THE ISLE OF DOGS!

It is not that I objected to my daughter taking a holiday, for a week, especially when it was to celebrate her husband's birthday, when the rest of us are having to stay at home and go to work, but the thought of having the dogs for a week, eight nights to be precise, was not a happy one!  "I will drop them off on Saturday, after dinner, if that is okay, as we have an early flight".  Notice the lack of a question mark!  The "if that is okay" was more of a 'polite interject' than a query.  Of course it was okay.  When is it never okay?  There is the question mark!  I do not object.  I just fret!  

My Sunday morning was not really affected, as I took my normal course of exercise, then walked them around before breakfast, with another walk after the intake of sustenance.  Seven more nights!  Surely it cannot be that bad.  

I was a little more focussed on my gardening on Sunday afternoon, and managed to clear away and make everything look decent before going in and making dinner.  I had spent the afternoon with two of the several 'Jennies' that live in our complex, and had not really read a great deal, despite my book becoming a little more exciting.  It has taken a long time for the 'can't put it down' stage and that was slightly disappointing.  The lack of sleep on Saturday night was not made up for on Sunday, whilst lounging for a couple of hours!

Late night walks do not make me sleep better, despite the weariness I feel when bringing the dogs back in.  Samantha and Edward had arrived safely, and were enjoying their first day of what was going to be a very busy week.  I had been invited but chose not to intrude, mainly because I did not want to leave Dana alone with the dogs.  Perhaps I should have said that I did not want to leave Dana alone, and not added the bit about the quadrupeds, but I think the former is probably more apt!  Sorry Dana!  

Changing my shoes for a pair of trainers on Monday was probably a good idea, as I walked the dogs upon my arrival at the office.  I drove myself in, as I was a little late, and we walked up and down the car park once, then took to the trail where they seemed to find a lot to 'sniff' about!  Once watered etc., I came back and started the work day.  

Thankfully, the long walk appeared to tire out the little boys and I sat at my desk and accessed my usual contest sites.  A middle aged man came in through the door, and asked if the sign that said "No solicitors" really meant that, or did that mean "Barristers" as well? Dressed very casually, I assumed him to be a 'solicitor' and wondered what he was selling.  "We do not care for solicitors", I started, and asked how I could help him.  When he mentioned his name, I waited for the ground to swallow me, but it did not adhere to my wish!  He was an actual 'solicitor' as in 'attorney', and was making a joke regarding the sign.  Obviously, I should have 'got' the joke, as it was something which I found amusing in the early days here.  "No solicitors" on the door of a 'solicitors' office!  I should have 'got' it when he mentioned 'barristers', but I am not used to the people here having the same humour.  I did 'recover' somewhat, and then had to rescue him from two dogs who appeared to have renewed energy!  

Thankfully, the 'solicitor' was rather less confident than he should have been, and I was able to win him round by remembering a name of an English television show that eluded him.  "Rumpole of the Bailey", I said, as he struggled to remember the name of the old(er) but very competent character.  

Once our client had left, I started to berate him for keeping me talking.  "Do you have a lot of work?" asked Grant.  "That's not the point!" I replied.  "I have contests to enter!"  Of course, this was seen for the joke it was meant to be.  At least someone 'got' it!

Leaving the office, and Dana with the dogs, I came home and tended to all that needed to be done.  It was not as hot as it had been over the weekend, but I figured that the pool would still be warm enough to swim.  It was, and I felt somewhat invigorated, and ready for whatever I had to do in the next few hours.  Six more nights!  Six more late night walks!  Six more!

A cold front blew in on Tuesday, which made the water feel so much warmer.   I got dinner prepared, and was feeling quite good about the fact that I might get to work on time, when I was stopped by not only Raul, but another neighbour.  As Samantha was not in the condo, waiting patiently (or otherwise) for me to return, I decided that I could afford some time to chat.  Once again, on my (later) arrival at the office, I changed shoes and we went for a walk.

