So we had a boil order in my county yesterday....which I knew nothing about until I drank, oh, nearly a gallon of water.

I threw up a lot yesterday, and while the digestive rumblings have calmed, my stomach still HURTS and I am naused.

Happy freakin' 4th.

Oh, and we got a mysterious short phone call that M will be visiting us earlier than the 14th. Since he was supposed to stay with his stepdad's folk's for a week in St. Louis, and we found out his stepgrandmother there has terminal cancer, I'm betting it has something to do with that. Sad.

They just got back from dead signalville, and walked in the door, so I'll know more tomorrow, and of course, it's fine that M come early. Crossing fingers that arrangements can be made with a minimum of angst and drama.

Oh, Erin.

A friend resorted to padlocking the pantry. There were other issues, clearly, but it was the only guarantee she'd wake up to food in the morning. He had his own money for food, but he was spending it on other things. They were on a very tight budget.

Also, 19 year old look like babies to me. OK, he could be especially youthful, but since the incoming classes on campus look younger and younger to me these days...

I'm charmed by finding out that the reason he came to dinner was because he wanted to meet me. It wasn't Taylor's idea, but his. Makes me wonder what she must say about me to her friends. Must be flattering if they want to meet me...

Oh, I know. I mean, I realize some kids are having kids young, but at this last VBS, it was ridic. There were kids in there all baby-faced that I thought were students (in this case would have been 6th grade or under) that turned out to be parents. I swear. So yeah, clearly I have my elderly eyes on these days, because everybody looks like babies to me. Tellers at the bank, cops, everybody. I got your crotchety right here, bitches!

6 Valencia oranges, 5 Packham pears, 5 Gala apples, 5 White Nectarines, 5 Red Beaut plums, 4 kiwi, 2 limes, 2 mangoes, a lemon, and giant fucking pineapple.

...that does not sound very local to Chicago! But it does sound yummy.

The oldest kid got into medical school and changed his name to something entirely different--first and last--because he no longer wanted to share his parents' name. The oldest daughter has never been stable, and the youngest kid was an alcoholic at 15. So

Wow, that sounds super messy, how awful.

Yikes, these bad pet-sitting stories are making me clutch my pets in relief, since we JUST got in the door from vacation maybe half an hour ago. We are so lucky to have a good friend who stays here and takes care of the pets. We pay him the going rate and generally also bring him a silly souvenir.

And the pets are all well and exceedingly happy to see us, which is such a nice way to be greeted.

I'm fighting the first migraine I've had in a couple of months, so I am going to drug up and go to bed. SO glad to be home!

...that does not sound very local to Chicago!

Some of the fruit is local. Some of it is organic and free trade from elsewhere.

I am a kick-ass pet sitter, and my friends are, too.

I did have to break in once, when I was given a key that didn't work. I just...appropriated a neighbor's ladder, popped up to the second floor and found an unlocked window and sidled in.

Did it all in brad daylight, no sneaking, no big.

The pet sitter stories are freaking me out a bit, completely unnecessarily. My brother is coming by to take care of the cats. I KNOW I can trust him. But still... poor kitties! Every time I leave my Burrell alone for a few days I fear she feels abandoned.

I have three terrific neighbors who watch my cat when I travel. They're so terrific I'm going away on vacation with all of them in October.

Oops.

I'm weirdly up and at 'em early this morning, am planning on going to church at 11, but am considering going to get my nails done first. Of course I'm not 100% sure of the name of the place I go, so I can't figure out how to find their hours. I kind of think they do open at 9, though. Hmmm.