Monday, September 15, 2008

@#$% Ike.

Living in northern WV, I should never receive weather warnings in my inbox that contain the word "hurricane". *snarl*
I should never have to think about cleanup from said "hurricane weather". *snort*

The remnants of Ike that tore through the Ohio Valley did make for some gorgeous skies.



















The damage..not so gorgeous.
The tip of the iceberg:






















Sunday, September 14, 2008

Chili dogs and bantha skulls..

Hot Dog Shoppe? Let's Roll!

Friday evening, I had the brilliant idea to get a local favorite for dinner..Hot Dog Shoppe.
Fake cheese and mediocre chili combine on a hot dog or french fries to create a culinary masterpiece.
Bliss on a steamed bun...or hand-cut fries.
Yes, I know it's fat and sodium galore..preservatives..yadda yadda.
Do you get the feeling I don't care? :)



Because...we're nerdy like that.


"Ridin' Dirty" for LabRat. *teehee*


Mmmmm..that *hack* Ohio *cough* smell! Waste Technology Industries providing brown, chewy air for us all!


A rare OH moose, surveying his domain from atop the ..Moose Lodge.




Masochist hot dog man...he LIKES getting devoured!




Truly, a sight to behold. Hot Dog Man on Weathervane. You can't tell in the pic, but he's spiked through his middle. And he's grinning. And holding condiments.




Lacey, just for you:

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Things my dogs say

Well, their eyes say..
or maybe I need meds...anyhoo

Doing some obedience-for-fun stuff with the The Crew today. It started out just working with Irie, but everyone had to come along (like JLo..I have an entourage).
I realized...yet again...my dogs think I'm an ass.




Henry was sleeping peacefully on the chair. I called him to me and asked him to sit, then down. As his *reward* I scratched his chest and shoulders (his "hoooyeah" spots). My cheerful "All done, Henry!" was met with a blank look.
"What the hell was that about?"
"It's basic obedience. It's good for our relationship. Trust me, Henry."
"Trust you? Didn't you once glue your ass to the floor with tile cement? Wake me when you've prepared dinner."

~~
Voodoo is..ah..enthusiastic. About everything. He's almost 2 1/2, and is just now starting to mature.
"Voo, sit!"
"YAY SIT! I LOVE SIT! This one time? Outside? I SAT! It was awesome!"

It's hard to get frustrated in the face of so much joy..yet, somehow, I manage.
~~
Strider is Michael's dog..his canine BFF.
He's wonderful and loving with me, but he's Michael's boy. They eat chips and watch football and MMA.
No.. really.
"Strider, sit!"
"Sure!" *sits* "What time is He coming back?" *wagging*
"Same time as always..Strider, down!"
"Sure!" *downs* "He's been gone a LONG time. I hate weekdays. He is just.....*sigh*. I mean I love YOU, but..He's just amaaaazing."

It figures the easy dog isn't Mine!
~~
Irie is a little over 12 weeks..a total doll.
Right now, she's a bimbo. A complete party-girl. BUT, she did bark fiercely at Intruders last night. Granted, the intruder was a yearling doe in the yard..but still.
She's a bad ass bimbo.
"Irie, down!"
"I totally know Down! Down is superfun! I ..like..heart training! Let's find someone to PLAY! Playing is sooo funnn! If they won't play, I will like..totally..kick their butts! Seriously!"
Oh dear God. My dog is Pamela Anderson as Barb Wire.


When someone lovingly croons to their dog, "Oh Sparkie, I wish you could tell me what you were thinking"..it gives me chills.
The stuff of nightmares, I say.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Feeling Irie

At some point, I'll grow weary of singing every song I can think of with the word irie..until then, Michael and the dogs suffer.
Our new beloved, Irie:




















The whole story is quite odd and *meant to be*.
Michael and I were doing some breed research, thinking ahead to our Next Girl. We lost our German Shepherd to cancer in August.
Talking to LabRat about her wonderful Akita duo, and the breed in general..she said she would ask her breeder about a good kennel in my area.
She had a recommendation, and the dogs looked really good, but not K&K good. C, the breeder, then mentions she has a pup.

Exactly. What. We. Hoped. For.

Things flew along from there and Irie landed at Pittsburgh airport on Friday night. :D
We are elated.

