Isn't it so funny the things our brain clings to from our formative years? The landline numbers and addresses, the full names, and the birthdays of friends from yesteryear. Joanne's birthday has always been one I don't have to look up on Facebook because it's forever seared into my memory. I remember my planner in middle school always had Joanne, Zack (my 6th grade crush/friend), and Condor (my dog) written down for October 10th. Now all these lifetimes later I still remember them every single time that date rolls around; and the same goes for a bunch of my other childhood friends.
When Joanne texted me the invite to her 40th, I immediately added it to all my calendars because it was important I be there. It's pretty special to still be friends with someone you've known since kindergarten, for THIRTY FIVE YEARS.
She had a pool/water slide party at her parent's house which was the cutest damn thing ever. She told me that she wanted a "kid party without kids" - even her own, which was not excited to be missing out on the festivities. Her parents and brother all looked exactly the same as I remember them. Her mom even remembered my name! She guessed we had been friends since middle school but I told her we go all the way back to Mrs. Schwaner's class. She had an impressive food spread and custom plastic color-changing cups which I most definitely took home and have used several times since.
I had such a great time talking to those I knew and others I had just met. Of course her current circle of support is top tier. Duh. I was very unsure about going down the water slide, coined "violent" by her girlfriend, Diana. I decided I'd climb up to the top and if anything I could always climb back down. Joanne went up with me and just as she's always been, fearlessly slid right down without a second thought. She and her friends cheered for me from the bottom. It took me a minute to get the nerve. I laid flat scooting forward inch by inch before finally plummeting to the bottom. It was over in seconds and when I realized I was still alive, I decided ok that wasn't terrible. When someone asked if I was going to go again I replied "one and done". HA! I told her friends that I was the kid that hung out with her mom when we all went to Busch Gardens while she and our other friends happily rode coaster after coaster. I've always been a scaredy cat. I'm not a thrill seeker AT ALL. I don't need or want to go high or fast or any of that. But hey, now I can say I've experienced the big inflatable slide.
I'm so grateful I got to celebrate with her in person and even more grateful to still call her a friend after all this time.
Wedding Crasher
Katie and I have been to our share of weddings together. I'm always down to "crash" aka be her date or vice versa. So when she asked about joining her for her friend Renee's wedding I was all for it. Just give me the dress code and vibes and I'll be there ready to cheer on the lovebirds. Renee was even more beautiful than she normally is any other time I've seen her. The road may have been hard and winding but I'm so excited she and Michael finally got their happy ending.
Katie and I took a stroll around the cemetery behind the church before heading out to dinner. She gave me a few options in downtown Deland and as we passed by one options we saw someone familiar so kept walking to option number two, Santorini Greek Cuisine. There was a small wait but since the weather was nice we didn't mind. Also DJ Deland was jamming across the street. He had a full on set up while he sang classic after classic. Of course we had to sing along to my darling, I, can't get enough of your love babe and you bet your ass we did the full on YMCA dance when he sang it mid-dinner from our outside table as people eyed us on the street.
Hurricane Milton
What a monster of a hurricane this guy was. The anxiety I had leading up to, during, and after this asshole was out of this world. Dustin and I had stocked up on supplies the weekend prior. But then the news announced it was a Cat 4 and then within the same day it became a Cat 5. Any hurricane that's a Category 3+ is fucking serious and even more so when a direct hit. Floridians that don't take these storms serious are idiots. I could hear them in Publix during checkout just brushing it off. Can I be that peacefully delulu please?
Tampa and surrounding areas were told to evacuate and the footage of the highways were straight out of a movie. Dustin and I were staying put and would ride it out at home since we weren't part of the mandatory evacuation. Well, until I got the alert Wednesday morning on my phone from Seminole County and my stomach dropped. I immediately turned on the news and the anchors mentioned some of them also received the alert and were waiting confirmation. It turns out it was only for those in flood zones or mobile homes. But there wasn't gas to even go anywhere at that point so we were stuck regardless.
We didn't start getting severe effects of Milton until Wednesday afternoon. It started to pour and didn't stop for hours and hours - the heaviest and constant rain I can ever remember. The power flickered quite a bit and went out completely around 3:30 am. It was still windy and rainy when I woke up the following morning but thankfully the house stayed fairly cool, so I just laid on the couch in the dark and read. Once it was safe to do so we went outside to check for damage. The fence came down and some tree branches in our driveway but otherwise we were good! Also we rent so...😉
We were without power for two full days. I'm grateful as hell in comparison to what others have lost and endured. No power is no fun but it's totally fine. We were safe and still had a place to live. We made the best of it and watched the first Pens game of the season in Dustin's truck in the AC. My Kindle was charged all the way up so I got lots of reading in. I also was very productive in cleaning things I forget to clean sometimes like our fans. We NEVER turn our fans off - summer or winter, doesn't matter. The only time they are off is when we don't have power, so I made the best of it. I also organized our pantry. Might as well, right?
