happy Halloween, indeed!

 

Even cuter,  however, is the fact that he's since hung it on the wall in our room.  Unless Clive Owen comes a-knockin', he'll forever be my undisputed champ.)

Big Daddy: He Can't Help What He Is

Big Daddy and I were out running errands the other afternoon.  We were feeling pressed for time with yet another evening meeting at the school (J-Girl's this time--Freshman Parent Orientation with focus on college planning and strategies to get 'em there).  We made a pit stop for gas and made an impromptu decision to just grab dinner from the adjacent Del Taco.  Divide and conquer:  while I attended the pump BD made the food run. 

I was hypnotized by the digital display, thinking about how I was simultaneously filling my tank while draining my bank account, when I was approached by a nice looking twenty-something, greeting me kindly, but obviously wanting something.  Could I spare a couple of bucks so he and his girlfriend could catch the bus?  Well, I never carry cash and told him I had nothing, glancing at the pump display to see if I could cut short and get out of there.  Shoot.  I almost forgot about Big Daddy.

Big Daddy is the sucker nice one in our relationship.  And since the stranded couple was still lingering, looking ready to challenge my claim of no cash (Really?  Even 50 cents would be a big help, ma'am.) I offered him up to them.

Me:  "Well, my husband is over there in the Del Taco if you want to check with him..."

Him:  "In the Del Taco?  Uh...I guess I could...How will I know who he is?"

Me:  "He's tall, dark, and handsome."

Him:  "Tall, dark, and handsome, huh?  Ha-ha. Ok..."

Me:  "Oh...and I think he's wearing  a blue shirt and brown shorts."

Big Daddy comes strolling out of Del Taco with a big grin on his face, shaking his head.  "You're such a dork," he says when he reaches me.  Beyond him the guy is waving two dollars at me and yelling, "Thank you!"

A few days later we were in Barnes and Nobel when a stranger gives me a great big grin and hello.  "Ha-ha," I say to BD, "he thinks I'm someone else!"  "No," Big Daddy replies. "I was just over by the magazines and he called me tall, dark, and handsome. So, yeah, he knows you...dork."

Hey, I just call 'em like I see 'em.  And as for being a dork?  Yeah, I can't help what I am either.

 

Any Given Saturday

Big Daddy and I have a Saturday morning routine:  We head out while the kids are still sleeping (J-Girl asked us to stop waking her to tell her where we are going, because "it's Saturday, so she knows."), we pick up our farm box of organic fruits and veggies, head to Starbucks for the ususal, and most times, stop into the adjacent donut shop, then head home with our haul, and do a crossword puzzle together.  Sometimes we may forego the donuts and come home for oatmeal which is our weekday staple.  Sometimes we may stop at a garage sale if we are on the hunt for something in particular or something catches our my eye as we pass.  But on any given Saturday, that is our routine.

This past Saturday I was inspired to scrap the routine.  Oh, not scrap it as in "not do it anymore", but scrap it as in make a scrapbook page about it.  As we made our way to all the stops, I collected a piece of ephemeral memorabilia at each place.  Playing with the pieces in little fits and spurts, I eventually commemorated our little slice of alone time:

 

 

Here's a closeup of the journaling, because that is my favorite part
of lurking around other scrapper's blogs. ;)

 

I was pretty proud of myself for thinking to frame us with the bag handle.

 

And I like the dimension of the fanned crossword puzzle, and my hand-sketched lettering.

And, for the record, we usually don't look that good when we head out on these errands.  It's more of a roll-out-of-bed-put-on-clothes-from-the-floor-brush-teeth-and-go kind of thing.  But is is OUR thing, and we look forward to it each and every week. 

Playing Catch (Up)

Big Daddy always says, "Life is for living, not recording."  At the same time, he does enjoy my blog entries (I think!) and he definitely likes looking back at old pix of the kids and our long-gone dogs. 
That being said, he has no sympathy for the concept of being "behind on blogging"
and is more likely to pull me outside to play a little catch now and then.

 So, I decided I would do one massive post to catch you up on some of the stuff
we've been up to for the last *gulp* four months, so I can clear the slate
and leave more time for living.

 Leeeettttttt'ssss seeeeeee.......

I had a lovely getaway with my High School buddies

 

J-Boy graduated from his Adaptive Skills/Behavioral program.

