Scitzofrantic Dog?

leg trying to steal bone


At some point this dog may really break the skin on his own leg. Such confusion.....I almost feel sorry for him, but then I too have schitofranitc episodes.

Help A Pup Out!

So Orson is in the running fr the Cutest pet and by golly I believe that he is! Please click here and vote for him! Every vote counts!

Client Service

For all of the designers, copy writers, and developers that I have worked with in the past, present, and for those of you I will work with in the future....My Apologies....this video hits so close to home....Were they my client at one time?

How Social Can I be????

Do you ever feel this way?

Three weeks in the life

So too much has happened in the past three weeks for me to really catch up on in detail, but all of them were financially or emotionally draining... Life is a real balancing act....

In the RED

• I had to buy a new car (traumatic experience. I hate used cars salesmen although I got a fantabulous deal!)




• Orson had a skin tag that was the size of a roach and it needed to be looked at and biopsied. However, after the $130.00 biopsy it fell off. What was the use? Can I get a refund?




• Patio STILL needs more landscaping and the dogs STILL like to dig up the new landscaping...I saved my newest Japanese Maple (THIS WEEK)



• Really, I had to attend 1 wedding shower and 2 baby showers and I have 2 baby birthdays coming up in the next 2 weeks



• Flew to Louisville for 2 days of meetings got home and then drove to Galveston/Houston



• Attended 2 weddings in 2 weekends



• Met Seans entire family



• Got a RockStar hair dew for a whopping $200.00....Seriously I could have paid the local kids to paint my hair red and white for the 4rth and it would cost me .50

Moving in the right direction

• I cleared out my closets and gave two HUGE bags of clothes to Goodwill. Seriously, I didn't know I had so many clothes and some I will never fit in again unless I get cancer.....



• Next is the shed (Don't Ask)



• Decided to run the half marathon in December and blog my way through my training starting with tonight's 3 mile run!



• Finally had a party to bless the patio and decided that I need to add on to the patio....UG more work around the corner

Just reviewing my past three weeks has exhausted me...I think I need a nap before my first run.

June has been a Joy

Well, I know that it has been a while since my last post but it has been a crazy few weeks with work, finding someone to cut the trees down that were eating my house and defecating all over the roof, and getting the bald cat taken care of....Yes I said bald....
Well the past three weeks have flown by...litterally! I guess when I finished the patio we survived a few huge storms that hit the hood, and well with the shape that the trees over my house were in I was lucky not to have any major damage! I was in a perdicament! They are my neighbors trees and already knocked the vent off my roof like a flying saucer! I have been told a few things and all by "homeowner, tree trimmer, city ordinance experts!" RIGHT! Well, first I was told that it is my neighbors responsabilty to take care of those trees and he/she/ what ever corporation is that owns the house are liable for any damage that is done. GREAT! Now I just need to find out who owns the house...the neighbors are renters, and a bit on the ODD side....There is no owner listed in Dallas Cad, however there is a LTD corp. That doesn't lead to ANY numbers or street address! and TRUST me I am a fabulous internet sleuth! This was convienent..... Well, regardless of whether or not I got intouch with the allusive owner..I had to get them cut....SO I called up the local tree trimming service in my neighborhood and for a mere $350.00 they would climb my house and cut down those intrusive trees!

Check out how bad it was!


As you can see I was afraid that with one swift gust of wind and my house would be demolished and probably replace with a McMasion..but I won't digress,....

So, Saturday June 7th I was awoken at 7am to the sound of chain saws....As, I peeked out the window all that was in view was ONE woman, ONE man, and a truck with a trailor full of edgers....WHAT THE.....It wasn't until I stepped outside in my pj's to wave good morning that I noticed three other guys climbing upside down up my tree with chainsaws dangling from their wastes.......It just looked like a scene from Jungle boy but thank goodness they were wearing more than a sarong! Feeling a bit better about the number on hands on deck or in this case on my roof I went back to sleep for a few hours and listened to the gentle sound of chain against wood and wood agains my roof!

In 1.5 hours they prevailed and see the damage control that was removed.....














Atleast now Orson, Clyde, and Bonnie the Bald can sleep in peace.....

Speaking of Bonnie the Bald...OMG I took off Friday to get my car registered and take her to the vet. First off, I freaked out when I remeberend she is 4.5 years old! DANG, and she is already bald on 80% of her body (hence the vet visit). When she first started cleaning herself relentlessly I immediatly thought it was Orson...but then it continued and continued and she became OBESSED with it until one day she was drinking out of her bowl and looked more like Gollum off Lord of the Rings, than Bonnie my sweet Black kitty....so off we went....

