There was an awful accident at my daughter’s home last Thursday! Pop-pop had his guts ripped from him, from behind-no less.

It was as heart-breaking as it was heart-wrenching. Poor Pop-pop, a hole in his back and as thin as anyone had ever seen him be. Oh the tears, oh the drama. Dylan (our 18 month old grandson) was truly traumatized. It took a special cyber tape from the human Pop-pop and 4 hours to get him to sleep both nights until a trip to the ER could be made possible.

For anyone who hasn’t figured it out, Pop-pop is the beloved stuffed bear that my daughter, husband and Dylan made at our local Build-a-Bear. Complete with a heart beat and a song being sung by my husband lovingly encased on the inside of the typical brown bear.

From the description of “the incident”-my daughter said that one of the stitches had come loose. She didn’t have a sewing kit and hadn’t been able to go to the store with the boys to buy one. Sarah figured it would be okay until “he” got repaired, since it was only the couple of stitches.

The problem with that thought is that Dylan is a very curious little guy-he found the “hole” and kept sticking his finger in it-which of course made it all the “looser”. One of the pokes in pulled out a bit of the stuffing on the way out.

That’s when the tragedy happened. Their dog saw the stuffing and decided Pop-pop looked like he needed some shaking. At the time, my daughter took a trip to the restroom-bad timing for nature to take its course. The dog grabbed the bear and shook the stuffing out of him, literally.

Thankfully, the rest of Pop-pop was intact! But there was my daughter, consoling Dylan. Poor little thing was crying “Bye Pop-pop, bye”. They called us-the wailing and sadness in his voice was soooo sad.

I told him not to worry, we’d take Pop-pop to the bear doctor on Saturday and get him fixed. The sobbing continued. My husband got on the line and sang “the song” to him and told him we’d get his bear fixed as soon as possible. He cried more.

Saturday came none to soon. Leaving Aidan at home with Daddy, my daughter and grandson came out and we took Pop-pop straight into Build-a-Bear.

First thing I asked the woman at the counter “We’ve had a terrible accident, is the ER open?” She said “Let me take care of Pop-pop” She looked at Dylan and said, “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine and able to play with you in just a few minutes” We wandered around the store looking at the various outfits.

Dylan kept a very close watch on the “doctor”. It wasn’t long before she came over and said-”Dylan, he’s going to be just fine, but what he really needs to help him feel all better is a hug from you!”

Dylan latched on to Pop-pop and cried. He waved at the woman and blew her a kiss.

She “aahed” and said this was one of the reasons she loved her job.

We thanked her several more times and then went to meet the human Pop-pop in the courtyard. Seems the gruesome aspects of watching his namesake have such delicate surgery was too much for my husband.

By the end of the afternoon, Dylan was his usual happy-go-lucky self. His mom was glad this episode was over. For us, it brought back memories of when her beloved “raggyann” had lived through a similar experience. Except our then German Shepard mix ripped the face off and the dolly doctor told Sarah she couldn’t help! I wound up cutting up a dish towel and sewing on a terry cloth face and using different color sharpies to draw in the eyes, nose and mouth.

I’m not an artist, but for Sarah, I had saved her precious “raggy”, so I was a good mom.

Here’s hoping when it’s Aidan’s turn to have this happen he has the same good experience as his brother. Or that their dog loses interest in stuffed animals.

Oh, one more little thing-remember I mentioned a few columns ago that I was going to be featured for my biscotti recipe? Well, it came out in the print edition today. If anyone would like to actually see me, hear my voice and see the short little slide show (and click recommend on the article!), here’s the link:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/biscotti-rosemary-baking-2122079-flour-loaf

WHERE DID THEY GO?

There’s a mystery afoot-it seems UPS lost not 1, but 2 5-½ foot tubs that were bound to a pallet. How in the world can something of that size and heft just disappear? That was my mystery this week.

At the “day job” I get to help find things sometimes. Or correct little things. An example-customer calls, “hello, Carine? I don’t want to trouble you but something is definitely wrong here. My installer put the valve in the floor for the free-standing tub set and then the stone guy laid down the travertine. Now here’s the problem: the trim is 1-½” narrower than the valve. What should we do?”

Turned out that the vendor sent the European version of the valve by mistake. Now I know what many of you are thinking-get the client the right valve and all of life is beautiful. Problem is, that travertine I mentioned, it was $10,000 worth of flooring. No way was the homeowner going to pull it all up!

