Last Day is Wednesday…

Mrs. Barbara finally hired someone to take my position at the Humane Society. His name is Raphael and he is a little Hispanic fellow who speaks impeccable English. I showed him today how to do everything and what his chores will be. He eagerly followed my directions just overjoyed to have a job. I will come in Wednesday and supervise one last time to make sure he knows the ropes – probably only working a few hours. I need a break. I am totally burned out. I want to sleep late for a change during the week and just be plain lazy (I think I’ve earned it!). Tracy is torn with the arrangements – not getting to see me every other morning during the week. She will adjust in no time. She’s out of school and can see me every night if she wants to. 

Last night, Tracy sent me a link to this song and dedicated it to me. She knows I love Joni Mitchell. I just adore this song and hadn’t heard it in years. I messaged her back that I loved it and hoped she felt that way about me after her three year fiasco with Michael (ex boyfriend) and his philandering ways. 

A Conversation With Barbara Tonight…

“Sweet pea, I just my foot in my mouth big time yesterday,” she told me. “I apologize. I certainly don’t have the gift of the gab.”

“I understand,” I replied. “I acted rashly on my part as well. Barbara, frankly, I am just burned out of cleaning those kennels.”

“Will you volunteer until I can hire someone else?” she asked. “Nobody but you would do that job for free.”

“I would be glad to,” I replied.

“I am so sorry honey and I never told you how much of a godsend you’ve been for us. I wish I could have paid you for all those countless days you worked.”

“Well, I will see you bright and early Monday,” I told her cutting things short.

“Thank you so much, honey!” Barbara replied and we got off the phone.

So I am basically putting in my two weeks notice until Barbara can find someone to take my position. I called Tracy and filled her in on my and Barbara’s conversation tonight. She feels better, but she doesn’t want me to go.

“It is not going to be the same working there anymore,” Tracy told me over the phone. “To see your smiling face when I get there in the morning.”

“We’ll see,” I said. “Who knows? I could just drop down to two days a week like I originally intended and might stay on volunteering in a limited capacity. I just need a break that’s all. Something to lighten the load.”

“Let Barbara hire somebody to do the dogs and you can come in and help me with the cats,” Tracy replied exploring ideas.

“We’ll see,” I replied. “I promise you there will be an amicable ending that’s best for everyone involved.”

Trash Trucks and Dogs…

What is it about trashmen and dogs? Maggie woke me up at seven this morning sitting outside my bedroom window barking at the trash truck in the freezing cold. “No Maggie, no!” I exclaimed as I buried my face in the pillow. I didn’t have to be up for another hour. Maggie considers that trashcan to be our property and it tears her up when they mess with it. The trash truck came rolling down the street and Maggie barked with renewed vigor. I got out of the bed and sleepily collapsed in the recliner in the den. I then got on my tablet to check the news and what happened last night while I slept.

I was telling Tracy this morning about what Maggie did.

“We love Maggie,” she said. “But sometimes she can act bad at times. It is no different than Wheezy jumping on the bed at 6 am making biscuits, purring up a storm and wanting me to pet her and rub behind her ears.”

I laughed. What we do for our pets.

It Was a Little Shaggy Haired Mutt…

Animal control brought in a little dog today.I was glad we didn’t have a truckload of dogs as can sometimes be the case. The dog was docile and let me pick him up and carry him back to the kennels. The animal control truck hadn’t been gone an hour when a lady walked into the building.

“I’ve lost my dog,” she said. “Could I look and see if he is in the kennels?”

“Sure,” Mrs. Barbara said. “Andrew will help you.”

“You must be worried sick,” I told the lady empathetically.

“There’s my little Sadie!” The lady exclaimed loudly after looking into a few kennels.

The dog went nuts barking and showing affection – entirely glad to see his owner.

“He’s been gone a week. Can I take him home? I am so overjoyed to find him.”

Tears streamed down the lady's cheeks.

“Be my guest,” I replied. “I love a happy ending.”

I opened the kennel and handed the dog to the lady.

“Thank y’all for being so nice and helpful!” she said. 

The woman walked out of the building cradling the dog in her arms. It is moments like this I live for where I volunteer.

Let’s Get This Done!

I didn’t get in the bed until almost 3 am last night. I just couldn't sleep. I awoke this morning with a swimmy feeling in my head – a feeling of dire tiredness and responsibility due. Tracy left for the Humane Society 30 minutes earlier after breakfast. She slept well and was all chipper and happy this morning as I fixed us a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and cheese toast.