I was so embarrassed by the state of my cat (and wanted to kill two birds with one sotne with teh car registration) that I drove to Rockwall to the old family vet. (sorry no pictures...Bonnie is a bit camera shy at the moment and well...her fur is a bit thin and I don't want her getting a bulb burn). It comes to be that she has a food allergy..a FREAKING food allergy. She has to eat an exotic diet. A diet with a protein source that she never has had before, Rabbit, Venison, Wild Boar..etc....AND I can only get her food from the vet! ITS $35 a BAG (8lbs) *&%$%&* UG She is going to break me. She has been on the food for about 10 days and has started gaining fur back (thank goodness).

Headed off to the Great White North

Its hard to say "see ya later" to old friends. Especially those who you recently came back in contact with. My dear friend Lamanda, who was in my sorority with me YEARS ago, is moving to Minneapolis. funny how 6 degrees of seperateion work, but she is very close friends with my close friend Cindy's best friend and over the past XX years has been hanging out with her all the while living 10 minutes from me......about 3 weeks ago we all connected the dots and had dinner..then last night we had to say see ya later, since she is moving tomorrow! Great news is I am definetly going to visit esp since I go to Chicago and MN for business occassionally. Anyway we had dinner at Javiers YUMMMMM and then went to have a dance off at the Slip inn.....

It was a great night!

TA DAH!

Well, I am finally sitting on my patio on my new patio furniture drinking a glass of VINO! Today I am done working! I have put together the furniture with the help of my neighbor Linda! and then put in the landscape edging (40ft) of it around so I can start moving dirt and plan the planting next weekend!

Enjoy the pics as I enjoy my wine!

Finito!!!!!

Check it out...we finished last night and did final leveling and tamping today! Tomorrow I will fill in the edges with dirt and then we will fill the gaps with a concrete sand mixture! SO PRETTY!!!



Its definitely BBQ time!

Last NIght 10:45pm

Deflated!

Yep...no pictures of a completed patio today! We were 7 stones from the final completed patio last night at 8:30pm! Until we stopped to rest and take a look at the project. With the light and from our view the patio was looking, well, to put it nicely -wobbley- so last night instead of placing that final stone and celebrating the victory....we ripped up ALL the stone to start FRESH today! :(

Tonight begins my patio re-construction...

Progress

More progres was made late into the night last night! Sean and I put down about half of the pallet of stone...Slowly and surely it is coming together like a puzzle with 100 lb pieces! I need to keep this up it is a great way to stay in shape!

Just think tomorrow there will be a full patio and a pic of us sitting on it with wine glass in hand!

Ciao

Introducing my backyard!

Well, I finally decided to tackle the backyard. All the DIY network tv shows make building things such as patios and flower beds look so easy...Well, I will declare that it is NOT.

So, here we are after 2 days of digging, excavating and prepping the patio and I have a big hole in the ground with 500 lbs of gravel and sand in it! Sounds fantastic huh! So, below are the fabulous before pics of the yard!

Image 1 is the fabulous chain link fence that divides my house from my neighbors! Did I mention that I hate chain link fences...









Here is the location of the patio...before excavation. Don't you just love the landscaping!










Now the picturesque back of the house and my always running air conditioner. Note the Cannas growing up to eventually take over the back yard and add color to the blah space. Also, take note of my latest test fencing! It is a bamboo roll that is held to the chain link by zip ties! I love the fact that in a few days you won't see the eye sore of a fence again!










Finally the great scape that I call my back yard!

Now that you are acquainted with the space. Please take a look at what was accomplished this weekend by myself! Not that Sunday afternoon my parents and Sean didn't stop by and help out....but by then the excavation had taken place....how Convenient.

After 3 trips to Home Depot, 1 trip to a rock quarry, relocating 2,500 lbs of dirt, and dumping 500lbs of gravel and sand.....here we are today!

After Digging Day 1

End of Day 2










Til tonight!!!











In my dreams!!!!

Down to the Wire

Well Well, it is down to the wire!

Texas Primaries are tomorrow! Don't forget to vote! I know, I know...I am not a political corespondent, hell, I am not event that political...but I feel strongly that we need to show up and ROCK OUR VOTE! In case you don't know if you are registered and you don't know where to go.....Check out Texas Voter Information Website. They will take your DL information and let you know if you are registered...If you are...you can also find where you need to vote HERE....Check it out!

I'll be at my polling location bright eyed and bushy tailed (weather permitting) at 7am!

Hope to see you there!

My Dearest Dallas, how I love to hate you!

Dear Dallas,

Oh how I love to hate you!

Seriously, having grown up around this town it is sad to see how you have changed. I may add that not all is bad, not all, is deliberate, but it has had an affect on those inhabitants whom we call (actually they call themselves) Dallas-ites! Let me tell you my story, dearest Dallas!

