Oh-dark thirty.

By didn't get home from First Friday at the gallery until way late. I woke up just enough to hear him come into the bedroom, register that it was almost 1am, and catch him saying something about Robyn taking him out to dinner afterwards.

Pity, I'd really hoped I'd be awake when he got home, so he could tell me about the show across the street. There's a new gallery/studio across from the pearl, "Tomboys", I think it's called. Fiber artists; I know they do clothing, not sure what else. By told me they were doing a fashion show in their gallery at 7pm, and again at 9pm. So he and Robyn closed the pearl up at the usual time and got to go see someone else's art for a change.

He said this morning that he'd peeked at the new kittens when he came in last night. It sounds like he's already getting attached to the tabby, who looks a lot like Tuffy did at that age. And he got to hear the little female kitten purring--she might be louder than Baggins.

***long pause to talk with the boss***

Cheese just left after the Sat morning week in review. He's officially got 10 weeks before retirement, and that includes the time he's taking off to use up vacation and sick leave before he goes. That was the big announcement. Beyond that, we had to talk about what we were doing (or what Bigger Cheese will let us do) with the PT employee who consistently comes in 1-2 HOURS late. We'd like to fire him, but Bigger Cheese isn't backing up any of his supervisors when they make decisions. So now, we're keeping a diary of his timeliness, and performance (also generally poor), and hoping that if we present Bigger Cheese with enough documentation, we'll be able to get rid to the guy.

Like a plague of locusts they came

The catholic high school next door (St Thomas Aquinas) uses our west fields (which includes my tree trail) to host at least one regional cross country meet every fall. Middle school cross country meet. There are hundreds of the little buggers all over the place, with parents in tow, dropping gum wrappers and coffee cups and programs in the grass and fences and shrubbery. I spent about 90 minutes picking up the loose trash after they left at noon. Took 3 people and two loads to pick up the trash they bagged and left in a pile.

I'd be less cranky about the whole business if we knew ahead of time when these events were scheduled. I had planned on spraying out there this morning, but noooooo, can't do that, might hurt someone's little Johnson County Princess. (Don't I wish!)

And to top it all off, I caught nine of the brats from Shawnee Mission East lining up to pee on my new trees! I approached their coach about it, and she started in on me about how WE (JCCC) don't provide enough sanitary facilities. It's not OUR event. So, I went to the head guy for Aquinas and asked him to remind the coaches in attendance that public urination was not considered acceptable behavior at JCCC, no matter how long the line at the port-a-potties. (Which, for the record, wasn't that long. 3 or 4 people. I checked.)

Grrrrrrrr.

Can't pick the old, 3-foot-diameter cottonwood tree to pee on, noooooo, they had to use my 2' tall and 1/2" diameter sassafras trees.

What kind of parents and coaches teach the young people in their care that this behavior is appropriate?

Saturday night amusements

I've spent the past hour or so teasing an old friend long distance. IM can be such fun.

Woody's been chatting online with a gal who'd like him to be her master. Which is kinda funny, because he's definitely not the typical black leather and whips sort. He can be very dominant, sexually, but in a sneaky, seductive, "I'll bet you will like this" sort of way. So, we were brainstorming a list of props for a "master's toy bag" that batter fit his style.

( the list (might not be work safe) )

Woody is hinting that he'd love a kit like this for Christmas. (Of course, so would I. And someone to use it on, since By's likely to be very busy with work then.)

Self-indulgence is

staying up way past my bedtime, with a mug of white tea, lightly sweetened with turbinado sugar.

I love weekends.