Attack of the Recycling Bin

Today is Monday, which is collection day for garbage and recyclables in my neighborhood. We've all been issued heavy-duty plastic recycling bins, which are open crates about 2'x1'x1'. This day is always a little tricky for dog-walking, since there are so many tempting but forbidden sources of odor out there. I usually am careful to keep the dogs away from the messy stuff, but my attention wandered a bit while walking Ben and Murphy this morning. Ben's attention was attracted by one of the recycling bins, and he padded towards it, nose high. Suddenly he yelped and leaped back, and stood there cringing and looking up at me anxiously. I had to spend some time comforting him (and more time disentangling Murphy, who was wandering around boredly and wrapping his leash around his legs).

I have no idea what prompted Ben's reaction. My first thought was that he'd stepped on some glass, but he wasn't limping, and I saw nothing when I checked his paws. Maybe he stepped on his leash. If it had been Murphy, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Murphy's scared by balloons, tree branches, random debris - anything that moves unexpectedly.

I saw a couple of mockingbirds outside this morning. I love mockingbirds; they have such interesting songs, and I like that little buttonhook hop they make. I suppose it's a territorial display or something - they only do it while perched on high - but I think it's neat.

What I Did This Evening

There is an old stereo speaker in my living room, right by the couch. It has been my habit for some time now to set the mail there when I come in, always meaning to attend to it later. Sometimes I do. Usually I don't. As of this afternoon, the stack (speaker plus pile of mail and other stuff) was about as tall as I am. After an online discussion with filkferengi, I felt the need to check a certain item which I knew was in that stack. A year and a half down. Of course, I tried to extract it without unstacking. ("Again? But that trick never works!") Mail, books, magazines, and whatnot exploded in three directions, scaring Murphy rather badly. It took me an entertaining half hour to repair the damage. (Murphy supervised, of course.) At least I did get around to sorting it into trash, recyclables, keepers, and things-that-still-need-to-be-dealt-with.

After that, I watched a rather dull season finale of Everwood. The promos gave away too much; about the only things that surprised me were the inane bit with the bagels, and the scene aboard the airplane (which, thank heaven, did not go the way I was afraid it would). There were some nice scenes; Amy was as cute (and as self-centered) as ever, and the final dream sequence was fairly powerful. Other than that, eh. (Yes, I'm aware of the time bomb. I'm not very happy with that - melodramatic - turn of events, however.)

Then I went outside, in hopes of seeing Comet NEAT, which should be visible about thirty degrees up, slightly south of west, in the evening sky. Unfortunately, it's cloudy in that part of the sky tonight. Oh, well, it's supposed to be there, steadily higher, for another couple of weeks.

I've spent better evenings.