And the Chase is On!!

If you don't like sad endings, do not read any further.
There never seems to be a dull moment with 6 Siberians in the house.
Today was such a beautiful day, I had left the sliding door to the back patio open all day, so the dogs could come in and out as they wish, since I don't have a doggie door on the glass door. I often leave the door open to the back yard on nice days, and today was one of those days. Beautiful sunshine, hardly a cloud in the sky. The only complaint I had, was it was just a bit windy.

Anyway, this evening, I had just finished dinner, and was in the kitchen washing dishes, and cleaning up, when I heard the kids. I went into the livinig room, and at first glance, I see them doing their furniture olympics, which oftentimes the youngsters will engage. Within seconds, I realize this is not furniture olympics, but, who can catch the bird? Yes, a bird had flown into the house.
Not just an ordinary bird, but, a beautiful male cardinal!! In the house!!

Now, how to get said bird out of the house, safely. I'm watching him fly around, the dogs jumping around. He lands here and there, they try to jump here and there. This was not going to be easy. I manage to get the kids out the back door, one by one, so I can try to coax the cardinal out the front door.

I open the front door, and look for the bird. He has landed on one of the cedar beams in the living room ceiling. I go to get something with which to coax him, and upon returning, he isn't where I last saw him. Wow, did he manage to find his escape route that quickly?

I look high and low in the living room, down the hall, in the bar, in my bedroom, which is just off the living room. No cardinal. Wow, where's the Staple's button? You know, the one that says "That was easy."
I go through the house again, just to be sure, clap my hands, make loud noises, still no sign of the cardinal. Well, then.
I let the kids back in, and Emily and Katherine come rushing in, still remembering the chase. Everyone else, seems to have forgotten. They start to settle down, and Legend goes into my bedroom, which he often does, nothing strange about that, only this time, he comes back out within a few seconds, his head held low, and something in his mouth. Oh no!! He had found the cardinal! Apparently, I had not looked high and low---enough.

I can only presume the cardinal had hit a wall, or possibly a window or mirror and either knocked himself out or, well,if you've read this far, you know.

I said a short little prayer, told the cardinal I was sorry, I was trying to help him, and tossed him over the fence.
I just hated that. He was such a beautiful bird. I have a soft spot for cardinals, because I just think they are gorgeous, the males especially.

Is Free Really Free?

This blog doesn't have anything to do with Siberians, but, it is an observation.
I had done outside work yesterday, while it was nice-before yet another rain storm.
I had done trimming, mowed all the paddocks (which took much longer due to the uncooperative mower--that's another story-maybe, along with the normal everyday stuff of taking care of the dogs. The last thing I want to do is cook something for supper.
Then it dawned on me, Sonic has a special-Buy a SuperSonic cheeseburger, get a free order of tater tots. Free.
Now, I don't know about you, but, when I see free, it means to me, I don't pay for it.
Obviously, Sonic thinks otherwise. (I should note, this is the same place I wrote on my Facebook page a few weeks back about the change debacle.)
I go to Sonic, after having put the dogs up, before the rain.
I order a Supersonic cheeseburger, with the order of tots, and a medium root beer.
The burger is $4.19, and the drink is $1.59, which puts the total, tax included, at $6.26, by my math. The girl's voice over the speaker tells me the total is $7.13.
Huh???
So, the girl skates out my order, I look at the ticket, and it has the burger, the tots, and the drink, with a combo discount of .99. I tell the girl, aren't the tots supposed to be free? She asks "Did you ask for the number 2?" I told her what I ordered, and told her, the tots should be free, and my math tells me the total should be $6.26.
She goes in, and I presume discusses it with the manager, and I get the difference back.
So, I guess with Sonic, it all depends on how you order, when it says something is
free.