I came home the other day to see that my yard had been “flagged”.  As in, there were red and yellow flags marking gas and I think water lines. There was spray paint too and clearly some project was in the planning.

Just not one that I had any idea about.  

I meant to ask my neighbor – we share a driveway – but didn’t get around to it.  A couple days after the yard and driveway got marked, I came home to a new patch of asphalt – on top of the concrete of the driveway – and into the grass.  And what I’m guessing was a new water line shut off. Maybe – it wasn’t clearly marked.

I went on inside and figured I’d call the city at some point to determine what had happened. Not upset, just a little puzzled.

While I was using the bathroom, the cat wandered in. As he does.

I zipped up, flushed,  and started to walk away when suddenly the toilet made an unexpected noise.

KA-WOOOMPSHHHH!

The cat jump straight up in the air and I stumbled back as I swore.

It settled down and I looked at the cat – who had wisely teleported out of the room.  We were both a little freaked.

I went to wash my hands and the faucet sputtered a bit before it too settled down.

Ah.  The work done had necessitated turning off the water to my house and there was air in the line.  And that was it.

I conferred with my neighbor after that and he agreed – though we were both a little disappointed in the quality of the work done on the driveway.  I’m hoping that the street repair fares better.

———–

Yesterday, I confirmed that the chicken nuggets at my favorite fast food restaurant are made with real chicken.

If your first thought is “uh-oh,” you are on the right track.

I went there at lunch and got a burger, fries, and nuggets. I drove back to the office and ate my burger and fries – saving the nuggets for last since they are the best.

I was on nugget 3 of 4 when I noticed… something.  I had already dipped the nugget in BBQ sauce when I saw something sticking out of the other end.  I took a closer look and tugged on it – causing it to unfurl.

It was a feather!

Now, I know that chicken nuggets don’t grow on nugget trees and that the most stringent controls still aren’t 100% – but it was still damn weird.

I showed my student assistants – one of whom took a picture – and then drove back to the restaurant.  I waited in line with the “feather nugget” in a box until the clerk saw and recognised me. She waved me over and I quietly asked to see the manager.  She got the manager on duty and I then quietly explained what I found. I suggested that they might want to contact their supplier and there was perhaps a bad batch of nuggets.

She thanked me, mortified, and I was on my way.

I don’t blame the restaurant or the cooks – it’s not like are out back killing chickens.  And I didn’t want to make a fuss or get something out of it.

I’ll go back one of these days, though as much as I downplayed it I was still a little weirded out and I won’t be getting the nuggets for a while.  Could have been worse, I supposed.

It might have been a little foot or a beak.