No good deed

So far this has been relaxing, fun and interesting here in Hotlanta. I don't know what is going on with me but I am finding the heat oppressive!! We have been attempting to get lots done (notice I say attempting ha!) while learning lessons and sleeping late. It's almost the third (which means go time for me) so today is the day I think we will get loads done all because the looming date reminds us of our slack behavior. I am not afraid of slack behavior as of late so to think this might pressure me into action is a silly thought. Since Taylor is a go getter and feels better when things get done, I'll put aside my lackadaisical attitude and assist with all that needs doing so we can both feel a sense of accomplishment.

All righty then, today's plan of action went surprisingly well. Taylor tilled the yard. My chore (picture windows with screens in them to help me along, would you?) is down below...

I was supposed to do it, but after ripping my toenail clean off (more later), we thought it would be better if I stayed away from heavy cutting machinery while barefoot and limping. Needless to say I finished my book. It was tremendous in a very personal way. I am now going to continue on with The Secret since the last couple days sucked out loud. It started with some homeless guy needing shoes. For some reason Taylor suddenly felt awash with compassion. The guy was super funny so I saw where he was coming from. His shoes were shot and he's limping around needing shoes. Both Taylor and I thought he knew where his shoes could be bought for $10 (he kept saying he only needed $10 for shoes). No such luck and the next thing I know we are in a shoe store looking for $10 shoes. We were not in a used clothing store. They didn't have a pair under $30. He was loud and getting less and less funny. Considering the humor was lost, I said for him to just hang on and I would go get him $10 so he could continue this search by himself and we could continue enjoying the day (which we were). As I am getting cash Taylor and I start to bicker about giving the guy money. My stand point is that we said we'd help and we are not going to bail after saying that. I reminded him that it was his idea. Ha! He keeps it up until I remind him it's my money. We cross the street so I can get toxins for my lungs and break the cash into a $10 when I notice I don't have my bank card. Yeah, I left it in the fucking machine. Of course the bank it's in cannot help us. Of course I go into a tailspin of depairity and just plain bitchiness. Of course I blame Taylor. Of course he's not hearing it. Ah well, saved myself $10. Once home I call the bank and they cannot give me a new card as I cannot answer their questions fast enough to suit them. I'm going to the bank on Monday to settle this once and for all. Yeah bitches.

Later on in the evening we went to dog park for a bit and while on the road there I took some pictures of the Bruce man enjoying himself by hanging out the window. I'm glad I took the time to do this. As much as he enjoyed this activity, he blew it by jumping out at a red light just to piss on a phone pole. I'm not sure what his plan was after that but the entire thing was thwarted when Taylor heaved him back to the truck by his scruff and rolled the windows up enough that he couldn't fit through them like he had prejumping. So here's a little memorial to Bruce's window down days.

Hey, does anyone know what is going on with Taylor's porch? There are all these little sawdust looking piles (with what we assume to be droppings mixed in) under the railing of his porch.



This is the bottom of the railing. Doesn't it look like someone has been drilling? They haven't. How odd! How strange!


I think it's probably insects since woodpeckers have been showing interest.


This is the largest bug I have ever seen. It was sitting on the back stairs imposing upon my bug free needs so I grabbed my camera. For some reason the camera decided focusing was last on the to do list so the pictures are a little fuzzy, but you get the... er... forget it.



After a moment or two of this beast staring at me, I poked it a little to see if it would move over for a better shot. I was also secretly hoping it had died there and wouldn't be a bother. Well, it flew off the porch fast like lightening straight at my face. Screaming and flailing brought my night in shining armor out at a dead run. Turns out he was actually that person that laughs at you when you act foolish. Am I the only one that wishes they had a bucket of those huge bastards to fling at the laughing man just to see what his reaction would be? No, I thought not. :)

Ooo! Ooo! I totally potted all the plants for Taylor's house. Nothing says this is home like houseplants. The last one was completed just as it began to pour. Go me.


I was supposed to make screens so we could get some fresh air in this house that remains hot as hell due to the fact that if we open the screenless windows we are accosted by flying insects. Some of them are totally harmless although a little annoying with their need to kamakazi any shining screen or our faces (but only when we are totally not expecting it mind you). Mostly however we are simply eaten alive while thoughts of west nile virus flit about our minds. This is no way to spend the evening. My chore ended when the hacksaw we need to cut through the frame was not able to be produced. We don't have one. Now I was put in front of a 15 minute video about making screens which *someone* has supposedly seen. *Someone* missed the hacksaw (which is the main character of the movie if you ask me) in this 15 minutes of screen screening. So I am going to have to wait. Which is fine since I am okay with doing other things, like reading and blogging. (Side note: The much needed hacksaw is finally on the premises so all that measuring yesterday was not useless activity. Sweet.) I'll show you this project as it goes along. I am procrastinating (like right now) so I'll probably finish them at some point tonight.

