1…. I think I sprained my ankle today. It hurts when I walk on it or move it but it’s not swollen or bruised. Yet.

2…. I did it running after a RAT!
3…. Yep, it seems we have a few Rats in the neighborhood. Probably some human ones, but I’m talking about the cute brown ones.
4…. Yes I actually thought the rats were kind of cute compared to the pigeons that flock to our yard anyway, at least the rats are smart.
5…. I had thrown some left over French fries into the backyard for the birds or squirrels to eat. They like their junk food too. Apparently rats also love French fries.
6…. It was amusing to watch the rat in the middle of the yard, French fry in mouth, pat at one of the small birds (House Wren?) with it’s paws as if telling it to get away from it’s fries.
7…. When I’d had enough of seeing the rat sneaking back and forth from yard to hidey hole in the neighbors yard I ran at it to try to scare it and that’s when I twisted my ankle.
8…. Now, I suppose we’ll have to do something to get rid of the rats. One neighbor suggested rat traps, but my hubby and I are such animal lovers I can just see us looking at a dead animal in a trap and bursting out in tears at what we’d done. Any suggestions?
9…. Speaking of neighbors, my husband met one of ours on the street when she was bringing her child home from daycare and invited her into the backyard. I don’t know why but I dislike this woman. There are very few people in this world that I dislike, only three that I can think of at this moment, and for some unknown reason she’s one of them. The other two I have good reason to dislike.
10…. This neighbor brought her 20 month old daughter into the yard and let her loose. I was the one running after the kid, worrying that she’d fall on our landscaping stones and hurt her head. Mom was too busy rattling off why she’d been fired from her last job to care.
11…. Then the little girl started trying to pick the flowers. Fine I don’t mind a few damaged flowers or even some of my flowers being picked.
12…. But the little girl also started EATING the flowers! Luckily they were tulip petals, which I was pretty sure at the time were non-toxic, but did check on again on the computer when they finally left. It was kind of funny because the little girl was chewing on them like they were the greatest snack, however, I kept cautioning the mom to not let her eat the flowers as I wasn’t sure if they were safe or not.
13…. Now I’m hoping that I’m right and the tulip petals were fine and that the child is fine … otherwise I’m sure this woman wouldn’t hesitate to sue. Aarrrgh! Stupid people!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
Please only list your link if you have a current Thursday Thirteen Posting, Thanks.