Tobi

This blog is an odd sort of things. It chronicles the rants and ravings, food and cravings, everyday days and holidays, too. It goes off into corners and then veers back into focus. I mean it's all over the place, but what happens when something really happens?

We lost our dog yesterday. She is a mixed, black lab that is only half the size of a regular lab. Dante brought her home one day when he was still in high school (he will be 30 in May). He found her abandoned at a house down the street with her brother. His friend took the brother home and we got Tobi. She was about six months old at the time according to the vet. She was shy. She quaked sometimes for no reason but she learned really fast and she could jump really high in the air to catch a ball. Dante taught her to high five. She got pretty old. She was white under her chin and was going a little blind but she still rolled around in the grass and fetched balls for Jay.

She got out yesterday and must have been spooked. She never ventured very far before, and always came back home and would wait on the porch to be let back in. Yesterday, we had a man power-washing the house. His equipment was noisy and wet. She may have wandered too far. She might have lost her way. She didn't come back.

We searched all over. We asked the neighbors, we called the vet. We waited and then looked again. We didn't find her and she didn't come home. I finally called Dante and let him know we didn't know what happened. He wanted to come search again. Even as night came on and we knew she wasn't around, we would open the door and call her. This morning after waking up I opened all the doors hoping she would be waiting on the other side. She wasn't. She's just gone.

I guess you could say she hung around here long enough to pull off a really good magic trick. She disappeared. I only wish she had learned the second half of the trick and somehow been able to make herself re-appeared. We keep waiting for that to happen.

So then the story didn't end...

I got a call from the vet. A lady left a flyer for a dog that looks like Tobi, so I drove to the vet's office and called the lady. The description seemed to fit and she gave me directions to her house and was waiting outside when I pulled up. It was our dog. Tobi was fine, dandy, and jumped into my car when I opened the door. Many thanks and appreciations were given and it all worked out well and good. Maybe she has been around long enough to actually pull off that trick, but it needs a little work. I mean, she didn't exactly re-appear in the same spot she disappeared. But then, what's a good magic trick without a little suspense? What do you expect from an old dog? New tricks?

Tobi is back.
TT

Customer (me) Service (nope)

Well, well, well. Our television and internet are out. Wednesday afternoon I went to use my laptop and I had no connection. I traipsed downstairs to reboot the modem and watched the blinking lights start their hypnotic, flashing patterns. The lights were blinking but the connection never made it to my laptop or Jay's PC.  I turned my attention to the TVs. Sure enough, no channels were available. None. I tried rebooting the cable boxes. Again, I found myself hypnotized by the progression of characters displayed until it got to a recycling circle of APP and R iT.  I resigned myself to the fact that nothing was working and dialed service. This would be the second time in two months.

Oh, an outage in my neighborhood. A technician will be dispatched and all should be well before the night is over. The night ended. Morning crept in. I woke and started rebooting everything and the entire nightmare began again. The same impotent, blinking lights, the same circle of APP and R iT flashed away as I aggressively dialed the phone. They verified my service was out. (Gee, I told you that) They verified others in my neighborhood had been restored. (Why everyone else and not me?) They said they would need to send a technician to the house. (Yeah? When?) MONDAY.  "What?", I said, "That's a long time without TV and internet! It's only Thursday morning!" The guy on the other end said the list of cancelled appointments would be out in an hour and he would call me back with a revised time. He actually called me back and said the best he could do was Sunday between 6pm and 7pm but he would call again and do the same the next morning. It's the next morning. He hasn't called back. I figured he wouldn't call if he didn't have any better news or...why call at all? If this is the way they handle service, he is probably dodging bullets all day long. Why put yourself in the line of fire? You know I was going to blast away if I got them on the line again.

I will be out of the house most of the day Saturday, so it won't be a problem. Sunday goes by quickly and they should have it fixed Sunday evening. I did drive into the parking lot of the closest Starbucks and pirate their wi-fi to download two books to my eReader. (Yeah, didn't even go inside). I'll survive, but what an inconvenience, again.  This is the second time in two months. Last month the city ran over my cable line when they were mowing in the area in back of my house. (Why was the wire exposed for them to do that?) It took two or three days for that to be replaced. I think I need to get a reduced rate since this seems to be monthly occurrence. I don't think they will go for it and I don't really want that. I want better service!

Well. Well....well.  Right now, I just want service.
TT

Clever tools

I was able to eliminate most of the weeds from the front yard. I was scheduled by Jay to get it done before the rain predicted for last night. He was exceeding excited to let me know he purchased a handy-dandy weed puller to make things easier for me. He went on-line and searched, found one, and even watched a video on how it worked. He went out early the next morning and was able to buy the very last one in stock, when there had been 30 in stock the previous day! He came home last night and called me outdoors to start.

