Dentists in the Family?

...You be the judge.

I should note that this is an activity that takes place after most meals. The two psychomutts shove their faces into one anothers' mouths and do a thorough cleaning. It's pretty gross, but fantastically entertaining. Sort of like the oft-referred to "train wreck". Anyway. This is the best shot I've gotten of it so far, as they seem to be easily distracted from the task at hand when they hear the camera wind up.

Keeping Up Attention Spans

In an effort to keep you coming back, and to force myself into more regular or at least more frequent posting, I have returned this evening to give you photos of some stuff I've seen recently:



One of my favourite/must visit places in Lawrence, Kansas. Waxman Candles. I have a box full of candles here at the house, but I *had* to buy more when I was there. It's just what ya do. I also prefer to give gifts from there above any other place, so it's nice to have stock on hand.



Another favourite, and home of the Sweet Sweet Salsa, is La Familia. Also in Lawrence, it sits next to The Bottleneck, another mecca of sorts, for the musically inclined. Soooo many good shows there. I was spoiled. At any rate, La Familia. Yummy yummy mexican, and the sweet salsa is the thing around which all other foods are consumed. mmmmmm

And that's it for now. I've promised the pups a walk in the morning before work. That means 4am. Yawn.

wonderment

I got carded today at the grocery store. That was a nice moment.

Aside from that there is so much going on that I don't really have a lot to say. I'm not really feeling 100% at the moment, although I'm not sure why. I don't feel sick in a physical way, besides having a slight headache. I'm sleepy and a bit stressed, and I'm sure that's an unfortunate combination for any living organism.

Anyway. The arbitration hearing for my craptastic Xterra was yesterday. Should have some results from that in a week or so.

Every time my phone rings I expect it to be my mother or Aunt with news of Grandma Tocco's whereabouts, be it in this world or the next. She's been hanging on for something like three weeks now, in true Gran fashion...(Eddie Izzard. wot a gem he is) I got to talk to her today, which is a bit misleading of course, because it was more that I talked *at* her. She's hardly in the mood to waste precious energy talking back to me, is she? She's got a long trip ahead! :D At any rate it was nice to say my hellos and goodbyes to her, and it really got me all teary eyed for the first time since I found out she was very ill.

Anyway. Perhaps those things are preoccupying my upper consciousness and making me feel out of sorts. Perhaps I just need to sleep more and worry less. Maybe I just need chocolate and a cuddle with my honeys. That always seems to cure all ills.

4.5 hours

...is a long time to spend alone in an airport with your thoughts. Thoughts like "Where is the closest water fountain? Are there bathrooms in this prison of Gate 32? Why aren't there sleeping cots for situations like this? How come all the people selling food and entertaining cryptoquote books got to go home? Why is the ceiling a webbed matrix of concrete diamonds? And how long has it been since they cleaned under those waiting room seats?"

Our flight was grounded in Detroit for inclement weather. The lady at the check in counter teased me mercilessly, saying they were putting us on a different flight and would be going out around the same time anyway, and not to worry. Twice she told me this; I double checked before I went through the search and seizure gates, because my best friend lives just minutes from the airport and I could have just had her come back for me. No, no, you're switching planes, no worries.

So in I went, only to sit for the next four hours listening to announcements stating that indeed we would not be leaving until 11:55....12:20...12:35...12:55...1:15...

We were able to start boarding our flight at around 1:15am (KC time), but the storm that had caused all this delay in the first place seemed to have made a phenomenal track SE to KC, and was now pummelling the tarmac with monsoon-like rains. We'd watched the lightning show for an hour or so before the flight arrived, with little more than a slight rumble of thunder as accompaniment. As soon as our plane touched down, though, all bets were off.

After another 30 minutes or so of on-board waiting, we were off. Flying into and through the storm might have been a fun time--the bouncing and jostling something akin to my favourite roller coaster or a good bike ride--had it not been for the fact that we were several thousand feet in the air.

We did land in Phoenix with no further problems at around 2:30am, I think. It's all a bit fuzzy at this point. I had been scheduled to work at 6am today, but luckily had the forethought to call my boss during the 4 hour hiatus. He swapped me with our AGM, so I'm closing tonight which sucks in all kinds of ways, but at least I got some rest. I can be fully alert for the madness of being the only closing manager on my first shift back in nearly two weeks. Hooray!

