Another Year is GONE!

Wow, another year is gone. How did that happen? I'm still not even used to writing 2009 (except at work, where its been budget year 2010 since July)

At the same time, when I think of all the things I've done this year, teaching my first college class, going to Washington DC, Boston&Maine, Florida and returning to my childhood holiday destination of way out Western Kansas, having my opinions published in INK, the local weekly newspaper at least 15 times, helping FOUR dogs find wonderful furever homes, working at an animal hospital and learning all kinds of cool interesting stuff, I think- how did I fit all THAT in one short year?

I also can't help but think of the ones I've lost this year, including my favorite Aunt, my Aunt Linda, who I learned how to be an independent animal loving gal from and my favorite Uncle, my Uncle Lindon, who taught me that positive energy always accomplishes more than negativity.

They are both gone from this reality now, but I will carry a piece of them in my heart forever, and know our energies will be reunited someday. And I really know they would both not want me to think of them with any sadness. So I will not. Today, I think of them both with all the joy and happiness my heart can hold, knowing that now they are with me always, cheering me on, through all the stress and tragedy life can dish out. I try to share both of their wonderful life teachings with others through my actions everyday.


I'm pretty excited about 2010. I'm teaching my class again and still on the INK Panel. Joe and I are getting more involved in local doggie issues, we continue to foster and find homes for dogs at the KC pound and I recently started a Google Group for all the foster families. We don't have any travel planned yet, but a Flogging Molly show in March and an Ani DiFranco show in April will give us plenty to look forward to. I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful holidaze season, and I send you all BEST WISHES FOR 2010!!!

Sprout!

So after our most recent foster dog Sweets found her furever home last month Joe and I decided to take the rest of 2009 off from fostering doggies.

Wellllllll We can all see how long that lasted, here's our newest foster, Sprout, a tiny (25lbs!) pitty. She's about a year old.

She came to us from the pound with kennel cough and hookworms. She's undergoing treatment for both issues, plus eating an entire can of fancy puppy food daily.

She's sweet and super smart and already knows sit and stay and how to walk great on a leash. She hasn't had a single accident in the house. She's not to hip on going to her kennel, but hopefully will get used to it with practice.


She (and Taco and Layla) send everyone reading kisses!

Western KS 12.6.2009

Photos from our recent trip to visit my Aunt Diane in way out Western KS.

Things I am Grateful for...

I am thankful for so many things today (and everyday!) First and most, I am thankful for my wonderful husband, who helps me be a better person. I'm thankful for my puppy family, for their health and good manners. Next I'm very grateful for my human family, particularly my sister Kim, as she helps me stay sane :) I'm thankful for my great job, where I learn something new all the time and can be challenged without stress. I'm thankful for my beautiful home and that unlike so many today, I have a fridge full of food and a car full of gas. Overall I guess I'm thankful for the wonderful life I lead. I realize the world we live in is full of fear and hate and negativity and hunger, but there's nothing I can do about that except enjoy the life I've built to the fullest and try to project and share as much positive energy out as I can. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Boston 11.14.09

Even though it was a rainy wet Ida drenched weekend, I still had a great time in Boston last weekend :)

















The Trees were beautiful!

















Saw lots of cool old historic buildings :)

























Overall, a wonderful time, as always!

Applebee's Suckz

So I'll admit, I've never liked Applebee's. The food is over processed and over priced and the service is ALWAYS awful. The most memorable experience I've ever had there was more than a decade ago when I went to lunch with an ex (we had both moved on and were just friends) and his current lady friend dumped his belongings in the parking lot. It's such a lame chain.

But the story I heard today made me decide for all time to NEVER enter their doors again. My 85 year old Grandparents stopped in at an Applebee's for lunch yesterday. They don't particularly like Applebee's, it happened to be along the way of where they were going. As they were seated they noticed Flags on all the tables, and various patriotic flare about. Their server came to take their drink orders and informed them of a "Veteran's Day" Special where Veterans could eat free.

My grandmother, loving a bargain, informed the server that Yes, my grandfather was a Veteran of WWII. Then the sever asked for PROOF my Grandfather served in the War and when my Grandfather failed to have his Dog Tags or 'Release Papers' on hand informed them that if he couldn't prove he was a Veteran he was illegible for the Veteran's Day Special.

My Grandfather served in World War II 63 YEARS ago. He liberated concentration camps. He is a true American Hero. He doesn't like to talk about his service, and he certainly doesn't need some rude server telling him that since he can't PROVE he is a Veteran, he isn't a Veteran. It's a good thing I wasn't with them because I would have made a scene. Of course I would have vetoed Applebee's as a lunch option to begin with and besides, they said the food was (Surprise!) AWFUL.

RIP Mort the Mole :(

Yestreday as I was walking thru the parking lot into work, a tiny puff ball wandered into my path.



He seemed hurt and confused, and was headed straight for oncoming traffic. So I grabbed a box and took him inside. After talking to several people at work I found out he was a baby mole.

He was sweet and cute but also hurt. So I took him to a local nature center where they help injured wild animals.