 

And he had a Floor Hockey tournament.

 

The kids enjoyed sibling time.

 

 
 

I retaught myself to knit and actually made something.

 

Apparently I cooked some good food, too.

 

We had one set of grandparents come for a visit.

 

And then the other set came.

 
 

And we skyped with Aunt Vicki.

 
 

J-Girl worked on some sewing projects.

 

J-Boy had a pretty big part in the 6th grade play.

 

We almost adopted a puppy.

 

But worried it wouldn't be fair to Edward.

 

We went to Staples Center/L.A. Live.

  

where J-Girl and her buds ice-skated.

 

 

And then cheered on the Kings.

 

from all but the last row in the stadium.

 

Three of us were able to move to a lower altitude to combat severe acrophobia,
the cure for which, who knew, is cotton candy.

    


The kids grew, J-Boy surpassing his older sister,

 

which made us realize how little time there is before these kids are not kids anymore.
We down-sized one of our business ventures.

 
 

And simplified our life so we can enjoy more leisure time together
while we are, still, all together.

Doing things like playing frisbee golf at our local park.

 

 

And while we stay busy living this life that is for living,
we still take time out to record those cherished moments that make
the living of this life so very precious.

 

"I'll be right there, Sweetheart!"  
I think Big Daddy wants to head up the street to shoot some hoops. 
J-Boy's basketball season starts tomorrow.

 

Halloween: version 2010

We had a low-key Halloween this year. I put up very minimal decorations (a "Happy Halloween" sign on the front door and a little plastic pumpkin on our very narrow fireplace mantle) but stuck to my annual get-in-the-spirit-of-spookiness tradition of NOT dusting the diningroom light fixture between September 1st and October 31st. 

It kind of loses its effect when I don't hang the little bats and spiders on it like I usually do.  Oh, well. 

 

I didn't even remember to use "my October voice," as J-Boy calls it:  A ghoulish, spooky, howling-wind type of thing where I draaaaag oooOOOOOOUUUuuuutttt sYYYLLLablesssss with a ghhoooOOOOOOssstly, VAMMMMpiiiirishhhh caaaAAAAAAdddannnccee.  J-Boy hates it and only allows it in October.   

J-Boy knew early on that he would be dressing up as Harry Potter this year.  He started reading the series of books late in the summer and is already almost done with number 7!  He had a funny experience during the summer where we picked up a friend of his from Summer Day Camp and the kids there were all-a-ruckus with shouts and finger-pointing, "Harry Potter!  It's Harry Potter!" because of his longish hair and glasses.  He loved it!

 

I knew we'd be going store bought or borrowed for his costume.  But, for Mrs. Do-er, the news of this costume choice was like some sort of astral-planetary-cosmic collision of good fortune:  three of her favorite loves had aligned--J-Boy, Harry Potter, and knitting!  Look at this beautiful handknit Gryffindor scarf!!!

 

J-Girl was given the go ahead to trick-or-treat without the parents this year.  With that, she and Neighbor B came up with their own schedule for meeting and heading out. I helped J-Girl with making her costume this year, and got it done so under the wire, that it wasn't until later I realized I never took a solo picture of her in it.  She is dressed as a character named Taiwan from a favorite anime series, Hetalia.  (The link here will take you to Episode 1.)

 

I dragged out the photo session with J-Boy and his friend, Death, while J-Girl got dressed and did her hair. 

 

  

 It was like holding back a couple of hornery bulls! 

The boys were rearing to go, and trying to get a couple of shots of the girls before they headed into the darkness-- without us--was, well, a very weird thing.

 
 

J-Boy came across a couple of his wizarding classmates as we made our way around the neighborhood.

And Death was able to find a nice collection of his work to show off. 

  

As is typical, J-Boy got his fill of trick-or-treating sooner rather than later.  Mrs. H. and Death were heading to a gathering a few blocks away, and we decided we would crash tag-along with them.  Knowing the hosting family, we knew they would embrace us for just "showing up."  But Big Daddy thought it best to bring a gift, and also to costume up for the occassion.

He's "The Most Interesting Man in the World!"

 

  Which was perfect cover for crashing a party...

 

 We enjoyed the relaxing conversation and compay, and their cozy fire pit and comforting chili. 

