Hypothetical "Most Awesome Day" Becomes Reality

If someone had asked, "What would be your ideal Saturday?" I'd answer, "Well, Asker, I'd want to go on a short hike with my dogger, bake cookies, spend an hour or two reading, socialize a bit, and find free money."

Well stomp your foot, it totally happened.

Harper Dog and I trotted around Carkeek Park, my favorite King County location. It cancels out so much urban crappiness. Plus, we met a well-behaved dachshund named Moe.

I baked thumbprint cookies for our neighbor because he always takes out our garbage on Wednesday mornings when we've forgotten. I saved a couple for Hamb, because that is one of the perks of being engaged to me. Cookies.

I flopped on the couch and read The Bishop's Man. Solid characters, interesting story.

Tonight, Hambo and I are heading to the neighbors for dinner, cards, and dog frolics. (Their pupper Coal is a black lab mix. He makes sounds like Chewbacca.)

And the free money? Yep, that happened too. The federal government decided that I overpaid them, so they're giving me a pile of cash back. I love tax refunds almost as much as I love taxes. Truth. "Taxes are a down payment on the common good." The common good is wonderful! Give me a hug, common good! And feel free to toss me a couple dollars!

It's too bad you weren't here, reader pal. Today was a winner.

This is an exciting story about stairs, sweat, and a bus.

As you know, Pumpkin, seven book clubbers and I have a Ski to Sea team. Like my pals, I have been trying to use the next six weeks to get in shape for the race. My routine includes twisty sit-ups, the elliptical machine, and only eating two cookies instead of three. Yesterday, however, I mixed it up.

A classmate and I were leaving class and she asked, "Are you riding the bus with me? We can hate on school vouchers all the way home!" (I often ride the bus with her, you see. We take the 372. There are fewer crazies than on the 373.) I replied, "No, friend. I am going to the gym."

I walked, like, 170 stairs down to the university's Intra Mural Activities building. I scanned my Husky Card. I entered the locker room. I opened my backpack. But no! No! I had forgotten my gym shoes!

I zipped up my backpack, exited the locker room, walked out of the IMA and up the 170ish stairs to the bus stop. As I was nearing the top of Stairwell of Enormity, I heard a bus. "Please don't be my bus." That is what I thought. But it was. It was the 372.

So I sprinted and sprinted and sprinted and I hopped on board right as the driver was going to shut the doors. Aforementioned classmate was in the front row. She was happy to see me, and I was happy to get home at a reasonable time and still work up a sweat from all the bus chasing.

The end.