Monday

The Case of The Hanky Panky Bandit

I would be remiss if I did not record my day for public record. Today I was robbed. That’s right. R.O.B.B.E.D.

This is my last week of work before I leave for the summer. As I drove along to work I thought to myself, “Dayna, you need to celebrate this. Treat yourself to a bagel.” And so I did. I stopped off at the Einstein Bagels I frequent on occasion. I grabbed my wallet, locked my door, and headed inside for that delicious bagel with strawberry shmear. What could go wrong today…apparently a heck of a lot.

As I walked back to my car I couldn’t help but feel like Dorothy as she landed in Oz. WHAT THE HELL IS GONG ON? The first thought going through my mind was, “Huh. I know my window didn’t look like that a few minutes ago.” That’s when I realized my computer bag was gone, along with my cell phone and window. Sigh. It took me a full minute to jump to action.

I went back inside Einstein’s (a place I will forever avoid) and told them I needed to call the police. She gave me the phone and I just starred. How do I work this? Who do I call? That’s when the tears started. I then counted my lucky stars that I had FOUR phone numbers memorized. FOUR! How sad is that? This was the moment when the girl offered me a free drink and some random guy told me he hoped I had a better day. I immediately hated both of them. Upon reflection I should feel grateful for some kindness in the middle of my horror, but alas I was not.

When the paddy wagon arrived the officers words of wisdom to me were, “I’d start buying my bagels in Centennial. This is a terrible area.” Really? Thanks. I don’t work down the street or anything! He then took a report, cleared the glass, and gave me directions to the nearest vacuum. I was still in tears.

It was at this point that my brother Ryan arrived. Thank heavens. It wasn’t without a bit of a talk about, “I told you to use Find My iPhone.” With my response, in tears, “I DON’T SUPPORT BIG BROTHER OPERATIONS!” I do now, of course.


It was during this moment in time that I got ahold of my mom and dad. One Robyn LeMasters stated, “I hate people. I want to stab him in the eyebrow.” Always the pragmatic problem solver. One Nick LeMasters stated, “This is terrible. What needs to happen? I’ll call your work.” Always the man of action.


I drove in to work in order to tell them I was out for the day. Of course this was while I wore large, blacked out glasses. Why you ask? Well, the bandit took off with my make-up bag. I had mascara running down my face and chunky, purple eye shadow on my lids. It didn’t help my self-esteem that my glasses kept fogging up while I talked to my boss. The movies don’t prepare you for this scenario at all. At this point in any good romantic comedy I would look fabulous while some guy gallantly found my purse. Not so…

As I drove my car away from work, it was this moment when I realized they had stolen Scout’s basket. It’s one thing to steal my computer and phone, but my dog’s driving basket? ARE YOU INSANE? When I informed my dad about this he replied, “Those bastards.” It should be noted that he was more upset about Scout’s loss than mine, too. And so with this discovery I drove to Apple, still in tears.

I needed a new phone! How would I fix this terrible situation without a phone? As I went in to Apple I was so upset thinking of the 200 bucks I was going to have to drop for a new phone. Imagine my reaction when the gentleman informed me that I was still under contract and would need to pay $650. And so in tears I left Apple with no phone. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I would rather be cut off from all technology than drop 650 big ones on a new phone. Thank the good lord for Nick LeMasters, who willed and dealed with his AT&T store for me.

It was at this time that I went home to get Scout and drove to the only location in Colorado with a landline…Nick and Robyn LeMasters. I took care of the few things I could involving the theft and car. Then I went to sleep. The entire time Scout felt the need to check on me and bring me toys. When I woke up I was covered in a pile of pig toys. I feel like it was similar to waking up to the horse head in The Godfather.

It was around 3pm that I got the call! Jake, who raises chickens, had found my computer and cell phone. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I jumped in my broken car and headed to his house. That’s right folks, I got my computer and cell phone back. What am I missing? Tissue, make-up, gum, a pair of panties…and Scout’s basket. She’s still pissed about that. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This person broke into my car for a pair of undies.

Of course when I called my dad to tell him what I discovered his first question was, “Were they A or B teams?” They were A teams, in case you were wondering.

And so I sit here tonight typing on my computer, forever turned off of bagel and shmear, down a pair of undies, and trying to help Scout cope with her loss. 

However, I will end with what my brother Ryan said, “Now that’s some clean living right there.”

Signed,
Dayna LeMasters
Keeping Denver in Undies since 2014

Sunday

LeMasters & Scout



Well hello there! It’s been exactly ten months since my last blog. You can thank my job as a public educator for my sabbatical. Since we last met I purchased a house and I purchased a dog. The house alone could provide endless blogs, but Miss Scout Jean Louise LeMasters is what really keeps me busy.

I didn’t plan to buy a dog my first month of living in the new “doll house,” as my dad so lovingly refers to it. However, after a bit of pressure from my mom I purchased a pup. I should mention that it was said by aforementioned mom “My new home would sit better with her if I had a man living with me.” The man didn’t happen…the dog did.

On a bit of a whim, the parents and I drove up to Fort Lupton, Colorado to look at dachshund puppies. I had planned to put a down payment on a two-week-old English, long haired, dachshund. She was the half-sister of my parents’ dog, Gracie. I thought, “HOW FUN TO HAVE SISTERS!” Well…things took a bit of a turn when I spotted Miss Scout. She was the quiet, well mannered, lady, sitting calmly in the middle of dog chaos. So. I left that night with a nine week old, American, long haired, dachshund. The below picture is me leaving the farm…look at the joy on my face!

When we got home I realized I was swindled…The joy on my face quickly turned into a scene from the film “Turner & Hooch.” Remember this scene…THIS WAS MY LIFE FOR THREE DAYS!
I didn't give her any food, but I did wrap her in one of my shirts with a nightlight. DIDN'T WORK! I swear those nights were God's way of testing my patience...while he laughed. 

Over the next week she began to sleep through the night and I didn’t kill her, so that was a definite plus! My mom was also kind of enough to come and check on her at 1pm while I worked until 4pm. She would tell me what a wonderful, perfect, angel Scout was. REALLY? Because when I got home I would find this…


Look at that! It's like finding a kid who collapsed from a sugar high. Look at poor Ellie the Elephant. I don't know what she did to be thrown in the corner, but holy cow! I think I'm dealing with some serious anxiety issues. I also think Nana is keeping secrets...

I know you're all thinking, "Wow! Dayna has a lot on her plate. I bet she's regretting that purchase." Let's all calm it down a bit. While I am dealing with some new, and quite frankly, LUDICROUS situations, I also have a freaking cute girl sitting on my lap. A girl who wags her tail in pure happiness when I come home. A girl who gives me kisses in the middle of attacking toys. And most importantly a girl who is pre-maturely graying, just like me...we're hair twins! I just adore her...how could you not love this girl? I mean, look at the perfectly round head!

Note: It should be mentioned that the last paragraph is the mantra I keep saying over and over in my head when terrible events happen. Teaser: Dead mouse, bathroom flooding, urine samples, and wall eating. STAY TUNED!