Out of sight, out of mind

Distractions have been easy to come by.  I've hardly been online these past few days - Google Reader is overflowing, I post to Twitter maybe once a day, and I give Facebook a once-over in the morning with my coffee and that's about it.  I've been watching NCIS from the beginning, crocheting, and the weather has finally turned spring-ish too.  I've been spending my days outside planting things that will more than likely (a) not come up at all, (b) get dug up by squirrels, or (c) freeze when we get hit with a freak frost in May.  But at least I'm getting some sun!
***
The countdown begins...
B and I have started the job search.  He had a phone interview today for a job that would send him out in the wilds of central Oregon for three months this summer.  I sent my resume to Starbucks for a marketing job, emailed a prof I knew vaguely about a potential new position at my alma mater, and I keep looking in Seattle, Portland, Bend, Spokane, Missoula, you name it.  I also keep my fingers crossed that something good will happen at my old workplace and I'll get a happy phone call one day soon.

Lovely Landlord is putting our house up for sale in the next couple of weeks.  We've made arrangements with her to show the house ourselves, plus we still have a few projects that we promised to complete too.  Tomorrow I'm going to try to scrounge some boxes from the old workplace so we can start packing, and put a few things on Craigslist.

In unrelated news, we think Jake may have figured out how to nose open the clasp on the gate to our kitchen.  He managed to get in there last night and couldn't get out again... so he of course got into the trash, ate the cat food, mistook the basement floor for the toilet, and now he has the nastiest gas ever.  My dog may have a cast-iron stomach, but holy lord, he's melting the paint right off the walls!

Nap, please. PLEASE.

Is this the face of a terrorist?

The answer is, abso-friggin-lutely.  This psychotic, annoying little beast kept me awake ALL NIGHT.  She has it in for our humidifier, and no matter what I do she insists on trying to tip the damn thing over.  I'm a horribly light sleeper, so every time she gives it a yank it wakes me up.  Add to that her habit of jumping up on the bed right next to my face and demanding attention by standing on my boobs with her 20-pound feet... AND THEN when I booted her out of the bedroom and shut the door, she scratched at the carpet and the door, shaking the whole thing in its frame.  So I booted her down the stairs (I really had to refrain from throwing her at this point but I probably would have thrown my back out too) and shut the door at the top of the stairs and the bedroom door so I couldn't hear her attempts at taking it off the hinges.

Then there's this guy.

He's not a little dog, but he's usually allowed to sleep on the bed because of his wonderful ability to curl up into a ball the size of a pumpkin.  However the past couple of weeks, his skin has been dry and his ears have been bothering him.  He's kind enough to not scratchscratchscratch on the bed, but it means that he's getting up and down, on and off the bed all. night. long.  Last night he got the boot too.  Tonight, he'll be quarantined to his bed on the floor.

Needless to say I'm a bit tired.

Add that to the uncomfortable state of my girly-bits and I really wish I was back in bed!  I started reading up on the side-effects of birth control after reading this article by Amalah, and I thought that I would try going off my pills for a while and see if it improved my state of mind and energy levels.  So far, so good, but of course I totally forgot what it would do to me physically.  Bleah.

***

The bright spot today was the LEED Green Associate test this morning.  I spent most of yesterday evening cramming for it - because with my memory, it was utterly hopeless to try and study in advance.  Some of the stuff I was reading left me thinking, the last time I checked I'm not an architect or a general contractor... WHY do I need to know this stuff??  Apparently, they expect their GA's to double as HVAC experts?  Well, regardless, I passed it.  So yay for that being off my shoulders!

***

Christmas was nice and quiet, just B and I.  (Except when he woke me up at 6:30 in the morning, demanding pancakes.  There was some grumbling then.)  It was a pretty lazy day, and didn't entirely feel like Christmas, but it was good.  I had ordered a package of wild game steaks from Cabela's as part of our gift for ourselves, and I grilled the Nilgai Antelope for Christmas dinner.  (Random factoid: Nilgai is native to India, but is ranched for hunting in Texas... apparently there are now more of them in Texas than in India.)  It's pretty good, tastes a bit like pork.  We're saving the rest of the package (elk, wild boar, venison, & bison) for other special occasions.

I scored big points by surprising B with a circular saw (I know!  I managed to pull off a surprise!  I was so proud of myself.) and he scored big points by visiting the Brighton store for a pair of earrings & bracelet for me (canaries! squee!).  He also used his student discount to get me Photoshop Elements 8, which I've been playing with a bit.  I'll start posting some of my experiments with it soon.

Otherwise... yeah.  I'm pretty fried.

