Updating the update

Well I took Bismark to a neurologist in Lynnwood today...recommended by the eye specialist yesterday. He has "Optic Neuritis" an inflammation of the optic nerve. It can be somewhat reversable with Prednisolone treatment but the problem is that it is probably caused by Lymphoma...sigh. So here is the ultimate question to treat or not to treat? The Prednisolone treatment might make everything shrink and give him more months possibly even more years. Or the cancer could figure out how to overcome that drug and come back.

Then there is chemo which could give him 2 to 4 more years but we all know what chemo does...it makes people and cats very sick. The thing this disease probably will eventually get him but which way do we go? He has already had x rays, blood tests, urinalysis, MRI, spinal tap. This would entail a needle biopsy of his eye and a sonograph of his body plus more blood test then chemo. He's the 4000.00 kitty but really Mark has lots it's not an issue. So what do we do?

Bismarck Update

Well ater al that we thought he was much better. Eating, drinking and all that but last night we noticed his pupils were different sizes and he was kind of staggering around. So after another vet appointment we now know that Bismarck is blind. I have no idea how or why but we will see a kitty opthamologist tomorrow.

My father was blind. So I'm pretty mellow about this news. I know people can be fine blind and animals do much better than we do. My only concern is that we are remodeling and things change around here daily. I don't think that is a good environment for a blind cat. I think we should give him back to his mother...sadly.

Sigh.....

Yikes!!

As you can see our icicles have turned from beautiful to kind of menacing:) It's like they are trying to get in and get us

I cannot get this video to post so here is the you tube link:)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXfkMGV3FdM&feature=channel_page#

The view out our new bedroom window this morning. This is my backyard:)

Lola the Snow Dog

Tuscan White Bean Soup with Prosciutto

So this is what I made tonight and I had an idea...for those of you who cook I'd love to see some recipes on your blog of things that worked well (this was ok not too noteworthy) or maybe even a common blog where contributors can post recipes or take recipes. I'm sure this is done somewhere but I've read a few of you talk about what you've made and I really would love to trade:)

Neo I did read it but your blog won't take comments :)

Mocha in

Baby it's Cold Inside!

So as you know we are remodeling the house. Mark needed to move the propane tanks. so he called the propane company and told them to stop delivering so we could use up what was in the tanks and move them. Well they kept trying to deliver. Fortunately the first two times he was here and sent the driver away. Unfortunately the last time they showed up when we weren't here and filled the tanks. They wouldn't take it back (not even sure if that's possible) so we had to use it up again.

Well we did and he called a new company to come out and refill the moved tanks. That was a couple weeks ago and they are scheduled to come today. The thing is it's 19 degrees and they've been low for about three days. So we've had to huddle in one half of the house and use these little electric heaters.

I stayed home today to wait for the propane delivery. I'm so bored! I should be doing things but I can't seem to bring myself to move from the heater. It's 47 inside. I need to shower, clean the bathroom, do dishes...it's 47 inside! Mark very sweetly brought me home new slippers last night...it's 47 inside!

Okay enough of that but one other thing. I never really thought cats were all that trainable. Not dumb just not like dogs. But after about three time the cats now will run from whatever room he's in when the little heater starts up and plant himself in front of it until his fur is hot, funny.

Holy Crap!

Mark and I are sitting here watching Wall-e (really good btw) when Lola explodes and I hea a knock on our back slider. Not the front door, the back door. I went out into the kitchen to see a man in his forties standing on our back deck. he says "Hi, I used your driveway t turn around and got stuck, sorry" Okay no biggie anyone who has seen our driveway knows it's pretty steep. So we get our shoes on and go out in the snow.

The man had come down our driveway, narrowly missed my car and almost drove straight off the cliff behind our house. It's snowing and he was obviously drunk. Mark pulled him out with the Tahoe. I asked if he was ok to drive, he said yes "I only had two beers" and drove away. I wrote down his license plate number and immediately called 911. I hope if he is caught he isn't a vengeful man (or he has no idea where he was) but all I could think about was how horrible I would have felt had I heard about a drunk driving wreck tonight. I maybe should have tried harder to convince him he shouldn't drive but it all happened so fast. I hope I did the right thing.

Snow!!

I'm A dog person Damnit!

Okay kitty update...it isn't renal failure! Whee! but.... it could be cancer. A weight loss of a pound in two months in a 8 pound cat is still severe and needs to be looked into.

Since I am effectively unemployed until the new year I spent today doctoring the cat. I got no love:( At the vet last night we got an appetite stimulant, antibiotics and a force feeding syringe. The appetite suppressant is in pill form so no pill pockets damn it. You can't hide it in food if it's to make them eat!

He ate like a hog last night but again not this morning. So since dehydration is all of our worst enemy I started there. He is allergic to cows milk so he gets goats milk. So every time I went upstairs to where he was I took a small bowl of milk and the syringe. The first time was pretty easy because it was a sneak attack. He never knew what hit him. Mark is a proponent of slow, letting them sniff everything and check it all out. Me I do the sneak attack and get it over with. So I sat down, threw my robe over him (claws...not a fan) cranked his mouth open an squirted in a load of milk.

He was mad and sputtering and making that low menacing growl all you cat folks know about. First time I heard it kind of scared me:) So I managed to get two more syringes in over the next couple of hours until I was cut... I pushed it.

There also was this thing you load the pill in it and then push a plunger to rocket the pill down the hatch. That took both of us. Then Mark worried that I had shot the pill down his wind pipe, pussy :) Then the antibiotic, in and then sprayed out all over the bed. Hopefully this won't be an everyday occurrence forever. I'm not that brave

Bismarck

Ok so one last kitty post (ok maybe not forever) This is my familiar and he isn't doing well. We just got back from the vet and he may be in renal failure....sigh. I've been through that before with a friend's cat and it isn't fun.

About 6 months ago I noticed he had total ass breath. Mark called it "kitty breath" but as far as I was concerned it wasn't normal. It took some convincing but Mark finally took the cat to the vet....

