“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 919 (Thursday) – thurs-yay

Once a month, remote work Thursday is capped with Boozy Book Club night. Tonight was the night. At 5:00, I logged off and stepped away from the computer. Winston, who had not eaten most of his breakfast, awoke from his day-long lounging on the floor behind my chair, ambled into the bathroom, visited his food bowl, and ate the remainder of his breakfast.  

Based on the evidence encountered first thing this morning, he was likely not feeling well. He had barked me awake at 2:00 a.m. to go outside, and instead of waiting for him to come upstairs, I climbed upstairs to return to bed, figuring he would come up when he was ready. Or not. He had just gone out to potty, so we should be all set until it was time to get up for real.

There was tossing and turning and swearing and an overactive monkey brain that lasted for what felt like hours but I didn’t want to confirm it by checking the time because it had the potential to piss me off. Thoughts ran the gamut. Paranoid and likely imagined slights at work. Running through the work project to-do list. The dead mouse discovered in the bathroom closet earlier on Wednesday. The potential dozens of family members of the deceased mouse in the closet. Worries about the weather and what to wear to the Friday wedding.  

It felt like six solid minutes of sleep had been achieved between 2:15 and 6:15 a.m. when I stumbled downstairs. Upon entering the kitchen, the first thing seen with the one eye that was open was a puddle on the floor next to the rug under the table. A few feet away sat three well formed oval poop offerings. A clean up operation was needed before the coffee could be started. While turning away from the kitchen cabinet, roll of paper towels in hand, the puddle of vomit straddling the doorway between the kitchen wood floor and the bathroom tile was noticed. Good morning! Poor doggy. 

After work, after Winston’s dinner and insulin, it was time for me to head downtown. The first stop was La La Books for the October book club selection, then next door to Warp & Weft for the September meeting. The book was The Elephant of Belfast, a historical novel about an elephant. In Belfast. Apologies for the spoiler.

One fun part of book club is the different viewpoints. There are a couple people who voice well thought out, insightful observations about character development and plot lines and who could probably be professional book reviewers. Then there is me, with my illuminating contributions like, “The chapters were long.” Some in the group liked the lengthy descriptions and cinematic feel. Others thought there was too much time spent on surrounding events not directly related to the main character. It is always interesting. And there are appetizers. And drinks. So, yay!