new neighbors......

As I may, or may not have mentioned in previous posts, we moved into a new house recently; right before Thanksgiving to be exact. Meeting your new neighbors is always an important part of moving into a new neighborhood. It turned out that winter is not conducive to socializing, as most people try to leave their house as little as possible in the cold. I am one of those people.

Alas, the weather is getting warmer, and people are getting out of the house. Finally, it's time to put some names to the faces we have been waving at in passing for the past several months.

So yesterday, Henry and I were outside playing in the yard when suddenly a middle to late aged women came walking towards us while walking her dog. She was waving enthusiastically, and grinning from ear to ear. She introduced herself and told us that she lived in the house caddy corner behind us. We did the usual dance: names, jobs, spouses, etc. And then she introduced her dog.....

"And this is Abby" she said.

"Oh" I replied. With a thousand thoughts running through my mind, remembering that our next door neighbors, the people who live directly in front of her, warned us about her barking dog when we first moved in.

And they were right. That damn dog barks the whole time she is outside, and she is outside A LOT.

So I was trying to be polite, when suddenly she looked at our front door and said. "oh, what a pretty dog." She was referring to our husky, Sydney, who was laying on the other side of the door. Quietly minding her own business. "That must be the dog I hear all the time."

Oh. No. She. Didn't.

I just gave her a confused look and said, "I don't think it's her, she is very mellow, hardly ever barks." Which is true, in the 8 years Ben has had her, I don't think she's barked more than 10 times.

She gave me a confused look right back. It was as if she had no idea her dog barked all the live long day.

In my head I had a hundred thoughts chasing towards me, trying to force their way out of my mouth. "What the hell, lady," being the first question. Followed by; "it's your dog that keeps everyone up at night, not mine.....Maybe your dog needs a bark collar, or a poisonous bone to chew on.....Your pink shorts do not match your navy blue t-shirt.....Spandex is a privilege, not a right, even Michael Phelps wears looser clothing."-And the thoughts just kept coming.

Did I tell her any of these things? Nope, not a one. And why? Because I'm nice.....

And clearly she is delusional.