Anyway, I'm home, and I'm happy, and the dogs are whining for attention, so I'm off to rub some puppy belly. Ciao for now....

On My Summer Vacation I . . .

Picked rocks, hickory nuts, and walnuts from the yard. I hauled logs up to the deck for winter fires. I cleaned abandoned bird nests from the birdboxes. I stuck my arm up to the elbow in a pvc pipe filled with mud and leaf sludge in an attempt to get the gutters running more smoothly. I climbed a tree with a bowsaw in hand and cut down an errant limb. I shoveled mulch and swept the driveway. I tried, and failed, to figure out the problem with my parents' printer. [EDIT: I wrote this up yesterday and it wouldn't publish from my folks' computer...this morning I DID fix the printer!]

I also had some really good grub (thanks mom!), got to walk around inside a house in the process of being built (If you've never built your own house, you will not understand why this is cool. Parents have "built" at least two of our houses, and I will forever be enthralled with the process, and consequently love walking around in unfinished homes.), and faced down the neighbourhood bully-dog(he's really just a misunderstood soul that needs to be loved).

I've been at my folks' house since Sunday evening, and had to quickly get over the aforementioned tree-freakout, since they are surrounded by greenness of all shapes sizes, and manner. When we sit out on the deck, I hear frogs and owls and all manner of fauna. Probably some flora, too--the trees tend to creak as they sway in the woods behind the house. Armadillo come on the deck to eat the cat's food, as do racoons. Dad tries to shoo them away, but I'd rather just watch them and pretend I'm on some kind of lame safari. It's a wilderness of sorts here, lush and homey. This is what I miss when I look out on the desert of Arizona.

Thoughts on Trees

So it's Wednesday, and I'm in Kansas City. There was a fairly spectacular storm outside my airplane window on the ride up, but fortunately it was far enough away that we got to enjoy the light show without any disruption of smooth sailing.

It was dark when we drove away from the airport last night and through the winding streets to Kimbra's house. This means that my shock at once again being surrounded by grass and trees had to wait until this morning. Sweet V's hiccoughs (Okay, actually it wasn't *technically* her hiccoughs that woke me up...it was the fact that they were so cute that I was giggling to myself. I giggled myself awake.)awoke me around 7:30am (Phoenix time), and she distracted me from the great outdoors for rather a long time with her amazing cuteness.

Anyway, when I looked outside I was a bit overwhelmed with the greenery. It's just...a lot. And it's close. I drove to Tasty Thai to pick up lunch and felt almost claustrophobic as I drove down the tree-lined street. A very unusual sensation, since I am the one who protested most vehemently about the lack of trees and green in Arizona. Truth is, I've gotten used to the barrens, and now the trees are kinda freaking me out. Don't get me wrong, it is beautiful, and given a choice, I would live with trees and grass...but it is hard to get used to again after so much wide-openness and rocks and scrub.

So there you have it. The Trees are weirding me out.

Full Suss!

er...I accidentally hit "enter" after typing the title to this entry, and it actually posted just a title. Odd.

I just wanted to beam a bit about the fact that I went for a ride on my NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE this morning, and for the first time in ages, I don't feel as though I've been pummeled by 1,000 angry fists!

Russell found out about a bike shop close to both his work and my work, and where a co-worker of his had recently gotten a bike and/or gear. We went to check it out on Saturday morning before I went to work, and I got all jazzed again about the prospect of getting new wheels. I went back in yesterday after work and rode this bike and a Fuji Diamond something-or-other. We tweaked the hell out of the Jamis so it would feel right, and after almost 2 hours I decided to take the plunge. It's a full suspension bike, and is rather heavier than I'd like, but I really don't have $2000 to spend on a featherweight fs. :) The extra weight just means I'll get more of a workout and be in better shape!

I'm very excited about it, and a little sad that I'm leaving for 10 days and won't get to ride!! I'm also very excited that Russell is showing an interest in riding as well; I can't tell you how cool it would be to go riding with him. We got to go a couple times before we moved from Oklahoma, and I can't wait to do it again.

