I have had to fill large blocks of my time trying not to focus on my current situation. Also, Waiting for the Zebra Email/ phone call will drive you crazy if you let it. So, as a reaction to this dilemma, I have taken up dog napping!
Don't worry! I return the dog after a couple of hours. Just enough time to take it for a walk so I get my exercise and have an excuse to explore some unknown mushroom area.
Where do I get the dog? You may be asking. Well, Funny story. There is this female friend named Christina. And Christina has a dog named "Ladybird". Who happens to be the prefect dog for walking in a forest looking for mushrooms ( and other things) She is small... But not too small. She is tough and adventurous, but not violent. She likes to play and run around and obeys traffic signals. She even looks both ways before crossing the road! In short... She is (mostly) well behaved. ( Unless she rolls in something...)
And so it goes that I have been stealing Christina's dog every afternoon this week for a couple hours... just so Ladybird will accompany me for a walk. I know you might be thinking that I am simply using Christina for her dog... Which certainly looks to be the case at the moment. But honestly, I don't know if she actually knows. And if what you don't know won't kill you, then where is the harm?
So we are all good as long as she never finds out. I'm pretty sure Ladybird won't talk. She always has a Fabulous time with me each time we execute our little caper. We do all kinds of things while Christina is out at work.
"What kind of things?" You ask? Well.. It's more than just walking around the apartment complex for a potty break. No sir! We explore the forest and soccer fields near Parkside. And I have to tell you, every since I learned that the mushrooms are finally making an appearance, Ladybird has brought lots of luck!
I'm not sure if she can smell them or if we simply stumble upon them by pure accident Either way, I have managed to find a few clusters every single time we have gone out together.
And that is not all! We have found small animals. Take this chipmunk for example. He was pretty small and let me scoop him up just like a little dog toy. So cute!
I did not want Ladybird thinking he was a toy, so I had to hide hi in a small hole in one of the trees.
There is also the Robin's nest! Which has finally hatched! The robin mother was very angry with both of us. I'm sure it was Ladybird.
But, some animals... like birds, just don't like dogs. ( even though the dog is named after a bird....)
And then there were the butterflies! I 'm not sure why there are so many Mourning Cloaks this year. But I do like seeing them while walking in the forest.
Someone even pointed out that she had never seen so many of this particular butterfly before. ( And yes, I told her all about them... because I am kind of a nerd that way...)
And so, we go out for a few hours to explore the wilds of nature and then we return... Before Christina gets back from work. And before anyone ever finds out. It's the perfect crime. A little secret just between the two of us. How gloriously scandalous!
Unless Ladybird rolls in something. Which she did today. I'm not sure what it was, but if I had to guess, I would say it smelled like some sort of rotting mushroom mixed with dead snake. Whatever it was... It was Noticeable and Obvious!
So I had to give her a bath!
Is this what it is like having kids? You plan a fun weekend get away only to have the kids play in the mud in their good clothes? Or get hurt.. Or get fussy! I always knew that a dog was the closest thing to having a kid. Only I think dogs are smarter! And are not as much of a commitment as kids.
But I digress....
In other news, Dave and I finished cleaning out the house. Not really a cleaning as you might think it would be. More like a "treasure hunt".
Looking for things that are small enough to take but not damaged enough to call for a total loss. Mostly the collectables, and a few remaining clothes and tools.
They came for the Car today, so when they opened up the garage, Dave and I made our way in. And like all good guys from the Midwest, we salvaged the Fishing gear and beer! Because, as long as the fire did not damage the can, the beer should still be drinkable!
Of course, several cans did not make the grade. Possibly some debris punctured the can or something, (And Ommagang makes such good beer.... ) But the wine bottles made it! They might looks a little rough, but nothing a little Brillo pad and soap can't fix. None of that effects the flavor of the wine either.
I'm hoping that will be the last time we have to enter the house. It is going to begin to smell bad once the contents of the freezer hits the Summer heat. And everything you touch turns your clothes and skin black. Like working in a coal mine...
I think we salvaged what we could for the time being. Until we find a new place of residence that is temporary, but more permanent than out current situation, we will not be able to do any more.
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Nothing brings happiness like a dog running in the field... |
And speaking of the "next level". I finally got my Email for Zebra. It came in rather late (After 5!) I accepted it, but will complete the rest of it tomorrow. It will give me something to do that is probably more socially acceptable than stealing someone's dog every afternoon so you can battle anxiety and depression. Right?
And then there is the laundry and Friday Night Fish Fry... Where does the time go? Sometimes it is a challenge to make every second count.
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