...and then the rain came

I am quickly reminded of the procrastination potential of writing down the inane thoughts/happenings that i contemplate in the midst of my daily routine...science smchience...

Let me share with you a story....of why i will one day move to California...

Flash back to sometime late last week, I'm sitting here at my desk in lab, thinking about, but not necessarily doing, the required science to finish up this little "PhD" thing I've been working on for so long, when my phone rings...it's the dog boarder. This does not bode well because there is no reason for the dog boarder to be calling me unless they plan on telling me that my sometimes overzealous, if not well meaning, dogs have been banned for some unknown offense and I will need to find a new place to keep them during my out of town excursions. Granted, the last time they stayed at this little doggie haven, they came away still in good favor but nonetheless, I prepare for the worst...turns out, I overreacted. I am informed by the lovely Julie that as a present back to it's customers, each year Gone to the Dogs hires a professional photographer to come out and take pictures of their clients' dogs with Santa...and they wanted to invite me to bring Sadie and Daisy. It is of no cost to me and they would love to see us next Tuesday. I'm amused at the thought of subjecting the puppies to this and tell them I will try to make it out.

Now let's flash forward to yesterday, the aforementioned Tuesday. As I am walking in to school, I notice that the general cloudiness that was so boding while I got dressed is slowly maturing into a rainy unpleasantness. By the time I actually reach the Stevenson center, we are in the midst of a full on rainstorm. The morning passes and around lunch time I remember about the Santa/puppy/picture event that is supposed to be happening today and take a gander outside...shit. raining. After attempting to recruit several individuals to the "i shouldn't bother taking them all the way to the boarder since it's gross outside" team and being wholly rejected, I decide to suck it up. The glee that would radiate from all of the various parental units overrides my desire to avoid the wetness and besides...it's not raining that hard. I double check the post it on my desk and confirm, yes, December 9th, 9am-4pm, Pictures with Santa. Ok, it's 1pm, if we are gonna do it, lets do it I guess. So I suit up and trek home. It's rainy, I'm unhappy but eventually I make it home, mildly intact. Then comes the "dogs in the rain" portion of this adventure...so after finally getting their leashes attached to their collars, despite their mind blowing excitement, we all head out into the rain and as quickly as possible load up into the car. I say as quick as possible because the dogs are torn between their shared hatred of rain and their intense desire to investigate the front yard. Soon enough however, we are in the car and we are off!!..me and the two wet dogs standing over me panting and pacing in the all of a sudden very small car for the 30 minute car ride to the boarders...as we enter the highway, I am clearly pleased to find that the "rain" I walked home in has now escalated into something more appropriately described as "fucking pouring" and the highways are taking on a striking resemblance to the Mississippi river. Ok, you all know how much I loooooove driving in the rain, so I will let you use your imagination for the 30 minutes of interstate fun...lets just say one dog almost didn't make it there. However, we finally pull in to Gone to the dogs and I shuttle the dogs through the now torrential downpour and into the building. All three of us are drenched. We all shake off and I look up into the eyes of the previously mentioned Julie and that's when she says it...."oh no! you aren't here for the Santa pictures are you??"

What???

"Yes, yes I am....you said today until 4. It's two."

"We sent the photographer home early, at one....because of the rain and all."

::silence::

"Well Keith said to tell anyone that showed up that next time they brought their dog in for daycare or boarding, he would put back on the Santa costume and we would make sure their picture got taken."

::soaking wet silence::

"I'm so sorry that you came all the way out here."

"umm...I...yea...I mean...I guess I should have called first to make sure you were still doing the pictures today...what with the rain and all..."

"Yea, we stopped it at one...hey Sadie!! how's my girl??"

::silence while the woman coos the puppies as if we had stopped by simply to say hello::

"Sorry again for the confusion...we'll do it this weekend when you board them!!"

"Um...ok. ok, then I guess I will see you Saturday..."

And then we leave. We sprint back to the car, renewing the somewhat subsided state of drenched, totally empty handed. Then I drive all the way back to the house with the now totally soaked dogs once again pacing the various available seats in the car, clearly confused as to why we are going back home and somewhat eager to sit in my lap for the remainder of the car ride, oblivious as to why this is an unacceptable option. I get them home and in the house, and realize that now, after all that, I need to return to lab. So I look outside and am overjoyed to find that was once described as "fucking pouring" has now progressed even further to "the wrath of god." Optimistic, I put on my raincoat and open my umbrella and brace myself for the 0.75 mi walk back to school....oh silly silly girl. My umbrella was no match for this obvious attempt by a higher being to make me as miserable as possible. It was a success. 20 minutes later I arrive back in lab and proceed to spend the next four hours sitting at my desk in wet pants, cold and frankly...a bit bitter. I spent the day harboring a hatred for anyone who took this opportunity to tell me how much they "love the rain!" I hate you, and your stupid rain. My only solice was the resolution that one day I will move to southern California, where it does not rain.

So, I have no picture of Sadie and Daisy with Santa. Instead I have wet jeans, wet socks and wet hair. Enjoy a non-holiday themed picture of them instead. This picture did not require me to sacrifice all joy from my day. Santa pictures to come....maybe...