Dear Reader,
The day started with Word Raccoon burning a whole package of bacon.
We were baking a stubborn tray of it, and I had already set three different timers hoping it would cook already. When the last timer went off, WR was talking (per usual) and assumed I had turned the oven off after checking on the bacon.
I had not.
Neither had she.
But we roasted ourselves in a text thread and made everyone’s morning, so there’s that. And we still had English muffins with avocado and egg for breakfast, so I wouldn’t call it a complete loss.
Things did not improve when WR opened the back door to fan the bacon smoke outside and accidentally invited three flies in to join us for breakfast. Later, I picked up a flyswatter to deal with them.
My left hand lodged an immediate complaint.
I think I got one of the flies.
I blame that marvelous Towles novel for what came next.
After putting the place back together, I decided I would spend “just a few minutes” scraping the house trim for what I hope will be a project I can finish this week, weather permitting.
WR would like to inform the neighbors that painting the trim has been on our list for months (as witnessed here), but she doesn’t think she’ll sound convincing, so our pride has decided to let them think we’re copying them. Not that they’ve said anything of the sort.
“We are trendsetters, not followers,” WR says indignantly.
Which is usually, and in this case, absolutely, true, in intent. We have had our paint waiting patiently for quite some time.
In any case, we were so swept up in having A Gentleman in Moscow in our ears that we completely lost track of time.
You know, the trim around the front door seems like such a small space until you start scraping it. That’s all WR agreed to do today, and forty-five minutes later when I made her stop for water, she stared in dismay at how much remained to accomplish.
You and me both, sister.
But something nice happened while we were on the step ladder. A former barista from the cafĂ© walked by with his girlfriend, and they stopped to chat. (That’s when he told me he no longer works there. Sad face.) He mentioned that he lives nearby.
WR already knew that, but saw no reason to make things awkward, so she said nothing. She hopes he will keep writing his songs and short stories.
Afterward, we went back to work and scraped for another half hour, trying to alternate hands.
Which was probably optimistic and only half worked.
I know we have only just finished a project. But this new one is weather dependent, and if we are really going into August in full “All Novel” mode (WR is already lobbying for some poetry, too. We’ll see.), it would be nice to have this one behind us.
We have learned our lesson – we will paint one section at a time. Maybe.
Further complicating matters, WR and Co. have discovered Ride or Die on Prime.
She has already begun lobbying for Episode Two.
If history is any guide, she will win. Yet today.
I’ll still make the street corn this evening, but only if WR stays far, far away from the kitchen.
This elote needs no help from you, you bacon-burning varmint.
We wish all our readers bacon that doesn’t burn, television worth watching, and books so absorbing that you begin searching for your next audiobook before you’ve even finished the current one. (Though we acknowledge that “paper” books are far superior. But have you ever tried to paint while reading one?)
Psst…there’s also a miniseries of A Gentleman in Moscow starring Ewan McGregor, which I absolutely refuse to watch until I’ve finished the book. Word Raccoon peeked at the trailer and informed me that yes, he does indeed have The Count’s distinctive facial hair. That alone would be worth the watch, I should think.
Until then, I’m already wondering what audiobook might accompany the next project.
Drema