Piggy’s gone now. He died last night at around 7:45. It’s been hard and although I’ve been crying on and off and missing him, I guess you could say I’m also looking forward to whoever the next piggy shall be.

Yesterday, Tom was kind enough to get me 3 new straight tubes and 1 T-tube so I could take my mind off of things by enjoying doing a new design on Teddy Bear’s cage. While I was working on his cage and while Tom sat at the computer, Piggy mustered up incredible strength and turned around and glanced at me. Tom and I were amazed, seeing how he could barely move for a few days. Then shortly after, Tom went to bed and then it hit me - he turned to look at me to say goodbye. I then went and checked and he was gone.

Tom put him in a box and I wrote on the box: October 1993 - August 1997 - I love you.

Then Tom put him in his little room, then left for work. I didn’t go into the back room much after cuz I kept looking at the door to his little room.

I was up late since I was rather distraught and didn’t get up till noon. He had buried Piggy earlier by the palm trees. I’m just so glad to have Tom be there for me and I’m glad I still have the other animals.

Andy and I left messages for each other. He got a new car and asked me how I was doing since I told him about Piggy.

Hopefully, next door won’t bother me on Monday. I’m glad I took in her delivery, cuz I was curious to see what’d happen, but after thinking about it, I don’t think that they’ll use that nice gesture of mine as a reason to continue being quiet. I think they may take advantage of it instead, and think that cuz I took in something for them after yelling at them that means I don’t hate them, so it’s OK to act up with the music. Yesterday we heard music and we’re not positive it was them and yes it was at an OK volume, but if it was them, it seemed a little pushy and testy to me. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens, but meanwhile, I’ll give a full report on all the weekend’s events.

Later...

One more thing - well, I was just out back when someone called out, “Do you think it’s gonna rain?” I looked around and couldn’t see anybody. Then, I spotted a guy on his way down from the palm tree he’d just trimmed that’s across the street behind the old man. I said it might, and asked if that was a scary job. He said no and showed me how he could let go with his hands. They don’t have any spiked shoes or anything, just a chain that wraps around their waist. They just climb up with their feet and hands. My God!

Next door came in quietly. I only knew they arrived by the doors. Well, I think he arrives by car at around 5-something. She comes and goes with a ride that picks her up and drops her off at 4-something. She and the kid have a routine, I guess. As soon as they get in, they go straight out back for a couple of hours. How can they take the heat and humidity? Well, they are heat lovers after all. It seems that the hotter it is, the more they might be out and about, so I wish to hell it’d be cool and better yet, rain like hell on Labor Day, but I’m sure it’ll be nice and hot for them if they do end up partying. My schedule will be such that I’ll be up so they can’t wake me and I’ll use the earplugs if they bother me. If they’re gonna party that day, they won’t start until late afternoon - early evening. Except for getting up for work and other early responsibilities they may have, these people are not early birds.