Antics

Sunshine is getting into mischief again! She stole my eyeglasses right out of my lap and zoomed out the doggie door with them! After galloping and dancing about with them, she shook them hard enough to pop one of the lenses out. I found the lens right away, but then I couldn't find the rest of the glasses. With delight in her eyes for having fooled me, Sunshine jumped in the puppy pool and dried off in the cooled ashes of our fire pit.

I put Sunshine in her crate and searched through grass, sand and pine needles in my backyard for my glasses - on and off for a couple of hours! Periodically took her on a leash, made her sniff the lens and told her to go "FIND!" the glasses. She followed around scent trails like crazy, but I seriously doubt she knew what I really wanted her to do! She's only six months old and I don't even know how to properly teach a dog to search. Nor did she know why I was so mad and why I made her sit on the back porch alone while I prepared and ate lunch.

Finally, I did another sweep of the yard on my own and spotted the glasses. Undamaged for the most part and the errant lens popped in easily. Learned that searching for golden-wire-rimmed glasses in a pile of pine needles is pretty much identical to finding a needle in a haystack. I'm really grateful that I didn't find them crunching under my foot or lawnmower.

Downtown New Port Richey

This morning I took a little trip to downtown New Port Richey on job-search related business and it was quite an adventure. To prepare, I looked up the directions on Google Maps, to get a good idea of the location and best way to go. Instead of taking the printout, I entered the address in my Tom-Tom GPS device. Pretty much a straight shot to downtown with few turns and an estimated twenty-two minute drive.

What Google, Tom-Tom and I didn't realize is that part of Main Street is closed today due to road repairs - local friends, take note! Ignored the first sign that mentioned something about it, missed the detour, and ended up at a roadblock. I am finally, after four years in this town, getting used to the layout, and at least where I was headed was right near the library. So, after going around a different block, I got there, using up the extra time I had given myself just for these kinds of unexpected delays.

Pulled my car into a parallel parking space; thank goodness there were two empty spaces together so it was an hassle-free task. Then, I was very fortunate to meet (drum roll) "the biggest talent to live in this city since Gloria Swanson!" At least that the man sitting on the bus bench told me as I passed him. He had a guitar and was drinking an unknown beverage from a shiny aluminum can. He was speaking (shouting) to all passersby and was clearly a bit delusional or daft. At least he wasn't angry or mean, and he did know his history, because Gloria Swanson really did make her home in New Port Richey years ago.

Went to Connections, a local non-profit which helps people find jobs. I am returning Monday for an informational meeting. As I returned to my car, less than a block away, I encountered another colorful local. A man was riding a bike with his very friendly, curious and powerful pit-bull terrier mix - on a bungee cord instead of a normal leash or bike leash attachment. Boing! In his exuberance to meet me (he truly was not acting aggressive), he pulled his bicycling owner down on the ground!

After that bit of excitement, I was treated to a laugh on the way home. Drove by a pet grooming business called "Doggy Styles," and their sign which states the slogan, "We do cats, too!" When I got home, wondering if the double-entendre was intended or simply unfortunate, I looked them up online. Yet another slogan, "Do it Doggy Styles or don't do it all!" And they are located on -- Congress Street.

Took my puppy Sunshine to the coffee shop with me, thinking that she and I could sit outside while I enjoyed a cup of coffee. In fact, I had asked one of the owners last week if it was okay to sit in their outdoor area with a dog and she said we were welcome and loved the idea.

So, knowing that I shouldn't bring a dog inside the shop, and not wanting Sunshine to stay even a couple minutes in the car in 90 degree weather,

while I got my coffee, I tied her to one of their outdoor wrought-iron-looking tables. After two minutes, I hadn't placed my order yet, but I thought I had better go check on puppy. Imagine my shock when Sunny was not there! And neither was the table!

I called, "Sunshine," and, "Sunny," but she did not come. A young family helped me look and the dad even went into the back parking lot and asked a trucker (who was unloading dog food for the neighboring pet store) if he had seen her. Sunshine was nowhere in sight. How far could she have gone with her leash tied to a TABLE? Someone must have seen her! How far could she have gone, dragging something that large behind her? She is only four months old and weighs twenty-two pounds!

Well, one of the coffee shop employees was kind enough to come out and help me look - and spotted the collapsible table flat on the ground behind a nearby car in the parking lot. There was Sunshine, still tied to the table, scared to death and hiding under the car! She wouldn't come out in spite of coaxing and I didn't have any dog treats on me. I had to drag her out!

Next, I picked her up and hugged her, and she clung to me, so glad to see her "mama." It must have been scary when that table fell and then followed her!

I should have learned this lesson from reading "Marley & Me," and from having seen the movie, but I guess I had to learn the hard way!

Sunshine is home and happy now.

What's so great about Lemi Shine?

Lemi Shine is a dishwasher detergent additive that has saved me hundreds of dollars! How is that possible? I was ready to ditch my four year old dishwasher before I found this product.

