I used to rule my world from a payphone

As one who has to talk on the phone - a lot - for a living, I rarely find myself calling my friends and family as, well, talking on the phone in my own time takes too much energy. I love my friends and family and do want to hear about the minutia of their lives, but damnit why can't everyone just move near me so I can talk to them in person...preferably over drinks.

So when I do call people, I do it from my cellphone in the car because I'm bored and Top 40 doesn't do much for me. I have a headset, so I'm not THAT dangerous, but hypocrite that I am I do get nervous when I see other drivers talking on their phones. You know who they are - head cocked to one side to hold it in place or the telltale hand next to ear. Watching someone try to switch lanes when they're on the phone is pure entertainment - their whole body does a 360 I think. After witnessing a few of these types, I can see why the proverbial THEY frown upon driving and dialing - THEY say it's as dangerous as drunk driving, but I haven't found a study yet to put it on the same plane as drunk dialing.

Scarier still - old people...with big hats on...driving 15 in a 25 mph zone...and talking on a phone. shudder.

rethinking that Dr. Doolittle degree...

We had to take Tess to the vet today because she was acting a little weird, and even though she is old and acts weird anyway, this was weirder than normal. Not wanting to leave one of us with the kid and one of us with the dog (honestly, we weren't sure what would have been worse), we pack all 4 of us into the car and tally ho over to our vet.

Now, our vet's office is great. They are wonderful to the dogs...meaning the dogs don't try to run out the door when we get there. They piss on the floor because they are happy to see them instead of from sheer terror. It's progress.

Instead, the sheer terror comes when they tell us what they are going to do for Tess. 'We'll do an ultrasound of her bladder' (cha-ching) 'well, just to be sure we'll do some blood work' (jingle jingle) 'you do know she's due for her annual shots?' (shwipe shwipe). Grand total for a 14 year old blind bassett hound with a urinary tract infection...$461.27.

Not bad for 20 minutes of work if you can get it. Damned organic chemistry!

but who leads the blind? really...

I have no idea what I'm doing, but just thought I'd start testing things and see what I come up with.

...a glass (or two) of Merlot is truly liquid courage.