the man outside my window

News/Updates/Links (8:35 am EST) June Blatherchat Waiting For Frodo updated, and moved to www.waitingforfrodo.com. My Blatherings schedule for the next few weeks is going to be somewhat irregular since I will be out of town quite a bit, starting tomorrow.

There's a man outside my window right now.


I usually close the blinds when I know the window washers are working on our building, but today I decided to leave them open. My office is in a rare state where I can actually see out my window. Plus I've always felt a bit badly for window washers, having all the blinds and curtains rudely closed in their faces as they move around from one window to the next.


When the window washer guy drops down to my window, I wave at him. He waves back and says hello (I can hear him through the window).


Hey. He's kinda cute. :-)


Part of me (the part that isn't screaming in fear at the thought of being dangled two dozen floors above the sidewalk, that is) envies the window washer. He's all alone up there, with no one bugging him. Buoyed by fresh air and sunlight (and a secure harness, I hope), he has the world at his feet, with a great view of the city. He knows that most people are looking up at him and thinking, "Wow, I could never do that".


I've never been great with heights. I wouldn't say that I'm afraid of heights, but I also wouldn't say that I'm comfortable with them. I rarely went out on my balcony in Philadelphia, for example, which was on the top floor of the building. The guardrail always seemed a bit too short, and the ground an awful long way down.


Interesting sensation, that. Rationally, I KNOW that the balcony is secure, and that it would be virtually impossible to accidentally fall over the rail. The irrational part of my brain, however, is absolutely convinced that some unforeseen event is going to cause me to be sucked off the balcony and down to my death. A freak gust of wind, maybe, or a boogey-man lurking behind me, waiting to push me off.


Looks like the cute window washer guy outside is finished. With some regret, I watch him drop down to the window on the floor below.


Have a great weekend, everyone. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the memorial for Lloyd Landa this weekend, but Allison will be writing up a report which I'll post next week. From those of us who are unable to be there, our hearts go out to Karen this weekend. We'll be thinking of you.





Today's Blatherpics:


- The Man Outside My Window.


- Annie and Sara. Sara was rehearsing for her school play. She had memorized everyone's lines, not just her own, and was putting on a show for us. Annie was given a small part, and Sara prompted her on the lines.

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll:

Have you ever lied at Customs about what you were taking across the border?