Frog and Goat

Last night The Niece made pee-pee in the potty TWICE while we were babysitting. She’s got that potty training on the run. When she was swimming like a fishy in the bathtub she told me she had to make poo-poo. “Hurry, quick! Line Me Up!” So I sat her down on the toilet and covered her up with the towel. The Niece learned all about being broken-hearted by merely farting. Back in the tub she went. The whole “line me up” cracked me and the better-half up.

Today the high temperature is expected to be 92. Guess what we still don’t have at work? That’s right, air conditioning. One of my co-workers is in shorts. We all have on shoes that we can kick off. The fans are running but it is already an inferno here.

And, to top it all off, the Honda is at the dealership. The car only has 27K miles on it and it is at the shop with some horrible problem…the engine light came on and flashed maniacally last night. The owner’s manual says exhaust system. It was stinking and bucking enough that I’m really hoping the warranty covers whatever is wrong. I’m a little disappointed. I didn’t think Hondas ever broke down.

As reported a month ago, I had never ridden public transportation in Richmond before I started working at the new job. This week I’ve taken two round-trips and for free each time-whoohoo! It is super handy to get between the two parts of campus but I’m telling you what, the crappy city streets need some serious repair work. Every bump I complain about in my car is much worse when you are on the bus. My neck was snapping.

Today I walked over to the restaurant next door to pick up lunch and the radio was playing excellent early 80′s hip hop. I grooved at the bar, paid my tab and then ate at my desk. I’m always interested to see what’s going on over there because some days it is dead and other times it is packed to the gills. Today it was empty but suprisingly enough there was another to-go order. Usually the to-go orders are for people in my building.

Tonight we get to babysit The Niece. I’m sure much hilarity will ensue.

The better-half and I like to play cards and sometimes we end up playing several times a week. We typically play one of two games: casino or rummy. Last night we were playing casino and eating chips and dip when the better-half asked me if I knew anyone who plays cards. I told him I couldn’t think of anyone. I know people who don’t mind playing board games, but cards is a different story.

He told me that our little set-up (big bowl of chips and dip, cards, booze) reminded him of when he was little and his parents got together with another couple to play cards (only they didn’t have the booze).

Some of my fondest memories growing up are of playing cards, especially playing cards at my grandparents’ house. We’d all sit around a huge dining room table and the adults had whatever their beverage of choice was and my grandmother fixed up a concoction of homemade grape juice and Wink for the kids. Then we’d snack and play cards. Usually we’d play crazy eights, but with all the crazy extra rules that you can throw in–reverse, pick up extra cards, etc.

Additionally, my dad and I would start a rummy game at the beginning of summer and finish right before school started. We’d play a hand to 500, write down our score and pick up the next day. Sometimes we’d play several games to 500 in a day. I have no idea how huge our final scores got to be.

The cat just made his patented “oh good god I’m dying” noise and since I’ve only heard him make that noise when he really feels bad, I jumped up to see where he was. He was standing in the upstairs hallway about 2 feet from the carpeted end of the house–where he is not allowed to go. He was doing that thing cats do just before they hurl. I quickly walked over to him and under the guise of rubbing his back and shoulders (to make him feel better, of course) I moved him around so there was no worry of anything hitting that carpet.

The poor little guy hacked up some freshly chewed grass blades and then hurried down the stairs. He looked back to make sure I cleaned up the mess. I told him that he didn’t have to run away so fast since I was trying to make him feel better. He knew I was just looking out for the carpet so he flicked his tail and went into the family room.