This day has been hilarious from beginning to end. Why? Who knows!

~

No, that's not me. That's some Victoria Secrets model. I'm neither that beautiful nor that sexy, but my nightie sorta looks like that, just cotton, so use your imagination. I woke to the sound of the garbage truck and was out of bed like a bolt of lightning because I suspected the bins hadn't been taken to the curb. Ran to the window. Nope, they hadn't. I was running around like a mad woman looking for my flip flops, the car keys and my sweater, but couldn't find a damn thing, which of course made T-Bone nutty. He's developed this wacky sort of protective thing since his dad left. He blocks my way. I was trying to run down the hallway and couldn't get past him. "Move." "MOVE!!!" He still wouldn't move. I pushed him aside, ran out the door with no shoes and in only my nightie. Oh, forgot to mention...in the pouring rain!!! Only to see my beloved trash collector drive away. "But you forgot me" I yelled! My neighbor was walking by with her darling Shar Pei and said "Suzanne, are you okay? " I replied "What about this doesn't make you think I am?"

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My trash collector used to go down our side of the street, then turn around and come up the other side so I had time to flag him down. For some reason he's abandoned me. He just keeps going. So I have to get in the car and chase him down! But I couldn't find the keys this time. I ran back inside and looked and looked. No keys. I was wet, cold, and yes, pissed.
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I fed everyone, did my morning chores, then I heard it. The garbage truck. I'd found the keys and was off. I had flip flops but was still only in my nightie. I hailed her down a block away. Yes, in the pouring rain. "Please, please, please come back for my trash." She said she hadn't been to my block yet. What? Yes, you were there. I saw you. The bins are empty on my side of the street. She told me she'd be there shortly. I drove home. Pulled in the driveway and thought "What?" Went back to tell her she had been there, only to realize she was the "Yard Waste" truck. We laughted. She was not a kind woman at first, but by the end we were laughing so damn hard. She gave me a flyer with the number to call for a "missed" pickup. I called immediately. The woman on the other end of the phone said "How are you?" I replied "Wet." And told her the story. She said "You know this is being recorded." I said "I don't care." We were laughing so hard and she said "You know, this is going to go down in history." Good. It should.
~
I was getting ready to go to the park and I heard it. It was going up the same street, so knew it couldn't be Yard Waste again...it had to be TRASH!!! Still in my nightie and flip flops I bolted out the door in the pouring rain and drove "Black Beauty" to the location. HALLELUJAH There he was. "HI HONEY!!!" How could he resist a woman in a nightie in the pouring rain. He got out, showed me his map and asked where I was. I said "There!" He said, "I haven't done the opposite side of the street yet (yes I know), so just take your bin across the street and I'll pick it up." I drove back, parked and proceeded to take my bin across the street. God please help me!!! Still in flip flops and a nightie and in the pouring rain. Heavy. Very, very heavy and difficult to get across the street because there's a bit of an incline! I started laughing and couldn't stop. Seriously, I couldn't stop laughing. And the more I laughed, the more I couldn't move that damn thing. The life of a newly single woman.


Finally got it there. Before I left for the park I took this photo. No, not a good photo. It's raining. But I accomplished something!

I took this photo for Bindi. She loves Jasmine, and it's blooming, so I picked this bouquet for her.

Before leaving for the park this morning I saw this. Phatty Foo Foo. Phatty is one of my feral rescues and one of the best kitties in the whole world.

I was at the park in the pouring rain this morning. I always try to out race the rain, but this morning it was relentless and I was unable. I was walking back to the car in the pouring rain and then it stopped. I started laughing and couldn't stop. Why? Because what woman would be crazy enough to do what I do every day? Really?! Who? And I started to laugh. I'm coming up on my 2 year anniversary. Only one day missed. The day of the big storm that took our tree. I'm proud of what I've done. I'm grateful for the kitties I've rescued, those that are spay and neutered, those that have a better life. I'm grateful and honored. I've lost so many cats, but they showed me the way. I honestly believe they were my destiny. I believe that with all my heart. So as I walked down the bike trail this morning, I looked at the trees I know so well, and my lone car. I'm the only one at the park, and it's a place that's made me brave and strong. It's been a place of peace and heartbreak. It's seen me through a divorce. You would think this place would scare me, but it doesn't. It's made me strong. I cherish this place. I do.

My dream. A shabby chic sofa. All $3,000 of it. No, I can't afford it.
But Ikea came up with a knock-off last year

A chair too.

And an ottoman!

~

All for just over a thousand dollars. Still couldn't afford it. Until....I walked into the thrift store two days ago. I saw the sofa. I wouldn't look. Knew it had to be at least $200. Wouldn't look. Then I looked. $49.99. I nearly died. It was dirty. Looked liked some kid had rubbed charcole all over a pillow, but it was a slip cover. Easily laundered. I checked under the slip cover. New. A band new sofa. I tore off the ticket and never looked back. I found the ottoman. Asked the clerk about it. It didn't have a price because it was being sold with the chair and the chair was bought just moments before I arrived. DAMN! I said "If I buy the sofa can I get the ottoman free?" She said "No, how about $5." SOLD! It's a $150 ottoman!!! I have a new Shabby Chic sofa and ottoman, but no chair. I feel lucky. It's taken two days to get everything laundered, and I swear to God I was putting the slips on the seat cushions a few hours ago and the kitties all ran to watch. I believe they think Mommy is "Carnie Folk." I never cease to amaze them!

With love,

Me