Fall follies...

I appear to be in the doldrums, not accomplishing diddly squat.  I did go to the recent HOA (slum lords) board meeting.  They didn't appear happy to have me in attendance.  I ask a lot of questions.  Putting forth ways to mitigate some of the problems in the complex with a friendly attitude makes me stretch my patience.  Which is probably a good exercise in diplomacy for me, but damn.  One board member said, "You should be on the board!"  You should have seen the look of outright horror that crossed the faces of the other board members. LOL!

I've been looking for a accent/storage piece for the living room for ages. My SIL that is a shopper has been looking too.  I knew what I wanted, and what I wanted to pay for it.  Nothing was even coming close.  They were either pieces of junk or very expensive.  Well a week ago when I took my BIL & SIL to PDX to catch a flight out, I decided that I would stop at IKEA and pickup a few things I needed for the kitchen. As I was wandering through the maze I found one that I liked but it was well above my price point, and I knew it was going to be a pain to put together, so I wandered on...  As I was coming to the checkout with my small stash, I looked over at the scratch and dent department, and decided it didn't hurt to look.  No sooner had I gotten in the door than there it was already assembled. I couldn't find the scratch or dent.  All the drawers worked. All the parts were there. Measured it with my tape, it would fit where I wanted it, and with a bit of luck in the back of the Tahoe. Went and got the clerk and asked her if she could tell me where the problem was with it. She pointed to a teeny tiny spot on the top where the paint was missing. "I'll take it, can I have some help loading it in my Tahoe."  Brought it home and it fits, does what I need it to do, and I think works in my living room. At half the unassembled list price. Sweet.

Have been trying to find ways to make travel with Willie easier on both of us. He whines and cries every time I take him anywhere in the suv. Got him some chews with hemp in them. Turns out they weren't the calming kind, just a supplement, he didn't whine... he howled all the way to and from the dog park. So, we have moved up to another brand that is a mega dose of hemp. If this one doesn't work I think I will take the chew myself and let him have at the whining.