Friends

Greg just sent me this video.  I thought I'd share it with you all because you just can't watch it without saying "Awww."

This is All I Have to Say About This Week

I Wanna Wear Pants

I've been complaining about how tired I am of all the political ads and campaigning and media coverage this whole election.  Until a friend posted the video below, I never once thought about voting being a right that women have had for less than 100 years.  I didn't think about what it took for women to get the right to vote.  I wouldn't have been able to vote in my state until March 22, 1920.  I'm rather ashamed that I didn't think about this. 

I did a little research and found some interesting and surprising information:

*the constitutional amendment  (the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution) was first introduced to the Senate in 1878
*that amendment was drafted by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton
* in 1915 a proposal to amend the Constition to provide for women's suffrage was brought before the House of Representatives and was defeated by a vote of 204 to 174.
*the issue came up again in 1918 in the House and was passed with ONE vote to spare but failed in the Senate by only two votes.
*in 1919 it was again voted upon and failed by one vote.
*Can you believe that the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution was not passed until 1920?


Thank you to all the women before me that fought to give women the right to vote.  I can't imagine what you all went through and the hardships and scorn you faced.  I promise to remember this in the future!

Quit with the Christmas Stuff!

Simon's Cat Box Guide

The Verdict

Well, the verdict is in.  Throwing my computer down the stairs apparently creates too much damage to be repaired.  My IT guy pulled the life support plug and removed the hard drive and memory and is recycling the rest.

RIP Dell computer. 

Now I have to research getting a new computer and deciding if I want a desktop, laptop or just an iPad.  Poo.

Goodbye Kitties

Sigh.  The Seven Kittens webcam is going away this weekend.  All the kitties are adopted and ready to go to their new home.  What a great success story.  One of the fans put together this great story about them.

I'm going to miss their sweet little kitten antics.  Somehow it was so soothing to check in with them throughout the day and watch them playing or more often, sleeping.

Good luck in your new homes, kitties!  I'm going to miss watching you guys.

The Damage

So here are some pictures of the damage from the fall down the stairs.

 This is the computer on/off switch.

 The pieces I found the computer in and was able to pick up. (I'm saving this one to show to all other computers that give me grief. )

 The goudge in the wall from going down the stairs.

The goudge in the vinyl flooring from going down the stairs.  I'm assuming it hit here first and then hit the wall.

Nice, huh?  My IT guy hasn't had a chance to look at it yet to see if it is fixable. 

5 Things I'd Tell the Teen Me

1.  Go to college.  It doesn't matter that you don't know what you want to do and are being all practical and not wasting money going without a goal in mind.  Just GO!  It will be a lot harder to get your degree when you have a car payment and a house payment and a 40-hour per week job.  And go out of state.  Get the full living on campus experience.

2.  Don't wait for the perfect guy and the perfect "spark."  There are some great guys out there that like you.  Try them out.  You may be surprised. You don't have to marry them.  And that romance novel stuff?  I haven't seen much of it yet, so take it with a grain of salt.

3.  Start an exercise regime now.  Good habits go a long way!  I know you hate to sweat, but you'll hate it a lot more when you are 42 and facing the daunting task of losing 140 pounds.

4. Major forks in the road of life do not come with a road sign.  You will be presented with choices that will change the path of your life and won't recognize that fact until years later. 

5. If you volunteer for stuff early on you get to pick the job you like (or hate the least).  If you wait, you'll get stuck with the sucky jobs.

To quote Brad Paisley, these are nowhere near the best years of your life.

Oh! This is Where I Went Wrong!

This is an excerpt from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.


How To Fly

© by Douglas Adams

There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. Pick a nice day, [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy] suggests, and try it.

The first part is easy. All it requires is simply the ability to throw yourself forward with all your weight, and the willingness not to mind that it's going to hurt.

That is, it's going to hurt if you fail to miss the ground. Most people fail to miss the ground, and if they are really trying properly, the likelihood is that they will fail to miss it fairly hard.

Clearly, it is the second part, the missing, which presents the difficulties.

One problem is that you have to miss the ground accidentally. It's no good deliberately intending to miss the ground because you won't. You have to have your attention suddenly distracted by something else when you're halfway there, so that you are no longer thinking about falling, or about the ground, or about how much it's going to hurt if you fail to miss it.

It is notoriously difficult to prize your attention away from these three things during the split second you have at your disposal. Hence most people's failure, and their eventual disillusionment with this exhilarating and spectacular sport.

If, however, you are lucky enough to have your attention momentarily distracted at the crucial moment by, say, a gorgeous pair of legs (tentacles, pseudopodia, according to phyllum and/or personal inclination) or a bomb going off in your vicinty, or by suddenly spotting an extremely rare species of beetle crawling along a nearby twig, then in your astonishment you will miss the ground completely and remain bobbing just a few inches above it in what might seem to be a slightly foolish manner.

This is a moment for superb and delicate concentration. Bob and float, float and bob. Ignore all consideration of your own weight simply let yourself waft higher. Do not listen to what anybody says to you at this point because they are unlikely to say anything helpful. They are most likely to say something along the lines of "Good God, you can't possibly be flying!" It is vitally important not to believe them or they will suddenly be right.

