Monsooner the Better

I need to get back into the reading game. I've been lax because I feel so tired after school, but I feel the emptiness in my soul whenever I haven't read a book in awhile.

It's the monsoon season now. I forgot how much of hassle it is to take the dogs out when it's pouring all the time. They seem to enjoy it though. This morning I felt like maybe I shouldn't, but then I saw a few other people with their dogs outside, and one coming in soaking wet, so I felt better about it. The rain seems to confuse them though in as far as their "release" goes. The rain distracts them in ways I don't understand to the point where they just wander around without doing any of their business in the usual fashion.

Tomorrow is Friday. I have big plans this weekend to leave the house as few times as possible. I've stocked up on the rice crackers, eggs, bread, and soup to last me the weekend and aside from taking the dogs out and maybe catching a movie I do not want to do anything. A nice relaxing weekend at home is just what the doctor ordered. I might have to order in some chicken too. I've been craving meat again. I think it's because we never eat it anymore. All my protein these days comes from eggs and beans. There is a barbecue place across the street I can always smell, but they don't have the kind of meat we like. There is also a meat buffet I've wanted to try, but alas, J is vegetarian these days so I'll have to wait until I can find a different place with the girls or something.

Jumper

There is a broadcast system in our apartment and the management occasionally gives announcements about events or people selling stuff. Usually we have no idea what is happening or, I can get a sense by catching one or two words. This evening another message came on, but all I could understand was our building number. Since we never know if it is serious or not we debated whether or not we were in danger. We heard movement outside and when J looked out the window there were groups of people standing, looking up at our building, and a fire truck. So we leashed up Louis and went outside too, thinking there was a fire or something. Lo and behold someone was up on the seventeenth floor hanging out the window, trying to jump out. Clearly there were people up there with him trying to pull him back in because every now and then we'd see him jerking in and out the window like he was being tugged. It was very dramatic. The area was taped off, there were people blowing up a huge mattress and cutting down the trees and bushes. It was quite dramatic. Not long after we got out there, the people up there were able to pull him back in, but he had a couple good leans that made me catch my breath.

On a brighter note, I glimpsed a photo of Will Smith during my monthly browse of people.com and realized there is a MEN IN BLACK 3 being made as we speak! Hallelujah. My prayers have finally been answered.

Smells

The elevator smelled like farts last night. And no, it was not a "she who smelt it, dealt it" situation because the smell wafted out as soon as the door opened. What concerned me most is the fact that the smell lingered so intensely even after the host exited the area.

There is a buffet across from the Emart near our house that smells like hotdogs when the doors are open. It makes me feel confused on the inside because the pictures on the sign are of sushi and various foods I don't recognize, but when I peer through the doors I see those heating devices you see in other buffets. So my mind goes to casseroles and meatballs when my brain is telling me raw fish and unmentionables!

I bought new dog shampoo and slathered my dogs in it. They now have their own smells and no longer smell like my shampoo, which is ok I guess. I hunger for various grilled meats.

Soap

Normally I make it a personal rule never to use bar soap. It's just...unsettling. That is, until this week when the bar of soap in the teacher's bathroom was replaced with what seems like a bar of soap sent straight out of heaven. It lathers like you wouldn't believe! Plus it has a very fresh smell and my hands have never felt so clean! It almost makes it worth it to have to walk around with dripping wet hands for the next 10 minutes while they air dry.

I'm Stronger Than You

I had to intervene today between two boys fighting. They were surprisingly strong and I think I saved the one boy from just barely getting kicked in the head. There I was, minding my own beeswax when I hear a clatter and shouting. I look up and one boy is pummeling another that fell to the floor either by accident or as some sort of defense mechanism. I was all, "Hey now, stop that." But they kept at it and the boy doing the punching was crying and everyone was yelling. Finally I was able to pry them off each other. Who knew 13 year old boys could be so filled with anger...and strength! It took about all my might to drag one of them back to his seat, and then as soon as the other one got off the floor he came flying at the other one, arms flailing! Thankfully the head student (the teacher elects a No.2 at the beginning of the year, usually the smartest, more leader-ish one) came and helped me settle them down and the rest of the class went without a hitch.

Osama Oschmama

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”-Martin Luther King Jr

Tru dat.

Seriously, does it get any better than a little Wham in the morning? I think not.