Stranger in the Night

Yeah, I've totally gotten sidetracked again about blogging, but I DO plan to get back to it AND the list. Promise.

I just wanted to tell a little story before I forget the details, exaggerated it beyond all truth, or got hit by a bus.

Last Thursday night we were getting ready for bed. I was lying in bed, scoring major points on Words With Friends, while K finished up his nightly routine. Typical evening scene. Then 'Bow started growling. Low and guttural. The hairs on his shackles were up. And he was slowly walking towards the back door in our bedroom. More growling.

I'm a complete chicken $h!t. You should know this. Unless my child was in mortal danger or there was a gun pointed at my husband, I would make no heroic moves. I would totally scream like a girl in a slasher flick and run like FloJo seeking gold medals away from danger. You could almost hear Yoda say, "The flight response is strong in this one." So when the dog starts acting like he's auditioning for a part in Cujo, I do the most natural thing I know to do in this type of situation. I call for my husband.

And then I start turning on all the flood lights in the back yard.

I think K may have seen one too many zombie shows recently because HIS response was to stand at the back door and flick open the blinds, look over his shoulder and say, "There's no one on the back porch." Good to know. However, NOT the complete survey I was hoping for...

Cue more growling from the dog.

So, with apparent trepidation, K inches open the back door slowly. As soon as there is ample room, 'Bow bolts out onto the porch and down the steps with K following. Me? I'm not stupid, I'm waiting inside. Then... I hear... "It's okay 'Bow, it's ONLY an armadillo." Whew. Then, "...'Bow!!! NO!!" Then, "Honeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

Apparently, that's MY cue. Great.

I go out to see what all the noise is about and I see 'Bow at the edge of the pool, my husband yelling at him and a small wave slowly moving around the edge IN the pool. Said armadillo apparently had jumped in to save its long, scaly tail.

I drag 'Bow into the house, away from the scene and K is quickly running to grab the pool skimmer net. I'm standing there in shock and more than mild amusement, thinking to myself, " I had NO IDEA that armadillos could swim. Huh," as I'm watching this creature swim the lap around the pool until he gets to the corner by the hot tub. By this time, K has net in hand and is around the other side coaxing the armadillo who has now swum over to the steps, front claws on the pool ledge, eyes wide with fear, nose sniffing on hyper-drive trying to find any scent of his would-be attacker. K nudges its hind end up and over the edge.

I've never seen anything waddle away to safety so quickly! Hysterical!

Who knew armadillos could swim?