Welcome back to the virtual bar at No Facilities. We are flying under the radar and staying open in the midst of the lockdown in the real world. We’re here to share some conversation and try to work around Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt:
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘beside you.’ Write about whatever is beside you when you read this prompt. Not when you sit down to write, but whatever is beside you right now. Take note of it if you think you might forget. Enjoy!”
I doubt it would take any regular reader to guess what’s beside me at almost any given moment when I could be reading blogs.
If we were having a beer, we’d be at a safe social distance and we would have recently washed our hands.
“It’s good to see you boys, this place has been quiet today.”
“Hi Cheryl. We appreciate your letting us in.”
“No problem, David.”
“Ouch. I learned my lesson about comparing you to Skippy. You don’t need to rub it in.”
“Just watch yourself. You boys having the usual?”
“Yes, but, you know, put his virus-beer in a glass.”
“You OK with that, Dan?”
“I’ll take one for the team, Cheryl.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“So, Dan, what’s the good word?”
“Huh?”
“Conversation starter. I thought I’d have better chances with that than ‘what did you do today?’ Given the likelihood that you didn’t do anything.”
“I actually did do something.”
“I mean besides walk your dog and brush your cat.”
“Oh. Well, I did finish lifting our fence back into position.”
“You already told me about that. You can’t use that again.”
“It was a different section of fence.”
“Did you have to fight dragons to get to it?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then it’s the same story as before. I have to tell you, working on a fence is only so interesting.”
“Then I guess we’re left with walking Maddie and brushing MuMu.”
“How far do you walk Maddie? I mean, is it far enough to consider it exercise?”
“It depends on the day. If she’s really in a mood to walk, yes, it’s exercise.”
“Well, if you had exercise, then you’re entitled to this cold Corona.”
“I exercised, too, Cheryl.”
“I’m sure you did, David. Here’s three fingers of John Howell’s Bourbon, a snifter of seltzer and a glass of ice.”
“And cherries, thanks for the cherries.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Cheers, Dan. Now how do you know what kind of walking mood Maddie is in?”
“Sometimes, I have to actually coax her out of her crate. Sometimes, she tap dances all over the kitchen, and sometimes, she hits me with her Magic Paw.”
“Magic Paw? Is that a toy?”
“No. It’s her left paw.”
“How is it magic?”
“Well, when Maddie was a puppy, my wife tried training her, you know, the basic tricks and commands.”
“Sit, stay, lay down…like that?”
“That was the plan.”
“But…?”
“She taught Maddie to shake first.”
“Yeah, and?”
“And nothing. That’s it. Maddie learned that if she gives you her paw, she gets what she wants. Ever since, she just uses her paw as a signal.”
“You don’t have to ask for it?”
“Ask, why would we do that? She gets enough by smacking us with the damn thing. So much so that we started calling it Magic Paw.”
“What about the other commands?”
“That’s it. Just the paw thing. Although she did learn how to sit pretty.”
“Sit? Pretty?”
“Regal looking, like an Irish Setter in a dog show.”
“Did you teach her that?”
“Not exactly.”
“Is this going to be a long story?”
“No. When I would come upstairs, Maddie would pester me at the top of the stairs, hoping I had saved her part of a snack or sandwich.”
“Sounds like a typical dog.”
“Well, one day, she took advantage of her elevated position and tried to reach onto my plate.”
“Not good.”
“No. I snapped at her and told her ‘only dogs that sit pretty get a treat’ and she sat.”
“So, she actually knew what ‘sit’ meant?”
“Oh yeah, she knew.”
“Did she remember?”
“Every time I come up the stairs, she tucks her butt in under her body and sits perfectly still.”
“Well, if you two keep sitting pretty, maybe I’ll bring you another round.”
“That’s exactly what we need, Cheryl.”
“You boys want any food?”
“I’m going to grill some burgers at home, Cheryl.”
“OK, David. Dan, how about you?”
“I’ll take ten wings to go, with…”
“Parm pep dressing. This isn’t my first day, Dan.”
