Big find!

Recently a ton of little (uninteresting) things have occurred. However all of these things led up to one big find, and a happy reunion for a family I don't know...

Here's the details --

Because the transmission went out in the Lexus, I had to get a loaner car. I still have the dreaded loaner, and every day is becoming more painful! Driving around in a car the size of a small bathtub is not my idea of a good time -- especially with the kids! Anyway, Matt forgot to take the garage door opener out of my car, so when he leaves in the morning for work, the garage door stays open until I get up. *So far, totally uninteresting, huh???*

Our garbage comes on Monday (I told you it'd get better, LOL). When Matt got home Monday night our container was missing. It wasn't anywhere on the street, just missing. I had no clue where it went, so I had to call the garbage people and request a new container. They refused to give me a new one, unless I either paid $175 or filed a police report. NO BRAINER THERE! So I filed my first police report for the container and the garbage company told me I'd have a new one today. Which left me with the problem -- what to do with the garbage in the meantime???? I did the only logical thing -- threw it out in the garage.

This morning when we were getting ready to leave the house, I opened the garage door and saw the unimaginable -- garbage all over the place. It was sooooo disgusting. As "You've got to be kidding me" came out of my mouth, an old dog got up from the corner and gave me this sad look and walked slowly out of the garage. I was horrified and incredibly sad for this poor dog. After all -- it's freezing outside.

The kids and I were on our way to Backyard Adventures for a play date, so I didn't have time to go back in the house and make a bunch of calls. But as I was driving I saw the poor dog walking slowly around the neighborhood. (I know all of our neighbors and this dog did not belong in the neighborhood). I decided to call mom. As I was telling her the story, she was like:

Mom: Was the dog a big dog?
Me: Yes
Mom: As in 75+ pounds
Me: Yes
Mom: Was it black?
Me: Yes -- maybe a little red or brown mixed in. It was hard to tell. He was so dirty.
Mom: Did it look like he was outside for a long time?
Me: Yea, his coat was really shaggy.
Mom: Did he have a silver chain around his neck:
Me: YES!! it also had a little round charm hanging off the collar.
MOM: OMG, I bet that's the dog that's been in the paper.
Me: ????

My mom reads the Johnston paper cover to cover. Evidently there's been a missing dog since October and I found it! The police came and picked it up today. There's one happy family out there -- all because my garage door was left open!