Saturday, July 2, 2011

Crappy Trip to the Farmer’s Market

Today I swam outside at our local pool. Hopping in the cool water and swimming laps with the sunshine on my back early this morning was so incredibly refreshing. I’ll rest for the remainder of the day to gear up for tomorrow’s brick: 2 hours, 45 minutes on the bike and a 40 minute run. Hoping it will turn out to be 50+ miles.  Egads.

I swear, I cannot escape the poop woes no matter what I do. If it isn’t me having issues, it’s someone near me.

P1100275

Today Emma and I took Lucky to the farmer’s market. It’s a dog/people market where tons of people bring their dogs. I don’t know if other states are like this, but people are nuts for their dogs here. They even bring them into restaurants and stores.

I thought it would be a fun outing, but who am I kidding? Lucky is poorly trained and quite lopsided with his three legs and one eye. He runs into people and things, pees on random vendor carts and pulls.

That was all okay, we were handling it quite well.

Until…

We walked in front of this local band they have playing and Lucky chose that moment to lay down the hugest turd in the history of dog turds. It was just one solitary poop, but it spoke for itself and could have easily been mistaken for human shit. I’d guess the dimensions were 4” x 2”. Not only was it right in front of the band, but it was directly in the line of the crowds of people walking along. Immediately I was given all kinds of dirty looks. Nothing like a turd to ruin a day out at the market.

I rushed to one of the veggie guys to grab a plastic bag so I could clean it up. I mean, seriously, I am not the only person who has had a dog crap in public before. And, I was doing the right thing by cleaning it up.

In the meantime while I’m looking for a bag, the band stops what they’re singing and changes up the tune. The new lyrics?

“You bring your dog to the farmer's market and you let him poop on he sidewalk. Then you don’t even clean it up.”

Give me an eff’ing chance, dudes! I was scrambling to find a bag and there was literally two minutes between the time he pooped and the time I cleaned it up. What am I supposed to do? Put a diaper on him? Follow him around and hold a Tupperware dish under his butt?

Emma and I did laugh all the way home. Since I had on my Shut Up and Run shirt I’ll probably get lots of hate mail. It’s not like I lit his turd on fire and rang your door bell and ran off.

Turds aside, the important thing is I got my supplies make a salad I’ve been dying to try – Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Walnuts:

P1100273

Do you go to your local farmer’s market? I try to go a few times a month. It’s a bit pricier than the grocery store, but can’t beat (beet) the fresh from the farm stuff. And I love supporting our local farmers and small businesses.

Ever been embarrassed by your dog?

SUAR

56 comments:

  1. Jeez, people need to chill. Dogs rock. People - notsomuch sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOVE farmers markets.. I go all the time. BTW you're lucky because it's so friggin hilly here I can't get 50 miles done in under 3 hours! Not when you're climbing up at hill at 7mph! UGH!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I try to go to our farmer's market every Saturday during the summer. We also have a farmer's co-op that delivers to the house, which is awesome for when I'm too lazy to make the market.

    Your farmer's market band was ridiculous. They are lucky my dog wasn't there. He makes Marley from Marley and Me look like a puppy school valedictorian.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LOL! so it was literally a crappy trip. Too funny!
    I once brougt my with me to home depot and she got nervouse and laid one right in the middle of the store. Needless to say, she stays in the car now.
    ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sad unhappy people.....
    I feel bad for them
    did you say anything?
    I would have...I know no self control...but I mean they need a pill to chill...

    No farmers market near me, closest one is in LA, that makes for expensive tomatoes with the price of gasoline!!!

    My dog is half Canadian so she is very polite and in 9 yrs she has not left any gifts where she shouldn't. knock on wood.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think they were expecting you to already have a plastic bag (or two), maybe tied to his leash. Still, cleaning up after Lucky = classy; people freaking out because it took an extra minute or two = not so classy.

    -GR

    ReplyDelete
  7. And like Cee Lo would say "forget them"

    Happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  8. But those look like radishes.....are those in the salad too?
    Poor Lucky....when you gotta go you gotta go!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh My Goodness!! People really need to relax! At least you had an awesome attitude about the whole situation -- the "band's" alternate lyrics would have made me super-angry!

