Impromptu Parties

If you're with the right group of people, a party can break out at any time. I live with an "out there" person. A lot of my friends can turn any occasion into a party. I used to think I was a victim of circumstance but now I accept that I am often the instigator.

Jan has a routine that cracks me up. She will call twice on the home phone. If I do not answer, she will call twice on my cell phone. If I do not answer, she will walk into my kitchen. When a girl needs her girlfriend, the barriers go away. Strong people just knock them out of the way. The message is, "I will find you." I am always relieved to be found.

Houseboy came in for a cold drink after spending many hours loading the fallen tree and many limbs into the chipper. (Abby calls him Poolboy, although I do not have a pool.) My next door neighbor's daughter, and my friend, came over with her puppy. We passed him around like old women do with an infant. I played referee with my maniac dog.

The iPod was rocking. We discussed children and dogs and storm damage. It was an impromptu party and the most fun I've had in weeks.

The Dog Ate It (Again)

I had this envelope with $500 cash lying on the counter -- a deposit I needed to make for the oldies. I got busy. Then, I noticed that the puppy was nowhere to be found.

Have you ever tried to pick up teensy pieces of currency? Have you ever jammed your hand down the dog's throat because you need that serial number? If not, you live a much more stable life than mine.

I spent the afternoon taping money back to its (somewhat) original form. It's kind of like a new version of a jigsaw puzzle. I called the bank. My banker laughed and said, "Bring it in."