Panic and other moments in the day

Sophie decided to go walkabout this afternoon. After my obligatory afternoon nap, I let her out as I always do. Oops. About two minutes later I noticed the yard gate and driveway gate were both open…and no Sophie in the yard. She never misses a chance. Bless Jordan. I called her and she was out the door with a leash and a treat. After stopping traffic as Sophie ran across the street, Jordan finally cornered her and brought her home, nonetheless the worse for wear. I cannot describe the panic I feel each time a dog, any dog, is missing. In this case, I feared a car hit though I also worry about dognappers. I have become a little calmer because Sophie consistently returns unscathed and joyful about her outing, but that worry is always there.

Sophie had a hard day anyway. The plumber and upholsterer were both here today. The plumber required many trips outside to see what was going on; for the upholsterer, the plumber—by now a good friend—locked her out in the yard, which caused her great frustration. She recovered by napping on the couch.

I now have three newly re-upholstered chairs. I’ve thwarted Sophie’s tendency to sleep in the wing chair by putting a cushion in it. She eyes the barrel chairs, but I’ve only seen her in one once.

The couch seems an obvious choice. The chair she’d slept in all her life was so stained and dirty that I’m ashamed—a friend is putting it in her cabana for a dog chair (appropriate). And I’m reconsidering Sophie’s bath and grooming schedule. That thick doodle coat is too much for me and I send her to the groomers, but I think now it must be more often.

Years ago, a neighbor and good friend needlepointed a pillow for me with the Blue Willow pattern on it. I have my mom’s Blue Willow china plus some that my ex gave me. My kids grew up on it, and now that I’ve downsized by distributing all the other china sets I had to my family, Blue Willow is both my daily china and my entertaining choice.

The pillow, however, has gotten worn and dirty over the years. Jordan wanted to get rid of it, but I wouldn’t hear of it. The upholsterer took it today and will use leftover material from the chairs to back it.

I argued with my neighbor tonight. Nothing new. We argue all the time—he’s a conservative, and I’m a liberal. I like to say I’m a social liberal and a fiscal conservative, but the two may be incompatible. Tonight’s topic was Stephen Colbert. I contend that when government, FCC in this case, investigates social media for unfavorable comments about our presumptive president, we are on a steep, slippery slope. Jay argued that it was profane. I dislike profanity, in fact I’m pretty much a prude on the subject. But I think the level of comment doesn’t affect my basic idea—censorship is censorship, and it leads to dictatorship. Anybody want to weigh in?

Monday blues on a Tuesday night

Monday blues on Tuesday night

May 17, 2016

For some reason unknown to me I have the Monday blues on a Tuesday night and indulged in a real pity party tonight when a friend dropped me off at dinner. My ankle that should be better by now is more painful tonight than it has been, and for some unknown reason I have a bruised and swollen right hand. This morning I couldn’t shift gears without using both hands, but it’s much better tonight. Still swollen and tender, so much so that someone commented on it at dinner. I’m getting tired of physical aches and pains, and I swear I’m not going to mention them again.

My good friend Subie said she’s found she has all these things happening to her right now—like yesterday’s cataract surgery—and she thinks they just come in spells and you have to live through them. I’ll adopt her philosophy, actually one I’ve always believed in—this too shall pass. I think it’s just as you age, those spells come more often and linger longer.

Actually it was a good day. Took Sophie to the vet today for her annual checkup, where she was pronounced in perfect health. It’s always a chore for me because she gets so excited, but I’ve developed a system—I drive the car right up to the gate to the yard, open the car door, and then cautiously open the gate, get a leash on a wriggly dog, and put her in the car where I attach a second leash that is like her car seat—or restraining leash or whatever. It assures she won’t go through the windshield if something awful happens. The vet staff kept oohing and aahing about how cute and well behaved she was—they just haven’t seen her at her demanding most. Tonight as I was leaving for dinner, she escaped and went rocketing down the front sidewalk with Subie and Jordan in hot pursuit. I hollered for Jacob, and he and his friend Hayes bolted out the door. They all came back dragging an unrepentant Sophie. I told her I didn’t spend all that money at the vet this morning only to have her run away tonight.

Had a nice lunch with my mentor today—he doesn’t like that term but he’s the one who practically hand-carried me through graduate school and reads almost everything I write. We’ve been friends for forty years and are frequent lunch buddies. We chat about our writing projects, our families, politics (in complete agreement) and other things going on in our lives.

And tonight was neighbors’ night at the Grill, so I had a pleasant dinner with good friends.

Jordan meanwhile was at the house rearranging this and that and preparing for the book sale tomorrow. She has invited moms and teachers from Jacob’s school, and is preparing for a party with wine and snacks. I have my orders to straighten the house in the morning—my desk, my bedroom, and the bathroom. She has invested so much time and effort into this that I hope it goes well. My coffee table holds a huge pile of books—if you come in this house you cannot leave without taking a book. Great idea on her part. At this point I’m less interested in making a profit than I am in downsizing my library.

