“Due to circumstances beyond our control… .” That’s a funny phrase. Many circumstances are not beyond our control, in retrospect. In retrospect, we did not need to go to Denver.
Had we not, we would have been able to engage the nice young couple who Farm-sat through the storms a few weeks ago to mind the dogs & The Farm this weekend. In retrospect, we could have arranged for The J-Man to rent a car and come back for a few days. But we went to Denver and squandered our Farm-sitting capital, and because Spring travels are not over, we did not waste The J-Man’s good will by renting him a car at the last minute.
Due to circumstances, our Farm & dog-sitter backed out 14 hours before we were to back the truck out of the garage and head up to Cincinnati. So, due to circumstances, I am not with Mr. Big Food the ‘Nati. Due to circumstances.
I moped between the hours of 7 and 9am yesterday. I am ever so glad we no longer live in Cincinnati– and ever so thankful to Mr. Big Food for having gotten me the hell out of there when he did– but I was looking forward to a short trip back. I’d gotten a new book– Fields without Dreams by Victor Davis Hanson– to read on the trip. That excellent sushi place is a short walk from the downtown hotel. I’m not a dedicated shopper, but Macy’s, Sak’s, and especially, Tiffany’s are just across the street. I love shopping at Tiffany’s. The staffs at Tiffany’s stores can spot a Country Mouse with just a glance. They think I don’t belong, or that I’m sightseeing. Ha. I was planning on pulling out a dog choking mother-load of cash and treating myself to something shiny. We were to have Mr. Big Food’s birthday dinner at Maury’s Tiny Cove on the westside. I would have worn my new bling. Sadly, due to circumstances… .
So I sat at my desk and moped for a couple of hours. Then I got to work, because the idea of moping for five whole days was most unbecoming. I divided the joint into 10 more or less equal parts and determined that if I spent 30 minutes every day attending to each, I’d burn five whole hours per day! Add to that long walks with Rocky & Missy, caring for Tiger, talking to Miss M, reading, and burning data watching Agatha Christy movies, I’m set!
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