Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Phantom

Just now, I was listening to NPR and heard a reporter's cell phone vibrating in the background while she chatted with Melissa Block (or possibly, it was Melissa Block's cell phone, but I seriously doubt it). Have you heard of phantom vibration syndrome, when a person thinks she can feel her phone vibrating but it's not? No, for real. It's a real thing. There are some days I'm afflicted (last week, for example, I was pruning our beach roses and put my pruning shears in my back pocket, and almost immediately had the sensation that someone was calling me via my pruning shears).


Sad news: my trusty old White sewing machine (handed down to me by my mom) has bit the dust. Our favorite sewing machine repair shop man told us there was nothing to be done, it's beyond fixing. I don't even understand what's wrong with it, but I am sad because that machine knew how to get the job done with no fanfare and just exactly the perfect tension on the stretchy cotton scarves I stitch. Mark found two cheap/free replacements: one is too new and feels all plasticky and wrong, but the other is the lovely old Singer pictured above. It's so basic, made of metal. I like the feel of it. You have to plug it in to turn it on, and unplug it to turn it off.

A happy thing: Mother's Day happened, and Isaac gave me a gift certificate to buy some plants, plus that excellent silver rake pictured below. And Zoë, who is lingering in upstate New York with her sweetheart before departing next Saturday for Mumbai, called me on the phone! And my mom and dad drove up for the day and we had  brunch together. It was really the first day I could eat like a normal person after my illness and followup antibiotics, so that was extra festive.
Isaac is playing the role of Trinidad and Tobago at the Maine Model UN conference for the next few days. He's pretty excited--he had a lot of fun being Kyrgyzstan last year. I miss that big tall boy when he's not around.

It gives me a chance, yet again, to contemplate my impending empty nest. What to do? More dogs? Sell the house and buy an RV? I keep thinking chickens, although I need to get Mark at least a tiny bit excited about that first.* In the meantime, here's what I'm doing with my quasi-empty nest: catching up on all the work I didn't do while I was sleeping 16 hours a day last week! Also, getting Zoë's room somewhat organized (everything from her dorm room is home, even though she's not). Also, eating half an avocado for dinner, and drinking a decaf homemade latte made with raw goat's milk, which is my secret non-vegan treat I like to buy myself in tiny containers from Lois's sometimes.


*Mark's dream tends toward "move to New York." Mine tends toward "start a small goat farm." Don't worry, we're both great compromisers.

9 comments:

Melissa Crowe said...

A. Consider Asheville. No, really.
B. I miss you.
C. Two more weeks.
D. Let's do something together soon.
E. I'm glad you're feeling better.

Liz Woodbury said...

A. Maybe someday?
B. Me too!
C. Damn it, I know.
D. Yes, lets. Friday morning? Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday of next week?
E. Thank you! It sure took long enough.

Anonymous said...

Liz, does this work

Melissa Crowe said...

I have a lunch thing Friday and then guests Sat and Sun nights. I think Tuesday next week would be good. Let's think up something to do.

mama d said...

Isaac came to the CBHS office today just to greet me--that's why volunteering is worth it! I just want to warn you that there's really no substitute for your kids when your nest is empty, but I think you probably already know that...Glad you're feeling better and back to blogging. Also, I inspected Isaac's burned hand and I think it has healed amazingly well!

Liz Woodbury said...

It works, Anonymous!

Let's aim for Tuesday, M.

I bet Isaac was so happy to see you there, Mama D. Perhaps you'd like to go in on a small goat farm with me?

mama d said...

My modest chipmunk and squirrel farm seems to be thriving, so perhaps I would be willing to establish a small goat farm...I know that I would enjoy that more than living in NYC, a dream that Peter shares with Mark. On the goat farm, I don't believe parking will ever be a problem!

Max said...

this is really zoe. do you still have the other sewing machine? despite its ugliness, if it works, can i have it?

Liz Woodbury said...

We may even have two for you to choose from, Z! And they're not ugly, you'll see. They're just not metal and chunky and old.