Ted and Wylie

Well, this is our sweet dog Wylie. We got her from the local Animal Rescue League, which is basically "the pound" when she was almost a year old. My daughter Regan was just two months old, so that would make Wylie 2 1/2 years old now! Wow! Time flies!

So, Wylie loves to bark, which kind of annoys one of our neighbors. She actually doesn't do it that much, but he is sensitive I guess. We do everything we can to keep her quiet, but when a dog's gotta bark, she's gotta bark! Come on! Anyway, the other picture is of Wylie and my cat Ted on our back deck (please don't look at the weeds! That was last year. We are going to fix our backyard this year.). They are best friends, and love to cuddle in the sun. She chews on him regularly, which he takes in stride. ;)

Ted is my beautiful boy. He has been around a little longer than my husband Landy. I was working at a vet clinic in Bend when I discovered him pounding his head against the door of his cage to get my attention. I would walk by him multiple times a day, and pet his little head, and sometimes take him out and love on him. He was full of flees, had goopy eyes, was scrawny and he had/has a gimpy paw, but I fell in love. The local animal shelter had actually brought him in to take care of his ailments, but I ended up taking care of him. So, of course, I adopted him. Duh! I actually figured out that he was in a litter of kittens that I had taken care of a couple of months before. Out of all the kittens, I had picked him as my favorite because he is orange, and he had a cleft-paw. That's how I know it was him . . . that, and I new the girl who had brought him in.

Ted meows ALL THE TIME, and will come when called. He takes walks with us like a dog will . . . he cracks me up! Can you tell I love him? Okay, he used to sleep with us all the time, but since we've had kids, he's taken a backseat. I feel bad, but he actually enjoys being outside a lot more. He will come inside occasionally, but wants out as soon as he comes in! Oh well . . .

I'm sure none of you wanted to read all of that, but thanks for humoring me if you did. ;) I love you ALL!!! ;)

Sara

Wow gratitude for this amazing CC community!

This is Jen. I am so envious that you all had the opportunity to reconnect. I feel as if I am vicariously experiencing the Cottey getaway via the photos Heather took of folks....quick side note happy belated birthday Heather. Thanks Kat for inviting me to view and be a witness to the blog that you created which documents and keeps folks connected! I chose mine & Mary's re-SPUH names for my blog name this is my way of tying a duck ribbon on the tree essentially honoring Mary & keeping her alive on this blog. How mysterious and wonderful that the bright shining light appeared in the tree photo as you all embraced Mary's energetic presence. I must admit that I was sad that I was not able to make the trip due to a conflicting academic conference where I was presenting on gender neutral facilities and watching Ellis perform (fyi, that would be one of my crushes post-Cottey) :) :) I am psyched to be able to contribute to the pets posting as my partner Meighan & I recently adopted Oskar, a Boston Terrier who is a little man (six years old). He definitely has a loyal personality. We adore him!

Mr. Winston

Since most of you have seen my step-dog Sidney, I'm posting a pic of Mr. Winston. He belongs to Leslie and Matt, who I lived with for my first 2 years in Wilmington. Winston also stayed with me when Elizabeth was born last year. Winston is so smart, he managed to take his food container off the top of the washing machine, pop open the tupperware that held his week's worth of food, eat the food, and snap the lid back shut. There was no evidence that the container ever had food in it. He has a great guilty wag, too. Just say 'what did you do?' and if he's done something, he will go lay down in his basket.

Coolest Birthday Ever!

My wife is so cool.. she shares her birthday with the Big Apple Circus... and Ben & Jerrys!! All of them are thirty this year!

Oh, and by the way, free cone day is Tuesday so find a B&J near you to get some yummy free ice cream, for, of course, the 30th birthday!!!

Photo Phridays

One of my favorite photos of Osker.

I took it using a razor cellphone. I think it looks old-timey.