Waft higher and higher. Try a few swoops, gentle ones at first, then drift above the treetops breathing regularly.

DO NOT WAVE AT ANYBODY.

When you have done this a few times you will find the moment of distraction rapidly easier and easier to achieve.

You will then learn all sorts of things about how to control your flight, your speed, your maneuverability, and the trick usually lies in not thinking too hard about whatever you want to do, but just allowing it to happen as if it were going to anyway.
You will also learn about how to land properly, which is something you will almost certainly screw up, and screw up badly, on your first attempt.

There are private clubs you can join which help you achieve the all-important moment of distraction. They hire people with surprising bodies or opinions to leap out from behind bushes and exhibit and/or explain them at the critical moments. Few genuine hitchhikers will be able to afford to join these clubs, but some may be able to get temporary employment at them.

I've Got a Case of the Monday's

Sometimes you do use information you learned in high school that you never thought you would use. I didn’t take physics, focusing more on biology, but I proved one law this morning. Well, several actually.
1. I can’t fly.

2. Gravity is real. Respect it.

3. My computer can’t fly.

4. I need to keep up on the dust bunnies on my stairs better.

5. It is a really good thing we didn’t use laminate flooring on the steps.
Yes, I took a spill down my stairs this morning. While carrying my desktop computer to work for one of our IT guys to repair it. I missed a step on the first flight and before I knew it I was face down on the landing and my computer was at the bottom of the stairs in pieces. I’m okay; just sore and bruised. We aren’t sure about the computer. IT Guru Don is going to see if he can do anything to revive it. Since it wasn’t coming on already (the reason I was carrying it in the first place), it may now be a lost cause.  It now has many small loose pieces that once were attached, but I don't know how important they all might be.

I also managed to put a gouge in the flooring at the bottom of the stairs and a good sized chip in the wall. So now I can add fixing that to my to-do list.

Don’t you love Mondays?

Guest Blogger - Got the Trailer!

I stole this off of Greg's post on the Montana Owner's Forum:

Well, we finally have our new trailer. Went up last Saturday night, started our PDI on Sunday and finished it on Monday. They started the punch list Monday and worked on it until Wednesday. We stayed in it Monday and Tuesday nights on the lot. We headed home Wednesday and decided to stop in Lacey and overnighted at Cabela's and just got home yesterday afternoon. If it tells you anything about how tired we were, we didn't get ANYTHING at Cabela's - how sad is that? Generator was very nice to have to do a couple quick breakfasts using the microwave :)


PDI went pretty well. I will post a list later to give you some ideas of what to look for.

The unit looks great and after the first couple nights of having to vacate it so they could work on it, finally feels like it is ours.

First time ever towing a fifth wheel, and first time with the new diesel... WOW is all I can say. The truck was hardly working at all to tow the Montana. I could go 65ish and it was barely doing 1600 rpms - that was nice. Could accelerate uphill with ease. Even had to pass a few semis going up hill and the pickup just cruised up the hills with little effort. Anyone even REMOTELY debating getting a diesel - DO IT!

Kris and I wanted to give a big thank you again to everyone who has helped us out on here. Just reading and listening gave us so much information to use on the walkthrough and made it seem so easy as we had heard a lot of it already here on the forum. Just little things even, like we couldn't get hot water with the electric side of the water heater. Thought hey, they've talked about that on the forum. Go out and see if the switch is on at the water heater - voila, switch was off and we felt smug as we "fixed" our first "problem" with the trailer :)

Will post more later as we get acquainted with the unit, but so far it seems to be in good shape!

New Addiction

This is the cutest thing on earth.  But be careful!  It is very addicting.  Don't you just want to pick them up and snorgle them?

A Nice Surprise

Look what my hubby got me:

A cool set of Harry Potter world coins:

A very cool set of bookmarks with all of the Hogwarts house shields:

And he did it all on his own for no reason other than he thought I would like them.  Isn't that sweet?



Another Delay

Huh.  Looking back it seems I haven't kept my blog audience up to date on the trailer saga.  I guess I've been too busy whining to everyone in person to write it all down.

So, remember back in March when our brand new fifth wheel trailer was stolen off the dealer's lot?  Well, we are still waiting for the new one. There has been one delay/screw up after another on this thing.  When Camping World of Burlington reordered the trailer, we requested that we get upgraded tires.  The manager didn't put it on the order, and after 6 plus emails from Greg asking about them, finally said it would be handled at the dealer level when the trailer came in.

So the new trailer came in about a month ago.  They had to do the usual stuff to it like clean it up and get it all ready for us.  And they had to add in the 12-volt receptors we ordered for the bedroom (in case we dry camp we can use our cpap), put on the vents, and install the inverter.  Oh, and deal with the tires.

So we've been waiting for a month now for them to get the tires.  We were ready to go up last weekend and pick it up and they ordered and put on the wrong tires.  They were some South Korean brand that we've never heard of.  Ummm, not what we wanted people!  How hard can it be? Five Michelin G614's.

