What a Weekend

For those of you watching news programs this weekend, yes, it was a tornado that hit downtown Atlanta and Cabbagetown. Thankfully my area wasn't hit, we didn't even lose power or have the street lights go on the blink.

Leah was over Friday night. We had an Indian night, watching Lagaan and eating Chicken Tikka Masala. About halfway through the movie, we heard a LOT of thunder. It hadn't started to rain yet, so I paused the movie and went out to my car to get her Pampered Chef order.

The atmosphere outside was weird. It was misty/foggy, cloudy overhead, with a ton of lightning up in the clouds. The kind that makes you think of Frankenstein movies. I was literally afraid of one of those bolts coming down and striking me.

Once back inside, I told Leah about how weird it was, and that I didn't blame her if she decided to leave early. Her two boys were home asleep with Xavier. Just then a huge boom of thunder shook the apartment, and she said that was her cue to leave. She'd just made it inside her car when the downpour started.

I watched the news, and listened as reports came in about the GA dome being damaged, the sound of glass breaking in the Omni hotel as people were being evacuated. I say listened, because in this day and age of global video, the technology was at the mercy of mother nature. People live on scene were calling in facts over their cell phones, it not being safe to transmit live. I think it made it more surreal, more scary because all one could do was listen, and imagine.

Saturday morning had me glued to the TV set for a couple of hours as the sun came up. Reporters now live on scene, with the visible damage in the background.

Later that morning I took Rose to 2 places. The first was a doggie daycare where I filled out paperwork and introduced her. They said because she's a rescue dog, her first day is comped. Wheeee! The lady there, after playing with Rose and wrestling with her on the ground, said she didn't think she was a terrier mix. That she looked more like Australian Cattle Dog- Red Heeler. These dogs herd cows and nip at their heels to make them "go".

The other place I took her to was a groomers. I wanted her to get a professional bath complete with ear cleaning and toenail clipping. One of the groomers there also said she looked like she had some Australian Cattle Dog in her. And they brought out a book with photos. I wasn't so sure just from those photos, but when I got home I did some research. I'm inclined to agree with them. Not just from some of the photos I found, but because she's nipped at me when I'm home from work, changing clothes, before taking her to the dog park- and obviously not moving fast enough for her.

Sunday morning Rose and I watched dog shows on Animal Planet. She was really paying attention to the dogs on the screen. I thought that was neat. Around 10 I took her to a friend's house for a play date with M's children and then went to church.

Sermon was on the cost of the Iraq War. Basically a summing up of all the monies spent, the alternatives that the money could have bought, and the price in human life and limb.

I would have rather stayed home, but it was my day to usher. Odd how "having" to do something makes me not want to do something. I enjoyed going to church when I was just going to go, not because I had to. I certainly won't renew the ushering after this year.

After church I did errands. Bought veggies at the farmers market, and recycled my glass, plastic, and aluminum. Did laundry. Got home to hear a message from M about could she drop Rose off early as something came up. I called but got the machine. An hour later, she's on the phone letting me know what happened, that everything's ok now, and yes Rose is fine but could I come get her? So I did.

We spent an hour and a half at the dog park, in incredible 68 degree sunny weather. Many many dogs were there, and Rose got to dig and run around. Apparently I miss the "crowd" time at the park during the week, since we get there about 4, and leave around 5. Most people don't get off work till 5, and then come over.

Talked again with Mr. Collector on the phone last night. He collects coins, die cast metal toys, art etc. We're going to meet for coffee next Saturday.

I found out that my cleaning service left the trash on my back porch AGAIN. I don't often go out my back door, or spend time back there. It wasn't until I was hanging laundry out to dry that I saw 5 bags stacked against the wall. Keep in mind, this is TWELVE days since they came.

All in all it was a wild weekend. I'm wishing for more sleep time this morning. Rose has taken to scratching at her kennel door at 3am. Still, it's better than being pounced on.