oh heavens.

Life is funny.

And it happens so fast... too.

There's been this ridiculous little puddle on our front patio. After weeks of stepping in it, not enough to get soaked- but just enough to bring in dirt- I thought I'd take care of it. I okayed it with our landlord, and dug myself a teeny little ditch to help it drain.

It IS Louisiana after all... (things have a tough time draining here. )

And now my entire front porch is filled with water.

Apparently, digging the ditch helped the puddle blossom.

(It IS Louisiana after all...)

And now, I will be paying a plumber $85.00 an hour to fix...

something. Anything.

Hopefully he will not spend my $85 dollar bill

all in one place.

Another fun fact?

I have had poison ivy since June.

It is September.

For the past six weeks, I have wanted to crawl out of my skin.

After two visits, two shots, and what will be 20 days of antihistamine... I feel normal.

And while trying to figure out the blooming lake on my front patio...

I discovered a poison ivy tree, and approximately 15,700 vines.

I'm hoping and praying they didn't discover my fresh set of skin.

---------------------------------------

In events like this I have to summon some kind of something-

to resist the temptation of pulling a Von Trapp.

The thought is so enticing:

leaving while no one is looking,

disguised in my travel clothes made of drapes.

And singing. Oh yes. I'd be singing.

Praises mostly, mixed with a couple heart felt hallelujahs.

But reality is inevitable.

It's 2011, not 1938.

There's not nearly enough fabric hanging on my windows to make five complete travel outfits.

And pulling a Von Trapp requires money- which, who are we kidding...

I'm giving it all to the plumber.

And just like that, life is back to being funny.

It's better than the alternative.

------------------------------------------

**Post Edit**

Our $85 an hour plumber smoked about a billion cigarettes,

and was the nicest person I have ever met.

If you live around here and find yourself up a creek,

Call Gaylord Allin of GPA Services, Inc.

--------------------------------------------

This was a paid advertisement.

I paid him money and then I advertised.

I was raking leaves in our front yard today.

They were up to my chin, and the neighbors were getting restless.

My leafy-awesome yard was giving their sweet little greens.... some crazy ideas.

I figured it was time.

So while Mae took a snooze, The Robs, The Erik and I took

the leaves.

Did I mention it was windy?

About ten minutes later it was just me versus the leaves.

Everything was good... Everything was grand... I was focusing on one square foot of leaves at a time-

...and then my neighbor's lawn care service pulled up.

Their Professional Lawn Care Service...

Magic... Choreography... call it what you want.

All I know is Alanis Morissette popped into my head, singing about traffic jams and such.

I was also stooped in a most vulnerable position,

attempting to bag a pile of uncooperative leaves.

By myself.

On a windy day.

Barefoot.

Uphill.

In the snow.

Ever tried it?

I stood up as they parked the truck.

And then the rest happened so fast.

Someone said something like, "Go take a break, "I've got it."

And then I blinked.

And then the yard was clear of leaves, and I had a fresh limonada in my hand.

(kidding about the limonada, but I would have been okay with it.)

And then I resisted the urge to hug them... (everyone was sweaty)

But I did thank them profoundly. And profusely. And perpetually.

Because in a whopping ten minutes they did what I would have finished next Wednesday.

It was a miracle.

A lawn care miracle.

Robs, Erik and I celebrated afterwards.

In space. With a big box rocket, and tin foil helmets.

(For the record, that was the best embarrassing situation I've ever had. So far.)