He hated being in that basket, I thought it was too cute. It's this huge, beautiful basket that I convinced Kat we could keep because it could be the dog's bed. Totally romanticized that, not even close, he wouldn't sleep there if we lined it with treats. This is the one and only time he's been in the basket (that I have successfully held onto for three years).

even though it's now saturday...

i want in on the dog-pic-posting action anyway.
this is rosie. my family got her when i was a senior in high school and she was our canine version of a cranky, smokey, biker bitch until last summer. she's the one that had popped out the 12 puppies just before spring break our senior year. so kat, kali, and ryan all got to meet her (and help retrieve golden retriever fluff balls from beneath my parents' backyard deck).

My Menagerie....

I can't find one of red-headed Chava. So....


Pickle, who's going a little blind and deaf....

Bisbee!

A picture of the homicidal kitty, Dos. By the way, since my last post she killed yet another bird and laid it in front of my toilet. Not sure why...could be a love note or a warning...this pic was taken after the feathers were discovered.No body...just blood and feathers. Scary.

Well here are my two little boys. The first picture is of Riley. We were going to Vegas, so Grandma and Grandpa came to pick the boys up for the week. I got Ri dressed in his travel jacket, and he pulled out the leashes and just started staring at me. He wanted to go to Vegas too!

The Second picture is of Elliot just lounging around.

Dogs!

Midnight less than a month after finishing chemotherapy. Hiking near Horton Creek in her DORKY raincoat (Jen's idea - I swear)

My Zoie - happy in the snow a few months ago.

Puppies!

Since it is Friday, and I think every Friday is photo Friday (but I don't have that many photos), today's theme is DOGS! (or other pets, or animals you like).

Here is Yoshi, in case you haven't seen him yet. He isn't a puppy, but sometimes people think he still might be.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER!!!!!!

My Life So Far . . .

Okay, here goes:

Current location: Roseburg, OR since Nov. of 2000Current job: Domestic Engineer (Mommy;)), I run our embroidery machine out of our home, Nursery Director at our church, and volunteer at the YMCA . . . I am done watching kids for now.

What this means I actually do all day: Ummmm . . . I get the kids dressed in the morning, feed them breakfast, get myself dresses and ready for the day, either start on some embroidery, or go work out on Tue and Thurs, do an average of 3 loads of laundry a day, the dishes usually twice a day, sweep the floor at least twice, change multiple diapers a day along with trying to potty-train, teach my oldest girl her letters and other stuff, eat lunch with the kids and Landy, clean up, put the baby down for a nap, sometimes both girls, pick up Landon from school, read with him, and do homework if need be, email, get dinner ready, lots of cleaning, but not everyday, soccer practice for Landon on Tue and Thurs evening, volunteer at Y on Wed am, watching lots of little ones while their parents go work out, Wed night nursery duty twice a month . . . I do get downtime around 1pm till about 3pm if I'm not up cleaning or doing laundry. I feel like there's more to it than that, but nothing comes to mind right now. I wish I had more time to work out! Maybe later on down the road. That is what happens weekly in the world of Sara, minus the weekend events.

Significant Other: My husband Landy -- we've been married for 8 years now!

Current Pets: One dog -- Wylie, one cat -- Ted, 4 fish -- two silver dollars, one head and tail lights, one neon (our beta "Shark" died about a month ago -- we had him for 5 or 6 years)

Current Hobbies: Scrapbooking, reading, softball, my kiddos, working out -- would LOVE another hobby . . more on the physical side . . .I'd LOVE to play soccer again. Ohhhh, I would also love to do some genealogy too Jes!

Goal one year from now: to have our backyard finished, our garage cleared out so I can set up a painting area for me and the kids, and to have our credit cards (we have two) paid off using our business account, and to double our income from our embroidery business. Also, I need to figure out what kind of schooling I need to be a Dental Hygienist . . .

Goal five years from now: to have all our debt paid down, including our house, maybe for me to be in school on my way to being a Dental Hygienist . . . this all depends on whether I am going to home school my kids or not, and I am thinking that I am going to do that. We'll see what happens. Lots of things hinge on my children and how they will be affected, so it's hard to say where I'll be in five years as far as goals go. Their goals come before mine at this point. ;) I like it that way! Oh! Another five year goal is to take a trip to D.C. with the kids, and yes, we will be visiting Kat and Heather, and Nancy while we're there, unless they've moved, and in that case, I'd be pretty peeved! ;)

Okay, I really enjoyed that one! Thanks Kat! Love you ALL!!!

