Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Oakley Goes to Day Care

     7 a.m. 7 a.m. Behavioral assessment at 7 a.m. 
     My sinuses beat steadily to that chant this morning. I had to have him at the day care center at 7 a.m. 
     2:30. 3:18. 4:45. Up at 5:30. Oakley banged his treat ball with his nose as I slammed down my coffee. Out of here with an ample time cushion in case of bad traffic by the two high schools passed en route. 
     Pulled up in front of the building. The owner met us, took the paperwork, his snack as he wagged his tail and laid at my feet. "What do I do now?" I asked when I handed over his leash.
     "Go home," she said with a smile. Calmly, he lead her through the door to the trainer's office.
      Home I went. A good, productive, if entirely too quiet day. Some rest for this cold, yes. The high traffic areas have been tidied. Energy work session went well. 
     4 p.m. 4 p.m...he'll be home to fill the void at 4 p.m.


      
 


Monday, September 12, 2011

Monday Night Thoughts

   Giving The Spouse his space to watch some shows that I don't care for.    
    Met my goal of applying for three writing jobs. Be interesting to see what shakes out. As I think about rewriting my resume, let's see...tractor pulls, dream interpretation, food....no porn. Yet.
     Tired. Oakley has a nasty ear infection. Located deep in the canal, it's making him crabby. Even the gentle ointment makes him whip his head around. I understand my mother better.
     Tired. Long walk this morning. Long day today.
      Oakley has school tomorrow and his day care debut on Wednesday.
      See you tomorrow, Gentle Readers.


Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Tuesday, 9/6

   Yes. It's Tuesday.  The first Tuesday of the month, so the small city I live near tests its sirens. Even though it's expected, I still jump until I remember that the day is just another Tuesday.
    Today's tests may set off an additional wave of paranoia. We're just days out from the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The media and government have relentlessly pounded on it since 9/12/01.
     We are in two unwinnable wars.
     We have caused countless deaths.
      Can we make it stop, please?

Sunday, September 4, 2011

An Open Letter to the Forest Preserve People

Dear Forest Preserve People,

I really don't mind paying taxes to preserve nature. It created joy to see that my dollars had gone to upgrade the old scout camp into a lovely new campground with such great trails along the river.

However, yesterday, as I walked my dog at one of the older preserves--actually, the two conjoined by a network of trails--I noticed a sad lack of trail markers. Especially sad since the trails had to be rerouted due to erosion along the creek. I had walked our now deceased dog there numerous times several years ago to his joy, and wanted our new dog to have the same. What was planned as a two mile mom-and-pup hike turned into a five mile mommy--doggie death march in the 85-degree-plus heat coupled with the outrageous humidity.

As I said, I don't mind my taxes going to preserve nature. However, would it kill you to put up a few more directional signs? And maybe a few more trash cans at the ex-scout camp so that I can pitch dog poop in a timely manner?

Thank you,


Fran