They were whining about how they couldn't find these tires available ANYWHERE.  Greg made one phone call to the company that supplies the tires and wheels to Keystone (the manufacturer of the trailer) and they had 85 of 'em in stock and were happy to sell them to Camping World.

MAYBE this weekend we'll get the trailer, but I'm not holding my breath.

So far they are really screwing up my summer.

Everyone Needs Some of These

Tongue Tied

Reindeer

I want a pattern to make these for Carmen.  Aren't they cute?

I can't seem to find a pattern, though.  Help!

Update

Still no trailer. 

I am not happy.

Sometimes Jokes Hit Too Close To Home

Hellllloooo?

I'm sure no one is reading my blog these days.  I'm going to start posting life-changing stuff on here just to see who is paying attention.

So there.

Our New Trailer

Our new trailer finally came in!  What do you think?  Don't miss the porch swing!  We had to pay extra for that little baby.

(Ya'll know I'm not serious, right?)

I'd Go Again

I didn't realize it, but the King Tut exhibit is in Seattle right now.  I think I should go see it again, don't you?

And, because it's a great opportunity to include one of my favorite songs, I give you King Tut.

Romance, Romance?

Isaac Lamb and Amy Frankel are two of my favorite local actors.  I've seen them both in wonderful plays and musicals at both Lakewood Theater and Broadway Rose Theater.

This is the most over the top marriage proposal I've ever seen.  Apparently when you have worked with some of the best in the Portland theater arena you can get good quality help in your proposal! (BTW, neither of them was in the Romance, Romance production I saw!)

Don't Panic and Carry a Towel

Happy Towel Day, everyone!  Do you know where your towel is?



I found these totally cool People Towels.  I'm using one as my "dress towel" today.  It's not as massively useful as, say, a full size towel, but it gets the job done with a minimum of fuss.

I'm off to find something that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.

Don't Panic!


I like this guy, too.

And We Have the Nerve to Call it the "Standard System"

Happiness Is New Sunglasses

As I've mentioned previously in this blog, I love Serengeti sunglasses.  They have a lense that is specifically made for driving that cuts the glare and usually aren't too dark when you are going in and out of sunlight (trees).  The thing is they are expensive.  And I tend to be hard on my sunglasses since I use them so often.  I'm always scratching them or breaking them.

So the last couple of times I've gotten new sunglasses I've gotten either dollar store sunglasses or the less expensive Kirkland (Costco) brand.  They have been okay.  Well, no, they've been awful, but I've made myself think they were okay.  There is a big difference between a pair of sunglasses you wear when you are on vacation and the kind you wear when driving.

Finally, I got tired of pretending I liked the other ones and went and bought myself some new Serengeti's.  I couldn't find the exact kind on line (must be an old style or something), but they look mostly like this:

Of course I went to Costco.  I can choose from the 6 types they have there without my head exploding.  They were stupidly expensive but I've been wildly happy being able to see again while driving.  I think I've bordered on annoying in my joy.  Happily, the sunglasses are slightly less stupidly expensive at Costco then they are at a sunglasses store, so I can be happy I can see AND I saved money.  How's that for a win-win?

Yeah, it's stretching things.  Give me a break.  I found something to be happy about!

Huh

Apparently if you publish draft blog posts they default to the date that you published it, not to the date you actually wrote it (or started writing it).

Whoops.

Sorry folks.  There is some old info that just appeared in the May 2012 section of my blog that are really old.  Got to watch those "publish all?" questions.

Taking Tests

I love personality tests. It's fascinating to me to learn that different people think, communicate, and learn differently. For example, according to Myers Briggs, I am an ISTJ which means I tend towards:

I – Introversion preferred to extroversion: ISTJs tend to be quiet and reserved. They generally prefer interacting with a few close friends rather than a wide circle of acquaintances, and they expend energy in social situations (whereas extroverts gain energy).
S – Sensing preferred to intuition: ISTJs tend to be more concrete than abstract. They focus their attention on the details rather than the big picture, and on immediate realities rather than future possibilities.
T – Thinking preferred to feeling: ISTJs tend to value objective criteria above personal preference. When making decisions, they generally give more weight to logic than to social considerations.
J – Judgment preferred to perception: ISTJs tend to plan their activities and make decisions early. They derive a sense of control through predictability.

Greg is an ENTP.
E – Extroversion preferred to introversion: ENTPs gain energy through interactions with people or objects in the outside world. They tend to enjoy having a wide circle of acquaintances.
N – Intuition preferred to sensing: ENTPs tend to be more abstract than concrete. They focus their attention on the big picture rather than the details, and on future possibilities rather than immediate realities.
T – Thinking preferred to feeling: ENTPs tend to value objective criteria above personal preference. When making decisions, they generally give more weight to logic than to social considerations.
P – Perception preferred to judgment: ENTPs tend to withhold judgment and delay important decisions, preferring to "keep their options open" should circumstances change.

We are just a little different.  Once we figured out that our personalities put us at opposite ends of the scale on stuff it was so much easier.  For example, Greg will say something like, "I want to live in our fifth wheel full time."  To him he's seeing us out driving from campground to campground visiting America and living the life.  To me I immediately go to the details, which, in this case, just about cause my head to explode because there are so many details required to make his vision a reality.

