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January 3, 1997
Cats: Worked extra hard on New Year's Day. Narla got adopted! This is another miracle. She tested positive for feline leukemia but is asymptomatic. She's been in isolation ever since as we can't risk exposing the other cats. So she'll be in a single cat household. Good news. Lots of other adoptions too. December is shaping up to be a record month.
The Auntmobile's Booboo: I took the Auntmobile to the drive in adjuster the day before the day before Christmas. The adjuster dude said I'd have the estimate in a week. I don't have it. The insurance agency called this morning looking for the operator's report. Oops. So, meanwhile I drive around hoping the rear bumper won't fall off and the rain won't penetrate into the trunk. I did get the info from the troll's insurance company so I don't have to drive down to Portsmouth, RI to get a copy of the police report. Not that I dislike Portsmouth - it's kinda pretty - but I'm getting really tired of driving all over New England. The Auntmobile will be doing its duty today ferrying the kids home from school and to piano. The Aunt will be staying extra late so Kevin can play cards with his buddies. Guys need that ya know. The kids love having Robo-Aunt babysit.
How we spent New Year's Eve: I drove to Rhode Island in an annoying snowstorm without skidding though cars around me were off the road on all sides. It took me over 2 hours to complete what's normally an hour and a half drive. I was relieved there was at least some light left for a walk on the east bay bike path.
We walked in the snow, ours were the only footprints for most of the way. It was gorgeous. The widgeons were really active, flying in flocks from one side of the cove to the other and over to the bay. We could hear their distinctive widgeon whistle/wheeze really clearly. Also Canada geese honking to beat the band as they flew in dramatic V formations over the bay. In general the waterfowl seemed energized by the storm. Even the canvasbacks, who as far as I can tell spend most of their lives sleeping (I'll have to check this in a bird behavior textbook) were bustling about. We heard the kingfisher in the same spot where we saw him before, but we didn't see him this time. We could read little narratives in the snow: fresh gull tracks around freshly smashed mussel shell fragments - a regular gull banquet.
It was very cold and despite being bundled up we started to feel it. So we cut the walk short. But it was wonderful.
We warmed up with huge cups of hot chocolate at the Cable Car Cinema. It's a movie theater with couches instead of uncomfortable movie theater seats, and it's a cafe with movie posters on the wall, strange art, and the usual array of trendy coffee-based beverages. Earnest young RISD students conducted serious film discussions while we thawed out. First Night-goers started to trickle in and out. Gotta have those trendy beverages when you're celebrating the new year in 10 degree weather.
We headed north to my house. The snowstorm was over so we made it in the usual time. I rustled up some rigatoni primavera with 4 cheese sauce and fresh grated Parmesan, and we listened to Amahl and the Night Visitors on the CD player in my bedroom. We were asleep long before midnight.