My daughter called to tell me what a wonderful time they were having, and tell me of the show they went to the previous evening, and that they were changing rooms as the telephone was not working. What was I doing?  I was tempted to say "Your job" but did not, as I really was not, at that time!  Grant was holding the fort down admirably, and I did not have to step in, just yet. 

I received a call from a court clerk, reminding me that some papersneeded to be collected.  I thanked her and told her that someone would be by to pick them up.  This prompted me to check on a 'spreadsheet' we have from one of our clients, to let us know what they have 'filed'.  There were about eighty papers that we had not been made aware of, and I made a list to send back asking if they had intended to send them to us.  The phone call that I received later was of an exasperated paralegal, who explained that one of her staff had left their employ, and worst still, left them in a wake of disaster!  The logistics were imparted, and I sat and listened, asking at intervals how we could be of assistance.  Of course, this is above and beyond the call of duty, but this is what we do!  Walking the extra mile, so to speak is our forte!  I told her that it had not been my intention to reduce her to floods of tears, and she assured me that despite the feeling of impending doom and despondency, it was a good thing that I had made her aware of the problem.  It is always encouraging to be thanked for causing a catastrophe, which will in fact halt the ongoing (unnoticed) catastrophe!  

Five more nights!  I sang the words to the melody of Phil Collins' hit record.  I did not add the 'Please give me...', nor was I pleading for "Just one more night".  My prefix was 'only'!  We walked around, and then walked around again.  "Is this a good spot?" I asked a quadruped who had no means of answering me! It appeared nowhere was a good spot, for over half an hour!  Only five more nights!

I arrived late, took the dogs out, left to get my nails done and then came back to the office.  My dinner had been prepared, and dessert was simple, but my mind was not where it should have been.  Samantha called to say that their friends had arrived and they were going to sit by the pool.  How nice.  What was I doing?  "Your job!"

Four more nights, and then freedom!  I started to think about my circumstances.  Never, in a million years (or thoughts) would I have imagined myself walking my daughter's dogs.  Never, etc., would I have imagined walking my daughter's dogs, at my home in Austin, Texas.  Never, etc., would I, etc., whilst my daughter was in Las Vegas for a week!  There were a lot of 'never would I have ever imagined' thoughts going through my mind, as I wandered around the complex, willing the animals to do what they should do, so we could all go inside!

Perhaps I was feeling a little sorry for myself on Thursday, or perhaps it was because Edward thought the 'big' surprise was that I was going to join them, rather than their friends, and I was still here, (although I think seeing his friends was far more of an enjoyable surprise,) but I was felt very tired, and a little fragile.  They had a lot planned for the 'big' day, and were going to meet some more friends later for a lovely dinner in a fabulous restaurant.  I was having left over fish pie!  Much as my fish pie was enjoyed by all, and it was rather delicious (even if I say so myself) and the Eton Mess was just as scrumptious as always, I was not going to a posh restaurant, nor was I going to a show. I was the show, especially if another dog rounded the corner, or a neighbor appeared, or the wind blew, or, or, or!  I told Grant that the walk that morning had bordered on the sublime! The dogs' attention seemed to be taken by everything.  Wind, leaves, rustling, air!  They appeared to be fascinated by the particles of oxygen, nitrogen, and whatever else from which our atmosphere is made.  Any excuse to not do what they are meant to do!

It was raining on Friday morning.  The 'friends' who had arrived on Wednesday, were going home.  The dinner was a great success, and the evening was wonderful.  It was Friday morning here, and it was raining.  We walked in the rain, the animals and I, and the downpour was not gentle.  It did sweep in and sweep out quickly, but it was quite aggressive.  