I stepped into the Society and Mrs. Barbara was at her computer as she usually is.

“Hey Sweet Pea,” she told me which is her pet name for me. “There is a fresh pot of coffee made.”

“Good morning,” I replied. “I think I will drink a mug of coffee this morning. Thank you.”

The black bitterness was somehow pleasing and comforting to me. I could soon feel the caffeine mingling with my brain cells giving me a renewed vigor. 

I then went straight back to the kennels and got ready to work. I took off my shoes and slipped my rubber boots on and then tied on my vinyl apron. Cleaning kennels is dirty work. The power washer turned on with a whoosh and then a roar that was an affront to my tired ears. All I could think of was getting back home and going back to bed. I finished in a record two hours and headed home after spending some time with Tracy in the feline room. I helped her change the last few litter boxes and finished giving fresh food and water to the cats. It was my last gasp of activity.

I had a little cash on me so I stopped by Daniel’s and got four of their little crispy and well done burgers. I was starving and it hit the spot. I sat in the car eating them as I listened to Joni Mitchell’s Taming the Tiger album. I felt much better now that I was heading home. Respite was within my grasp.

Edit – I arrived home and took my medications. My brain was especially keen on them today and I felt 100% better within an hour of taking them.

Comrades in Arms Against a Tirade! (Hyperbole)

The day started normally. I was the first to arrive so I got everything up and running. The dogs put on this grand cacophony of joy as I walked into the kennels to check on everybody. This day would take on a sour note, though.

Tracey was the first to be berated today. I was standing in the lobby when Mrs. Barbara told her she was still putting too much cat litter in the litter boxes. I was next…

“Sweet pea,” she said to me. “Please leave the thermostat where I set it. Fiscally things are tight right now.”

I said yes ma’am and headed back to the kennels to finish my job for the day.

Later, Tracy walked back into the kennels to talk to me.

“Who pissed in her Cheerios this morning?” Tracy asked with a smirk.

“She told me later her nose is to the grindstone and her job is on the line.”

“What about my job?” Tracy asked worriedly.”I hope I don’t get a pay cut.”

“You’re pretty much irreplaceable in my opinion,” I replied.

“I had a really good time with you last night,” Tracy then told me with a sly grin as she gave me a hug and kissed me on the cheek. “You are welcome any time.”

“Are you nervous about your chemistry exam this evening?” I asked intrigued.

I wish I had taken my second chance towards school more seriously years ago, but I was going to biology exams drunk.

“Just a little bit,” she replied. “I’ve studied as much as I can, though. I never want to see the periodic table ever again.”

I wished her luck and then she went into the outside kennels to mingle with and check on the dogs this chilly day.

Duty Calls…

I woke up very early this morning in a panic that my injection was due.

“Is my injection this morning?” I asked my father over his cellphone.

He said he was shaving when I called.

“It is due next week,” Old Fuss and Feathers said looking at the appointment card. “I am glad you are being aware of it though.”

I hadn’t been out of the shower for ten minutes when Mrs. Barbara called.

“Will you come in and handle the front end while I go to the dentist?” she asked. “I’ve had a filling come out.”

“Sure,” I said. “I will be down there in thirty minutes.”

She didn’t want to leave Tracy all alone.

All Tracy talked about was going out tonight and how excited she is. I was on the verge to cancel it to be honest. I am a nervous wreck today. Tracy’s exuberance dulled my desire to cancel somewhat.

“Now, we are going out for drinks afterwards,” she said. “I know a Mexican restaurant and bar that makes a killer margarita and they don’t skimp on the tequila.”

“I will drink virgin margaritas since I am driving,” I replied.

This should prove very, very interesting seeing Tracy after she’s had a few drinks in her. I can see it heightening her bubbly personality.

Mrs. Barbara showed back up two hours later and I headed to the polls. I mostly voted a straight Democratic ticket hoping to send a message to Washington about the Trumpster. The only Republican I voted for was Kay Ivey, our governor. She’s like having your grandmother as governor of the state. She can be kind of a maverick with regards to her politics as well. She doesn’t always tow the Republican party line.   

I had a relative called Little Daddy who was always mean spirited and boastful. He’d get hopped up on pain pills and go on a mean streak. Dad always laughs when I say we have Little Daddy in the White House. It’s true! Trump acts just like Little Daddy. He’d be just as xenophobic and mean about all those “Mexicans” trying to enter our country as well.