I asked, "If you did all the research, video-watching, and purchasing this tool, why aren't you the one using it?"
"It will make it easier for you."
"Why does it have to be me?"
"It's really going to help. You'll have this done in no time."
"Me. I need to do it? Not you."

Why fight it. The tool actually helped and worked rather well. I should have taken a picture of it, but I'm sure if you were really interested you could go on-line and search it down. Jay did.

And the predicted rain? Well, there was a heavy shower early this morning that lasted 2 minutes. That's all I've seen so far. But the weeds are taken care of for a while and if they come back, I have a handy-dandy weed puller to use. Not Jay. Me.
TT

War on weeds

Saturday spent the entire day crying it's clouds out. Sunday started like a charcoal drawing but quickly wiped the previous day's smudges away. The sun came out and pointed to the weeds that had broken through on the front lawn. I pulled them out a few weeks back and yet there is a smattering of them still raising their ugly heads as if they were indispensable. I didn't get a chance to counter attack yet, but I will. There is no room for the raggedy-leafed clusters in the midst of the finely structured blades of green. The situation will be correctly in haste.

Well, I'm not really sure how hasty I will get this done, but I know I'll be seeing only weeds until I get down and dirty and start plucking them out. Otherwise, the grass is coming in nicely. I was worried it wasn't greening up and we would be going back to square one again to get the front lawn in order. It seems that isn't the case and aside from a little time spent pulling some weeds it's going to be fine. Although, I might need to time this task strategically. I hear there is more weeping to come this Thursday.
TT

Other's worlds

It's been raining, and this Saturday morning seems the best time to sit with a cup of coffee and a book. I can place myself beside a window to hear the drops drumming and watch the water splatters from the corner of my eye while I scan down the pages of someone else's world.

I've been reading my way through the Harlen Coben, Myron Bolitar, series. There are ten and I'm currently halfway through #9. I picked up the original back in June after I read two of his stand alone books which were very good. Those were Gone for Good and Tell No One. I wasn't sure if I wanted to venture into another series of books so it took me a while to pick up the first in this series (Deal Breaker). I finally picked up that first one in February. I took my time in between June and February and read two of J.D. Robb's that I was behind on. That has to be the longest series yet with #38 and #39. (#40 is out there now-it can wait). I read the latest Lee Child's, Personnal, two Tess Gerritsen, Karin Slaughter (love her stuff), three Brain Freeman (have to get back to that one). I read all three of Gillian Flynn's, Gone Girl, Dark Places and Sharp Objects and a smattering of really light, nonsense, don't-have-to-think books like, Homicide in High Heels, by Gemma Halliday and the like. Now I seem to be concentrated on getting through all ten of Coben's series. It should have probably stopped at eight but the guy has to make a living. I mean, that is his job and if people want more, you do it, right? I would have been happy with it ending at eight but who am I to decide his paycheck. Wait, I've read them all so I AM deciding his paycheck, right? Nah na na nah. I don't want to get into that now.

That is a lot of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers. I knew I liked that sort of book but didn't realize I had gone off and made them almost exclusive. It seems that way, sort of, for now. But then, it's kind of the best thing to read on a dark, stormy day. I mean, I'm safe, inside, at home. It's only someone else's world that is turned upside down.
TT

In the moment

I have been doing a lot of thinking about the idea of appreciating the moment and moving forward to better things instead of continually thinking about the past. That backward thinking is supposed to bring you down and keep you from getting to and missing the better things happening now and ahead. Okay, so you had a hard time and maybe you are still going through some of it, but how much time are you going to waste by re-hashing it over and again? I get that. I look for the 'what can I do now' instead of 'look what happened' type of attitude. It seems to work most of the time but every now and then you run into some ridiculous motivational quote that I just have to ask,"'what?"

Here is the one I read today: "Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward." -Victor Kiam

"What?" Seems like a really painful way of moving forward and doesn't that sort of stop you? I mean, are you going to crawl forward? Who is this guy Victor Kiam?

It turns out he was a big entrepreneur who owned Remington and the New England Patriots until 1991. He made some stupid comment about the issue of a women reporter in the locker room way back when and even though he apologized he made another really bad joke six months later that stirred the controversy.

I guess the guy had a lot of experience with falling on his face. Maybe, too much, because it seems he thought that was a way to get some type of forward motion. What a jerk. I'm in the moment now and the more I read about this guy, the more I'm trying to figure out why this quote was even published! I'll give this a moment of appreciation! Yeah! ...