 
 

 

But, alas, even though Hogwarts was closed for instruction the following day, Harry was unable to conjure up the "second wind" spell.  We headed home and found the girls already back from their rampage, too.  I don't think it was even 9pm yet! 

The Coast is Clear

Big Daddy has been travelling A LOT these days.  Big trips, little trips.  Races, tradeshows.  England, Taiwan.  He's up in Monterey right now at the Sea Otter Classic.  Peddling new wares, peddling old wares, peddling pedals, pedaling bikes.  It has been a very busy 2010 for us so far!

The nice thing about this particular tripis that we are on the same side of the Earth in the same time zone.  He called me last night to let me know that he and "the guys" had arrived safely.  He said that the skies were clear and the stars were amazing.  "I'm looking at the Big Dipper right now." 

So I slipped out the back door to see if I could see the Big Dipper, too.  I could, and it made the world seem just a little smaller, both of our perspectives the same. 

"It's straight up but a little north." 

"What way are you facing?"

"I'm wearing it like a hat, with the handle off the right side of my head."

"Ok. Me, too.  I'm standing the same direction as you."

 

Of course, the romantic thing for him to do would have been to face south, like this, so it would be like we were looking toward each other.  That's ok, though.  It was fun imagining the Big Dipper on his head.  I miss you, Big Daddy!

A Little Drama

It was Father's Day, and while I was musing over a blog post and interviewing the kids about the reasons we all love Big Daddy so much, Big Daddy was busy fixing our sliding glass door.  He had started the project the night before, after suggesting we have a campfire and S'mores to relax on a Saturday night, and I was so loving him for all of his hard and non-stop work. 

HIS idea for the campfire; ME chit-chatting with neighbors who dropped in for a spell.

HIM taking apart the wheel assembly and tinkering with the stripped nut holding the handle on; ME enjoying the fire and relaxation that was his idea.  Not that he chose that moment to work on it, but with summer here and kids constantly going in and out, the door just gave up when we came out with the marshmallows, graham crackers, and Hershey bars. 

The project continued on to the next day, Father's Day, and BD took a trip to the hardware store to get the parts he needed.  Then he had to go back to the hardware store to return the parts that weren't quite right.  And that's when he found Drama.

Somehow I knew when he walked into the house saying, "Honey, I brought home some drama," that I would turn to see him holding some sort of animal.  It's one of his charms, being a Dr. Dolittle of sorts and having a huge heart for all of God's Living Creatures.  He found this little guy pulling himself off the side of the road on one of our town's busiest streets, and stopped to help.  The dog had no collar, and a nearby resident came out when he heard the yelps, but he didn't recognize the pooch.  BD gave him his business card and scooped up the now nick-named Drama and brought him home.

He was a sweetie, obviously well-cared for with his clean, shampoo-y scent, and his soft paw pads were those of a pampered, indoor pup.  He never made a peep, and, I guess, had no choice but to trust us and let us give him tender love and attention while we seeked professional help.  The Emergency Vet recommended we call Animal Control.  They arrived at our house within 20 minutes of our call.  In the meantime, Drama was comforted on our couch with a blanket and lots of gentle petting, his eyes glazed with shock, his breathing somewhat tempered.  We thought we lost him once or twice.  He started seizing just as the Animal Control Officer started up our walkway.  His tongue was blue by the time she whisked him into her truck.  She shook her head as she squeezed my hand before she hurriedly got in herself.

And then the phone rang.  And the dog's owner was calling.  They were visiting the neighbor of the man who BD gave his card to.  We gave them Animal Control's phone number.  But Animal Control was now officially closed for this Sunday evening.  So they called back.  And I had to tell them the news.  And do my best to let them know that he was in good, loving hands while he was here. 

Rest in peace, little buddy.  You touched us deeply in the short time we were able to spend with you.

Metaphorically Speaking

Big Daddy is a "realist".  While he appreciates a good analogy, and uses them frequently, he's not sentimental or materialistic, and he doesn't tie any real value to items.  Though, I have to say, he is the most optimistic realist I've ever known.

