"Old" Friends, Neighbors and Dogs

I had a wonderful weekend with a not so old, old friend. I keep in contact with very few people from high school. This is mostly because high school was miserable for me and I prefer not to associate with people that remind me of it. Two exceptions to this and one of them came to visit me!

Insert photo that we did not take together here :(

Lots of eating, walking and site seeing later it was wonderful. I forgot how much I missed having connections to my awkward childhood.

After Caroline left, everything got a little bizarre. Twlight Zonish at times.

I haven't blogged about my neighbor yet because I try not to be particularly mean here but I'll make an exception this once. He's a little bit of an odd duck. Okay, a lot of an odd duck. Strange family dynamics, strange behaviors and just strange all around. He's a landscaper for a living which means he rides around on his stand up lawn mower with his goofy head phones all day and makes comments about what I can do to improve my landscaping. I prefer this behavior to the smoking (not sure what he smokes but I'm pretty sure it's not legal) and drinking he does outside my bedroom window in the evenings. (Don't you just love living so close to your neighbors that you can hear the jingle of the glass beer bottles in your sleep?)

Anyways, so I walk outside yesterday morning and immediately notice that I can see a lot more of my neighbor that I used to. The little bleep word cut my bushes! The bushes that I planted right by our shared fence to block him out, yeah those. He took the liberty of pruning them without asking my permission first. When I asked him about he was like, "Yeah they needed it." And I wanted to say, "No Nate, they didn't because now I can see your face." Angry eyes.

Thus begins my "Build Rachel a privacy fence fund." Cash donations now being accepted.

After this confrontation I stormed out of my house, late for lunch with my Dad. On the way over I am tested by God yet again when a pack of black dogs runs in front of my car across Shawnee Mission Parkway, a very busy street. Of course I immediately pull over, get out with my dog catching supplies in hand and attempt to track these dogs. They run from me back behind a house out of sight. Not feeling like getting arrested for trespassing I accept defeat in hopes that these dogs live at this house.

Just as I'm pulling back onto the road, they run across the street again the other way. Oh hell. So now I turn my car around and pull over on the otherside of this very busy street and jump out again with my supplies. Unable to see the dogs at this point I pull out my phone and dial animal control. Yes I have animal control on speed dial, as should you.

Johnson County Animal Control: 913-782-0720.....put it in your phone now. Paws can't dial (thanks mom for that)

When telling my mom about this story I asked her, "Why does God continue to test me like this?" I am like a beacon for homeless dogs. And my mom, love her, responds that he put me there at that time because he knew I would be the one to stop and call. I like this response because it makes me feel like God knows I will do the right thing which in turn makes me feel less guilty about my life choices. Refer to post, Internal Conflict Continues. It's hard though, God, it's hard.

I'll leave you with my new favorite movie quote and my new motto for life. It's of course from Harry Potter. That Dumbledore, he's a wise old man.

"Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy."

Fire Season is Here!!!

Ahh the smell of campfire and s'mores. It's official bon fire season at the Ogren house and this year I vow to have more than last year. This shouldn't be hard to do because I think I only had 3 last season.

Got off to a great start with a little partay with some work peeps, lots of alcohol, a riveting game of badmitton and of course some s'mores.

Glorious.

Rock On Party People! (yes, that's my boss digging in the fire....)

Uh Oh, someone has had a little too much party fun!

PS. If you want people to show up for your party bribe them with a baby :)

After the party my mom and sister made a surprise appearance. Sister left a short eight hours later for Texas but I got to hang out with my mommy for a few days. I love my mom :) We did some shopping and some gardening and some napping.... Like mother like daughter....

Mom and I are both ironically and somewhat awkwardly on the hunt for true love. So out we went to mingle with the three dimensional people, dragging along of course Aunt Cyn. At a local restaurant after one very potent cocktail (don't worry I worked the next day...no big deal) I laid eyes on a very beautiful man. Of course he was with a woman. Mom and Aunt Cyn tried to convince me that they were brother and sister but the close conversation and gleaming diamond on her hand suggested otherwise. 

To which my mom suggested that someone invent some sort of scanning device, like a speed gun, in which you can aim your gun at another person and it will tell you their age and marital status....No more wondering if the charming guy at the end of the bar is single or living with his girlfriend of ten years and two charming but illegitimate children.... No more lying either, about your age or your wife. Is this an invasion of privacy or a single girl's dream? The verdict is still out. 

Anyhow, since I plan on being awake this summer (last summer I worked night shift and basically slept through the whole thing) I vow to get out more, mingle more and let the sparks fly more. I'll keep you posted on what's out there. The anticipation is killing you I know ;)

Right now I've got to go pry Eunice out from the passenger seat of my car. She has wedged her arthritic body down there in an attempt to escape the thunderstorm outside. It's not working Euns. Silly mamma.