Giving Notice

I can't help it.  I just notice stuff.  It's a blessing and a curse.  On one hand, I am pretty much always entertained.  On the other, I spend a great deal of time wondering just why it was I left the house because I am so busy noticing things that have absolutely nothing to do with why I put on shoes and grabbed the car keys in the first place.

Today, for example, I noticed all kinds of stuff.  When I headed out to do my early morning errands and started off the festivities with a trip to The Convenience Store Where They Call You Honey And Sweetie And You Sort Of Like It, I noticed that every car in the lot was silver.  I felt rather conspicuous pulling into my space in a blue truck.  Until, that is, I remembered that I am now driving a car that is sort of a station wagon and sort of a van (and no one really can tell me which) that is also quite silvery.  Then I felt like I was in a club.  And when the green truck arrived, I joined my comrades in a hearty eye-roll at the sight of this interloper.

I also noticed that the dude who works there just calls me, "Annie."  I guess he's too manly to go with the status quo and toss me a Sweetie.  Or he's tried it and is now fending off multiple lawsuits.  Either way, I find the break in the routine to be disconcerting...

I noticed that what I call "errands" is really just an excuse to spend money at the Discount Store while I kill time waiting for The Greenies Store to open at 10:00.  I shudder to think how fat my bank account would be if I had the patience to sit at home quietly and leave for The Greenies Store just before they unlock the doors.  But that wouldn't be nearly as much fun and I wouldn't have found those cool microfiber towels for ninety-nine cents apiece.  I also wouldn't have been able to satisfy my need to continually do my End Of The World Is Nigh Shopping. What I would do without that ten dollar package of eight million AA batteries, I know not.

For what it's worth, I didn't buy anything at the bookstore where I also killed some time.  They didn't have any good bargains.  I should get credit for that because they had these really cute little stuffed sheep there and I could have easily added one of those to the ever-growing flock here at the stuffed sheep farm.

And, yes.  I am, in fact, one of those stuffed sheep.  A week of going carb-free in support of my Cheerful Teaching Assistant has taken its toll and there has been a great deal of carby indulgence over the past twenty-four hours.  Thanks for asking...

I noticed that The Greenies Store opened ten minutes early which was good because I was getting bored with all the killing of the time and fearing that the Time Police were going to be screeching into the parking lot at any moment with a warrant for my immediate arrest for murder.  I also noticed that no one else calls it the Greenies Store.  They just call it the Pet Store.  But they probably don't have a Big, Fluffy Kitty at home who wants her Greenies treats and is making life somewhat difficult because their arrival hasn't happened in a timely fashion.

While checking out, I noticed a very, very tiny lady with a dog the size of a Shetland pony.  He was a very, very good dog and didn't bother her for his treat.  He waited for her to check out and then responded to her command to "wait" by sitting quietly.  He did not eat his treat (earned for bearing up under his dog grooming with dignity) until she gave the go-ahead.  Shetland Pony Dogs, I noticed, are much better behaved about treat dispensing than Big, Fluffy Kitties.

As I was leaving the Greenies Store, a gentleman roughly the size of a refrigerator carton came in being led by a Teeny-Tiny (and yet oddly roly-poly) Curly-Haired Doggy.  I held the door for him because the Roly-Poly Puppy was clearly going to crash through the glass in his enthusiasm for his grooming and subsequent treat.  The Refrigerator Man thanked me kindly and then said to his wee, little pudge-ball, "C'mon, Killer!"

???????????

The tiny lady with the Shetland Pony dog was still outside and her hound was sitting very nicely.  The beast and I made eye contact for just a moment and I think I saw him smile.  Shetland Pony Dogs clearly have well-developed senses of humor.

When I got home, I noticed that my new little garden is coming along quite nicely.  I have learned over the years that, when I bemoan my inability to have a garden due to my Condo Living Situation, I will invariably be told that I could easily plant containers on my patio or balcony.  I have neither.  But that is no one's fault.  I didn't think this one through all that well.  I had no idea I would one day think to grow things.  I also sort of viewed this place as a starter home rather than it becoming the place from which I am dragged to the Elder-Care Facility.  But, with the gracious donation of early birthday monies from Mommy and Daddy Sheep, I was able to pull together the funding for some indoor gardening fun.

See?  It's my AeroGarden!

I "planted"it about a week ago and my little herb seedlings are all starting to come up.  Soon, there will be a bountiful harvest of green things.  I can feed the stuffed sheep flock!

Assuming that they like garlic chives, that is.  I can only hope that the stuffed sheep flock likes a savory dish...

By this point, you may have noticed a little something yourselves.  Like the lack of knitting content...  I am aware of this oversight and I feel just horrid about the whole sorry mess.  The little problem with my back has actually gone on for far longer than I'd thought it would.  I haven't had a spell like this in about fifteen years.  It just won't unlock!  I could easily sit and knit for hours.  I am good at sitting.  I have elevated the art of sitting to whole new levels.  The problem is more with the getting up.  I really can't sit for too long if I ever plan to get up again without making Disturbing Old Lady Noises That Make Me Think My Grandmother Has Come To Call.  Hence, I have not really been knitting as much as I should.  I did, however, get a bit more done on my sock-in-progress because that is just stockinette and can be easily set aside once I realize that the Get Up Before It Is Too Late time is upon me.

Don't be too impressed.  Most of this was done at Knit Night back during my Spring Vacation.  I just added a few more rows and decided to show it tonight to give you a break from the Invisibility Shawl.  You deserve it.  You've been patient enough with that project, I think...

Yup.  I notice lots of stuff.  And weekends are particularly good for noticing things as I don't have that pesky teaching job to distract me from the noticing.  Of course, it would have been nice if I'd noticed that the dishwasher needs to be emptied, the laundry pile is at shoulder height and the carpet is now three inches thicker due to the layer of cat hair.  

But there are two days in a weekend.  Maybe I'll notice all that stuff tomorrow...

SA