At my IAAP meeting last night we had someone come in and talk to us about Strengths Finder, which is another test that rates the characteristics that you come hardwired with.  The general idea is if you spend more time cultivating the things you are naturally good at instead of trying to change the ones you aren't good at your life will be happier. It was totally fascinating. It took the test and it told me:

My Top 5 Strengths
1 Harmony
2 Adaptability
3 Input
4 Consistency
5 Responsibility
Yep. That's me. To a T!

So I went and did a Big Five test. What do you think? Is it me? I'm a O5-C30-E37-A90-N14 Big Five!!

Sometimes There Is Good News In the News

OMG!  This is so cute!

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - A family of ducks brought the busy evening commute through downtown Portland to a halt Monday evening. A video taken by Dustin Brown shows a group of people herding a mother duck and ten ducklings down Southwest Taylor Street toward the Willamette River. WATCH: Raw video of duck rescue | FOX 12 report "I've commuted through here 30 years into or through downtown Portland and I've never seen that before," said Brown. Brown first spotted the group at Southwest Taylor and Sixth Avenue as they tried to get the ducks out from underneath a van. "First I just videoed them crossing the road and thought I would get home on time," said Brown. "And I yelled, ‘You're my heroes.' But then I decided to join in and help." Brown's video shows the group walking alongside the ducks, with two men leading them. Some people use their bicycles to block the ducks from entering traffic. They cross several streets, including Naito Parkway. Once they reach Waterfront Park, the ducks become bolder and eventually get into the water. "Well, I think we have an affinity for that but especially a mama and her babies," said Brown. "There's 10 babies there. And they all made it too." Copyright KPTV 2012 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.

What Really Happened

Cars

I hate it when cars have problems. I totally take it for granted when they work and all I have to do is put in gas, change the oil, and rotate the tires. When they have to go into the shop to be worked on, my life turns upside down.

Take yesterday, for instance. My car was missing and acting like there was a spark plug problem (I only know this because I've had sparkplug trouble before). So I took it to our mechanic. The mechannic we (used) to use is over in Hazel DellTo do this, I had to go into work late, rent a car, and pay for having the stupid thing fixed. It was a giant pain in the ass.

Then I had to gas up the rental car, return it, get a ride over to the mechanic's, wait around to pay for it only to get in the car and HAVE THE PROBLEM NOT FIXED! Yes, that's right. It was exactly the same as when I took it in. Still missing and shuddering and not working. Let me tell you, I was steamed. I think the air might still be blue over there in Hazel Dell from all my swearing.

Spring Flinger 2011: Maytown Mayhem!

I had a wonderful weekend letterboxing. Found 37 boxes, got 5 smashed pennies

Some Letterboxing Fun

Last weekend was the fifth annual Spring Flinger letterboxing gathering. It was so much fun! I got an all expense paid weekend of letterboxing with my best friends and made some great new friends, too. Okay, it wasn't really all expenses paid, it just seemed like it because I was a doof and left my purse at home. Can you belive it?

It's That Time of Year Again!

Yes, the time of year where I get totally annoyed at the commercialism of Christmas. I'm actually a little late with the annual rant this year. Usually I see Christmas stuff out before Halloween and I just can't hold it in any longer.

I read this article with a lot of interest today. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4046188/A-new-years-resolution-Could-we-be-a-little-more-polite-please.html



What I found even more interesting were the comments included at the end of the article.





2008 Wrap Up



2008 was a really sucky year for a lot of people. So many people I know were affected by the death of family and friends, money troubles, and other hardships. I really have high hopes for 2009 being a better year.



So here is the wrap up of how I saw 2008:



January

A tornado touches down in Vancouver.

Greg turns 44.

I turn 38.

I discover the Knifty Knitter.



February

I make a bunch of hats with my Knifty Knitter.

Carmen turns 6.



March

I boycott pop and make it 42 days without a drop.

Sir Percival Blakeny comes to live at my desk in Gresham.

Julie & I go see The Full Monty.

Leah & I go see Steven Sondheim speak.



April

The Big Flood.

Snow on April 19.

Budget Committee meetings keep me busy.



May

Greg has a pilonidal cyst removed.

Greg & I celebrate our 9th (official) anniversary.

My Auntie Charlene dies. I go to Florida for the funeral.

Sophie turns 8.

My promotion at work becomes official.

I am voted employee of the month.



June

The fathers of 2 of Greg’s best and oldest friends die. Two more funerals to go to.

Big Brown blew the Triple Crown.

Julie, Leah I see Avenue Q and Les Mis in one weekend (Julie even saw Phantom that month).

Zinger turns 1.



July

My grandma dies. Yet another funeral.



August

Baby elephant born at the Oregon Zoo.

I spend 3 wonderful days down at the beach with my letterboxing girlfriends. It is Marm-vana!



September

I pass my 5 year letterboxing anniversary.

I spend 3 wonderful days glutting myself in letterboxing bliss at the We Live & Breathe Letterboxing - A Decade of Obsession Letterboxing Gathering.



October

I do a major shopping blitz.

Endoscopy #1.

Cleo turns 6.



