I'm Finally Moved In! What's That On the Lawn?

The hard part is over... I am now a homeowner and a resident of that home!

Sure, 85% of my possessions are boxed up in the basement. But that basement is about the same size as my former apartment, so I can't really complain about that. Plus, since my sister did most of my packing, unpacking is like Christmas morning. Actually, it's more like what I'd imagine Channukah morning is like -- unwrapping presents with the knowledge that there are more days of unwrapping coming up.

Oh, wow, a sauce-stained microwave and a half-full box of laundry detergent. You shouldn't have. Tomorrow: cat toys and bath towels. I can't wait for the box of canned asparagus and baked beans!

It's only been a few days, but at least things are really starting to come together. I've already put together my work desk, an effort I thought would take a whole weekend but actually took a couple of hours. And the fishtank has been set up on a sleek new stand (and only one casualty in transport -- The Neon Tetra Mafia is now The Neon Tetra One Man Show). Yup, these first few days have been interesting.

I saw a deer on my front lawn.

My apologies for the abrupt transition, but I had to report that. On move-in day, my brother-in-law and I are slaving away like mules with a life sentence in a maximum security prison when someone calls us into the living room. There, calm-as-you-please, is a deer on my front lawn scoping out the new neighbors (us). And his friend is across the street doing the same. Maybe they were contemplating buying this house and we got to it first. Just as well, the mortgage company doesn't take pinecones and deer droppings as payment. I checked.

What's interesting is that I became a "deer in the headlights" to these deer on my lawn. I'm from a city where the largest stray animal is a golden retriever / chow chow / salchicha mutt. Sure, there are tales of stray gators walking around, but I never saw one. Besides, a gator is what, a foot and a half tall? A deer is easily four feet tall and weighs a few hundred pounds. I'm not used to strays of those dimensions.

So what could I do but say, "Hey, deer! Get off my lawn! Uh... please." It did, about a minute later, just long enough to be defiant. I'm not 100% sure what a deer's smirk looks like, but I know it smirked as it left. That's fine, I'm just happy that it didn't attack me.

No, I don't believe deer are passive and gentle as everyone makes them out to be. These creatures have some serious power in those hoofed legs. Horses can go crazy and kick people. I bet deer can, too. Plus, deer have the element of surprise because no one expects them to go crazy and kick people. Well, I won't be caught unaware. I know the truth: Deer are dangerous. See that? Deer and danger start with the same letter. Coincidence? Don't-be-ridicooluss.

I'm going to a hockey game tonight!
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils
You're a face-painter?

Today is "Work At Home" Day, as is most every weekday in the near future. Awesome!