Saturday, October 20, 2007

If This Is Paradise, I Wish I Had A Lawnmower

Current book is The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, which is all about what would happen to the world if humans suddenly vanished from the face of the Earth (although, so far, he's spent a lot more time talking about the past than about that hypothetical future).

I expected to find this book highly enjoyable and interesting, as when I was younger I frequently indulged in guilty but satisfying fantasies of being the last person on Earth, thus enabling me to finally get some real peace and quiet. (Think of Burgess Meredith's character in that old Twilight Zone episode. Indeed, the possibility of breaking my glasses was the only truly frightening part of that scenario for me.) Even now, I still rather like walking down deserted streets at night and imagining what it would be like if they really were deserted, trying to picture what things might look like a year or a century later.

Unfortunately, though, although it's perfectly good and readable, the book's main effect so far has been to forcibly remind me of the disturbing fact that nature is trying to eat my house.

I think life was more enjoyable before I became a homeowner.

13 comments:

  1. It brings to mind the old saying, "Every problem on the planet would be solved if everyone held their breath for just half an hour."

    Of course, then the scientific side of my mind kicks in and thinks of all the CO2 and methane that will be produced as we decompose, and what it would do to the atmosphere.

    Say, Betty, on another topic, might there be any garden tools left by my dad that you need?

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  2. I don't from our decomposing bodies would add all that much to what we've already put into the atmosphere, which, according to the book, would take a long, long while to subside. But he doesn't seem to be addressing that particular point. :)

    And, um, I don't know. I don't really use garden tools (as evidenced by the sorry, sorry state of my yard). I actually do need a lawnmower, but I doubt you have a spare one of those lying around. :) Thanks for the offer, though.

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  3. Betty's house is a nice, nice, light, crunchy snack.

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  4. Actually, we do have a spare lawnmower, and it worked the last time we used it - about two years ago. (Honest! We converted the front yard to Buffalograss and let the back go to weeds.) I'll ask my mom how much she wants for it. (You'll probably get the family rate, being her honorary daughter and all.)

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  5. Hey, that's nice of you. Thanks. :)

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  6. My mom is happy to let you have the lawnmower. When (if) you come for Thanksgiving dinner, you can check it out. (If you can't make it on Thanksgiving Day, I'll be in ABQ all week.) It might need some minor work, considering it has been unused for two years, and I don't think the gas was drained before it was parked.

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  7. Not sure what things look like for me over Thanksgiving, but I'll let you know!

    If it's not in very good shape, I may well be better off just getting a new one, but, regardless, the thought is appreciated.

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  8. It's in very good shape, just unused for a while.

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  9. I think what Betty was keying off of was the statement that it might need some minor work. I think what he probably means since it's been sitting, it probably needs oil change, filter, or a belt something like that, which are routine maintanence items anyway.

    Betty:
    You know I'm a huge tennis fan. The Davis Cup finals are going to be held here in Portland at the end of November. The tickets sold out in a 1/2 hour I couldn't try to get in on it because I was in bed with a headache, no gaurantee would have anyway since I would have been doing it at work, but now they are selling these things for $$$$$$. I can probably see better on TV anyway, alas but it just cheeses me up!!!!!

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  10. Kathy: I just don't like the sound of the word "work." That's why I haven't bought a lawnmower yet, really. ;)

    And I'm sorry to hear about the tennis thing. I can't actually imagine why anybody would want to watch tennis, but I sympathize, anyway. :)

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  11. You go Kathy.

    Betty, why dont you get some goats. They will take care of your yard and provide you all the milk you can drink.

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  12. Somebody tried to sell me a raffle ticket once where one of the prizes was a goat. Maybe I should have gone for it.

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  13. And the goat droppings would be free fertilizer!

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