Sooo Close!

I was looking forward to the weekend on Friday afternoon as usual.. "Is it 5 o'clock yet!?"  I had been chatting with a new friend all week and we were anticipating getting together on Saturday.  But first my Mom was leaving town and going on a cruise for a week so I took her out for a nice dinner.  She has been suffering for awhile with a hamstring pull and sprained knee so I packed the car for her.  It was a nice relaxed evening and I really enjoyed spending time with her.

Saturday morning bloomed and I was up early anticipating meeting my new friend whom I'll call ST.  I grabbed coffee and jumped in the shower.  I called Mom and she was heading North the same time I was heading South.  It was a beautiful day..hot and humid but ST had found a great place to meet on the lake surrounded by lovely shade.  I arrived before him and played with the kids on the playground and took turns on the swings.  Finally he was there and I walked over and gave him a hug and we headed off on the trail around the lake.  We talked for hours and finally we went for lunch and had a great time.  He had to get going so we returned to park and did the somewhat awkward first kiss which turned into a great 2nd kiss! Eventually we let go and headed our separate ways.

As I was driving home I was jamming to the music feeling the NRE coursing through me.  I noticed the sky north of me..directly over my hometown.  The sky looked eerie. We get bad storms here in summer but this looked ominous.  Black, purple-green evil looking clouds.  I drove into some rain but nothing too bad.  I went to the grocery store and turned down my street.  It looked like a war zone!  Trees and power lines down everywhere.  Lawn furniture and stuff in street.  Of course we had no power at the house.  I headed downstairs and looked around. "OH FUCK"  There was red mud everywhere!  along with a couple of inches of water!

(Un)Fortunately I've got experience with flooded basements.  I mopped up mud and grabbed shop vac and towels.  I worked all night and eventually collapsed.  I had good company though..the VT-Ohio St. game was on.  HOW ABOUT THEM HOKIES!  They beat Ohio State on the road!  Enter Sandman!

So before turning in I decided to get some fresh air and went out on the back porch.  I turned on the light and turned around and saw something very weird.  There was a light shining on something in the yard. I decided to investigate further and turned on the floodlights.  When I rounded the corner, I gasped.  There was a downed tree laying in my yard literally within an INCH of my HOUSE! I know it wasn't there earlier.  I had left the house for 10 minutes to go get supplies for cleanup so it must have fell then.  Thank God my house was still intact and no one was home or hurt. I immediately turned around, went inside and said "Fuck this shit" and poured myself a rather stiff drink

I woke up way too early Sun. morning and took a closer look around the war zone that was my house.  Sure enough there is a 2nd tree down at the bottom of my yard but it was OK.  The basement was drying out but the foul stench was setting in..YUCK!  I used every chemical known to man to try and help.  I escaped to a friend's place and returned home to find things much improved.  Arriving home and thinking all was well,  I stepped out on my back porch, turned on the light only to be confronted by a snake climbing down the wall...OMFG!!!  I at least kept it from going into house.

IT'S VERY RARE THAT I WILL EVER, EVER SAY THIS...but I think I'm looking forward to Monday!!