The cats made a real man out of me

Well, today went better than I expected.  I got up at 5 and got online for a bit, did my shower and got dressed. 

Ron couldn't find his cell phone.  Later, I was able to help him figure out the location (a very odd place), based in his last location when talking on the phone.  If he was in the hall, it must be in the hall.  I prayed on it, too, but all that happened later. 

Last night, the neighbors decided to play loud music.  I tried to be understanding, it is Mexican mother's day.  I understand that in some cultures, they like to party with a lot of food, alcohol, and very loud music, all night long if possible.  But I still prayed for God to please let me sleep. 

These particular people like to play the music on car stereo speakers, with the house door open, and the car doors open.  It's very ghetto. 

I was thrilled at the thunderstorm around 11 PM.  Needless to say, they shut up everything, the music, the car, and the house.  By the way, that house had a terrible odor the one time I did go over there, asking them politely to please turn it down, I could hear it blocks away and had to work very early the next morning.   They were very rude, and did not. 

I found out they are renters, and based on that odor the landlord could stand to do an inspection.  Worst case I will write the landlord a letter, not mentioning the music, and suggest they do an inspection. 

Ron was pretty rowdy, so I didn't sleep much.  I got both cats in the house and had a nice cuddle with Pretty Girl, a very wet cat in my bed.  When I let her out again, she smelled like a very wet cat.  She groomed herself and is back to her usual gorgeous self. 

I also had a nice cuddle with Pretty this morning, while waiting on Metrolift.  I sat out on the porch. 

I had more cuddles with her, later.  She's an awesome cat. 

We went to the warehouse, and got the supplies we needed (I needed Pop-tarts, and the strawberry flavor move the best).  Ron needed soda. 

We had a good ride to work.  The other client was pretty demanding, which always reminds me what it looks like.  It's awful.  I don't want to be that ugly person. 

So, when, after work, our ride was very late, I really tried to be understanding.  Someone could have peed in the vehicle, and they had to clean it up (happens a lot).  Someone could have gotten sick and they had to call an ambulance.  We have a lot of car accidents on our freeways, maybe he got stuck in traffic. 

Ron asked the dispatcher.  "Oh, he passed you up and made an unscheduled drop off and pickup."  He was playing cowboy.  I was pissed. 

I told Ron, as we waited over an hour, I could punish him with lots of kitty cat chatter.  That can really aggravate the kind of guy who makes up his own schedule.  He can't tell me to shut up, either. 

I did, a little, but only for a couple minutes.  I could tell he hated it. 

When he finally did show up, Ron asked him point blank "What took you so long, you are an hour late?"   He told a half truth, he "had" a pickup in the other location.  No, he didn't have it.  He had it after he dropped us at the house. 

Ron just set his face and was very quiet.  I was very polite, which for me is pretty much screaming.  The last time I was polite to the driver they started asking me what was wrong, and apologizing for being 2 minutes late (that day, I had a headache).  I am a very outgoing, cheerful person.  I have been called "Bubbly" even when I am depressed.  I did a little cat chatter but he started glazing over, and I didn't want to end up in the emergency room. 

He was a skillful driver, but you can't keep clients waiting for over an hour, in the ghetto, because you want to make up your own schedule.  He may be fired today.  Obviously dispatch was onto him.  There is a line out the door - people who want that job. 

The drivers work hard but make a very decent salary.  I have had many drivers tell me they thought about quitting, but then realized no other job could compare with pay. 

So, I'm home.  I helped Ron find his phone.  I got some laundry started, and then we went to Walmart.  I was found, again, on the porch with Pretty in my lap. 

Walmart was pretty hectic.  It makes me realize how many people make a really big deal about Mother's Day. 

Mother's Day was always a tough holiday for me, because I was abandoned by my mother.  I was raised by an unofficially adopted stepmother who had 3 of her own kids.  That's not a cut on her - but she didn't need me.  My own mother was this awful family secret and I never even heard from her on my birthday, most years.    So, it's a rather wierd holiday for me. 

I don't feel like "Oh, I have to go out and buy" who?  My birth mother is dead, my stepmom has 3 of her own kids, and 4 grandkids - a present! 

The cats helped me loosen up.  One year, Frosty brought me a brown dirt snake  It was between 15-18 inches long - I didn't stretch it out and measure!   It was alive and unharmed.  It was squirming, on the floor, at my feet.  I was pretty horrified, but I had to man up, get the dustpan, and scoop him up.  Then it twisted around my hands until I dropped it in the dustpan and evicted him (I locked the cat door for a couple hours so he could get away).   They are nonvenomous (can't hurt me). 

Another year, I'm pretty sure Bubba brought me a dead rat.  It was large and very stiff.  Just what I wanted.   It wasn't on the day, but a little before or a little after. 

Those cats have made a real man out of me.  I only lament Ron's blindness when the cats bring me a "treat".  I have to deal with it. 

Just like I have to deal with the other issues in my family.