tape recorders, dog rescuing, fic, video games

[sarea]

So the other day, my managing editor asked me to write a short-notice Q&A on this guy, and I said sure. As I was conducting the interview yesterday morning (on the phone), I noticed that my tape recorder had stopped working. I had some spare batteries, but it just would not record, and I wasn't sure if all the batteries I had were crap or what. I was totally freaking out behind the scenes, while he droning on and on about some study or another. Finally the time was up and we had to schedule another session, because I didn't get to more than half of my interview questions, but I was v. relieved by this. Immediately I went to get some fresh batteries, but it still didn't work, so obviously I needed a new recorder. Now I am in possession of a lightweight digital one, and it's so going to be expensed. :D

From now on, you can just call me Sarea, Defender of Runaway Dogs. I don't know what it is about the neighborhood I walk in, and the animals that seem to be everywhere. So last night on the second leg of my walk, I noticed these two dogs just roaming about the street. I could hear the clink of their collars, so I knew these were someone's pets. One was a medium-sized Beagle and the other was a big black Lab. They appeared to be friends, and at first I thought their owner was probably about, and would call them over soon. But they were wandering pretty far, and the house I had seen them at was all dark, so then I suspected that these might be runaways.

I could not get them to come to me. This street isn't particularly busy usually, but tonight for some reason there were a lot of cars. I was so afraid of one of them being hit. Luckily, I was carrying some shredded chicken in my pocket (I was actually intending to give it to the stray cat, but it wasn't around), so I managed to use that as a lure. It took awhile to get them interested, though. I was standing there trying to call them over as the dogs roamed the street, and I'm sure it must have looked like they were my dogs and I just didn't have control of them.

But finally the Beagle got interested, so he came over to eat some chicken. While he was busy doing that, I grabbed hold of his collar to see if there was a phone number I could call - one of the tags said, "Emma's dog." Luckily I had my cell phone with me (as I normally do when Jade and I gab while walking together - so glad it was one of those days), so I hung up with her and called the number.

A girl, likely in her teens, answered. This was our conversation:

Me: Hello, is this Emma?
Her: Who's this?
Me: Well, I have hold of a dog here, and the tag says 'Emma's dog'...
Her: Oh, no.
Me: Yeah, there's two dogs...
Her: My brother had some friends over and they must have left the back gate open. I'm sorry.
Me: (internally: WTF?) It's okay.
Her: Is it a Beagle and a big black Lab?
Me: Yes, and they're wandering the streets...
Her: I'm so sorry!
Me: (internally: WTF?) It's not a problem. Just -- there are a lot of cars, so... Where do you live? I'm on the corner of 100th and 112th.
Her: We're on 116th.
Me: Hmm. Well, I don't think I can bring the dog to you, since I don't have a leash or anything. (And it was far too big to carry.) And I only have one of the dogs...
Her: Which one do you have? Do you have the Beagle?
Me: Yes. I don't know where the Lab has gone.
Her: That's okay, the Lab will come home, it's the Beagle who runs away. I'll tell my mom and she'll come get them.

So we worked out how I would stay there with the Beagle and that her mother would be there to meet me in a minute. While I was sitting on the corner, the black Lab came back for his friend, so I grabbed his collar, too. They were both pretty docile and well behaved, though the Beagle was more energetic. One time the Lab seemed to want to get away, and I held on as tightly as I could, but really, if he had wanted to leave, he so could have. It seemed to take forEVER for the mother to arrive -- at least five to ten minutes. I kept 'petting' the dogs as much as I could and talking to them so that they wouldn't get bored or whatever and decide to break away. As I was sitting there, at least a dozen cars passed by (it was a 4-way stop area), and I'm sure they were like, "Why's that girl just sitting there with her dogs on a street corner?"

Finally she arrived, and a young guy -- probably the brother, was like, "Thank you so much!" And the dogs immediately recognized them and started going crazy, and it was lucky the Beagle had been so well behaved before, because now that he actually wanted to get away, the collar came off right in my hand as he bounded over to his family. There were, of course, other cars that had showed up, and it would have been the saddest thing if, after all that, they got hit right there. *facepalm*

Anyway, they were then bundled into the van, and I went home. I was soooo happy that they weren't off risking getting run over. A successful mission! It kind of makes up for the time Robbie, Jade, Jade's mom and I tried to help a dog in their neighborhood, but it wasn't having any of it, and we finally lost track of it. :(

The next part of Portkey Party is finished, but it's still with Jade. Blame her, not me (or Hannah). <g> However, here's a malfoy100 drabble to tide you over: Teenagers

Any Nora Roberts fans? Thanks to corianderstem, I am going to one of those author meet-and-greets on Oct. 19. I've only read two books by her, and they were from before she became really popular -- they were just these Silhouette romances. So I've never read any of her 'real' novels. Any recommendations?