Side thought... isn't it funny how different some are about their critters? There are those (like me) who go at the drop of a hat and those who are more "wait and see". I can't call one wrong and one right because I've met so many of both kinds.

So he went and the cats teeth were bad, very bad, and needed cleaning and extractions to the tune of 975.00...gulp but being a good cat dad he made the appointment. So the blood work came back and he also had an abnormal thyroid to the tune of 925.00!!

Oh crap.

So here's the deal he and his ex-girlfriend share custody of the three cats. It seems to work out she has them six months and then he has them six months. In the past it has seemed to work fine. Okay except for the time when we went out of town and she got pissed, broke in and stole them....along with furniture....and went through my drawers....ummm okay well anyway that's a year ago and it has been working fine. So he was going to take the cat into the thyroid appointment and pay. She would pick him up and take him home (he would be radioactive and we have no doors to segregate him) take him to the dentist and pay. Fine amost even split. Then her brother gets a heart valve virus.

Oh crap.

So the cat comes back to us. So we wait for her to take him (actually all of them back for her six months) back and to the kitty dentist. Nope she doesn't. Meanwhile he loses a pound in two months a lot for a 8 pound creature. So we take him to the vet tonight after we realize his food intake is almost nothing, not really moving, drinking, using the litter box...well you get it. We hoped it was just the teeth pain was causing all his symptoms but no it's probably renal failure.

Oh crap.

Another 475.00 and the beast is ready to kill. Stalking around glaring and eating like a HOG! He was given an appetite stimulant, sub q fluids, xrays, antibiotics and looks raring to go. But I'm afraid of whats to come. The sticking of needles in this sweet (ok really he's an evil killer) cats back. The pain and discomfort. I prolonged a life about twenty years ago snickers

He had congestive heart failure. Coughed like a duck, fainted (funny story there) went to a doggie heart specialist. I loved this dog so much and wanted to put him to sleep but the family didn't agree. I moved out rather than watch his demise...sad. He finally did us the favor of dying in his dog house.

So the teeth are on our plate..again. As well as this latest bill as well as whatever is to come because she is refusing to help pay. I personally think she forfeits her rights to the cats. However I'm against dropping this bomb while her brother is sick at this time of year. I will get behind giving her a chance to say she will help.

What do you think?

So we went round and round this week about the color of our new rooms...the dining room and above the bedroom. He choose taupe...sigh...ahem....groan... I frankly wasn't having it. He painted the bedroom all... taupe. We fought. Now I try really hard to choose my battles in life and let some things go but this one? I couldn't do it. I called it baby poop brown and frankly wasn't spoken to for half a day:) Then I went to Lowe's and after 2 hours and lots of friendly retired lady help came up with four options. This is what he chose for the dining room. I spent all day painting it. The bedroom is green but bluer. He wanted the whole house the same color... I wanted all different colors. The compromise is varying shades of green to match the outside. I think it looks good with the wainscoting and wood ceilings. So the house house will be green except for the bathrooms and a bee yellow room.

Oh and a gratuitous Mt. Si pic :)

My Favorite Things

Did you see the movie "City of Angels' with Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan? It's totally cheesy but one of my favortie movies. The romance of him giving up eternity just to be with her makes my 14 year old self go all tingly.

The premise is that we all have sort of guardian angels that are with us all throughout our lives and then they help with the transition into the afterlife. Nicholas Cages character asks his charges what their favorite thing about life was.

So what's yours? Mine would be...in no particular order.

• The first blush of romance, before sex. The pitty pat of your heart when you see your significant other. The long sessions of kissing on the couch. The longing you feel.
• Clothes (or blankets) freshly taken out of the dryer. There is nothing like curling up on the couch with a warm blanket.
• A freshly washed dog.
• A good gossip magazine
• Singing loudly in the car when you know no one will catch you
• Pizza when you are at you target weight and you have no guilt
• Rain on the roof
• Laugh attacks until you cry

Aknot

I can't seem to think of an interesting topic lately so here is another cat video. Hopefully I will be back at it soon:)

Mt. Si at dusk. I can't quite capture the light on the Mountain with my crappy camera. I've been crabby today not wanting to do all my weekend chores. This view makes it all worthwhile

Life in Bum *&%$ Egypt

I was born and raised in Bellevue. I lived there for 39 years. I was used to all the affluence and slightly holier than thou attitude of the residents. Heck, I may have had a touch of it myself..... Totally unwarranted and misguided as I have never had any trace of the money most in Bellevue have but maybe I was a bit of an eastside snob.

I remember going to Seattle as a teenager with my best friend Beth and being good with it for about 3 hours but then needing my quiet eastside. There were no bums in Bellevue, no disaffected youth...that was allowed in public. The two places we went to gawk were Broadway and the Market. We tried to fit in and look unimpressed but eventually ran back to safe old Bellevue.

Well two years ago someone pulled me out of safe old Bellevue, Mark. I met him and he lived in Noth Bend...wha the f? No one lives in North Bend. It's so far...sigh. What's in North Bend? I resisted for months making him come to me. He finally put his foot down and made me start coming to him. It made sense. I had a roommate he didn't. At first I only would come out here on the weekend and then more and more.

It's different than Bellevue here. It's pretty strange actually. I was thinking about writing this blog while outside with Lola tonight having her last potty break of the day. In Bellevue when we would go out at night there were lights and sounds. Here it's absolutely silent and dark. If I shine my flashlight in any bush at any time I can see critter eyes shining back at me. They are there all the time. I don't know what they are but I learned to take Lola out on a leash at night otherwise she will take off running after noises.

In the morning we walk down the half mile road for Lola's first potty walk of the day.

This is what we usually see most winter mornings, Elk. They are HUGE! At first it was a little scary walking towards them....will they charge? Be angry? Lola was freaked! But we learned that if we keep walking they will politely step off the road into the bushes. You pass them by and can smell them and hear them waiting for you. If you look back you can see they will step back into the road after you pass. That never happened in Bellevue.