So yeah, I'm going to Kansas City tomorrow. Woohoo! I'll be staying with my best friend for a few days, going to the KC Renaissance Faire, and then, hopefully, going to see my parents for a few days. Mom has had to suddenly go to Indiana to be with *her* mother, but hopefully everything will work out okay and she'll get to come home in time so that I can visit her. If not, Dad, I guess if you want some help around the house, you'll have to make the trip to KC to pick me up yourself! :D

I gotta run and get ready for work. ciao!

Fat Cyclist

Could apply to me, but really it's just a funny funny man trying to get his body back by biking. Check out the right hand sidebar. He's raising money for the MS 150. Brilliant.

rawr

That's my power-yell. When I'm feeling defiant or strong or just plain ornery. I haven't written in a while partially because there was nothing really to write about and partially because there was just too much in my head to get down on paper. Haha! I really just typed that. I used to keep a paper journal. Somewhere there is a box or boxes full of little fabric covered journals, detailing my teenage and college years in excruciatingly mundane ways.

At any rate. Here's something that's been in my brain of late: Triathlons. I did my first Tri almost exactly two years ago, and it was a great great thing. Then all hell sorta broke loose in that we bought a house, moved, sold a house, and moved again within a year's time. Things were a bit bonkers, and I lost sight of goals like fitness and competition. But a few months ago I was reading my Shape Magazine and saw a little blurb about Slow Fat Triathlete. It sounded like a fun read, and a useful one for a casual wanna-be competitor like myself. I finally got around to ordering it (after several unsuccessful attempts at finding it locally) online and have been singing its praises ever since. I'm pretty sure Russell is sick of hearing about it, so I'll dump the kudos on you lot for a change.

The book is not a high-tech, all fired precision approach to Triathlons. It's an affirmation to anyone with secret dreams of competing who might feel held back by nagging thoughts of ineptitude--on any level, whether fitness, mental strength, or physique. When the author started competing in running races, she weighed over 200lbs. She discovered triathlons shortly thereafter and decided to give it a go, despite having a body that most people would be loathe to show in shorts and a tank top, much less a neoprene wet suit.

She stresses, time and time again, that *anyone* can compete--it's not just for elite athletes. Don't compare yourself to others, and don't give a damn what anyone else thinks--just get out there and do what you can and what you enjoy. Don't wait until you've reached a perfect level of fitness or until you feel you look hot in your spandex bike shorts... just get out there and do it!

That's the short version. It's a great read so far, and it has really inspired me to get moving again. The fact that the temperature has started dropping a bit recently hasn't hurt, either. :) It was only 101 today!!

Anyway. That's my spiel. Check out the book--even if you aren't interested in triathlons, it's a hilarious read, and inspirational for all aspects of life!

Through The Ringer

So yesterday I got a call from the hospital where I had my mammogram last week. They wanted to get some more views of my right breast, and when could I come in. No explanation, really, and very casual. They happened to have an appointment available this morning at 8:30am, which I immediately jumped at. If there was something going on, I wanted to know sooner rather than later.

So on a day that I didn't have to work until 2pm, I dragged my groggy ass out of bed at 6:30am. I drove down to the John C. Lincoln Breast Care Hospital and had my right boob lifted, adjusted, prodded, and smooshed three more times. The first time I'd gone in it really wasn't so bad--sadly comical more than anything--you never want to see your boob smashed flat to popping status under a bit of plexiglas. This time, they were really going for a good view, and DAMN. If you've never had a mammogram, they basically try to flatten out your boob to take an xray of it. You feel a bit like a puppet as they move not only your breast, but your entire body--hips, shoulders, arms--to get the best "sitting" of the breast on the xray plate. Then there is another flat bit of plastic--clear with black D shapes on it, apparently to indicate where the breast is supposed to fit in--that moves in to crush you against the xray plate.

Anyway. After the second set of screens were taken the nice lady that took the shots (the mammogramologist? seems too unwieldy a title) informed me that the radiologist still wanted a better look and was requesting an ultrasound. However, there was not a room available (and it was iffy at that) until around 11am. She assured me that it wasn't really anything to worry about, and sent me home with a card and a number to call in an hour's time.

So, feeling a bit brutalised and a lot concerned--despite Sharon's assurances--I headed home for a bit. When I called back, I was told that they could work my ultrasound in at 11:30am, so back I went. Not knowing how long it would last, but knowing full well about doctor's schedules, I'd already called work and told them I might be late--or absent, depending on the outcome of my visits. Good thing too, because they were finally able to work me in a little after 1pm.

