Phoebe and the Rocket.
The Daily News
1 I finally had a little time on my hands yesterday and decided to go to the car wash, long overdo.
2 I decided I might as well get some gas while I was there.
3 A message on the pump read, "Do you have a Loyalty card?"
4 I hesitated and then saw that the Loyalty card was the one that Lucky and Save Mart give you so I answered with a resounding "Yes."
5 It then said, "Please slide your card."
6 I slid my card and the pump put me on hold for a bit while it processed.
7 After much processing, it finally flicked this message my way:
8 "Loyalty unavailable."
9 "Well!" I thought. "Then you really ain't so loyal, are you?"
10 Loyalty unavailable. I felt jilted.
11 It reminds me of Benedick's line in Much Ado: Ha! "Against my will I am sent to bid you come to dinner." There's a double meaning in that." That's okay. There are other pumps in the sea.
12 Moving on, Part One: On Thursday a student came to my desk, hesitated, and then said with a straight face, "Mr. H, may I please go to the room at which we may rest?" He looked at me and then broke into a wry grin.
13 You gotta love stuff like that.
14 I threw that on out on Facebook and a few people got it.
15 It almost got by me.
16 Smart kid. Fun moment. If you missed it, I just thought I'd put it up in here for you. I was amused.
17 Moving on, Part Two: I think I've figured out a way to control the situation that occurs when the dog needs to get up in the middle of the night.
18 It requires my going to sleep a half hour earlier each evening.
19 It's almost like fishing. I have some new bait.
20 I make just a little food for her.
21 I then give her a bowl.
22 Her modus is to eat swiftly, and then run out in the yard in search of night creatures she can bark at.
23 At which she can bark.
24 I used to go out and try to silence her. I would turn the light on, which would only make her prowling more intense.
25 I now give her the snack, open the door, turn off all the outside lights, and then I close the door. I turn off all the lights inside the house as well.
26 Within seconds she is back at the door begging to come in. It seems cruel, but she is up and back down within around three minutes. It used to be a nightmare. I never knew if she would come in, wake up the neighborhood, or stay up wandering around the house unsettled. She will bark until she loses her voice.
27 The new plan works. At least it seems to work. If you haven't noticed, dogs figure things out pretty quickly. They can sniff out a trick better than Holmes.
28 Right now she takes the bait each time.
30 This is significant news for DN readers.
31 At least in my ridiculous mind it is.
32 Phoebe, my wonderful dog, has been a champ at staying asleep through my nightly insomnia, and the second I finish writing the DN and drift off, she barks me awake right around 4:20 each morning, prompting me to nickname her "4:20."
33 This often would cause me to go to bed early, awaken, write this, almost drift off, and then awaken for the day.
34 Not good.
35 I'm usually okay for my morning classes, but by my last class of the day I'm ready to conk out.
36 Lately I have used a literal bait-and-hook to get her into the yard and back inside and to sleep within minutes.
37 We both get more sleep in the end, so it works.
38 Her real nickname is Charley, because during this last summer she and I became good pals. I was reading Travels With Charley by Steinbeck. I spoiled her all summer by throwing her into the T000000NDRA every chance I could, and taking her all over the place. "You wanna go for a ride, Charley? Do ya?" She would shake and jingle her collar. We went all over the place. It was grand.
39 When school started that ceased. I miss it, but I'm pretty sure that her behaviors at 4:20 were prompted somewhat by all of that.
40 She's my pal. If I threw her into the T000000NDRA every night at two a.m. she'd be a happy camper. When school is in session, that just can't happen. I have to control my rest so that I am awake and alert during my classes. I teach with lots of energy, so I have to be rested each night. It takes training.
41 I'm glad I could get some rest, but I'm also looking forward to summer, and traveling again with Charley.
42 I never seriously called her 4:20. I do seriously call her Charley.
43 She's a good girl, and an awesome pal.
44 She's swell.
45 Moving on, Part the Thoid: Monday going into Spring Break, always a fun time.
46 We get the week after Easter off. It works beautifully because it is close to the end of the grading period, and this gives us a lot of time to get our grades done. This is huge. Everyone else is at the beach. I've actually brought my papers to the beach. I just couldn't find a beach that allows bonfires. Just kidding.
47 I found out that my daughter Nicole's school isn't off for a couple of weeks. That's astounding. It has been my experience that most school districts have either the week before or the week after Easter off. Those are the traditional time zones of Spring Break.
48 That's too bad in a way, because she has a dog is who a mini-version of Phoebe. His name is Rocket J. Dog, and is the cutest thing on four paws.
49 We could have gone on excursions to the ocean next week. We took them to Bean Hollow a few weeks ago, and they both had a ball.