“You’re the best!”
Today’s gallery has a few pics of the pup, and some collected from the few errands I ran. BTW, check out Cheryl’s place. It’s now possible to ‘Like’ her posts. In fact, if you want to, you can ‘Love’ them.
No Facilities 
Good job on getting the second portion of the fence done. You’ll enjoy having that done all year. Maddie must be a nice comfort during this time of isolation. I know if we were neighbors, I’d sure ask if she could come for a visit. Have a good Saturday.
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The people behind us suggested just letting the fence fall down so the dogs could visit. Maddie is a comfort at times and a pain in the rear at other times. It would be nice if I could give her to you during those times ;-)
It does feel good to have the fence fixed. It just felt good to accomplish something.
Stay safe, Judy.
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You’re making me miss my local pub.
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I am missing mine so much. I will get some wings to go this afternoon, but it’s not the same.
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Ours isn’t even open for that.
😰
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Love the captions to your pictures. Can’t believe the glasses hung up like that!
Forsythia is what my mom made into an Easter egg tree when I was a kid. Making the decorative eggs would be a good project for kids today home from school, now that I think of it.
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If they can get eggs :(
Eggs are one of the things that are in short supply in the grocery stores. We buy ours from the farm – nothing but cluck.
MuMu’s shelf is right above my laptop. It’s a Surface, so it has a very thin screen. I left the room for a minute, and she went in and took care of the glasses (it isn’t an actual sequence, when I see her, I generally move them). When I cam back in, she was admiring her work.
I knew when I “pruned” the Forsythia that we wouldn’t have many flowers this year. I think it sets its buds in June.I whacked the heck out of it in October. It’s alongside our driveway. I have to cut it back before we start using the garage or it scratches the cars. You can’t kill that stuff.
Take care, GP!
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Look at Maddie not only surveying her kingdom, but ‘sitting pretty’! I can’t believe where your glasses landed. Too funny. That squirrel looks so darn cute looking up at you hoping to see some peanuts.
What a desolate looking parking lot! A sign of the times.
Glad you were able to complete the fence repair.
If your forsythia can bloom after you butchered it, we can bloom again after this virus is butchered!!
Stay safe. Happy weekend.
🐾Ginger 🐾
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That’s a great way to look at it, Ginger. We can survive this and we can rebound. It may take longer than some people hope, but we’ve been through worse in this country, and people have always bounced back strong.
As I explained to GP, I wasn’t there for the glasses falling – I pieced together the action sequence. I get a lot of opportunities to photograph MuMu these days.
Maddie knows how to sit pretty. It’s so funny, she doesn’t move her nose. She slowly tucks her bottom in under her without ever taking her eyes off the food she wants.
Take care – stay safe.
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Maddie has trained you as much as you’ve trained her. I’m sure she’s a wonderful sidekick who would never take advantage of your good nature to give poor little puppy dog another nibble. 😉
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Yeah, right… She always knows when I have food, and she always gets the last bite. She has evolved that into the last bite of each piece of toast or muffin half – and don’t even think about giving her a piece without butter.
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People, I am learning, don’t do rude and obnoxious things out of necessity. They live to do that stupid stuff. Just another day as King od the Parking Lot for them, I’m sure.
Maddie is quite special, isn’t she? 😊😉
Thanks for keeping us virtual bartenders in business, Dan. I love thatyour retirement gives you more time to write too! Take good care.
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Thanks Cheryl. I wish I could keep the real bartenders employed. I’ll be ordering takeout wings today. I’m doing my best to help the restaurant survive.
Take care, and watch out for rude people.
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I spent Thursday weeding in the garden. Much better than the news. Friday we took the metropark road for our errand. Socially spaced and well used. We are now back to rain. So is the fence done now ? What is next ?
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If we get a string of warm dry days, John, I have a door to replace. Part of me says I should wait but part of me says I should do it before they close the hardware stores. Maybe the end of the week, or next week. I also have to install the siding on our shed and replace its roof. I have lots to do, it’s just finding the best time/weather to do it.
