My Weird Dog - National Mutt Day

 In honor of National Mutt Day I thought I would talk a little about my weird dog  mutt  Pippen.

I mentioned awhile ago that Pippen has been enduring some tough times.  Unfortunately, our recent vacation added to his nightmare.  Per the babysitter dog sitter, Pippen was very sad. He didn't eat much food, hung his head and had an overall sadness about him.  I did call a couple of times and they put the phone by Pippen.  He heard my voice, cheered up a little and started eating his food.  When we returned from vacation, Pippen became my shadow.  He doesn't let me leave his sight for long.  If I don't return, he comes and finds me.

I do have to report that RT took Pippen to get a mani-pedi his nails clipped.  Nail clipping is not one of his favorite things to do.  Turns out, Pippen didn't fight it.  He jumped up on the counter and let them clip his nails.  He even walked past all of the scary little dogs that tried to attack nip at him. He didn't try to eat them  lunge toward them.  I think my child  dog is finally growing up.

Pippen will be joining us on our next vacation.  I'm sure there will be some interesting stories to tell.  Stay tuned.

Retail Problems

 Another dose of the retail life for you.  Sometimes you get to laugh at work.

At work, we have to wear walkie talkies.  It's great when you have a question.  Someone can chime in with a quick response.  Of course, there are times when you ask a question and the line goes dead.  Either your message didn't go through or no one has an answer.

One day a coworker was looking for a chair to use while doing markdowns.  Sometimes it's a lot easier to sit down when you have to scan a lot of items close to the ground.  Over the walkie talkie, she asked, "Has anyone seen the scooty chair?"  Apparently, she did not speak clearly and there was a reply, "Booty chair?  Aren't they all booty chairs?  You have to sit your booty down in the chair."  All of us had a good laugh.  When my coworker finally replied, she made sure to enunciate and say, "Scooty chair."  

On another day, we had a furry visitor in the store.  I'm sure I have mentioned that our store is dog friendly.  We get quite a few furry visitors during the week.  On this day, the "visitor" made a little mess.  The manager was not very happy about it.  Apparently this dog visits quite often and always does his business in the store.  The manager took to the walkie talkie and said that there is a "clean up" in the pet aisle and to bring paper towels, a bag and a mop.  She went on a rant and explained how this customer always brings her dog in when it clearly has to do it's business.  After her rant, another employee said, "So, Cocoa visited us and left us a little biscuit?"

Vacation Musings

This musing is brought to you by my recent get away.

Every time we go on vacation, the bathroom of our hotel room or vacation rental always ends up being a hot mess.  I'm never sure who is responsible for the disaster.  I would like to believe it is someone else coming in and using our bathroom.  I mean, do I really live with these sloppy messy people?   Who raised these kids?

What does the bathroom look like, you ask?  Do you remember the scene in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," where Steve Martin goes into the bathroom to take a shower after John Candy?  The bathroom floor is soaking wet.  All of the towels are used and in a pile. After his shower, he reaches for a towel to dry off and all that is left is a wash cloth.  Yea.  That's probably the best description.

Does your family like to destroy mess up the bathroom when you are on vacation?

What does your family do that makes you wonder how you are related on vacation that drives you crazy?

The Mosquito Whisperer

 Mosquitos, those pesky little insects that like to suck the fun out of summer.  Buzzing around your ears to announce their presence.  Or, those that prefer to make a sneak attack and you realize their itchy presence after your millionth  one hundreth bite.

Mosquitoes have got to be the most annoying thing about summer.  Well, extreme heat and humidity are quite bothersome for some of us.. Some people are more bothered by them than others.

We went on a little vacation that included a hike up the side of a mountain.  We had to get up really early to eat and get moving.  On this lovely hike, someone did not have mosquito repellant.  That "someone" is quite the feast for the little fellers.  "Someone Else" said the bugs would get better at a higher altitude.  That "someone" person was swatting at these guys the ENTIRE climb.  "Someone" came down from the mountain with millions a lot of bug bites.  (They bite through clothing.  And, they bite your scalp!)  RT I mean, "Someone else" did not get any bug bites.

"Someone else"  I mean, RT told me that I could be hired as a bug repellant at parties.     Hire me and I can stand in your yard and all of the mosquitoes will automatically come to me and not your or your guests.  He's always looking out for me.  You gotta love the guy.

I tried looking up what attracts mosquitoes and how to ward them off.  Apparently I have the blood type that attracts them (O).  Some say it's in your genes / hereditary.  If that is the case, well, my Dad was a huge attraction to mosquitoes.  Thanks a lot, Dad.  I heard that ammonia attracts them.  Not sure how this affects me since I'm 50% vinegar, 49.5% olive oil and .5% oregano.  Basically a Greek Salad.  I did learn that garlic helps keep them away (and everyone else for that matter)  I think I'm going to have to eat a lot more garlic.

Are you an attraction to mosquitoes?

Subtitles

 Subtitles: The text of dialogue, speeches, operas, etc.  Translated into another language and projected on the lower part of the screen.

I always thought subtitles were used for foreign films.  If you don't know the language, you can read the words.  Sometimes there are things that get lost in translation.  The subtitles will either try to summarize what is happening or ignore it by not putting anything there for you to read.  At that point, all you can do is hope it wasn't a key piece to the movie.

I was first introduced to the (frequent use) of subtitles while watching a movie with Nick and Bella.  I mentioned that the subtitles were on, as a reminder to turn them off and was told that they like using them while watching movies or TV shows.  Apparently this is a normal way to watch movies.  I found this fascinating.  Especially among a generation that is used to multi-tasking.  Think about it, they are on their phones and watching television (which is what one of my children was doing).  The whole concept of adding subtitles to the mix just baffles me.  Now, in addition to all of the other activities you have going on, let's add in some light reading.