Let's go on a little trip down Memory Lane, shall we?  San Diego, circa 1990-ish.  We have proclaimed our undying love for one another, and our engagement is all but in the bag.  So, like any wide-eyed bride, I'm starting to think about The Ring.  And I'm window shopping and magazine-perusing.  And I know deep down that we are dirt-poor, staying afloat month-to-month on the good graces of our parents making sure our ends are meeting.  These are the days when I would hold 65 cents in my hand, craving a Dr. Pepper, staring wantingly at the vending machine I could see from our condo's front window.  "No.  Don't do it, Self.  That 65 cents could be just what you need to make rent this month."   Big Daddy might come into view, put HIS change in the machine, crack open that Dr. P. and raise it up to me in a "Cheers" gesture before gulping down that first, ice-cold, satisfying mouthful, and think I'm such a dork for thinking that 65 cents was the "make us or break us" point.

Oops, that was a Memory Lane side street.  Where I MEANT to take you was to the discussion of The Ring itself, and I quote:  "Why do you need a symbol of my love when you got me?"  And you have to say it with a little Brooklyn in you.  Not that BD has a New York accent, it's just that there is a certain level of obnoxiousness that must be infused in order to make the point.  And how does a man redeem himself after being such an a**?  By somehow giving you your grandmother's beautiful antique enagement ring on the beach with a gorgeous sunset taking place. 

Okay, so I love him.  Now married for a blissful 17 years (and I admit, still kinda hoping for a big rock someday) we spent a lovely anniversary evening working on a puzzle together.  Do we know how to party, or what??  It was a 1500 piece puzzle.  Very complicated 16th century painting with a bunch of proverbs depicted that I thought would be "fun for the whole family".  We headed into May with that thing still undone, albeit with steady progress being made, but completely taking up our diningroom table. 

Big Daddy put his foot down, "That thing's gotta go."  And I, in a panic, start in on how that "thing" CAN'T go!  We have to finish it!  We started it on our anniversary, so it has become a symbol of our marriage!  We've come 17 years, and why?  Because we don't give up!  We press on!  We MUST finish it!"  Mr. Realist counters with "what it is, is a symbol of how our family hasn't been able to eat a meal at this table together for a month!  It's a symbol of it being in the way."  So I immediately attack him on his improper use of symbol-ology: it can't be a symbol of "being in the way", it just IS in the way!   Ha!  Take that! 

I stayed up as late as I could see straight to try and finish this thing before I had to break it up inthe morning.  And guess what?  Still happily married!  Yep.  But also, while the table was out of commission, we took to watching reruns of Two and a Half Men at dinner time and taking our meals -as a family- in the livingroom in front of the tube.  And, empty table or not, that habit has stuck around.  So tempting to pull the puzzle back out.  So tempting...

"Twin-tailed Comet" Drops By For A Visit

It was a Celestial Event, on the order of February's excitement when the Comet Lulin passed within 61 million kilometers of the earth:  it had been TWO YEARS since Aunt and Uncle Flogan passed through California for a visit.   But when they are orbiting within 22 million centimeters of us (that's 137 miles, for you non-metric folks) they can't help but submit to the cosmic pull of our hearts. 

 

The kids got right to work showing off their artistic talents, evoking the kind of praise and attention that only their enamored relations can give them.

 

Before anybody got too comfortable, however, J-Girl had some important research to do for the school newspaper.  We whisked everyone over to Daphne's Greek Cafe, a new eating establishment in town that J-Girl was assigned to do a restaraunt review on.  This was a strategic move on her part, because she now had two world travelers along who had been to Greece a couple of times and would be able to critique the authenticity of the cuisine. 

From the music to the salad, to the hummus, to the baklava and everything in between, it was two thumbs up!

     

Though we did need to walk it off a bit afterward. 

The next day we gave the obligatory tour of the office, then enjoyed the beautiful weather out in the backyard.  It was a lovely time to get an eyeful of J-Girl beautifully bonding with nature as she does.  She inspires poetry.

    

And it's amazing what you can learn in your own backyard, too.  Did you know that the goldfinch is Iowa's State Bird?  With an abundance of them taking pleasure in our pond and waterfall, we will always feel like those Iowa Flogan's are with us!

    

Hey!  Look who's happy to be home from school!

 

With the gang all back together again, we were able to have a little belated birthday celebration for Aunt V. 

J-Girl took off for a weekend in the snow with her friend K.  It was hard to say goodbye so soon.

We went to the park to surround ourselves with more kids, but it just wasn't the same.  J-Boy had a good time though, and we enjoyed watching him and his buddy A.