As Snug as a Bug in a Rug…

Mrs. Barbara called me at 7am this morning. I moaned as my cellphone rang on my bedside table. My bed was feeling like heaven. I looked to see who was calling and already knew what to expect.

“Tracy and I are going to be really late,” she said. “Could you go ahead and open the gate and get everything up and running?”

I didn’t have to be there until nine my time which was to my favor.

“Sure,” I sleepily replied as I wiped the sleep out of my eyes. “I just have to be at my father’s house at eleven.”

I set the alarm on my phone and slept another hour.

This was supposed to be my day off, but when a friend needs a hand, you have to lend it. Mrs. Barbara has been so nice, kind, and accommodating to me and my foibles.

I didn’t even take a shower. I just threw some clothes and a ballcap on and headed out the door. It is about a thirty minute drive for me. I unlocked the gate and opened it. Then I unlocked the building and turned all the lights on. The dogs were barking like crazy and I could hear a few meows as well. Everybody was glad we were back in business. I had to go in and greet all my canine friends and check on them. We are about at half capacity at the moment. I also checked Little Man’s long line of stiches for any signs of infection.

Mrs. Barbara showed up at 10am and Tracy was not far behind her. Tracy gave me a high five of comradery when she walked in the door.

“Have you had any visitors yet?” was the first thing Mrs. Barbara asked me when she walked in the door.

We had only been open for an hour.

“It has been quiet as a church mouse on that front,” I replied regretfully.

“Well, I am leaving it with y’all,” I told the duo. “I am going to head back to dad’s house.”

“Thank you so much, Andrew!” Mrs. Barbara told me. “It will not be forgotten.”

I told her, “Anytime!” with a warm smile and walked out the door. I had a date with Old Fuss and Feathers that would entail Cokes and conversation. Time for us to be together.

Prickling With Pretense…

“Did you ever go to college?” Tracy asked me chirpily as we sat outside on this beautiful Friday.

Our chores were complete and we brought our lawn chairs outside to enjoy the sunshine on this cool and refreshing day. We were hoping some people would show up wanting to adopt some animals.

“I was a music major in college,” I replied. “I attended the University of Montevallo.”

“You sing? Really?” Tracy asked with an astonished look on her face.

“I used to,” I quickly added before Tracy could harangue me into belting out a tune.

Tracy is currently in college to be a veterinary technician so she says. She is doing quite well from the way she talks taking night courses out at the local community college.

“I learn something new and interesting about you every day,” she told me very happily.

“I am still broken up with Michael,” she announced to the both of us. “Kicked him to the curb I did.”

“I will believe it when it has been a few weeks!” I exclaimed.

Mrs. Barbara said, “hear! hear!” echoing my thoughts.

Mrs. Barbara barely fits into her lawn chair. She is rather rotund.

“Her lawn chair is going to break any moment,” Tracy whispered to me and we both snickered.

“Hey, what are you two whispering about?” Mrs. Barbara asked. 

“Oh nothing,” Tracy said as she shrugged her shoulders.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again that Tracy is a busybody. She will tend to your business if you let her. She is also a supreme extrovert which can clash with my extreme introversion. . 

We Have a Sick Dog On Our Hands…

The day was off to a pretty normal start. I arrived at nine and started my chores. That’s eight central time just when the Humane Society opens.

Animal control brought in two dogs today not long after I had arrived. I carried them both back and put them in kennels. I noticed one dog was doing something strange. It kept trying to lick its anus.

“Let me take a closer look at you fella,” I said entering the kennel.

The dog was shivering and blood was dribbling out of his rear end. I immediately went up front and told Mrs. Barbara.

“Crate him up and I will take him to the vet,” Mrs. Barbara told me.

Tracy and I waited anxiously for about an hour continuing with our chores until Mrs. Barbara returned.

“The dog has a chicken bone lodged in its small intestine,” she said. “They are going to perform surgery to remove the bone and the dog should be fine.”

That made us all feel better. You hate to see an animal suffering and the dog seemed in pain and in great discomfort.

Enter the Rabid Zone…

Tomorrow starts a phase of existence in my father’s and brother’s life that can best be described as rabid and obnoxious. Yes, it is the start of college football season. I get left out during this time as I find watching college football akin to watching ice melt. So, you all be thinking of me the next 9 weeks as I put up with these crazed, rabid men in my family.