I live in Pasco County, Florida and have hard well water. I thought a water softener would be all I needed to have clean dishes, clothes and appliances. After a couple of years in my new home, I noticed that my dishes were not getting clean any longer, even though I was using the same enzyme-containing dishwasher detergent and a rinse aid and the same treated water. It sure looked like my basic building-contracter-selected (cheap) dishwasher was already giving up the ghost.

The film on my glassware was absolutely disgusting and nothing would remove it. I tried hand-scrubbing and soaking in various cleaning agents to no avail. Ugh, who wants to serve a guest or family member a drink in a glass that looks like it has never been washed? So, I did some reading and learned that recent environmental regulations had completely changed the formulation of nearly all available dishwasher detergents. Previously, phosphates did much of the cleaning work; now they are banned in enough places that it isn't really worth manufacturing the kind containing phosphates.

Then I found out about Lemi Shine. It contains citric acid and other ingredients that are safe for the environment. You use it alone or in conjuction with your favorite dishwasher detergent. I used it in an empty cycle to clean my machine, and then ran a load of clouded glassware. They emerged sparkling! I was thrilled!

Lemi Shine has other uses which are posted on its website: http://www.lemishine.com/. It is in a very convenient plastic container; it pours easily and you don't have to worry about getting a splash of water on it, unlike the cardboard containers used for most powdered detergents. I buy mine at Publix; check the Lemi Shine website of Facebook page to see where you can buy it. I highly recommend Lemi Shine!

p.s. Full disclosure: If you like my blog post, Lemi Shine may consider giving me some free product as a reward for sharing my opinion.

Sunshine on a rainy day

Well, after a week of not feeling well and another week of limping around with a foot injury (that's another story!) -- I went back to the gym today! After a half an hour of treadmill cardio, Anytime Fitness Trainer Brett ran me through my strength training paces. It looked simple, but he worked me to capacity and I know I'm going to be feeling it tomorrow! Next time for strength training is Saturday, but I'm planning to do cardio every day. I really need it. Was surprised that as little as I've done in the past couple of weeks, my upper body strength was a bit improved; I attribute that to picking up puppy so often - she gained 5 pounds in four weeks!

Speaking of puppy, our new addition to the household, Sunshine the Yellow Lab Mix, was very entertaining today. She was getting a little too rambunctious in the house, so I opened the sliding door to the back porch so she could get to her doggy door. Thought perhaps she would entertain herself outside for a few minutes. Well she found plenty of fun (and trouble!) right on the porch! Suddenly, she raced back into the house with big chunk of dirt and pine mulch from a planter. So I closed the slider with her out there so she would have the choice of the porch or outside, and would have to "ask" to come back indoors.

When I returned to let her in - about ten minutes later - I didn't realize until AFTER she stepped through the doorway that she was covered in the dark topsoil from the blueberry bush planter! It was on all four of her feet and even on her butt! She must have been digging in and even SITTING in the planter! Fortunately, she did not eat or destroy the blueberry bush (no fruit on it at this time). Well, thank goodness I had some paper towels handy and was able to clean her up before she got too far into the house.

Later, we went to the mailbox together and just about ten seconds after we got back to the covered front porch, rain suddenly began pouring down. It's thunder and lightning now, and Sunshine is calm and resting by my feet.

Thankful

Robert was home for the long weekend. We enjoyed spending time together and watching neighborhood fireworks with friends. Robert didn't get to relax much, because he was busy fixing the garage door and water softener, adding more panels to the backyard fence and double-checking my Corolla's brakes. I am so thankful for all he does.

Blueberries

Well, I went to the Blueberry Jamboree in Hudson today. This is a new event and was quite small. It was held at the Rotary Pavillion area near Safety Town off of SR 52. There is a large parking lot there; they were charging $5, but I parked a short distance away in a free area.

I spent $5 on farm-fresh blueberries, another $5 on two blueberry plants (growing advice from the experts included). I also bought some glazed nuts and some pretty butterfly hair clips. They actually look like real butterflies and even move a bit like them!

There was a bouncy house for kids and there a band was warming up on stage getting ready to give a free concert. There were vendors selling kids' accesories and clothes, other kinds of plants, and home decor items. I stayed just a short time, because as I said it was small - and you could see everything during a brief stroll.

Even though they had the fresh blueberries and plants that expected, I was a little surprised that they didn't have more food and drinks. I would have thought someone would have made some blueberry baked goods or smoothie beverages. They didn't even anything suitable for lunch either - just the glazed nuts, bottled beverages and some bagged potato chips and such. I really didn't have to have lunch there, since I was so close to home, but I thought that was a lost revenue opportunity for the vendors.

Some of the proceeds from the parking and things sold at the event are being donated to an organization that rescues neglected horses.

I kind of like that the event was small and low-key; good for an individual who wants to stop by for a short time or for a family with very small children or older folks who just want a relaxing afternoon. I missed the free evening concerts, but I think those were probably the highlight of the event.

I hope they repeat the Blueberry Jamboree next year and that they add some blueberry treats for sale.