JUST HOW HOT and DRY IS IT?

So, today was 'be good to my dog' day. 

She is now closer to 15 years old than 10 and she is showing her age.  I have a wonderful wheeled carrier for her and when we go more than a block, I take it with me.  When she appears tired - or the sidewalk is too hot for any dog's paws - I pop her in and wheel her.  She likes to ride with her little head sticking out.  It's a bumpy ride on the sidewalks and streets and sometimes my elbows throb later from all that vibration, so I suppose she must feel that in her bones too.  Yet, when I move the carrier towards the door, she sees that and she readies herself to go. More fun than sleeping the day away, I suppose.  And she does love to shop - especially the dog food and treat stores.

I pack a bottle of water and a small water bowl.  I pack some treats. A thin blanket and a small fat cushion for the bottom of the carrier.  Sometimes food. Or a sweater for her.

We left a store and went to sit on a metal bench that was in the shade but on cement before we headed to the cool shade of the grassy park. I took her out of the carrier and pulled out the water bowl. I filled it with some water from the bottle.

Then, before she could even take a sip, came a bug - running right towards the bowl! The bug must have been desperate for water.  It must have smelled water.  Heard the pour. Perhaps it was ready to die of thirst. It was some sort of beetle, about the size of a big watermelon seed and striated brown.

I quickly moved the carrier, the dog, and the water bowl out of the way.  But I poured some water onto the cement.

The bug stopped right at the edge of this pool of water.  And it stayed there at the edge and it drank.

C 2022 Christine Trzyna

JOE BIDEN WON and IT RAINED

It was 150 days with no rain in Southern California. That statement is probably in error as Southern California is thousands of square miles and it probably rained somewhere in all that territory in the last 150 days.  

However, we have been waiting for it.  

Real rain.  Not morning mist.  Not a little drizzle, though I'm sure the plants would love to have their leaves dusted off so they can breath.  

We wanted a downpour.  An inch.  Rain enough to stop using the hose and racking up the water bill. Rain enough to plant a garden and expect it to sprout.

It happened, for a few minutes. Then it happened again. The wind whipped through the trees.  The pavement was damp. The leaves glistened. The temperature went down and we pulled out the sweaters and warm fuzzy blankets from storage.

Soon after it was announced that Joseph Biden is our President Elect, it rained.

It was as if we had all been holding our breaths,  The fires consumed much of the state.  And then, he was elected.  And then the sky let it out.

That's my perception.

My friends and I opened a bottle of wine.

We all slept a little bit better.

Though we know "It ain't over yet."  (Where is the fat lady these days? Hopefully the White House.)

Then the catnip addicted cat, who now loves me, squinting it's eyes and looking up at my forehead, perhaps at my glowing third eye, got up on their table, though, because he is aging and bony it took more effort, and put out his hand-shaking paw.  "More"

I bought the catnip, claiming to be the world's strongest, at a dollar store. 

I bought it after he got beat up by some studly, younger, and mouse eating cats.

This one, he's an Egyptian. The smartest.  From the Pharoahs.

One of those other cats had put a neat slice in his head near his ear. It was deep and oozing. He was barely walking. He was in pain. His own eyes appeared foggy.  As he went out, my friend said, "In my gut I think he is going off somewhere to die."

A day later he came back.

I made a perch for him on top of their record album collection in the hall. Layered it with blankets.  

He had never had catnip before. The idea was to give him some bliss before it was all over. The idea was to increase his appetite.

Now, whenever he sees me, he wants some.

He is eating.  He is well. His eyes are bright and alert.  From their porch he watches the other cats carefully.

Joe Biden is President Elect.

Will we all get better?

C 2020 Christine Trzyna

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