Trashy Tuesday – What is Next?

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." – Albert Einstein

We have to stop meeting like this, people are beginning to talk if you know what I mean. Anyway, GOOOOOOD MOOOOORNING All You Happy Drivellers!

What shall we explore today? How about current events? The chain link fence has been installed from the house to the fence along the back of the yard. After six years of el cheapo green plastic temporary fencing, I decided it was time for something more permanent. I got tired of patching the holes that the rabbits chewed through it. I needed something to keep my granddogs in the area. That crappy fence didn’t really keep them in; they stayed in only out of respect for me and my current wife. Kinnick went through it once and only once. Barney and Max could have gone through it any time but thankfully they didn’t. Now with chain link I won’t have to trust their respect for us to stay here. Barney and Max have already lifted a leg to inaugurate it. The bunny rabbits are totally confused. Now on to the next project.

Do any of you have anyone who brings their little designer doggie to Church on Sunday? What do you think about that? I personally don’t think the Sunday service is the place for a dog or cat or any animal for that manner. My concern is for the church goers who may suffer an allergy to the animal. I also have a concern for our people taking the offering during the service. I am afraid there could be a “surprise” in offering plate if they didn’t like the sermon. We have a member who shows up with a little doggie once in a while. May be time for another sign on the door.

What’s up with these mosquitoes down in Texas? Never really paid much attention to them before but they are killing people I guess. I figured I would never get over to Egypt so why worry about a West Nile Virus. Apparently, the pesky bug has come to the states. I personally am stocking up on long sleeved t-shirts, sweat pants with elastic at the ankles, a fake hoody and light weight gardening gloves. I figure fully body covering with keep me protected. I haven’t found a light weight ski mask yet so I have been using my winter one. Boy, is that sucker hot. It’s been rather curiously annoying when I go shopping. I get stopped a lot by security guards and policemen wanting to know what I am doing. I don’t know why they need to know.

I had a meeting yesterday with the “Ladies of the Book”. These are female seniors who loosely oversee the library next door to Grandpaw Bailey’s Doggie Fitness Center and Spa. These ladies don’t have any official standing within the Library organization; they are just “concerned” avid readers. I was rather uneasy with these ladies. I thought we were to begin fall planning now that the schools are opening and the summer programs are over. By all accounts our kids read to dogs program was a huge success. Instead of a planning session the meeting evolved into a rather contentious question and answer quiz of my intentions with the spa and what they perceived as an affront to the moral standards up held by the “Ladies of the Book”. As politely as I could, I suggested they get a life. I also suggested they take up reading these “50 Shades….” books. Let’s see if that ruffles their feathers.

The stores in this strip mall want to drum up business and we are all trying to come up with an idea. The leading idea so far is having a Dog Olympics in the parking lot. Maybe some kids rides and stuff. We could have dock diving, agility, fly ball competitions and perhaps a glamour contest of best looking dog. I am trying to talk Kay from my gym to bring some people over especially some of the Silver Sneakers to give a fitness demonstration. Shoot we may even get a Palates or Zumba demonstration. This could be a real happening for the strip mall. Many of the store owners are excited so I think this may be a go but we have to hurry while the weather is good. More on that later.

Now for the National Whatever Days for this week

August 22 - National Tooth Fairy Day

August 23 – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

August 24 – Vesuvius Day

August 25 – EEEEK! – Nothing

August 26 – National Dog Day
Women’s Equality Day

August 27 – Global Forgiveness Day
Lyndon Baines Johnson Day

August 28 - EEEEK! – Nothing Again

Stopped over to daughter Jenny’s house last week. I hadn’t seen her and Kinnick since their weekend trip to Colorado. I didn’t really spend much time with Jenny but Kinnick and I had a wonderful time. He told me all about his “big” trip. It was a big trip for him. I have gotten pretty good at understanding “Labrador” speak. He was extremely nervous on the way out there. He couldn’t get comfortable and he didn’t really know where he was going. He said he was really afraid of getting lost or separated from his mom. The place they stayed he said was great. It had a very nice backyard to play in and to take care of business. The downer was the time zone change and the higher elevation. He said he was panting a lot and couldn’t catch his breath. His mom told him it was the altitude, whatever that was. He told me all about the hike they took with another dog and its mom. It was pretty cool he said. He was glad to get back to his home though.

On the subject of dogs, Max’s vigil overt the bunny nest is over. They had grown enough to go out on their own. He made sure they were there every morning and evening. He is a pretty conscientious pug. Barney didn’t much care for them so left them alone. Oh Barney does like to chase birds and butterflies. He doesn’t like them. Maybe it is because he never catches any. Personally, I think he likes to chase them and Max just to work up a little sweat so that when he goes into the solar tanning bed, the moisture will enhance his tan. It is hard to tell how his tan is coming along since he has black hair. His mom doesn’t allow him too much sun just for that reason.

My outdoor projects are beginning to wind down. I have some finishing touches to do but I am about done for this year. A few weeks ago I was all atwitter at my good fortune of finding someone who could finish off the area between my house and the neighbor. Big mistake. He bailed out of the job. Bummer. Don’t have a plan B for that yet. I am beginning to turn my sights to the inside of the house. Remember, my leaking bathroom faucet that led to all of this upgrading this summer. Well, it continues to impact my life. Namely, my water heater. About half of the time, I take a shower never turning the cold water on. No I can’t stand really hot water; instead the hot water spigot spews only luke warm water at the best. I have a sneaking feeling it will be getting replaced. My current wife still has a couple of things on her list – new carpet and a new kitchen. Just a couple of small things!

As I begin wrapping this up, I wanted to just say that I am looking forward to this football season. For a number of the Iowa games, I will be sitting with the granddogs on the days when the games start late. They all have not been over for an afternoon for a long time. Daughter Jenny, the elder, is getting a little family football league together. It is pretty fun and is mostly about bragging rights and trash talk. My coffee is gone for the day. That coffee grinder that I had to buy a month or so ago, is now being used daily. I am grinding my own coffee. It is pretty cool. I am getting my coffee just about as fresh as I can get it. Yum! With that in mind, with me luck at the dentist this morning. My annual cleaning is today. Which are easier, teeth cleaning or acid reflux? It’s a toss-up for me. Until we stumble into one another again, TA!