Do I have the word SUCKER written across my forehead, or what? (Don’t answer that.) Every creature in the world seems to show up either at my doorstep or somewhere else in my path.

A couple of weeks ago, this bullsnake found its way onto our front sidewalk. It doesn’t know how lucky it was to have found the right house to visit. Or maybe it did. For the most part, snakes are misunderstood. Most people think they’re evil or just plain scary when actually they are very efficient and beneficial. Many times they are killed unnecessarily. It’s a shame. Randy and I put him in a bag, zipped it up and drove out into a less populated area not far from here. We gave him his sweet freedom.

Before that, it was the bullfrog who was enjoying a nice day at the pool (Wylie’s dog waterer) in our back yard. Yep, we rescued him too. Luckily, there is a pond less than a block away from our house. How convenient. He was cute too, as cute as frogs can be. By the way, I call all frogs “Harvey.” I have no idea why.

Today, I was dressed up for Madeline’s graveside service (it was beautiful, although we almost all passed out from the heat). I had to run a couple of errands beforehand. I was about to leave a clothing store when I heard a plaintive, yet familiar sound. Meow! Meow! Meow! I looked out into the parking lot and saw a cat. Being the pushover that I am, I had to investigate. Crouching down, I called out to him. He was scared and a little on the scrawny side but not too worse for wear. He finally came to me and I noticed he had a collar and a tag. Great! I could find out who he belongs to and return him. I could barely make out a phone number, so still crouching somewhat unladylike in my heels while struggling to hang on to the cat, I called.

The woman who answered explained that several people had already called her about this cat, but it wasn’t hers. It must have been the person who lived in her house before, she said. “Why don’t you take it to the pound?” I was horrified, but I didn’t let on because she seemed like a nice person. I told her I would try and take it to Rescue the Animals. All the while, I’m still down on the sidewalk with this cat, while people are walking by staring at me like I’m a complete idiot.

I called Randy who was at a remote broadcast. “What do I do with this cat?” By this time, there weren’t any locations of Rescue the Animals still open, so guess what? The Jones House Humane Society is open for business, once again. The VERY last thing I needed was to bring another cat home and that is an understatement.

I’m not keeping Milo. Yes, Milo. I thought I read that on his tag, but it was probably just my brain playing tricks on me. I scooped up the cat and he seemed rather pleased to be leaving his parking lot life behind. He proceeded to shed orange and white hair all over the interior of my car, as he panted. I cranked up the AC and off we went. He settled in on my lap and looked up at me with very sweet, grateful eyes.

I got him home and couldn’t find the Kitty Cab. @#$%! Called Randy again. Jeff borrowed it last weekend. Splendid. (No, Jeff, I’m not mad at YOU, just at my timing.    I put the cat in the garage, closed the door and went inside to get him some food and water. In the meantime, he managed to wedge himself under a bunch of junk in one corner. After many attempts to coax him out in the kitty voice, I gave up and started weaving my way through bicycles, old lamps and God knows what else. I pulled him out by the scruff as gently as I could.

I managed to push Wylie’s “night-night” (dog kennel) out onto the front porch in the shade, laid a towel inside on top of MEMORY FOAM bedding that Wylie already had been enjoying. Food? Check. Water? Check. Found another small litter box in the garage among more junk. Check. Put cat in. Check.

By the time I was finished, you could’ve made another cat out of the hair all over my black dress. I barely had time to change clothes and get to the service.

Now will someone please tell me what I’m going to do tonight when Wylie wants to go night-night? I can’t bring Milo in the house, that is not an option. I guess it will be the garage again.

Make it stop. :eh: