Thrown off schedules

Leaving the little white dog at the vet is first on the list of my least favorite things to do. Mica and I walked out feeling sad and worried. The next several hours dragged until the vet called Mica and reported all had gone well and she could pick him up at 6 p.m. I went with her. He came into the room all wagging tail and excited to see us, but he looked like he’d spent six months on the road sleeping...

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No bother

Right after lunch Blaine sent a text asking if I felt like going for another walk tonight. It’s 60 degrees here today. After the very cold and recently very icy weather we’ve had this winter, this kind of day gives everyone spring fever. After work, I picked up a couple of chicken caesar salads from a restaurant we both like, and we ate after the walk. Blaine stayed a while longer. We put on our...

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Bad walk, good walk

This evening Izzy and I went for a short walk. If you can call what we did walking. Drug induced interpretive dance is closer. Lurching, spinning, dog-gone-wild is closer still. All was fine when we stepped out of the house. But then Izzy spotted a spaniel at the corner and she pulled for all she was worth, performing double salchows as she went across the yard toward it. The spaniel stopped to watch...

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Never do the math

Paul and Eve’s flight left on time yesterday. Of everything that was supposed to happen yesterday, that’s the only thing that went as planned. Freezing rain started about daybreak, changed to sleet at lunchtime and snow mid-afternoon. As a result, Mica and I decided not to go to our favorite event of the year—dog expo—and Blaine and I cancelled our plans. So, Izzy and I played a marathon session of...

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Phoning it in

Another ice and snow storm is supposed to move in overnight. Since Paul and Eve are  flying out of an airport an hour away was they decided to make the drive tonight and stay at a hotel by the airport. I came over  right after work so I could be here with Izzy when they left. All I had with me was an overnight bag with a change of clothes and a few toiletries. I've kept it in the car all...

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Try again tomorrow

Let’s see. What’s going on that I can write about? It’s either going to be the layer of oil topped by a couple inches of snow fell overnight (at least that’s how it felt to drive on it this morning), or it’s going to be the city’s announcement that corrugated cardboard will no longer be allowed in the landfill beginning April 1. Can we agree to scrap today and meet back here tomorrow? Yes, ...

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Break some rules

I’ve been putting off updating my resume because I don’t want to think about needing to. Tonight I sucked it up and got to it but quickly sunk into a self-doubt funk. I’ll go back to it another day. Blaine called to talk about the weekend. He still asks if I’d like to get together, which I find sweet if silly since I always do. Except tonight I told him I couldn’t do anything because I’ll be dogsitting...

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The second cut

Except for waking to a thick covering of sleet, today was an improvement over yesterday. The guy with the video file that I’ve been having trouble with offered to send just the clips I needed. He uploaded them overnight, and this morning I was ecstatic to discover that both would import into the editing program. I was able to put together the video Henry originally wanted. I had time to improve the...

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Fire and ice

My alarm is set to go off in time to hear the local news. “A lot to tell you about this morning,” the news guy began. Freezing rain had moved in a few hours before, and a three-alarm fire was being fought downtown. Both were going to affect my commute, so I hurried to get ready for work and out the door before the worst of rush hour traffic hit. It was a rough workday. I received the new video file...

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Wind

I went into work for awhile. Henry needs video clips edited and one of the files won't import into the editing program. I tried everything I could think of and everything Google could think of, then I sent an email to the person who has the original and asked him to send it again. I hope he's in the office tomorrow and has time to upload it right away. After I left work, I stopped to get the car...

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Greedy

Blaine and I started out at a winery. He chose this one because it has a large sunroom with a western view, perfect for watching the sunset. I asked Blaine if wine had been an acquired taste for him. I have doubts that I’ll ever learn to like it. “I started out with high quality wines which makes a difference. I’ve dropped the ball on introducing you to wine.” “How did you know where to start?”...

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Two (not quite) couples

Eve ordered some zero calorie pop (soda, soft drink, other-regional-designation) online and shared a can with me. It’s a liquid that contains caffeine and carbonation, essentially. No sugar, sodium, etc. “It tastes like 7-UP.” Eve said and not as a compliment. I poured it over the remaining ice in my Yeti knockoff. I squinted upon swallowing. “Oh. That’s different.” I regretted spoiling perfectly...

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Recipe for sadness

Ingredients  1 quart fancy chocolate chip ice cream Directions Remove ice cream from freezer Open and remove plastic film Discover ice cream is too hard to scoop Place ice cream inside microwave Set timer for 20 seconds Hear dryer timer go off Press "Start" on microwave Retrieve laundry and immediately hang those pieces in danger of wrinkling 48 hours later, fill bowl with soup and open microwave Find...

