Lisa: “You know the owners of that furniture aren’t going to be too happy, their stuff is starting to get wet.”

Doorman: “It’s actually all going to be hauled away.”

Lisa: “Why?”

Doorman: “You know that elderly woman in 8F? No? Maybe you didn’t know her, she didn’t come downstairs very much. Well she had to go live in a nursing home and this is all the stuff from her apartment.”

Lisa: “Doesn’t she have children or friends who might want it?”

Doorman in a whisper: “Her son is a jerk, he doesn’t give a shit about her. He said he didn’t want any of her crap, just to throw it all out. He said he didn’t care what we did with it, just get rid of it.”

I felt terribly sad. To think a lifetime of loved and cherished items ended up in the trash heap, and that her son didn’t even care enough about her to go through her things. It was quite poignant watching it rain on her now unwanted items.

I looked outside again and a pine microwave kitchen stand caught my eye. It was well made and in good shape.

Lisa: “Do you think it would be o.k. if I took this? It’s a really nice piece and I have been wanting one for ages.”

Doorman: “Sure, go ahead. It’s just going to the trash otherwise.”

I also rescued a two record album set, “Satchmo at Symphony Hall.”

I put the pine stand in my kitchen and it looks wonderful. It gives me extra storage space and brightens up the room. Although I never knew her, I said a quiet “thank you” and then said a prayer for her. And I will think of her sometimes.

I just hope she never knows what her son said and did.

Because no one deserves that.

“Babe, look at that.”

“That is so beautiful.”

“It’s absolutely magical, I feel like it was created just for us.”

Several hours earlier…

My building is endowed with an over-efficient boiler. It’s only a few years old and really does its job. Translation? My building is always hot. Africa hot. We all complain about it, and there is absolutely nothing that can be done except turn the whole damn thing off. Which would be fine for my ilk, but all the little old ladies living here would have a fit. Trust me on that one. My radiators have been closed since I’ve lived here. Despite that, there is still a lot of heat rising from the floors below me, and my windows are always open in the winter. Ally da Pup sleeps next to the fan to cool off. HCFG who is warm-blooded (yummy!) has been known to ask that the air conditioning be turned on when it’s 30 degrees outside.

Tonight was another one of those nights. HCFG requested the air conditioner but I resisted. He opened the bedroom window instead. My apartment faces another building and everything was dark. We were half asleep when some lights came on.

My neighbor had turned on the lights on her Christmas tree. And there were no other lights anywhere. Her small tree was lined up just perfectly, to shine through her window and into ours, so it lit up our room like a magical fairy tale.

It was absolutely enchanting. What a gift to realize that such a small thing could bring so much pleasure.

Hope your holidays are just as special and bright!

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Kwanzaa greetings from Lisa B., HCFG, and Ally da Pup.

(This post originally appeared on Kizmeet)

This time, however, he’s not buying it.

Click here to continue

I reach over and sleepily hit the snooze button.

Groans from both sides of the bed.

Click here to continue

Two years ago I dressed as a trampy tavern wench, and marched in the West Village parade with Deni and her dog, Rosie.

Last year I trick or treated with my neighbors and their dogs. The dogs were in costume, respectively Dracula, Darth Vader, and Easy Rider, (complete with sunglasses.) My friends and I were all in street clothes. I absolutely refused to dress Ally da Pup in costume, she would have died of shame. Ally must retain her street cred after all!

I had fun both times, they were wonderfully silly and surreal nights. As Halloween should be!

Now I need your help! Please make suggestions on what costumes HCFG and I should wear this year. We will be wearing the costumes twice as we’re going to the parade again, (no marching this year!) We’re also invited to a Halloween party the night before that.

I can’t wait to hear your ideas, so let ‘em rip, guys and ghouls!

Fall in New York!

I love it, I love it, I love it!!!

Off to L.A. for pleasure business and I can’t wait! I’m definitely looking forward to giving my winter coat a rest. Maybe I’ll even get it dry cleaned. Do I live dangerously or what?

Miss Ally da Pup will be staying with her longtime dog sitter. Who… drum roll please… is in REMISSION!!!! I know they will have a glorious time together.

Behave your fine selves, ok?

I’ll be back!

Oops, I mean Dude!

Got to get my New Yorkese back. Actually that sounds kinda L.A.. Whatever.

Anyway, I had oodles of fun in Texas. I’ll tell you about that soon. First I’m going to share a little mini-adventure that happened before I left town. I was getting ready to pack but first I needed to take Ally da Pup over to the dogsitter’s place. This was not her regular lady, Jan, but a friend of hers who took care of Ally over Thanksgiving. Per our discussion I called her before we left the apartment. She sounded like death warmed over, coughing and hacking. I wasn’t thrilled she hadn’t told me in advance she was getting sick GRRRRR but whatever. Anyway, I knew Ally staying with her wasn’t going to work. I had gone to lunch with my pal Deni of Last Girl on Earth fame that day, and coincidentally she had offered to take Ally for the long weekend. Ally and Rosie The Wonder Dog are friends and we knew they would have fun together. I was very appreciative but I declined as I didn’t want to bail on my dogsitter at the last minute.

Guess who got the first phone call?!

Bless Deni’s heart, she immediately agreed to help. She and Last Guy were at a party and she walked outside to make arrangements. We got it all resolved and I promised to email her the rest of the info. It was getting late and I had a 6:00 a.m. ugh plane. Ally and I then went over to Annie and Hudson’s place to ask yet another favor. Annie graciously agreed to feed Ally breakfast, take her on her morning walk, and keep Ally entertained until Deni and Last Guy could get over to her place later that morning. Hudson was thrilled to have his BFF come visit.

Ally and I are lucky to have such good friends!

We came home and I updated my 5 page, double spaced Miss Type A here Ally care list. It details all her info as well as a bajillion emergency numbers. This took a while, as did packing all her stuff. I can’t send Ally off as a houseguest without her coat, galoshes, dog treats, and a squooshy toy! I finally got it all done then it was time to pack my stuff. I think I slept a grand total of 2 hours before I went to the airport. Good times.

Deni wrote about Ally’s visit as did Rosie. Check it out on their respective blogs!

In the meantime, here’s Ally and her friend Rosie watching an off-camera Deni intently. I’m guessing she had treats for the pups. Don’t they look adorable?

Stay tuned for Part 2…

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday!

Hugs,

Lisa B. & Ally da Pup

Whoops, wrong holiday. My bad.

Anyway, I’m off to Texas to count my blessings, y’all. I’m going to be spending Thanksgiving week with my lovely Mom. Plus I get to see my extended family and friends, so there will be mucho fun. I leave in a few days, but am crazy busy trying to get organized so I can get the heck out of Dodge.

Ally da Pup will sniffle not be joining me. She is staying at a friend’s place. She loves our pal though, and will probably score a piece of white meat or two.

I’ll be checking in. And I’ll be sure to update you on my usual Black Friday madness.

Among my many blessings, I’m grateful for YOU.

Happy Turkey Day in advance.

Adios Pilgrims!