It's difficult to cook out here. I'm not all that adventurous but once in awhile I like to try something new. I made Beef Wellington for Mark but could I find Pate in North Bend? Nope. Veal for Jagerschnitzel? Nope. Agave nectar? Nah. Light and dark sesame oil? Uh uh. I could go on but you get the picture.

Which brings me to the other oddity. Everyone writes checks! Invariably I get behind someone in the grocery line who pulls out a checkbook and writes a check...huh? Hasn't the 21st century made it out here to the boonies?

So Lola and I aren't in Bellevue anymore but for as much as I never thought I'd leave I like it here.

More Kitties

Panic Attacks

Have you ever had one? I remember when and where I was when I had my first one. I was 31 and driving to a hair appointment. I never drove my beater Honda on the freeway. The excuse was that it was old and might break down. Now I realize I had a fear of driving. I don't know why. I had one fender bender in High School but never anything major.

So I was taking the back roads out to Tiger Mountain in Issaquah. I had just turned left on to Eastlake Sammamish Road. You know right by the Fred Meyer? WHAMMO! I thought I was going to die. The back of head, hands and face went numb. My vision tunneled down to a pinpoint. I couldn't breathe and my heart beat very very fast. Now I know I probably was so fearful of driving that I hyperventilated, at the time I had no idea. I just thought I was going to die.

I don't like to draw attention to myself. So there were no histrionics. I just kept repeating "you're okay you're okay you're okay" until I got to my appointmentand then I was okay...or so I thought. What happened was that I became afraid of the next attack. I've read since that some can have one attack and not have another but some worry excessively about it happening again. THAT doesn't help because of course you worry yourself into another one. Over and over and over again.

You wonder where it will be? Who will be around? If you like to be strictly in control (like me) will I be able to control myself? So you start avoiding places where you don't feel you can escape quickly. My big thing was driving. I couldn't do it. There had to be a shoulder, or an exit or a way out. See panic attacks are like your "fight or flight" is broken. You feel a need to flee...all the time. So your world shrinks. I think I was somewhat agoraphobic for a time. My only saving grace was that I was poor. I had to go to work.

After a three day long panic...horrible, I finally went to the doctor about 4 months after that first panic. They gave me Xanax. Ahhh sweet relief. I understand downer addicts completely. Eventually I ended up on Paxil but it killed my sex life, the mind was willing but the flesh unresponsive. Made me gain 7o pounds in about six months. I slept almost constantly, ground my teeth...well it was awful.

We switched to Wellbutrin and I was horribly sad. I cried over Kodak commercials. Celexa worked the best but I still felt like a slug. Eventually it was decided I couldn't take an everyday antidepressant and my doctor put me on Clonazepam to take only when the anxiety was particularly high. It worked for me and eventually I didn't need it at all.

I credit Lola for forcing me to interact and get out everyday as well as inspiring a career change as the final catalyst to change. I think I was ultimately very self centered. I mean that in the way that I was thinking and worrying too much about me. When I got her I started to think less about me and more about other things.

I am so glad that chapter in my life is over

Funnneeeeeee!

Okay so I've talked about Newton before. He is our "special needs" cat. Chewed off several inches of his own tail thinking it was an attacker. He's sweet. Everyone loves him. I could take him out on a leash and he would be perfectly happy to say hello to any and all. He's big, not so much in weight but in space occupied.

He has some quirks. One is the arch and run. He all of sudden will decide he has an appointment in the other room, arch up like a Halloween kitty and run sideways into the next room. He startles everyone when he does this... including the dog. Lola considers him to be competition, I think. Bismarck is her cuddle friend. Aknot is a little scary but Newton needs to be watched. She will rush to her bones if he passes too quickly. Growl if he jumps too near...he blunders into her frequently.

So last night Mark was working on the new dining room. He had one of those big portable lights on a stand that you use working on construction. Lola was in the room with him sniffing all the smells of a new room. They both cast long shadows when they passed the light. Suddenly Newton careened into the room. Apparently he had spied Lola's shadow and decided to attack it. He rushed across the floor straight at her, paws scrabbling against the wood floor. Lola saw him coming and tried to get out of the way but that only made the shadow move and Newton try harder. He attacked again and Lola snarled not quite sure what the heck was going on.

We laughed and separated the two, putting Newton back in the other room. A few seconds later Newton lurched back sideways into the room resuming his cat blitz on the offending shadow. Lola didn't know what to do, tried her best to be diplomatic and dodge the cat bullet but Newton was determined. Finally Newton forgot what he was doing a scampered back into the other room. Boy do I wish I'd had my video camera

Empathy

I have an overabundance of it. I can really feel others pain so keenly that I can't cope sometimes. It's also the reason why I end up taking in human strays and get myself in trouble for it It has gotten to the point that I have to be careful about getting involved in others problems.things that aren't my problem can still keep me up at night...haunt me.

Mark is the opposite. I think he missed the empathy line somehow. Okay maybe I'm exaggerating slightly but where I got too much he seems to have received too little. It may be a man thing but sometimes he seems not to care when something is wrong...wants me to "get over it" quickly. Now he will do anything to help me make a plan to do so but really can't emotionally talk about it.

So he pisses me off. I wish I could get to him feel whatever I'm feeling sometimes so that he'd understand. One of our constant fights is that when we go to be he immediately becomes a brick and I have to "get comfortable". Now I wish I could immediately become comatose but this is my sleep pattern for 41 years and I can't change it for him. I broke my tailbone twice (I don't recommend it), have arthritis in one toe and plantar faciitis in the other foot. Sometimes comfort takes me awhile. Evil as this might sound I wish I coud zap him with my pain for one night so maybe just maybe he'd understand.

Evil me but sigh he can be such a big butthead sometimes.

Like tonight..can you tell?

Such a Princess!!