The ultrasound itself was pretty cool. She turned the monitor so I could see what was coming up, and explained how the process worked, and what she was looking for. All I saw was a lot of white stripes and grey and black blobs. But she seemed to be making sense of it somehow. She took a couple of snapshots and headed off to the radiologist once again to see what he could see. I cleaned up the goo they use for the ultrasound (it's sticky and slimy all at the same time.ugh.), and sat down to wait.

Sharon came in a bit later and told me, basically, that everything is fine. I have some calcification going on that they were concerned about, but after all that mauling and whatnot they have concluded that the calcifications are benign. Normal wear and tear, I'm told. Shouldn't have to worry about another mammogram until I hit 40 (but I can pretty much tell you right now that I'm going to request another one 3 years from now, if not sooner).

I made it to work around 3:30pm, and still have not removed my wrist band from the hospital. I guess it's sort of my Badge of Courage for the day. I feel pretty exhausted, mentally and physically. I'm sore. I'm happy. There were a couple hours during the day today that I was going through all the "what-ifs". Wondering what would happen, how I would tell people--especially my family, how it would affect my life... I have always wished I'd been less blessed in the curve department, and I was pretty terrified for a bit today that I'd get my wish of a reduction. Scary stuff.

But it's all good. I'm keeping the girls for now. I'll bitch and complain that I can't find shirts that fit properly. I'll hold 'em when I go downstairs, and I'll continue to put on two sports bras when I go for a run or a bike ride. And you know what?? I'll LIKE IT!

whelmed

Not currently *over*whelmed. Just whelmed.

I was reading some of my other favourite blogs, and feeling a bit bitchy about the fact that a couple of them haven't updated in a while when I remembered that I haven't jotted anything of note here in over a week. I haven't heard any complaints, so I guess no one is missing me, but still. Far be it from me to bitch about something I'm so guilty of. So, in order that I may bitch free from guilt, here's my update.

1) got the lawnmower back from Small Engine World last week. Apparently the carborator(sp) was jacked from all the rainwater, so they replaced that and gave it a general tune up and it's as good as new to the tune of about $40. Well worth it, I'd say. It took several passes at the 18" grass to get it managable again, but the dogs will no longer have to fret at having grass tickle their butts when they try to poop.

2) after spending rather a long time in the yard yesterday doing said mowing, I ended up with a gargantuan migraine that I thought was going to render me permenently blind. It snuck up on me, and by the time I thought to take anything, it was already full swing, causing dizziness, nausea, and aforementioned blindness. Russell put me to bed around 7pm and I thrashed around for about 2 hours before finally falling asleep. I slept until about 8:30 this morning. Go figure. Less sun, more water for me.

3) I finally got the two new tubes and tires put on my bike, along with new handlebar grips--as my old ones were disintegrating at an alarming pace. I took it for a ride the other night, and so far all systems are go. Woohoo. It's even been Tolerably Warm out the last few days, instead of the usual Stiflingly Hot. When I say "warm" let me just clarify that it's only 93 degrees outside instead of 105. Russell even put the top down on the convertable yesterday on his way home. Fall is on it's way, folks!

4) I'm beside myself with joy becuase I'm going back to KC for a week in September. My best friend had a baby, as you know if you've been paying attention, and I'm going to go meet her! I'm also going to get a chance to hit up the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, do some shopping in Lawrence, KS (sigh, how I miss that place), and visit my folks in Missouri for a couple of days. I haven't taken a vacation....ever. And although this isn't very luxurious or exotic, I really can't think of anyplace I'd rather go right now.

So there you have a brief history of the past week or so. I can go bitch to my fellow bloggers now....

Read This!

I've said it before, I'll say it again. You must readDooce.

Thursday grog

I'm fuzzy today. Had diffuculty waking up this morning, and I think that was due, in large part, to the wacko dreams I had last night. There were two primaries, and they were entwined in such a way that, while I knew I was dealing with two hugely separate issues, I had to treat it as one big problem.

As most dreams go, I can't really describe what was happening--it's mostly gone at this point. One of the big themes, though, was that I was doing a triathlon and had forgotten my bike. And all of my gear. And sportsbras and socks and shoes... I finished up the swim part in fine shape, but when I got out of the water I realised I was completely screwed. This realisation was followed by much running around and scrambling for gear--including going back to my family's house in Siloam Springs, Arkansas (we haven't lived there for over 10 years!) where I discovered a broken/rotted garage door.

