full of empty

Applewood on 17th

It seems that the Lucky 13 Saloon is not the only source of wood these days. I came across this immaculately organized pile up in a tree pit on 17th the other day, went to take a picture but realized I'd left my CF card at work. DOH! The next day I was ready, but when I stopped to pull my camera out I found myself blocking someone from entering his yard. This turned out to be the handsome son of the man behind the wood arrangement, who told me his father had become obsessed with gardening and needed to remove this apple tree, which didn't bear fruit, to allow more sun for his garden beds.

He left a sign saying "Free Applewood, good for barbecues" on the largest stump of the group and weighed it down with another stick. So if you need any Applewood, look no further than 17th near the corner of 11th Ave. But hurry, because I hear the UPS man was going to take a bunch of it.

17th St. Shells

There's more on the ground than dog shit, although I've sure seen alot of that lately. I found this robin's egg on 17th St. in Windsor Terrace last week. I brought it home and put it on a bureau, then fished it out of the trash later after the house cleaner had left. Yes, I would have been in Bellevue long ago without Rosa, and as it is I might check myself in soon. Who needs a bier garden around here as a vestige of the old world. What I want is an old world sanitorium, with a bier garden.

I think a woman I walked past on 17th St. in Manhattan might have thought she needed to call a few men in white for me. Right before Broadway I saw a baby bird hopping around on the ground, cheerfully, but it was really young, its wings barely full at all. I heard alot of squawking above me, and I saw the little one try but not get far off the ground. A woman was walking her golden retriever a yard away from me, and I asked her if she thought the bird was going to be alright. She thought I was telling her to keep her dog away from it, and said, oh, he won't bite it. Then I explained to her that I was just really worried about the bird and she looked a little friendlier, but worried for me.

I turned away from her to look for the baby but didn't see it anywhere, so I guessed (hoped) it had taken off. I told the woman and she said, in a friendly if slightly patronizing way, I guess your problem is solved. Well, maybe the bird's is, but not mine.

If any of these new condos wind up standing empty, I have a good idea for it. But don't we all?