G2; car; altercation; cat food

It seems as though, and I guess it has been, a very long day. The morning was slightly chilly, but it heated up as the day progressed. Although there was some rain Wednesday night, there is still a need for more. At work, all the expensive sod that was put down several weeks ago has died. Or maybe it is only dormant, my sod knowledge is limited.

Morning's efforts were similar to yesterday's. Futile and unfulfilling. Every time I would start on something, there would be a call asking a web question. I kept opening windows until I had no idea what I was doing. I re-discovered that RealPlayer and RealPlayer G2 are not the same. You can have RealPlayer, but it will not play something in RealPlayer G2 format. I'm sure I knew this, but maybe I suppressed it.

Early in the afternoon, my mother called, seeking a ride to pick up her car at the body shop. (See 1999-0924.html for details of the accident.) I had forgotten that today was the day it was supposed to be ready. She also wanted me to review her checking account: the bank changed the statement format this month, and she found it confusing. Dropped by her house at 4, meandered through the bank statement, and headed for the body shop. Surprisingly, the car was ready. For the cost of the repairs, you could easily spend two or three weeks on a Caribbean cruise. Ah, the wonderful world of car insurance and repair.

Coming back, I managed to hit the 5:00 traffic. Yuckkkk! I'm glad I don't have to do it on a regular basis. Next stop: the post office. Assorted junk mail and a bill.

On to Target for canned cat food. When I started walking toward the store, I noticed two women and a man nearby engaged in an argument. Suddenly, one of the women attacked the man. Then the man hit her. The third woman started screaming at the roving security guard. When I looked back, the woman had an umbrella in one hand, and the man had picked up a bottle. Fortunately, the security guard pulled up at this point. This type of event always make me feel sad for the people involved. Do they feel guilt, remorse or shame? (Several hours later, it struck me that I should have run over and yelled, "Hey! The auditions for "The Jerry Springer Show" are NEXT week, not today!")

The cat food at Target was not what I wanted, so I wandered down to PetsMart. (Is it supposed to be "PetsMart" or "PetSmart"?) The mice and hamsters were as adorable as ever. Such wonderful tiny creatures scampering in their glass cage. One or another will stop, sit up on its hind legs and sniff the air. Bought $10 worth of tins. I made the mistake the last time I shopped there of buying a cheaper brand. My feline friends were not amused!

When I come home in the evening, the cats are always waiting by the front window. The second I pull into the drive, they jump for the kitchen. When I unlock the back door, they are ready with a chorus of meows to remind me that it's din din time. But they also want to know what's in every bag. Next is a mad flurry of hopping from floor to counter to stove to floor again.

Time, Gentlemen! Time!

PAX!