Oops #2

No dead cats this time.  This oops is about too many 'terps.

I'm a Sign Language interpreter (terp) as everyone here already knows.  Unless there are some new-comers.

I went on a job recently and to my surprise (it's happened before, more than once but not frequently) there was already another interpreter there.

Oops.  We made sure there wasn't another Deaf person at the site that was waiting for an interpreter and then did "rock, paper, scissors" to see who would stay.  

JK on the hand game.  We spoke like two professionals and then I hit the road.

Obviously there was a mix up by the customer when sending in the request to the agency I work for.  Even more interesting was the fact that the other person was there from a different agency. hmmm

Later that afternoon I got a text from the interpreter who stayed and she said that another terp showed up for the same client.  Now, that has never happened before. double hmmmm

I've also gone on a few jobs only to find out upon arrival that the client wasn't actually DEAF!  That one was a royal mix up.  Actually, now that I think about it, that happened a few times.  Once, the person had a hearing deficit but didn't know Sign Language. 

I believe technology is strongly behind the errors.  As much as I love the new stuff that's out there that makes our lives easier (most of the time), it also causes some big-time boo-boos.

I love freelance work.  

Oops!

This is the story of a dead cat.

Neighbor #1 lives across the street from us.  She went on a well deserved 4 day vacation.

She asked Neighbor #2 (who lives right behind her) to watch her cat while she was gone.  The cat goes out twice a day which has never been a problem

The day after #1 left #2 came to our door early that morning to ask for our help.  She couldn't find the cat and then discovered it had been hit and killed around the corner and was in the middle of a busy street.

I called the local police department and they said they'd send someone from public works to pick the cat up.  They asked that #2 go stand by the intersection.

Petey went with #2 for moral support.  Before the city guy could arrive a kindly pedestrian came along and picked up the cat and put it in the box that #2 brought along.

Now Petey and #2 went to #1's house to put the cat in the back porch until they could contact #1 to find out what she wanted done with the body.

As they rounded the house into the back yard - guess who was sitting at the door waiting to be let in?

So . . . . now what?  Who did the dead kitty belong to?

#2 decided to take the boxed cat back to her house and I'd redirect the city guy to pick it up there.  The body was destined for the city dumpster.

As #2 stood waiting for the pick up she began to wonder if the cat actually belonged to one of her neighbors who lived directly across the street from her.

Enter Neighbor #3.  #2 crossed over the street and knocked on #3's door and asked if her cat was there.  #3 immediately said "why, is he dead???"  She took a peak into the box across the street and started to cry.

Enter Neighbor #4 who lives right next door to #3.  She came out on her porch to see what was going on - alerted by #3's cries.

#3 said "my cat was hit by a car and is dead."  #4 pointed toward #3's house and shouted "isn't that your cat under the porch?"

Yup.  You guessed it.  #3's cat was safe and sound and probably wondering what all the crying and yelling was about.

So if you're missing a cat, you'd better hurry up to the city dumpster.  It's been a few days.

Florida, 2018

 In no particular order (well, maybe reversing the timeline).  This is Gulfport.  A small community very near our rental.  Such a fun place to hang and we did that a lot.

 Our last evening in Gulfport.  What a beautiful view.

Don't we look serene.  Florida will do that for ya.

 Not sure we would have ever found this place if a friend of a friend didn't recommend it.

 All the food, and I mean everything, is made from scratch.

 A park we hadn't been to in a few years.  Nice to touch base again.

My bestie, Kathi.  We've been buds since the early 70s.

 Fort DeSoto.  Hadn't been here for 8 years.  Outstanding.

 A park downtown St.Pete where we love to walk and watch.

 Loved this restaurant in Gulfport.  We sat on the porch pictured below.

 A new addition (the equipment, not Petey) to the downtown park.

 Augie chillin' at the park.  He likes to watch too.

 A favorite in St.Pete.  Home of the "hubcap" pancake.  Yes, I had one.

 Sunset at Madeira Beach.

 This store/restaurant is a favorite.  It's wild and wonderful.  Made the Sicilian I'm married to a happy man.  We visited several times.

 John's Pass out on the beach.  Stores, restaurants and people.

Petey bought a folding bicycle and spent a lot of time riding on the Pinellas Trail near our house.

 Kathi introduced us to luxury movie watching.  We loved it!

 Had to check it out . . . cuz, Dead Bob's.  Fun place, decent food.

 One of our favorite places in Gulfport.  It is always hoppin'.

I love palm trees.  I'm fondest of this particular kind.

All in all, Petey and I agree that this year was the best ever.
Counting the days until our return.