Monday, November 26, 2018

A Three Dog Head Kind Of Day

Zydrunas, granddog
We had quite a bit of outdoor work to get done yesterday, the one day that was going to be dry, calm, temperate, and on a weekend. Those days have been so rare this fall that we knew we didn't dare squander it. While Rick cut down and bundled the dried fountain grasses, I raked and used the leaf blower in our backyard, which is completely landscaped and has a little pond. Let me tell you, I found out speedily that I am terrible at using a leaf blower. Add that to an ever-growing list which also includes painting, backing a car in or out, and--oh forget it. Do I really want to enumerate my weaknesses?

It was energizing to be outdoors and not shiver. The sun came out unexpectedly, and I found that I did have the stamina and strength to use my Garden Weasel Garden Claw and put my herb garden to bed properly for the winter. Once again, I used my own fresh parsley, thyme, tarragon, and rosemary from it for my Thanksgiving dinner. Now, it has earned its rest.

That sunshine really put me in a FeelGood Mood, you know? And getting all that Big Work out of the way in a pretty expeditious manner did, too. I decided to make a comfort food dinner, even though I would need to run to the grocery store for a couple of items.

On my way there, a junky blue pickup truck was slowpoking along in the lane ahead of me. I sighed and tried not to feel impatient. Suddenly, a huge dog head appeared from the passenger side window. I smiled and forgave the pickup truck. Nothing brightens me up like a dog head sticking out of a car/truck window. Nothing.

I zipped into my parking spot--furthest from the store; empty in front of me so I can pull through--and zoomed right to the aisle I needed when I heard, "Oh, hey! I thought that was you, Pretty Lady!" One of my favourite employees, Tiffany, wanted to chat me up about how well she was doing in college and how her son was getting along in fourth grade. "I have a B in Stats and a B+ in Biology headed into finals. And Noah is doing awesome right now! No more notes home about his behaviour!" She is another Happiness in my Ordinary Days.

On my way out of the parking lot, I got behind a woman who just could not make her move to get out into traffic. She sat there and sat there--forever, it seemed--until a line of four cars was strung behind her. Plenty of opportunities to pull out came and went. Still we all sat there in our cars, waiting. I thought I would scream. Instead, I played Pink's "What About Us?" at top volume (and ironically).

At a red light shortly thereafter, I was treated to a Double Dog Head in a Chevy. These looked to be twin basenjis or some similar breed, and they each had on a jester's collar.  They bounced around the back seat, trading windows and poking their heads out, sometimes both from the same one.  And I swear that they were smiling. I smiled back. How could I not?

It was a Good Day.

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TECH NOTE, COMMENTS: I began moderating comments in order to allow anonymous ones as a courtesy to non-Google account commenters; however, so far I've only gotten spam. If that remains the case with this post, I'll revert back.

20 comments:

  1. Love your descriptions of dogs in cars. Most of them are so happy to be going someplace. Sounds like a you had a great day.

    AS for spam, I've been moderating my comments for a couple of years now and I can report that spam comes in waves. Sometimes I'll get 4-6 a day for a week or two then I won't get any for several months, then it starts all over again. To me its just a fact of life for bloggers and so I continue to allow anonymous comments because it's not that big of a deal to just click the spammer off to never never land.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jean--Dogs out and about in general give me a lift. As you said, they look so happy for the change in environment and a chance to see/smell new things. I'm a great Appreciator Of Dogs.

      Perhaps, after being on Blogger for 13 years and going through its various changes and changes in blogging in general, I'm less patient and tolerant of all the bullshit. Thanks for the support.

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  2. This post made me happy, Nance! So glad you had such a beautiful and productive day. They're magical, especially when dogs are involved! That is a great photo of Zydrunas and in such a shiny truck!

    Shirley

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    1. Shirley--Thank you! I hope you've had more than a few lovely days with your dogs, especially lately.