November

Jassmine and Patches stay with us while Mom & Dad are with Roger & Loraine for Thanksgiving.

Endoscopy #2 and a coloscopy.

Sophie gets her teeth cleaned.



December

Artic Blast



I’m just glad 2008 is over. Here’s hoping 2009 will be divine! (I have got to quit coming up with these obnoxious little sayings!)



Okay, so here is the round up on my resolutions from 2008:



1. Read 125 books

Didn't quite make this one. I ended up with 114.

Favorite book of the year? I had several this year. I loved Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I also read the Ungodly by Richard Rhodes which was a fictionalized story about the Donner Party. I really enjoyed the Hollows series by Kim Harrison. In fact, I read a lot of paranormal books this year. I seemed to be on quite a vampire/werebeast/witch/fairy kick this year.

2. Listen to 100 audio books

Didn't quite make this one either. I ended up with 81.

Favorite audio of the year? You Suck by Christopher Moore. This one made me laugh out loud.

3. Find 150 letterboxes

I kicked this one's ass! Okay, most of it was over one wonderful weekend, but still. Huh, when I went to look up how many I found this year, I discovered I haven’t updated my list since June. Oops. I’ll get back to you on this one!

4. Start Flying again!

Uh, no.

5. Finish 2 open craft projects.

Done! I finished several things. A couple of hats, a scarf, and a couple of squares for a joint blanket some gals at work were making.


6. Stop coming to work looking like I rolled out of bed.

Got some new spiffy clothes and shoes and worked hard at actually doing make up and hair.


7. Really, REALLY need to start eating better.

Lost about 15 pounds this year!


8. Finish the damned floors.

Didn't happen.


9. Make the money problems go away.

Didn't happen. I think they got worse.


10. Organize the family room, craft room and office.

Didn't happen. In fact, they got worse.



So for 2009 I'm not making resolutions. Instead I am starting a 101 in 1001 list. More details to come later…like when I finish the list.


Shuffle

I did this a while back, but I thought it fun enough to do again.



RULES:

1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, ETC on Shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.

5. Put this on your journal.





1.If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say?

The Thrill is Gone (Manhattan Transfer)



2.How would you describe yourself?

My Defenses are Down (from Annie Get Your Gun)



3.What do you like in a guy?

Carousel Waltz-Ballet (from Hey Mr. Producer)



4.How do you feel today?

Being Alive (from Company)



5.What is your life's purpose?

Lesson #8 (from Sunday in the Park with George)



6.What is your motto?

Still Under the Weather (Shania Twain)



7.What do your friends think of you?

The Kid Inside (Barry Manilow)



8.What do you think of your parents?

Save Me (Big Country)



9.What do you think about very often?

In the Car (Barenaked Ladies)



10.What is 2 + 2?

I Get a Kick out of You (from Anything Goes)



11.What do you think of your best friend?

Jump (Van Halen)



12.What do you think of the person you like?

Nothing Like You've Ever Known (Sarah Brightman)



13.What is your life story?

Clean the Kit (from The Beautiful Game)



14.What do you want to be when you grow up?

You Take Me Up (Thompson Twins)



15.What do you think of when you see the person you like?

Cherry Bomb (John Mellencamp)



16.What will you dance to at your wedding?

All Star (Smash Mouth)



17.What will they play at your funeral?

Kiss the Girl (from The Little Mermaid)



18.What is your hobby/interest?

Am I Right? (Erasure)



19.What is your biggest fear?

You'll Never Walk Alone (Michael Ball)



20.What is your biggest secret?

Building the Barricade (from Les Mis)



21.What do you think of your friends?

Candlelight Carol (Michael Crawford)

August 2008 Trip to the Beach Part Five: Being There

Hey, I forgot that I had started this post a while back and never finished it.

So here's more of my trip to the beach.

We went into Pacific City and found this cool little garden. All of these sculptures are wind powered. Aren't they cool?



There were these cool fishy stepping stones in the garden.

Shaun the Sheep

My friend Leah sent me a Shaun the Sheep movie to help cheer me up after my very bad day yesterday.  I had never heard of Shaun before yesterday, but after watching one movie I am now a total Shaun the Sheep fan.

What do you think?

Happy Anniversary!

Today is the 20th anniversary of my first date with Greg.  Can you believe that?  20 years sounds like such a long time, doesn't it?  In some ways it seems like it has been a long time and in other ways it seems like it has woooshed by.  I should scan some pictures of us back then and post them, although, that would be pretty depressing.

Yes, we got married on the same day of our first date.  We always used May 8th as our annivesary, so when in 1999 May 8th fell on a Saturday, I took it as a sign.  We never forget this way.  I count the 7 years we were together before we got married, so I always have to double check what year we actually got married.  20 years together, 13 married. 

The only problem with having our anniversary on the 8th is the weekend around it is usually Mother's Day and you just can't blow off Mother's Day for an anniversary.  You just can't.

I Want A Do-Over

I’m not having a good day and need some sympathy.


Got up on time and was cruising to actually make it to work on time (for once). Needed to deposit some checks at the bank and take in my library books on the way. Was feeling good and then….

