WHEN SPARKS FLY!

I saw a headline this week that read, "Community Survey proves Austinites love Austin".  I am not sure how long you actually have to live here to be considered an 'Austinite', but presumably, if you are here for longer than twenty four hours and have no plans to move out, then you can regard yourself as an 'Austinite'.  I have, previously, quoted, "Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, (that I love London Town,) and still consider myself to be a 'Londoner', having been born in the centre, but I am quite obviously one of the large percentage that love Austin, and can call myself an 'Austinite'.  The two cities are probably more diverse than that in 'The tale of Two...', but I feel privileged to be able to be part of both.  

Diversity is my very spice of life, but diversity could be considered in the category of 'Variety', and applied to the saying put so well by Mr. William Cowper.  'Keep Austin Weird', the slogan which was apparently adopted in 2000 (and I am open to correction) could be preceded, or succeeded by the much older quote, to form a new and perfectly apt phrase!

The 'variety' in my week actually started last Saturday.  Samantha and Edward had gone to collect their new puppy, and as she had not made it public (or at least had not broadcast it over the common social media outlets) I was sworn to secrecy (of sorts) and not allowed to mention it, should anyone read my post whom had not yet been privy to the information!  I had returned from my shopping trip and minutes later a little 'fur baby' was on my doorstep.  I was besotted almost instantly, as was my husband, but they did not stay long, as the wanted to get the little one adjusted to his new surroundings, having been taken away from eight weeks of security with his 'mom' and siblings.  I have to not think about such things, so I am told!  However, variety was about to take a new turn! "Sparks", is so called because of his breed, named after the department store, 'Marks and Spencer', (forgive me if this is repetition,) nicknamed over many years as 'Marks and Sparks', and in more recent years the store has produced a loyalty card called the 'Sparks' card,   Stay with me here, as it may not be as simple as it sounds!  He is, what is commonly called in England, a sausage dog, and as Frank was Frank after the frankfurter, so Sparks is so called after Marks and Sparks own brand sausages.  Complicated?  Of course, but then my daughter is the very definition of 'diversity' and 'variety'!  However, digression is my middle name, and once again I have 'middle named' it!

Monday morning was as normal as it could get, apart from having to avoid treading on a very inquisitive quadruped.  We all found ourselves walking like crabs, and skipping sideways around the office.  I was wanting to do some cleaning as we have had little chance to take care of such mundane tasks of late as there has been no time for such frivolity!  However, much as I am quite punctilious at home, I look for as many excuses as I can around the office, not to take on the task of housekeeper.  This could be due to the 'variety' of people we have around us and the diversity in their habits.  Suffice it to say, the office did not get cleaned on Monday!  Routine is not what keeps Austin weird, and as a self-proclaimed Austinite, I need to keep up with the promoted slogan.  I am, however, somewhat like a dachshund, as I need boundaries, and if I am not kept in a straight line, I will wander all over the place aimlessly!

There appeared to be no fluidity to this week, and that was okay.  I found myself in somewhat of a quandary as my world has been altered once again.  This did little to keep me focused!  By Tuesday morning, I was what could colloquially be described as a 'nervous wreck'.  Many things had altered my world.  Firstly, the dog.  Secondly, my new oven was turning itself on and off, and whilst my husband was certain it was a 'computer' glitch, I had my suspicions that it was to do with the wiring, and this caused the metaphorical hammer to come down on the puck and ring the bell that is my anxiety.  I chose to go with Dana's diagnosis for peace of mind.  My third dilemma (and you have to understand that at this point common sense has not only packed its bags, but has left without a forwarding address!)  was to whom to contact about the oven.  The store or the manufacturer.  Problem number four was that we (being the common three in the office, Samantha, Grant and myself) had all won another contest for a 'meet and greet' on Wednesday at lunchtime!  Lunchtime is usually the perfect time to go, but this was on Wednesday, my late morning and early leaving day, and it would not be possible to fit everything in and..and...and!

By nine o'clock Tuesday morning, I was a puddle on the floor that could have been scooped up and put in one of the little bags that Samantha bought to clean up after her pet.  No one would have been any the wiser.  However, I realised that I would be no good to man or beast (and we now had a beast for which I would be responsible in the near future) and I had to pull myself together, or at least go from liquid to solid!  An adjustment was made.  After all, I quote Mr. Cowper constantly, and consider 'variety' to be such an advantage!  (Who am I kidding, right!)  

An email was sent to the nice lady with whom I had been communicating in November, regarding my oven, and within minutes I received a response.  She did remember me (of course) and asked if I could furnish her with a couple of details just to familiarise herself with the order.  This I did, and again within minutes an appointment had been made for Thursday, between twelve and four.  Breathe, breathe!  I could cope with another day of upheaval!  The engineer would call me when he was on his way, so I would not have to waste any time!  I breathed!  