Ok I'll admit it I'm a bit of a princess. I HATE dirty hands...hate it hate it hate! I have little vanity except when it comes to my hands. I even got a couple offers to hand model. Funnily enough it was about the same time as George on Seinfeld got his offer:) I thought it might make me neurotic so I didn't do it.

So today I taped and mudded the new Master bedroom. I like to do my part with this whole house remodel thing but so far I haven't been able to do a lot because all of what he has done involves great physical strength...which I don't really have. I can't lift a 300 lb beam above my head. So now the finish work starts and I can do something.

Oh my God I hated it...in my head. Goopy gross hands the entire time. I don't like gardening for the same reason. I can cook and bake without a problem, its dirt... I think. Anyway i did it as fast as possible and washed and moisturized;) Doesn't it look fabulous?

Proposition 8

So i've been following closely comments on craigslist about prop 8. These are a sampling of comments. Up until now I have been arguing with EVERY SINGLE foul opinion :) because I'm geared that way. But what is they say? If you win an argument on the internet you're still a loser? So I've stopped but just look at some of this crap!!! Grrrrrrrrrr. Oh and I love when one of the anti gays sounds like an illiterate idiot....does my little heart good and doesn't move their case for proreation forward much

I could not be happier that gays are not allowed to marry in California. In fact I think the ones that got married should be striped of the marriage that was performed. How can gays have children. It was not set up that way. Thats why only men and women can have children. It will never pass in Washington. Washington State is to conceded to allow that kind of sickness. I hear people (gays) saying thats the way they were born. Bulls**t. Its a choice and a bad one at that........


Makes no sense. You DON'T deserve rights because you are homosexual. Plain and simple. You DO deserve the SAME INALIENABLE rights as spelled out in the Consititution, just as all Free Americans deserve INALIENABLE rights! Illegal aliens DON'T deserve rights here until and UNLESS you BECOME an AMERICAN CITIZEN! Get it? GOOD!

Straight people need to decide, do you want to live in a country where the radical "right wing Christian agenda" dictates your life? Believe me, if they could, they would mess with you too. Do you like birth control? They don't. Do you like the freedom to have sex outside of marriage? They don't. I could go on, but you see my point. Straight people need to join the fight and help their fellow brothers and sisters out now, before it's too late.

If the separation of church and state means anything, it must include the idea that people cannot be forced by the government to live according to the dictates of others’ religion. Just because one or many groups consider something sacred doesn’t mean that everyone must be forced to do so as well. Just because one or many religious groups consider same-sex marriage a sacrilege doesn’t mean that everyone else must be forced to define marriage in a way that would exclude gay couples. It also isn’t good enough for people to argue that same-sex marriage is against God’s will — it’s fine if churches teach this, but no government is under any obligation to legislate in a manner that is consistent with what what any church interprets God’s will to be. That would be the very essence of what it means to live in a theocracy. Marriage does not exist in order to further any mandates from anyone’s gods. Marriage does not exist simply in order to encourage and protect procreation. Marriage does not exist because it is a “natural” function. No, marriage exists because society finds that it is valuable and worthy to encourage and protect committed, intimate relationships that are pursued over an extended period of time. As an institution, marriage helps provide legal protection and stability to human relationships that might not otherwise survive problems and pressures under more informal terms. Financial and social benefits are thus conferred upon marital relationships because their long-term stability furthers general social stability. So far, no government has suggested that any religious groups be forced to perform and recognize gay marriages - that’s the flip-side of the separation of church and state and is as it should be. Just as the government is not obligated to define marriage along religious lines, religious groups are not obligated to define marriage along civil lines. Marriage within a religion might be conceived as having been authored by God, but that is not and cannot be the starting basis for civil society. In civil society, marriage is authored by secular laws voted upon by representatives of the people and as interpreted by the courts. Thus, we are the authors of civil marriage - religion no longer plays any essential role.

queers just one more queer we don't need to wory about being around our kids.queers, pedofiles,child molesters.i don't see a dif.protesters against prop 8 set the cal fires.it's all over the news.

Wow!

This first video was taken at about 7:30 am.

This next one was taken a half hour later at 8:00 am

Then again at 11:30

Then about noon we went to Snoqualmie falls

As a friend would say wow...wow...wow

Casino's

(or why I hate them)

Until last summer I had never been to a casino before. Can you believe it? I'm 41 years old and I had never been to Vegas, never gambled? Part of it is that I've always been poor and couldn't afford it. Plus it seemed terribly dumb to me to throw my money away like that.

So last June Mark and I stopped by the Tulalip on the way home from a road trip up North to the Grizzley warehouse...a tool store... another story in itself. He adores buffets and raved about how great they are in Vegas. So we stopped and both thought it was mediocre. I decided to try a penny slot and it was over in seconds. I thought I'd get a 100 tries silly me.

So last weekend the Snoqualmie Casino opened up a mere few miles from us. For months we'd heard about it. It was supposed to be a different kind of Casino. No sign of it from the highway.. so no neon tackiness. It must blend into the trees in brush...so beautiful architecture. Five restaurants, better ventilation, a venue for concerts and on and on. We thought it would be great and Mark was looking forward to the buffet.

So we didn't go Thursday, opening day, too crowded. We tried Friday at 4:30 but the line for the buffet snaked out the door and around the casino. A friend went Saturday and said they ran out of food...huh? So we went tonight.

Tuesday night was busy! I aways pictured casino's being glamorous but most were dressed way down. Or maybe it was polyester night? We paid our 29.95 each for the buffet to a bored inattentive cashier (I'm very intolerant when it comes to bad customer service. I did it for nearly 20 years and it's easy to be good) and walked the buffet. Boy was that disgusting. Frozen vegetables barely defrosted, wilted lettuce and mystery dressing at the salad bar. Huge slabs of over-cooked steak in this line...HUGE HUGE HUGE obscene really. Petrified enchiladas and Pizza from the middle ages over there. No chicken, pasta with no sauce. Broken ice cream machine (sad for Mark) again inattentive waitresses. I never complain when it comes to food until I'm leaving however. Have you ever known a waiter? Don't let them tell you what they do.