For all you dog-nerds out there

I admit that I'm more of a cat person than a dog person, but I still love dogs.  I'd love to work with a therapy dog, or maybe even search & rescue, but ultimately my goal is to one day have enough property and a barn to turn into a sanctuary for pets that might not otherwise be adopted - long-time residents at the Humane Society, special needs, or senior pets.  It'd be fun, for one thing, to have a herd of dogs running around like crazies, but it'd feel good too, to know that I was able to provide a happy home for them.

Along these lines, I LOVE watching dog shows on TV.  I would never buy a purebred dog - I just can't justify spending the money when so many adoptable dogs are out there - but I'm not opposed to responsible breeding.  I like watching the shows to familiarize myself with the breeds, to be able to recognize them when I see them in the world.  It's like how some people can recognize what year/make/model a car is, purely trivia, but also fun to be able to ID mutts too.

Anywhoo.  Long rambling intro to this meme I found at save the pitbull, save the world.

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE A DOG FROM EACH CKC/AKC “GROUP,” WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
(excluding your own breeds)

Group 1- Sporting:  Chesapeake Bay Retriever.  My nephew has one that, while I haven't met him, has been extolled as the GREATEST dog by my mom.  And that's a big compliment from my mom!  They don't strike me as being as hyper-dumb-overbred as some of the others either, but I'm no expert.
Group 2- Hound: Irish Wolfhound.  They're just so regal.
Group 3- Working:  A Swissie.  Man, I'd put that dog to WORK in the garden, hauling a cart around for me.  That, and they just have beautiful, mushy faces.  MUSH.
Group 4- Terriers:  This is tough - I hate to admit it but I love terriers.  I think I'd have to say the Norfolk Terrier appeals the most.  Any of them would keep mice out of a barn quite nicely though.
Group 5- Toys:  Havanese.  Totally my 'old lady' dog.
Group 6- Non Sporting:  Shiba Inu.  They can be feisty, but make for a good little guard dog.
Group 7- Herding:  This is also a hard one, because I love having a super-smart dog.  I think I'll say the Belgian Tervuren piques my interest the most though.

What about you, fellow dog-nuts?  (Wait, that doesn't sound right...)  Neuter and spay, everyone!  :-)

[caption id="attachment_292" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Jake-ster, our English Foxhound/Lab mix"][/caption]

Pup Ponderings

This is our dog.  His name is Jake.  He's a Foxhound/Lab mix - a "Big Beagle" as my neighbor calls him.  He's pretty damn smart, and very goofy, but not hyper or naughty (very often) which is good.

For the most part, he likes other dogs.  He barks when they go by, but when he gets to meet them he's all play.  He does seem to dislike hairy dogs though - there are two wirey terrier mixes and an Akita in the neighborhood that he not just barks, but snarls at.  I'm sure that it's something we could work with him on, if the need arises.  But if it keeps that stupid lady with her white fuzzball from shitting on our lawn, then good.

He loves one of the neighborhood Pitties like they're brothers.  Sheriff is a BIG Pit/Rott mix, red & black brindled, and the biggest damn baby I've ever met.  The two of them whine and cry when they see each other, and play until they collapse in a big sweaty slobbery heap on the grass.  I love to see it, because we kind of want another dog.

Okay, we really want another dog.

But dogs are expensive, and we're completely broke.  We would adopt from a rescue or the Humane Society, either of which would cover most of the important vet care, but some of which would charge a pretty high adoption fee.  Then there's the food - Jake was getting Purina One Large Breed (big kibbles = actual chewing of food rather than swallowing whole), but we're switching him to some with better ingredients that's actually cheaper. 

There's also the space issue.  Our house is big enough for more than one dog, but our yard is another story.  It's postage-stamp sized, and even Jake on his own doesn't have enough room to romp like he wants to.  Two dogs?  No chance.

But right now, I think time is the biggest issue.  B's schedule is weird, and although mine is pretty stable, it still only leaves the evenings and weekends to work with a new dog that might potentially have bad habits.  I think Jake would be a great role model for another dog, but I know that's not the answer.  

But then I see this story and I want to help!  Crap.  Also doesn't help that the city of Toledo is pretty intolerant of Pits or "pit-like breeds."  Bullcrap, if you ask me.  But then the added cost of the extra insurance... yeah, definitely can't afford it.  

So, we wait, and we put together a package of toys to donate to the cause.  And I ponder the idea of fostering a litter of kittens.  And then B shoots me the evil eye.

*sigh* why do I put up with you people?

And yet, I'm still awake...

The critters had a very eventful weekend... or so you'd think if you were to walk into my living room right about now.  Lily is passed out to my left:

Jake is over on the other couch:

and Gyro is in the cat bed in the window (on top of the dog crate).