I was supposed to go hang with the Hyde fam that weekend but my flight was canceled before Milton even came through Orlando. I was so looking forward to seeing them and taking in that beautiful New England fall. Womp womp.
Churro aka "Hank"
The week before Hurricane Milton, Dustin mentioned seeing a kitten at his work. He and his co-workers have had cats hang around their office before and always kept them well fed. However, this bud was alone. Last Monday as everyone was getting ready for the day the kitten was jumping in front of machines and trucks so Dustin scooped him up and held him for a while so he wouldn't get hurt.
The following day he brought one of our cat carriers with him to work and called me to let me know he captured the little guy. I used my cat contacts as best I could. Unfortunately, many were full, replied days later, or weren't specifically a "no-kill" shelter. In the meantime, it was suggested to get him scanned for a chip just to rule it out. Dustin took him to our vet and of course no chip was found. They estimated he was about 3-4 months old and definitely a boy. Dustin then took him to Spay-n-Save where he scheduled him to be neutered and get all of his shots that Thursday. We were more than happy to pay for that as part of our contribution to his new life. We were also more than happy to house the little guy, albeit in our bathroom, until we found him a good home. As I was walking through the door Dustin was finishing up a call with the Cats Can Rescue who said they would be happy to pick him up on Thursday from Spay-n-Save and then foster him during his recovery. He would then be adoptable! They made it very clear they vet people beforehand - inside cat only, no declawing, etc. Purrrfect!
But for 48 hours he stayed in our house. The first night he was friendly but subdued. He hid between the carrier and cabinet in a small little space where he fell safe but would come right out and lay next to me when I sat down. He had been living in an industrial site so although he looked and smelled fine, we figured he needed a bath. He was a bit squirmy but overall the bath was fairly easy and he was so damn cute all curled up in the towel afterwards.
Dustin bought him his own blanket, food & bowl, treats, and a toy banana. We of course have a bunch of toys that Cheeto and Olive never use so he got even more to play with. He really loved the little felt balls and a "mouse" on a stick. He was just sweet and curious that first night. But he was a little wild man come morning. The minute I opened the door to the bathroom he flew out like he owned the place. I'm like ok someone got brave fast! He scarfed down all food even though the vet told Dustin he looked very well fed. I put our pet camera in the bathroom so I could keep an eye on him throughout the day. There was a period where he wasn't in the frame at all and I worriedly texted Dustin "Run by the house and check on him when you can." It turned out he was asleep in the carrier. Phew! Look, I take my cat mom responsibilities seriously and also I have anxiety so cut me some slack.
He was such a ball of energy the second night. His feisty kitten personality was on full display. We played and he played, all while I sat on the floor and watched Love is Blind on my Kindle. He started to climb the carrier and eventually ended up on the counter where he wasn't sure what to make of his reflection. Cheeto and Olive hissed outside the door. They were like this when we saved Peach. They are very judgey, very exclusive, little shits and also the loves of my life.
With each passing hour Dustin and I were getting attached which is why it was so bittersweet when Thursday rolled around. We hadn't even given him a name to further distance ourselves, even though I had been secretly calling him Churro in my head. Dustin told Cats Cat we didn't have a name for him so they referred to him as "Hank". Hilarious! Of course Dustin and I would have loved to keep him but we also know it was not the right decision - and in the lyrics of The Fray sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.
It was hard to say goodbye Thursday morning. I felt great knowing we found him a good foster but terrible because we couldn't keep him. Adulting is all about making tough decisions and I guess I'll add this one to the long list. Dustin dropped him off later that morning and I went by later to pick up our cat carrier. I handed over a box of all of his things to the lady that would be taking him. She's like "You sure you don't want him?" OF COURSE WE DO. But we can't. She was understanding.
I'm so proud of Dustin for saving him and giving him a chance at a long life as a domestic house cat. We miss the little guy but the rescue will give us updates on him and let us know once he's up for adoption and once he's been adopted.
I'm going to get all Bob Barker now and say SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS.
Also when you can, please donate to animal rescues, especially Cats Can. Here's their Amazon wishlist.
Halloween Happenings
We still miss the Deland Indie Market something terrible but also grateful that there are so many other little pop-up markets all over Orlando to explore. I love Collective Corner and this time around scored the cutest little Halloween McDonald's chicken nugget earrings.
We swung by Honey House Vintage where I found a small black purse - something I had been looking for forever.
We came back to my house to kill time and eat a little snack before our tattoo appointment that we had made just the day prior. We tried doing a Halloween flash event before but it didn't work out so this was a nice re-do. Since Spooky Con was canceled due to Hurricane Milton, Ash Butters was offering her flash at a discount to try to recoup her losses. So had Hurricane Milton not barreled through we never would have all been together getting matching heart shaped spider webs tattoos. Lemonade out of lemons kind of shit.
