A Return to Life as We Once Knew It.....

Well it's been a while (again...) since I've written- I've been wanting to, it's just a matter of making the time to do so. Alot has been happening. I've had some drama with my hillbilly neighbors- there were possom hunters in the woods behind my house (who hunts possums???) and they were shooting way too close to our houses. Not to get into all of the details (it's a long story) my neighbor began shooting at the hunters. To me- not a good idea! To him- it's self defense. So he shoots at the hunters and I think his shot is the hunters again. I was so fed up with it (it had been going on for hours now...) that I screamed to the hunters (knowing they could hear me as the shot was so close) "that's too close!!!". Now, first of all, I know that screaming that is a silly thing to do. But it's just what came out of my mouth in my frustration. But.... it was the neighbor's shot and he thought I was yelling at him. So then he proceeds to yell at me from his porch for about 5 minutes threatening to shoot me, my dog and my truck! My truck? Yes. Then my other neighbor Leo heard the yelling and came down (God bless him) and then the crazy neighbor came out ready to fight. I was actually pretty nervous, I thought he might have a gun. We ended up working it out- I explained the miscommunication and he then went on to tell me about the pride and joy in hunting and torturing animals, and it was really enlightening- I got to see how these people think, how their culture is, what they believe in. He told me they trap possums, feed them buttermilk and cornbread for a few months until they get "all fat and white and good and shiny", then they kill them and eat them and it's better than chicken. We talked about the mountain lion that lives in the area, and he told me of a mountain lion that tried to kill his grandmother's baby back in the day and she shot it. Anyways.... it was interesting to say the least.

I've been having a kind of rough time lately, just not feeling too well. Partly getting over being sick and fighting other colds and such off. Partly feeling stuck in a situation I don't want to be in. Job that is ok, I am grateful for, but would rather be doing something else. House I love but costs me everything I make, and I don't feel comfortable with because of crazy neighbors, bears and prowling mountain lions. The cold weather has really affected me alot more than I thought it would, and I think that was adding to alot of it. Yesterday it finally got warmer, in the 50's maybe, and I was done with work before dark and went running, then took the dogs for a walk, then made a fire and roasted marshmellows! It was so great. It made all the difference in the world. I didn't know how much not being able to be outside affected me. I need it. I need it often. So I'm glad spring is on it's way soon, but it's shown me how much I need warmer weather.

Blah blah blah blah. Enough about me!! But that's just a quick catch up. I'll share some more later...... I hope everyone is doing well.