Friday Mishmash

One of the things I love about blogging is that I can put a random question out there and get lots of varied replies - like my recent question on replacing your contact lens case.  Many people don't seem to replace theirs very often, which is reassuring.  I am set up for email reminders from Acuvue for my contacts, since I'm on the two-week plan with each pair, and I saw that my next reminder is also to replace my case, which would be 45 days.  I was thinking about stretching it to two months - honestly, it's not expensive, and considering that I'm using it to store something that I put in my eye, I'm all for keeping things as sterile as possible, but I was at my optician a couple days ago (for another issue) and asked their opinion - they said six months.  So that's what I'll do.  Now, aren't you glad you came here today?

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So you all know I have this dog - a sweet dog, but one who barks like a madman whenever someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the front door.  While it gets annoying, I actually don't mind, because it does put a healthy fear into random strangers who come to my door.  Well, on Monday morning, we were in my office where I was getting ahead on a blog post, when I heard a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK - but not at the front door (which I can see from my office) - it sounded like it was inside the house!  Paco stood up, looked toward the direction where the knocking came from, and then looked at me as if to say "DID YOU HEAR THAT???"  No barking.  It scared my protector - I could tell that he was waiting for ME to do something about it!  Sure Paco - when I really need you to step it up, you hide behind my legs.

Oh wait...you were SERIOUS about this whole guard dog thing???

After I worked up enough nerve, we cautiously went toward the family room, and then heard the knocking again - from the fireplace!  EEEEEEK!!!  I was freaking out, worried that a critter (squirrel, opossum, raccoon) had gotten in the chimney and was trying to get out through the house!  Finally Paco started barking, while I did my heebie-jeebie panic dance - I knew the damper was open because we'd had a fire not too long ago, and the thought of a critter coming through was freaking me out!  Hoping Jeff was still in town, I called him.  No answer.  Texted him.  No answer.  Argh!  Then I locked Paco and myself in my office while I tried to figure out what to do.  OK, it may not have been the best plan, but I was not thinking straight, obviously!  After about 45 minutes, Jeff called and came home to shine a flashlight up the chimney and also close the damper...he didn't see anything, and the knocking stopped - maybe when Paco barked, the critter got scared and went back up the chimney?  Any case, I can do without that kind of excitement, thank you very much.

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On a more pleasant note, I got to babysit on Wednesday morning!  Last time I got to hold him, baby Davis was only three and a half weeks old - you can see those pictures here.  Now, he's nearly 7 months old, and just so much fun!  I had a blast playing with him:

He would wrinkle his nose and laugh when I pushed the swing!

 Blowing raspberries at me while I warmed up his bottle!

He LOVED this ball - it made all sorts of sounds when he batted it, plus he somehow even made it play a song.  I couldn't get it to do that, so yes, a 7-month-old is smarter than me. 

 He loved my iPhone and kept grabbing for it, so I reversed the camera so he could see himself, and he managed to take a few selfies.  Such a happy baby!

By the way, holding Davis?  Great arm workout...I was feeling it the next day!

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Have a great weekend!