Triple Blog Day

So I had to write this before I forgot. My sister, who lives about 3 1/2 hours away, recently called with excitement and urgency in her voice: "Hey! I am eating lunch in a parking lot across from an apartment complex and you will not believe what is parked there!" --- "What??" --- "A NEW van from the _____ Baptist Church down there!!" (meaning where I live). Then she begins her CSI - inspired speculations: "I mean, WHY would they have a church van up HERE?? You've got to call them tomorrow and find out if they've had a van stolen - doesn't your friend Ginger go to that church?" --- "Yeah - her whole family goes." --- "Well, then call her and see - she'll probably know." --- "I will. Wow! You might be a hero!"

Well, I forgot all about it until she called me later last week asking whatever became of the stolen van. So, I called the church right after we hung up. Here's how the conversation went:
"Hi - This may sound very weird, but my sister, who lives 3 1/2 hours away, called me and said that there was a new-looking church van of your church's up there in a parking lot. I talked to her again today and when she drove by, it's in the same spot. I guess I'm asking if you all have had a van stolen?"
"Ohhhhhhhh......that's my husband. Yeah, he's at a leadership conference he flew out of that city for and has a brother who lives there and said he could park there for free rather than the airport."
"Oh."
"Wow, your sister is very observant! Thank her for looking out for us."
"Oh, yeah - I will. Sorry."

So, tonight, I relayed the message to my sister, who has been waiting for the Fox News special report on how her expert detective work uncovered the stolen van operation. Through deep belly laughs and a little humble snorting on both of our parts, we kissed goodbye the appearances she had envisioned for her collecting her citizen of the year award. She now admits she might back off the late-night detective shows, but probably not.

One more, before I go to bed. This might gross you out, but when we first moved in to our glorious rental house, I hit up the local dollar store for a few items - which still seems weird, because it's not like I just got my own place or something, but it seemed I needed new rubbermaid items, etc. Anyway, I grabbed some very yummy-looking fig newton bars thinking, "Great breakfast on the go!" Congratulations to me. The appeal of those bars quickly dissipated when J pulled on of the cellophane wrapped snacks from the box - LOADED WITH WORMS, MOTHS, TOO MUCH TO GATHER IN THE SECOND I ALLOWED MY EYES TO SEE IT.

I've thankfully never had my own experience of getting rid of moths, or worms, to my knowledge in 13 years of living on my own. I think it's punishment for the disgust I showed to my parents' pantry when they had their run with them a few years ago. One of those attitudes like, "DO SOMETHING!! It's repulsive!!" As if they are an easy little varmint to get rid of. Not at all the case. We have now thrown out ALL of our pantry goods that were not canned - which were bleached and then replaced with multiple moth bars, bleach-cleaned shelves, anything I could spray in there and left alone for days before replaced. (You'd be amazed what they laid their little maggot eggs in - even COFFEE filters. YUCKYUCKYUCKYUCKYUCKYUCKYUCK!!!!!) Every replacement food we've bought resides in the deep freeze, now.

Well, I didn't know how this had affected my daughter until tonight. As I sat here on the phone with my sister, breaking the news, I noticed that she had been doing some writing. I'm always interested to see what she has written and read:

The food we bot at "Dollar" "Tree"

and then nothing more. It's funny how she put Dollar Tree in quotes, and even individually. Must be the grammatical feature last week at school. She might have gotten distracted - or run out of room. I've noticed sometimes she just stops writing if she runs out of room. More fun to go start something else than get another paper to finish the thought. I wonder where she gets that...

Anyway, I'll let you know later how her story ends.

p.s. my hair appointment got postponed. I get to drag out the suspense of whether or not I will end up looking like Ms. Hollywood below.