Current mood: Absolutely livid

It's been darn hot in Florida this week, folks -- I'm not going to lie. Successive days of mid to highs 90s (mind you, those temps become three digits once the heat index is factored in) when your car air-conditioner is hopelessly broken and in need of a $1,000 repair job can cause some discomfort and irritability. Such was my state when I trucked home tonight late from work and from picking Libby up at the groomer where, surprise, surprise it was also time for lots of expensive annual shots and exams!

So I dodged the beams and barricades roping off the recent re-pave job in the parking lot and ascended the breezeway stairs with nothing on my mind but getting into the cool reprieve of my apartment. But as I approached the door I immediately noticed something was awry... my plant was missing! When I moved here last year and was sprucing up my digs, I bought a pot with large, palmy foliage to green things up a bit. It's been with me for almost a year, and when I moved over to the new unit I thought it might look nice sitting just outside my door. And it did... until it was STOLEN.

Honestly, who steals a plant?! And more importantly, who is inane enough to steal a plant and then display it on their deck for your plain view as you walk your dog around the path of the complex where you both live? My neighbor, that is who. Un-freakin-believable. I don't know who lives in the unit directly across the hall from me, but I am 100 percent positive that the individual or individuals took my plant today. I seethed all through my walk and ultimately decided to attempt an even-tempered, proactive reaction. I steeled my courage, positioned myself in front of the perp's door, plastered a smile on my face and delivered two sharp knocks. Light was shining from behind the window blinds and noise could be heard within, but no one came to the door. I knocked again. And again. Whoever was in there had enough time to peek through the peep hole, see my falsely assertive smile and decide it was better not to answer the door.

But I will not be deterred. I personally wouldn't think of walking off with someone else's pen, so the idea of stealing another's belongings absolutely abhors me. Could I skip up the road to Wal-Mart and plunk down another $15 for a new plant? Yep, I definitely could. But I'm going to try really hard to get this one back!!! Even if it brands me "weird, obsessive girl in #308." ;-)