Zzzzzz! Those Darn Dogs, And the Cat. And... - Jun. 09, 2010

 It had to be done.

 The word came down yesterday.

 Words, actually, were not used.

 Eyes.

 Those eyes.

 The eyes of my wife and business partner Shelley. It all unfolded yesterday morning when the Blue Seal truck arrived. Shelley and Ashley unloaded the beast that it is. Fortunately, I had a real work meeting and was unavailable to lug some 7,000 pounds of food.

 It was not the lugging that made the glance necessary.

 It was the room. Or lack of it.

 Over the past four years and one month of operation 'out back,' has kind of been my domain. I have an admitted problem of collecting shelving and other knick-knack paddywhacks.

 Over time, they do accumulate.

 Now, I am not a candidate to appear on the A&E hoarder show, but you get the idea.

 With all that food and a large delivery of other items arriving today, there needed to be room in the back of Animal Essentials.

 Quickly.

 Down I went last night. And I had taken my kid gloves off.

 It was a clearance. Out to the dumpster went a plethora of shelving units and some of the aforementioned knick-knack paddywhacks.

 Hey, if you are looking for shelving and other items, take a spin behind the store today. Take them away.

 Bottom line was a massive change in terms of quantity from the storage area. You can move again. You do not have to go outside to change your mind anymore.

 Driving home a little after midnight - hey, I caught the Astro comeback on XM! - all I wanted to do was hit the rack.

 When you do some heavy lifting, it is kind of like coming home and trying to sleep after a hockey game.

 I knew it was going to be a difficult night to sleep.

 Surpisingly, I could feel myself drifting off. Until 12:41 a.m.

 That was when Calvin decided it was a great time to start a barking frenzy downstairs. His frenzy desire? The cat. Noah prowls the downstairs at night and it is his domain. Calvin took exception.

 Upright in bed I bolted, scared out of my whits at the sudden sharp barking.

 Goshdarnit. Or words similar.

 The Lhasa made his way upstairs and then started his little dance. On the bed or off. On the floor? Or up? This is not a one time thing with him. He labours over the decision.

 He settled on the floor. Promptly, his sister starting snoring. Loudly.

 Lovely.

 A little nudge with my right foot woke her.

 All was quiet.

 Until the cat started meowing.

 Loudly.

 "Is the basement door open?" I asked Shelley.

 "Yep."

 I was up. Fully awake. And then started thinking about taking the big shelving unit that is out back down and out.

 I must have slept last night but it sure does not feel like it.

 As we speak I am also sure the dogs and cats and napping nicely back at the house.