ARK ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Katie and I had just left the house. We were driving down the street, hadn't even reached the end of our block, when we saw something that made our hearts sink. A bunny had been hit by a car (it seemed) and its back legs were broken. The bunny was trying to drag itself over to the side of the road using it's two front legs.
Katie and I glanced at each other.
"What do you want me to do?" I wailed, thinking this was not a good start to our day. And knowing Katie, she'd want me to do something. I wanted to do something, but I didn't want to get blood everywhere or risk being bitten by a frantic bunny.
"Stop and pick it up! At least help it get off the road." Katie begged me.
There were two options. One - Do nothing and let nature take its course. Teach Katie that life sucks and living, dying, getting run over by cars, is all part of the show. I knew, though, that we'd both spend the rest of the day, the rest of the next few days, wondering about the bunny and feeling horrible. So, that was never really a choice.
Two - Go back, pick up the bunny, take it to the vet, and ask if they would quickly put it out of it's misery.
I turned the car around, parked, and Katie grabbed two plastic bags from the glove compartment.
The bunny was badly injured but still breathing. As I wrapped up the bloody bits, the bunny seemed resigned to its fate and didn't try to bite or fight in anyway. I had to fight back big tears (don't let the kid see you cry!). Katie got back in the passenger seat and I put the bunny in her lap.
"Just rub him right around his ears, it seems to calm him," I said.
She rubbed his ears gently and talked to him kindly as I swerved to avoid bumps in the road.
"You're sure you're okay with this, Katie?"
"Well, yeah. I want to be a vet so I'm going to have to get used to this kind of thing."
I drove to Ark Animal Hospital . Though I've only been there one time with Diablo, I remembered them as being very kind...from the receptionist to the assistants to the doctors, everyone was friendly and patient.
We took the bunny in and the receptionist thanked us for stopping to help the bunny, and assured Katie they would quickly put an end to his suffering.
We returned an hour later, camera in hand; Ark Animal had taken a really crappy incident and made a little girl feel a whole lot better about the way nature and humans work.
And this time around, Tim, the manager, was kind enough to give Katie a tour of the hospital.
And I have to say, Katie really made my day. She was so tender with the bunny, and kept her emotions in check, and was able to take a concept that boggles most us and chalk it up to 'just a part of life'. But that doesn't mean you can't be compassionate along the way.
So to Ark Animal Hospital, and to Katie, I say Thank You!

Diana Stever-Acme Food Store, Chalfont PA

OH.MY.GOD.
I was having the worst craving for ice-cream (Breyers Fried Ice Cream), chips (Herr's Red Hot)and soda (Diet Dr. Pepper-I like the taste of Diet!). I'm at the self check out with my loot, ready to pay, when the machine tells me my debit card is declined.
WHAT? Impossible!
I try again.
A line of people forms behind me.
Enter Diana, who works at Acme.
Very patiently, she has me try again.
Nope.
DECLINED.
I blather on about how I'm SURE there is money in there.
She keeps cheery the whole time.
The people behind me are probably snickering. I'm too mortified to turn and look.
But Diana does not snicker or narrow her eyes at me. She is kind and helpful and does not judge.
I mean, I can be quite the judger myself, if we're being honest here.
I have five dollars in cash, so I buy the ice cream, and she offers to put the rest back. Nicely. In a non judgemental voice. And c'mon, what I know to be PMS cravings might look like illegal substance kind of cravings!
In the parking lot, I call my bank. The automated system says I have more than enough money available!
So I walk in and try again. Man I want those Red Hots!
No go.
Mortified. Again.
I call the bank when I get home. While I'm eating my ice cream, the bank rep tells me there had been a temporary problem with the system but it should work now.
Yippee! No one had broken into my account to steal all my millions! The bank had not revoked my card because I used it to buy US Weekly.
I had to have those damn chips. And that Diet Dr. Pepper or my cravings would not be complete.
But more than anything, I wanted to go back to Acme and thank Diana for being so kind during an embarrassing moment.
So I got my chips and soda. (the card worked!)
And I told Diana how much her patience and joking meant to me.
And Diana taught me two important lessons.
Don't Judge.
And always have enough cash on hand to buy what you want...just in case!
Thanks Diana!

NINETY NINE

A new restaurant opened in Warrington, right near our favorite 'date' place, Wegman's Grocery Store (hey, if you've ever been to Wegman's you know what I'm talking about). Ninety Nine (99).
We'd seen a sign on the door last week that said they were opening June 6th, so we decided to swing by.
IT WAS OUR LUCKY DAY, as it was a soft opening and LUNCH WAS FREE. Alcohol was not, however, but they were donating all proceeds from alcohol sales to a local children's charity AND 99 was matching the amount of money brought in by the customers.
NICE.
Of course, I believe in giving back to the community so we had a few drinks.
We sat at the bar, which is square, spacious, and looks over the kitchen. There are many TVs so you can keep up with sports/news.
Adam waited on us first, helped by Stephanie. Both were outstanding. Talkative, but knew when to retreat (and that's a true art form!).
The menu is varied and truly has something for everyone.
We started off with pot stickers, which were surprisingly light.
Mr. It has the salmon which he raved about (see picture above) and I had a turkey panini that had an unusual filling that included avocado, candied cranberries. It was fabulous and the combination of flavors rocked!
We both agreed the fries (rosemary and Parmesan dusted) had a great flavor.
The managers all came around to make sure we were taken care of.
The Happy Hour specials rock and from 9pm to close they have half price appetizers(at the bar only).
I have a feeling even if we hadn't the fortune of dining for "free", Ninety Nine would still have made our day!

PUMPERNICKS

My favorite time of the day is breakfast time.
Mr. It and I have traveled far and wide to find the perfect breakfast spot.
Pumpernicks is IT for casual inexpensive and excellent.
Everyone is always very friendly. And service? Lemme tell you, those cooks must have some magic dust back in the kitchen because after placing your order, don't even think you're going to read the morning paper! As soon as you open the paper, BA BOOM, breakfast is served!
Theresa was our waitress this morning and she was prompt, smiling, and who could ask for anything more?
I have no doubt they do an excellent lunch and dinner, too, because the parking lot is always packed.
Thanks Pumpernicks, you really made my day!