Busy times!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday blues on Tuesday night

May 17, 2016

For some reason unknown to me I have the Monday blues on a Tuesday night and indulged in a real pity party tonight when a friend dropped me off at dinner. My ankle that should be better by now is more painful tonight than it has been, and for some unknown reason I have a bruised and swollen right hand. This morning I couldn’t shift gears without using both hands, but it’s much better tonight. Still swollen and tender, so much so that someone commented on it at dinner. I’m getting tired of physical aches and pains, and I swear I’m not going to mention them again.

My good friend Subie said she’s found she has all these things happening to her right now—like yesterday’s cataract surgery—and she thinks they just come in spells and you have to live through them. I’ll adopt her philosophy, actually one I’ve always believed in—this too shall pass. I think it’s just as you age, those spells come more often and linger longer.

Actually it was a good day. Took Sophie to the vet today for her annual checkup, where she was pronounced in perfect health. It’s always a chore for me because she gets so excited, but I’ve developed a system—I drive the car right up to the gate to the yard, open the car door, and then cautiously open the gate, get a leash on a wriggly dog, and put her in the car where I attach a second leash that is like her car seat—or restraining leash or whatever. It assures she won’t go through the windshield if something awful happens. The vet staff kept oohing and aahing about how cute and well behaved she was—they just haven’t seen her at her demanding most. Tonight as I was leaving for dinner, she escaped and went rocketing down the front sidewalk with Subie and Jordan in hot pursuit. I hollered for Jacob, and he and his friend Hayes bolted out the door. They all came back dragging an unrepentant Sophie. I told her I didn’t spend all that money at the vet this morning only to have her run away tonight.

Had a nice lunch with my mentor today—he doesn’t like that term but he’s the one who practically hand-carried me through graduate school and reads almost everything I write. We’ve been friends for forty years and are frequent lunch buddies. We chat about our writing projects, our families, politics (in complete agreement) and other things going on in our lives.

And tonight was neighbors’ night at the Grill, so I had a pleasant dinner with good friends.

Jordan meanwhile was at the house rearranging this and that and preparing for the book sale tomorrow. She has invited moms and teachers from Jacob’s school, and is preparing for a party with wine and snacks. I have my orders to straighten the house in the morning—my desk, my bedroom, and the bathroom. She has invested so much time and effort into this that I hope it goes well. My coffee table holds a huge pile of books—if you come in this house you cannot leave without taking a book. Great idea on her part. At this point I’m less interested in making a profit than I am in downsizing my library.

Busy times!

 

For some reason unknown to me I have the Monday blues on a Tuesday night and indulged in a real pity party tonight when a friend dropped me off at dinner. My ankle that should be better by now is more painful tonight than it has been, and for some unknown reason I have a bruised and swollen right hand. This morning I couldn’t shift gears without using both hands, but it’s much better tonight. Still swollen and tender, so much so that someone commented on it at dinner. I’m getting tired of physical aches and pains, and I swear I’m not going to mention them again.

My good friend Subie said she’s found she has all these things happening to her right now—like yesterday’s cataract surgery—and she thinks they just come in spells and you have to live through them. I’ll adopt her philosophy, actually one I’ve always believed in—this too shall pass. I think it’s just as you age, those spells come more often and linger longer.

Actually it was a good day. Took Sophie to the vet today for her annual checkup, where she was pronounced in perfect health. It’s always a chore for me because she gets so excited, but I’ve developed a system—I drive the car right up to the gate to the yard, open the car door, and then cautiously open the gate, get a leash on a wriggly dog, and put her in the car where I attach a second leash that is like her car seat—or restraining leash or whatever. It assures she won’t go through the windshield if something awful happens. The vet staff kept oohing and aahing about how cute and well behaved she was—they just haven’t seen her at her demanding most. Tonight as I was leaving for dinner, she escaped and went rocketing down the front sidewalk with Subie and Jordan in hot pursuit. I hollered for Jacob, and he and his friend Hayes bolted out the door. They all came back dragging an unrepentant Sophie. I told her I didn’t spend all that money at the vet this morning only to have her run away tonight.

Had a nice lunch with my mentor today—he doesn’t like that term but he’s the one who practically hand-carried me through graduate school and reads almost everything I write. We’ve been friends for forty years and are frequent lunch buddies. We chat about our writing projects, our families, politics (in complete agreement) and other things going on in our lives.

And tonight was neighbors’ night at the Grill, so I had a pleasant dinner with good friends.

Jordan meanwhile was at the house rearranging this and that and preparing for the book sale tomorrow. She has invited moms and teachers from Jacob’s school, and is preparing for a party with wine and snacks. I have my orders to straighten the house in the morning—my desk, my bedroom, and the bathroom. She has invested so much time and effort into this that I hope it goes well. My coffee table holds a huge pile of books—if you come in this house you cannot leave without taking a book. Great idea on her part. At this point I’m less interested in making a profit than I am in downsizing my library.

Busy times!