Life Or Something Like It

I'm back, again, and my village is finally up and running. The Christmas countdown is on!

This is Peterson's Park. See all of the kids skating and building snowmen? It looks like fun, doesn't it? I can almost smell the hotdogs that the little vendor is selling....

Here we are at the post office. This is a small town, and there aren't any mailer carriers. You have to go to the post office andpick the mail up. That's life in a small town.

Now we're at the flower shop. It looks so warm and inviting, doesn't it?

The barber shop. All of the oldtimers hang out there.

The pet shop. Of COURSE my village would have a pet shop. TMOC and my sil bought me this for Christmas a couple of years ago. I think that every town needs a petshop. When I was growing up in Smallburg, the closest thing that we had was BW Feed and Seed. It's just not the same.

Ah....my very favourite piece. The theatre. I think that Hairspray the musical is playing there now. I LOVE the way that the marquee lights change colour.

The grocery store. This is a little mom and pop operation, not a big box store. None of those in my town.

Now we're in the residential area. This little house reminds me of our house in Smallburg. Dunno why, really. Must be the small town feel.

This is the mayors house. It's so bright that it almost looks like it's on fire. I hope not. I haven't gotten around to putting up a firehall. Oops.

Now we're on the outskirts of town. This is Heidi's place. I'm not sure who the guy is doing the chores. He looks nothing like Jethro, and not much like The Boy, either. Maybe he's a hired hand?

I know that I have been gone for a week, and I know that I haven't even really been visiting any blogs, either. I have been sooo depressed. I am just going through a bad spell, I guess.

I did have a good time with my long lost friend last week, even though she was about three hours early. Yup, you heard me. Three hours. She got here about 2 minutes after my last post. The house was trashed. No, really, I know that you all think that I am exaggerating, but this place looked like Fred Sanford's living room. Seriously. I would not have been surprised to see Lamont coming strolling out of my kitchen. At least the place didn't stink. I mopped the floors before she got here, thank goodness. I am not sure if that covered up MY smell, however. I was all sweaty, and still in my jammies when she got here.

That's a real nice how-do-you-do after thirteen years.

Anyway, I don't think that she was TOO offended. She stayed for about three hours.

Shawn lost his job last week. I am not too worried, because he has a lot of working coming up in the next while. Paying our back rent every week is killing us, though. This past week, we had NO money for groceries. Shawn asked his mom if she would ask around and see if any of his (5) sisters could help us out. No money, just some food. Well, to my surprise, his dad comes by two days later, with a bag of food from his sister, A. She gave us some meat, and some bread, and coffee....I was shocked, but also very touched. I thought that it was very sweet thing to do.

So, last night, Shawn phoned A and thanked her for the food. He said something like ...I don't have any money, but if you need help moving, or with anything, give me a call. I would be happy to help.

Her response?

I want you to retile my bathroom.

WHAT!?%#@

She donates a bag of food and wants her freaking bathroom retiled? That is a HUGE job, and she would pay someone about $2000 to do it. I KNEW that it was too good to be true. Shawn has fixed her cars (s), drywalled her house, and done landscaping for her - for free - soo many times that I have lost count. I thought that maybe, just maybe, she was thinking of all of those times.

I guess not.

Anyway, another sister sent over a bag of dog food, and a couple of other things, and has asked for nothing in return.

I am feeling a little better. I have some good friends out there, and I know that they are pulling for me. That more than makes up for everything else.