I am 50% done with Prince of Persia. I'm now at the part where he has to balance on walls, and it's one of those time trials where I think I'm supposed to go all the way back and jump on the gate before it fully comes down, so that I can get to the glowy thing up top. Of course I have never made it on time to make any real attempt, and I can see myself getting stuck here forever. Those in the know -- don't tell me yet how to do it; when I get really desperate I shall tell you and make you spill the beans. :)) I hate during the first run through when the birds start attacking -- they always get several bites of me. Grrr.

Comments

[madannekidd.livejournal.com]

Nora Roberts. Hmm... I've read too much of her stuff, and I blame my dear old mum. It's passable, and some of them are quite good... it's only that they become so predictable after awhile, though. But I think the same could be said for most authors who write chick lit and write lots of it. She does have her funny moments, though. And some of them are really quite good. I can't for the life of me remember what they're called...

Her series stories are quite good. I like the MacGregors. And the Callahan sisters. And there was something about witches that I adored, for a bit. Then again, I started reading NR quite young. You could possibly read stuff she wrote as JD Robb, though. As a change. Apparently they're thrillers. Never read anything by her under that name, though.

...

And that was in no way useful, was it?

[annibug.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the dogs made it back to their families with your help. Random acts of kindness make the world a better place.

My favorite part of the story though was reading this line:

Luckily, I was carrying some shredded chicken in my pocket *giggles* Yes, you had a perfectly made up excuse valid reason, but it still has me giggling.

[hannah-kim.livejournal.com]

So was the dog's name actually 'Emma's Dog'?? 'Cus thats just mean.

Hahahaha, dude, your drabbles are the best. Poor Snape, surrounded by horny teenagers. Plus, you just know straight after he left they went back to their interrupted...activities! *g*

[ropo.livejournal.com]

I, too, am giggling at the fact you had shredded chicken in your pocket!

And yay for Sarea, Protector of Dogs! Can you imagine if it was the Demon Dog? And someone tried to hold him still for 10 minutes? BWAHAHAAAAAAAAA.

[connaka.livejournal.com]

Well. Thank goodness for those dogs Sarea, the Defender of Runaway Dogs was around, eh?? *g*

And re Nora Roberts, I'm really more a fan of her 'In Death' series, which she writes under the name of J.D. Robb. This particular series is mystery/thriller. You might wanna check it out. :)

[sydney-lynne.livejournal.com]

So this Prince of Persia game, is it the ancient one with like 16-bit graphics or the new version in 3-D? I had the old version but got too frustrated trying to jump over this one chasm and always falling. Patience is not one of my virtues.

I <3 your dog story. You're so fantastic at relating the compelling details of events I would summarize in a totally mundane way, no wonder your fics are fantabulous.

From now on, you can just call me Sarea, Defender of Runaway Dogs.
Ya know, I was just thinking today that I don't really know how to pronounce "Sarea." I've had wrong conceptions of so many people's user names' pronunciation until they did phone posts, but you have yet to enlighten me on this subject. In my head, I call you suh-REE-yah.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

It's in 3D ... I think. I just can't imagine that it would be the 16-bit version on the Xbox, and from what real gamers have told me, it's a remake of the old one, so ... yes, I feel safe in saying it is the 3D one. <g> It's completely addictive! I have just returned from hours of playing it. :))

As for the pronunciation of my name ... Jade and I say "suh-RAY-ah," but I know that people do it both ways. And since it's online anyhow, I think the most important thing is that it's spelled correctly. :D

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dude!

The weird thing is, I'm 80% positive the woman was calling the *dog* 'Emma.' So yeah, I don't know what to make of that. O.o

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

:-l

Though I must admit, I kinda tripped over that part as I was typing it (hence the need to justify why I was carrying it around). :)) But at least it was in a baggie!

The weirdest part about the whole thing was the girl's reaction. Like, why was she apologizing to me, instead of immediately telling me how/when she was going to get the dogs? And she didn't seem the least concerned that they were roaming around the neighborhood and in danger of getting run over. Honestly.

[corianderstem.livejournal.com]

I agree. I went through a big Nora Roberts phase some years ago when I first "discovered" her, but got tired of them before the trilogies and whatnot. Never did try a JD Robb, just because I'm not big on mysteries.

I remember there being one about magicians or jewel thieves (were they both? I may be thinking of two different books) that was good. My favorite one is "Public Secrets," which is about the daughter of The World's Biggest Rock Star or something. It's fairly cheesy, but I love it because I'm forever in search of romances with rock stars in them. *g*

[madannekidd.livejournal.com]

Oh, I remember Public Secrets. I quite liked that one, but no. The series ones are quite good. I remember the first real present I gave my mum (other than homemade cards) was an NR book. Hot Ice, I think. Anyway, the wizard one should be the one I'm thinking of. The one with Morgana and Sebastian and the other woman that I, for the life of me, cannot remember the name of.

If I'm not mistaken, the one about the jewel theives are the Callahan sisters ones. They had some kind of legacy (as those types of series of hers usually seemed to have) and there was an emerald necklace or something involved. Or it could be the "Dream" series.