Maybe it's just me, but, when the subtitles are on, I feel compelled to read them. I'm more focused on the words than actually listening and watching what is happening in a movie (or TV show).  I do have to say that subtitles do come in handy when the actor is a mumbler  you can't understand what the character (person) is saying.   That's a lot better than rewinding 100 times to try and figure out what was said.

How do you feel about subtitles?

Do you use subtitles when you watch television or movies?

Retail Problems

Some little ditties from my lovely job in retail.

There are many stories of my time as greeter.  My favorite is the guy who winked at me.  I'm not sure if there was something in his eye or if it was a nervous tic.  This guy walked in, behind his wife, and as he walked by he said hello and winked at me.  I found it odd and thought that it might have been a mistake, but, he winked at me again as he followed his wife out of the store.   A habit or is he a flirt?  

There was the time when this woman came in wearing dirty purple gloves.  She grabbed a cart and did some shopping.  Even made a purchase.  A few hours later I saw her enter the store to do an exchange.  She was still wearing the same dirty purple gloves.

My favorite story happened the other day.  I was ringing up a customer and gave her the total.  She reaches into her purse, starts digging around, moves away from the counter and then says (loudly), "I can't find my wallet.  SOMEBODY STOLE IT!"   I didn't know what to say.  I wasn't with her in the store and it looked like her bag was closed when she got up to the register.  How did someone steal her wallet without her knowing about it?  She steps toward the counter again and looks in her purse and calmly says, "Oh.  There it is"  and pulls the wallet out of her purse.  I almost burst out laughing and was quite grateful that I was wearing a face mask.  I wanted to know if she was related to RT* but didn't have the courage to ask.

*check out these posts for a backstory on people stealing RT's stuff : goggles, phone, hiking gloves.

My Weird Dog

 It's time for another dose of My Weird Dog.  July 4th edition.

Pippen has been going through some tough times these past couple of weeks.

Pippen's partner in crime, Curly, is no longer with us.  Pippen is going through a time of adjustment back to being the only dog in the house.  It's been rough for him not having a play mate.

There was a tornado in our area.  At the time of the storm we were out of town.  Pippen (who has a fear of thunder) hung out with Alex during the storm.  The rain (thunderstorms) lasted for several days, adding to his weirdness skittish tendencies.  Add in the fact that I was not home to comfort him.  I'm not sure if he has recovered.

And then, the Independence Day celebrations start up in our area.  Lots of fireworks.  And, not just on the fourth of July.  This year the celebration was a three day ordeal.  

We attended a barbeque on the fourth (without Pippen) making sure that we would return prior to the holiday celebrations that evening.  Before we left, we let Pippen out in the backyard.  I told RT that he might have to go outside with him.  

Yea.  I'm not sure how (or why) RT puts up with Pippen and his weird tendencies.  I think he does it mostly for me.  Sometimes RT questions the weirdness  Pippen's antics, and then there are other times that he just knows some type of weirdness will occur and just goes with it.

The backyard visit didn't go well with RT.  Someone lit a firecracker and it sent Pippen running back into the house.  I had to go into the yard with Pippen and hold his paw  assure him that he was OK.   I can report that the yard visit was a success.

When we returned from the party, we found Pippen under the dining room table.  It was still early, but, there was a lot of celebrating going on in the neighborhood.   Let's just say that it ended up being a long night for all of us.

Let's hope that things calm down a little around here so Pippen can get back to normal his normal level of weirdness.

The Mask Whisperer

 I wrote this post awhile ago.  Masks are not required in stores in this state but are recommended for those who are not vaccinated.  I know there are differing opinions on this subject.  This post is not political and lands more on the humorous side of mask wearing and mask wearers.  

Masks are still required when in a restaurant or place of business.  At this point, a year in, most people are used to wearing masks.  We have learned to speak, breathe and do various activities all while wearing a mask.

I'm not sure if they should be called mask mumblers or mask whisperers.  Mask whisperer sounds like they can perform some type of magic while wearing masks.  A little soft conversation and the ear loops won't break.    I'm referring to the people who mumble or whisper their reply into their face mask when they are asked a question.  They must feel like they are speaking loud enough to be heard.  Maybe everything they say is top secret so they choose to speak softly?

At checkout, we ask customers for their email.  A lot of customers feel the need to whisper their email into their mask.  They don't realize that the mask and plastic protective shields at the register muffle their words and we can't hear anything that comes out of their mouth.  Yes.  I am older, but, I can assure you that my hearing is still pretty good.  (What?)  Speaking a little louder so that others can hear you will not harm your health.  We are not asking you to shout out any of your personal information.  Just some quick answers to, "Did you find everything ok?" and "What is your email?" 

There are many states that have lifted their mask policy.  Masks are not required in all stores or restaurants.  People have been wearing masks for a year now and some are not ready to give them up.  To the mumblers these people I say, "Please speak up louder so your voice can be heard.  Thank you."

 It's been a little quiet around here.  

Someone told me they missed my posts.  I thought everyone was enjoying the peace and quiet.  Happily going about their day to day lives.  

Maybe that person was just trying to be nice.  Secretly hoping I never discuss the scary depths  details of my life ever again.  Or, maybe they are hoping my new stories/posts will be normal and have some deep meaning and offer a sense of purpose.

I translate all of that into, "People miss my scary life stories  crazy  scary  ramblings and musings."  

So, enough playing hooky for me.  

I'm back.