April 23, 2008

For the Mommies

...and those that want to be mommies.

Since a lot of you seem to have babies now I though I would pass this along because I though you might find it just as funny as someone with no babies (me) did.

Instructions for looking after baby

It's all pictures, so ignore the fact that I gave you a link that sends you to a completely non-English website. Most people I know can't seem to understand that I don't hate babies, I just don't want any of my own. Yesterday when I was talking with a friend about one of those things that normal girls think is romantic but I can give a 5 minute diatribe about how it is outdated, misogynistic and treats women like property. He said I when I was born I must be missing that thing that makes girls girly.

Because I don't want babies, don't expect anything for Valentine's Day or our anniversary, think getting flowers at work is mortifying, and don't change out of my work polo on Friday before going to The Spark with guys from work, I'm not a real girl. Sometimes working in an all male environment just gets me all....eaghh.

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday Allyn!!

Let me try this stuff..

See, I couldn't do "today's math", because every day would be 30: times I yelled at a parent or 10: cans o' diet pepsi I drank. So somewhat repetitive....now this I can do!

Current location: Litchfield Park, AZ (that would be west o' Phoenix)

Current job: School Psychologist at my local school district/ adjunct prof at the community college

What this means I actually do all day: Hmm, that would be a lot like Kat's stuff with a little bit of Al's stuff mixed in. I basically keep my locations (Litchfield El, and the district preschool) from getting sued by my nasty little parents. I assess, consult, counsel (not much anymore but sometimes) and generally act like a pain in the ass to parents, administrators, and teachers in my district, making sure that kids are being services appropriately. Next year I may expand my PITA-ness to district level, where I gatekeep other school psychologists in the district as the lead. Call it "head psycho". Fitting I think.

The prof job? I think everybody gets that. So far I'm teaching undergrad but I've taught graduate in the past.

Current Significant Other: I am currently single, although one of my roomies is trying to hook me up with her boyfriend's transexual best friend. According to them, with my background, it would be "the best of both worlds".

Yeah, I'll keep you posted on that. Apparently she's pretty cute.

Current Pets: That would be Bisbee, my 8-year old Lab/akita mix, Chava, my 11-ish year old Chow mix, and Pickle, my 13-ish year old Beagle/Daschund mix. And my serial killer cat, Dos (her sister, Una, was my first cat....guess what the next one will be named???). I woke up yesterday morning to find my cat in my closet surrounded by blood and feathers. It was massacre. I have pics...

Current Hobby: Shit people, wasn't the Ph.D. enough?? Actually, now that I'm 99% done, I plan on getting back to horseback riding, and playing some instruments. Other than that, I'm just catching up on sleep and getting lots of massages to bring me back to normal.

My goal for one year from today: Hmm, that's changing daily right now. I've got a great, stable job and an offer for a promotion for next year. I'm, however, also looking for faculty positions, now that the degree is done. Whatever I decide to do, I plan on getting my research published. So I truly have no idea where I will be in one year....

My five year plan: That's even worse to plan for, ask me in a few months....

A Mom - Who Knew?

Current location: Phoenix, Arizona (I technically live in Peoria, Az…it’s all the same)

Current job: Curriculum Specialist at Atkinson Middle School

What this means I actually do all day: Kinda everything. I work with three other ladies and it’s our job to plan support for teachers based on their needs. Sometimes this means that I go into specific classrooms and model different strategies for teachers while one of my teammates sits at the back of the room and points out what I am doing to the classroom teacher. Other times this means that I lead small group study sessions and usually it means that I plan and lead meetings for the entire staff. I also cover classes for teachers who are gone (or having breakdowns), counsel kiddos who are having behavior issues, break up fights in the hallways, help teachers write lesson plans and find resources that don’t make kids fall asleep…plus, some other stuff….

Current Significant Other: Jen. She is a brilliant elementary school principal. We have a daughter (Jen’s biologically) – Madison who is 6 and girly (unlike her Mama’s) and brilliant (just like her Mama – I am Mama Al). I never thought I would have a child - like NEVER. But I am thankful for Maddie every day - we've been a family for almost 4 years.



