Auntie Deana, as she is affectionately known to the canines in our home, is sporting a new accessory today—a black eye. Annabelle was doing her morning laps on our front lawn the other morning and having herself a helluva time. Deana crouched down and called Annie over. Surprisingly, Miss Annabelle actually complied and proceeded to run full tilt right into Deana’s face. OUCH!

The lovely and talented Miss Jennifer Harvey is volunteering at The Weekend to End Breast Cancer as a ‘sweep’. This involves cheering on the weary walkers, picking up the injured and bringing them to a rest stop or a first aid station. But Jenn does this duty with a flair and enthusiasm that only she can bring to the table. Her Sweep Team call themselves Rock Your Booby and they decorate their van with all things ROCK! This even includes a home made “metal band” fastened on top of the van. Seriously. If that isn’t the epitome of spirit, I don’t know what is.

Also I discovered today that it really hurts if you pluck a hair from your toe.

Go on, try it. You’ll see.

In case you don't know, I'm a list maker. I make TONS of lists. Lists of goals, grocery lists, packing lists, lists of bills to pay, etc. My life is a list. Often I put things on the list that I have already done just so i can cross them off! Or I'll add things to the list like "Eat Dinner" just so I can feel like I accomplished something. It's a bit crazy I know. But it's me, for better or for worse. Here is today's list.

Sept. 3rd

Buy poop bags
Email blog link to Chantal
Email Allison
Walk the dogs
Do a load of laundry
Call new landlord regarding moving day
Call Rogers to transfer phone and internet services
Bring in boxes out of the car
Wash the bathtub
Email the "Debauchery Committee" about Saturday night
Call Christopher B (dude who hit my car)
Phone date with Jenn at 9:30
Work on "puberty piece" (an essay in the works)

I know that I will maybe get 4 of these tasks done tonight, but that's ok.

There's room on tomorrow's list.

I came out of my house the other morning, pillow marks still clearly etched into my face, thinking the same thoughts I always think before going to work in the morning:

Need Coffee.
Must Win Lottery
I hope the dogs don’t eat my shoes today.
We need toilet paper.
I wonder what so-and-so meant when they said ________ yesterday.
Am I living an ethical existence? If not, should I be? Perhaps I should try hedonism on for size?

As I approached my car, which was parked on the street due to a shortage of driveways in Toronto, I noticed a white piece of paper under my wiper. My first thought was, thank god it’s not a yellow piece of paper because lord knows I don’t need another parking ticket. My second thought was, What have I done wrong? I’m not blocking someone’s driveway or parked in someone’s spot. What could it possibly say? I get to the car and read the note. It says:

I apologize. I hit your car this morning. I’ll be gone all day but here is my information. Let’s decide what to do later. Again, I’m sorry. Christopher B.

My reaction was a smile and a renewed faith in humanity. How many unsuspecting people leave their house or their office or the supermarket and walk to their car, perhaps making a mental to do list or pondering their existence, only to find some new scuff, scratch, or dent and no blessed note?

I’ve received nasty notes a couple of times in Toronto—once for inadvertently parking in front of someone’s driveway. (In my defense, there was a blizzard and the driveway was covered in 4 feet of snow so I didn’t realize that it was there.) And once I got a note for parking in the neighbouring church parking lot. This church is 2 houses north of my house and from time to time, if there is no parking for miles and I have a mountain of groceries to bring in the house or I’m only making a brief pit stop at home, I will park there. I don’t do it on Sundays or on Wednesdays (when they have an evening service) or on Thursdays (when the AA meetings take place) but from time to time it’s necessary. And on more than one occasion I have received the following note.

ILLEGALLY PARKED!!! Next time you WILL be towed!

I’ve often been tempted to leave a note on MY car retorting "I bet Jesus wouldn't tow my car".

After reading the lovely note from the mysterious Christopher B., I walked around the car looking for damage and found a couple of mild scratches above my rear left tire. Nothing major. In fact I’m not even going to bother fixing it. The bumper is plastic so it won’t rust and frankly, it’s almost a relief to have the first scratch out of the way.

So Christopher B, you’re off the hook. AND you’re a kind humanitarian who sets an example for everyone else. Thank you for your thoughtful note. The only question now is…Are you single? :P