Oops.  Who was watching them??  "Not I," said the Mom.

 

That's better.

   

We stayed until the lights came on, and were far from the last ones to leave the park!  But we were able to witness another astronomical concurrence, with Venus dancing so close to the moon.

From the blog, Ephemeral Ruminations:

A very close conjunction of the crescent moon and a bright star or planet can be an awe-inspiring naked-eye spectacle. The English poet, critic and philosopher, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) used just such a celestial sight as an ominous portent in his epic, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

For us it meant...PIZZA!!

 

Oh, yeah.  That was some GOOD pizza!

 

It may look like these two are lazing around after a heavy meal, but even on "vacation" they get up and run (and run, and run) every day.  I think we eat in a day what they eat in a week.  Big Daddy and I have to work really hard to fit on that sofa together...but it can be done! 

The weather was so gorgeous that we maximized our outdoor time on our last day together before the Flogan's headed back to the f-f-f-freezing temperatures of Iowa.  We dined on the patio of a little brew pub in town. 

   

  

We walked along the waterfront neighborhood and visited our "duck friends" and the coots.  And we were treated to a sure sign of Spring's imminent arrival.  We were very excited to see a few red-eared slider turtles in the water.  Then Big Daddy noticed that each big one had a little buddy.  But the careful choreography of the pairs shed light on the true relationship of these couples.

Note:  If you get the error message that this video is unavailable, click the little "HQ" button at the bottom.  Not sure what the problem is, but that fixes it...

 

Then we got a wild hare.  Get 'im, Vic!

 

 

"That is really getting old.  You embarrass yourself."

 

Ok, so we got a wild HAIR and decided to have a campfire in the backyard.  Big Daddy did the grilling.

 

Uncle J. harvested the kindling we've been growing since the peach tree threw a hissy fit over having to share space with the pond.

 

 

      

 

How honored we were to be present when the Flogan's roasted marshmallows together for the first time!  They've been together for over 20 years...you have to wonder what they do with their time!

 

 

Alas, just as the cosmos are ever evolving and revolving, the Flogan's orbital path continued beyond the reach of our gravitational pull.  We released them lovingly, and have our hearts ful lof memories to hold us over till next time.  Which we all agree will be sooner than TWO YEARS from now!  We love you guys and miss you very much!! 

The Light Went On

When you have an epiphany, an "a-ha" moment, over some sort of ecological issue or enviro-friendly idea, is it a CFL bulb that metaphorically appears in the thought-bubble above your head?  Probably.  I mean, that would make more sense, wouldn't it? 

Big Daddy is probably one of the most carefree, happy-go-lucky people you would ever meet.  He is always optimistic, always sees the best side of people, and, "exudes appreciation" (a story for another time).  I'm sure you've known people who seem to walk through life with a rain cloud over their heads; Big Daddy is the opposite of that--he's one of the ones who is like a beam of sunshine.

So, I admit to having some skepticism about the good nature of any Tom, Dick, or Harry.  Some of it I attribute to my upbringing; a lot of it, I think, is what I saw first hand working in the Crime Lab and seeing the worst side of people.  Over the years Big Daddy and I have reached some common ground.  He has taught me to relax a bit, and with a lot of training, he now locks the car doors when we park the car.  Although, I do still double check with tounge-in-cheek comments about the various invaluables in there. 

"Did you lock up?  I don't want anyone to steal my Tic Tacs." 

"Did you lock it?  I don't want anyone to take my favorite ball point pen." 

"Make sure you lock it.  I don't want anyone to steal my extra Starbucks napkins." 

I'd been bugging him for a while about wanting a paper shredder.  Not a purchase he was behind.  I know it was because he was not going to support some fear-based, identity theft paranoia.  But I found one for under fifty bucks and put my foot down.  I NEED it!!  We've had it for four or five months now.  I don't shred everything, but I do shred those personal papers that I don't want floating out there in the world. I had some of those the other day and joyfully exclaimed, "Ooo!  I'm gonna shred those!"  He followed me out to the garage where I keep the shredder.  And as I'm feeding in my little stack of papers, the LIGHT WENT ON:

"Hey!  You COMPOST that, don't you??? THIS is about your obsession with that damn COMPOSTER!"

I never said he was quick.  Oh, wait.  Yes, I did...