Above: Maddie our disgruntled yard fairy - at age 4

(Above: Zoie, Casey and I out hiking - Midnight is off sniffing I am sure)

Current Pets: Midnight (cancer survivor – black lab mix – outdoors adventurer extraordinaire), Zoie (MY baby, she is big and fluffy and hysterical), Casey (our “three legged” pit-bull mix – someone abused Casey before we got her and she came to us with a crushed pelvis….$3,000 later – she makes it just fine on three legs – uses the fourth when she is rounding corners quickly), oh and Fish….he’s an ass.

Current Hobby: I still play my banjo and fiddle every day in my office before I go home - we love to hike and to go geocaching

My goal for one year from today: Wow. Um, I guess I would like to be working somewhere that I am able to make a difference. I love my kids – so I want to be in inner-city Phoenix and I want to be making school a better experience for them. I’d like to be in better shape in a year – on a lot of different levels….so, I am working on that. And, I’d like to be a better Mom than I am today.

My five year plan: Ha. 5 years. Well, Maddie will be 11…so that’s still too young for me to be working on my PhD. I would like to be more certain of things...if the whole “age brings wisdom” thing is true – that’d make me happy. I don’t want to feel settled, or even content necessarily – I guess I wouldn’t mind a certain level of knowing….now I am the crazy person on the blog…well, whatever – 4% of you thought I was cool at some point. ;)

Indy Living

Current location: New Whiteland, IN -suburb of Indy

Current job: Analyst for the Attorney General

What this means I actually do all day: I sit around an conduct the investigations on rogue medical professionals. I specialize in working with pharmacies, pharmacists, pharm techs, veterinarians, vet techs, podiatrists, dentists, dental hygienists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, PTA's, OTA's, and. . .I think that is it actually. I send subpoenas and talk to people. WHen I conclude my investigation I make a preliminary recommendation about whether they are in violation of our statutes (i.e. they fell below the standard of care).

Current Significant Other: my lovely husband Michael. We have been married for almost 7 years (July 28). We were together in high school, broke up, and got back together right before my second year at Cottey. Not to sound corny, but I think he is amazing.

Current Pets: Elliot (aka El-baby, little man) We adopted him in July of 1999. He is the most wonderful loving dog. Riley (aka Ri-baby, mommy's little heathen). We adopted Ri in March of 2003. He is rather hyper, and he has recently found out how to get on the counter by catapulting off of our beautiful barstools.

Current Hobby: studying. . .skeeball. . .playing with the dogs. . .blogging (a total addiction as my myspace proves)

My goal for one year from today: To be entering into the final phase of my MBA program. Working back in non-profit, hopefully in donor development and/or grant-writing. Deciding what to do about children. Still living in Indy-which I love. My five year plan: Possibly an organizational director, definitely a mom, and totally excited that I just saw all of you at our recent Founders.

Perpetually-Burning*

Current location: Boston, Massachusetts - best place I've ever lived. Right in the heart of the city, been here since January of 2004 and I've never enjoyed living in a place this much. I'm proud of it, I love the history, there's always something to learn and when friends visit I get to share it all over again like it's the first time. I mean, it took a little bit to get into this great location, started out in Jamaica Plain and then moved into Beacon Hill but it's all been worth it and part of the process. And Massachusetts is pretty wonderful too. Similar to Michigan in climate but bigger water and more open-minded folks. 

Current job: Family Breadwinner. Nanny specializing in Preemie Twins. Family Consultant.

What this means I actually do all day: Bring home the bacon! Most often I see to the emotional and developmental needs of two preterm babies, keep track of their intake/outflow, etc. But the best part of my job is the consulting. Talking with parents about developmental milestones, things to expect, suggestions for activities, classes, exercises, discipline, products, goal-setting, healthy expectations, basically guiding and sharing with them things I've learned over the last decade (with the nearly 50 kids K&I have known). Because I enjoy this so much (and occasionally need an outlet for my frustrations) I started blogging. This brought in even more new parents who wanted help, of course it also annoyed other parents who think I can't possibly know anything because I'm not a parent myself. 

