The Tree House and Surroundings

As promised long, long ago...Here is the tree house!

And my desk...

Here's what I look out at...

Here's the view from the deck...

My coworker and I agree...it ain't a bad place to live and work.

countin' my lucky stars

I was witness to a pretty horrific accident just ahead of me on the highway, yesterday. Close enough to see it, not close enough to be involved. And boy am I feeling a whole lot of thankfullness today. I don't even know if "thankfullness" is a word, and if it is, if you can feel it, but whatever.

I guess that sort of thing has that affect. I'll spare you the details. But as I suspected (I received a call from a State Trooper this morning, since I called it in to 911 and the accident is under investigation), it involved a couple of cars of teenagers, messing around on their way to the beach. Thankfully, no one involved has died. The Trooper said that there were some serious injuries and there's going to be a long road of recovery for the two girls (both 16) that were in the car that sustained the most damage. However, doctors felt that if they made it through the night, they were gonna pull through. Neither of the girls was wearing a seatbelt. Enough said on that.

Anyway, life can change in an instant - we all know that. I've always tried to think positively and make the most of what comes my way. I received a paperweight as a birthday present a few years ago that sits on my desk, with this quote by Jonathan Swift, May you live every day of your life. Right on.

Lions and Tigers and BATS? Oh my.

Zack, I have to warn you - you may not want to read this one.

Adam and I arrived home last night after a weekend roadtrip out to the Berkshire's. This was a surprise birthday present from Mr. Adam and we had a kickin' time. Horseback riding both days through the hills. By the time we got home last night, we were beat though - and ready for bed. So we climbed in, just about ready to turn out the light and then I saw it. I got buzzed by a bat. In my bedroom.

So I did what any self-respecting girl would do - I stuck my head under the covers and screamed. Adam briefly thought this was a 'cute little bird' flying around our room. Briefly. He too eventually realized that this wasn't no cute robin - it was a blood-sucking, rabies-carrying bat. It was like we were under fire (which we basically were - the thing was dive-bombing us)..."Let's go, let's go - we gotta get outta here!" Adam said.

We ran out of the room, slamming the door behind us and started strategizing. "I think we should leave this to the professionals," I said. "we can just keep the bedroom door shut, sleep out in the living room and call someone to come and remove it in the morning - it'll be fun, like camping sorta." I immediately got the 'there is no way we're hiring someone to come and get this bat' look. "OK," I said. "How are we going to get it?"

"I'm going to make a net," Adam replied. And he did. He used one of our kayak gear bags, and a metal hanger. And then proceeded to get geared up. He wore a hooded sweatshirt, his motorcycle helmet, some huge boots and his work gloves. Then he went in. I heard some banging and a couple of choice words and then, "Amy, go grab the rake off the porch." I did, and threw it in the room, quickly shutting the door. I had no gear and was not going in there!

After what seemed like an hours long struggle, I heard the words I was waiting for..."OK, open the door - I got him." and then, "I think he's scared - he's actually kinda cute." Well, of course he's scared. He's got one big stormtrooper like creature chasing him with a net and a rake. And another one screaming.

Alls well that ends well, we released him outside. He's probably back in here somewhere, looking at me right now, planning round two. We have yet to figure out how exactly this little critter got in the house and until we do, there's no stopping him from coming back on in. Eek.