What did I do, you ask? Simple (LOL), I convinced the vendor to custom make the trim to fit the valve that was now permanently anchored in the ground, pay for the plumber to install a “substitute” trim (donated by them to make up for this giant size packaging error), as well as the one being created when it arrives from Germany. Oh, I also arranged to have the vendor ship everything direct-by FedEx overnight.

Not bad, client was happy, vendor was thrilled that they weren’t going to be sued and my boss was happy he didn’t have to do a thing or raise his blood pressure even one little blip.

But UPS lost 2 tubs! Somewhere between Fontana, California and Kent, Washington they have to be-but where and in what condition? Where did this “loss” occur? All I know is that our warehouse manager packed those two tubs on a pallet and UPS picked them up. If the client hadn’t called me in a well-deserved snit, I would have figured that the tubs were at her new home being installed into her two bathrooms-WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN!

What did I do? This time I shared the “wealth” of my ensuing headache-I called the warehouse manager and told him about our slight “problem”.

“Carine, I don’t know what happened, but we have a UPS rep now, I’ll give him a call and let you know what I find out.”

He called back 2 hours later-seems the UPS rep doesn’t know how they could lose something of this magnitude either. But he said he’d find out.

I told the warehouse manager the client had given us a day and a half or she was cancelling the order and said “let UPS pay you the damages, I knew I should have just ordered them up here”.

What was the end result? UPS did find the tubs-somehow they took a rather “scenic” route via Dallas, Texas!

Fortunately after she calmed down and realized that for all her threats-the only tubs available were at the local home improvement store, which were of rather questionable quality. She’ll have them early next week.

I tried to solve this one in a timely manner. But some things are just out of the realm of possibility. I’m sure you’ve all heard the cliché: sometimes you’re the hero and sometimes you’re the goat. Well, I guess this week I was a bit of both-for the heroine part, I did my share of the job, I got the tubs and made sure they were shipped. Then for the goat part-I couldn’t find them once they left the county. At least not in a record amount of time.

It’s not that I think this is my fault, it was way out of my hands-after all, I wasn’t the one at the loading dock putting those tubs on the wrong truck, but I do feel bad that the client was put into such a bind.

The lesson here: Never schedule a work crew until all of the product is within full view, no matter how reliable you think worldwide shipping companies are supposed to be.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR TO BREAKFAST

Let me start this story by first explaining how the subject came up:

A very dear and wonderful friend was telling me about a program that she put her mostly adult kids into-it was a trip to the holy land. They would learn about Israel, the people, the history-all of what many a parent would like their children to experience sometime in their lives.

She suggested that our son Adam might get a great deal out of the trip. He’s just a couple of years older than her eldest and would still be able to be part of this somewhat nicely “grant-ed” program.

I replied with this e-mail:

Dear Yana,

Adam would probably enjoy it, but he’s quite inundated with work right now. And (Yeah!) he’s actually garnering all the information he’ll be needing to enter grad school-possibly in the Spring!

He’ll be into more debt by another $75 grand, but I’m glad he feels this strong about getting that next degree. Of course, this means he and Sam (his absolutely wonderful and very much a part of our family already girlfriend) will be with us for several more years. I added a big smiley face symbol.

Then I added a bit of a story that she felt would make a great blog-so here’s the little aftermath of what happens when your child decides to get an MBA:

I guess this also means that we have another furry permanent fixture. Toby, the little Maine Coon has grown on all of us. In fact, I have some beautiful “marks of love” from him. I made the mistake of wearing one of Steve’s (my husband for those of you who haven’t visited my column before or who have forgotten the name of my soul mate) La-Z-Boy special sale t-shirts to bed and came down on Sunday morning and sat at the breakfast table in it. The little guy decided that he wanted sit in my lap. Trouble is, he’s still too small to leap up from the floor. So he made his way up-by climbing on my leg!

Have you ever had a kitten climb up your entire BARE leg???? Let me tell you-it is NOT a pleasant experience. I screamed bloody-you-know-what.

We also scared the proverbial pants off each other!

He fled the scene-squeaking all the way. My eyes crossed. I looked down and saw that my entire left leg had scratches and blood starting at the lower end of my shin and ending mid-thigh.

