Brett's turn!

We need to try it again without facial hair, but his face is working better over all... lovin' the double chins

Yearbook

So I saw this on someone else's blog, but it didn't work nearly as well on my narrow face. I then did some with the face more zoomed, which took care of the gaps on the side of my face, but looked even more rediculous. May it work out better for you.

A little break for the readers

This is not a dog.
This is Alfie.
I was really lucky to get this shot because Alfie suffered a tragic death only moments later.

My Second Post

So, my first post was up for what, 5 minutes before charlotte started mocking it? That didn't take long. Keep in mind I did ask her for musical input, but she didn't have any suggestions. Know I am starting to see why she really wanted me to contribute to her blog, she just wanted one more person to mock! Now I know! So sly! In light of her recent comment on my first post, I am posting the same video a second time, but with Salty Dog as the soundtrack.

Lets vote to see which is better!

My First Post

So once upon a time charlotte wanted to add me as an author to her blog, and not being the blogging type I declined the offer. Then we got a puppy and I since several people wanted photos I thought, hey, why not make a little mini video instead? So I made one and I handed it to Charlotte, but she said the only way it would make it to the masses is if I posted it. So she kindly resent an invitation to list me as an author on her blog, opened my email account, accepted the invitation, logged me into blogger, clicked on the new post button, attached the video, and then got up and told me to finish the rest. So, here I am. The end.



p.s. Austin, I thought you would like to know that I was so close to using Salty Dog by Flogging Molly for the soundtrack.

My Father, the Accountant.

Now, I might have told my father that I would pay all of the texting charges on the bill (you know, since we get free rent and all) but since he is a true accountant at heart (not just one who got in it for the money) that can be a bit like telling a runner that he only had to run half of a marathon.

So he comes into my room today with the following piece of paper and says "I know this might seam a bit anal, but here is your phone bill" (because we added our phones onto my mother's plan).


Greater love hath no accountant, than he who doth all that work to save his daughter $1.05

Puppy Updates

Puppy is acting more like a puppy every day.

It took 3 days (sunday) for him to:
sleep in a soft kennel peacefully
almost run for short distances
bark (fortunately, not a lot)
look at a ball when we threw it
growl at the evil dog in the mirror
have his first (and so far only) in door "marking of the ficus"
show an interest in chewing things.


4 days to:
know where to potty without a leash
chase for short distances (in a puppy, bouncy-type run)
fall into the pool when jumping a hedge (when chasing brett)
come when he was called
chase the tennis ball once, and only once
half heartedly play tug of war for short periods of time

5 days to:
ignore you when you called,
sit on command
put his paws up on people at the dinner table/ on the counter where things were cooking

6 days (today) to:
chase tennis balls (or at least pounce towards them)!
sprint around the tree
get really, really excited about a homemade toy (I make the best homemade toys... my kids will have the best fun free can have).
impersonate (Imfelineate?) a cat (with aforementioned toy)
come when called (again!)
explore (with some whining) on on).


I have also been thinking for several days that he looks like a Jack Russel Terrier. I really think he might be part terrier.

Dear Tracie,

You were right. I probably will choose something regardless of your suggestions. 

Thing is, We couldn't find one we liked before we posted that. Brett did like "Lampshade" I found "Captain Butters" amusing, and even considered "Weekly." So don't feel as if your suggestions were totally useless. 

Here's how it has gone. Brett finally suggested Polo and Apollo, and yesterday I decided I couldn't keep calling him puppy. I like Apollo, but feel it is a little to long, and Polo is missing something. 

So, Sunday he was Polo. Today my mother mentioned Paulo and I rather like that. We could name him Apollo, and call him Paulo and Polo for short. I'm sure the puppy will deal with it, they are close enough, right?

I shall have you vote. 

So... Brett went to Costco

and came back with a dog and no food. Huh.

Oddly enough, it was one of the three dogs we looked at (at the pound) this wednesday... Wednesday he was not neutered, and today he is.

Which means Brett is a conniving sneak. Apparently Brett went back yesterday, and filled out the paperwork while I was still asleep.

And apparently everyone knew he was doing it except for me- which explains why he was watching dog training videos all day yesterday.

So now we have a 10 month old supposed whippet-lab mix with a case of Kennel cough. He is white with light golden brown spots.

No name yet. Someone at the pound named him "Mariah," which I am not going to keep, for obvious reasons.

HELP US NAME HIM.

Spondylolisthesis

My sister went to the E.R. Last night. She has had pain all over for a long time and has been going to doctors and pain management, etc. She finally decided to go get an MRI (or her boyfriend dragged her stubborn self there...I am not certain) in the middle of the night because of the intense pain. They said she has Spondylolisthesis, pain meds don't help, and the doctor said it is too dangerous for her to go back to work (which seems to be driving her crazy). She has an appointment with the specialist on Wednesday, and might have to have surgery.

Poor Poor Ceese.

Garage Contrast

START
Finally took pictures of the finished studio.
Before

After

Before (well, after he put up the insulation, but before the rest).

Middle

After

Still After (these shelves are going to fill up rather quickly. Props Props Props)

And then with my curtains closed (so that my props don't show up in reflections when I photograph.)

Before(-ish)

Middle


End. I have the stuff to put up the black-out curtains, but haven't done it just yet. I let Brett put his Dillon Press in there, but I will cover it up with a black sheet.

The pipe is painted black. I like to drape my sync and power cords over ti. I always hate having long cords on the floor... to step on, trip on, etc.


Ta da...


And now brett came up with a hook and pulley system so that we can have the bikes lie flat against the rafters. The blue one is one we found in the garage that I plan to use, but I am not so certain that I am going to like it, but it is free.

juarritos.

I've always wanted to try these soda's. A few weeks ago we had dinner with friends of mine, and then came back for a game. Naturally we had to have a treat, so I bought one of every flavor and we had a tasting. We didn't make it through them all though. Maybe next time.


The "super Kolashampane"Tastes like Barques Red Cream soda..

Cerise

A cerise is a cherry, a francophone cherry to be precise. It says things like, "s'il vous plait, ne me mangez pas," or is that "s'il vous plait, ne me mangiez pas?" My francais is rather rusty.

Cerise also happens to be my lovely sister. From my understanding, it was my father's turn to name a child, and he decided to name her after his brother-in-law's girlfriend (who is now my aunt). I'm not sure that he named her after my aunt as much as liked the name and thought "oh boy! wouldn't it be fun if we had a daughter who's name rhymes with mine (and technically my eldest brother's) so that she can take my business calls and I can talk to her friends into the wee hours of the night?"

annnnnnnnnnnnd back to the point.
My sister visited here in July, shortly after I moved down. We went to the pound with her and... oh gosh. I don't remember what else we did. We played ticket to ride once, watched a movie (in which I learned that, much like my mother, Cerise cannot hold still during a movie), and bought matching shirts (we must have been deprived as children).

Here are a few of the photos from her visit:

She has difficulty posing without props.


It is way unfortunate that this one came out looking like an engagement pose. I should try cropping it because it is really cute of her and daddy.



I liked her hair, but short hair has turned out to be far too high maintenence for my taste.


I'm stylin' in my boyscout bandana.


if only


I love this one


Picking on me.