If she had the proper words to say,

OMG.

"Pear" is truly NOT a difficult word to commit to memory. Additionally, the same should be said of the word "pair." Most importantly, they do not mean the same thing.

YOU DO NOT SUBSTITUTE 'PAIRS' FOR APPLES WHEN MAKING A CRISP!

My retarded neighbors.

We've had so many glorious afternoons and evenings, but they never come outside. They're afraid to, I think, if we're already outside (and it seems like we always are). Even now, we just came inside about an hour ago, and by the time I showered and made dinner, they've finally decided to play - it's almost nighttime, for cryin' out loud! And then they only stay outside for ten minutes or so - ridiculous! I saw them when I was taking over Marissa's "anniversary" cookies.

Since my journal is almost entirely public and folks can always read our plans, I'll bet you anything that they actually play outside tomorrow - knowing that we won't be home and will be at the lake.

Lame-o.

Oh, and I've been wondering. One person has already followed suit and gotten a swingset after me this year. I wonder how long it will be until the next person does...

(Betcha most everyone else doesn't spend months researching or saving before buying theirs either...)

The neighbors' dog is loose again.

I was sitting here at my desk, and I heard barking. I looked out the window, and sure enough, there was the little dog. Loose. Again.

The first time he got away, he ran around the backyard for a bit before he settled in on trying to jump on the boys. I took him back after just a few minutes, and I was later rewarded with a nasty email from the owner for my efforts.

The second time he got away, Heather was here, and as I wasn't going to endure the spite of the neighbors again by returning their dog, we just let it run around. Finally, they noticed he was missing, and they then sent someone else to get him.

The third time he got loose was yesterday. Annie and I had been working in the garden all afternoon, and the dog appeared just as we were finishing up. We waited and waited. After over 10 minutes, Annie finally scooped him up and returned him to his home. She handed the dog over to the owner, told him he'd been barking out back for quite some time and left. She noticed the dog's apparent escape route - under the fence/gate.

And now he's out again. I wonder how long it will take them to notice *this* time.