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Monday, August 18, 2014

Mensa Moment

A couple of my goodest friends Matt & Laurissa happen to live across the street from me. I've watched their cats (Salvadore and Gala) when they go out of town for a few years now, and I think it was about two years ago that they installed a coded back door lock. So instead of giving me a key these days, they just have me use the code, which is 9976. Just kidding. 

Anyway, ever since this code thing started, I've had just a slight sense of inconvenience because it's really hard to get in their backyard. (...And I mean really the sense of inconvenience is only VERY slight because I totally watch their TV and do all my laundry and basically just clean out the litter, freshen water and food once a day and let the cats sleep in their bed with me and cuddle them and take pictures and put them on Instagram so Laurissa won't miss them so much when she's gone. Also, I should probably clarify that I only slept there when I was homeless.) 

Anyway, it's so hard to get in their backyard!

Allow me to demonstrate, and thank you to L for taking video. This is the first option: 


Re-enactment.


I have yet to get in that way. I'm too short and the latch is too nice and new and even if I could reach it, it doesn't come open for me. Fortunately there's another option nearer to their garage which has a much more broken-in latch. It's pretty rusted out and comes undone easily:


Re-enactment.



My problem is getting it locked again. It's very difficult to get the doors to marry up properly, and once I finally do, the latch is so broken and rusty that it doesn't always stay locked. Also it hurts my back and also I'm putting 150 pounds of pressure on it several times a year and I feel terrified that I'm breaking their fence!


Re-enactment.



Well. Last month, M & L went to Chicago for the weekend and asked me to check in on the cats. I almost asked them to leave me a key because I wasn't looking forward to the whole cat burglar (pun intended) fence operation at all. But I forgot. So, I popped the latch, used the code (8460. Just Kidding), made sure the cats were happy and paid attention to, and also I did my laundry. Then I once again almost broke the poor fence, but I got it locked again.

In between loads, on one particular trip up the basement stairs it dawned on me. There was a third option!


Re-enactment.


What makes the fact that there was a third option at all so upsetting and hilarious at the same time is that I totally knew about it! I have used it ONE MILLION TIMES over the years.


WHAT THE HECK?

I don't know. It was never in the context of watching the cats. It was only if I was walking over to a fire in their backyard and wanted to skip the walking-through-the-house part. Or if I was going between their house and the neighbors on the other side and didn't want to jump that chain-link fence in the meantime.

But for watching the cats? I just always went to the back. For TWO. YEARS.






"I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member."



9 comments:

  1. It has LITERALLY never occurred to me to use the chain-link fence! Though who knows how many times I've EXITED the fence in pursuit of Edie.

    I have been getting splinters for YEARS.

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  2. Roxie said...

    Are you sure there was not a mix up and you're actually a member of Densa and not Mensa?..hmm..just wondering. On another note..your butt looks good in those jeans! ☺

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  3. So very glad to hear I'm not the only Stupe out there.

    Laura told me she did the same thing too.

    HILARIOUS

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  4. Roxie! You are hilarious! (You are too, Kady) Can't wait till we meet!!

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  5. Well Mom always said "if you can't charm 'em with your smarts, make sure you have a cute butt."



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  6. Yep! I went to drop off CSA veggies last summer and texted Laurissa that I couldn't get into her yard because I couldn't reach the latch to open the gate. I felt pretty stupid when she texted back... Maybe they need some smarter neighbors to look after their cats and drop things off??

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  7. Roxie said....

    Mensa has three stated purposes: to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, to encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence, and to promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its members.
    Kady, do you realize how really busy you are going to be now that you own that Mensa card?

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  8. Well for starters I'll be working the Mensa booth at the State Fair on Monday.

    NERD!!!!!

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  9. Roxie said..

    Seriously, I'm really impressed about this Mensa thing. However, you know I'm going to totally use it to my benefit. I will throw it into conversations like this.."Well, you know I have a good friend that is in Mensa, so I think I'll ask her opinion on this subject to make sure we have the true meaning of it."
    Of course, I really won't ask you because you already have a huge responsibility on your shoulders with the need to benefit humanity and the whole State Fair thing.

    P.S. Chris, I'm looking forward to meeting you also..Maybe I could hang out in your basement sometime?

    ReplyDelete