My workload was huge, as it had been on Thursday, due to the exposing of the 'catastrophe', and I did not have time to waste!  Dana was due to meet someone at the house to 'exactly' measure our windows but they did not call.  I did not have much patience left.  "You need to call them!" I said, grumbling that they were very quick to take our deposit, etc., etc.  He called and was told he would get a call back.  He did not.  An hour later, I was back demanding that he call them again.  After a couple of hours going back and forth, with me voicing my opinion that if this was how they were just attempting to get measurements, how could we trust them with the actual job, all became a little clearer.  "I have received no calls from you!" said my husband, adamant that his phone is by his side, constantly, unless it is not, but in this case it was.  I called him.  It went to voicemail.  I called from the office phone.  It went to voicemail.  It appeared that he had inadvertently changed his ring tone to 'mute' and all calls had gone to voicemail.  Thankfully, the company we chose to do the windows is professional, and very proficient!  They had made several calls, as had the engineer!  ("If he had not received an answer to his call, or at the door, why did he not call the office?" asked Dana.)  "Hello.  Our engineer called to say he was ten minutes out, left you a message, and then arrived at your door.  There was no answer. He called you again, and then called us, and we called you, but there was no answer.  Can you call us to reschedule?" came the message, after several from the engineer!  Eating humble pie, thankfully, comes easy to my husband!

Dana went home mid afternoon, and was gone for about an hour. The dogs moaned the whole time!  They do not like it when 'papa' leaves. I am not substitute!  

Two more nights, just two more nights!  Oh how I longed for an evening with no interruptions.  If I wanted to doze, I could doze.  If I did not want to go for a walk, I did not have to!  Samantha and Edward were having a wonderful time, and I was very happy that they could do this, have the opportunity, etc., etc!  It would just be nice not to have the dogs, but then again, why would I not want to look after the dogs? (Said every 'dog person' in my neighbourhood!)

My Saturday morning started early. The 'old lady' looked so pretty and youthful, after her trip to the 'beauty shop', (car wash,) and she took me to the dollar tree, then the DIY centre, and to Walmart.  From there, we shone all the way to Costco, with a couple of extra stops on the way.  Once I got home and unloaded, (always amazed at what you can fit in to a mini,) I took myself down poolside, for some 'R&R'.  

"Hello!  I know you.  You are the good swimmer", came a little voice, from a little person.  "Thank you for saying I am a good swimmer", I responded.  My neighbour was babysitting her granddaughters.  Perhaps more trouble than dogs?  After I swam, I was bombarded with questions from a chatty six year old.  "What is your most favourite thing to do", she asked, as she listed her most favourite seven things to do!  "Do you sing?" she asked, to which I responded, "Badly!"  Then, "Can you sing something to show me how bad?"  Was I like that at six?  Perhaps I was, albeit as shy as anything, once I found someone whom I felt comfortable talking to, it was hard to shut me up; not unlike now!

After a while I was alone.  I read a little, and then dozed.  I must have dozed for about an hour.  It was glorious.  The clouds covered the sun, so I felt a tad chilly, and then returned to the garden, where I spent a couple of hours getting the 'new' system in place.  The 'new' system being a clothes rail to hold the hanging baskets, but it is a space saver.  The Dollar Tree provided (at cost) some solutions which may or may not work!  If they do, I shall report my findings, and it would have cost a lot less than other methods!

One more night!  The one more night really was the finale!  Most of the other dogs in the neighbourhood appear to be walked either to avoid those they do not get along with, or to meet those they like.  The two I had were rather loud (one louder than the other) and whilst they want to play, come across as being aggressive and belligerent.  I try to avoid everyone!  However, once again, a squirrel, or just air can make them bark up a storm!  I am not sure what the sound was, but it screeched, and actually stopped them barking.  Perhaps a screech owl?  Whatever it was, it sounded awful.  We wandered around cautiously, and they were quite quick to do what they had to do.  I looked for the culprit.  Perhaps I can order it for next time!

The flight came in early, although the plan was not to pick up the animals until the morning.  I did not regret the decision, as originally, I would have been woken in the small hours and it is much better to  be woken up and not actually have to get up than not!

Thank goodness the dogs are going home today, and I have survived yet another round!  It really was not that bad, despite my moaning and groaning.  I think, perhaps, they were the best behaved they have been.  Perhaps they are getting older and more relaxed, although that is probably a whim on my part!  Perhaps I am older and more relaxed and they are responding to that!  Next week will be a lot easier, although I may just drag Dana out for the fun of it.  Will I, wont I?  Well, that will be....... another story!