today was gorgeous - a balmy, powder blue sky and military planes and choppers roaring off the lake. H-- came over for lunch after i taped a baseboard and light plates and we sat on the patio under a tree eating mexican food, sharing boy stories. we coined the phrase 'wet nacho.' we ate guava soda and i had flan.

she wanted to look for apartments so we strolled down streets i'd only seen through the passenger window of A--'s car.

our neighborhood likes its privacy; our houses tuck themselves away from the streets. i discovered three gardens, a hidden sherlock holmes alley and several cozy condos covered with violets and ivy. the sun was lowering and the air hardly moved. a few fat bees it was perfect to walk slowly around hubbard and may, noticing the gargoyles leaning off the garages, the queer entrance off the hidden alley covered with tin cans and license plates. and we even have a cobbled street!

i need to get out more.