      That big truck is Sam's; he finally traded in his aging and ever-saddening Hummer. As you can tell, Zydrunas heartily approves. ;-)

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  3. Dogs ALWAYS smile when they can stick their heads out of a car window (or peek over a pickup truck)!! Sunday was beautiful - sunny and warm. Now we are back to WINDY and chilly (but none of that white stuff today!!).

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    1. Vera--And I will always smile about it!
      We're back to windy, cold, and sadly...and inch of sn*w today. UGH UGH UGH. I hate it almost as much as I hate...well, you know. And at least warming temps later in the week will get rid of sn*w very easily. More than I can say for the other.

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  4. I am not a fan of babies or children, but I love, Love, LOVE dogs! Seeing babies out in public does nothing for me (except frustrate me, if they're crying or whining or invading my personal space), but every time I see a dog, I am instantly happier.

    I'm glad that you had a nice weather day. The bad air has finally gone, thanks to several days of rain, and now we're actually able to see the blue sky. Of course, this is when I'm starting to come down with a cold, but you can't win 'em all.

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    1. Mikey G--I don't get all jazzed when I see babies or children out in public, either. I'm just not interested; I'm not in That Place in my life, you know? But dogs--and I really don't have a wish to own one at all--dogs lighten my heart. Now, if it's a prissy, yappy dog in a purse--different story sometimes. Sometimes, those can make me a little snarky or even sad, if the dog looks embarrassed. You know?

      I hope your cold is short-lived. Blame your worst students. It may not help, but it is probably their fault. ;-)

      And better air--thank goodness--can only help.

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  5. You got a lot of yard work done! We leave our tall grasses up for some winter interest. Seems if we cut them as they sprout in spring we are ok. I do wonder what you had for dinner.....mmmmm. comfort food

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    1. kathy b--Nice to know about the grasses if we ever get stuck with nasty weather.
      I made deep dish turkey pot pie with some of the Thanksgiving leftovers, but had to supplement the gravy.

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  6. I am rubbish at the leaf blower as well. I constantly blow stuff right back onto the area I just "cleaned".

    Dogs in cars . . . ALWAYS worth a smile!

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    1. Dee K--Oh, that's what I kept doing! And I was too careful and methodical then. Sigh.

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  7. I tried to use the leaf blower to get the grass off the driveway after I mowed. Oh man - the most positive thing I can say is that at least I got some extra steps while I tried. Ha!

    Dogs in moving cars always make me smile too. If they're in a parked car then I have to examine whether or not it's too hot for them and then I can be happy to see them (or mad at their owner).

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    1. Bug--Leaf blowers are way too noisy (there was recently a comic strip which humorously addressed this), too. I prefer the rake, but in some cases (like your example of grass on a driveway), they are just smarter and quicker.

      I try not to bother dogs in cars--I worry about stressing them out. But on hot or very cold days, that stresses ME out! Poor things.

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  8. Our neighbor has a huge black walnut tree that hangs precariously over our yard and drops nuts at an alarming rate in August and September. Unfortunately, this neighbor is the township we live in, not a person, and there is no chance they will cut the tree down until it topples over.

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    1. MiM--Hi, and welcome to the Dept. I see you're responding primarily to a comment I made over at Ally's spot.

      In this case, Misery loves company. Our neighbor won't cut their tree down, either, even though we offered to share half the cost--and they ARE a person!

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  9. Sounds like you were incredibly patient. Good for your health. Dogs surely can lift our spirits — no doubt!

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    1. Joared--Thank you for recognizing my Patience. I do work on it diligently, and every day.

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  10. Wow! Was that mellow mood simply because of the warm sunny day? Or have you found a magic potion? If so, please share.

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    1. NCmountainwoman--Largely the warm, sunny day. The weather has been a bit more cooperative in allowing me to get my walks in as well (until the ice and sn*w arrived here and there), and physical activity always helps dissipate stress. No magic potions, I'm afraid. I wish!

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