This is the space betwixt Finch and Fred. The gaily lit area on the bottom left is the dog enclosure, for throwing sticks small distances. Very small. But better than nothing. Yes, I could go to Sunderwood and throw them, but I know him. One sniff of a rabbit and he's gone.

Important domestic accomplishments today: secured a mirror I do not need for the entryway, to go over the needless entryway table. Sis-in-law had suggested Hobby Lobby, a place I've never gone - and need never visit again, since I am not in the market for a billion beads or Word Art that says Love Like You Have Cake In Your Shoe or some such slogan, in flowing script. They had lots of mirrors, and the signage proclaimed that they were always, always, every day, 50% off.

Well, then, they're not really, are they?

I found one that was circular and had the proper dimensions, but I remembered there was one at Target as well. It was 20 inches, not 24. I thought this might be better. I checked the app, which said there were two left at the adjacent store. Well we'd best trot over before they're gone; who knows how many people are heading in right now with mirrors on their mind.

It did seem better, even though it was 100 PERCENT. I purchased it, then thought "I should get the glass fixed on the framed picture I intend to put up in the living area." Off to Ace Hardware, in the old neighborhood. That brought tight emotions and grinding teeth. Just heading into the outskirts of the old neighborhood does it. The sudden surge of familiarity and normalcy.

Got out of there fast , and drove back to the place the CarPlay screen says is "HOME." Took Birch out to see a man about a fern, then checked the package room. On the way in, I saw something that made me grind my teeth and fume at S.:

 

 

When I cleaned out the 10X5 there was a big bag of stuff hastily assembled on the last day at the house. The only thing worth keeping was the good dog bag, so I saved that. The heavy item at the bottom of the bag was a circular divot with Natalie's handprints and the date, early Oughts. It was in the back by the entrance to the shed, and had been there for almost a quarter of a century, and it weighed a ton. I would not drag it forward or replant it elsewhere someday (If. When. Maybe. Whatever.) It had a place where it belonged and we got kicked out. It was in that bin and I just thought DAMMIT.

Checked the package room, since Amazon said there'd been a delivery.

It was a circular mirror. I'd forgotten I'd ordered one from Amazon. I'm hesitant to send it back, because they might say "hold on, didn't you return the last thing you bought? Are you okay? Impulse purchases can be a sign of a problem. Also, you're cut off from returns for a month." Perhaps I will save it fro the new house. If. When. Maybe. Whatever.

Nap, work, supper, podcast at Duane's World, walk, then the final tuning of the Fred Base One lighting automation. Silly, I know, given the small space; it's not like the careful mood orchestration I did at Jasperwood. But I want everything named and grouped, with timers, and I needed to bring two Matter protocol lights into the fold of the Home app. Done. They had the color of smoker's teeth, though, so I had to reset the hues.

Well, there's a full suite of home improvements! I would've put up the mirror, but I sold all my hammers. I used to have two, located upstairs and in the basement for all immediate hammer needs. Have to borrow one from the Giant Swede tomorrow, because I intend to toast Friday night with the completion of the Entryway Experience. That, plus Friday ice cream: heading into the weekend with my face rippling with G-Force from all the excitement

 

 

One of the buildings I study each night:

 

 

It is a very silly building. Google Street View:

 

Open Access Technology International. It's a bit sillier in person than it looks here. Until I moved to Fred Base One, though, I never knew that its hue shifted nightly.

Possibly to honor Prince, or the Vikings:

 

 

No idea. Celebrating Ukranian drone successes?

 

 

I'll keep you posted with regular updates.

AI is now capable of conjuring new forms of Regrettable Food. I don't agree with this development.

 

Doctors say she'll be dead in a week.

I decided to see what AI could produce in the way of nightmare aspics. I gave it peculiar instructions. I was not disappointed.

 

 

As long as we're dishing out the AI, I have to get this out of the queue. I had a late-30s ad of a guy attempting to do a crazy magic act by making ice cubes.

 

 

 

 

 

I've had this mood a few times this week.

 

 

  
   

 

 

I was appearing in a network special about music stars and other famous people. One scene had an old Joan Crawford or Bette Davis-type writing mean letters to somebody to the sound of the Universal movies monster music - specifically, the opening bars to the Frankenstein animation scene.

And I went and listened to Daryl Hall praise himself in front of John Mellencamp, who was angry about it, and then the last act was a rap act I interrupted with mocking antics. Eventually the producer convinced them all to play the Universal monster music so that I could hit them with a pillow, which I pried off a pillar. It was painted to look like marble, but it was actually a pillow.

Prompt: Joan Crawford writing mean letters to somebody to the sound of the Universal movies monster music

 

 

 

 

I was previously unaware of this act of utter sacriledge.

Far Corporation were a multi-national band created by German record producer Frank Farian, who created the bands Boney M. and Milli Vanilli. The name was shortened from "Frank Farian Corporation", which was originally put together to record a cover of the Paul Simon piece "Mother and Child Reunion" as a charity record and reached the top 10 in several European countries. That group's lineup included members of Barclay James Harvest, Toto, Boney M and Force Majeure.

This . . . was their real "claim to fame."

 
 

Wikipedia:

Far Corporation was actually the first group to make the singles charts with this song as Led Zeppelin had never released it as a single. In fact, it was the only version of the song that charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching #89 in October 1986

They even stole Phil Collins' famous drum riff, right where the guitar solo is supposed to kick in.

 

That will do. Lucre awaits. On the whole, a good week. Hope you have an excellent weekend with merriment and chat and easy, solid, settled summer happiness.