They're all racked out like they're the ones who planted all sorts of flower seeds, cleaned out the dead plants from last year, put fresh dirt in the window boxes, planted herbs in the cute little pots I painted a couple of weeks ago, washed the rug outside then dragged it back in & soaked it and the floor with Nature's Miracle to try to get rid of the cat pee smell (stupid little &$@#!'s), watered the gardens every evening, ran a million and one errands, did laundry, unloaded & reloaded the dishwasher, got groceries, cleaned the litterboxes, patched the grout in the shower... and still had time to blog about it.  

This isn't even half of what I'd initially hoped to accomplish either, but stripping wallpaper is not one of my favorite past-times, and I didn't feel like getting out the power driver to take down the coat rack that's going to be painted, so that's all been put off until next weekend.

(My herbies - Cilantro, Parsley & Basil.  The 4th pot in the back will have mint, and the tall branch is a cutting from our raspberries waiting for some Root-Tone.)

Pet Parenting 101

Things I have learned during my time as a fur-baby's momma:

• Cat health and carpet quality relies heavily upon clean kitty litter. If necessary, set an alarm on your cellphone/computer/both to remind you to clean the catboxes on a more regular basis.
• Dogs like squeaky toys because they imitate the sound of a dying animal. (Maybe it was a bad idea to get Jake that "Naughty Kitty" stuffed toy and encourage him to "get the kitty!")
• Dogs do not care what other things may be in the water they drink. Like toilet paper that didn't make it all the way down on the last flush, or B's "compost tea" mixture of rotting plant bits and rainwater in a tub on the patio that smells like methane.
• Cats, however, require pure, fresh drinking water, straight from the tap, in a fine little trickle. Sink or bathtub, either is fine, as long as it is turned on at their demand.
• Cats see things.
• Dogs are just neurotic.
• Both dogs and cats, when peeing/pooping/vomiting/harcking up hairballs in a place they shouldn't, will always choose a carpeted area to do so, rather than a tiled/hardwood area that would be ten times easier to clean after the fact.
• Cats are allowed to beg at the table (short of jumping up on the table) because it's cute when they meow/purr/butz your legs with their heads.
• Dogs are not allowed to beg at the table, because they stare/drool/whine/are annoying as hell.

I'm sure I will continue to add to this list as time goes on.

I WIN!!

I finally returned the crappy non-functioning Lexmark printer to the hell from whence it came (aka Walmart), and went to BestBuy and got an HP model instead. Fifteen minutes. That's all it took to set the thing up and get it working... wirelessly! HALLELUIA!! So now I can work upstairs and print downstairs, and B can work in the dining room and print in the living room. Plus scan AND copy.

God, why am I so excited about a damn printer?

B comes home tomorrow, thank god. Not because I missed him or anything (ok, I did, a LOT, and yes it was only a week but STILL) but because the damn dog had been completely neurotic the whole time. Every damn day I'd come home from work and there'd be something. A dish out of the sink, the entire jar of cat treats annihilated, my new box of pantyhose chewed, the corner of my scrapbook gnawed... and today, the climax: a nice steaming pile of shit in the basement. I was gone for THREE HOURS DOG, FUCK.

IsthatdaddyscarIthoughtIhearddaddyscarwheresdaddyImissdaddyIsthatdaddyscar?!?!@!*&$#!!!

*Sigh*
So hopefully tomorrow night he'll be back to normal, which means only destroying one item of Tupperware a month instead of one a day.

PS: my new haircut is perfect! Very Natalie Portman/Katie Holmes but without the bangs and the weirdness. I'll have to take a good pic & add it later.

Call me Sidney f-ing Bristow

So last week we added another four-legged critter to our menagerie, albeit temporarily. We dog-sat B's family pooch, Bailey the 90+ pound Yellow Lab. The dog doesn't have a mean bone in his body, but he is the most stubborn creature on the planet, and his training is somewhat limited despite his intelligence. But he and the Jakester get along wonderfully, so he stayed at our place for a week while the in-law's were on vacation.

So mom-in-law dropped off Bailey Beans on the Thursday before their trip, but she failed to give us any details about when they would be home and what we would need to do at that point (if she was picking him up or if we were dropping him off, what day, what time, etc).

First, that same weekend B & I had a wedding reception to attend outside Cleve-hole, and since that is the general area that the in-law's live, we decided the best course of action was to drop off both pooches at their house to chill while we were out, and then B & I would probably stay the night there in the guest apartment and make the 2-hour drive back home the next morning. Good plan, right? That is, until we realized 1 hour and 45 minutes into the drive to Cleve-hole that we had forgotten the keys to their house. B is somewhat skilled at the art of b&e however, so we weren't all that worried about it. (And no, my husband is not a felon... he was bored during the year spent in the Sandbox and taught himself how to pick locks so he could fuck with his buddies by leaving bottles of KY Warming Sensation in their footlockers.) ('Cuz we all know that it's a BIG hit with our troops.)