• The only bra that was clean was the one I totally hate
• Had to play Chase the Kitty for 15 minutes
• Left (finally) thinking I would only be a few minutes late and when I got to McDonald’s for breakfast realized I had left my ATM card and money on the counter.
• Got breakfast (used credit card) and drove back home
• Ran in and grabbed my ATM card
• Noticed a huge pee puddle on the floor by the sofa table and threw a pee pad on it on the way out the door
• Drove to the library to return VERY overdue books
• They had moved the library return bins. Finally repositioned the car and put in all the books
• Drove to bank to deposit checks so we don’t bounce anything
• Spent 5 minutes digging through my bag to find the checks
• While searching for the checks, I ran across the ticket I pre-purchased for the Pet and Companion Fair that I was sure was this weekend coming up. Turns out it was the weekend we just had.
• Also found a library book I had missed returning
• Finally found the checks, drove to the ATM only to find it down for maintenance or some such nonsense
• Drove BACK to the book drop to return other overdue book
• Am now SERIOUSLY considering going home and back to bed
• Decide to go to work anyway
• See a state trooper behind me and figure the way my day is going (and the fact that I was speeding) I was going to get to meet him...but he has his eye on someone else (whew!)
• Stop at ATM by work and deposit checks (hey!  Something went right)
• Get to work and find my boss has come in early and totally caught me being late
• I have 7,000,000 emails to review
• Am just starting to get caught up and feeling better when I....
• Find out my fishy Fiyero has died over the weekend

 Really?

I Want One!

My friend Sarah and I had the following conversation via IM at work on Friday.


Sarah: Happy Friday! So I thought I'd pass along my friend's FB post - she was at Babies R Us yesterday, and there was a woman shopping for clothes for her SLOTH! It (she, I guess) was riding in a stroller in a pink onesie and had a bow on her head. The picture is ADORABLE!

Kris: No way! I can't decide if I should be horrified on the sloth's behalf that it was out in public in a pink onsie with a bow on her head, or delighted that the woman cares enough about her sloth to take it Babies R Us. If I go on your FB page will I be able to see the picture?

Sarah: Not sure - if not, stop by my desk sometime and I'll pull it up on my Kindle.

Kris: Did your friend ask to hold the sloth?

Sarah: No - but she was so excited just to see it!

Kris: That isn't something you see every day. Are sloths allowed to be owned as pets? I can't believe I've never checked into it! Forget another whippet puppy, I'm getting me a sloth!

Sarah: Whippets and sloths...isn't that like tortoises and hares?

Kris: Good point. I just found this info on owning a sloth:

In the US, three toed sloths are extremely rare but you can have them as pets. They're very expensive, some around $5000. They require very specific care and a strict diet. You shouldn't get one unless you have the means to care for it. Most of their day is spent sleeping and they poop once a week. If you wanted a sloth, it's much easier to get them as pets in countries in South America. Panama is known for its people keeping pet sloths.

Kris: Oh wait, I already have one (except for the pooping once a week part). His name is Greg.

Sarah: Can you put him in a onesie and take him shopping?

Kris: Probably, but he'd balk at the bow, I just know it.

Sarah: That mental picture just made my day.
 

Sorry to post this at your expense, sweetie.  It was just too funny not to share.  I ruv ewe!

Are You a Dr. Horrible Fan?

My theater buddy Julie introduced me to Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog. I am totally addicted. Despite a rather silly name, this is a fabulous 2008 musical tragicomedy miniseries in three acts, produced exclusively for Internet distribution. Filmed and set in Los Angeles, the show tells the story of Dr. Horrible (played by Neil Patrick Harris), an aspiring supervillain; Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), his nemesis; and Penny (Felicia Day), their shared love interest. Yeah, I copied that from wikipedia.

Great music, funny lines, and a fun story line give this mini-musical two thumbs up. It's available on Netflix as an instant download. You can probably find it on YouTube as well, as this was originally released on the internet in 3 acts.

I totally recommend this little gem. And thank Julie for introducing me to it! I'm thinking about joining the Evil League of Evil and even managed to find a ring tone from Bad Horse. Wheeee!

A sequel is planned for this summer. Squeee!

The Awwww Factor

Driving home from work last night I saw what appeared from a distance to be a terrible accident, with cars stopped accross three lanes and all cattywumpus. My first thought was unkind, as I was irritated I was going to get stuck in the back up. As I got closer, as I was the lead car in my lane to come across the "accident," I found it was actually all because a mama duck was trying to shepherd her flock of babies across a 4-lane, busy, busy street.

All irritation immediately fled and I said "awwwww" and I was enthralled watching this mama try and get her babies across the street. She was a little confused and probably kind of panicked, as she kept changing her direction. I was amazed at the drivers, as everyone stopped to let them go by safely (although I'm sure the people a few cars back who couldn't see the scene were wondering what the heck was going on). Mama and all the babies made it okay and I went on my way with a smile instead of a frown. I tried to get a picture, but by the time I thought of it, they were already up the curb and down the embankment.

Thinking about it on the way home, I decided that ducklings are a terrific stress reducer. You just can't be cranky when watching ducklings. I think I might just stop at a park on the way home and watch the ducks.