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Over socialized

Late yesterday I was asked if I wanted to attend a five-hour Google Analytics workshop today. That sure is an offer that gets the juices flowing. Actually, I’m glad the opportunity came up since I find parsing data from GA frustrating and time consuming. Last night I talked to Blaine—our weekly phone call to discuss plans for the weekend—and mentioned the workshop to him. Since it was being held...

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The plan

If I don’t lose my job this year, I’m going to Chicago to see Kris Bryant (left) and Anthony Rizzo play at Wrigley. Bryant signed a one-year contract so this could be the last year they’re teammates. I do lose my job, I’ll try to figure out why Blogger is awkwardly splitting words at the end of the line...

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Crunch

On the way home tonight I was behind a car that tried to sneak around the corner of the pickup ahead of it and didn’t make it. A low-speed crunch. They decided to call the police, and I stayed as a witness. I’m getting tired of witnessing car accidents. This is twice in three weeks It took place on a busy arterial. I turned on my flashers right away but still had a lot of people come up so close...

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[Title goes here...maybe tomorrow]

Another night, another inch of snow. This one I ignored. The sun came out, it warmed to 23, melting occurred. What didn't melt will be ice in the morning. I don't care anymore. I went with Mica to take little white dog to the vet for a booster shot. Before, though, we took him to one of the new dog parks so he could have some fun. The only dog in the small dog side was leaving when we were arrived,...

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Turning right

I woke to find that a couple inches of new snow had fallen and the air temperature was six degrees. Since I hate summer so much, I try not to complain about winter but this kind of cold and every-other-day snow is getting old. I went straight from bed into double layers -- leggings under jeans, long sleeves under a t-shirt and two pairs of socks. I’d have worn more socks if the snow boots with good...

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Tarp and lime

“Can you point me in the direction of hatchets? I asked an employee at a big box DIY store. I was shopping for my brother’s birthday, which is today, and didn’t have time to wander looking for it. “Well, first I need to know what you’re planning to do with it.” I looked up at his smirk and smiled. “Oh who knows. My brother wants it.” He made a thing of giving me a sizing-up look, then motioned...

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Ahloom oil

All of a sudden I’m a huge hit with kids in shopping carts. I frequently get chatted up by those in the 4-7 age range. I’m not kid oriented, having never been around many and not having any of my own, so either they all think I’m a kindly old lady or they have enough cat in them to gravitate toward those who have no idea what to do with them. Over my lunch hour I went to Target. A kid was parked...

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Bad sharer

Mid morning, I let Henry know I hoped to take a long lunch hour if he had no objections. Although my part is probably finished (little things keep getting added or changed), there’s a lot left to do and Henry has been calling frequently. “Oh. Well. Let me see…” he said, sounding concerned. “Do you think lunch is necessary?” This is Henry in teasing mode. I pulled the trump card. “We’re celebrating...

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one more day

Ultra professional, unflappable Henry muttered “a martini” after someone on the team asked what he needed from them. That’s how things are going. As for me, after six straight hours on the phone today and no lunch, it has taken a lot of Bon Jovi and a little Alice Cooper through the headphones to settle me down. A session of shoveling snow off the shared driveway by myself worked out more frustration....

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Snowy sleepy day

It was cold and snowy here today, and I slept for a good part of it. This is the first weekend in a while that I haven’t had to work, and I was able to relax easier. I’d also had a late night. Blaine and I didn’t do too much, just a short road trip to get dinner, but after getting back we hung out for a long time. At the moment I feel like I need a break to keep from losing all perspective. In between...

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Take it or leave it

I knew Blaine was a sports guy from the conversations he engaged in all those times we were in the same place at the same time but weren’t yet speaking to one another. I did not know this: He loves basketball but could take it or leave it when it comes to baseball. We were eating really good barbecue in the basement of an old building in a small town. I suppose if he was going to stab me in the heart,...

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Calamities

After drinking half of a glass of vanilla stout, I felt ready to tell the story of my day. Eve, Paul, Blaine and I were once again in a booth at a bar/restaurant. After the fun we had last Friday, we decided to get together again tonight. I was the last person to answer the question: How was your day? Eve’s had been spent in an all-day meeting and was, therefore, mind numbing; Paul’s was typical...

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We’ll all be glad

There’s nothing happening in my life except Henry’s proposal. It needs to be in final form by noon tomorrow and there are still pieces coming together. My part of it is done except for last edits. Henry, though, is scrambling. Part of the team isn’t contributing so he’s having to finish a lot at the last minute. I can tell things aren’t going well when I don’t receive prompt replies to emails, and...

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