Sleepless night, check.

I really screwed up. You would be so pissed at me if you were here. Well, if you were here this wouldn't have happened.

I kind of had a little breakdown a few weeks ago and went out and bought a new washing machine. I went back to the old style with an arm in the middle. Anyway, I listed our other new washer on Craigslist, just like you would have. My dad moved it out to the garage. And then I kind of forgot about it, because nobody ever called.

Until last night, when a guy called at 7:00 and said he was a farmer and rarely got into town, but he was here with his truck now and could he come buy the washer? I said no, it was not going to work Sunday night that late.

He called again tonight, this time at 6:30. He said he'd just finished up (in the field, I guess) and if he left right then could he come get it? I had a moment of weakness, Neil. I said yes, as long as he was here by 8:00.  Then I went next door and asked Sarah if she could bring the dogs over at 8:00 and the teenagers, and just kind of hang out.  I told the boys they had to stay inside.

Well, the guy showed up and he just seemed strange. Sarah thought maybe he was just young and clueless, socially inept. His cell phone was from Texas, he was working on a farm in Illinois?

He didn't seem prepared at all for hauling a washer. No tie straps, no blanket. He did look like he'd been  working in the fields all day, mud everywhere. When he walked down the driveway and saw the dogs, I heard him say "chocolate lab."

What the hell? Was he taking an inventory of the dogs? I pointed to Wesley, who weighs 220 pounds now, and I said "and there's that one, too."  Fucker.

My mom asked me if I wanted her to come stay the night. I told her no. What's she going to be able to do that I can't? If the dogs hear anything in the night they'll bark. 

So I won't be taking my sleeping pill tonight. Or the next one. Or the next.

I hate this new life, Neil. For a while I thought my tragedy meter was all filled up, there was no way anything bad would ever happen to us now. But I know that's not the way it works.

You should be the one doing this. You loved Craigslist. I hate it.

I hate all of it, Neil.