Full Moon Friday!

So, I realize that I'm writing this on Saturday evening, but I needed a bit of time to collect my thoughts!


For anyone who cares to listen, this post is not going to contain any pictures, but rather update you on my past week. Its been rather ... challenging to say the least.

Fri the 5th -- went to the post office to pick up my AZ state license and to pick up a Passport application ... and I successfully locked my keys in my jeep. So, I called AAA (good thing my phone was in my pocket and my wallet was in my hand). My windows were all cracked about 1/2 an inch or so. While waiting for the guy, I call the post office (that I'm sitting outside of) to make an appointment on Wednesday for my passport at 2:00. The guy shows up in a timely manner and brings out this 1/4 in thick wire stick with a little hook on the end. He tries several times, unsuccessfully to either push the manual lock, or to hit the automatic lock, by going through the slightly cracked open window. Finally, I suggest trying to get my key out of the ignition - which worked! He was able to bring my key up through the opening in the window, and then we could unlock my jeep! And I was on my way!

Tues the 9th -- Its evening time, and I'm cleaning up from dinner, and it occurs to me that I have my passport appointment tomorrow. So I attempt to gather the following 3 documents: drivers license, filled out passport application, and original birth certificate. Drivers license is right where it belongs in my wallet - check. My passport application is sitting on the kitchen counter where it belonged - check. My birth certificate ... I can't find ANYWHERE! It was in my car Saturday, and now its NOWHERE! I tore my car and house apart 2 times each and each time with no success. So I went to bed ... confused, irritated, and upset.

Wed the 10th -- I woke up immediately thinking about my missing birth certificate, searched the house and my car again ...with no success. I went to work, and realized I couldn't keep my appointment at the post office for 2:00. I tried calling several times, but it was busy or just kept ringing. I left at 2:00 and stopped by the court house. The woman there gave me a phone number, a mailing address, a website, and a paper form - all of which I could choose from to obtain a duplicate original birth certificate from vital records. Of course, by now it's after 4:30 EST (since I'm in AZ) ... so I took myself home first. Once home, I told myself: Julie, you had your birth certificate Saturday. FIND IT! So, I started praying. And low and behold, wasn't it in an envelope that I had checked THREE TIMES!!! I immediately changed my clothes and ran back to the court house. She processed my passport and sent me to the post office to overnight it. I was feeling fabulous at this point. I had found my birth certificate. I had processed my passport. I stopped at the bank en-route to the post office and paid my car bill. Once at the post office, I was able to mail it over night. Life was back to being good. It was 75 degrees outside and sunny, which made it even better. And it was about 3:45. Perfect - I had just under 2 hours before sunset which gave me more than enough time to get myself to the local state park, go for a run, and explore the water front a bit. I started running at the trail head, and wasn't even a quarter of a mile in when there was a man walking a golden lab on a leash heading towards me. I slowed down like I normally do, reached out to pet the dog, like I normally do, and GOT BIT! The dog bit my arm! I wasn't badly hurt, but my skin was broken. Conversing back and forth with the man, he tells me his dog is caught up on all shots, and tells me he is going to leave his name/address/phone number on my windshield. We part ways, and I try to finish my run. That lasted for all of about 3 more minutes until I turned around and headed back. True to his word, his contact info was on my windshield. I called Jen to figure out what to do. Long story short (well, Julie short) ... I took myself to an urgent care. While there, I got a tetnis shot (OUCH), animal control came to talk to me, they cleaned and bandaged my arm, and I got a rx for an antibiotic and a pain killer. I got the prescription filled, headed home, took some meds and went to bed.

Thurs the 11th -- short story: the combo of meds and shots didn't sit well with me. I didn't get myself to work until 9:00 (I'm usually there between -7:30) and I left by 12:15 (usually not before 2:30 - except see Tuesday). I went to bed and didn't do much else.

Fri the 12th -- FULL MOON ... the guy who owns the dog got me proof of his up to date vaccines and I went to his house to pick them up. Before leaving, I put dinner (baked chicken and biscuits) in the oven. He only lives about 1.5 miles from me. I picked up the copy of his vaccines and then stopped at the gas station (light was on) ... and came home. At this point I realized that I had locked the man door from the garage into the house, and the front door, and both back doors ... and I didn't have the keys. So I was locked out of this house that I was living in, but was able to be in the garage (sun had just set) ... and my phone battery just dropped to only one bar left. .... And, my oven is on and dinner is ready at this point. Calls to Jen and Dad left me with suggestions but nothing that was working. I left a message on the "emergency line" at the real estate office that I'm renting from. I tried getting the door handles off with my tool kit - but the door handle screws were all on the inside, as were all door hinges. Every window was locked ... and I couldn't find the breaker box. I took myself next door in the hopes that maybe they had a spare key. Nice family ... but no keys. But, the wife was willing to help me try and break in and/or give me her couch until the real estate office opened in the morning. Luckily, she knew where the breaker box was (outside) and it was labeled, so she shut the range off - no burning down the house! We were able to pick the lock on the back sliding door, but there was a wooden block preventing the door from sliding that needed to be removed from the inside. Then ... she noticed that one of my spare bedroom windows was unlocked!!!! We were able to pop the screen out ... put one of her children (10 year old girl) through the window, and I was able to get into my house!

What a week!

Let's just hope this next week goes better - since I'm flying home on SATURDAY!!!