So upon arrival I manned the dogs while he found a way in... (details not included... you can never be too careful). Dogs ensconced, we headed to the reception and the rest of the weekend was fine.

So the following Thursday we gave the mom-in-law a call and got the scoop... they were returning Saturday, could we bring him home please. No prob! B would be out of town but I could take care of it. That is, until 1 hour 45 minutes into the drive when I realized, FUCK! I'd forgotten the damn key again. One call to B for instructions, an hour of sweat and swearing later, and I'm in. I felt so fucking empowered, it was amazing!

Oh, but it doesn't end here. Ooooh no.

I headed back to Toledo early that same afternoon, leaving Bailey on his own until the folks arrived home around 5 that evening. Not a big deal, just a few hours, right? I got home, worked in the garden, ate some dinner, read a book... then checked the clock and realized, it's 8:30 pm and they haven't called yet. So I called their house, no answer. So I called their cell.

"Hi Mom! How was your trip?"

"Oh it's so beautiful! Next year we'll all have to come up here together."

"That would be great! So you made it home okay?"

"Oh no, we're still in Boston. Our flight isn't until tomorrow you know."

"....really."

"Is everything okay?"

"Um, no... B said you had told him your flight was today."

"Oh no, tomorrow." (not realizing the impact of this yet.)

"I took Bailey home this morning."

"Oh. OH. Oh dear! I'm so sorry!"

So I loaded Jake into the car and drove the 2 hours back to Cleveland, let Bailey out for the longest pee ever, gave him his dinner about 6 hours late, and drove home again the following morning.

At least that time I remembered the key!

I was really hoping to NOT go to Cleveland again anytime soon, but we're on our way there again tonight for a concert... but at least this time there are no dogs involved.

Spring fever

I finished reading a great book the other day. Not my typical "escape literature" and not something that everyone would be interested in, but it was helpful to me so I will share it... Every Woman's Marriage is the name of it. It made me feel better, that there are some women out there who are a lot worse than I am at being a good wifey, but it also pointed out where my mistakes are coming from so I know now what it is I need to change instead of just blindly saying "I suck at being married." So it's good for me.

****

The job is going pretty well. There are days when I just can't focus on the research aspect, and I really want to establish some more interactive projects. Right now the goal is the HDExpo (Hospitality Design trade show) in Vegas in May. I'm giving a presentation at our yearly sales meeting which is exciting, and we're re-vamping the "green" story with that same deadline in mind, so that's sort of what I'm working on now, but it certainly doesn't take up all of my time. I'm heading to Chicago next week for a seminar which I'm really excited about... I definitely think it'll be better than the last one I went to even though the weather is going to be crappy over there! But it'll be an adventure... I'm taking the train, which is a first for me, and it's also my first time in the Windy City, plus the seminar is being held at the Art Institute so hopefully I'll get a chance to walk around there. The only real downer to this job is that I feel really isolated from my friends at work. Okay, so I'm not back in the side hallway with Heidi (thank god, she lacks vocal volume control), but I still feel like I'm losing touch with my pals over in Sales/Customer Sat & it's a bummer! No offense to my Accounting pals.

****

Jake is still being a jackass every now & then. He'll get bored & eat something, thankfully not anything vital like shoes or furniture, it's usually food packaging or tupperware that he pulls out of the sink. Although today I was ticked because he ate a present for someone that had been sitting on the coffee table. Totally not food related in any way so I don't know what motivated him to eat it! Now that the weather is clearing up a little (although it was freezing today!) we'll be able to walk him again & wear him out a bit. B wants to start jogging again, so he can take doggy-nuts with him.

****

I'm getting motivated about our home-decor projects! I painted the stairway last weekend (it was red before & still is red, but it needed to be re-done quite badly), and next I want to put a coat of primer on my fancy kitchen island that B made me for Christmas, then paint it. We have quite a list of projects... paint the guest room (a nice shade of blue that B's dad bought then decided he didn't like, yay free paint!), strip the wallpaper & re-paint my hobby room (no more two-tone teal, hello "Ducky" yellow, also free paint leftover from Megan's nursery!), strip the border & re-paint the dining room a nice olive(goodbye ass-peaches & assorted fruit), finish trimming out the back door, build & plant our vegetable garden, do something (anything!) to the drab kitchen cabinets... If I'm still motivated after all that I might paint the upstairs hall & the master bedroom too (they're both a peach color that isn't really that bad, but there are a lot of holes in the walls leftover from before we moved in). And yes, I realize that we don't even own this house, but we really enjoy doing this kind of thing & it's not costing us much, plus we agreed to do what we could to improve the value of the house while we lived here to justify the mondo discount we get on rent. So I get to scratch my decorating itch a bit.

****

Not much else happening really!