So we leave and weave our way through the casino. It smells like a wet ashtray. As a former smoker I still LOVE the way cigarette smoke smells but this was disgusting and after only days. So much for the ventilation. I felt like if I were an epileptic I would have had a seizure with all the noise and lights.

But the worst part to me is no one looked happy. I thought this would be a place where people had fun. They all looked sad. The cocktail waitresses were smooshed into boob baring costumes and looked cold and miserable. The dealers looked harried and stressed. The patrons sat in front of the slot machines pulling the handles, smoking and staring straight ahead. The poker room looked to me like a room full of people who were on the verge of losing everything.... their eyes haunted.

So I don't want to go back I'm depressed now. Sorry Travis we would love to host you and Curtis at our new favorite restaurant or even the Salish but I don't want to ever step foot in that place again.

Girlfriends

So I'm sure everyone has had this conversation...but I'm curious. I have my same sex girlfriends if I were to do go that way....Mariska Hargitay, Angelina Jolie and strangely enough Sela Ward. Boy do I have a type or what? My girl crushes. So who is your crush if you played for the other team?

Rainy Day

Pineapple Express

This is what happens when you remodel and the Pineapple Express rolls through. Leaks! Six upstairs in one room, two in another and two in the laundry room. They all ran away whe I took the picture but the cats are facinated and horrified. They have rarely been outside in their lifetimes so the rain indoor is curious :)

Mt Si. this morning out my back window.

A New Day

Well this is the first day in two years that I don't have to go Medina and be abused. I love it! Slept in til 7, made a big breakfast for Mark and will have time to do the elliptical before I leave the house about 10;30. Of course I am going to actively pursue other avenues but maybe take a week to sleep in :)

Yesterday I showed up for my two days a week with the rich dogs and the gate was padlocked and no one answered their phone. So I thought "maybe this is her way of firing me" I wasn't very surprised. I'm pretty sure she was waiting for me to beg and I didn't. So I finally got a hold of her and told her the gate was locked. She said "what do you want me to do". I said "open the gate?" She said "well I can't do that" even though there are automated keypads throughout the house. So I got fed up and said "Sheryl do you just want me to go home?" Finally she called the property manager and made me idle by the door until he fought his way through traffic and let me in. I was honestly a bit disappointed :) But really I feel like she has lost her power over me. I no longer rely on her for a big chunk of my income (at it's highest point about 3000 a month for two hours a day) I think she knows that too and she's trying other ways to control me.

So I'm going to update my website, print more brochures and starting pounding the pavement. I need to cultivate more sources of referrals...vets, groomers, pet stores, etc. Most fun is that I'm going to Echo Glenn tomorrow to check out their program. Have a good day all

Well the Alpha Rich Bitch fired me...sort of. She always pays me on the last day of the month and my check wasn't there today. So I called to ask where it was and she freaked out, accused me of all sorts of things. Now I believe that I should be able to ask a client where my check is without fear of firing. I do a job...I get paid. So she fired me for like the fourth time. Then rehired me for two days a week. After an intial freak out on my part and Mark's assurances that I needn't worry.... So nice to have someone to help!

I've decided this is a good thing. I wanted to volunteer at Echo Glen. This is what they do

Echo Glen is a coeducational juvenile correctional program for adolescents between the ages of 11-20. Echo Glen serves the youngest male offenders and females with special needs. The Canine Connections Program continues to be a strong therapeutic component at Echo Glen. We pair residents at Echo Glen Children's Center (at risk youth) with unwanted dogs. We give them an opportunity to experience responsibility, patience and conflict resolution skills, promoting emotional development. We provide skill building, educational, and vocational opportunities in kennel operations, grooming, vet tech. and training. Our residents continue to compare the dogs to their life--unwanted, negelected, abused and locked-up but involved in training and treatment. We consistently observe the youth transferring the cognitive behavioral skills taught to them by their counselors to their work with their dog. The student handlers are the dogs counselors. They write treatment reports and plans. It is our belief that this process only enhances the youths commitment to change. Participants learn to utilize behavioral therapy methods of positive reinforcement in shaping their dogs behavior. Canine Connections is a part of the Snohomish County 4-H dog program and is a part of the Issaquah School district. Students maintain 4-H journals and participate in the county dog program requirments. Prior to adoption, handler and dogs complete the AKC Canine Good Citizen and basic Obedience Test. Dogs are typically maintained in the program for 60-80 days. After this intense interaction with the student trainer, the dogs are "parolled" to permanent adoptive homes. The student/trainer conducts the exit interview with the new adoptive family, explaining the dogs background, training methods and offers advice in caring for the dog. The student trainer experiences a sense of accomplishment in a job well done. This interview helps in the "letting go" process for the handler. Research has shown that the bond between an animal and a human can have significant lifelong benefits for both. This program is a Win-Win for both students and dogs. The Canine Connections Program is committed to fostering this bond and achieving lifelong benefits for the juvenile offenders and dogs in their care. Canine Connections is a non profit agency relying on grants and private donations.

I couldn't do this before because she took all my time and I felt weird about that. I wanted to do something good with my time and I was babysitting rich dogs. So right after she fired me I emailed the program and now maybe I can.

My Routine

Mark and I have a routine practically every night and I never realized, until tonight, how used to it I am. See he goes to bed very early around 8:00 or 9:00 and I go to bed around 11:00 or 11:30. He goes and I have an orgy of stupid television...Project Runway, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, Stylista, The Real Housewives of whatever city, Top Chef, America's Top Model...well you get the idea. Mostly it's Wednesday night's.

Well it's 10:20 and he's still sitting here and it's bugging me. I can't stretch out and have control of the remote. I don't watch these when he is around because he gives me a running commentary on how dumb he thinks they are.