I found this very cute video that I'm sharing in the hopes it will make you see my point and smile.

I like this one too. NOTE: everyone is okay at the end of this video.

Love This Picture!

Update on Carmen

I took Carmen to a veterinary internal medicine specialist for her leaking problem last week. The medication we’ve been giving her is just not doing the job any more, so our regular vet wanted us to get a specialist’s evaluation to see if there is anything else going on besides just a weak bladder sphincter. The vet was nice and seemed very knowledgeable, but didn’t seem to have much of a sense of humor .

He totally freaked me out and had me thinking Carmen was going to die - like tomorrow. He called and left somewhat frantic messages on all 3 of my phone numbers telling me that her white blood cell count was dangerously low and to get her off of her medication immediately because it was suppressing her bone morrow production. When I tried to ask if the blood marrow could recover and what the side effects of that were he told me she could die. So I’m thinking that she’s on her last leg and I’ve killed her all because she pees a little when she sleeps.

Dr. Thompson, our regular vet (who DOES have a sense of humor) does a lot of work with Greyhounds of America and hastened to assure me that having a WBC of 3.8 was perfectly normal for a sight hound, and in fact was a point higher than Carmen’s previous blood work. Apparently dogs have a normal WBC count of 4-15. For sight hounds, the normal is 2-6. Dr. Elliott did not seem to appreciate me informing him of this fact.

For about $3,000 I could have all kinds of tests done and x-rays and ultrasounds and send a camera up her hoo-hoo to see if something else is causing the leaking. Since her blood work and urine culture came back negative, I am going to decline this opportunity to pay off his school loans, and just put a diaper on her at night and wash her beds more often.

Far from being on her last leg from weak blood, she's feeling good and feisty. We had a great walk on the trails at the C.A.S.E.E. center last Saturday.

No More New Years?

Stole this off of someone's Facebook page. But it's pretty darned funny!

Happy Easter

Okay, it's a little late, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter. This picture was on my "Kittens and Friends" calendar, and I just thought it was too cute not to share. I love that the kitten seems to be nibbling on the bunny's ear. The bunny just looks resigned.

The Things You Learn

I'm always fascinated by the history that I learn in reading novels. Of course, you have to take the information with a grain of salt and know that the majority of it is not historically accurate, but it gets me thinking. Then I get my "google fingers" out and start looking stuff up. This week I've spent a lot of time looking at:

* The history of the War of the Roses and subsequent geneology of the kings of England. Mostly from the Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodinville reign (thank you Phillipa Gregory). If you want my completely uneducated opinion, the main problem with that particular war was that everyone had the same freaking name and no one could clearly recall which Edward, Richard, Henry or George was supposed to be in charge. The girl names are just as bad. You can see what I'm talking about in this family tree.

* This research lead me to try and figure out the heirchy of English aristocracy, which in turn lead me to a site that allows one to purchase a royal title. Yes, you can purchase a royal title. It's fascinating to read the web sites of places that sell them. Some have moneyback guarantees (in case it doesn't work out?). Some have an "As Seen on TV!" banner. It's entertaining to say the least. I really liked the one that allowed you to give a royal title as a gift. That's what I want for Christmas this year, please.

*The difference between a trebuchet and a catapult.

*The difference between a pannier and a saddlebag (none as far as I can tell).

I feel so much smarter today because of fiction.

Today's Random Thoughts

1. Why is it funny when a dog burps?

2. People that put bumper stickers and window stickers on their car crooked aren't great spokespersons.

3. Those stick people that you see in people's car windows aren't a score card. They represent the people and pets in the family. Who knew? (yeah, stole that one)

4. When a person loses/divorces a spouse and DOES have those stick people on their car window, they should take the extra step to remove ALL the stick people and not just the one that is gone. You can put new ones up representing the new family dynamic, but you aren't fooling anyone if the mom stick figure is missing in the equation. Especially not when you can tell she's been scratched off in a fit of rage.

5. This year's Towel Day is super special. 5/25/12. Know why? Huh? Huh? Know why? Because 5+25+12=42! (yeah, stole that too. Thanks Sarah!)

6. Putting the little cover on my floor mat when you are fixing my car is nice, but I would rather you put a little cover on my seat if you are going to leave the greasy rag on it.

7. Am I the only one who, after shopping in Walmart and seeing all the bratty kids and bad parenting, wonders which aisle the do-it-yourself home vasectomy kit is on?

Okay, that's all I've got today. I do have a bunch of whining. But I'll do a separate post for that.

How Fast Do You Read?

Source: Staples eReader Department

My result said:
You read 569 words per minute.
That makes you 128% faster than the national average.

I'm above average, people!

Lost: 2012 Montana 5th Wheel

This cracks me up. The Burlington Police Department made up a flyer for our stolen 5th wheel. I know Burlington is a small town, but really, where do they post these flyers? It's not a lost cat! And the pictures they used are really crappy. Just sayin'.

Maybe we should say there is a reward for its safe return.

This Weekend Better Be Better Than The Last One

Spring Flinger 2012 starts tomorrow. This year we will be up at Seaquest State Park. The crazy planners have planted more than 70 boxes for this event! Not that I'm complaining...we all know what a box slut I am.

