Just Another Herd Creature

Dear Gilly Girl,
Ten years ago today you came slip sliding into the world.  It would be another 1 1/2 years before you entered our lives and clawed and toothed your way into our hearts.  It was not easy going.  You were (are) stubborn.  You were confused on where you fit into our family  and until we straighten that out, you were a scary bitch on four legs.  Once that was settled, you became the biggest, silliest, goofiest, most loving, 70lb lap dog ever.

A few weeks ago, as

stonebender and I were going to bed, I started a "hide the tennis ball" game with you.  There was a towel on the bed and I managed to place the ball under it without you seeing me.  For 10 or 15 minutes you searched all over.  You nosed through all the sheets, under the pillows and even under stonebender, but you couldn't find it.  You gave up, sat on the bed and stared at me.  As we continued to get ready for bed, I said "Gilly it's too bad you can't understand me when I say the ball is under the towel above stonebender's head."  You then proceeded immediately to go to the towel, poke your nose under it and retrieve the ball.  The mouths of your two humans fell open.  Good thing there were two of us there, because without confirmation there would be some doubt involved.  Did I really see you do this?  Is he spinning a fish tale?  If only we had caught this all on video, you'd be on You Tube.  From now on, when we don't want you to know something, we will have to spell out the word.  And if you find out you can spell, then we'll have to go to finger spelling.  And if you become fluent in the deaf alphabet, then we'll have to learn another language - maybe Finnish.  And if we find out you're a polyglot, then we'll have to put you outside when we need to talk.  And if you still find out, then our earliest fear will be confirmed - you can read out minds!!!  If only you had thumbs you could control the world.

In human years, you are 53.  In dog years, I am 217.  From one of your old people to you, our middle age doggy, Happy Birthday with a Big Wet Nose and Dry Tongue Kiss and Hugs!  I love you.

 

Gilly is very toy focused. Gilly loves her tennis ball. Regular game of hide the tennis ball makes her go all sniffy, sniffy around the house until she finds it. Tonight, while she watched, I put the tennis ball in the fridge. A frustrated doggy is fun to watch. I am Evil. 

The ball was retrieved from the fridge eventually and now the household is at peace for the night.

4 Out of 3 People Have Trouble with Fractions.

Another full day of work on very little sleep. Then stonebender and I went to dinner with the young man who stayed with us for a few weeks last year. He's the son of a college friend. He's established himself in the Bay Area with a job and he's in graduate school. Now he's in love and wanted us to meet her. We were treated to a very nice dinner, lots of talking (3 1/2 hours) and wave after wave of NRE coming off of them. Ahhh, to be that young and that in love.

But now it's 3 am and I have another interview at 10 am for another job I don't want. Again, I have that torn feeling of wanting them to want me, but I don't want them to offer me the position.

Hey serenejournal, how did you make the ratatouille (not the patouille) last Sunday? I need to bring something to a birthday potluck on Saturday night and I thought I might make that because it was very tasty, I think it will travel well and can be served at room temp. The perfect potluck food.

Wish me luck that I fall asleep quickly. I might actually get 4 hours of sleep, if I'm lucky.

A wee bit of language sexism arrived in my email box from my "Dictionary.com Word A Day" subscription. Simply identifying a woman as virago, without any more supporting description would be very confusing. I bet there is no ONE corresponding word to cover both these qualities in a man.

virago \vuh-RAH-go; vuh-RAY-go\, noun:
1. A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage.
2. A woman regarded as loud, scolding, ill-tempered, quarrelsome, or overbearing.

Dbubley and I went to Costco yesterday. At one of the demo tables they were giving out samples of a shrimp wonton soup. One taste and I was hooked. Each little bowl holds 5 lovely shrimp filled wontons. Three minutes in the microwave and it's slurping time. I had one last night and I had one for breakfast. I thought I was going to have these for lunch next week, but at this rate there won't be any left by the time I return to work on Wednesday. Yum, Yum, YUMO.

The creepy crud has me in its throes.  I have a sore throat, achy ears and a nasty cough.  I don't have to go back to work until next Wed., but I had planned all kinds of things.  Today was suppose to be a trip to the Exploratorium with dbubley and dinner in S.F., possibly with some friends.  We also wanted to go to a museum and a movie or two this week.  Now I just feel like staying in bed, which I've mostly done today.  I'm glad I didn't get sick while in Las Vegas, but still I could really do without this now.  Time to heat up some more water for a cup of instant Miso soup. 

Our last day in Vegas, we did some shopping at the Outlet Mall and then went to the Strip.  Lots of walking, lots of photos and then we decided to check out the 1/2 Price Ticket Booth, which was a very long walk - at least for me.  We managed to get tickets to Penn & Teller.  Off to the Rio we ran, ate at their buffet and saw a wonderful show.  Even have pictures of stonebender with Penn and Teller, which he might want to post when we get home.  Of course, first I have to download the bazillion and one photos I have taken in the last few days.  

Time for bed, it will be a long day of driving tomorrow.  It will be good to be home, see dbubley, see the Gilly dog and see my own true bed!!!!