Take care.
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I think the hardware stores will stay open. Unless it gets real crazy. Essential repairs.
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I agree.
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The ‘oops’ photo is so cute. Now how did that happen? Ha! Anyone can make a dog sit, but ‘sit pretty.’ I love that, Dan. So quiet outside here. We are not on lockdown, but police are stopping people at the border that are coming here from LA. They are on lockdown. Strange that they would drive right through Alabama to come to Florida, but who am I to say….Have a safe weekend.
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Maddie can be pretty, Lois, but some of her early “sits” were a little shabby and unstable.
Nobody in, huh? I guess you’re stuck with the neighbors you have.
I wasn’t in the room when MuMu dumped the glasses. She wasn’t even in the room when I left.
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Pets for the MiMi and the eyeglass throw-down girl. Extra pets for Maddie for her magic paw and ability to know when sitting pretty and food go together. Who’s a good girl?
Hope you’re having a good Saturday, Dan. It’s raining here, so it’s a good time to relax and read a few blog posts.
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Pets, pats and scratches have been given all around. Magic Paw is working well and she sat pretty for the last bite of my cheeseburger.
The rain held off until about 3:00, but it was cool and windy. Still, we walked. Now it looks like it’s going to rain forever.
I hope you’re staying healthy, sane and safe.
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I am healthy and sane, Dan. Went for a bike ride with my neighbor last night and that did as lot of good. :-)
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I’m glad to hear that.
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The sit pretty story was cute. I hope she gets a treat every time you come up the stairs and she is sitting pretty. That bozo is the reason it should be legal to own and use a bazooka. If he is going to take up the space, it might as well be as a burning hulk. Cute photos, Dan. That glasses off the edge was especially fun. I really hate those Windows Ten images. Takes like three clicks to bring up the password window and “No I don’t give a rip about where that scene is located. Thank you Bing.” Thanks for the mention. Have a great rest of the weekend.
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Hahaha – I’m with you on the Windows 10 images, John and the difficulty in getting them to go away.
Maddie always gets a treat. She knows I’m a soft touch.
I totally agree on the bozo. I was parking mu car (in a defined space) when he swung in and spread out across three spaces. I got out and took a picture, and I don’t care if he saw me. If I had had more destructive options, I might have used them.
MuMu wasn’t in the room when I left. When I got back, she had “moved” my glasses. The “before” picture is one of my stock images, I get that look every time.
Take care, John, I hope you’re having a good weekend – stay safe.
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Yes we are having a good weekend. Thank you Dan. Stay safe too.
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Ever heard of a guy getting 86’d from a virtual bar? Won’t be long.
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Ha – let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
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Your pseudo conversation was a lot more interesting than what’s been happening here lately. “What are you doing dear?” Silence. “John, John, are you listening?” “Huh, oh sorry, I’m watching a rerun of an old football game.” Sigh. Thank goodness for the pet. She stole a hamburger off my granddaughter’s plate the other day and I didn’t have the heart to yell very loud. It was too funny. I am easily amused these days.
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Maddie begs and cries, but she doesn’t steal. The male setter we had about 16 years ago would steal. Since he knoew the worst that could happen was that we might put him in his crate (to keep him from stealing more) he would takes something like an entire muffin, go into his crate and pull the door shut. Then he’d eat what he took.
I hope we can all get through this, safe and sane.
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Poor Lucy, I shouldn’t have tattled on her. She was very ashamed.
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:-)
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I really like this visit to the bar, Dan. Rounding it out with Cheryl’s “sitting pretty” remark is the perfect touch. Loved the squirrel on the steps and the one with shadows of you and Maddie. You and yours stay happy and sassy now. Hugs.
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Thanks Teagan. I hope you’re staying well. I’ve been to the Delta Pearl, and I enjoyed that. The squirrels have had their babies and the moms are hungry. We’ve been helping out as best we can.
