Last Thursday

For the last five years, I've worked a different schedule every week.

But for the last three years at least, I have worked every Thursday. 

That has been my one permanent shift.

Today is my last Thursday.

I'm taking it kind of hard.

Although I will be going in on Saturday to help with final arrangements, today is also my last "normal" shift.

I'm taking that really hard, too.

It's been a good five years.

I'm sad to see it come to an end.

Almost wordless Wednesday

I wasn't the only one who came home from our four Target odyssey with a jar of MiniVerse Milk-Bone Mini's. Alexey also couldn't resist. Which means, Tang was also required to take photos with the tiny bones. Good boy, Tang!

Mini Mini's

We go through a lot of dog biscuits in this house. 

Too many, really.

I have tried and failed to get Seth to cut back. Eventually, I just started buying the smallest, lowest calorie treats I could find.

Cue the Milk-Bone Mini's.

Piper is small and not terribly food motivated, but there was a time when we had two bigger, hungrier dogs. To satisfy their - and his own - needs, Seth set up a Chewy auto-ship for the Milk-Bone Mini's jugs.

Around the same time, he decided the jugs made perfect storage containers for all his various RC plane parts and pieces.

I am not exaggerating when I say my house is filled with Milk-Bone Minis

This is why - as soon as I became aware of their existence - I needed the MiniVerse Milk-Bone Mini's.

Needed.

Fortunately, Alexey was there to help me with that. 

I have my mini Mini's, and they are delightful.

Look at them!

Of course, I had to show them to Piper.

She was deeply unimpressed.

"Please don't make me pose with that."

"Okay, I guess."

"I'm a good girl."

Best non-food motivated dog ever.

Because I could, I also took a picture of the Milk-Bone Mini's with a slightly more in scale white dog.

Thank you again, Alexey and Tori, for including me in the Balls of Joy and Miniatures Odyssey. I really, really needed these Milk-Bone Mini's!

The odyssey

Yesterday morning, Alexey shared a picture of his new Mini Brand chicks.

Immediately, I had questions.

Alexey had answers.

One thing led to another, and a plan was made.

Balls of joy and miniatures.

Yeah, I'm going to need that capybara.

Alexey whipped out his weight chart and scale and started weighing balls.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Addict behavior.

We made our selections and went to check out.

I asked, "Are we opening them at your house or mine?"

"We're opening them in the car," Alexey said. "If we don't get the ones we want, we're going straight to another store."

Oh.

We opened our balls.

I got exactly the two I wanted.

Seems un-Jenniferlike, but I have a plan.

At this point, I was ready to go home.

Alas, Alexey and Tori still had needs. We headed out to Target number two. 

"I'm about to be unemployed," I said. "I'm not buying anything."

Then I saw the mini Milk Bone jar.

Oh.

Alexey whipped out his phone and got the dot code for the Milk Bones.

Back to the car for another opening ceremony.

Yay!

Alexey and Tori were not as lucky. Target number three was under discussion. 

"I think I know how this is going to go," I said, "but my house is kind of between here and there. You could drop me off."

They both laughed and told me I was a hostage.

Oh.

We went to another store.

And then another.

Alexey's bunny remained elusive, but Tori did get all the crabs.

Thank you, friends, for the night of balls of joy and miniatures. You can take me hostage anytime!