    Yes, my dog is a LUNATIC - so unfortunately, she's embarrassed me multiple times! She's sweet & mild-mannered at home (even with my active toddler), but when out and about, she tends to be bonkers when she comes in contact with people (mostly men) that she doesn't know (she is a "rescue" and details of her past are pretty sketchy)... So, taking HER to the Farmer's Market wouldn't even cross my mind typically)!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can't even take my kids to the Farmer's Market. They don't shit on the sidewalk... usually... but they are Madness, Mayhem, Mischief and Chaos. I freakin HATE going to the Farmer's Market. There IS lots and lots of amazing stuff here... food mecca... Chez Panisse... it is Berkeley after all... BUT... that also means it is full of pretentious poser a-holes who would do exactly what you described happened. Maybe if I were childless...

    We are pretty fortunate in that also because it is Berkeley, there are many specialty shops featuring pretty much all the stuff you find at a Farmer's Market (local, fresh from the farm, organic)... but definitely not the same "scene."

    ReplyDelete
  11. XLMIC - wow! despite today's incident, our crowd is very nice, non pretentious.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's not like you left the veggie bag in their tip jar. Jeez.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gotta love animals... What an embarrassing day!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sarah - nope, they're beets. Pretty tasty too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. @anon- now THAT's an idea. Hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
  16. dog? no
    pita & peanut? yes.

    loving the shirts.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great story--love that the band sang about your dog poop--that is too funny!
    My dog took a HUGE poop smack in front of one of those no-poop dog signs. I was so proud! It would have made a classic picture but alas, I didn't have my camrea at the time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is why I don't go to the farmers market! LOL I hope someone calls the TC line.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Paul - OMG the TC line. I am so screwed. I can just see it now: "to the person who let their dog defecate at the farmer's market: get a clue and leave your dog at home. You are a nuisance to the community at large."

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love farmer's too... but if there is any chance that you or anyone reading this are close to a
    http://www9.bountifulbaskets.org/ location, it is a must do! Weekly fruit/veggie basket mostly local grown, assorted weekly - never know what your gonna get. Awesome freshness and price is amazing! Hope this tips someone... I just love these baskets!

    ReplyDelete
  21. HELP! My calf exploded during the Seattle RNR Marathon last weekend (was supposed to be my first) and I can swim and pool run, only, for now. Hoping I can bike & ellipticize in a few weeks. I've never aqua jogged before and I know you figured out how to make this work. I just did a search on your website for your entries about it but if you have any youtube or instructional links or general tips on how to maintain fitness in the pool, please share! my blog: averagewomanrunner.blogspot.com or email: almamcf@gmail.com THANK YOU!

    BTW - I cheat when it comes to veggies. We have a "subscription" to a local farm and they deliver to us every 2 weeks. Pretty convenient + we get to support the little guys. Same with dairy & meat.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'd go back next week and hope for the same thing. I've said a band is so bad that I shit myself, but definitely not in literal terms. I've just been one upped by your dog - well played.

    There's stories of when the Sex Pistols first toured the US they had shit thrown at them, I had (non fecal) shit thrown at me in my other life, it's no biggie.

    The band needs to man up.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Never been to a farmer's market but I've always wanted to go! Maybe I'll make the trip down to one this weekend...without my dog. She embarrasses the crap outta me (so punny).

    ReplyDelete
  24. I absolutely love the farmer's market and try to go every Saturday morning. Today hubby and I ventured to another part of town to the biggest farmer's market I have ever seen. So fun! I want to be a farmer.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Those same people who made a stink that you didnt pick it up fast enough are probably the ones who would have left it behind....

    Today I got some unfriendly advise when my
    Dog peed blood on the sidewalk. A guy got out of his cab and yelled at me to take the dog to the vet. (well duh. And I'm sure he meant well, but by that time I had already called the vet and was wanting to see if there were any improvements) poor guy has a UTI and will be fine.