There. Now, it's in my past and I can move on. (not fall!) I should probably take a moment and pause here quietly before going on. I've got to stop reading these random quotes.
TT

New book

My eReader died yesterday. I bought it back on October 25, 2010 and it lasted until March 16, 2015. I think I got my money's worth out of it. I know I was very hesitant back then and needed to be talked into getting it. I liked my paper books. I liked the feel of holding them and anticipating turning a page as my eyes made their way down toward the bottom. My finger would separate the page I was reading from the next and slide it's way down from top to bottom, sometimes holding there until the words ended and then continued again on the next. There is a very good feeling that goes with that. But then I remember having a difficult time when I was lent an especially large hardback, containing an entire trilogy, where my hands would tire from the mere holding of the book. It was too large and too heavy for the long periods of time it needed to be open while I read.

Then I bought the eReader and it took a while to get used to it. If I read in bed before and I started to get drowsy, it wasn't unusual for me to wake up with an open book on my face. Not a pretty thing to admit but it happened and it was better than getting thumped on the forehead with the top of my eReader when I started to fall asleep. Of course, I would immediately wake up but would be determined to keep reading and would get another thump, and then another. I would finally resign to turning it off and leaving it on the nightstand before I bruised my forehead and have to explain the injury. That won't be the case anymore. I couldn't even wait a day without replacing the one that died.

I bought a new reader and it's lighter and smaller. The battery lasts longer and I can still read it outside since it isn't backlit. There is no chance of any bruising since it weighs less than my phone. It even came with a built in light that I will probably never use but who knows, I might. It's my book(s) and I always have one with me. Now, what page was I on...oh yes, it saves my spot.
TT

Blink

Whooosh!

That was the sound of my weekend flying by. Where the heck did it go so fast as I sit here already digging into Monday morning. I guess the work I did in the yard helped to speed things along. It didn't seem like that much work over the past two days but it is making a difference in how everything is looking.

Mr. L helped Saturday afternoon for a scant few hours. He wasn't as interested in planting the few flowers I put in but he is the expert in filling the bird feeder. He knows the entire routine for that and can handle it all on his own. He didn't want to leave but came back later that night for another few hours. Dinner time was one more thing he handled expertly. I didn't know the three year old could make his own taco, adding ingredients, and rolling it up perfectly to gobbled the entire thing up. Maybe all the afternoon activity made him hunger.

So, the weekend flew and some good improvements were made, even if they are small. Steps, even small ones, make all the difference in the world.
TT

Early morning mowers

The lawn service that Jay hired to cut our lawn just arrived. I can hear the whirring and roaring of all their equipment as they cut, trim, and blow their way around our property. This is great timing! The yard will be all neatly in order for me to get out there and do something more as far as gardening. The weather is about perfect and I think I need to add a couple of things to the grocery list that might include a little outdoor cooking. Great incentives to get a move on! Let's not waste any of this day!
TT

Name it

If I needed to name all the good things happening what would they be?

The first good thing is so obvious I might not even have to call it out. It's Friday! and payday! The weather is straightening out and the weekend looks to be a real keeper! There you are - three things, boom, boom, boom! How easy is that. They aren't even in any prioritized order, because to me, the weather would be at the top of the list even though it was mentioned last.

I got a call on Wednesday morning for a 2 dozen cookie order. They wanted delivery before 6:00 pm that same day and I figured I could bake, package, and deliver after work. It was only two dozen, so I make a quick trip to the store to pick up some caramels because they wanted turtle cookies. I knew I had two eggs at home and only needed one and quickly checked-out and got them all baking. It was 5:10 when I pulled into the spot I was to deliver and my phone rang. I was sitting in my car, ready to deliver the order, and I was on the phone with another order for 2 dozen more cookies for the next day from a different customer. Sure, yes. I can do that. I got the information and then made my current delivery.

I went straight back to the store! I was out of eggs, needed some other ingredients because this order wanted a variety, and went home to bake some more. I finished everything, including cleaning up the kitchen, before 8:00 pm that night. The cookies were delivered the next morning and I was four dozen cookies ahead of the game.

Then there was the opportunity to help Sonny out with a creative way to get around the fact they have been dealing with only one family car when they need two. I was able to come up with a working solution and I think he is happy about it. I was happy. He was happy. I think that would move right up the priority list of good things happening, trumping the weather right out of it's prime spot.

