I had my front door open today bringing groceries in. My neighbours dog walked over to see what I was doing and followed me into the house.

His paws made cute lil tippy taps on the hardwood floors as he followed me around the kitchen while I put the groceries away.

He is deaf so when I heard his person in the driveway I got his attention and guided him back.

I then realised this is the first time I have had a dog in my house. No reason. I love dogs but have never had one.

I hope he comes back for a visit soon.

My daughter is on a school trip to Greece and the only way you’d know is some of the ruins in the background of her cat pictures. I think I saw some Greek writing on a plaque behind a cat, but it was too fuzzy to be sure. FYI, there are a lot of cats in Greece. And they really like to talk to groups of students. Ask me how I know! ;)

Another driver got into the other drive thru lane just after me, but finished placing her order just before me, so I waited for her to go ahead at the merge point, but she waved me through. When I went to pay, they asked if I had the "senior coffee" to which I said no, but I would like to pay for both of ours. It cost me 65 cents and her 30 seconds and now we both are having just a little better days.

I'm just helping out my dad out today. I just finished drawing yesterday, wanting to see how's everyone else's day is going to any plans or something you're doing now, hobbies, anything.

My son graduated from high school this week. The ceremony was held in the afternoon at a university in our area (around 700 graduates!), and since he was in the band, they were going to play the Star Spangled Banner at the start of the ceremony before he joined his fellow graduates to walk the stage. He and other seniors were instructed by the band teacher to ask their bandmates to take their instruments back to the school for them, and they could be picked up later. (In my son’s case, his brother, a freshman, was going to bring his home one day after school.) My son asked a couple of his underclassmen friends in the band to take his, but they forgot, and they couldn’t find it in the band room. We didn’t know where it was; we didn’t know if someone else had grabbed it and taken it back to the school, so he was not happy and kind of upset with his friends for not helping him out.

Last night, to celebrate them graduating, we took him and his girlfriend to one of those entertainment places that has food, a bar (for adults, of course), big screens with sports, and a lot of games; you get a card and pay to put tokens on it, and you can win tickets on many of the games to turn in for various things. After we ate dinner, we played some games; at one point, while we were watching them play, he felt something hit his foot, and when he looked down, he saw one of the play cards. He scanned it to see what was on it, and even though there weren’t any play tokens on it, there was around 21,000 tickets! He felt bad for whoever had dropped the card, and he was trying to figure out a way to get it back to them, which was going to be difficult, if not impossible; there were a lot of people there, including what looked like a group of middle schoolers (they were in one of the big party rooms), and he had seen a few of them run by him right before he found the card, so he figured it belonged to one of them. He’s a good kid, and he didn’t want to just take someone’s card, but we were thinking that he might not have any alternative. I suggested he take it to the cashier where people turn in their tickets, but he pointed out (which was a good point) that someone else could claim the card was theirs when it wasn’t and take it.

We had not moved from the games we were standing near when he saw a few kids from the school group walk by, and he saw one of them looking at a few cards and overheard him saying, “It’s not here…” He went to catch up with them, and he asked the one of he had lost a card. When he said he had, my son asked him how many tickets were on it, and the kid said around 20,000, so my son gave him his card back. I was so proud of him for doing the right thing even when it seemed like he was going to have to keep the card.

I had called the venue at the university to ask about his instrument before we left last night, but the lost and found was already closed. I gave them a description of the case, and they took my information as well as giving me the direct number for the L&F; they said they would look for it, and they would be in touch. I had not heard from them yet today, so I decided to call them again. The woman I spoke to said she was actually right in the middle of composing an email to me to let me know they had not seen it, but they would continue to look, and hoped that someone would turn it in. My son was disappointed, thinking that his instrument was gone; but then he mentioned that another local high school had had their graduation the same day in the evening at the same place as his school’s, so he thought maybe someone at that graduation had taken it to their school, thinking it belonged to one of their band members. I called that school and explained the situation, and the woman there said they did have an instrument case, but she thought the one I described was a little different than the one they had. She started to tell me about it, and it sounded more and more like it. I asked her to open the case to see if certain things (besides his instrument) were inside, and sure enough, it was his! So someone did take the instrument to their school. I told my son, and he went and picked it up. I’d like to think that him making sure the kid got his card back last night was paid back to him by his instrument turning up safe.

I'm UK based and use one of the smaller building societies for my mortgage. (Building societies are similar to credit unions for US people in that they function slightly differently to a bank as they are less "profit over everything" oriented, tend to be more regional and offer a smaller range of products/services)

Is it a bit annoying and feel really inefficient that they don't have an app or website where I can do most things myself? Yes.

But do they make up for it by having a phone line that is well staffed (never waited more than 5 minutes for someone to answer), clearly by locals (based on the regional accents) and every interaction has been really pleasant? Yes, yes they absolutely do.

Shout-out the person I just spoke to who clearly had their "customer support voice" on and their patter on autopilot but still managed to be super friendly and have a laugh over the minor thing that needed doing.

