Beach and Barricades

I spent most of the day in Laguna Beach with Carmen. I haven’t seen her since my graduation and we had a lot of catching up to do. We were going to go to San Diego but opted instead for something more local. So we went for a late breakfast at The Cottage and then walked around the shops and beach. It was cloudy and cool but still amazingly beautiful.

I forget how many great restaurants there are in Laguna. If you’re ever in the area I highly recommend Javier’s, Las Brisas, The Cliffs, and The Beach House. The Cliffs has a fantastic view and The Beach House has a great patio. Also tucked away in a picturesque alley way is Gelato Paradiso and La Rue du Chocolat fabulous for desserts. This is the best place for people watching. I highly recommend it.

As we meandered along the streets of the picturesque beachside community I was blissfully unaware of what was waiting for me at home. It truly was like the beginning of a cheesy lifetime movie. We were so happy in Laguna, life was going so well. We leisurely walked around, yakked up a storm, solved major world problems and even stopped to shop a little on our way home. I said goodbye to Carmen in the parking lot of my condo complex. I fumbled in my purse absentmindedly looking for my keys as I walked towards my second floor place.

I was jerked to reality by a loud bark and growling. I looked up the stairs and realized I had a guard dog in front of my door. I don’t have a dog. Now granted, it wasn’t a big dog but it was crouched low to the ground, had flattened ears and was showing teeth. I am not a huge dog fan and was not about to keep moving towards it. Call me kooky but images of being bitten and mauled filled my head.

I had no idea what to do. I called Uncle Kev and he said to call animal control since it was growling and showing teeth. Great! I can’t even get into my own place because of a dog that isn’t even mine. I called to get the number for animal control and my city doesn’t have one.

So I called the county one and they said they’d make it an emergency call and get someone out right away. Yea right! An hour later I was still waiting. I’m standing out in front of my place like a dork asking every passing person if they were missing a dog. No one wanted to claim the hellion.

So I went to my car, got my big umbrella got up the nerve to venture up the stairs and what would happen. More growling and teeth showing. He wasn’t afraid of my umbrella. I don’t think I’ve moved faster down the stairs.

An hour and a half later animal control finally showed up. The dog growled and barked at her and then ran away. Great, it’s still on the loose and now it may be back. At least I finally got into my house now that my unwanted guard dog has fled the scene. Tomorrow I’m off to Petsmart to get a gate for the top of the stairs.

I was surprisingly freakishly scared to open my door. So I dug in the closet and found the large leaf to the dining room table and am using it as a barrier at the top of the stairs. We’ll see if it works or if I’m attacked in the morning. Should be fun.

What a festive day.

Filed under: Friendshipping, Living in LA LA Land