Seven Quick Takes (vol. 5)

It’s Friday. I have seven things to tell you. Get ready.

To check out other people’s Seven Quick Takes, please visit Conversion Diary.

1. I posted something that was very important to me yesterday and only one of you responded. That hurt my feelings.

2. One of my best friends is getting married this weekend. I was supposed to be a bridesmaid. Due to issues with taking leave from work plus the expensive plane tickets, I can’t be there, and I’m pretty bummed about it. Helen, I’m thinking about you!

3.. I inherited a plant when I took my job. The lady who had this job before me left it and told me it hadn’t bloomed since it was given to her. A while back, someone else told me the plant is a Christmas cactus. I looked up how to care for such a plant and have been doing my best. Although I killed the plant we got from IKEA, this cactus has started to bloom again. It’s beautiful! See?

4. Thanksgiving is next week and it’s still in the 50s here. I LOVE it! Last year, we were a day or two away from our first snow at this point. This warmer weather can stay all winter…please stay. We have also had two sunny days in a row. It’s phenomenal. We were all starting to get a bit depressed from the constant gray drizzle. It’s nice to have a break!

5. Due to all the rain, we have been having to deal with a lot of mud, which is to be expected. I stumbled across a crazy amount of unexpected “growth” due to the rain while on my way to work the other day:

Yes, that is a mound of mushrooms.

6. Tonight, I am heading to the Arts & Crafts center to finish the quilted table topper I started a couple weeks ago. Wish me luck! Pictures to come soon.

7. I called John to come home from work on Wednesday morning. In our 18 months of marriage, I have never asked him to do this. I was sobbing. I had taken Béni out for his morning walk, and one thing was different from usual: I was wearing my work shoes instead of sneakers. Béni saw two small dogs when we were heading back toward our apartment and took off running toward them. The force yanked me forward incredibly hard. I stumbled a bit with my arm fully extended. I yelled to the woman with the two dogs that I couldn’t stop my dog. Then it happened. Béni pulled even harder. My feet came out from under me (stupid work shoes lacking in traction) and I landed and was dragged a short bit across the asphalt in the street. My nice Ann Taylor LOFT pants were muddy (and I had no idea if they were torn or not – thank goodness they weren’t. I only have 3 pairs of dressy pants). My hands were cut up. My back hurt, and I was shaken up. My dog was running around like a craz-o around the two other dogs. I’m sure that woman thinks I’m a horrible dog owner. Sigh. I got back inside and started crying. I called John, because I didn’t want to deal with Béni, and more than anything, I wanted a hug. He was home so fast – he ran! He was excellent taking care of me as well as the loose ends at home so I could get to work. Two days later, my hand still hurts, and my neck, back and tailbone are sore. Béni has also lost his priviledge of walking on the retractable leash. He is only allowed to walk right next to us on a short lead now.

Bruised,