Lemonade

At a site I frequent there was a post on the discussion board that listed the many reasons some folks don't like to do the grocery shopping. There were all sorts of reasons, carts with lopsided wheels, children that race down the aisles, shoppers that leave their carts in the middle of the aisle, items on a high shelf that few people can reach, and so on.

There were some rough spots in my life growing up and I've learned that when life gives you lemons, try to make lemonade. It's less frustrating and granted, it doesn't always work but it's definitely worth a try.

I love grocery shopping. I ignore the obstacles and focus on the goal - FOOD. I like to consider grocery shopping an eating event. Eating my way across the store is a wondrous thing to do. In addition to the snacks, there are the fresh bakery items, the deli, the ready-made dishes, and in the aisles that carry ethnic foods, the opportunity to browse through new food items. When Cowboy goes with me - which isn't often - he pushes a cart and pulls one behind him and I carry one of those small baskets to hold all the wrappers of stuff I ate while shopping so we pay for them. Over the years, the giant squid has learned not to grumble too loudly because he knows I'm going to eat while we're there regardless of what he says. Store clerks are used to me; they don't make snide remarks when they ring up the empty wrappers and containers. I'm so busy eating I don't notice the obstacles... lemonade.

You know how traffic can be a sudden nightmare... an accident or bad weather turns drivers into monsters. If I have to sit in traffic or slow down to 2 miles per hour, I pop a "talking book" into the player and keep myself entertained. If the pups are with me, I like to sing... I CAN'T sing. But the gawd-awful noise that comes out of my mouth makes the dogs howl. This is hilarious all by itself but combined with the ugly sounds I'm making, it's an audible event that defies description. People around us look aghast and some even laugh or join in. Yeah, I'm a little nutso sometimes but what the heck. It's better than grumbling about traffic... lemonade.

I even like doing the laundry... It's an opportunity to be creative. I'm fond of testing new dyes for my textile art... the giant squid has an abundance of dyed boxer shorts... I won't repeat the words he uses when he discovers he's out of white ones... very funny lemonade.

"Where are my white boxers?"

"You don't have any."

"I'm in summer whites! These @#$% red ones will show through my uniform!"

"You'll start a new fashion trend."

"SARRRRRR!"

"What?"

SWAT!

Tsk

Moving along...

Hadrian, the Neo Mastiff has been officially adopted. He goes to his new "forever" home this weekend. He's passed his obedience trials, actually behaves most of the time and frankly, I'm going to miss him like crazy. The pony-size pup is a real clown and a cuddle bear and his new family is wild about him. There's a mom and dad and 4 kids. The twin boys are 5 years old and the twin girls are 3. Yep, invitro can work wonders. When the giant pup spotted the kids, he knew right away they were "his." They crawled all over him and he basked in their attention and rewarded them properly - slobber all over their faces. All were very happy. Of course, this made me happy, too.

Miss Emmy, one of our cats, has pneumonia. Cowboy woke me very early the other day when he heard her coughing. At first, we thought she was trying to hurl a hairball but she was all clammy and her eyes a little glazed. Got her to the vet in record time. She got a shot and some antibiotics and now, 48 hours later, is doing much better. The giant wuss I married...

SWAT!

Tsk

...can't seem to get a pill down the 10-lb. cat's throat...

Amazing. He seems perfectly capable of shoving horse pills down mine!

I have a sure-fire method of getting pills down a cat's throat. I pinch her nose which makes her mouth open. Shove the pill down her throat, then clamp her mouth shut and give a quick yank (not too hard) to her tail and that startles her and she swallows fast. Always works.

Cowboy says a large and heavy and threatening hand on MY tail does the same thing... DOUBLE TSK.

DomTom, on the other hand, just eats anything I give him so a crushed pill in his food always works. Cowboy says it's because the cat is male... he knows he needs the medicine.

Uh huh.

We have an anniversary next month. It's a biggie and the giant Neanderthal is surprising me with a trip to a romantic spot. All he told me is that it is in the South Pacific. The South Pacific is a LARGE area so no telling where we're going. He said he'd give me 24-hour notice and to pack clothing for a warm climate and to include a bathing suit. He'd buy whatever else I might need when we get to wherever else is.

This is very exciting. We should be away 3-5 weeks and hopefully, there will be no national emergencies that will recall him to home base. I don't know if I'll have Internet access; Cowboy will have his laptop which hooks to satellite but I don't know if I'll be able to use it while we're away. We're not leaving for another week or so; I might get a chance to touch base with you before then. I'm close to finishing a story and have asked a friend to post it to my web site. I've already composed an "announcement" for those of you on the list.

Speaking of the "announce list." A few of you have asked if you can be added to it. All of you can do that. Go to my web site - link on the right at the top of this page. Scroll to the bottom of the page where you will see a "yahoo invitation" box. Put your email addy in that box and it will take you to yahoo groups where you can sign onto the announce list. The group only receives mail from me when I post a new story. If that sounds too confusing for you, email me and tell me you want to be on the list and I'll send you an invitation to join.

Bull is still with us and will remain at the house while we're away. We have a regular house/pet sitter who will come by a few times to make sure all is well but Bull will take care of the pets - feeding, exercising, etc. I've filled a freezer with food for him - regular meals and lots of baked goods. I also put a padlock on it so he doesn't eat everything before we go away.

Putting in long hours to get some things done before we leave. Feeding lots of peachy things to the giant squid who will suffer peach withdrawal while we're away. I told him he'll have me 24/7 to fill him up. As usual... I have to remind myself I'm a lady and not repeat the embarrassing things he said when I told him that.

~Sar~