Current Significant Other: Kathryn the adorable, my wife and partner of nearly a decade (how is that possible?) - oh and she's my lesbian lover (shhh . . . )

Current Pets: one extremely cute and photogenic dog with many nicknames and needs and occasionally more patience than dog should be expected to have

Current Hobby: photography and . . . hmmm, my favorite hobby is quilting, scrapbooking is fun but eats away our cashflow, exploring - I love taking day trips with the wife and dog and checking out new or historical places. She gets to use a map, I get to take pictures and the dog sniffs & pees - we all love it! 

My goal for one year from today: I'd like to have a new career plan. This weekend I realized what I'd like my long (long, long) term career goal to be, but I need to do a few other things first and finish nannying, it's flexible and pays the bills, but I think I'm getting burnt out.

My five year plan: Kids, hopefully more than one, but no rush. New job title/position. Investments. Trying to not think about my dog, but I hope he's still around (he'll be nine then). Working on or towards my doctorate, although I'm not sure in what. And, ideally a place in the city still, although my wife would say a bigger place probably outside the city with a yard, I prefer Boston as my backyard! 

*Perpetually-burning as in the gas lights that line the streets in Beacon Hill, connecting our present with our past and hopefully my future. 

Right Now in the NW

Current location: Spokane, WA (since 2001). Actually I am currently in Liberty Lake, where I work, 15 miles E of Spokane. I hate the commute.

Current job: Technical Writer

What this means I actually do all day: I work on writing instruction manuals for DVRs, cameras, and software which all need to be constantly maintained. Then I update other documents like quick start guides, and QC checklists and sales power points and make line drawings of products to put in the manuals and post updated documents on the website and learn how the products we sell work so I can explain them in the most simple English possible but keeping in mind some users and certain customers are non-english speakers, so everything should also be easily translatable.

Current Significant Other: Paul. We've been together 5.5 years

Current Pets: Yoshi - we've had him 2.5 years, he's from the pound, and he's about 5 years old now, we think.

Current Hobby: "Volunteer" with the Spokane Civic Theatre - I'm taking a tap dance class this summer in preparation for an audition. Work on the house. Learning how to "garden".

My goal for one year from today: Be mostly done with house renovations (roof, kitchen, electrical, some plumbing, bathroom maybe, paint, closets) and have the yard look like more than a scrappy dirt patch with overgrown fruit trees. Job wise, I'll probably still be here. Personally, I maybe want a 2nd dog.

My five year plan: I don't usually look more than 1 year ahead in my life. I can't make concrete plans that far in advance. Since we have a house, I plan on staying in Spokane, I might have a different job, I guess I don't want my life to change that much.

Me, in a nutshell

Current location:
Boston, MA

Current job:
student and intern at the developmental center for kids

What this means I actually do all day: test 2-5 year olds for language, behavioral and social difficulties, diagnosing Auti$m $pectrum Disorders, Language Delays, C0nduct Disorders and Mental Ret@rdation... also, writing aLOT of reports to justify said diagnosis and meeting with parents to discuss said diagnosis. Also, reading and doing homework for school and driving ALOT!

Current Significant Other(s --to include kids):
Heather, of course, married 2 years, about to celebrate 10 year anniversary! :)

Current Pets: Osker, a 4 year old drama queen Vizsla

Current Hobby: apparently, driving is my hobby, I'm in the car about 11hours a week. Also, I enjoy... crap, I have no time for hobbies!

My goal for one year from today: collect all data for my dissertation andcomplete both qualifying exams to complete my master's and continue on with my doctorate.

My five year plan: finish my doctorate and have babies with my wife!

112th Boston Marathon

Today was Marathon Monday! a.k.a. Patriots Day, one of our pseudo holidays (meaning it's an official holiday but not everyone gets it off work). I was working but as the wife repeatedly reminded me, it was an event day. 

The Boston Marathon is a huge event around here. (take a virtual tour) They close a major road, headed into the city, loads of people come in from out of town, lots of prep work is done, huge clean up is involved, one of the major downtown T stops (subway stations) is closed ALL DAY and the city is blanketed in this feeling of excitement and anticipation.  