Sadly...he didn't make it. The lady that called me later in the afternoon to update me said he must have suffered some sort of trauma, maybe he had already been hit by something, or had eaten some poison or who knows. The whole thing left me sad. I guess I could have left him in the parking lot to die, but then I'd have to walk by his little squished puddle...at least he got some love before going to the "Big beautiful Back yard in the sky" as the Nature Center lady told me. Plus I'd never met a mole. Now I'll know them when I see them :)

On a happier note, check out this letter I caught on the wall at the nature center.












"All Snacks bite." HA!








And here's a few beautiful pics from this AM outside my job.

GooD Vibes (11.1.09)

This weekend has been productive and positive. Got new brakes on my car, didn't need new routers, YAY. Dad and Joe brought Big Black back to life one more time. Joe's Jeep needed a sway bar, some piece that keeps the vehicle steady, which was going to cost $100 new :( So instead we cruised thru the insane world of Pick-n-Pull, and found one for $16.


Also got to see Midge, did Halloween Happy Hour with my favorite peps (my grandparents) and helped my best friend move into her new home.

Overall a wonderful, productive weekend. Now I just need a few days to rest...:)

Glad October is almost over...

I am so glad October 2009 is nearing an end. It started out so great, going to Florida with Taco to visit Joe's parents.

Since we've been home 10/7, Joe's truck got stolen, I had to put two new tires AND struts on my car, and Joe sprained his angle catching his foot on something on the motorcycle.

But I've made a few positive changes and am very much looking forward to November and especially a visit to see my sisters (and Ani!) in Boston mid-month. Here's hoping for better daze!

Joe's New Ride

My husband Joe bought a new car yestreday. Well, new to him :)

It was JUST what he was looking for, and the seller was nice enough to drop the price to get it in our budget. Should be perfect for what he needs, a vehicle for when it's too rainy or snowy for the motorcycle, and deer hunting.


Funny thing, I (vagely) knew the seller. Joe found the truck on Craig's List, and as we headed over to check it out, we passed my old high school. I said "I bet I know the dude selling it" and guess what? Indeed I DID! I went to high school with him, even same graduation class, 13 years ago! I recognized him right off, but he didn't mention it until Joe was gone on the test drive. Surprise! The Northland IS a small world after all :)

Sweet's Big Day

We took our current foster dog Sweets, and Pumpkin to a Luv-A-Bully march for bully dog rights.

It was a beautiful day, great to spend it with so many cool peps.







































We then went on to Waterfire, a fire performance event on the Plaza.


















Sweets was very nervous with all the noise and smells, but she did great.




















She even managed to make lots of friends...

























And here's some amazing pics of my pal, Agni Tara...








































































It was a wonderful day. We met several peps that seemed really interested in Sweets, we'll see :)

Big Black Comes Home

So yes, for those that don't know, my husbands pick up truck was stolen last week, for a second time. At least this time they stole it from his job, not our driveway, so it didn't feel like quite such a violation, but it sucked all the same.



Anyway, after five days we had given up hope, until the cops called today! They found the truck, ditched over in an industrial area by the stadiums. Not that far from his job or our house, but it had been driven 130 miles in five days! More crazy, it had a new steering wheel (we assume to get past the club Joe always used after it was stolen the first time)

Even weirder, it had blown a tire and the jerks that stole it not only put on the spare, they re-attached the original wheel under where the spare was, so we still have the good set of rims. But the steering column is totally locked up and even though it wants to, she won't crank. So after paying $75 to bail it out of the city impound lot, we then had to pay ANOTHER $75 to get it towed home.

Jerks that took it cleaned it completely out. Took Joe's tools, the floor mats, a few camping chairs he had, even the stuffed Grover he had hanging from his rear view. They also took all the paperwork from the glove box, which included our registration with our address. Trying not to stress to much on that, that's why we have big dogs.

Of course the cops are pretty much not interested in helping us. They didn't even finger print the truck. It's license plate is gone and someone else's is in it's place. Do they care? Nope. Whatever. I guess I'm glad it's back, glad to not have it still hanging, but our plan is to put it on the Craig's List ASAP and move on.

Thanks for reading and for all the good wishes :)

Dogtober 10.18.09

We took our current Foster Dog Sweets to Dogtober, a local doggie event.

She was a little nervous, but made lots of friends:)

Once she was feeling a little more comfortable we broke out the Lobster Dog Costume :)

Met a few peps that might be interested in giving her a furever home, until then I guess we'll just have to keep on loving her!

What a great Weekend :)

I was just relaxing and thinking how grateful I am for the wonderful weekend I've had. I must be the luckiest lady on Earth. I hope everyone I care about (and even peps I don't know) enjoyed an equally prefecto weekend :D

Midgette Goes to Work

So last Friday, Midgette came and spent the day with me at work.

For those of you that don't know, Midgette (Midge for short) is a tiny dog I rescued a few months ago that landed a perfect home with my co-worker.

Here's some pics from her day at the office :)








She was sad when her boss left, but I promised we'd have lots of fun!

We had lots of fun, Midge got to meet lots of people, and everyone loved her. But nothing made her quite so happy as when it was time to go home.

She can tell her brothers about her busy day at the office :)))

Blogging...hmmmm

So finally set up an 'actual' blog, instead of lame-o blog-o via social networks.
Guess we'll see how it goes, need to figure out photo interface...



That was easy! Here's a awesome Blue Heron I saw a few mornings ago in the river Universal (drainage ditch by my job)

Need to get back to work now, but hopefully will be posting more later.

Thanks for reading!