The other part of the dream was that this triathlon was happening as something of an aside in a big camp/getaway thing. We had been setting up camp just before the seemingly spontaneous start of the tri, and I remember seeing various couples go off to their little white tents together. And a LOT of laundry.

Anyway, when I have dreams like that--rather detailed (at least at the time) and particularly stressful--I just never feel rested upon awaking.

As a not-altogether-unrelated-aside, I got a lot done yesterday, including some yard work and taking the lawnmower to a repair shop. (Sorry, David, but I would rather let someone else take it apart and make it better--at least until I get my own air-conditioned shop with all tools at the ready and no need to clean it up at the end of the day!) I think all the sunshine and heat must've wilted my brain cells a bit, causing the restless night.

The B&S, For NoviDavid

Okay, here it is...The Lawnmower.


I will be impressed if you can tell from a few crappy photos and a description what I need to do!
I have cleaned out the fuel filter and changed the spark plug, but it appears that I'm getting no spark. The mower was left outside all of last fall, and it rained quite a bit. The fuel could be contaminated, but the lack of spark is--I think--the primary issue. I'm a bit wary to take it apart myself, although I have found some nice online instruction on DIY mower maintenance.
What's your verdict, Mister Fixit? :D

Farewell, Crowley

Crowley is free. After a week of wondering if he would ever eat, whether his cage was the right temperature, etc. etc., we decided to return him to the "wild". He was released a few days ago under a big bush in the front yard. Shortly thereafter it stormed madly for 1/2 hour or so, blowing up dust and torrentially raining for about 5 minutes. I hope he's okay. We just figured he'd be better off out there where he belongs--we can always get a captive born snake that is past the fiddly bit of having the first meal/first shedding... Miss him, though.

Hold for Heat

Seems like everything in my world is on hold due to the heat.

I need to do some yard work: It's too hot to work outside.

I need to change the tire on my mountain bike: It's too hot to work in the garage, and besides, if I'm not riding at 3am, it's too hot to ride.

I need to clean out the spare room and bring some things in from storage: The boxes need to be broken down for recycling, which involves going outside where it is--you know the story--too hot.

I have done the ironing and hooked my speakers up to my stereo finally. I called the AZ Herpetological Society and not gotten much helpful information about Caring for Crowley. I called the lawmmower repair shop down the street and was told it's about a $20 charge to walk in the door and have them look at the machine, and $54/hour for repairs. The exorbitantly expensive lawn care guy I "interviewed" last week suggested another place a ways from here, but they only charge $16/hour labour and he claims they do good work. Convenience, or far less expense? The lady at the shop I called today suggested that I check a particular cable, so I'll start there...but you know what? It's just too damn hot to mess with right now!

as requested

This is our little wee one, aka Crowley.

This photo was taken about 10 minutes ago, when I finally turned off his light and he decided to make an appearance. I think he's about 7" or 8" long, and his head is about as big as my pinky fingernail. He hasn't eaten his crickets yet, but I put some actual water in his bowl this morning (in lieu of the gel stuff), and he drank and drank. It was *very* cool to watch. I'm thinking we may have to take the crickets out and put fresh ones in--after we cut them down to size a bit. Apparently these little guys can take up to one and a half times their girth in food size, but even so these crickets might be too big.

It's late and I have to work in the morning, so enjoy the snake...oh, and this precious photo of Bucket. It's one I like to call "Barfight!"


Precious, ain't he?

New Addition!

No, not *the* child band of the 80s. Not construction on our home. A new mouth to feed!
I came home laaaate the other night (it's a long story involving a trip to the store, leaving my purse, and stopping for fuel sans money) and found a tiny little baby version of a Night Snake--larger version seen here--


in the garage just by the back door. He's sooo tiny--his eyes aren't even open, and we're not entirely sure what to feed him at this point, but he's curled up cozily in his rock pile in the terrarium I picked up yesterday. I'm headed to the petstore in a bit to pick up some itty bitty worms or insects for him. Apparently hatchlings don't normally eat until after the first shedding, but we have no idea if he as or not. I think not--he's too little. He will grow to be about 18-24" long, and is non-poisonous to humans (his saliva is apparently bad news for lizards and smaller amphibians).

