If you are that person, well, I'm not sorry

 Let me say from the start I love animals. Growing up we had a veritable menagerie; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds, turtles, goldfish, a chipmunk, chickens, ducks,  even frogs as house pets. In the house. For most of my teen years my dog slept with me. I like animals and they generally like me.

I don't like animals in stores or restaurants.  Animals are dirty. I wouldn't want you standing barefoot in my grocery cart and your hairy, shedding dog's feet are even dirtier. You do not need to take your pet to the hardware store nor the department store nor a restaurant.  

I'm not talking about legitimate service dags. You know what I am referencing. 

I saw a twenty-something toting around a cat in a baby carrier at Meijer last week. Give me a break. Emotional support cat? Your cat doesn't even like you. And it sure does not want to be cuddled in the canned goods aisle.

If you are so emotionally needy you can't go into public without your dog, cat, monkey, turkey, snake, whatever, then get some counseling.  I'm serious. If you cannot separate from your pet to leave the house, then order your food and groceries delivered. Have Amazon bring it. If society is too daunting without clutching something furry, buy a little stuffed animal to hold on to like a three year-old. 

So many of the jerks who dragged their dog of every size to Lowes when I toiled there were of the "Look at me"  narcissist type. Your pug doesn't need to help you choose a new appliance. Your beagle has no opinion on 2x4s, and your Great Dane cannot help you pick out a new grill. If your poodle needs exercise, then go to a dog park, or a jount around the neighborhood.  Yeah, it is cold or raining - welcome to pet ownership. 

We were at the flower store last week and an old lady asked us for help when she couldn't get her pot onto the counter. The wife gave her a hand. The old lady couldn't handle her stuff because one hand was holding a leash attached to a little dog. There was no reason to bring her little yapper to the garden center. 

You may disagree. You are wrong. 

It's been a long, cold, lonely winter

Around 8PM last night I decided I was taking today as a vacation day. I want to spread some mulch and after the heavy rains Wednesday I need to mow. I have to cut back the neighbor's weeds that are growing through my fence. Things are slow this week at work anyway. I might even get ambitious enough to power wash the porch and patio. Probably not. But I might over the weekend.  

How about a nice tune hearalding the coming summer? 

Inspiration fails me.

 I don't know why I'm up just before 5 aye em, but I am. We got beaucoup rain yesterday, but things look better for the next week or so. I hope so, my humidor is calling me. 

Gurgle gurgle goes the gutter

 It's probably raining at your house too

And I sprayed some unwanted weeds in the flower beds.

 Yesterday morning I put out my American flag and then I dragged out the smoker. I drove down to the grocery.  I threw the stuff for a perfect Memorial Day dinner in the cart.

Around noon I got things started. By supper time it was all ready; pulled pork (from a small pork shoulder), baked beans, cheesy potato casserole, and corn on the cob I cooked in the husk on the grill. Sunday we picked up some strawberries from the farmers market and we had strawberries on pound cake for desert after I washed up the dishes. 

In Memorium

 

They gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can be free.

For the birds.

 The wife has a "summer" wreath on the front door. As I walked up on the porch I saw a bird dart from behind it with a flutter. Sure enough, there was a nest. I grabbed so gloves and pulled it out. Then I saw movement and the remains of little blue shells.

Crap.

I carefully put the nest back behind the wreath. I told the wife to be carefull going out the front door. We will shake the door before opening it so the stupid bird does not fly into the house. 

Birds, bunnies, chipmunks, squirrels,  racoons, foxes, and coyotes -- the 'burbs are teeming with nature.  And that is just my tiny portion.