Showing posts with label comments on Kilroy's blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comments on Kilroy's blog. Show all posts

Monday, July 26, 2010

LEARNING THIS STUFF

I did get a few things on that list done yesterday. My BBQ is spik ‘n span; there’s one less pile of paper in my office; I cleaned the bathrooms….. then I decided to wash my truck. I’ve never worked the pressure washer, so it was a new experience. A very wet one. I was trying out all the buttons AFTER the hose was connected to the faucet, and with the nozzle in just the right position, I discovered that one of the buttons was the trigger. It was quite the little dance when the cold water blasted my feet and legs and…well…let’s just say a little higher up on my anatomy. Fortunately, the doggies were the only spectators, and they only seemed curious about the sudden, strange noises the mistress was making!

I went back upstairs and changed. Determined to win, I returned and, with my new knowledge, took the equipment cautiously in hand and did a darned fine job on the truck, even if I do say so myself! When I had finished with the exterior, I vacuumed the inside, then grabbed the various sprays for the dash and the leather seats and the carpets. I turned the key enough to have the radio blare tunes to accompany all my rubbing and polishing – I was having a great time! When I finished, the doggies and I stood and admired the result – I was doing a mental pat-my-back! Until I went down this morning to leave for work and…the truck wouldn’t start. The battery was dead. With all my polishing, I had hit the dome lights. They had stayed on all night. Fortunately, I have a charger, although I wasn’t sure how to set it up. I just remembered my son once telling me ‘red with red, Mom’. I called him, and although the poor dude was sitting on the toilet at that hour, he patiently coached me over the phone. It was successful, so now I not only know how to use a pressure washer, I also learned how to use a battery charger. I enjoy learning new things, but I think I’ll take a couple of days break before having a go with the weed eater or the table saw.

My highlight today was a visit to the office by my friend, Kilroy. It’s always a pleasure to chat with him, and it doesn’t happen often enough with both of us so busy. We sat over a cup of tea, catching up on things, and it reminded me of when we used to work together a few years ago. His stay was far too short, of course, but I’ll take whatever I can get. We meet many people as we go along, and some of those become dear friends. Kilroy is one of those I hold close to my heart.

It’s nearly midnight now. I stopped on the way home to hug my daughter and to hear about her vacation. I was still thinking of her as I later made an apple crisp (her favourite dessert) to take for lunch tomorrow. It’s cooling on the counter, under one-eyed surveillance by the doggies. They’re already snoozing on their cushions behind that invisible line between kitchen and door. The scent from warm water in my Jacuzzi is calling, so I’ll wish you all sweet dreams and take my leave. Sending you a sleepy SMILE!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

THE BUD SAGA - PART 14

Weird things are happening in Blogspot.com. I have not been able to comment on Kilroy’s blog from my home computer for the past few days, so decided to try it from the office. The comment was accepted, but it went to Kilroy’s daughter-in-law in Vancouver, and I didn’t even have her e-mail address!!! A copy showed up in my Outlook Express too. Bizarre for sure. I’ll have to get my computer doc on the problem. It’s no longer just a frustration – it’s a puzzle, and I’m way too curious to let that go!

It’s a rock N roll week at the office, and I expect it will only get worse right up until the end of April. The days are flying by. We’ve been changing duties around some too – and, as usual, you can’t please everyone, so there is slight tension in the air. Some people have difficulty adapting to change, but it can’t be helped. Besides, learning to adapt is character enhancing, so the process is actually a favour in disguise. I’ll wait until it’s over to say that out loud though. With feelings the way they are right now, I am very sure the comment would not be appreciated, LOL.

Here’s the next chapter of my Bud Saga:


YOU WANT ME TO BABY-SIT WHAT??? - The End?

The phone rang three times before I could dredge up enough courage to pick up the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Hey there! Wanted to see how you’re doing, and how the pit is recuperating from his battle wounds.” Relief made me faint. It was my comrade who had helped with the dogfight and the cage. But the ID had said ‘Private’?

“Are you on your cell phone?” I asked, my voice still breathless.

“Yeh. Why do you ask?” his voice curious.

“The ID said it was a private caller. I thought it was our friend.” No doubt my voice was trembling.

