Look Who Followed Me Home Today!

Actually, he didn't follow me, I sort of dognapped him, at his Mommy's request. She is working another 12 hour shift tomorrow. I had just finished lunch with D and had wandered to the mall, because nail polish was calling to me and Ulta was having a sale. So I went, I bought, and I saw calendars on sale, and tried to reach Girl to ask her if she'd like a half price Boston Terrier calendar for the fridge in her new place. I didn't reach her but she called me back as I was pulling out of the mall parking lot, into hellacious traffic - she said she had to swing by the house and put on makeup and get presentable for work, and she would like to drop Dudley at my house since she's working a 12 tomorrow, but she's not sure she'll have time. I said I was right near the interstate and could drop by and pick him up if that would help. Problem solved. Our timing was so perfect, she was approaching her house from one end of the street as I came up from the other end, we did a very fast dog handoff (after duly greeting roommate's dog, a lovely girl, a young Lab mix who sits politely to be petted unbidden - unlike my little wild man who leaps like a crazed wind-up toy).

Dudley's manners, which were always pretty darn good, have improved noticeably since being away from Murphy - I'm not saying my dog is a bad influence - well, yes, I am. I think the difference is that when Dudley is here he takes his cues from Murphy, and Murphy is tiny and tends to jump and/or bark to get attention, or just to see what the hell is going on in the world above ankle-height. He'll knock it off if you tell him to, he's not THAT bad, but he does remind you that it's frustrating to see the world as a sea of feet, and would someone please lift him so he can participate in the conversation? Now Dudley is the little dog in his new home, and he has started taking his cues from the big dog he lives with and those who visit and his behavior has shifted slightly from little dog like to much more big dog like, because he wants to imitate his big new friends.

He has also become a truly fabulous car rider. I told him we were going in the car, and he automatically went to his mommy's car and looked at it expectantly. I said no, Grandma's car. (Yes, I am Grandma, and if it works out that I have granddogs instead of grandkids I'm fine with this. For one thing, I'm going out tomorrow night, and I don't have to say I can't, because I'm babysitting my granddog. I just have to make sure the shoes are secured.) Dudley went to my car and happily hopped in when I opened the door. I'm so glad he is over his car terrors, he is now a fine passenger, he watches everything intently but with no sign of real nervousness.

So, that was my day - I did box some stuff, move some stuff, sort some stuff (not as much as I should have) and had a truly godawful Chinese buffet lunch, the taste of which is still lingering in a most unpleasant way, even though as we were eating it I didn't think the food had any flavor at all.

D's story of work woes is her own and I'm not going to share it here, but I'll just say that it didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy about looking for another job in this market. There are people who have had bad work experiences and you know them and you think privately, "Yeah, I think I kinda see why this happens to you." In D's case, I have no freaking clue. She worked for us for a few months, I can vouch for her skills, her pleasant and polished professional demeanor, her overall good person to have around-ness. Her experiences would make anyone considering a job as a paralegal or legal secretary run screaming. And I honestly, truly, really don't think it's HER.

On a happier note, the new UV filter in the pond was so worth the money - the pond looks Gawgeous now. The water is crystal clear, and the fish are wondering what the hell happened.



Hey Grandma! Did you know about this? There are sparkly things moving around in there!



Yes, this is sorta kinda a knitting blog. I'm mostly done with the right front of the Minimalist Cardigan (IK, I think it was Fall 07? Or was it Winter?) It is going to be nice when finished, and the Debbie Bliss Rialto is a a pleasure, but damn, I'm sick of it. One front and two sleeves to go. Slogging onward.