Still he sits. Twice now he's said he's going to bed but he's not..grrrrrr. The funny part is i get annoyed when he goes to bed so early too. So here I sit half annoyed but would never dare say anything because I've bitched when he leaves me so early. Sigh I am such a woman

gag!

Baba and Grandy

Kristen your post made me think of this...

This is my Grandmother Barbara and Grandfather Hal, Baba and Grandy. He's been gone for several years now at the age of 97. It was time I think when he left. He had dementia and was incarcerated on the Alzheimer's ward at "the home" (their words, not mine) right before he died. He was constantly trying to escape. The famous story is the one my Aunt tells of visiting him, driving away in her car only to look in her rear view mirror to see him trying to climb the chain link fence. As you can tell he did climb Mt. Rainier. Maybe he thought he was there again. When he died we really weren't all that sad. He was very old, a bit cranky and didn't really know who we all were. it was time.

Unfortunately now I think it may be her time. She will be 100 at the end of January. Already the planning for the big celebration is starting. The emails, the "who's house are you staying in" etc. I however don't want to go. I'm sure this will make me the (again) black sheep of the family. The thing is that she has stopped eating and drinking and says she wants to go....I respect that. Her eyes don't work, she has no appetite, she can't sleep, can't hear and worst can't paint anymore, the thing she loves.

My Aunt has apparently had a conversation with her about what will happen if she continues on this path and my mom is pissed. She doesn't want my Aunt to talk to her about this, says it's like "assisted suicide" and is gunning for a fight with her sister. I agree with her but I think maybe her mother has found comfort in the fact that someone will talk with her about this. I think she should leave it alone. Her sister has spent the last ten years caring for their mother giving my mother the opportunity to live the life she does unfettered by her mother. Personally I think her sister should inherit all and after their mother dies be free to live her life knowing she did the right thing. I told my mom this and she disagrees.

So I don't want to go to a "party" with familial in fighting and an old sick woman who may or may not remember me. I did it with my father's mother and I hate that memory. I would prefer to think of her as she is in those photos young and beautiful.....but Ohhhhhh will I be in trouble:)

The Buster Cube

This is hands down my favorite dog toy. Actually it really isn't a toy it's more a puzzle. Since Lola was a very small puppy she has been eating her meals out of her buster cube. We had to take a short break when we lived with Hank

This is Hank. Actually he isn't this bad, it mainly amuses me to put up this picture. I LOVE moment in time pictures. Those pictures that happen by accident. Anyway Hank id some resource guarding over his food so I had to put the cube away.

So Lola ate all her meals out of the Buster Cube and loved it as you can tell by the video. I highly recommend these to all my clients. I believe it helps with boredom and makes mealtime more interesting. See dogs eat unnaturally with us. Animals hunt down, stalk, run down and then kill their prey. We just hand them a bowl and tell them to have at it. These toys stimulate and entertain them in a way a bowl of food cannot.

So it's called a Buster Cube and you fill it up with their kibble. At first when they roll it the food comes out very quickly but then it takes more rolls to get the food to come out. The only issue I have with the cube is that it can be very noisy. I would wake up many nights to hear it clunking around the house. Apparently there is something called a "Tricky Treat" ball that has soft sides but I have not tried it yet.

So to help entertain your dog get a Buster Cube:)

A Day in the Life

Okay starting from 7:30 in the morning up til 2:00 here are all my dogs. The first one (above the title) is on my street before leaving for work.

The famous Puggles and Louie:)

I was speaking their owner in this one. Realize now I talk baby to dogs. (note to self....stop that immediately)

Nora and Tango. Tango is a JRT who just came back from California after a long absence. He was sent there after almost killing two neighbor dogs. The neighbors yell at me for walking him. I can't quite make them understand that he isn't my dog and if they have any beefs they should take it up with the owners

This is Parker, he lives on Cougar Mountain. Up there I have encountered a Bear, Deer, Coyotes, Raccoons and even saw a Cougar print. I figure if one ever comes at me the dog will hopefully keep it busy while I run:)

This is Gizmo. He is 15 years old with no teeth, is deaf, partially blind, incontinent, has congestive heart failure, kidney problems and a fistula going from his nose to his mouth. He sometimes bites me if I startle him awake. His owner got him from one of her AIDS hospice patients who could no longer care for him. I charge much less than for all others because I think they are doing a great thing for caring for him in his old age.

That's a day in the life of dog walking. I do a lot of training (this is only in the morning) but those clients are temporary and I don't feel comfortable recording them. This is what I do. Lots of dogs huh? I wouldn't trade it for anything;0

Hmmm all you guys ae comfortable speaking on camera me not so much :)

My first video. I got my Mino Ultra today:) So I have not quite figured it out yet...hence the lame little video but I will so watch out!

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

I found a repeat of this on Bravo, my favorite network. I love this show! Actually I love all makeover shows or shows that have makeovers in them, always have. Extreme Makeover where the ugly ducklings become beautiful swans...even "The Swan" where they get all gussied up and then compete in a beauty pageant. The Biggest Loser I could go on and on. Something about seeing the joy in those people eyes when they see their new faces and bodies chokes me up.

I will admit it's kind of a guilty pleasure because I'm pretty sure none of it is a good idea. It just reinforces the idea that a persons value is solely wrapped up in their looks. I find myself falling into that belief myself. The funny part is I only have really high physical standards for myself, ones that I am constantly reaching for and falling short. I really don't care what those around me look like...I probably wouldn't notice.

You know how people say people notice everything...shoes, hair, clothes, figure? Well I don't. Sure I would notice extremes...very fat, very thin...manolos vs keds but all the in between I just don't notice. Mark talks of gaining weight and I'm like huh? Mark is just Mark and ten pounds wouldn't change that for me. Yet I worry that my ten pounds will change it for him.

So I'm not sure that these kind of shows I love are good for us. Physical perfection is a pretty lofty goal and pretty much unattainable. I can recognize this at my ripe old age but can everyone?