“ Hey, yeh. I met Helen last night, She told me about his not being able to get back for awhile. Bummer…for both of you. How are you holding up? The pit quieted down any?” His voice was loaded with sympathy, and that was my undoing. The tears started, and try as I might, I couldn’t hold them back. Between gulping and nose blowing, I laid it all on him…the vet’s insinuation of my incompetence, the pit’s mess in my car, Helen calling and the way she had delivered her message, “she was so rude!”, my beer binge and consequential headache, “it must have been the tequila”, then finally the intruder episode and Bud’s reaction. He listened through the whole spiel, now and then making the appropriate comforting noises, until I mentioned the morning event.

“It was Mike, you say?” he asked.

“Yes, and I don’t like that guy much.” I told him the reason Mike had given me for his visit. There was a moment of silence.

“Well, maybe you should be thanking the pit then,” my comrade said thoughtfully. “Mike came into the restaurant just when Helen and I were finishing our conversation last night. There’s no way he could NOT have heard her tell me that our friend wouldn’t be back for at least six months. He knew you were alone there.” Then he chuckled. “But he did arrive too late to hear the horror stories about the pit…guess he didn’t get the welcome he was expecting. I don’t think he’ll bother you again, but I’ll have a word with him just the same.”

Great, so now I have a stalker to contend with too! To hell with this quiet country life. I wanted to get back to my big city where at least you knew the dangers

He was still talking, this time about Helen. “She’s a nice lady. Gotta admit she doesn’t sugar-coat anything before spitting it out. Sometimes it seems rude, but she doesn’t mean it like that. It’s just her German way of saying things, and her accent makes it sound worse. She does have a good heart though, and will help you if you want. She wasn’t calling or going around there ‘cause you didn’t ask, and she wouldn’t want you to think she was checking up on you.” Mmm...okay...if you say so.

His next words were a boon! “Listen, why don’t you stay in the city a couple of days? I’ll go with Helen and look in on the dogs…feed ‘em and let them out. We both think you could use a break, and I’m only leaving on Wednesday. The pit doesn’t know me that well, but if I’m with Helen he should be okay.” I was agreeing before he finished the sentence. Yes, yes and YES!

His tone more serious, he added, “If you decide to stay in the city, I’ll help Helen to close up the house before I leave.” The unspoken words were there... ‘and take care of the dogs…one of them forever’. I turned to look at Bud…but where was he? I’d been concentrating on the conversation, and hadn’t noticed how quiet it was in the house. The labs were lying in their usual spots, but the pit was nowhere to be seen. Asking my comrade to hold on, I put down the phone and went to investigate. I found him upstairs, surrounded by shreds of leather which had once been my expensive winter boots!

“YOU LITTLE SH*T!!” I was livid. He lifted his head, looked at me, then sat waiting, half of the second boot still hanging from his mouth. I grabbed a pillow off the bed and shot it at him. He darted out of aim, then made a beeline for the steps. He stood behind the couch, watching, as I clumped down after him. I was still sputtering obscenities when I walked over to pick up the phone….and saw his neck cone half under the kitchen table. Oh no! With all the commotion yesterday, I had forgotten to put it back on him, and now its condition was pretty much the same as my boots…in pieces. I snatched up the receiver.

“ARRG!” My frustration took over. “I don’t know if I can last until tomorrow morning with that little Sh*t!” I exclaimed. My comrade listened as I vented, letting me wind down. All the while I was glaring at Bud. He, of course, paid no attention, and was already starting to tease the labs who, in turn, were beginning the growl and snap routine.

“I have to get them outside before they all drive me crazy,” I said into the phone

“Okay. But, hey, an idea. There are Pit-bull Club sites on the internet. Maybe you could check them out. Those people know the breed well. They might be able to help you, tell you what to expect…”

I cut him off abruptly. “Never mind! I’m not going to need it! I’m SO outta here! Tell Helen they’re all hers. I’m going to the city tomorrow morning and not coming back. Thanks anyway for your help.” He wisely withdrew, told me he would catch me later, and we rang off.

The dogs were getting noisier, so I put them outside, making sure to tie Bud to the gallery chain. I needed coffee before going to join them, and more aspirin. Damn this headache. And damn that dog! And damn this whole situation!

(To be cont’d)

The sun is out there – another beautiful day. February has spoiled us with such nice weather…and with two gold medals (and more on the way, I am sure) for our Canadian athletes. Ah, life is good!

Sending you my biggest SMILE, and wishing you a terrific day!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.