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Especially liked the side by side shot with the long shadows, Dan, and Maddie surveying her domain. Your post today makes me wish I could go to a bar, even though I rarely go to one. It’s sort of like isolation–I don’t mind when it is my choice, but it feels constraining when it is forced on me as it is now. What can I say–I like to have options from which to choose. :)
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I know exactly how you feel, Mike. I am a total introvert by nature, but I don’t like being told what I can and cannot do. As long as I have memories and an imagination, I’ll keep the virtual bar open.
Are you able to walk in your park, or have they closed that? Our town parks remain open, but the Canal Trail is a state park. I odn’t know if it’s going to open on April 1st as scheduled.
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Some of the ones that I occasionally visit are closed now, but for the moment the one that I hang out at most often is still open.
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Maddie and kitty are doing well. And I hope you are doing well too.
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We our Deborah. I hope you are, too.
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Yes, thank you Dan. Just holding on out here and waiting to see what happens in the next couple of weeks with a possible surge/peak.
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I think the virtual bar should lock down for a few weeks .Wouldn’t want Cheryl to get sick .
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We’re keeping a manageable social distance, and Cheryl is washing her hands between every round. I think we can be declared as an essential virtual business or at least a virtually essential business.
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That’s precious! I haven’t taught Sadie to sit pretty. She may not, since dog shows don’t feature mutts of unknown origin. Hehe! She has to shake for food pretty often. Shake was the hardest thing to teach her. I’m still trying to get her to balance a biscuit on her nose. I’ll never give up.
I’ve been wanting (daydreaming) to sit on my porch on a sunny day. It’s raining and chilly. I hope sun comes soon. Then I’ll see if my forsythia seedling made it through the winter.
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I hope your forsythia made it, and I hope you get some sunny days. It started raining today around 3:00 and it doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to stop.
It seems like Maddie decided that Shake was all she needed. “I do this and I get stuff. What more would I ever need?”
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So cute tho giggles
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I couldn’t resist coming back here with this…..
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I love it, GP – thanks :-)
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Animals take such pains to train us properly!
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They do. I’m not a fast learner.
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How could Maddie sit any other way than pretty? It seems that she has you fairly well trained but the kitty still has a way to go. What are you thinking putting your glasses on her shelf? Funny shot of the multiple space parker. I guess once an ______, always an ______.
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Ha ha – I only ever put my glasses up there when MuMu is not around. She wasn’t there when I left. she was when I returned and the glasses were not.
Maddie can turn on the pretty when necessary.
I won’t post it here, but I know the word I’m putting in your blank spaces.
Take care.
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Thanks for giving us the virtual bar, Dan. We can all live vicariously through you! I love all your pics too!
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I’m glad you stopped in, Kim. I hope we can be visiting real bars and restaurants soon. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy.
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You too!
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Magic Paw and Sit Pretty. More reasons to love Maddie.
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We do love her, Jennie. We wish she could have mastered “stay” and “heel” but those seem to be beyond her ability, or perhaps her desire.
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I think she mastered the cool moves. 🙂
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Maddie is a smart girl. I’ve found sitting pretty lands my fur babies lots of treats from the humans in our house. 😆
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She knows what works, that’s for sure.
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Took a break from work (Sunday) to read and I laughed at Maddie’s magic Paw and her sitting pretty. xo Dan
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I’m glad you took a break, Kate. All work and no play…
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Well, that was heaps of fun! Laughed like anything at the Magic Paw. 😂 Thanks for another pandemic-friendly virtual bar hangout, Dan. Cheers!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. According to our pres, the bar will be operating without any real visits to support the conversation for another month :(
Fortunately, my buddy has a phone.
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We taught our naughty dog, Joe, to sit on command. The important thing he learned was to not jump on people and claw them to show his affection. But what he LEARNED was that, if he was in trouble for any of his naughtiness, if he SAT, we would have to say, “Good sit, Joe.”
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They learn what they need to learn. Other than Faith, Maddie has never let anyone get close enough to even jump up on them. A stranger would have to have pockets full of bacon.
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