It didn't end yet

When you are on a roll, you are on a roll, right? It didn't end yet. Unfortunately my memory will probably skip over the best parts, but I shall try to catch up on further luck.

Wednesday was the day I met Cindy for lunch and my tights went south. Thursday I met a former co-worker, and again I had to drive about 15 miles. I took the freeway because I was running almost late. I like to be early, especially if I am meeting someone who is taking time from her work day to meet me.

About half way there I had this sudden urge to exit at a different place. As it was I was reminding myself that the exit was in two parts, a north and a south, and to be sure to take the first one or I would end up in my old office and deal with mall traffic. I actually was getting stressed, so I got off early, re-working the route in my mind. The drive turned out uneventful,  but when my brain says "change the route" I do it. I didn't once, and I have learned since to listen. It's not like it said, "go by way of Toledo." I don't hear voices, I just get an urge to change the route. It's weird, but it's part of who I am, I suppose.

So I was about 15 minutes early. I read over the menu, got comfortable as I could. The restaurant might as well have been outdoors, because it was freezing in there. My former co-worker and I decided to go to Costco after lunch. She had a few minutes and I had a few items I needed to get. Ladies do not like to run low on toilet paper, after all. We ran to our cars and hurried into them, and I whacked my head on the top of the car getting in. Ouch. I hoped it wouldn't bruise, since I don't wear bangs any more.

Costco is only maybe a mile from the restaurant, but it was raining. It was the kind of icky, cold, persistent, nasty rain that can only fall on a damp, dank winter day in the north. It was a bit foggy. We drove through the parking lot in our respective vehicles. It seemed the entire county suddenly needed something from Costco. I snagged a good spot, friend found a decent one in another section. One thing I do have good luck on is parking spots. Someone will be backing out just as I get near the door.

Luckily when deciding on which item to pull out of my overfull jacket/coat closet, I thought "rain" and grabbed my raincoat with a hood. We got in the store, shook off like dogs, and proceeded to grab a cart.

Ever notice how carts have evolved in stores? You know those smaller ones that pharmacies have? That used to be the only size available any place. That is what people used to use to buy groceries once a week for a family of 6. Everything fit fine, because people ate less when I was younger. The Costco carts are closer to the size of the cars I grew up with. The back seats of those cars were big enough to start a family in. Cars are like that again, but in between cars were much smaller. But I digress, as is normal for me.

My friend wasn't able to stay long. She completed her purchases quickly and I stayed for my shopping. I do not go to Costco often. It's too easy to buy things that make sense while you are there but no sense once you get home. I also have to walk every aisle at least once. It's exercise, too. If I have the time I can walk 2-3 miles there.

I started noticing that anyone alone, besides me, was on the phone. I could hear the conversations much better than I wanted to. Why do people talk so loudly these days? Do they really think I care to hear about their child's disease they had on their private area three months ago? Or what their stupid boyfriend did last month? Hello, you are in a store, supposedly shopping. Can't you bear to be alone for 20 minutes?

One purchase I needed was meat. I only go every few months for meat, and try to get enough to last.  I remembered that child had asked me to get her a large pack of chicken breasts next time I went, so I almost called her to see if she still wanted them, and decided I could manage without using my phone in the store, even if it would be a quick call. If she wanted some of mine, fine. While picking up a package of chicken, I realized one package in the pile had leaked. I spent the rest of my shopping time with dead chicken blood on my hands. Yuck.

I am amazed and appalled by some of the products at Costco. So much of it seems to be nothing but filler foods to make people gain weight. I usually end up being so grossed out that I buy very little food. I must not be in one of their target market groups. But I did need to get dog food. I found a 55 lb bag.

OK, I admit it. Partly I wanted it just to see if I could do it or not. I ended up on my hands and knees on the floor, trying to get that 55 lb bag of kibble  onto the bottom rack of the cart. Remember, the cart has wheels. I hope no one used their camera phone, but I managed. If the bag didn't sag in the middle, it would be easier to move around. I also grabbed a 15 lb box of milk bones. I ended up grabbing a lot of things, but not really anything I didn't need. My cart was FULL. Maybe I should go a little more often.