I'm thinking of calling the Arizona Herpetological Society to see if they have any suggestions about feeding, but there is a plumber in the garage at the moment, and I can only be available to so many people at one time!

2 Things

I will never understand:

1) Why people let their dogs run off leash. It is dangerous to the dogs, it is dangerous to other critters, and it is dangerous to other people. Mostly is it dangerous to the dogs. And did I mention that it was dangerous to the dogs? This morning while walking Bucket, we ran into not one, but two dogs that were running off leash. Of course one of them ran up to Bucket and got in his face, and of course he freaked out and started acting like an overexcited heathen. With two hands on the leash and a prong collar around his neck I had a difficult time pulling him away. Psycho hounds notwithstanding, what if the unleashed dogs spotted a rabbit or lizard (this place is lousy with both) and ran out in front of a car? What if they cornered a scorpion or snake? It boggles my mind why people allow their dogs to run loose.

2) Why are all genius rock gods tiny little men? Prince. Ben Folds. Beck.
I rest my case. But why?

Gah!

TAG!!!

I got tagged by Shannon.

What was I doing 10 years ago:
I was 25 years old, living in Lawrence, Kansas and I had a colouring book page of a baby chicken up on my front door that said "I am a chick." My next door neighbour used to wake me up at 3:30am by beating on my front door and demanding that I make him a sandwich. I slept with a kilt pin under my pillow, because it was the closest thing I had to a weapon. I worked at an indie record store and went to free concerts all the time, and was up to my eyeballs in cool new music.
5 years ago:
I had just moved back to Lawrence from Omaha, where I'd lived for about three years with my then honey. I was working at Science City at Union Station, where I stage managed an amazing Jazz Show called "After Hours" starring the McFadden Brothers.
1 year ago:
I was trying to sell our new house in Oklahoma City so that I could move to Arizona to be with Russell.
Yesterday:
I worked at the store and then came home and played World of Warcraft until bedtime.

Snacks I enjoy:
1.anything chocolate
2.wasabi peas
3.ginger chews
4.cheese (mmm, cheese...good call, Shanny)
5.more chocolate

5 songs I know all the words to:
1.Fuck You--Ani Difranco (
2.Any David Garza tune
3.Kilkelly Ireland
....oh, who am I kidding, I have an uncanny way of learning the words to just about any tunes I'm currently listening to. Now, whether or not those are the *correct* words is another question entirely.

5 Things I would do with a $100 million:
1.pay off all our bills
2.buy two new mt. bikes, a road bike, and a tri-bike
3.invest well
4.take a trip to the British Isles
5.buy a pony

5 Locations I would like to run away to:
1.UK
2.New Zealand
3.someplace with lots of green and not a lot of heat
4.Kansas City to visit Kimbra and her new baby
5.Africa

5 Bad habits I have:
1.picking at scars
2.thinking, planning, or playing WoW every moment of the day
3.eating far too much refined sugar
4.knowing it all
5.using "..." waaaay too much (me too, Shanny, me too!)

5 Things I like doing:
1.mt. biking (although I don't do it nearly enough these days)
2.being outdoorsy
3.learning new stuff (how do you think I became such a know it all?)
4.making lists and crossing things off them
5.playin' with the hounds

5 TV shows I like:
err...I don't really watch much tv as I'm nearly always on the 'puter, but I *used* to love these shows (most are now off the air)
1.Keen Eddie
2.John Doe
3.Firefly (soon to be a movie! Woot!)
4.Scrubs
5.anything--and I mean anything--on HGTV, TLC, Discovery, or BBCA

5 Biggest joys of the moment:
1.Russell cleaned the HELL out of the house because we are possibly being inspected in the next few days/week, and it looks AMAZING!
2.I don't have to work tomorrow, so we have the day off together.
3.there is ice cream waiting for me downstairs
4.it's chocolate ice cream
5.Russell and I are going to eat that ice cream and curl up and watch a movie tonight...a date!

5 Favorite toys:
1.Bucket
2.Delilah
3.Russell
4.this computer
5.my outdoorsy girl stuff

5 next victims:
I will not inflict this on anyone else! PFFFFTTTT!