Jennifer's Joyous Journal

The Trials of Walking the Dog

Last night, I was on my own with Homer for our nightly walk. Usually that isn't a big deal, but my whole universe must have been off kilter yesterday (Meredith says Mars was in retrograde....it was effecting her too) because the walk certainly didn't go off as smoothly as it usually does.

In a harmonious universe, as we round the porch, I stop to apply some bug spray. Last night, I discover that the spray nozzle of our Skintastic has disappeared; I searched for it in the grass for a couple of seconds then decided to brave the bugs unprotected. So off we started again.

We didn't make very far before I realized that I had failed to put the pinch colar on Homer (it's amazing how much better he is on the leash with the pinch colar!). So we returned to the house; I unlocked the door; we regrouped in the foyer; I put the correct collar on the dog; and off we went again.

This time it seemed like we had gotten back on track. There weren't any other dogs in the park but Homer was enjoying checking out the scents of all who've passed recently and remarking his favorite spots. We made it halfway through our regular route when I realized all is not as right with my world as I had supposed. I didn't have my keys with me! When we returned to the house to change out Homer's collar, I put my keys on the ledge next to the door and failed to pick them up again before locking the door behind us! Ugh!

So we get back to the house and I try the front door. It's locked (of course). I think, "Maybe I didn't lock the sliding door after letting Homer in today". So I force open the back gate (it's not quite straight on its hinge and is kinda stubborn). But the sliding door is locked. Then I think, "Maybe our bedroom window wasn't locked after the last time we slept with it open." It was. I proceeded to check all the doors and windows accessible from the backyard. Once I was done, I was still locked out of the house. Again, Ugh! Stepan had gone to the grocery after swimming and probably wouldn't be back for another 45 minutes or so. I was really wishing I had my book.

I knew it was hopeless, but I went ahead and checked the living room windows off the porch. The first one - locked. The second one - JOY!!! It was unlocked! I carefully removed the screen and the window slid open beautifully :-) I let Homer in through the front door, put my keys where I could find them in the morning, and retired to the sofa to recover from my ordeal. Of course, I don't even remember the last time that particular window was open...I don't even want to think about how long the house was unsecured from the evil people of this world. The window is firmly locked now and I'll keep my keys in my pocket from now on.

Posted by jfer at June 21, 2002 9:52 AM