andycrews

Went to Costco with Andy and Doyle after heading to a movie this afternoon. Going to Costco at 5:45 is not what I would consider going at an optimal time. If i have to wait in line, I'm not there at a particularly good time.

Doyle had said he wanted to go, so I didn't feel too guilty. Okay, that's not quite true. I felt a little awkward dragging Andy to Costco, too, since he hadn't agreed to go before we all carpooled to the movies. However, carpool we did, so he was along for the ride.

By the way, lower your expectations of National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Lower. Loooowwwwerrrrr. Lllllooooooowwwwwweeeeerrrrrrr. Okay, now, remember the suspension of disbelief might be difficult with this one, and go see it. Maybe. As a matinee. At a $2 theatre.

So, yeah, Costco. Off we went. We parked near the front door, which I never do. I usually park over by the Krispy Kreme where the tasty Hot Fresh Now donuts are, then load up on carbs at said Krispy Kreme before hoofing across the parking lot to Costco.

Neither Andy nor Doyle wanted any of the delicious sugar covered fat bombs, so I parked close.

Did I mention I forgot my camera again? I really need to stop that, because you might have seen a video of Andy's spectacular shopping cart ride into the Costco if I actually had my camera. Instead, you'll have to imagine it. This is what you should imagine: some crazy woman pushing a cart at a quick speed, with some slender man hanging off the side of the cart, barely leaning to keep it from tipping over completely to the left, while another man with a booming voice calls out to the woman to push off and just let go already. Which she does. Not that the man on the cart can actually steer the cart. So, she lets go, and the cart goes rolling, and the man on the cart needs to keep it both upright, and straight, lest the looming SUV to the left become a target.

No cars were injured in the filming of this escapade.

Once in the store, I made a straight line for the books, er, the laundry detergent, passing through a big stack of doggie beds on my way. Oooooooo! My dogs love these doggie beds! I thought, as I chucked a green one into the cart.

"Do you need that?" Andy, my corporeal conscience, asked.

"The dogs love them!" I answered.

"Don't you already have two of them?"

"Well, yes."

"Are you getting a third dog?"

"Well, no. Not unless I can convince Kris to get a 9" pocket beagle."

"Oooooooh-kaaaaaaaay...."

I put the dog bed back.

At top speed, losing Doyle and Andy about three times with my mad dash through the store, I managed to fill up my cart with toliet paper, toothpaste, laundry detergent and shaving gel - all items we needed, all items on my list, no items not on my list. I was as quick as I could be and as efficient, too, leaving Andy to wait for a few minutes in line as I retrieved the last item on my list. He was remarkably patient, given I think (I project) he dislikes being around crowds of people as much as I do.

Yeah, early morning probably would have been better, but not nearly as much fun.

Or as inexpensive. I saved $20 by not buying that bed.

And spent it on the $41 roll of stamps. Can't even buy stamps in low numbers these days at Costco.

This morning, we had the Orange Meal, Part 2. We invited Andy over for pumpkin waffles before the usual dog Saturday morning dog hike. He walked in with a huge weighted bag, a hefty machine and the question, "Have you ever had carrot juice?"

Oh, my, no we hadn't.

While I was mixing the waffle ingredients together, Andy washed the carrots and oranges and started juicing them in the juicer he had brought over.

I was surprised at the amount of pulp that came out of carrots. I can't say I had ever considered carrots for their pulp or fiber, though I realize they have a lot of both. More in retrospect I realize this.

Andy also juiced a bunch of oranges. He suggested we mix them. Although the carrot juice was quite tasty, the orange juice mixed in sweetened it a bit, making it REALLY tasty.

Though, if you let it sit too long, the various parts separated. A good swirl and they were all remixed and just as tasty.

Eventually, the waffles were done. The recipe we're using makes enough batter for 20 waffles, which is twice the batter most of the recipes I usually use. Our waffle maker (Thanks Jen and Bharat!) hasn't failed to entertain any waffle guest, as it makes barnyard shaped waffles: cow, barn, pig and chicken (maybe a rooster). I never quite put enough batter in the barn well, though, causing my barns to be blocks on sticks. I'll get it eventually, though.

Because we have so many waffles, we're able to share with all house guests. Even the small(ish), furry ones.

After breakfast, Andy installed the programmable thermostat Mark and Megan had given us LAST winter. Nothing like losing an item on the task list. Fortunately, I knew what box to look in, and Andy was able to actually find the thermostat (and instructions!). When he was done, he even checked our furnance filter.

Did I mention how much we love Andy?

Andy IM'd this morning and asked if we were interested in taking the dogs to the park. Go outside and play? Uh, yes? Kris had plans at noon, so wanted only to go to the local park. We went off to the park, three people, four dogs in tow.

I expected each dog to do his usual thing: Bella would sniff everything along the perimeter; Annie would run run run, then sniff along the perimeter, waiting for a lapse in our awareness to make her escape; Blue would chase the disc as long as Andy threw it; and Shadow would alternate between playing defense on Blue and hovering near one of the people for a quick snuggle.

To my surprise, Bella came out to play with us, chasing one of us when someone was running around, and dodging us when one of us was chasing her. She artfully zipped among the three of us, swerving in and out, juking one way and dashing the other when we made to cut her off. Bella pretended to be a 2 year old dog, and endeared her little heart to us.

Shadow also surprised me by chasing me down, nipping at my legs and herding me back to the pack when I tried to run down Annie, who had "wandered" away. When I turned on him and started chasing him, Andy and Kris joined in, turning the herder into the herdee.

When we were done, Andy asked if I was interested in heading to Ft. Funston, confuse the dogs by giving them not one, but TWO outings. I was up for it, so off we went. Although the trip was billed as a "fool the dogs and go on a hike," in reality it was, "display how inaccurate Kitt's timing is with her new camera."

Andy asked if I could take a picture of Blue mid-air. Sure! So, throughout the hike, I took pictures of Blue. Note, I didn't say I "took pictures of Blue mid-air." No, that would have required good timing on my part. instead, I managed an off-frame picture of Blue:

A distant shot of Blue:

A close shot of Blue:

Blue chasing birds in the surf:

Blue eating sand:

Way after a catch:

Just a little after the catch:

Waaaaaay before the catch to compensate:

And so far before the catch, Blue was still spinning:

But, you know, you take enough pictures, ONE of them is bound to be good, right?

Of course, there's the shot of Andy, to prove he was there, too:

Of my dogs, well, I have a lot of pictures of their butts: