Now then, FINALLY some time free of the grip of mindless institutional papershuffling and buttonpushing for some good old-fashioned mindless individual buttonpapering and shufflepushing! Such a relief!
Went over to the inlaws' yesterday, and as usual, Reba's mom fixed every possible traditional 4th of July food known to man--burgers, ribs, hot dogs, chilled boiled shrimp (yes, I think it's odd, too, but the kids can't seem to get enough of them, even after I mentioned how much they look like grubworms), baked beans, cole slaw, sliced tomatoes, banana pudding, apple pie, cantaloupe (and for the philosophy fans there was Kantaloupe, too! Sorry--indulge me that one--no one else at the house understands the weak joke), strawberries, grapes, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, and our contribution, a pot full of corn on the cob.
For some reason, I wasn't all that hungry. Just had a hot dog, some tomato, and a piece of corn. And then went and slept the rest of the afternoon in their basement while Catherine and Rebecca watched TV.
Went home, changed, went to church, got home, watched the Thunder on the Mountain fireworks show on the television, helped heat up all the leftovers from lunch, ate, went upstairs and read the kids some more of their book, sent them to bed, and proceeded to listen to the stupid dog next door bark. I think the neighbors are gone, because he usually doesn't bark this much. But he's been barking for three days straight, now.
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
WUOORF-WUOORF!
Two barks, every three seconds. For hours on end.
I love animals, and I don't particularly dislike this one, even though he got loose last week and tore up Catherine's garden, but there are few things that rub me the wrong way worse than a barking dog that simply will not shut up, even after doing the exact same bark for hours on end. It makes me have very dark thoughts.
He finally quit around midnight. Because that's when the second round of bootleg neighborhood fireworks started going off. I'm not sure why midnight--I understand it on New Year's, but if they're going to do it at midnight for the 4th, why not have done it the previous midnight? But at least the constant thud and whistle shut the stupid dog up.
Until about three a.m., when he started up again.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at July 5, 2007 11:27 AMI've got some sub-sonic 22 long rifle shells that would solve that barking problem for you. You can get a box at any good gun store. Ask for the Aquila brand stuff.
Posted by: Nate at July 5, 2007 11:17 PMThat's the problem, Nate--so many satisfying choices, yet so few of them non-lethal. They have a shock collar that they use when they're home with him, but apparently they turned it off when they left.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 6, 2007 08:01 AMHas anyone checked to make sure the neighbors are OK? And if they're gone, who's feeding (and watering) the poor thing?
Posted by: Grouchy Old Yorkie Lady at July 9, 2007 09:23 AMYes, one of their relatives has been coming by and feeding and watering the dog, and thankfully, the neighbors have returned. It has been much quieter.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 9, 2007 09:57 AM