Sunshine (our 12 year old lab mix) went running after him. She wanted to see what I did to the baby. I think she also wanted to see if he was in the same shape I was in.

Pepper (our gray tabby) jumped on the table to see if he could join in on the racket. I think he figured he’d be welcome at our pancake breakfast since he is usually very mannerly as he strolls across the table. He probably also surmised that with all the fuss we wouldn’t notice that we’ve told him over a thousand times in the last five years that he can’t come up to the dining arena.

If nothing else-I’ve learned to wear pants at all times. Especially at mealtimes. Thank goodness I’m past wearing mini-skirts and hot pants. Imagine trying to explain my left leg at the day job?

I think Toby has also learned a very valuable lesson: Not to climb up on grandma. The woman doesn’t look or sound right when clawed.

It was a comical scene I’m sure.

Now, what exactly was your suggestion? Adam should go to Israel? I forget dear, forgive me-I’m war-torn and giddy with the prospect of having my home continue to be filled with life, love and new experiences. LOL.

hugs, Carine

BUSY WORK

I enjoy having something useful to do when I’m at the day job. Especially on days where the owner chooses to visit with us.

There is probably nothing as tiring as trying to look efficient and busy as when there is absolutely nothing to do.

Now if the owner isn’t “in the building” I’m able to check my personal e-mails by remote, go to MSN and see what has been happening in the outside world, write rough drafts on articles (or as I’m doing now, this week’s blog) or Google some needed information for those said articles. There’s also reading books in need of reviewing and (one of my favorites on a nice day) getting out for a 20–30 minute trash,, mail and phone call walk.

Yes, when not solving the plumbing problems of the OC’s elite-I do try to make the most use of my time.

However, when the boss is “in the house”, I need to be busy with more than answering phones, creating client spec books, forming RGA packets (return goods authorizations for defective and/or people who change their minds and make returns), entering product codes, writing purchase orders and a very grand host of other jobs. Some of which include charging large amounts of money to credit cards and posting it on the bills of sale.

Oh yes, the glamour at the day job just NEVER ends-EXCEPT when the boss is there. Somehow whenever he arrives, my full plate always seems to have just been scraped clean and sterilized.

Then I have to work hard to find things to do.

It’s horrible. It must be karma. I may not have the time to go to the bathroom for over 4 hours, have the phone pressed to my ear and I’m on the computer and the fax machine all at the same time UNTIL that man walks in the door!

Then suddenly-NOTHING!

I hate it. I’ve even tried keeping something “on the side” for just these occasions.

But I hate piles of undone work (even busy work), so I pretend a lot. I go over purchase order’s I’ve checked at least 4 or 5 times. Read my sent and deleted e-mails (the work ones of course), stare at my blotter-acting as if I’m looking intently for something in particular.

Funny thing-as soon as he bids his farewell and leaves, the whole darn problem seems to disappear! The phones begin to come off the hook, customers are telling me all about their latest problem with something they’ve purchased. I have problems galore to solve again.

Where were these people while I was dying to have something to do to keep me busy?

Either way, thank goodness when my plate is full once again. I really do enjoy having something useful to do at the day job.

Who me?

Lately, I’ve been not only doing a lot of interviews-I’ve been the subject of some. It’s fun to be part of an article, or the main subject.

For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been doing many health and fitness articles for the Orange County Register here in California. I’ve done stories on some very interesting subjects. Anyone who’s really interested and would like to read some-leave a comment and I’ll be very happy to direct you to the site and location.

But in the last few weeks-it is I who have been called on to answer questions and become the person “of interest”. As I mentioned it’s fun and an honor. One was a complete surprise. In fact, it was such a surprise, I only found out about it after it had gone “live” and picked up by Google.

One of the writers websites I submit to had a fellow writer who sent me a very nice private message telling me how much she enjoyed my work. She proceeded to ask me about 20 some odd questions. I felt somewhat taken aback and sent her a return note asking why she would like to know all of this information. You never no what a stranger has in mind these days, even if there are no questions attached.

Her reply was that she was very new to the world of journalism and was just curious as to what everyone’s background was, how they got started, etc…

Since I was knee deep in work, I promised I would answer her questions in as timely a fashion as I could. I did, about a week later. She thanked me and said I had some interesting replies.