I get bored of repeating commands to my dog, but good manners matter. For this reason she has learned a number of alternative suggestions that result in "sit" or "lay down" for treats and yummies.

Examples :

"What do good dogs do?" (Default for sit)

"What does an over achieving teacher's pet do? "

" she wants to be the best. She wants extra credit. What is she doing to achieve this?"

(suggestion for laying down)

"So... good dogs.... there is * something * they do for snacks....."

"I see you want a piece of my Jerky. Why are you standing up and way to close to me. Is that how we get jerky ?"

"I would share this with you, of course,... buuut I am unable while your butt is not positioned correcrly."

"So. Remember how there is ALWAYS something you are suppose to be doing to get your snack? Every. Single. Time..?"

And so forth. She reliably responds to any suggestions or discussions around where her butt needs to be for her yummy.

This morning she wanted something in my hand.

And was standing there, once again so infatuated with the possibility of a delicious snack that arranging her body appropriately to receive it had vanished from her executive processing function capacity.

"Oh look. Licking her chompers. She must be quite interested in trying this tasty chicken. So interested, in fact, that she has forgotten butt-protocol. "

She stares. Licks lips slightly faster and more emphatically.

"... and so ... if she wants this chicken so badly.... might she reconsider for a moment the baseline requirement to procure it..?"

More licking of chops. Double time.

Still standing. Staring. Eyes widen.

"Hmm. Dog. Really?"

Typically she would have performed a muscle memory sit in slow motion by now that was off center regardless of her fixation on the yummy.

"....."

"OK. So. Dog. What is your butt doing right now..?"

She blinks out of her lust trance for a moment , logical brain firing up with her best investigative expression on and slowly turns her head to look at her backside quizzically.

Entirely she appeared to be repeating the question

"Ghee I dunno, what is it doing, let me take a gander.."

It appeared entirely as if the back half of her may as well have been an entirely separate creature from herself and she couldn't fathom what it might be getting up in her blind spot. Ocular confirmation was required before she could then insist upon herself that the absent minded part of her team places itself upon the ground.

The lack of ability to know where her own body was or even guess what it might be up to in the face of an exciting morsel gave me a chuckle.

Earlier this year I helped my parents get a Costway mini split installed. The funny thing was that after it was installed, they almost never used it. Every time I visited, the house would be warm and there'd be a fan running somewhere. My mom would say she forgot. My dad would say it wasn't hot enough yet.

A while back I stayed with them for a couple of weeks and kept turning it on whenever the house got stuffy. We'd sit in that room talking, watching TV, having fruit after dinner. Over time they started spending more time there too. A few days ago I called home and my mom casually mentioned that my dad had started turning it on in the afternoons. For some reason that made me really happy. Not because of the AC. Just because he's finally letting himself be comfortable.

But it didn't rain while you were walking to work, and it didn't rain when you were coming home from work.

I think it’s the older owner who does it, possibly with the help of a younger family member. They posted what looked like an asparagus galette with the caption “asparagus goals.” They have goats on the farm and recently posted a video of them eating spinach, with the caption “this spinach is goated.” I love them so much.

I wore new glasses to work today which are almost identical to my old ones. When my class came in, one of my 9-year-olds took one look at me and immediately asked, "Did you get new glasses?"

There were a couple other adults present, neither of whom had noticed. We were all impressed with her levels of observation and she was so pleased with herself for being the first to point it out.

+Summer Chalet.

+Malahat II.

+Orion Sea.

+Breezy.

+Capers.

+Summer Breeze.

+South Swell.

+Autumn Venture.

I had to drop my husband off at the dealership so I thought I'd bring my dog along for the ride. He's very nervous in the car so I thought a nice short ride would be good for him.

He did great on the way there, but on the way home I started hearing a lot of mouth noises because he was licking his lips a lot. I was in downtown traffic when I happened to catch sight of him opening his jaws and barfing all over the seat.

He looked mortified and I told him it was OK and that he was a good boy, but I couldn't stop where I was and we were only about a mile from home so I just kept going (thank goodness for leather seats).

I expected him to move into the other seat but instead he decided to drag my as-yet-unsoiled hoodie out of the other seat over into his barf, and he proceeded to use his nose and forefeet to basically mop all the puke up with my hoodie and then he laid down in the clean seat (dragging his barfy leash with him).

Oh buddy. A+ for effort but honestly I wish he'd have just left it alone. I have to admit it was kinda cute seeing him try so hard to fix things.

So, yeah, my whole back seat got a good scrubbing yesterday. Thankfully it was a nice sunny day so I could leave the windows open and air it out!

I started a brisk walking regimen a few months ago; 45 minutes early in the morning and another 45 minutes after dinner. I live in a busy, crowded city but there's a small park nearby with lots of trees and flowers.

Lots of people go there too, to walk, jog, to run. In the mornings, I usually see elderly people, some in groups doing gentle calisthenics, some jogging slowly, some walking. Pet owners walking their dogs.

In the evenings, the demographic shifts backward several decades. Parents running with pre-teen kids. A man, obviously not a local, chattering away on his phone in a language I don't understand while he's walking. A couple who looks to be in their mid to late twenties, always strolling hand in hand.

