songbird's crazy world

 I was 8 years old and my sisters were 7, 1 and 1 (yes, twins) when my parents sold the house we’d outgrown and moved us to the house we grew up in.  I remember looking at model houses (there were three, a ranch and two different colonials).  I remember driving down a dirt road so my parents could choose the lot they wanted, and then choose and customize the house they wanted.  I remember watching the construction crew slowly build the house, I think it took 2-3 months.  And then, one day in November 1968, we moved into our new home.   The house next door was identical to ours, the other house next door was a mirror image of ours, to keep all the houses from looking too much alike.  The  houses across the street?  Two ranches separated by a colonial.  That wasn’t the experience of folks who bought Levitt houses in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.  The houses were built quickly, assembly-line style, and were virtually identical. If one house on the block was the ranch, then every house

 The orange cat was back  The reason he was looking over his shoulder? Yeah, another visitor. First time I’ve seen this cat.  I’m sure he was following my orange friend.  The bushes in front of my house are a real feline gathering place. Later the newbie investigated the back yard. This alert said there was a “person” in the yard, Starting to plan the menu for our Thanksgiving.  We host a dinner the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.   Must have turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes …maybe I’ll make an interesting appetizer. Did you know that Hanukkah comes late this year?  We light the first candle December 25.  Christmas Day. That’s the latest it’s ever been.  That means we light the 8th candle on New Year’s Day.   Back in 2013 we celebrated  Thanksgivukkah .  That was when Hanukkah coincided with Thanksgiving.  Remember my menurkey? Yeah, a menorah in the shape of a turkey.  That was fun. Turkey dinner and latkes, an interesting combination . Won’t happen again until 2070.   I haven’t be

I voted early.  First day of early voting was October 26. Took an hour an 45 minutes because of the long lines.  That’s kind of rare for New York.   Had to keep the jacket buttoned in the polling place, of course.  On  Election Day 2016  I wore a pantsuit. Today I will wear chucks and pearls. I hope to cry like I did in 2008.  Not like I did in 2016.

 This motion registered as a “person” Apparently birds are people too. And apparently we have attracted yet another feline visitor.   First time I’ve seen this one,  I think we’re becoming the neighborhood hit spot.

 Time for a dose of  patriotism! And what is more patriotic than exercising your Constitutional rights?  Election Day is tomorrow.  I’ll be wearing my chucks and pearls. We are not going back. So let’s start with a parody song from one of my favorites, Randy Rainbow (includes a commercial, he monetized his channel). And then there’s Laura Benanti Ok, enough politics.  Let’s play a few that we can all appreciate. Ray Charles at the 2001 World Series We were so united then. Not like today. Here’s Whitney Houston Kelly Clarkson Next up  (you guessed it) Billy Joel And let’s end with a poem

  I’m not a football fan …Drew and I love baseball and fortunately we root for the same team …