Bottled Up

I saw the funniest thing in small town Calipatria today.

Clearly someone in this town takes being a dog owner seriously and puts forth an effort to keep their dogs locked up. I was enjoying an early evening bike ride with my husband when we rolled to a corner and waited for a break in traffic before crossing the road. We heard a commotion at the corner house towards our left and glanced over to see what the ruckus was. There behind the fence were about 5 or 6 Chihuahua's pushing up against the front gate as 1 of the dogs was clearly making headway in his great escape. We watched as he squeezed his porky sized body between the gate and fencepost and listened as the other dogs left behind seemed to bark their encouragement.......or maybe their protest at being left behind.

We continued to watch as he made his way to victory, reaching his freedom on the streets of Calipatria. While the escapee strutted his stuff along the sidewalk the remaining dogs looked on in defeat. What prevented the other dogs from breaking out were the plastic bottles attached around the dogs necks. With a wider body frame there was no way those dogs could squeeze between the fence and escape. Innovative, and brilliant!

I wish more people around here would take to tying plastic bottles around their dogs.......or a 50lb. weight. I know I'd sure appreciate it.

Plastic bottles, who would have thought.....

Highly Entertaining

I found it highly amusing this afternoon watching my dogs while I threw Goldfish pretzels at them. I have no idea how it started but once I began tossing the pretzels it truly was hard to stop amidst all the laughter it created.

Calling the dogs over to where I was sitting, I began to toss a pretzel to each of them. Abbie and Chloe are clearly not trained in the art of catching food with their mouths, unlike their brother Benny who has a big mouth and knows how to use it.

Watching Chloe was probably the most entertaining. I laughed hysterically every time I threw a pretzel her way because she wouldn't move a muscle, letting the pretzel hit her square between the eyes and then after it landed she would get up to eat it off the floor. I would toss it to her expecting her to catch it in her mouth and she'd let it bounce right off of her face. time and time again. Chloe just looked at me with her expressive eyebrows as if saying, "Why did you do that?"

Abbie on the other hand tries hard to catch the flying pretzels. After the first few hit her face and fall to the floor she catches on to the gameplan. (It takes her awhile to warm up and figure out what she is supposed to be doing.) I watched as she finally caught one with an open mouth, however, the pretzel stuck to the tip of her tongue as she sat there with an open mouth just long enough to look goofy.

Benny on the other hand will catch the pretzels in his mouth and then pick up what his sisters have missed. He's in constant motion the whole time and probably scores the biggest stash of all.

It's amazing the amount of laughter that's created from a handful of stale pretzels and 3 dogs. LOL!

Produce Paranoia

I was at the local grocery store this morning to pick up items needed for new dishes. Upon entering the store I headed for the produce area first, steering the cart around displays, stopping here and there for items on my list. Normally I like to fly under the radar and be left alone while I shop but I had already been picked up on the produce man's radar upon entering the department. He offered assistance and I declined the invitation, preferring just to browse, and not a moment later I found myself in need of a price check. The produce man seemed to follow me as I moved along and was more than happy to assist. I thanked him and moved on to the fresh herbs.

I stood in front of the herb section staring at all the leafy green herbs before me. I was able to recognize the parsley and pulled out a bunch and bagged it. Next on my list was basil, however, I couldn't seem to locate the basil, nor could I see it on any of the price tags along the shelf. I saw signs for mint leaves, parsley, and cilantro but no basil. I picked up a bunch of the anonymous green thing and smelled it. I even ripped a leaf hoping to catch a whiff of basil but instead I smelled nothing. I placed it back on the shelf and hunted through the herbs that were tagged with names but found no marked basil.

I didn't know what to do and I didn't want to buy something and cook with it if it was the wrong herb. I had wasted enough time looking over herbs and I wanted an answer. I really didn't want to have to bother the produce man again so I picked up the mystery bunch and took a picture with my phone. I intended to send it to my sister for clarification on what it was. All the while I was aware that the produce man was watching me from across the department. I know he saw me snap the picture and I'm sure he thought I was a mystery shopper sent for inspection. I probably looked very conspicuous.

I decided to call my sister instead for a direct answer and I continued hovering around the herbs until I noticed the produce man making his way towards me. I thanked my sister for her guidance and snatched up the boxed basil on the shelf nearby, watching as the produce man began inspecting the array of herbs out on display.

Rest assured Mr. Produce Man, your fresh herbs looked fine and I am no mystery shopper. I'm just a girl that can't tell the difference between one green leaf and another.

I didn't have any luck in the meat department either when 3 different unwanted meat men tried to be of assistance.

So much for flying under the radar.