“Football is good for your soul!” my father keeps telling me to a milquetoast reception.

They need to be spending all those millions of dollars they spend on football on scholarships and the like. Or, at least pay the players. I am just an old fart of a fuddy duddy aren’t I concerning this matter?

Well, Auburn spent over $2 million dollars putting up a gaudy new jumbotron. Think of how many scholarships could have been afforded by that money.

Put Your Feet Up. It’s Okay!

I was one sleepy pups when I got home today. I was so drowsy – nodding off as I was driving home up through the Valley. I got in my skivvies and curled up in my computer room bed – the one bed Maggie can still jump up on. We went to sleep for over five hours. Maggie was like…don’t get up! I hope I can sleep tonight, but at least it was on a weekend in which I have absolutely nothing to do. I can catch some Rip Van Winkles when I need them.

A Shirt On Your Back…

Today, at the Humane Society, Mrs. Barbara had ordered a bunch of Humane Society t-shirts and they had finally arrived. Yay! I got a purple, bright orange, and black t-shirt. These are to be worn while we are at the Society so adopters can know who the staff are. I was so proud to get my t-shirts. I immediately went into the bathroom and put my purple one on. They are very nicely done. They are also for sale to patrons who come to visit and adopt – another way to support us through donations by buying a t-shirt.

2:30 PM Tablet Scribblings…

Well, I have finished my list. I am done. Finis. Now, it is Barbara’s job to count all that change and money. She just gave me $25 dollars out of a donation box for gas which will just about fill me up. Tracy still has just a few businesses left and she will be finished as well. I am very pleased thinking this would go on until Friday or the next week. I informed Mrs. Barbara that I will not be coming in tomorrow.

“That’s fine sweetheart,” she told me. “You have gone above and beyond the call of duty of a volunteer.”

That was nice to hear. It feels good to be apart of something larger than me – to be making a difference in the lives of the animals and of my friends.

I am ready to get back on schedule, though. I want to rest tomorrow and spend lots of idle time on my computer listening to music, watching the weather, watching movies, and playing games.

Summer, dad buys the Le Sueur brand asparagus who also make what we call English peas.

Reedited after I got home this afternoon…

Cats and Dogs, and an Iguana?

This weekend is my weekend to check on the animals while the Humane Society is closed. I am sitting here on Mrs. Barbara’s slow computer goofing off. All the animals now have food and water. I don’t know what has gotten in to me, but I am still getting up at ungodly hours. I was opening the gate this morning at 7 AM in the predawn dark. That’s 6 AM Tracy’s and Barbara’s time. The days are starting to get short again which depresses me somewhat. 

We are going to have to upgrade this computer. I checked and it has 4 GB of ram and is running Windows 8.1. I am hoping I have enough compatible sticks of ram at home to upgrade it to 16 GB of ram. Oh, don’t mind me. I am just rambling on. It would really supercharge that computer, though. I have a spare 250 GB (SSD) Samsung solid state drive I would like to install as well. Now, that would really speed things up. Zip, zoom, bam!

Someone left a full grown and healthy male iguana in a big box at the gate last week. We’ve been feeding it veggies and such like spinach and cabbage. Tracy is attached to it so Mrs. Barbara is unsure of what to do with it. Mrs. Barbara is scared of it and I tried to explain to her that they are harmless. They sell iguana food, but one of us would have to drive to Pet Smart in Auburn to get it. We really need a heat rock or heat lamp for it to bask under or on, but the kennels stay so warm this time of year it hasn’t been an issue yet. Tracy wants it to be our mascot and call it Iggy the iguana. People would come in just to see it she said. Mrs. Barbara reminded her we are not a petting zoo.

A big job is coming up next week. Tracy and I are going to be very busy. We have donation boxes shaped like sad hound dog heads all over at countless businesses throughout the Valley. There is a slot in the forehead to donate bills and change. Tracy and I are going to collect these hound dogs and then we are going to tally up our donations. That’s going to be a lot of change to count and roll for deposit. I will be volunteering all week next week needless to say.

So Close Yet So Far…

We had a couple come in this morning and adopt a little Jack Russell mixed breed. Mrs. Barbara handled the paperwork and soon the couple were on their way after paying the adoption fee. We were all pleased that the dog had found a home. About two hours later, the husband arrives back with the dog in his arms.

