Only Me...

   So here's a problem: got home from a late movie with Joni, Renee and Joe. As Joni and I were talking, I let the dogs out. We chatted for a bit, and then I went to bring the dogs in so I could go to bed (it was 12:40 am by that point). I went to the back door, and Taylor was eagerly waiting to come in. No Aki. Hmmm....

   I called several times, and it was silent outside, with no sign of her. I stepped onto the deck and looked around, calling. No Aki. "I bet she's caught another wild animal," I thought.

   Since the floodlights only illuminate the north side of my yard, I went into the house to get a flashlight and a warmer coat. Back to the yard. As I approached the south side, I heard a faint rustling. I was frankly creeped out, so I went back in the house and made Taylor come out with me. If there was a person or wild animal out there, I'd be able to tell from his reaction. He showed no fear, but acted a little nervous, like he anticipated that someone was going to get in trouble. He was right.

   As I scanned the fence line with the flashlight, I found a small hole dug under the fence... and suddenly an Aki face appeared, from THE OTHER SIDE of the fence! She tried frantically to fit back through, but given the angle of the hole and the pitch, she couldn't. She was trapped in the neighbors' yard. How was I going to get her out???

   All the neighbors' lights were off... it was after 1:00 am, and they were fast asleep. I went into the front yard and confirmed that the gate on their privacy fence was locked. What to do? Aki wasn't wearing her collar and ID since she just had a bath. She was naked. She was bound to be cold; her coat is thin and the temperature was dropping quickly. She couldn't spend the night out there alone. Should I throw a blanket over the fence? If she had to spend the night outside, I was fairly sure the neighbors would recognize her as mine when they woke up and found her. But their big dog, Sammy, was vicious with other dogs, and if they let Sammy out without seeing Aki, it could be very bad news. What to do??
   I could hear Aki frantically running up & down the fence line, trying to find a way back. Would she dig another hole through which she could return? Ultimately I resigned myself to leave her out there. I couldn't wake up the neighbors at 1:00 am! Aki was going to learn a very tough lesson. I came inside, walked upstairs, changed into my PJs and went to bed.
   As I was lying awake in bed feeling guilty that my baby was possibly freezing to death outside, it struck me that I wasn't sure that the neighbors' privacy fence went all the way around their yard. I threw my coat over my PJs and went back out front with the flashlight, quietly jogging down the sidewalk and into the neighbors' driveway. Sure enough, it was a chain link on the other side of their house, & the gate was unlocked!
   I had to get Aki's attention without waking anyone, since their bedroom was now directly over me. I didn't want them to mistake me for a prowler and call the police! I whispered as loudly as I could. "Aki? AH-KIII!" I had to call several times before she oriented herself and realized where I was.
 Aki was promptly collected, the gate closed, and I carried her back into the house. She was appropriately scolded for being a troublemaker, then hugged & snuggled because I was so happy to get her back without incident.
   I sometimes think I exist just to provide comic relief to others...

The Last Blush of Spring

   Spring, unfortunately, has run its course in KC, and it's already in the upper 90s, with heat indices in the 100+ range. Today I was downloading some photos that I've taken recently, including some plants in my own yard, as well as Lorne & Edna's, my neighbors up on the corner. They are incredible gardeners—their yard is the jewel of the neighborhood! Most of these flowers are gone now. Their temporary nature makes you appreciate them that much more.

Another early-morning wake-up call

How glad am I that it's a 3-day weekend and I can sleep in a little?

   I've been in the living room sewing all evening & had fallen asleep on the couch watching a DVD around midnight, when I heard a loud BOOM that woke me just now—about 3 am. It sounded a little like thunder, but more manmade if that makes any sense. I had no idea what it was. The dogs barked wildly, which is honestly one big reason I wanted dogs—so they could make noise & help keep me safe. I looked out the front door but saw nothing. (I've asked the city of OP for a streetlight in front of my house for the last 5 years, to no avail. Even the 4 halogen lights on the front of my house barely matter. When it's dark, it's super-amazingly-dark.)
   So I headed upstairs. Just a few minutes later, flashing lights right outside my house jolted me back up. I looked out the window to see an ambulance, a fire truck & 3 police cars. Bob & Laura were standing out on their lawn. A red compact car was smashed into Bob's son's truck, which had been parked on the street in front of my house... which was now plowed in front of their house!
   I ran out to talk to them to make sure they are alright, and they are—they had been sound asleep too. The car's airbags had deployed and there was glass absolutely everywhere. I came back inside. All I know now is that a young woman was driving the car, and 15 minutes later they are still trying to extract her from it. 
   It makes my heart heavy to think about what just happened, and I'm humbled to think about how tired I was driving back from Santa Fe by myself, and that by some miracle I made it back in one piece. I was nodding off & had set my Blackberry alarm to go off loudly every MINUTE to keep me alert. This girl is going to be leaving in the ambulance. I hope she's okay.
   Update: I found out that the accident was caused by DUI. No word on the girl's condition.

Love thy neighbor

   Oh, I do. Here's why: In June 2009, there were a couple of times when I noticed that my back lawn seemed to be growing faster than my front lawn. I would have to mow the back every week at least, while the front could go longer. Huh. Maybe I put more fertilizer in the back yard? Then one day I was working upstairs on the computer & heard what sounded like a lawn mower very close to my house. I peeked out the window, and there was my neighbor Bob, on a ride-on zero-turn-radius mower, going all the way across both his yard & mine!
   After he finished (because he wouldn't have heard me otherwise), I went outside to thank him. And before I could open my mouth he asked if I MINDED if he mowed for me. He said it's just as easy for him to do both yards at once. And he has been mowing my yard once a week—or as needed—ever since!
   I've left gifts & cards for him & Laura occasionally, which they keep telling me isn't necessary. But seriously, not only does he mow, he also does the EDGING, as evidenced in this photo that I took out the kitchen window this morning. The man is my hero. I'm assuming that because he started soon after I broke up with my ex, he wanted to give me a hand. And I am equally surprised & thankful every time he has mowed since.
   What can I learn from this? Don't ever pass up the opportunity to surprise someone & help them out. Don't expect anything in return. And be good to your neighbors.

happiness!!!

I got home from work just a little while ago, and heard somebody mowing. And it sounded like it was coming from my yard. Well...it was! My awesome next door neighbor, Bob, surprised me by mowing the lawn for me. For no reason at all other than to be nice!!!

And...now he's out there trimming! I must pinch myself...