empty house pluses and minuses

I have gone from an overly full house to an almost empty house in March. In the winter, I had 2 bums on daily weed and unemployment cheques living in the basement, tripling the utility bills and being consistently weeks late with rent. Kicked their asses out, finally. I also had my almost-18 son on the main floor, in his 2-room domain. I liked having him here, but not his daily troops of potheads stinking up the place and leaving the back door flapping open in -20 temps.
I used to like the herb at 16-25 I admit, but I would certainly never have felt entitled to treat my parents' house as a dope squat. See yr buds (both kinds) on weekends,  thats plenty.
He is back at his mom's now, likely getting spoiled, but also having a little more structure and a cleaner bathroom. She will motivate him to get work and do homework, which is good.
The whole house up n down has been just for me and my gracefully aging dog for a couple weeks.
I had a couple buds come to visit for overnight beer n poker sessions, and managed to find a good steady renter for the basement suite. He paid for March, but hasnt moved in yet. Nice guy, steady, works hard by day, plays online games by night.
And not a doper or even a frequent drinker. Doesnt mind fixing stuff, potentially the best tenant since the awesome mountain girl who was living there for 2 years.
Have been enjoying the quiet, but its nice to have somebody you can call to let the dog in or out, or have a backyard beer with.
And the future looks very good, my cosmically compatible girl from the 'Peg is moving out in May and we will get much farther pulling together than we have been doing apart.
Bring on the spring!

ripped garbage bags on snow

Magpie ripped, the garbage bags
like corpses strewn on the snow
black and white

Daves of My Life

I dont know why Dave was such a popular name in the 50s,  but I sure have known a shitload of Daves in my life.  Back in my yoot, guys had fewer names, there were always a bunch of Ricks, Robs, and Daves. 
I used to know so many Daves I had to give them all nicknames to keep them straight in my head.  Western Dave, Northern Dave, Teacher Dave, Crazy Dave, Cousin Dave, Other Cousin Dave, there were more. My bud lately of Toontown who was over for a visit, I tend to think of him by last name, like we did in grade 7 trying to be tough guys.
Western Dave I have lost track of, Northern Dave (used to be a miner in the Yukon) is a stay-home dad who plays weddings with his band on weekends. Teacher Dave had his liver n innards go seriously wrong a couple years ago, but you can find him on English Bay in his motorized wheelchair with a chess board and wanting to play for money. Crazy Dave wasnt that crazy when I gave him the tag, now re-acquainted after 15 yrs as Rickshaw Dave, hauls drunks around with his arms n legs in summer for a fee. Cousin Dave is fightin a losing battle with MS, peace buddy. Other Cousin Dave was in Rossland BC with a nice 67 Firebird, last I heard.
These are the Daves... the Daves of my life.

anudder brudder

Dave, lets call him was out west for a visit last weekend. We both grew up on the north edge of Winterpeg, known each other since we were 5. Which was distant time past with 2 or 3 television channels. KCND if you were lucky.
Oh yeah, Dave. Brilliant man, middle aged grouch, no wonder we get along.
however... he just got a year's pay as severance. Paid off the cards and the vehickle.
He has a ton of startup ideas, wish the man luck. And his kid with the paper route.