Cow Bell

Last week at Chick-Fil-A, the mascot cow made an appearance.  The cow walked around tables and high-fived swarms of excited kids.  Following the cow was another employee who constantly rang a small cow bell and helped the cow maneuver.  For the first time in my life I thought, "In this scenario, I would prefer to be the person wearing the cow suit."

Beach Day

Family Beach Day

South Padre Sand Dune

Beach Ball

Dirty Beach Dog

La Pulga

Today I went to the one of the biggest flea markets in the Valley.   While parking was free, entrance was a whopping fifty cents a head.  It was a fifty-cents well spent.

In one stall, I found the exact same discman that I used to own in high school, when discmans were at the height of technology.  Seeing the discman brought back so many memories of high school trips in an old bus and16 passenger vans.  

There were a lot of stalls at the flea market selling health and beauty aids, which included a surprising number of prescription medicines.  Need some Viagra?  Looking for a do-it-yourself Depo Provera injection?  Then I know just the flea market for you!

In addition to prescription strength medicine, the flea market offers a barber shop, multiple salons, and even an attorney (who is just steps from a stall selling chickens, ducks, and rabbits).  The flea market really is a one stop shop for all your needs.  One thing I did not need, however, was the Jabon Blanqueador.  I think the only way to make my skin any lighter is to make it transparent.

In the end, the only things Chris and I purchased at the flea market were nachos and a fried spiral potato on a stick.  We considered purchasing a lawn vacuum, excited to learn that such a device exists.   We even witnessed the machine suck-up cigarette butts and cardboard from the asphalt.  

In the end, though, we couldn't even commit to the lawn vacuum.  With all the leaves in our yard (apparently autumn in the Valley happens in March), I think we may regret not taking our chances.

Go Doug Go!

It happened two weeks ago. Doug was in the back yard begging to play fetch. Chris and I were on the patio duly ignoring Doug's requests. Then, in a moment of desperation, Doug turned to his GoDogGo and finally put into action the prior month's training. It was an exciting moment and has since been followed by many exciting moments of independent fetch playing.

As Doug has become more comfortable with his automatic ball launcher, he has learned the noises that the machine makes as launch time becomes closer and closer.  The building anticipation associated with Doug's understanding of the machine's noises causes him to impatiently bark at the machine every single time it winds up and prepares to launch.  I feel sorry for my neighbors but not enough to turn off the machine.

I previously posted a blog in which I estimated that Chris and I may very well throw Doug's ball over 30,000 times if he lives the expected lifespan of a Jack Russell Terrier.  Now, with the GoDogGo, that number has the potential to be significantly less.  I like the sound of that, almost as much as I like the sound of Doug's impatient barking as he wears himself out in the backyard.

Oh So Very Library

I recently rediscovered the public library.  When I'm at the library, I don't feel pressure to find a good book.  Instead, I pick books based on their cover, plot description, and accolades.  If I decide I don't like a book after 30 minutes of reading at home, I can quit reading without feeling guilt for having purchased the book with my own money.  When I find myself interested in a book, however, I am suddenly motivated to finish reading it because I have a set deadline within which I must return it to the library.   So I guess what I'm trying to say is that reading a book borrowed from the library simultaneously frees me from commitment and commits me to rapid reading.