kidnapper or guardian angel ... you decide

The pre-story is a long story, so I won't even get into it, but at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday the 15th -- a.k.a tax day -- I was at home, realizing that I still needed to file my Tennessee taxes.

California ones were long gone. We'd even gotten our refunds. My federal one was taken care of via e-file earlier in the day. But Tennessee -- being a little behind the curve sometimes -- doesn't allow for e-filing, so I needed to find a post office that was open late -- and fast.

I rang up the U.S. Postal Service to get a list of such locations. Her answer -- none. But she did suggest heading to the Acklen station near Vanderbilt, since they offer automated 24-hour self-service. I grabbed a manila envelope, quickly addressed it and ran out the door.

Arriving at Acklen, I had to wait on a lady who told me she had never used one of the machines before. I was a little impatient but polite, even showing her where the bin was to put her taxes once she got the label on, etc. When it was my turn, I went through the prompts, got my stamp and then took a good look at it. It said that I had purchased the stamp on April 15 but nothing about actually postmarking that date. I started to worry. I looked at the bin -- last pickup at 5. Hmm. I started the system over, looking for anything that mentioned postmark date. At that moment, a stranger walked in.

"Are you trying to mail your taxes?" he said. "The only place in town still open is off of Donelson Pike. I just got back from there. Do you know how to get there?"

"No," I began. "I just moved here from California last July. I didn't know I couldn't e-file until today."

He continued to make small talk while he wrote out directions.

"Thanks a lot," I said.

"Do you want me to show you?" he replied.

"No. I'm pretty good with the interstates. Thanks."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, thanks though."

It was only after I had left the Vanderbilt area and gotten on 40 East that I started to think back to the details of the conversation.

So, let's think about this. He had come from the post office off Donelson Pike. So, what was he doing at another post office? He said his wife was working a double shift at St. Thomas hospital, so he had nothing to do for a while. Um, what about go home instead of cruising post offices?

He also said he was waiting on AAA because his car had broken down. Um, what? ... And the kicker -- since he allegedly didn't have an operating car -- when he said he would "show" me how to get to the Donelson Pike post office, did he actually think I would invite a total stranger to ride in my car with me? None of this added up. I instinctively hit the door lock.

"Was he trying to kidnap me?" I said out loud. "Holy shit! What the hell just happened?"

Half-convinced I was going to arrive at an empty, dark post office parking lot with this guy hiding in the bushes with handcuffs and a knife, I was beyond relieved to see a cop car out front. The scene was exactly as he had described. A couple cops directed traffic. I handed my stamped envelope to a postal worker who said, "We'll get it inside for you," and I was on my way.

Regardless of what he was -- Good Samaritan? Creep? Guardian angel? Kidnapper? -- he did save the day!

serious rain

I know I'm still a Southern Californian at heart -- accustomed to sunny skies and balmy temperatures -- but I think even the Nashville natives have been surprised by the weather lately. 

This afternoon, we had some serious storms -- flooding, tornadoes, sirens and wind. Massive trees crashed to the ground. Streets were closed. Traffic was jammed. The windows were blown out of a Popeyes. And lots of cars were damaged by rocks and other debris.

These pictures are from my cell phone camera, so they don't really give the storm justice, but it was some crazy-ass weather. I was in Williamson County when I took these, and a brief run to the grocery store left me drenched like I just got out of the shower. 

I heard we're supposed to get snow flurries on Sunday and Monday. What the hell? 

The truth is, though, that as much as I'm ready to move back to California in a moment's notice, I will miss this insane, ever-changing weather. I'm a storm fan, and thunder and lightning make me happy.  Go figure.