    One time I took my pup on a long walk and made him wear one of those dog backpacks to carry his water and dish. We ended up going to the farmers market which clearly states no dogs. Undeterred we walked in and went directly to the place we wanted food from. Along the way a girl tried to pet Hampton, her mother said "don't pet him- he's a working dog." haha. No one questioned us. And I'm sure it was full of those holier than thou- their sh*t smells like roses people who would have complained really loudly.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This is freak'n hilarious! I scanned over all of these comments hoping and praying that some ass wipe from the market would have read your shirt and come to unleash some anonymous fury. My dogs always piss on the shelves at petsmart.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Alecia -check back later. I'm sure they'll be some snarky anon comment. Pissing on the Petsmart shelves is totally allowed.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Ha ha! That is a great story! My dog is 90 lbs... you can't just leave a big pile like that behind. Some lady bitched at me the other day, WHILE I was cleaning it up. BTW - I think I was driving behind you the other day in Boulder. I hope your salad is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hilarious! You should have left it for the band to come up with a new song - total inspiration right? Regardless, farmer's markets are soooo good!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. That dog doesn't look big enough to lay down a two-by-four. Impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm so laughing here. Not at your expense but at the fact that you even have awesome poop stories for your dog!! Like dog , like owner...And he is even an impressive pooper....Ha! dropped a Fat one! Love it! and the band? What? for real?

    No dogs...just dog sitting this week for my mom. My kids embarrass me sometimes. Like in New Seasons (do they have one of those in Denver?), my youngest two always get in some hair pulling, knock down fight in the little car attached to the grocery cart. They've never shat on anything in public though. So, I'm safe there. Now THAT would be embarrassing if my kid took a big dump at the Portland farmer's market.

    We have some GREAT farmer's markets here. Love them! Must go more often. They have a really great one on the Portland State Campus every weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I do love you, SUAR, but I think the band was kind of right. I love my dog more than anything, but you must be prepared to clean-up after your dog in any situation when you are on property you do not own. We have a leash connected to a bag dispenser; lots of people just make sure to have a few old grocery bags on them when they walk their dog. But you gotta clean-up after them! And you can't blame the band/audience for judging you in that moment - as much as I think you're awesome, I would have thought less of you, too. Dogs are awesome, but intelligent/thoughtful/considerate owners know to ALWAYS be prepared to pick-up after them in public.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love the local farmers' market but I always feel guilt-tripped into buying stuff I didn't want. Also, I'm lazy.

    Instead, I invest IN THE BEST THING EVAR: the local farm produce delivery service. A lot of people use the CSA, but I'm happy with my 3rd party service. It's awesome, it's like a magical mystery box every week

    ReplyDelete
  34. Funny how it's easier to leave feisty comments while hiding behind the facade of an ANONYMOUS comment.
    You're careful to praise SUAR though, to make it feel easier on her conscious to JUDGE her. Nice. Hope it feels just as good when your name shows up tomorrow -- when you decide that you agree with her.

    As an aside, she DID pick up the poo! And I'm sure that her intention was obvious to most of the level-headed people in the crowd as she ran up to a vendor for a bag! Clearly though, you're a better person than those of us who forget to grab a bag from time to time... the rest of us will all bow down to you now because you're clearly the Superior Dog 'Parent!'

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anon (who thinks I'm deserving of being judged by the band) - LOL!! God forbid I'd take 30 secs to find a bag and not have one attached to my dog's leash!! I should have been arrested on the spot.

    ReplyDelete
  36. haha that's too funny but so embarrassing!! The fact that you have a One-eyed-Three-legged dog speaks volumes of how great of a doggy mama you are.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ding, ding, ding, ding!!!! We have Anons!!! Yes!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love our market and the produce is actually much cheaper than at the grocery!

    ReplyDelete
  39. LOL I learned my lesson with that one recently too. Apparently, like with children, a doggy diaper bag is in order. I also had to run for a bag and was given the evil eye for not scooping it up with my bare hands or even better, taking my dog to the port-o-potty.

    On the subject of beets, I just roasted some red beets, golden beets and carrots tonight. Fan-freak'n-tastic! Farmer's market here is cheaper than the grocery, just frustrating that is not available daily.