I'm really disappointed that we won't get to take the trailer to this gathering like we had planned. I'm trying to be a big girl and not snivel about it, but it is hard.

So far we haven't learned anything about our missing trailer. We've gotten a couple of "we are working on it" emails and one phone call from the Burlington police with some follow up questions, but that's it. Nothing has really happened. We're still kind of stunned. I think we are going to talk to a lawyer and see if we can get some guidance on what our rights are and what we should do.

I have a million things to do before I leave tomorrow for Flinger, so I'd better head to bed.

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with the post, but it makes me smile and after this crappy week, I need a smile. We saw these little moose twins this summer in Alaska.

Aren't they cute? Did they make you smile?

How I Feel Today

And One More Thing ....

I totally forgot until a co-worker reminded me this morning...not only did the trailer get stolen and my letterboxing and camping plans for the spring/early summer get blown to bits, but I DIDN'T GET TO GO VOLUNTEER AT THE IDITAROD BECAUSE OF THE F-ING TRAILER! Which was fine when I thought I'd have a trailer to use and all. Now I'm just crabby.

Crappy Weekend

As I've mentioned in previous posts, Greg & I purchased a Montana 2012 3750FL back in January. Our truck order was delayed, so the dealership has been holding the trailer for us. Finally got the truck broke in enough that we could tow with it, so after corresponding with the dealer several times, went to pick up the trailer Saturday afternoon.

Drove the five hours to the dealer (it's in Burlington), with all our stuff in the truck in order to spend our first night in our first Montana. We walked into the sales office and were told they have been trying all morning to get a hold of us. "We don't have your trailer - it's been stolen." We thought maybe it was just a really bad salesperson joke. We both stared at them blankly and said "you're kidding, right? That's not very funny." Nope, not kidding. Our brand new trailer was stolen off their lot. Had to wait for Burlington's finest to show up and fill out all the paperwork for the stolen vehicle. Now I can only imagine the nightmare of paperwork and phone calls to clean this mess up, not to mention the delay to get a new trailer ordered.

Just wanted to cry and vent...

The trailer we no longer have:

Shelf Life

We've been all about the dogs here at Random Thoughts for the last 10 days, so here's a new Simon's Cat cartoon to cleanse your pallet.



Don't worry, we'll be back to talk about the dogs again soon, I'm sure!

The Last Great Race on Earth

He Did It!

Congratulations to Dallas Seavey for winning the 2012 Iditarod Dog Sled Race!


With this win he becomes the youngest person to win the Iditarod. At 25. Wow!

I'm Voting For Hank

I don't usually get too political here on Random Thoughts. Politics drive me crazy. But...

Have you heard about Hank? He's the tabby that is running for a senator's seat in Virginia.
Hank’s campaign is focused on three primary topics: creating jobs, spay & neuter programs with animal rescue groups, and making politics more civil.



Hank has a very nice website and everything. AND he's already posted his most embarrassing picture ever, so his opponents have nothing to hold over him.

Go Hank!

Ants in My Pants

Dallas Seavey is 5 miles outside of Nome about to become the 2012 Iditarod winner and the youngest musher to ever win it. I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the live coverage in Nome to start.

So excited!

Missing It

For Lent this year I gave up Facebook games. I'm addicted to several of them and was spending hours each night playing them. I've been doing pretty well with not missing it until today. Today I'm having trouble. I probably should get off the computer and do something useful then, shouldn't I? That was the whole point of going cold turkey on the stupid time wasters.

Okay, I'm off to change my sheets and do some laundry!

Cave Canem!

2012 Iditarod Starting Now!

Today is the ceremonial start to the 40th running of the Iditarod sled dog race, "The Last Great Race on Earth." As my faithful readers know, I've followed this race with keen attention for the last few years. This year I took it to a different level and introduced my workplace to the Iditarod with the Money for Musher's contest. A fund raiser for the Multnomah County Animal Shelter (one of COG's charitable giving recipients), I organized a contest that randomly paired employees with mushers. For $5 city employees were randomly paired with a musher to follow through the 8-10 days of the Iditarod race. For a $20 dontaion, employees could pick a specific musher. When I left yesterday we had 36 out of 66 mushers paired up and had raised $215 for the shelter. Not a bad start. The person that picks the musher that ends up in first place wins a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant of their choice.

It's been great to see all the people who want to support the Shelter learn something about this amazing sport. I'm enjoying sharing it with people.

This year I'm rooting for Dallas Seavey as my veteran and Ryne Olson as my rookie. I met Dallas this summer in Anchorage when I attended the Wild Ride Sled Dog Rodeo. I got to talk to him for quite a while as I monopolized him at my dinner table. Here are a couple of pictures:




Ryne Olson is a rookie that works with one of my former Iditarod picks, Aily Zirkle. That's mostly why I picked her.

I'm so disappointed that it didn't work out for me to go and volunteer for the Iditarod this year. I'm going to put it on my bucket list, and hopefully 2013 will be the year I can go.

I'll try to update you all on the status of my mushers as the race unfolds. You have to admit I'm doing better at posting on my blog.