Side note: I have been making pancakes every morning. They have been delicous. Today we had strawberry/blueberry pancakes along with a bowl of fruit containing cantalope, watermellon, honeydew mellon, pineapples, and blueberries sprinkled on top. Oh, there was also another mellon that I forget the name of. Damn. Whatever. It looks like a washed out cantalope and tastes a little less sweet than honeydew. Hmm. I realize I am going overboard on the blueberries but they have antioxidants, making them friends to our bodies.
So there we were the night I rolled in. I set up my room by placing my fish where they could easily observe the going ons without the risk of tipping or smashing. This is a crutial part of feeling at home. My fish have proven to be travel worthy so I am certain to keep them in the mix when we stop. They're worth it. Anything that remains pretty and alive while being dragged about by me should have the best view. Especially when it is stuck in a bowl of water. Seriously. I found them *the prettiest* travel case. It was advertised as a "milk crate" but I thought it looked like a fish holder. I mean, who even uses milk crates except for people that are carrying milk around? And I very much doubt they get their milk crates from Target. Come on now.
Fish (and some other essentials) in place I went back into the courtyard to visit with my dad and play ball with Charles who was acting like a psychopath due to lack of exercise. James was happily hunting cats and lizards. It was a beautiful night. Good stuff. At one point or another, the ball went into the pool. For some reason Charlie thought he could just step into the pool and get the ball. He did a header right into the pool, came up thrashing and coughing, and went on to retrieve the ball so play could ensue once he found his way out of the not so shallow body of water he entered face first. He's generally unfazed by things that make me bugged eyes and hysterical. It's good that one of us can keep it together eh? Then came the issue of finding his way out of the pool. He figured he could latch onto the side with his front feet and just scatch his way out with his back feet against the side. No suck luck as the side is tile. No grip. He wasn't about to give up though and continued going to different locations and trying again. Now I know I should have helped him out but there were two thoughts going through my head. The first was that he was really struggling. And we all know what struggling means, don't we? That's right! A tired dog. Struggle away my friend and I might have a little time without your heavy breathing against my leg while you solicit any type of attention you can get from me. The second thought was that he might actually figure this out himself sooner or later. I mean, if he didn't, I could always just go in and save him from drowning and that would mean he plumb wore himself out. That's a victory in my mind, after all I would be the hero. Bonding? My heart won this one and I ended up just pulling him out. Of course he simply ended up back in the pool when his ball went back in and the entire process started afresh. My thinking suddenly changed as I realized at some point I would turn my back, the ball would go into the pool and without me knowing it, my dog would surely drown. Time to teach Charlie how to find the stairs, don't you think? Yeah, me too. So without further delay, the stairs became a part of entering and exiting the pool. Charles is a fast learner and doesn't usually forget things so once he had it, I was no longer worried about him going to a watery grave while I spaced out somewhere.
I would like to say I was certain to enquire whether anyone at the efficiency would mind Charles in the pool. I was assured that no one ever used the pool so why would it be a problem. Good enough. The next day I got up earlier than usual (YES!!) and headed out to work on my tan and just genrally have a great time in the sun with the boys. This included Charlie cooling off in the pool when he was overheating. There was this woman (I use that term loosely). This big huge malcontent sea cow, and from minute one she had it out for me. I tried, I honestly did. When she went by, I would say hello. I smiled. I acted in a friendly manner toward her no matter how snarky she was. No matter how many shitty comments this bitch made under her breath I could not be moved to brash behavior (which is normally how I am to people that suck for no reason other than the fact that they hate life and want to pin it on others rather than just try a little more. Screw them.). I just kept enjoying myself and stayed out of her way. Even Jim started staying out of her way when he noticed I didn't like him standing in front of her every time she came near him. She was certain to shoot nasty looks at them every chance she got. Even prepool. Well, when she came to collect her laundry, she saw me and Charlie racing for the ball in the pool (he's wicked competitive and I am a winner so we make an awesome match) and I guess she finally had her reason to wreck my good time. At this point I had been joined by a man that called himself Injun (more on Injun later). He said he saw me out by the pool by myself and thought I might like some company since (get this) no one ever uses the pool. He was this super cool older biker/hippy guy. Easy going and kind of funny really. We were talking and generally enjoying the awesome day/time provided for us when she asks me if I know the manager. I assure her I don't. Did I get permission to let the dog in the pool? Nope, absolutely not. She yells something about her kids using the pool and the dog having disease or some such nonsense and I just said I haven't seen anyone out here, no one else has minded thus far and that Charlie is well kept, doesn't shed and isn't making the pool dirty and if he was, I wouldn't have him in there to begin with. Which is true, I'm not a total asshole here, I just don't care what others think for the most part.