I thought nothing more of the entire incident-just happy she wasn’t a stalker of some kind. Then I did my weekly “Google” on my name. Imagine my surprise when I saw on an entry: Carine Nadel’s Live Interview!

I suppose it’s better than having a Dead Interview, but I digress. I clicked on it and sure enough-every single answer to every single question she posed was there! Not much of a beginning or end, just her questions with my answers! With replies congratulating her on a “very interesting article”!

Since she didn’t bother to mention that she was going to submit this whole thing, I left her one of my rather sideways comments mentioning my feelings of surprise at the matter. I haven’t heard back, but then I really don’t expect too.

Then the food editor at the OC Register decided one of my recipes would make a great “Recipe of the Week” slide show for the website. She interviewed me about all the details on why and how I came up with the recipe. Her photographer is coming by to snap plenty of pictures of me making the recipe and re-interview me to get audio for the 90 second piece.

I am also a moderator for a major woman’s magazine. A friend who does a lot of free-lancing for the publication has used several of my quotes in her articles. But a new free-lancer (to the magazine) just contacted me and asked if I would be a part of an article about women who have started over after a “certain” age.

Since I wrote an article on just this subject I feel very qualified to help her out.

And that’s been my week. Just enough to keep me guessing, but not enough to make my head begin to swell. And now, onto the 3 loads of laundry in my back room to make sure I keep grounded.

I am in mourning. My week has not been very good. I think fate is getting me back for having a great 3 days in the desert. We had a blast-and not just of heat. I came back brown, rested and enjoyed seeing my husband for three entire days. Plus we spent some quality time with our daughter, son-in-law and darling grandkids.

Then we came home. I immediately went on my computer to post a cooking column. I was able to get only that far. As soon as I went to write up several book reviews-poor old Bessie froze. Then came the black screen. What followed the black screen was just horrible-THERE HAS BEEN A FATAL ERROR, MICROSOFT IS SHUTTING DOWN YOUR WORKSTATION.

Didn’t we just go through that last month? Didn’t I share my husband with his new best friend in India for the first 3 weekends we had together in the last two years? What did Microsoft mean-SHUTTING DOWN MY WORKSTATION-AGAIN!

At least the last time, before our techie friend took over, I was allowed to download all my worldly writing possessions to my husband’s new laptop. This go round-Zippo. No matter what our support staff did-old Bessie was beyond hope.

My husband broke the news to me when I came up to ask the condition of the patient a couple of hours later. “Honey, it’s gone. It’s not coming back. Face it, Bessie had a long life for her breed. We’ll get you your own laptop. I’m sorry about all your saved articles. I think I still have some of it left on my computer, we’ll check. You’ll be happy. I promise.”

Problem. This kind declaration was made before the next morning when our darling Lab mix Sunshine showed us that 10 days on antibiotics did nothing to improve that open sore on her mouth. Not only did it not help-it was still red and oozy. Plus Tuesday morning she started getting all clammy and glassy-eyed. Fortunately our son Adam was home that morning. Poor Sunshine proceeded to hurl everywhere and many times. He rushed her to the vet. (side bar, Toby the kitty-he’s sick as well, but he’s our grandfurbaby)

Next thing I heard was that they had to give her an IV of fluid, a shot of something to stop the vomiting, directions on how to care for her for the rest of the day, what to watch for and a shopping list of what to feed her-if she could start keeping water down.

That wasn’t all-oh nooooo. When Adam got home with our weak but now re-hydrated pooch, he found Pepper waiting for them. He was winking. He came to see how his sick mommy dog was-trouble was he was only looking at her with one eye. Adam bent down and saw “it”.

“It” was a glob of green, yucky stuff and tears pouring out of his eye! He immediately called me again-”mom, he was fine when I left him with Toby, and now his eye is oozing with green mucous and tearing-I wish it had done this before I left, I could have taken him in at the same time!”

So, Wednesday morning I had to do the next trip to the vet. An eye infection-of course. Now we had one 12 year old dog in need of full-time care and a 4-½ year old tabby that was going to need eye drops for 10 days. (and of course the grandfurbaby who was spewing from all orifices)

Now, if any of you have read my posts for any length of time you know that my husband and I are suckers for our furry babies. We truly think of them as just more of our kids.

So there wasn’t a decision to be made-it just was, my computer is being mourned, but my animals are being loved.