The plan today was to get up early and get a mountain of work done on the book, but the best laid plans do definitely follow Murphy’s Law.

It is once again those pesky raccoons. Daddy Raccoon is the latest captive, but he didn’t go down without a fight. In the trap he managed to tear up all the grass under and around the cage. He hissed at me on his way to the truck as to let me know he had the last word. Kind of hurt my feelings. After all I never meant this to get personal.

But first, the funny part.  When the animal control guy came he said, “Ma’am, I am going to need to call for back-up.  BACKUP! For a RACCOON! I wondered if he planned to arrest him or just read him his rights. I knew he wasn’t going to shoot him because he had already said earlier that they take them to the end of Beach Rd., about two and a half miles from here and let them loose. I sort of wish they would tag them. That way when they return in a few days I’ll know MY raccoons.  It’s a bonding thing. Maybe I could put up a sign that says,” Welcome Back To The Yard.” That might encourage them to take a little more pride in the place.

Now, the guys have left me two traps. Actually, I had to sign for them because the city will charge me $150.00 each if the raccoon decides he likes them and takes them home or something. I’m surprised the city doesn’t require a license to trap raccoons. Obviously, they haven’t thought of that. I am a little concerned though.  What if I trap two at once?  This could call for “real back-up”—like the Texas National Guard.  This is much bigger than I first imagined and at $150.00 a trap has the potential to get expensive. Furthermore, I hope PETA doesn’t hear about any of this. I promise I am treating them well—the best cat food money can buy to draw them into the trap which is strategically placed in the shade so they are less stressed as they wait for animal control. But I must remember to have some water near.  How could I have forgotten that? I can’t afford to take any chances of animal cruelty now that I can be easily found on Google.

So now, I must go work on my yard to try to salvage some grass.  I have a million other things to do today.  Within the next two days I have to decide on the fonts and back cover, plus finish negotiations of the final cover design. But right now I must stop and put on my work clothes!!!

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