Irish Setters and ZipZoomFly Coupons
Art by Eddi 07
During my early university years, one of my roommates was a Irish Setter. She was ultimately a good roommate. Though she took up a lot space, the space was random and she more than happy to not have her own bed (our flat was small) and share one of ours. She did not leave bits of make-up refuge on the sink in the bathroom. One of the interesting things about Nina is that she had a strong neurosis about the air conditioner. Every summer, we girls would eventually feel the need to use our window unit and cool down. When this occurrence happened and the outside roar of the machine came on, Nina would get up from a seemingly deep dog sleep and begin to walk in circles around the backyard. She would do this ten times and there was no distracting her. Even her favorite snack (popcorn) failed to arouse her attention away from the ritual. Once she completed the tenth lap, she would come out of her trance walk and be the same old, reliable, fun Nina she normally was…until the air-conditioner clicked off and revved up again.
It always makes me smile inside to remember Nina like that and when I hear about people doing patterned behavior as Nina did. Yes, true enough, I would smile at someone who did ten circles around the permitter of a backyard whenever the air-conditioning came to life, but I digress. One of my fellow cronies in a networking group called me last night to discuss the patterned behavior of her spouse and as she was telling me her story, all I could see was the red hair of Nina flashing past the windows of my memory.
Rather than stalking air-conditioning units in the summer, this fellow’s thing is the upcoming holidays (yeah, I know, we all have patterned behavior about holidays). Ever since seeing Real Genius (oh so many years ago), this guy has fancied himself a computer genius (in reality he is a county clerk or some such desk-type-civil-servant). During the holidays, he decides to build his own computer (to date he has not finished one). He goes through the newspaper and internet looking for discounts on various parts and pieces (never using the defunct pieces from the year before - imagine their garage). He orders some and in come the parts. As his wife and children bake holiday goodies, put up the tree and watch Christmas specials on the tele, he works himself into a frenzy of frustration over the non-working artificial intelligence before him. The tension in the house is always at a low boil as his behavior slowly becomes more savage and paranoid. Then Christmas arrives, overlooked mostly by him (we know who the real Santa Claus is) and a deep depression sets in as he feels his failure.
Wow. I think about pouring a Jack and Ginger just listening to my friend’s woes. But his holiday “tradition” started long before she was part of his life and she has come to grips that this is just the way it is, so she wants to modify her behavior to be more tolerant before the temperature of madness escalates this year. Well, good for her for working on herself rather than trying to change that which cannot be changed (unless it wants to be).
However, she has an interesting idea as well this year (hence the need for more patience and tolerance). The other night when he pulled up the ZipZoomFly.com site, she decided to get involved - being the supportive wife. With budget issues facing everyone, she decided that she could help him find ZipZoomFly coupons for a greater discount, allowing a little financial room for the various things that will need to be ordered later. I am a huge component of this, even when the economy is doing well - couponing, I mean.
Her next plan is to ask him if she could participate in his project (he complains during the process that she has no interest in what he does). Hopefully he will be deterred a bit off his collision course, unlike Nina and the air conditioner, and the element of her desire to spend time with him and his project will change the dynamic of the holidays. Her plan is to act as his assistant (not take over).
So, what this really means is that the holidays are indeed upon us. Good grief, I have barely pulled out the winter clothes. How did this happen?
November 13th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I remember the neighbor’s Irish Setter. She was a giant compared to the rest of the dogs of the area, a vivid red-head of a color and wave that most women would envy.
But she possessed the lack of brains that is so stereotypical for the breed. Once she was over in the front yard when my brother’s two dachshunds were out. I don’t know what set them off, but somehow they starting barking at her. The next thing I remember was watching two dachshund pups, looking more like large rats scampering along, chasing a dog 10x their size galloping across two yards. Then they came running back: I think the Setter finally realized it was home and stopped, and they saw just what they had been chasing.
Just remember dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers, one of the most mean-tempered beasts of its weight class. A little thing like an Irish Setter is nothing compared to that.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:14 am
LOL. I love a good Irish Setter story! Thanks for sharing.