Remodeling

I need to crank about this whole remodeling process. See I can't crank to Mark because he seems to think I'm complaining and feels the need to remind me how hard he's working and how great it will be. I know all this and I think everyday how lucky I am to live here with him. Plus I know how absolutely fabulous this house is going to be when it's all done. I am a lucky lucky girl. I wouldn't change a thing.....well....except I'd make the house done...NOW!

I've never lived in a house while it was being remodeled and really didn't realize how big pain it is. I kind of feel disorganized and messy all the time. Those that know me well will say I am hyper clean and organized and they can't believe I'm living like this. Since January I haven't really had all my stuff in one place. Some is in storage, I had some in a crappy apartment I lived in for 5 months...well my stuff lived there I never did. Some was at a friends house and some is here. So finding anything is difficult...ok impossible. I used to have office space for my business but now I have a laptop on the coffee table, a filing cabinet on the porch and a printer that is constantly in different place.

I don't have a closet my clothes are either in storage or crammed in one dresser, ONE! I'm a girl for cripes sake. The bathroom has no walls and no storage. My kitchen has no counter space and four refrigerators (don't ask). You have to manually turn the gas on and off at the source when you cook.

There are only three vents in the house that work so in one room you freeze your butt off and the other rooms you sweat. I'm kind of surprised it doesn't rain between the two rooms. The dining room table is in the bedroom along with the chairs. Plastic is our doorways to the outside and it's getting cold. Oh and none of the lights work so now that it's getting dark early you have to take a flashlight to maneuver between rooms. As well as the wall outlets, extension cords are my friends.

Ok that did sound like complaining I guess. But can't I know that it will be great, appreciate the work he does (I SO do) but stil not like the slightly disjointed feeling this gives me? I want light and heat and a bedroom without a table....sigh.

Vacation

So instead of Kilimanjero we've decided on a new vacation!! God I'm thrilled. We are flying into Milan spending a day or two there. Renting a car and driving to Lake Como. Then driving down the coast hitting Monaco, Nice and ending up in Barcelona. So has anyone been to any of these places and do you have any hotel advice? I used Frommer's almost exclusively for our trip to Peru and our transportation and hotels turned out perfectly. We like clean but we aren't resort type people. It can be Motel 6 in Europe, that's fine. Help!

A Good Day

We had a good day today. I managed to talk Mark into taking the day away from the house and we drove to Roslyn for lunch. Toured the Suncadia resort...$900,000 for 1088 sq feet? Then drove the forest service roads to Stampede pass. When you get to the top the mountains are covered with power lines that snap and crackle. Here is Mark at the top. Hope your weekend was as good!

The Election

To my blogging friends,

I guess the reason I defended the position that her picture is unretouched is because I'm becoming conscious of the enemy is always wrong mindset. You see I've always had a problem with that concept. Mostly when it came to religion...why is "our"religion the right one? Or even war...doesn't the other side think they are as "right" as we do? Isn't their cause as important to them as it is to us? In times like this I become hyper aware of this and try not to dismiss the other parties concerns because I don't like them. Maybe they have a point. It isn't completely out of the realm of possiblity is it? I do think Newsweek made Obama look slightly Christ-like with the glowy head thing. Personaly I think Palin's picture is fine but I do think that if the standard is to retouch extreme close-ups (especially of women, let's face it there is a different standard...we aren't allowed to have pores or hair. ) and they didn't then maybe they do have a liberal bent.

Not that there is anything wrong with that... I have a liberal bent. And for the record I do not like her or McCain, will not be voting for them but I think they sometimes they may be right.

I realized I left out Aknot our Himalayan. Here he is with his weekly catnip dose :)

The Media



I have several blogger friends who are members of the media and we frequently disagree. Not in a bad way (I think) I just don't feel the same way they do on certain things. One of them recently posted on how he disliked the "blame the media" mentality and I said I disagreed. But maybe that isn't the right way to put it. There are some things I don't like about the media and in the interest of not taking up their comment space here they are....



The rush to judgement regarding people who are accused of committing crimes. Maybe calling Nancy Grace media is pushing it, maybe she is entertainment, but I find myself really shocked and offended by her show and viewpoint. It isn't just her but she is the example I will use. If there is a crime committed she decides her opinion, tells the whole world and will not listen to anyone. I wonder how these people can ever get fair trial with all the media coverage. How can they get an impartial jury? These pundits can make it seem as though there is no argument and they know the truth. Oh and this 4 month long Caylee Anthony thing?? Please why does this inflammatory woman still have a job?

The omission of huge stories because they aren't sexy enough. Cable news spends a huge amount of time reporting on whether or not Britney is wearing underwear and largely ignores Darfur. That's criminal. We switched to BBC news in the morning just to feel informed about global happenings. None of the American stations made us feel that way.

I have been arguing ad nauseum with a friend about how I believe the media makes mountains out of molehills. We watched a story about all the nooses being left on campuses around the country and the anchor called it "horrific". The next day the same anchor was reporting on a murder and called it "unfortunate" What? Now I agree lynchings are horrific. Hate crimes are horrific. Slavery was horrific but a noose left by a 17 year old drunk college student is NOT horrific it is something that should not be given that level of attention. Attention is what that idiot wanted and he got it. So did the three other idiots who left nooses following him/her. Report the big stuff.

The lumping together of all evils. Calling a slip of the tongue racism . Or labeling a stereotype racism. I think racism is a horrible thing. I also interpret it as trying to harm or hold a group of people down for their differences. I don't put telling a mildly offensive joke in that category. Again the action does not deserve the slightly hysterical reaction. I train dogs. I tell people that while dogs like positive attention if they can't get it they will settle for negative attention. That the best way to make an offensive behavior go away is to ignore it. Now if the behavior is dangerous or destructive of course you should address that but the small stuff? Let it go extinct. Don't let it be self rewarding. The best action is no reaction. It's no fun to jump on a person who isn't reacting. Sometimes I think that people in your line of work have to be so careful with their words that it reaches ridiculous levels.