This Boston Marathon was the first for my current kiddos. Because of their location we had no trouble attending for about 90 minutes. They definitely didn't get it, but The Boy loved the idea of yelling "yay" and clapping his hands. Little Miss had a bit of stage freight and saved all her clapping for the minute we walked back into the house. Both were curious about the number of people in areas that are generally pretty quiet or filled with passing cars, rather than passing runners.

While taking them for the first time was a treat, what is really special about this marathon is hard to explain. There's this feeling of being in it together. Spectators cheer on complete strangers. People stand outside in the scorching sun, imagine all those people and blacktop, the sun gets pretty hot, to encourage runners. All the runners. Because of this runners will label themselves with their names. Some runners use duct tape or marker with it written down their thigh or across foreheads. There are those who choose to dress up. I saw two men wearing bunny ears! And while there is a winner for each division, male/female/wheelchair (I think) there are no losers. Finishing is what it's all about. People wait at the finish line until the last runner has finished. There are hydration stations every two miles. Some have tents with cots inside in case a runner, or runners, need a break. I didn't see anyone utilizing these, but there were three cots just waiting. People make signs. Companies pass out noise-makers. Spectators of ages come to watch - throughout the event. It isn't as if folks only want to see the front-runners, although they are televised, on the radio and internet if people are interested, people want to encourage everyone and anyone.

It's hard to understand. I remember my first marathon. I went with the family I was working for and I was actually dreading it. It sounded boring and lame. But this feeling of camaraderie was overwhelming. Strangers cheering for sweaty strangers.  It's just awesome.

Other things you may not have known about the Boston Marathon . . . 

Facts thanks to: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/marathon.html

What | 112th Boston Marathon

Where | From Hopkinton, MA, to Boston (26.2 miles)
When | Monday, April 21, 2008, race begins at 10:00 A.M.; elite women runners and wheelchair competitors begin earlier.
Who | Approximately 20,000 runners, representing runners from every state in the nation and over 50 countries. The race record was 38,708 for the 100th anniversary in 1996. There will also be well over a half-million spectators lining the course.

Why |  1. The Boston Marathon, organized by the Boston Athletic Association, is the world's oldest marathon. 

2. In terms of media coverage, the Boston Marathon is the second biggest single-day sporting event in the U.S., just behind the Super Bowl.
3. The overall purse of $796,000 is the richest of the World Marathon Majors events.
4. Winners of the men's and women's elite divisions will each receive guaranteed prize money of $150,000 — a record level in the majors.

Of course I took more than a few photos of our time at the marathon. But I'm not really much of a sports photographer. There are much better shots to see here,  here,  here,  here and even some artwork, here. Even a funny sign.

Hope you enjoyed reading this as much I enjoyed sharing it. Maybe one of these years you could come to Boston and spectate with me!

Geocaching

Letterboxing huh? It's a little funny that we are getting ready (literally as I type this) to go geocaching - which is similar (I think) to letterboxing. We use a gps with coordinates and clues....

http://www.geocaching.com/

Hours of fun - we even found some "caches" when we were in Rome not long ago.....

Letterboxing

I am a total letterboxing addict. If I haven't told you about it (or I didn't make any sense), www.atlasquest.com and www.letterboxing.org will clarify it for you.

Just putting this thought out there... would anyone like to plant a letterbox in their home area? If you want to do it and have a cool box idea, I would love to carve a stamp for it and send it to you. It could be planted under your name (if you want to start letterboxing) or under my name. I'm getting pretty handy with the carving knife.

Alyson and I found our 50th box this weekend!

Update:For anyone curious about what the stamps look like, last weekend Alyson and I checked the first stamp we planted. It's a great hiding spot, we planted it in SEP06. Since we've lost a couple boxes lately, I brought home the log book pages that were stamped by people who've found the box (they also log it in online so we know approx how many people found it). Here's a picture of the stamps from people that found our 'Indian Trail Tree' box so far. The book next to the pages is our logbook, which shows the stamp I carved and hid in the box.