It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring........

Well, this isn't going to work. Maybe if it HAD been an old man snoring, I probably could have slept easier.

Last night was my first rainstorm in this apartment. I've been here 11 months (already). And one of the - well, the ONLY big plus for this place is the covered back porch. With 2 archways (supporting the upper levels) I have room for a table and chairs, a wooden trunk, my craft table, a year round Christmas tree and a bazillion plants- with room to walk around. There are also 2 stamp size grassy areas for the dog- that are out from under the cover of the overhang. So, not surprisingly, ....the water drips. And not a Shirley- Temple- like pitter patter of "I love to walk in the rain- look for me when it's stormy on some cloudy lane and I'll be there..." ( I was a HUGE Shirley Temple fan growing up) - but the relentless ta-theump-drip drip- theump-drip reminiscent of Poe's Tale Tale Heart.

Woke me up about 2:00 in the morning. And - WHO - at that time of morning, can't find something to lie alone in the dark and feel guilty about? So, not being able to reroute the dripping - I got up and turned on all the fans and the wall mounted AC to try and white noise out the plat-plat-tha-thump of the rain. Eventually it worked, and I finally went back to sleep - but not until I added another blanket, socks and a long sleeve shirt and sent my most fervent apologies to any and all of the kind folks I may have offended in my life..........

"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous heart!"