Gummibunny

My third St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Savannah began gray and chilly, but that’s just the weather – not a reflection of the weekend itself. Trent and Erin are in town, and last night Dave also came over to hang at our house. Good times were had by all, and though Dave may have beaten me at Yoshi at first, I mounted a marvelous comeback and finished with a win.
My past 2 St. Paddy’s Day weekends felt a lot more like spring. I thought this one would too, but two days ago our beautiful, warm weather moved away and a cold front moved in. Today, we all took Millie to Forsyth Park, and froze our butts off. I don’t know if as many women will be lifting their shirts tonight for the coveted green beads because it’s just too darn cold.
It’s nice having good friends in town. We came back to the house and had hot tea to warm up. Millie is currently sacked out on the couch, sleeping like a dog who has been on an adventure. We’re going to throw some food on the grill in a little bit if it doesn’t start raining.
Tonight, we’ll venture downtown to see the crowds, then probably get puked on and flashed and then we’ll leave. Fun for everyone! Keep your fingers crossed that I don’t get called in to work.

Spring is definitely in the air. Today, it was almost 80 degrees. I got in my car this afternoon and had to crank up the air conditioner. Savannah is so beautiful in the spring. Already, trees are beginning to flower and pink blooms are opening on azalea bushes. In just weeks, this city will be ablaze with color.
Of course, spring does come with a downside. I was down by the Savannah River yesterday, and the sand gnats were beginning to feast on me. They are such evil little bugs. You can barely see them, but they pack a mean bite. A few days ago, they were nowhere to be seen – or felt, rather. But suddenly, they are out in force.
Lee got to go to the beach today, and I was happy for him but jealous, too. I am definitely looking forward to spending some weekends there soon. Just me, my hubby, two chairs, and a book. And some sunscreen. And some bug spray. And or course, anyone else who would like to come play. No jellyfish are invited though.

I know we need rain to sustain life, blah blah blah. But yesterday, the rain just took it too far. It had rained for several days, and last night Lee and I were sitting at the dining room table when I saw something disturbing. On the ceiling. A hole.
The fake-o popcorn facade was peeling back, exposing the ceiling, and a yellow-brown ring that we though was evidence of an old stain had grown. We have a leak.
Old Man Clanton, our neighbor, is so going to feel so vindicated. He kept saying we needed to get the leaves off our roof, and even mentioned that we should buy a ladder like his so we could get onto the roof. But he never offered to let us use his ladder. Just told us to buy one. But when he sees roofers working on house, I’m sure he’ll think, “I told you so.”
I don’t know yet if homeowner’s insurance will cover it, but I’ve been told not to expect it. Replacing our roof could cost thousands. And we just broke the bank for Alaska.
Time to go deliver some pizzas for extra cash. I heard there’s a decent brothel up the street. Maybe they’re hiring. Anyone want to donate to our roof fund? Send cash, checks, or money orders. Or shingles.

This week, I had the distinct pleasure of spending a day at an elementary school for career week. I went from classroom to classroom talking about my job. The kids ranged in grade level from kindergarten to 3rd grade. Boy, are they funny when they’re that age. And boy do they ask some funny questions. Here were a few of my favorites:
Student: “Do you ever have one of those days when you just want to quit?”
Another student: “Do you ever have a bad day and wonder why you chose that job?”
A student who didn’t ask what he really wanted to ask: “When the aliens … what do you like about your job?”
Student: “Do you have a good boss?”
Me: “Yes, I have a very nice boss.”
Different student: “My dad has a nice boss. He is the boss.”
Student: “I was born in Maryland.”
Me: “Me too. What city?”
Student: “Pennsylvania.”
Student: “When my dog gets wet, he smells like a wet dog.”
At least no one asked me something as uncomfortable as what was asked of a guest from one of our hospitals:
Student: “Do your doctors ever accidentally kill people?”
Crazy kids.

That’s the motto of the Cape Fear Fire Antz hockey team. Despite having an evil mascot, their jerseys are cool because they have flames.
Lee, his dad, and I went to see the Fire Antz play the Winston-Salem Parrots (what’s with the lame mascots?) playing in Savannah tonight. It was good fun. The place was pretty empty, but we got really good seats. Second row. I thought it was fun to watch the guys get slammed before – now I could make out their faces as they were thrown against the wall. One time the ref got nailed, but he was a good sport, got right back up and kept skating. There was only one real fight, but at least it happened right in front of us. It just cracks me up that the guys are allowed to go at it until one goes down. The refs just stood around, waiting, while they punched at each other. Also good times. So not only have I decided Lee and I must get season tickets if we ever live in a hockey town, we must have first or second row seats.
My throat hurts. Too much yelling.

Today is not a good day to be afraid of fire. The story about the club fire and the almost 100 people who died is horrific.
I have always been afraid of hotel fires, but I never thought about a fire in a place like that. Could you imagine how frightening that whole thing was? Especially as quickly as the building seemed to burn. I wonder what I would do in a situation like that. Run for the same exit as everyone else? Get smart and head for one of the other exits? Or what if I didn’t have a choice, because the surge of the crowd was too strong for me to move on my own?
I feel so badly for everyone who was in that club – the ones who survived for having gone through something so terrifying, and of course, the ones who didn’t make it. Fire can be such a beautiful, warming, comforting thing. But it can also be a nightmare.