Good Day

I like to wish people a good day, tell them to have a good weekend.  That kind of thing. I do it on the phone at work, to the check-out person at the store, the people I interact with when I am out and about.  I like to think it makes their day maybe a little bit cheerier.  So it kind of puzzles me when people, especially those in a good mood, do not return the well-wishes.  Even more so when they do not even acknowledge when I wish them a good day.

What is the big deal?  Why can't you just say "you too" when I say "have a good day?"  Do they just not know how to be polite?  Are they too self-absorbed?  It is not something I dwell on too terribly much.  I just notice it some days more than others.  Today was just one of those days.  Wouldn't this world be a much better place if we all wished each other a good day, back and forth?  Then maybe the world could be a happier place.    

Maggie the Wonder Pup

Just to preface, Maggie is not a barker.  She is the quietest dog I have ever had in my entire life (and I grew up with dogs).  But every once in a while, she turns into the ferocious warrior dog and starts barking up a storm, especially after 2 AM.  This is the dog that will  ignore the person walking into the backyard, but bark at a cat sitting on the sidewalk ACROSS THE STREET.   When we are in bed.  Asleep.  One (or both) of us gets up, tells her to hush; she calms down.  And then it starts over again.  Eventually, she winds up in the bedroom, because we both need to just get some sleep and have to work the next day, no matter what.  Sometimes that stops the barking.  Sometimes not; she stands on her hind legs to look out the window and continues to growl.  At nothing.  The cat or raccoon has long since left.  But there she is; our fierce 12-pound-ball-of-fluff-defender-doggie, guarding our house and protecting us from rogue urban wild animals.

I have a couple theories.  One is Maggie has spidey-senses.  And they are tingling a lot lately.  The past week, there have been three nights of barking.  She is barking at something she cannot see; at whatever random cat or raccoon she thinks she heard through the closed front door.  She doesn't even go outside to investigate!  Just barks at the crackling leaves rustling in the wind.

The second theory is the Twilight Bark (a la 101 Dalmatians).  Maybe there is a message system for animals, passing stories and information along the best way they know how (Maggie might have a Facebook page, but not every four-legged friend is so technologically advanced).  If that is the case, I hate to interrupt good communication, but it needs to happen when I am not trying to sleep.  There are tons of daylight hours where such a communication method is non-abusive to my sleeping habits.

Camping at home

It was so hot and gross the other day.  The house did not cool down at all.  Even the AC didn't help.  Outside it was nice.  Inside, not so much.  So how to solve that problem?  Sleep outside!  Kevin slept in the hammock (he claims it's comfortable), and I slept on the camping cot.  It was cool.  The only downside?  Sunrise was at 6-ish AM, and I don't have to get up until 7:00.  Whatever.  I was able to sleep, and that is what matters.  We might have to do this again.

The best reason I've heard to go to Italy...

SHOES!

The whole country is shaped like a boot; you're going to love it there!

Grass!!!

You might have seen my backyard.  It was hard packed dirt, lots of dead and crispy weeds, and some unidentifiable stuff.  It was just not pleasant, plain and simple.  In the last few months we've put some (minor) improvements to the place.  There was the gazebo, the outdoor dining, planting the garden, hanging the hammock, and a variety of other projects.  The final process was putting in some grass seed.  We are doing very inexpensive updates; we are renting and don't want to do anything to major, but since we will be here for a while, there are some things that we have to do to make it more habitable.

I went to work on Friday, while Kevin had the day off (he works 9/80s), and by the time I came home for lunch around 2 pm, he had the yard tilled, the grass seed spread, and the top-soil laid down.  AWESOME!!  I was all prepared to help out once I got home from work, but he had it all done.  In four to six weeks, we should have some nice grass.  It will be wonderful to fully enjoy the backyard.   It already feels cooler back there.

Kevin is a handy guy to have around.

Cousin fun!

One of the things I enjoy most about living in the Bay Area is being closer to cousin Meghan.  My Uncle John and Aunt Elizabeth did not always live close by the rest of the Davis clan, so they could not attend all the family functions.  As a consequence, I was not able to get to know my cousins, Meghan and Sara, as well as the other cousins.  That changed a little bit with summers Meghan spent with my family in Eureka, but that was when we were teenagers.  Who knows themselves as teenagers?

Meghan moved to Alameda a few years ago, so when I moved back to NorCal, we were able to get together.  Kevin and I are able to double date with Meghan and her finace about once a month, and they can come to some of the gatherings we host here at the Drunken Puppy.  It has been wonderful connecting with Meghan.  Family is family, and there are similarities in us because her Dad and my Mom are siblings.  I love having someone so close by who knows what I am talking about when I refer to something as "Davis," and can reminisce about the stories of the past.  Love it.  

What are friends for?

I've been loving this website lately.  There are just some really interesting sayings.  My favorite thus far has been the "Friends are cheaper than therapy."  Agreed.  Thanks guys, for all the free therapy over the years.

Busy Saturday

Kevin and I went to Sacramento for our nephew, Benjamin's, first birthday.  I didn't get any photos of the birthday boy (I know, I should be shot), but I did get some other good ones of Maggie the Wonder Pup and James (another nephew).  There haven't been any Maggie updates lately, and I know her public is just clamoring for updated info and photos.  

 Maggie road tripping

 Just waiting for the kinds to drop some food.  Patience is a virtue richly rewarded.

 James enjoying a cupcake

Kevin and Maggie chilling in the shade.

Being a girl

There are some aspects of being a girl that are just no fun.  And there are those parts that are just sheer joy.  I would have to say pedicures and, by extension, bright pink toes, are right up there at the top of the list.  They make me happy.

How a guy throws a party

A friend of Kevin's got married over the weekend, so the bachelor party was held at our place (I absconded for the night with my sister-in-law, Jackie).  I offered to bring out serving items; platters, plates, etc., and was denied.  Apparently, this is how a guy sets up for a party.  Give them a keg of root beer and some video games, and they were happy campers.  I could only shake my head and walk out the door.  But they had fun, and it was a beautiful wedding the next day.

How to deal

Sometimes I think I make a bigger deal out of things in my head than they really are going to be.  I'm the type of person that tries to anticipate the outcomes of situations before they happen.  Sometimes I even prep with a little role playing in my head.  Or out loud when I'm alone in my car.  I'm sure that looks really weird to the people driving around me.  Maybe they think I'm just going along with whatever is on my radio.  But I digress.

I'm a planner.  I believe a good offense is the best defense.  I like to have control of things and feel like I can control my reaction to situations if I have a dialogue in my head first.  The problem with this is that sometimes I get so worked up about the situation that I can't even broach it to those around me.  I have all the arguments, discussions, responses, and outcomes mapped out.  And usually nothing has happened yet!  And it may not ever happen.

The thing is, I should take a hint from various twelve-step programs and just, as they say, "let go and let God."  The more I relax and let things happen as the may, the easier it will be for me to go with the flow and just accept what life throws at me.  I can't control other people.  I will never be able to fully anticipate what they might do or say to me.  But I can grow stronger in myself and know that what they do is not a reflection on me, necessarily, but a reflection on how they see and feel about themselves.  I am strong and secure in myself, and the more I depend upon my Heavenly Father, the stronger and more secure I become.  I know me.  And knowing that will help me catch what the world tosses and be able to respond accordingly and appropriately.  Without having crazy role playing sessions in my head.