i pause my idiotic tv show to grab my now-warm meal from the front seat. i’m getting so good at this. i charge all my stuff in my battery-operated car while my dinner cooks in an electric pot called “Little Dipper®️”. i am sure this is not the intended use of the little pot, but i like to think i saved it from an eternity on the thrift store shelf after a few nights of cheese and chocolate. Instead, stews and soups, often with fresh veggies. So i reach to grab my erstwhile fondue pot from the dashboard, then scoot myself til i can safely rest it on my table. The table and i are both on my bed. i’m getting so good at this.

Upon completing my adorable table setting, i notice the birds. Again with the chirping! The singing! i realize it’s dusk as i peer into the trees. The creek nearby seems louder and i remember the thunder earlier in the day. i prepared for it but stayed dry. The creek is telling me somebody got rain, for sure. i was watching TV while this news was being broadcast. Whoops. i consider admonishing myself, then realize i’ve spent the better part of the past twelve hours listening to and watching this landscape. i used to say i’d look forward to doing that kind of thing in retirement. Anymore though it’s most of my life.

Holy forking shirtballs we interrupt this blah blah for a real adventure, per the universe. i heard a little noise and paused my writing, alert for the next sound. Out of the corner of my eye though i saw movement. It was down on the ground near my doormat and soft boots. Then i realized it was actually my boot that was moving! It was toe-tapping on the mat as something very small tugged at the outer heel tag. i leaned over the rear bumper: “Hey! Who’s doin that?” It took me like two more minutes to finally reach for my boots, shining my headlamp under the car first. i then used the light to do a full check on them inside and out. They were altogether unharmed but for a frayed heel tag. In the one that had been under siege i found two perfectly oblong, minute turds.