50 Ah, vell.
51 It's Monday.
52 It is into the four a.m.
53 I think I might actually get some rest this day.
54 Phoebes is sound asleep.
55 An old movie is flickering. Some Jean Harlow venture.
56 All is well.
57 I think it is time to put this to bed. I think it's time to put myself to bed.
58 Hope you have a GREAT Monday.
59 See you again.
60 Peace.
www.xanga.com/bharrington
The Daily News1 I finally had a little time on my hands yesterday and decided to go to the car wash, long overdo.2 I decided I might as well get some gas while I was there.3 A message on the pump read, "Do you have a Loyalty card?"4 I hesitated and then saw that the Loyalty card was the one that Lucky and Save Mart give you so I answered with a resounding "Yes."5 It then said, "Please slide your card."6 I slid my card and the pump put me on hold for a bit while it processed.7 After much processing, it finally flicked this message my way:8 "Loyalty unavailable."9 "Well!" I thought. "Then you really ain't so loyal, are you?"10 Loyalty unavailable. I felt jilted.11 It reminds me of Benedick's line in Much Ado: Ha! "Against my will I am sent to bid you come to dinner." There's a double meaning in that." That's okay. There are other pumps in the sea.12 Moving on, Part One: On Thursday a student came to my desk, hesitated, and then said with a straight face, "Mr. H, may I please go to the room at which we may rest?" He looked at me and then broke into a wry grin.13 You gotta love stuff like that.14 I threw that on out on Facebook and a few people got it.15 It almost got by me.16 Smart kid. Fun moment. If you missed it, I just thought I'd put it up in here for you. I was amused.17 Moving on, Part Two: I think I've figured out a way to control the situation that occurs when the dog needs to get up in the middle of the night.18 It requires my going to sleep a half hour earlier each evening.19 It's almost like fishing. I have some new bait.20 I make just a little food for her.21 I then give her a bowl.22 Her modus is to eat swiftly, and then run out in the yard in search of night creatures she can bark at.23 At which she can bark.24 I used to go out and try to silence her. I would turn the light on, which would only make her prowling more intense.25 I now give her the snack, open the door, turn off all the outside lights, and then I close the door. I turn off all the lights inside the house as well.26 Within seconds she is back at the door begging to come in. It seems cruel, but she is up and back down within around three minutes. It used to be a nightmare. I never knew if she would come in, wake up the neighborhood, or stay up wandering around the house unsettled. She will bark until she loses her voice.27 The new plan works. At least it seems to work. If you haven't noticed, dogs figure things out pretty quickly. They can sniff out a trick better than Holmes.28 Right now she takes the bait each time.30 This is significant news for DN readers.31 At least in my ridiculous mind it is.32 Phoebe, my wonderful dog, has been a champ at staying asleep through my nightly insomnia, and the second I finish writing the DN and drift off, she barks me awake right around 4:20 each morning, prompting me to nickname her "4:20."33 This often would cause me to go to bed early, awaken, write this, almost drift off, and then awaken for the day.34 Not good.35 I'm usually okay for my morning classes, but by my last class of the day I'm ready to conk out.36 Lately I have used a literal bait-and-hook to get her into the yard and back inside and to sleep within minutes.37 We both get more sleep in the end, so it works.38 Her real nickname is Charley, because during this last summer she and I became good pals. I was reading Travels With Charley by Steinbeck. I spoiled her all summer by throwing her into the T000000NDRA every chance I could, and taking her all over the place. "You wanna go for a ride, Charley? Do ya?" She would shake and jingle her collar. We went all over the place. It was grand.39 When school started that ceased. I miss it, but I'm pretty sure that her behaviors at 4:20 were prompted somewhat by all of that.40 She's my pal. If I threw her into the T000000NDRA every night at two a.m. she'd be a happy camper. When school is in session, that just can't happen. I have to control my rest so that I am awake and alert during my classes. I teach with lots of energy, so I have to be rested each night. It takes training.41 I'm glad I could get some rest, but I'm also looking forward to summer, and traveling again with Charley.42 I never seriously called her 4:20. I do seriously call her Charley.43 She's a good girl, and an awesome pal.44 She's swell.45 Moving on, Part the Thoid: Monday going into Spring Break, always a fun time.46 We get the week after Easter off. It works beautifully because it is close to the end of the grading period, and this gives us a lot of time to get our grades done. This is huge. Everyone else is at the beach. I've actually brought my papers to the beach. I just couldn't find a beach that allows bonfires. Just kidding.47 I found out that my daughter Nicole's school isn't off for a couple of weeks. That's astounding. It has been my experience that most school districts have either the week before or the week after Easter off. Those are the traditional time zones of Spring Break.48 That's too bad in a way, because she has a dog is who a mini-version of Phoebe. His name is Rocket J. Dog, and is the cutest thing on four paws.49 We could have gone on excursions to the ocean next week. We took them to Bean Hollow a few weeks ago, and they both had a ball.50 Ah, vell.51 It's Monday.52 It is into the four a.m.53 I think I might actually get some rest this day.54 Phoebes is sound asleep.55 An old movie is flickering. Some Jean Harlow venture.56 All is well.57 I think it is time to put this to bed. I think it's time to put myself to bed.58 Hope you have a GREAT Monday.59 See you again.60 Peace.~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
Comments (1)
I never knew you were a dog lover. Wish I had time to visit every day.