The week progressed.  I went to Joe on Wednesday and suddenly all was well.  I relaxed!  One of his old friends had come for some coffee, and the three of us 'caught up' on gossip and old times.  It was a pleasant hour.  I traveled across town and had my nails decorated before going back to the office.  Once I had taken care of a little bit of work, I left again to go to the radio station.  Rachel Crow is a young lady of 21, with tremendous talent.  I had not heard of her before, but research had told me that she had come fifth in the 'X-Factor', at the age of 13, and had contacted the Disney corporation thereafter, and was given her own show!  At 21, she was already a success in my eyes!  We appeared to be the only three who responded to the contest.  There were other people around, but all were coming out from behind the closed doors of the studio. Pizza arrived, and we had lunch before being invited in for the performance.  Rachel, as big as a minute, as my grandmother used to say to describe a petite person, was very bubbly and  very talented.  We listened to her songs, and her 'life' events.  I was transported back to the age of 21, listening to her grieve lost loves and heartbreaks, thinking that she has a sign on her head that reads 'hurt me', and wondering if it is all downhill from here.  I smiled at the fact that I am nearing my 60th year and that almost twice the amount of years have passed since I was that age.  However, at 21 you don't always think of yourself as young with your whole life ahead of you especially when you fall in love and it is not returned!  After the performance we had the chance to meet this fabulous young lady, and have an 'official' picture taken. I was first in line, and following introductions, I gave her some advice.  I told her to take off the 'sticker' on her head, and that she was in control.  She had an amazing talent.  She hugged me and thanked me.  "Um. I am ready now!" said the photographer, who had been focusing his camera.  "Wow I love your pin", she said, pointing to the gold seven legged spider on my lapel.  I thanked her, and told her that her life was ahead of her, and she was amazing.  She held my hands and didn't seem to want to let go. "When you are ready.  We have a lot to get through!" said the impatient photographer.  She continued to chat, as did I.  Eventually, we realised that the man with the camera was not going to give up and we bid each other farewell.  "What were you two chatting about.  We thought it would never end!" said my daughter.  I told her about our chat.  

Returning to work, I completed my tasks and left at five.  Dinner was already cooking in the crock pot and I had desserts prepared, ready for decoration, before my visitors arrived.  I had made it to Wednesday and all appeared to be well!

I did not have much time to do anything 'extra' on Thursday morning, as one of my visitors on Wednesday was a five year old boy, who got bored.  He found my mirrors in my hallway to be quite entertaining, and pulled faces and danced.  I think I was the only one who saw him paint the mirrors with saliva, and as his mum was in a very deep and serious conversation with Dana, I did not want to interrupt.  Instead I sat and smiled, through gritted teeth, knowing that my face would 'give it away', so tried very hard not to make it obvious.  After all, I could clean the mirrors again in the morning!  I had not realised how much artwork had been achieved!  

The pleasant technician from the oven store arrived after calling me to let me know he was on his way.  "It is the wiring in the socket", he said.  "Uh aym niney nine per cent sure".  (The word percent was said in two syllables so far apart, they could have been separated by a week!) I was quite delighted at being correct, but at the same time devastated.  I asked many questions, the most important to me being why the people who 'plumbed it in' did not notice that the socket was dodgy.  The electrician who came to see my last oven did not notice either.  "Uh s'pose they ain't looking for it", he said.  Uh s'pose he was right!  I was very grateful for his input and could have listened to him all day.  His accent was so....well, just so!  

Accents are a variety!  When I returned to work I received a call.  "Hello.  Are you the process servers?", came a very English accent across the airways.  I replied that "Indeed, we are".  The response was, "Oh good.  Um.  You are process servers?"  I said, "Yes, indeed we are!"  Silence.  "But you are English", she said.  "Yes, and so are you!" said I!  It was all very amusing.  Originally from Bicester, she has lived in San Antonio for twenty five years, maintains her very English accent and loves it here.  "Me too!" I said!  We chatted for a while and I gave her a couple of numbers for someone within the area that she required service and told her, "They are American!"

Friday was as regular as it could be.  I enjoyed a routine day and left the office feeling quite refreshed!  

Dana took care of the dog on Saturday. We were out for a long time.  It was my sister's birthday, my daughter-in-law's birthday, Grant's mum's birthday, and Texas Independence Day!  Samantha and I went on our usual jaunt.  We  visited several pet stores.  My daughter had purchased some food in one and then found the same brand but specifically for puppies in another.  Whilst she went back to the car to get the items to exchange, I stood by a selection of tanks.  I noticed that they were inhabited.  Frogs, lizards, and a snake.  It was hard to spot the inhabitants as the lizards were chameleons, and the frogs blended into the background.  I realised too late that the design on the tank below the frog was actually a creature and it started to slither.  I jumped back.  As Samantha came back into the shop, a young child came in between the tank and me.  "Look momma", she said, and put her finger towards the glass.  "Don't touch it!" I shouted, quite loudly.  It had nothing to do with making the glass dirty.  "It's a snake", I almost shrieked.  My daughter apologised to all whom were within earshot, pulled me aside, and told me that it was in a tank.  It was not loose, and it could not escape.  I stood, I nodded, and I apologised.  I was six!   Sometimes variety can be overrated!  

However, life goes on.  I had survived the week that had threatened to disrupt my own 'status quo' and I was well into the weekend.  Amazingly enough, I continued to enter contests for 'meet and greets', despite the fact that they would be held during the week, possibly on a day that was inconvenient for me, and at a time that would definitely be non-conducive with my plans.  However, if I am to maintain the theory that I am now an Austinite, I shall have to comply with the rules!  I need to keep up with the slogan!  Variety and diversity are the very spice of life and here am I in the middle!  

The dog appears to have settled in to his new homes.  I seem to have survived catastrophes that are not, and a 21 year old was given advice from someone who never seems to practice what she preaches!  Who knows what will be next in ......... another story!