That's my opinion guys...Go! Get me :) I still like you

This is hands down my favorite Lola picture :)

This happened to me when Lola was a tiny puppy. She weighed about four pounds and I had a regular human sized baby gate up in my bedroom doorway. I was down the hall in the laundry room when suddenly she appeared next to me wagging her tiny tail. I never quite figured out how she did it but I can see by this video it can be done:)

Newton

This is Newton. He is a HUGE Persain cat. I'm not entirely sure how much he weighs but he is a weighty cat.

Here he is next to Lola who weighs about 20 pounds. They look the same don't they? Newton is my companion for the evening. Mark had a bad day at work and came home frazzled. I am learning that he is a man :) I've never lived with a man before, swore I wouldn't do it but here I am. I've learned with this man he sometimes needs to leave and have me not follow. As a woman I want to talk it all out...he doesn't he wants to retreat sometimes.

So Newton is my couch partner tonight. I'm learning about cats too. Who knew a cat could have room clearing gas? Hmmmm learning a lot tonight....yup. Boys, cats and gas....yup. Good times

while my ukelele gently weeps

My second favorite you tube video

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008)

MY favorite video on you tube. Be sure to check out his website too www.wherethehellismatt.com He is from Seattle enjoy

I LOVE Sara silverman!



http://thegreatschlep.com/site/index.html

Ok so here is a game for everyone. So ask your significant other what one food they would take to a desert island and post your response too. I'm wondering how compatible we would all be. Mark said bread I said cheese, good match I'd say :)

Excuse me while I throw up in my mouth a little

Peta has suggested to Ben and Jerry's that they use human breast milk in their products to lessen pain and suffering of cows and their babies. Read on...

http://www.wjactv.com/foodnews/17539627/detail.html

Okay call me crazy but the thought of drinking another humans bodily fluid makes me gag. I don't like milk either but Puhleeze!

Why I Don't Want to Vote

I don't particularly want to vote this year. I guess I've felt this way for the past couple elections. See the thing is that I am an Agnostic. I think mostly I am an Atheist but since I cannot prove or disprove the existence of God I choose to identify myself as Agnostic.

I usually am reluctant to identify myself as such because when I read some of the rhetoric from Atheists it comes off as condescending and arrogant. "You silly little people believing in God. How dumb are you?" is usually the vibe, that's not me. The whole Flying Spaghetti Monster thing. It belittles those who choose to believe, which is not my thing. Yes, if I were to be honest and get in conversation about it I find the whole religion church thing rather ridiculous. I think the concept of believing in the Bible strange. I wonder sometimes if 2000 years from now someone will pick up Harry Potter and believe that cast of characters is divine too.

At any rate I don't "Believe" but really I don't have any problem with those that do as long as they don't try to convince me I should believe. I will do the same for you. If you want to debate it we all know I love a good debate but you won't change my mind. I grew up with a Pastor for a Father and from the youngest age I can remember none of it rang true to me. I was told that "our" religion was the "true" one and that sooner or later all would come to realize that....

Really?

Well what about a tribe in the deepest part of Africa? Will they suddenly realize that Melissa in Bellevue Washington knows the "Truth"? I doubt it. Well we are right and everyone else is wrong...

Really?

See I don't "believe" that. So back to my original point. The last few years I haven't wanted to vote and here is why...religion has become too involved in our politicians agenda. They all have "religious advisors" and talk about "God's Will" and frankly it creeps me out. I want the leader of my country to make decisions based on facts and logic not belief and faith.

But hey that's just me.......

I met Mark on Match.com but before I did I blogged about the experience for a few interested friends. I may delete the blog but here is the link. Oh and Mark is Harry Potter :) There are only 9 and should be read in order


http://poorlittlematchgirl.blogspot.com/

Our Night Out

You know your social life has gone down the toilet when 2 hours out for dinner is the highlight of your week, no offense to our charming dinner companions,. We went to dinner with Travis and Curtis tonight and had a wonderful time. Although I was promised Drag Queens and lots of "Fancy Lads" and saw none, so THAT was a big disappointment :)

I kind of felt like they were us in a parallel universe...or we were them...whatever that type of talk makes my head spin. See they felt to me to have a similar dynamic to Mark and I. Strong, silent technical type with more outgoing creative type. It was fun to see that dynamic played out in gay younger form.

However, we were driving home and Mark said "Do you think they see us as peers or as an older couple?" I said "Well I didn't feel any generation Gap" and he said "Me neither but do you think they did?"

Oh Horrors! Are we the older couple?

Breed Bans

There is a group in the area who is once again trying to ban Pitt Bulls.
I agree that breed's should not be painted with a broad brush but.... most stereotypes have some basis in fact.

These dogs have been adopted by a certain type of people in certain areas of the country. Some cities have to automatically euthanize because the breeding lines have become so contaminated with lines of dogs bred for ill tempers, large heads and musculature rather than healthy good tempered dogs.

They are not a "beginning" dog. They take a experienced owner to handle them. You can probably adopt a Lab do little training and pay little attention to the dog and get away with it. Not true of a Pitt, they require training and attention. Not a good candidate for a dog who spends most of his time outside alone.

They have a high prey drive. Which means little things that move fast and squeak could be in danger. This describes a lot of things that may be in that dogs household...small dogs, cats, rabbits, and yes children. They need supervision and again training.

So while I agree that painting with a broad brush isn't fair to the dog the alarm regarding Pitt Bulls isn't totally unwarranted. However I would say there are several breeds who also require a lot more time attention... Standard Poodles, Cattle Dogs, Chihuahuas, Shiba Inus just to name a few. Read up on a breed before you adopt and be sure what you want is what you should have. Remember any dog can bite given the right circumstances. The picture above was done by a 30 pound deaf dog and trust me it hurt