    ReplyDelete
  40. There are times in life where you wish that the earth would just open up and swallow you. I'm guessing this was one of these times.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks for the visual. I wish I could go all the time. But we just can't afford it all the time. But I love going and pretending like I'm a hippie.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oh my gawwwd, the band story made me HOWL with laughter! In the moment I'm sure it would have been humiliating, but in retrospect, who else has such an hilarious story to be able to tell?

    No dogs, but my cat sometimes forgets to bury his business after using the litter box, then suddenly my entire apartment will be overcome with his putrid poo smell.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Ha ha, that's pretty funny that the band changed the lyrics. They mighta gotten a nice middle finger salute from me! Palm Beach is pretty bad about taking their dogs to restaurants and stuff too. If you go to the mall in Boca, you'll see TONS of baby strollers. But they're DOGS in there, instead of babies!
    I once saw a dog in a stroller with his front paws up on the table at a restaurant! Seriously?

    ReplyDelete
  44. At least he poops solid poop. Connor, who has colitis, often has completely running poop, which is pretty much impossible to pick up. That makes neighbors happy, let me tell you!

    Had a roasted beet, goat cheese and walnut salad yesterday. Loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I have a dog, so I can understand how you felt. I always clean up after him, even though here in BDA, people rarely do. I think it is so gross leaving it around. I always bring a "poo bag" which is just a carry bag filled with plastic bags to pick up. Of course, I have to remember to make sure there's bags in there before I leave, because sometimes i haven't checked and then we're in trouble.

    I've been to the Farmer's mrkt in Boulder a few times now - there's always tons of dogs. You're right, Boulderites are huge dog fans. But, I have to say, when I was there, it was during the Bolder Boulder - and it was PACKED. It was actually hard at times to walk around and the dogs in the way made it a challenge. As a dog owner, I found myself thinking it could not have been very pleasant for the dogs in the heat and the crowds.

    My brother brought his dog (Golden retriever) and we wound up leaving early because it was just too crowded.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I am totally laughing....

    There's a Farmer's Market over at Southlands Mall and I keep meaning to go. UGH, why do I keep forgetting. Sometimes I go to the one at Cherry Creek Mall but it's always so swamped.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh and I see Anon is back...WTH!!!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Oh wow! I can't believe the band did that. I'm sure it was funny in hindsight but I would have been kind of annoyed during the process too. Seriously? Give me a chance! That's how I would've felt too.

    ReplyDelete
  49. i love supporting local stuff too! i don't mind paying a little extra because the quality is usually so much better and i love knowing that i am supporting local farms!

    ReplyDelete
  50. hahahaha oh my lord this is hilarious!
    see thats what i love about dogs....def never a dull moment!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Love the farmers market and that salad sounds delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  52. OMG I am supposed to do core tomorrow not tonight. That is hilarious.....and who give a flying F what those dudes sang. I would have laughed right then and there with them.

    Maybe taken the mic and started to sing as well.

    That is great and had you been on THE TWITTER you could have told me this a long time ago. Get on THE TWITTER

    ReplyDelete
  53. My dog peed on my neighbor's leg once. The neighbors moved shortly afterwards. Coincidence?

    ReplyDelete
  54. I agree with anon - you really need to learn to clean up after your dog.
    KIDDING. Jeez, anonymous person = moron who clearly didnt read the whole post.
    If you didn't pick up that would be bad, but I think the bad (and the dirty-look-givers) were way out of line. It just took a minute or two for goodness sake. Some people need to chill.
    My doggie weighs over a hundred pounds so his turds are ginormous. His gas is also worse than human gas.

    ReplyDelete
  55. sorry, the BAND.. and dirty look givers...

    ReplyDelete
  56. Social media technology is constantly changing and it is more than likely have them feeling good about you.

    She argued that press coverage of that war had been largely favorable until home front support for it
    began to wane in the late 1960s catapulted network student loans
    for people with bad credit as their most effective technique.
    If it fails, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is
    that the former emits" T-waves" or a" bottom-up" process.



    Look into my weblog; Student Loan

    ReplyDelete