“Is everything okay, sir?” Mrs. Barbara asked as he stepped into the office.

I just happened to be in the office area at that time. I was showing Mrs. Barbara how to do something on her computer.

“The dog has latched onto me and won’t let my wife come near me. She will growl viciously and snap at her.”

Mrs. Barbara refunded the adoption fee as I put the dog back in the kennels thinking this poor dog will never find a home. A single guy is going to have to adopt her.

Someone Please Check My Pulse…

My cellphone woke me at seven this morning. Ugh! I threw on yesterday’s clothes and put on a baseball cap to hide my bed head.  I don’t take a shower or change clothes until I get home as it can be a messy job. I always put on ample deodorant. Soon, I was on the road in my trusty new Honda to the Humane Society. It is quite a long drive down through the Valley.

I was the first one to arrive at eight so I opened the gate and opened the building and then turned all the lights on. Tracy soon showed up followed by Mrs. Barbara. I was already power washing the dog kennels after putting the dogs in the outside kennels. 

I was there, but not there if you know what I mean. I could not get woken up and felt drugged. Tracy said I was stuck in zombieville. I still can’t get used to getting up so early.  I finished up my chores at noon, told everyone goodbye, and I headed home.

Animals First…

Mrs. Barbara called me late yesterday evening and asked if I would come in today and help feed and water the animals before the holiday. I said sure and was at the gate at eight this morning waiting on everybody to arrive. I have learned my cellphone is an very effective alarm clock. I didn’t even take a shower this morning fearing I would be plenty dirty by lunch. “Take me as I am,” was that old hymnal song that was playing in my mind today – my earworm for the day.

You are looking at the proud owner of a set of keys to the place. I now have a key to the main gate and a key to the building. I guess this means I am one of the gang for sure now. They say the amount of keys on your keyring is a good measure of how much responsibility you have. I now have six keys on my keyring along with the remote entry to my car.

I power washed a few of the messier kennels while Tracy tackled the cats. Everybody got fresh kibble and water filled to the brim. The dogs get so excited when you are in the kennels that you can barely hear yourself think. They really bark up a storm. Everybody is vying for your attention.

I brashly volunteered to come in and check on the animals tomorrow since I have nothing to do. Mrs. Barbara thanked me profusely.  

Me? Afraid of Poop? Pshaw!

“Tracy is going to be showing you what you will be doing,” Mrs. Barbara said not long after I arrived this morning. “Hon, do you want a cup of coffee?”

“No thank you, ma’am,” I told her.

“You’re not afraid of poop, are you?” Tracy asked me with a giggle as we entered the dog kennels. “We are going to be putting the dogs in the outside kennels and then you are going to power wash the inside kennels. Then we will bring them back in and feed and water them.”

“Sounds great to me,” I said chirpily and anxious to get started.

There were 30 kennels to clean which took me several hours. Tracy, a cute little lass, kept coming back to see how I was doing. She said she was emptying litter boxes where the cats are kept in a separate room. It seems to me that they were just glad to see a new face around the place.

My phone vibrated in my pocket while I was cleaning and it was my father. I turned the raucously loud power washer off.

“Call me when you get home,” he said. “We are going to get the insurance to your mother’s car in your name and I have a bill of sale drawn up along with the title. We’ll go by the courthouse and finalize everything about your mother’s car.”

This day was looking up by the minute.

I went into the bathroom around noon to take my crazy meds and hoped as all hell they didn’t make me woozy like they sometimes can do. I was taking them on an empty stomach. Normally, I would welcome the feeling. I forgot to pack a lunch not really knowing how long I would volunteer today.

“Honey,” Mrs. Barbara said. “That’s all you have to do today and we’ll need you to do it Wednesday as well if you don’t mind. I don’t want to put too much on you your first day. We appreciate your help.”

I told everyone goodbye and headed out for a rendezvous with my father after I called him on the phone and said I was leaving the Humane Society.

Dad met me at Progressive and we easily got mom’s car insurance in my name. It took all of five minutes. Our next rendezvous was at the courthouse annex just down the road. Charlie had handled all the paperwork and got it ready for my father. Everything went smoothly and I am the proud new owner of a Honda Civic LX.  They are going to mail me the new title for the car.

Dad and I are going to buy our groceries tonight and I am going to be one tired little puppy when I get home. I have just about zero groceries in this house.