Song of the day: It's Raining Again - Supertramp

"Oh no, it's raining again
and you know it's hard to pretend" - Supertramp

I woke up this morning to the brief low growl of thunder, a quick display of lightning and a continuous pouring rain. The picture is the view from my sunroom. Documented proof that the day is indeed nasty. Today is also trash pickup day. Sure we need the rain, but couldn't it have waited for a while? At least until I got the trash to the curb. To motivate myself, I put on a pot of coffee, then go around the house gathering up all of the trash. I come downstairs. "The Boy" is fast asleep on the family room couch; drool escaping from the left side of his mouth. His face is turned ; his back towards the television, and the television is blaring. I walk over and turn it off. I suspect that he may have treated himself to an all night cartoon-o-thon, and that, try as he might have; he could not make himself last until sunrise. However, I really wouldn't know, as I chose to spend my night sleeping. You see, once I engage the alarm system at night, I usually don't feel the need to worry. The school year will soon begin and this was part of his "last hurrah!". I hope that he enjoyed it.

I put my rain slicker on over my pajamas, pull the hood down over my head, and then roll the garbage container down the hill to the curb. It will be "The Boy's" responsibility to bring it back up this afternoon. This will be yet another battle. We go through this every single week. In the meantime, my neighbor's three little dogs run over to me and start yapping. Their yapping appears to be mean-spirited. One is a Pekinese, one a Maltese and one a Yorkie. Under normal circumstances, I would find them to be cute. However, this morning, in the warm, pouring rain, there ain't nothin' cute about three little "ankle biters" getting in my way. My first instinct is to run them over with the wheeled garbage can...but I can't..."somebody", perhaps the entire neighborhood is watching. (Just a joke folks!). It is still pouring rain. Within moments, their owner appears, offering me a brief, obligatory "Good morning". He then rounds up each of the little rascals, and leads them back home, wagging their tails behind them. (Sorta like a neighborhood version of "Little Bo Peep")

"You're old enough some people say
To read the signs and walk away"

Just to cover myself, I will make the following Public Service Announcement: "Don't forget to spay and neuter your pets"...also, give to your local S.P.C.A....I believe that just about takes care of it.

Anyway, there is a mug of hot coffee in my future. At one time, I used to define "future" in terms of years, months...even days. Now, I find myself breaking the time down into even smaller units of hours and minutes. I will worry only when I begin to do so in milliseconds. At this particular point in time, for me, the future is NOW.

"It's only time that heals the pain
And makes the sun come out again"

Well, later on this afternoon, around 1:00pm, "The Boy" and I will be attending his elementary school orientation. He has absolutely zero enthusiasm when it comes to going back to school. This will be the jolt that he needs, as well as for me.

"C'mon you little fighter. No need to get uptighter"

Well whaddaya know! His new teacher just called a few minutes ago. We met her in July during summer school, so she is not a stranger. She just wanted to re-introduce herself, and is looking forward to seeing us this afternoon. We will be there.

"C'mon you little fighter. And get back up again"

Meanwhile, the thunder continues to roll....and "The Boy" continues to sleep....

(It's raining, it's pouring)
(The old man is snoring)
(He went to bed and bumped his head)
(And he couldn't get up in the
morning)...