Granted, she's making noises like a monkey in a blender right now (crate training is FUN)..other than that? She's been AMAZING.
I can't thank LabRat enough for setting things in motion.








Saturday, August 23, 2008

Gotta buck?

It’s a helpless feeling, watching someone you love battle Alzheimer's disease. So, I decided to take action. I am participating in a very special event called the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®.

I am walking for the more than 5 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. I am walking because I can, and because I should.

The Alzheimer’s Association, the world leader in Alzheimer’s research, care and support, is dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for the disease.

I hope to be able to raise at least $500 to support the local Alzheimer’s Association, which provides consultation, information and referral, and support programs to those affected by Alzheimer’s.

I know I can do this with the support of friends like you. Would you please consider making a donation? Please visit my online fundraising headquarters at Team Lolly's Chickadees , to learn more and to make a donation directly online, or mail in a donation using the enclosed pledge form. Please note that checks should be made payable to the Alzheimer's Association, and are tax deductible.

Thank you in advance for your time and generosity. Please ask your employer if they have a matching gift program. They may double your donation.
---
Sorry for the guilt-trippy form letter. But hey, whatever works.

I'm walking in honor of my grandmother..Alzheimer's Disease affected one of the funniest, brightest women I will ever know.

If you're close to Pittsburgh, join our team...we're a good time :)

I've been fighting with the website/sign-up stuff..if the links are screwy, let me know. I just got the damned thing to load!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

We're boring...and annoying!

After dinner, Michael and I were talking about cleaning the kitchen cabinets.
A 20 minute discussion on the best way to clean the cabinets.

He stops and looks at me, "Holy gods, are we boring?"
I froze.."Shit! We ARE boring! We're so boring my hair hurts!"


I think Michael's vacation days are starting to wear on us. 24/7 of..well..US.
Michael and I have been together for 13 years (!). We spend a LOT of time together, when he isn't at work. We like each other. Our differences knock the other out of their comfort zone, and yet we've got each other for a bit of safety net. We're disgustingly hand-holdy and kissyface.
Still...24/7 of anyone. I don't even want to be around ME that much.

I was cleaning our bedroom last night...Michael gathering trash for pickup day.
Michael: What do you do with all the lids from the bottled water?
Me: I lose them.
Michael: How?!
Me: Actually, I'm building a castle in the woods with them. To hide my lover.
Michael: I don't understand how you lose them on the nightstand.
Me: My lover is going to live in the plastic lid castle..and one day..we'll kill you and run away.
Michael: There's no logic.. the nightstand is RIGHT THERE.
Me: Is it still a nightstand in the morning? :D
Michael: exits, while muttering "Oh ..Jesus".

*I edited the sweet, loving part where I told him I was saving bottle lids to stuff them in a body part of his.

We agreed the last 5 days of his vacation should be spent eating great dinners, taking the dogs to the parks in our area and watching movies. No more home repair.

We're heading to a "new" park. I went there years ago..as a teenager..when I was still an Innocent *sniffle*.
To drink with my supercool boyfriend and his band...heh. We would pack up the cooler with cheap beer and spend an evening at the overlook.

Now, I'm packing a husband and 3 dogs..and poop bags. Annnd homemade organic dog biscuits.
I'm really ok with that.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Wild chickens ...and skim milk

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
with a side of HEHEHEHEHEHEHE!

I think..that is one of the funniest things ever. I nearly died.
"Roaming the streets"..like..thugs? Ahahahaha.
Federal agency?! BAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA


Moving on...
One part skim milk, to 8 parts water. That's the organic way to deal with powdery mildew. Spray the top and bottoms of leaves.
Seems to be working on the one squash plant affected.
Of course, that does leave the problem of raccoons showing up with their Oreos.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Presque Isle

Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pa...easily one of my favorite places.
It's a 5 hour round-trip, but it's an easy drive.

We had a good day on the beach. The dogs LOVE the waves.
Our very first trip to Presque Isle was with Isis. Bittersweet realization on the way there.




















Thursday, August 14, 2008

Our Amazing Girl

We chose to let Isis go this morning.








~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are loved, Good Girl.

I rested well with you here, your big white head close to my side.

I am glad we could release you from lymphoma and old age...after all you've given us.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.