It’s blustery, the water is angry, the winds are high, Max is frustrated because the geckos are hiding, He slipped into the entryway and a gust of wind sent him scurrying back in. What a wimp.

I am readying the house for the party, which begins at 5. Ed is helping by watching the Saturday morning Japanese samurai movie. He explained that the shaved heads with the ropy tail hanging down in the back is for one's enemies to be able to drag your head after they have cut it off. The idea is "Kill me if you can," uttered with a snarl and an amused sneer.

Our party is in honor of the boat parade. The boats gather at Bert’s Bar (everything is on the water here) and mosey their way around. If they leave at all, weather permitting, they will get to us by around 6:30.
We are expecting 17-20 people. I traveled to BJ’s with Terry F., a friend who is making our snacks. After she chose the ingredients and I ponied up, I got sticker shock. Ne’mind. It’s only once a year. For this reason I am not inclined to cancel the party. So it might be a party without boats, so what. Terry is my “caterer”. She is so good, she could be professional. Watching her mind work at BJ’s was a humbling experience. She was like a little chef computer. She rides around in a yellow jeep and there’s no missing her. She wanted to help me out of my side, but, really, “Puleeze … I am an athlete” I intoned, fixing her with my beady little eyes, and I jumped down.

A month or more ago, Ed and I splurged on a very high quality comforter and peripherals set at Macy’s. It was a sale. It is a floral pattern, teal and gray on one side and gold and gray medallion pattern on the other. Luxurious. Finally we got around to putting it on the bed. Ed had to lift the king mattress on end so I could replace the bed skirt. The whole operation was exhausting. When it was all done, I put yet another bedspread (thin ivory whalebone from the Vermont Store) on it to protect it from the cats. I know, how can you enjoy the colors when it’s always covered up? I’ll fold it down to a “sitting zone” size at the end of the bed where they usually flake. It’s hard being elegant in the middle of the barnyard.

I am making a rotini pasta and meat sauce as a hot dish. I always have the feeling that people will starve. I can freeze leftovers. Ed hates plastic ware, which we are using, but he insists on real wine goblets. I am offering hard liquor, but I don’t think it’s a real drinking bunch. I bought ice. My refrigerator makes ice but it is gross. Also, the filter has not improved the taste of the water so I am, at least for now, not using it. I got a new filter and must install it and clear out the old ice and run the water for a while. I'll do that another time.

And I got a really nice surprise. Terry D and Lila F, friends from New York (they are married but she uses her name) will be spending the night and will show up in time for the party. Lila is a fashion consultant to Chico’s, and comes down periodically to work with them. The rest of the time she is traveling around the world finding stuff to copy and manufacture. Terry, a really talented glass artist, now works at a high-end art gallery in Manhattan. Bring money. They were my loft neighbors when I lived in New York, and they knew my late husband. Lila has more energy than God. God could get tired watching her texting at 2 a.m. to an Asian time zone setting up a manufacturing schedule.

It’s time now to do more get-ready stuff.

xx, Teal