Supplies


Tools


Windows without screens



I had to use the bastard green ladder to do the screens which was upsetting considering the fact that it attacked my foot the other night. Well, maybe I kicked it, but that was no reason to rip and tear at me. It was all one massive mistake that lead to me totally losing it and Taylor playing doctor. I have a confession of sorts... I cannot look at my own fresh wounds. Yours are fine and I'll even help you clean it out and bandage it. Mine are a whole other story. I have actually passed out while trying to see how badly wounded I was. When I hurt myself enough that there is an open wound I have to use my peripheral vision and hope I am doing a decent enough job to clean it and to fight infection. I think this is why I am so overly cautious in life and try to avoid injury at all costs. Anyway, I came walking down the media room stairs and whacked my foot off the bottom of the ladder. Hard. I knew it wasn't good just by the feeling and immediately ran for it. #1. People always want to observe and usually touch wounds. Thank you anyway. #2. Bleeding in the house is gross. Bleeding in someone elses house is just rude. #3. Sitting still is never an option, wounds included. I'm skittish like a deer. No sudden movements and all that. Maybe I thought I could outrun the pain? Who knows. I was out of there. I must have looked horrid (picture sobbing, screaming and general pathetic mayhem) because Mr. Stop Crying This Is Baseball was actually moved to sympathy and took it upon himself to fix this disgusting gash on my foot. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but if you look at the beginning of this blog entry you'll remember where this last got us. I'm inclined to link the sympathy over bad shoes (hurting feet) with the homeless guy with the lost card with Taylor so of course this is totally his fault. How cool is it that I can do that? And it happens in an instant. There is little thinking involved. ha ha. Yeah yeah, I kicked the ladder. Who put it there to begin with? Enough said. Anyway, since I cannot look at my wounds I usually just bleed on something that is easily cleaned and wait it out. This was the plan on the back stairs. We all know how focused and determined Taylor is so this was clearly not his plan. I cried, I pleaded, I tried with all my heart to get him to just let me let my toe take its course. He refused and ever so gently, after asking me to take deep breaths, proceeded to try and help me. Notice I say try. He succeeded but it was a hard long fight to victory, let me tell you. This is a lucky moment for you, dear reader as I remembered my blog and got the camera (after I was calm enough to talk and think in a rational manner)!! I am going to warn you however that
the following pictures are graphic!!

What's killing me is that I had started jumping rope again (along with other various exercises that involve your feet) to get back into shape. Jumping on one foot is not an option. It just isn't. I'm going to have to wait this one out damn it. Google says it's going to take about three weeks to heal. Ah well. The waiting begins.

We go to this dog park in the area. Whenever you donate money to the park, they put your name on a bone shaped thing and hang it on the fence. Wasn't I surprised to see my name on the fence? Totally blown away. Taylor had sent me this picture but I didn't really understand what he was saying. I was all shocked that someone with my name was actually on the fence. Um, yeah, it is *my* name. Ha ha, he donated and put my name up there. How cool is that!! I am under the impression that every fence should have my name on it but this is awesome regardless.


Speaking of dog parks and dogs and whatever else you associate with canine occurrences, there has been a major decision made about Charles. He is having the time of his life here. He enjoyed himself the last time as well but this stay has been a little longer so I have it in my face all day, every day. He loves Taylor so much and Taylor enjoys Charlie for all the reasons I don't. Charlie has also shown me time and again that he prefers the company of men. They rough house and enjoy his wild ruckus behavior. He's also getting on with Bruce well. We have decided that Charlie would be better off staying here. Let's face it, he'd go to dog park every day and while I am on this trip he's stuck in the car a lot. He's a young active guy. Charles comes out of the truck like a rocket whenever we stop. James is mature and has never minded long trips. Also, his occupation is 24 hour security. Charlie's job is to retrieve. Watching Charlie while he is here has moved me to make this decision and I believe Taylor is a far better match for him than I will ever be. He has even been talking about getting a large dog. Maybe this time I am just a pawn in the canine world. A transporter if you will. I don't mind. I always come across dogs that need help and I'll be able to help the next dog a little easier if it is just James and I. That's also part of it. Charlie is so demanding that Jimmy is slipping into the distance. It's getting to the point that he won't even come to me to be petted as he's up against Charlie's headbutting, leg gnawing and general annoying behavior when he does. Charlie wants all the attention. Jim has been taught that he isn't allowed to stick up for himself (How do you keep a dog out of fights? Never let him get into one!) and it is that same teaching that is allowing Charlie to bully him. I miss Jim quite frankly and I don't like the fact that he's being bullied into no longer having a relationship with me. On that note, it's unfair to Charlie to have me ignoring him and being upset about him wanting attention. Now Brucie will give him the what for without issue and Charlie respects that. Taylor wants Charlie and I want Jimmy back. Is there a better solution? I personally don't see one. This is perfect considering that I can call any time to check on them and I will undoubtedly see Charles again. Please don't get me wrong, I love Charlie. I'm going to miss Charlie. But I miss Jimmy more and I also want to see Charlie happy and getting everything he needs more than I want to see him with me. With Taylor he is confident and proud but with me he questions and sometimes loses confidence for some reason. I want him to stay the confident unruly dog he has proven to be. So does Taylor. I have thought this through long and hard and since I am the type of person to talk things through, I have asked others as well. We have all come to the same conclusion. When I drive away from Mobile Alabama, I will only have James with me. We're going to look for another dog to help along the way while Charlie goes home to his big back yard, dog park and new active manly life. Success is nothing to scoff at. I just hope the groomer doesn't make him look the way I am certain he is going to look. Vain? Sure. But I am an excellent groomer and the groomers here are not skilled. Ha ha!!

Oh all right, you're onto me! It's Monday. Sometimes I get distracted and put down the computer and then a whole day goes by without me actually finishing my blog. Time lapses are just going to have to be a part of this blog relationship I guess eh?
And there you have it. I have screens to make so I'm off to do that. Till next time!!