I got in line to leave. While I have good parking luck, I can always pick the worst lines. I didn't have anything frozen, so it was just a matter of being patient. As usual when I wait in a line, mother nature started screaming at me. My friend and I had two glasses of diet Coke each at lunch, and we did not go before we left. I waited in line, and waited...and waited....and surprise! Just as I was next, they opened a new lane and I got to be first. Next, first, not much different.

It was still raining, only harder. The temperature had dropped, but it still wasn't freezing. One nice thing about my Highlander is the back door opens upwards, so I can stand under it while I load it up. Getting that bag of dog food out was awkward, since I wasn't going to kneel down on the wet parking lot. I managed. I also had two packs of 30 rolls of toilet paper. They were tossed into the back seat. The drive home was surprisingly uneventful, other than a cab driver who sat and sat, then just had to suddenly dart out into traffic much too fast right in front of me, then sort of fishtailed until he got going. I noted the name of the cab company, which was written along the dented in, rusted side of the vehicle. I wanted to remember who not to call if I need a ride some time.

Coming home is always entertaining. I never know what I will walk into. Molly is creative, Baby has her issues, Wiz has a sensitive stomach. In fact, Wiz decided to return the stretchy metallic ribbon she ate the other day. On my computer, and also on the catalog that has the information I need to sign up for yoga again.

The dogs hadn't done anything unusual, although Baby had pooped and chewed on the throw rug on top of the plastic sheet on top of the carpet right outside my master bath, as usual. They went out and when they came in, I had their full attention.

Mom went hunting. Mom is a very impressive hunter.

I decided that since I had to handle raw meat and divide it into small portions to freeze, I would not clean up the poop until I was done. I had many chicken breasts and rib eye steaks to put in baggies. I also had a dozen blueberry muffins to put in baggies. I freeze them individually, then take one out the night before if I want one for breakfast. This process took a while. The dogs never left my side. They barely breathed. They sat and watched.

Meanwhile, the phone rang, and child said she wanted to stop by and pick up some of her stuff. I knew she was alone, because she called first, so I just continued what I was doing. She came in, and we got a couple boxes to her car. She wanted yet another of my make up bags (what does she do with them?), so we went upstairs to the master bath to see what I have left.

Exactly. The poop was still there.

This morning, I turned on the garbage disposal (I have ADD on topics, OK?) and there was a stone in it. Molly must have knocked one in when she dumped that pot the other day. I can't remember that there were any stones in there, or that any dirt was near the sink, but I can't imagine any other way it would get there. The only other option is that Wiz, the old cat, is starting to drop things in the sink. I sure hope not. I fished it out.

I just got up to let Molly out and found a cat turd on the floor with a handle on it. It seems that at least one piece of elastic metallic string went through the cat. This might explain why she hasn't eaten for 24 hours. I think Wiz needs to see the vet. I weighed her this morning, and she has actually gained a little, but unless she passes more stuff today, she is going to have to Go See The Vet.

Wiz does not like to go, although she does charm most vets. I am so scared that if I take her, and bring her home, the smell on us from the vet's office will cause Molly to have a seizure. Molly is also due for her shots this month, the normal maintenance ones, which can be fatal to Addison's dogs. We will need to titer for the levels first.

Tomorrow I get my hair cut. It's way, way long now, even though I had 4 inches cut off recently. I am going for a Big Girl haircut finally. I am terrified. Most of my life, I have worn my hair just long and straight. I am never happy with "real" haircuts. The woman's name I got from the girl in the store when I was with Cindy? The one who cuts hair? She isn't taking any new customers for at least 3 months because her daughter recently had major surgery.

My bad luck is entertaining. I will be keeping that lady's daughter in my thoughts as I remember how lucky my life really is.