So it seems, things are looking pretty good on that good things happening meter.
TT

Wa-wa-wa

I haven't noticed the benefit of the longer daylight, yet. I've been in so much of a tailspin with work that I haven't exactly been especially chipper by the end of the day. I've been a little more than worn, or I'm using that excuse since I haven't made it to the gym since last Saturday. Today is Wednesday. It's really hard to be consistent when you're not and if that was what I was aiming for, it seems I've not only gone off target but put the gun down altogether. Shheeeesh.

Still. It's only been a few days and busy ones, at that. I need to cut myself the tiniest bit of slack and forget about the last few days and move along. All is not lost and consistency can once again be restored amist the chaos that ensues. How wonderfully dramatic. Now put the back of your hand on your forehead and sway ever so slightly. That's it. You've got it. But better yet, pull on some running shoes and race yourself outdoors. I mean, it stays that much lighter in the afternoons, now. We can practice the melodrama later.
TT

More light

I made it to the gym early yesterday morning, then did some grocery shopping. Laundry was started and finished, the kitchen was cleaned and I swept and mopped the downstairs. It sounds like a lot but I really lazed through the day. I never got around to any gardening. The weather is at that almost stage of being not good enough to be good, instead of being good enough to be great. How's that for an accurate description!

It's rainy again today and we have that losing an hour thingy going on where my world turns slightly at a tilt. What time is it? What time? That will go on all day, I'm sure, maybe even a few days. It should smooth itself out in a week and then we will have the full benefit of that light at the end of the day. That makes me think of light at the end of a tunnel, but I'm so visual and there goes my thoughts leading me astray, again. I guess that means, there is some positive coming up if we keep running toward it. Keep running!
TT

Mud pies, anyone?

I've had a really busy week! It's Friday and I'm not sure how I blew through this entire week. But I will be the last to complain - TGIF!

I was trying to avoid the simple conversation of the weather, but let's get it out and over with so I can move on. Is this a roller coaster of temperatures, or what? I was going along fine, it was building it's way to spring, and then bam! I was hit in the face with cold, rainy, bone-chilling, howling-wind, type weather. Not just cold weather but extremely cold weather. It's lasted all of two days - ta-da! And now, I think, we might be on that road again to spring and I can't wait! Let's finish digging up that garden that was started three weeks ago. Let's sharpen up those tools and get out those gloves. Let's bring Mr. L and let him make mud-pies and then wash up and make some real pies. Let's bring the whole family over and...

Come on spring, I've missed 'ya! TGIF!
TT

Happiness is free

I had my health screening at work early this morning. I fasted but didn't do any other preparation for it since I already knew from going to my own doctors where all my numbers were lined up. I knew how the results would turn out, but employers want to make sure their associates are healthy and waving that carrot in front of them seems to be the way to lure them into submission. They give you incentives to have good scores. There are ways to earn points and put a few extra bucks in your pocket for doing what you should be doing on your own.

This made me wonder if this is the reason so many people don't do anything unless they get some type of monetary reward. Is it the, 'what's in it for me,' attitude that has made people failing in finding their passions? It's just a thought, but do we rely too much on the rewards, fads, and what is popular, as opposed to finding what we might get from something by experiencing it for our own enjoyment. I wonder if we were more open to different things, we would find it easier to get closer to that happiness everyone is searching down by not following someone else's ideas, but by looking to ourselves for our own create ways to find that fulfillment. If we ignored all the carrots presented in front of us, could we be more receptive to the things we have a personal passion for and realize we are happier doing them with or without those incentives.

I don't know how getting a finger prick this morning turned into this discussion.
TT

Moving into March

I read something about March coming in like a lion. Here we are, the first of March 2015, and how are we feeling about it? Is this month going to move in like a lion and what exactly does that mean?

I thought about being logical and break down what is perceived when you think about lions. Lions are the kings. They are majestic, proud, and aggressive. We think of them as being calm and regal, loyal and protective, and let's not forget, dangerous.

So is March a lion? Is it going to be the time to be a little more aggressive to the point of feeling dangerous with the things we are wanting to do. Do we take those steps across our own imaginary line where we don't think we can step beyond and do the brave things. Do we add a little more regal calm and confidence to what we are setting out to do. Do we act more like a lion to stop holding ourselves back from moving forward.

Is March the month of the lions? And then I think of Mr. L. The biggest, bravest, lion of them all. A lesson can be learned from three year old's and how they tackle life's obstacles in their world. They are sometimes calm, loyal, proud and aggressive; never fearing to take the chance to touch this or do that, learning more from their failures than if they sat still and did nothing all day long.

So is March coming in like a lion? I certainly hope so.
TT