Oh my goodness. I have to tell you this story before anything else because it is SO disturbing and gross.

I have been walking to work to get a little extra exercise in, and today I was walking back and I notice something in this little grassy area I walk by. I notice a rat. Since I have been living in downtown St. Louis, I have seen 1 rat in 3 years about a year ago. So, I see the rat and go, hmm, a rat. Then I see it. In this grassy area there is a hobo shanty that is a tarp wrapped around a pine tree base. It has been there for 3 years, I’ve only seen the person who supposedly lives in it once. Today there were about 50-60 rats all around it, piling on top of each other to get in and out of it. It was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. There were these women who were directing traffic for the Color Run close by, so I ask, Hey, do you think I should call someone? They were like, Yeah, the police. So I call the police. I tell them what I found, leave a contact number, but decide not to stick around to see what is in the tarp…I don’t want to see that… What else could it be? I mean, I guess he could have left food out and they were climbing in to get that, but I have never ever seen that tarp with rats around it like that. Ack, now every sound I hear I think, “Is that a rat?”

Anyway….

My night at work was positive. I made 34 dollars in tips which is HIGHLY unusual. Front desk staff usually makes zero dollars in tips. I think the universe was thinking, here’s 34 dollars to prepare you for what is to come with the rats. I got 10 dollars for ordering a pizza for some drunks, 10 dollars for calling a cab, and 19 just for checking someone in. The 19 dollar one confused me the most.

I also met a new Cardinal’s player, Jermaine Curtis, for about 3 minutes. Looking back on it I should have gotten his autograph for my grandma in case he turns into a big shot. In 6th grade I got a 3rd string catcher’s autograph, who was that catcher? None other than Mike Matheny who went on to have an amazing career and has now taken Tony Larussa’s spot as manager on the St. Louis Cardinals!  

The night went smoothly though. Nutrition has been bad, bad, bad at my parents. Last night I ate an orange and a slice of pizza. Not terrible but not good. I am planning a 7 mile hike for Friday though. I will be juicing until Friday now. I don’t like to do these long hikes on just juice.

My 10 mile hike went well and now I own a bike! When the weather isn’t as rainy I will try and ride that quite a bit. I want to attempt a 60 mile bike ride in June one way, then 60 miles back. I am going to be training up to that. 🙂