Dog Days of Summer

Do you see those people out and about in the world?  You know ‘those people.’  It’s the person you see wearing shorts when it’s snowing or the one carrying a suitcase with them at the shopping mall.  I try not to judge, but when I see these things I often wonder about their back story.  What is going on in that person’s life that they decided bringing their mother with them to their job interview was a good idea?

Well, I was one of ‘those people’ this week.  It started with a series of unfortunate events that had built up over time.

• I recently had a recall repair done on my car and it had not been ‘right’ ever since.  I’d been having some rough engine starts, and one time the engine even died while I was in the middle of traffic driving down the road.  This was particularly worrisome to me as I travel through construction zones on the highway for the majority of my workday commute and there isn’t always a good place to pull over. 
• One of our dachshunds, Midnight, had been favoring his right hind leg for about a week and was limping around.  He was seen by the vet and scheduled for x-rays Tuesday morning.
• In the midst of Midnight’s troubles, our other dachshund, Sunny, started having frequent and sudden urges to go outside.  I suspected a UTI and knew I would need to collect a urine sample from her.
• MOH, who was already scheduled for a 24 hour shift from 7am Monday until 7am Tuesday, was called into work early and had to leave at 10:30pm Sunday night.

The whole situation with transportation, work schedules, and appointment drops-offs and pick-ups has become a little more challenging since my son moved out and we now have only two people to share the responsibilities.  I felt a hectic week coming on. 

MOH wasn’t sure he could get home on Tuesday morning, pick up Midnight, and get back to the vet in time for the 8:45am appointment that was scheduled.  I had a meeting at 8:30am and couldn’t be late.  We agreed to meet in the vet parking lot after MOH’s work shift and before mine.  I planned to hand the dog off to MOH and have him take him in to the vet while I continued on to work.  Phew!  It would be tight (I hoped MOH would get out on time) but we had a plan.

Monday morning I got a text message from MOH while I was getting ready for work.

You might want to put a note for yourself on the counter for Tuesday morning.  Midnight gets no breakfast, but the vet said pack it to take with him.  Also grab a blanket for him since he’ll be sitting in a metal kennel waiting until time for his x-rays.

Got it. 

My car struggled to start as I left for work and again when I ran out to do an errand on my lunch break.  I called the service department wondering how I was going to fit a service appointment into my schedule but knowing I didn’t want to get stranded by the side of the road again.  Luckily they suggested I drop it off after work and they would give me a loaner.  Perfect! 

At 1:00pm I got a text from my dog walker letting me know that, even though he came early, Sunny couldn’t wait and she had peed on the hardwood floor. Ugh! Note to self: get that urine sample so MOH can give it to the vet when we drop off Midnight.

I left work early to ensure I was able to get to the dealership by 5:00pm.  Still a little worried about my car dying in the construction zone, I took an alternate route.  Construction was apparently particularly backed up as many other travelers had the same idea and a regularly smooth sailing trip was stop and go.  I was stressed as I alternately watched the traffic and the clock.  I called the service department to tell them I didn’t think I could make it by 5:00.  No problem, they said.  They would be there until 5:30, or I could come in the morning. They opened at 7:30am.  I didn’t even want to think about juggling that into my Tuesday morning so I crossed my fingers and hoped I could make it.

At 5:30pm, I still had ten miles to go to get to the exit I needed.  For. The. Love.  It took me an hour and ten minutes to travel my usual 30 minute route.  I gave up and went home.  I realized I was going to have to go pick up the car in the morning before I met MOH at the vet.  I wasn’t happy about having to take Midnight with me to the dealership to drop off my car, but it couldn’t be helped.  I was sure it would be fine.

Lying in bed, trying to fall asleep, I reviewed my morning to do list in my head.  I need a urine sample from Sunny.  Don’t feed Midnight.  How will I feed Sunny without feeding Midnight?  I hope MOH gets out of work on time.  I should have enough time to get to work for my 8:30am meeting.  I hope I have everything done I need for my 9:30am meeting…zzzzzz

I’m up at 5:00am.  The dogs need to go out right away.  I’m standing in the backyard in my pajamas trying to slip a Hillshire Farms plastic lunch meat container under Sunny’s back-end without her noticing.  Since she’s a dachshund, there’s not a lot of clearance between her and the ground, but I manage.  Then I jump in the shower.  All my other getting-ready-for-work activities are accompanied by two whining and pacing wiener dogs.  They are quite sure I have forgotten to feed them breakfast and they are going to great lengths to be noticed.  Midnight runs back and forth between me and his stuffed toy, shaking it aggressively and then running back to me to see if I’m in the kitchen yet.  Sunny follows closely at my heels, periodically bumping her nose into my leg to get my attention.

Finally, I’m ready for work.  I load my work stuff and Midnight and the stuff for the vet into the car.  I put Sunny’s breakfast dish on the floor and we’re off.

Once at the dealership, I go over the timing in my head one more time.  They open at 7:30am.  I need to be on the road quickly in order to meet MOH at the vet by 8:00am.  MOH and I both have to be at the vet by 8:00am in order for me to get to work in time for my 8:30am meeting.

I get a text from MOH.  He’s beat after his 32-hour shift.  As long as Midnight’s not in any pain, he suggests that I just drop him back off at home and he’ll reschedule Midnight’s appointment on a different day.  I look at the clock to see if I have time to run him home and come back to the dealership without him.  I don’t.

When the garage door opens at 7:30 I pull in.  A service guy greets me, and we run through the check in process.  I tell him I need to pick up a rental and he directs me to the administration office.  I gather up my purse, my briefcase/laptop bag, the plastic Meijer bag containing Midnight’s breakfast, Sunny’s pee, and Midnight’s leash.  I throw Midnights cozy blanket over my shoulder and pick him up.  I can’t believe this is real life.  I try to pretend this is not weird at all and head over to the admin office.

There are papers for me to sign, so I put Midnight’s blanket in one of the guest chairs and put him on it.  I’m asked for my driver’s license and proof of insurance, so I have to let go of his harness and pay attention to the task at hand.  Midnight couldn’t be more well behaved.  He doesn’t bark at anyone.  He doesn’t try to get down.  He just watches me, probably still confused, and slightly concerned about missing his favorite meal of the day.  I sign for the car, and the clerk says I’m all set.  Thank goodness!  I’m outta here.

She stands up as I turn to pick up my dog and says, “Now we just have to do a walk around and have you sign an acknowledgement confirming the condition of the car.”  OMG!

I pick up Midnight and his blanket, follow the woman back out to the garage bay, and take a stroll around the car.  She balances the clip board and Midnight sniffs at it while I put my initials, “here, here, and here.”  Good, great, can I go now?

She realizes she left the key fob on her desk.  No joke!  I stand in the service bay, my work bag, purse, and wiener dog getting heavier with each second as we stand and wait.  We watch a stream of normal customers pull into the garage, get out of their cars, and go to the customer lounge.

Finally, I’m in the car and I drive Midnight home.  I take him inside and give him his breakfast.  He is eager to eat and the early morning field trip is already a distant memory for him.  I race off to my meeting.

So next time you see a person in the airport with a Tupperware container of fish stew, or a lady at the car dealership schlepping around her little dog and his blankey, just know that there is probably a reasonable back story and be glad it isn’t you.