by MustBTVDay thirty-two of furlough. The caffeine flowed early, coffee as usual, the same comforting constant in this ever-shifting domestic landscape. Breakfast was an Einstein Bagel, toasted just right, perfectly balanced between sustenance and motivation. I ate it while staring at the living room, which currently looks like the aftermath of a Tim Burton film set.
Today’s mission: Halloween teardown and the slow, cautious beginning of Christmas setup. The transition has begun, fake cobwebs out, twinkly lights in. Somewhere, there’s probably a federal policy on seasonal decor timelines, but the Family CFO has decreed it’s “time.” I don’t make the rules; I just move the boxes.
Remington supervised from the couch, alternating between boofs and disapproval. She’s still suspicious of Halloween props, especially the motion-activated ones that dared to move. Mittens assisted by sitting directly on the storage bins, while Tabby nested in a half-empty wreath box, declaring it her new throne.
I always forget how much work this seasonal shift takes, the packing, the reorganizing, the “where did we put the lights last year” scavenger hunt. But there’s something oddly comforting about it too. A reminder that time’s still moving, even if the government isn’t.
Morale check: steady. Coffee strong, bagel perfect, pumpkins replaced with pine. The Living Room Republic enters a new phase, one string of lights, one bin of glitter, and one reluctant dog at a time.
