Planning my Cruise with the Otters

Some friends of ours invited several other couples to join them on an upcoming cruise. 7-days in the Caribbean at an awesome price. Of course, we needed to speak to the agent, and also make the initial payment.

We spent a couple days playing phone tag with the travel agency, but finally connected with an agent. He introduced himself as Rafael, and he would assist me with getting everything arranged. He told me about the options – balcony, window, or interior. Since the balcony was several decks away from our friends (and more expensive), we agreed on the window. We would still be reasonably close to the group.

Rafael – Would you like to be close to the otters?

Me – Yes. (Otters are so cute.)

Rafael – Did you want the same dinner time as the otters?

Me – Yes!! (I can’t wait to see how cute these otters will look in tuxes.)

Rafael finished confirming times, dates and payments. Zondra had asked us to let her know that things were settled, so I sent her a text.

Me – I’m so excited!! Rafael is putting us close to the otters!

Zondra – Oh, good. We’ll have to come visit you. Rick said to be careful. They are not as harmless as they look.

Me – I hope we get the significant kind. I love my significant otter!

(Long pause)

Zondra – And, your family just doesn’t understand you.

Me – They do their best.

********

I suspect English was not the first language for Rafael. He had a little accent.

I Just Want a Dog

I’ve been trying for MONTHS to adopt a dog. I send links, pictures, memes, and anything else I feel will get David to allow a new member in the household.

I visited one doggie a few months back. Her name is Rita. She was surrendered when her elderly human became ill, and needed to receive intense medical treatments. She was well-behaved, calm and appeared non-sheddy.

I watched the local shelter Facebook page, and let David see updated pictures and activities of Miss Rita. We saw her for the “official” new shelter opening. This week, their Facebook page posted how Rita really needed a furever home for Christmas. David didn’t fuss too much when I told him.

So, today the shelter was walking dogs around the Forney Park during Christmas in the Park. Bingo! David needed some fresh air, and needed to meet Rita. (He didn’t realize the part about meeting Rita. I saved that as a surprise.)

We didn’t find the shelter “booth”, so I spotted someone walking a dog, and chased her down. (The dog was wearing a vest that said, “Adopt me”, so it wasn’t as stalker-like as David was thinking – from a safe distance away from me.) She told me the helpers were walking the dogs from the shelter itself, since it was so close to the park.

We took down the path to the shelter (which was really about 1/2 mile, but I was wearing my Fitbit, so the steps counted). When we arrived, I initially looked in the room where I thought Rita was assigned. Then, a nice helper asked me who I was hoping to see. When I told her I wanted to see Rita, she said, “Oh, she just left.” Which I thought meant she just left for a walk in the Park. Her next comment was “She was adopted about 10 minutes ago.” I started to cry inside, while David realized he was really in his own dog house. I was glad Rita found a home, but I really wanted it to be mine.

We visited with a couple other dogs (Bo and Bella). They were both sweet. Bo was very energetic, but also smart and potty trained. Bella was quiet while the other dogs were yappy. We still came home without a dog.

Once we got home, we settled into watching some reruns of LivePD. Shortly into one of the episodes, there was a female pulled out of a car after she was attempting to hide her crack in her sock. She kept begging the officer to let her go because she didn’t want to lose her dog. She promised she would never be bad again, and she didn’t want to lose her dog. She reminded the officer she had met him previously when she was found in a hotel room with a man (who was carrying condoms), but they were just friends, so the officer let her go. The officer obviously didn’t believe that this was the first time she had crack and tried to hide it, or he didn’t think she would be good from now on, because he did arrest her. However, he was kind enough to have someone bring her dog to her, so she could love on it before she went to jail.

That’s when my inside voice became my outloud voice, and I exclaimed, “That crack whore has a dog, and I can’t even get one!” David came to the kitchen, hugged me tight, and started to shake. I thought he was crying with me, but he was actually laughing. He tried to convince me “this is just a TV show, and it isn’t live-live”.

I’m still sad. I want a dog.