She yelled about something else to which Injun told her to get lost and stop harrassing me as she's not nice enough to let her kids enjoy any pool time and considering the fact that he lives there and knows her, he knows she's just trying to stir up trouble. Commence storming off. I was grateful and said so. I thought it was over. Not so. She came back and told me she was bringing her whole family over at 5 for a cookout and that she wanted me out of the pool area then. I told her I would be out by 4:30 and if she wanted me gone before that, just ask. No problem. I don't want to cause any trouble. Snarky comments. I guess she went and called the owner and made such a fuss that the owner said I had to go. I packed it up and headed back for GA (Taylor has to have his teeth done as well so I said I would help him with a drive home after they gas him up. Then we are going to head to Mobile, AL to celebrate the 4th of July.). I hope I haven't bored you. This story has a good ending after all. While saying good bye to my dad (and Injun, who helped me pack up the truck, what a guy) who was all confused about what the hell happened but assured me that all used up fat ugly women would always hate my guts, who appears but little miss snarky pants and her husband. She asks if I am leaving because of what happened. I tell her I am. She looks all surprised and guilty and says it doesn't have to be that way. I let her know it does because the owner threw me out after the stink she made. She says she doesn't understand because she really didn't even make a fuss. I tell her I am done discussing it as it's kind of a moot point now and really doesn't need further discussion considering what's done is done. She's all hang dog (I reign supreme!). Her husband who had been giving me the evil eye, turns it to his wife. While looking at her he says, "That's fucked up." He was filled in that that was not the fucked up part. The fucked up part was how little my dad and I see each other, we finally had the chance and she ruined it. On my birthday.
Side note: I received my first age bashing birthday card ever this year! On the outside it says in swirly happy lettering, "You're pretty" (which I was thinking was all obvious and stuff) and then when you open it, it says "Old". Thanks mom!!! You're the best!! This is war!
I jump in and tell her it's not that big a deal, I have a place in GA I can stay to which her husband looks horrified as it's 3:00 in the afternoon and I am going there right then because of his beloved c. (YES!) Continue evil eyed stare down with wife. I hug my dad and say good bye. I guess she went back later all guilt ridden to tell him she really didn't do anything. He said it needn't be discussed. She asked if there would be trouble and was told to look in the mirror and she'd find all the trouble she'd ever need. Chapter over.
I honestly would have felt okay about this were the woman a single dog hating person. As it is she has a passle of dirty ill bred kids and a pit bull that needs way more than it's getting and subsequently should in all probabilty never be allowed off leash (talk about irony). So the dog owner got me tossed due to my dogs. Yikes. I can't take it. The good news is she is her own demise. That I can handle just fine. Besides, I am now back at Taylors and enjoying myself thoroughly. Sure, the pool is missing and I love and live for pools but I'll take decent company over a pool any day of the week. I'll work on my tan when I can. Although I did have good company at the pool there for a little while. That guy Injun was funny. He had half his fingers on his left hand blown off from some steam accident and he was all hippy like. He even read my palm. Want to hear what he got out of it? Okay, first there is good stuff coming my way. NICENESS! Then he got all serious and firm and said, "You might want to be a little more cautious of the men you hang out with dear." Oh please, like this is news. I asked him if I should just go inside and read or something considering he was a man I was hanging out with. Laughter is good medicine. He says I have a vibrant aura. Here he is in all his glory. I am once again thrilled I wasn't quick to judge due to appearance.
So that's it with FL. Good freakin riddance. Once you remove the tough guy/pit bull parade, the cement jungle quality, the elitist pricks, the ghetto (where oh where has the middle class gone? Oh where oh where can it be!!), the incredible anger issues that comsume most people making them bitter and resentful, the boring layout of scenery (if you can even call it that) and the constant rumble of construction vehicles it really is a beautiful place. Oh yeah, and the constant reminder that dogs aren't allowed anywhere fun. Those things take away from the beauty. Not enough for me to miss it though. Sometimes, there are so many lizards sunning on the walk that it seems like the sidewalk is moving. The parrots have not been dissuaded and screech with abandon when it suits them. The sun is this phenomenal orb that takes its job very very seriously and sometimes even shines through the largest of thunder storms. The storms. Now they are something to reckon with. Anything that gets me to stop my voyage and pull over has my admiration. The thunder would shake the house and the lightening would put on a show Disney can't rival. The tropical vegetation around every corner was always pleasing to the eye. Always. I mean, the shrubbery was something to behold. And the deer. They're teeny. How can you stay upset with anything that houses tiny deer? I know I can't. We also found a 5 acre dog park. That is something.
In the end, all was not lost. I explored, found it lacking in some areas which made me not want to settle, but found it overflowing in other areas which made me glad I visited. Besides, isn't that what FL is all about, visiting and then going home? :)
I am seriously considering a CB radio for this fantastic vehicular voyage. Don't forget to visit my flickr page as there are some new photos added. Over & Out
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