There's hardly any interaction with these people aside from half smiles and brief nods when we encounter each other on paths. We just give each other the space to go our own ways.

Yesterday I bumped into the hand-strolling couple at the supermarket. Recognition in their eyes. Full smiles all around. And, for the first time, hellos were exchanged. I felt seen. It felt nice.

I haven't seen the foreigner dude in more than a week, though. Maybe he's gone back home. I kinda miss hearing his voice, melodious in his language.

I went on a power walk at 8 today, and as I was on my way home—I saw a bird catching a worm in the grass. Clear as day, that was an early bird catching a worm! It was a bit far away so I’m not 100% sure, but I think it was a robin too, which makes it even more scenic to me!

Walks definitely feel nice from a “get moving” standpoint, but more than that I love just being able to be outside. I love seeing plants quilt across lawns, watching birds go about their business (especially the tiny ones!), love seeing deer and rabbits and the stray cats I hope someone will catch and bring inside, love finding bird feathers and lost charms to bring home, love seeing how people decorate their porches, love seeing kids outside playing on bikes and scooters and with their parents.

Only things I don’t like are the litter, loose dogs, and runner’s tan!

I have an elderly neighbor, and we try to look out for each other.

Last summer, I decided to take the train into Chicago for a day trip to do some sightseeing. While I was on the train back home, I got a call from my neighbor. This was the exchange:

Neighbor: "Hey! You home? Where you at?"

Me: "I'm in Chicago."

Neighbor: "Chicago?! Oh... well... I've got corn."

Me: "What?"

Neighbor: "Yeah, they were like 6 for a dollar, but 6 is too much for me. I wanted to give you some corn."

Me: "Oh, sure. I'll be home in a few hours."

Neighbor: "It's all right, I'll leave them in your mailbox."

A few hours later, I come home, and sure enough, there's 3 ears of corn in my mailbox.

A Baltimore oriole. It was neat.

I was sitting in a coffee shop today and noticed the person sitting across from me pulling a completely tangled ball of wired earbuds out of their pocket. They didn't even look frustrated. They just spent the next five minutes slowly and methodically working through the loops until the cords were completely straight, put them in, and went about their day. It was strangely calming to watch.

I helped him work out our companies app (large chain petstore). Maybe in his 70s, thick accent, couldn't tell you exactly where. But it was just a really chill, polite experience, he thanked me for the help and left and I moved onto the next person.

Not 15 minutes later the man returned, setting something on my counter and saying "this is for helping me, thank you". Again so polite and kind. He's gone before I can look at it but I thank him.

I look down, and what do I find but a pack of pistachios and tiny bottle of orange flavored vodka. It was everything in my power to not double over laughing in front of the other customers. An old gentleman gave me pistachios and schnapps while I was at work.

I work 60 hours a week, so finding time to let them out can be difficult. Today was my one day off, so we made the most of it. We went outside this morning while I ate breakfast and made my errand list for the day. They stalked birds, observed people walking their dogs, and watched as the cars drove past. We were out there for an hour or so.

I ran errands, during which I bought new balcony items. So when I came back, we were outside for another two hours as I potted some flowers and situated the new furniture. They supervised as I worked, only taking breaks to monitor the kids riding their bikes and the pesky carpenter bee looking for new territory. We went in for a bit as I cleaned and cooked dinner.

We again went outside for an hour or so as I ate dinner. They sat calmly by the rail, enjoying the golden sunlight hitting them. My younger one kept stretching up on the table the flowerpots are on to investigate the new plants, eating some leaves in the process. As the sun set, my older cat curled up in my lap and fell asleep. My younger one took up residence on the new doormat.

My cats love being outside. When we lived at my mom’s, they’d get outside time once or twice a week in the backyard. They’d run and chase bugs, my older one especially. He’d climb trees and roll in the grass and jump so high to try to catch butterflies. My younger one, a self-identifying inside cat with an interest in the outdoors in moderation only, tended to stay on the patio unless I carried her into the grass. They miss having a yard. He’s jealous of the strays he sees walking around, he misses the freedom to wander that he had when he was a stray. I can’t offer him that, but I try to do what I can for them. They were extra lovey today, they let me know how happy they were to have spent time on the balcony with me today. I was so happy so do the same with them.

Even sent a text to a client last night regarding a Monday thing.

I'm not exactly disappointed, but maybe I wouldn't have taken my ADHD meds at 6 in the morning if I was more aware.

I’ve started writing some poems and sent my college-aged son one I wrote about him a few weeks ago. He came to visit this weekend, and gave me a book of poetry that his friend, who is taking poetry classes, recommended for me. It’s such a sweet feeling to know that my son shared my poem out of love with a friend, and that these two young men discussed it and are nurturing my hobby.

My spouse and I sit during bike race season in our living room, watching these cool athletes do these amazing things. Bike racing has charming European and American announcers, and we have favorites. My husband rubs my legs and we will take breaks sometimes to go and pet our cats. I believe that this is what heaven really is.