I grew up looking at you from a distance, 23 miles to be exact, but visited your precious core so often for small things like movies, malls, and food! I loved visiting Northpark with her sprawling hallways and spacious stores. I remember when you COULD find a parking spot there anytime of the year and valet was optional at most places (not mandatory). I never knew these thins couldn't last!

I was growing up and it was time for me to head west for college. After being gone for a mere 4.5 years I missed the big needle in the sky and Deep Ellum Music Scene. I returned home after graduation to find my precious town had turned from JR Ewing to Rhinestone Cowboy in a breath takingly quick 4.5 years. Immediately I was stunned by the influx of young people and all their BMW's, flashy clothes, and Neiman Marcus credit cards! I mean.....where did these people work and how could they afford to live in that NEW area called uptown? I was a measly 23, fresh out of college and making less than 20K a year AT Neiman Marcus....So WHAT DID I DO WRONG and where do I fit in now? I was confused, stressed out, and most of all BROKE! It was depressing living in a town where guys actually asked me what kindof car I drove! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? I was a girl...shouldn't I be concerned about that and WHY wasn't I? I definitely didn't fit in! So I started to lie and tell people about my beautiful 1984 El Camino with a V8 Hemi and my career as an interpretative dancer......This lastest a good 6 months when the whole scene got boring and if anyone ever saw me dance my cover was blown. I could no longer even make myself laugh at these perfectly coiffed people.

Dallas YOU drove me away. I left you again....Off to Alabama for Grad School is where I headed. Into the great unknown and steering clear of any banjo music! This place was much more my speed, actually it was a bit slow for me.....But I loved it anyway. People were genuine, nice, they remembered your NAME. What a concept! From Auburn, Alabama I headed to Australia and WHY NOT! It was very far from YOU. Again...people were nice..they didn't check out the label of your jeans or correlate your value as a person to the car that you drove! OH MY I was in heaven....Until that DREADED DAY! DAMN YOU DALLAS! I got the box in the mail from my Parents...YES it was NEIMAN MARCUS cookies and salsa, Texas chips, YES it was the Red River BASKET.....It hit hard and fast and I was homesick for you yet again.

After graduation from Auburn and a quick stint on a Christmas Tree Farm in Dodgeville Wisconsin I was back home with you dear Dallas! And I was employed. But STILL BROKE! Go figure...It was right after the DOT com bust. So I guess the one thing I did have in common with the rest of your inhabitants was that I too was as broke as them...However, BMW's still congested Central expressway which was STILL under construction 3 years after I left it! Dallas, you must do something about that cholesterol.....it will kill you if you don't! But I guess that is why you had Dart come in and try to thin things out! And perfectly coiffed young people continued to rent 1500 a month apartments that were no more than a mere 800 square feet in that metropolis that is now Uptown running around in 240.00 jeans and making 25K a year! Who are they? Where do they come from? How do you attract them? Is it YOU...DALLAS...Do YOU do this to people? Never the less....I wanted to tell you dearest Dallas that I love to hate you! I have been back here for almost 7 years and these people are multiplying faster than the interest on their Platinum credit card!

I just wanted to tell you that I am better now, more secure in my surroundings, more stable in this environment. So much so that I bought a house here and plan to stay a while. But I think you should know the top ten things I have discovered since I have been back.

1.Outside activities almost ALWAYS include Mexican food, a patio, and a margarita. (not bike riding, running, hiking, kayaking, etc. This is not always a bad thing LOL)

2.White Rock Lake is considered a MASSIVE lake by D standards and is often overlooked by those people that live North of 635

3.A BMW is the ONLY car to drive...that is only if your Range Rover is on its last legs (no offense if you have a BMW or a Rover..just a jab at the 30K millionaire)

4.Shopping is considered a sport by both men and women of Dallas…I personally prefer one stop at Target..then stay away from the Mall… working in retail killed all shopping senses.

5.You can wear jeans into just about EVERY nice restaurant, bar, club (LOVE THIS)

6. Fort Worth is considered a day and sometimes over night trip by some Dallasites (who really needs to drive that far to see a cow) I honestly LOVE FW…it has an awesome downtown and is very cool and once again the jeans thing..thats all you wear there.

7.Oktoberfest is always in September. ( I have found this perplexing, but it will allow me to participate in the "fest" here and then catch it in another city during October).

8.Downtown Neiman's is considered a museum

9. During St. Patrick's Day you would think Dallas was of Irish decent and so do the 60K people who descend upon lower Greenville for the day.

10.The "Ghost Bar" is a hunting ground for the Cougar so be wary!

I did not say OH' MY!

The story for the Post title is directly related to a great game of Texas hold em...Read on to learn the truth....However I NEVER said "OH MY"

Well, as I mentioned the other day, some friends and I went to Banff for a quick ski trip! Originally we were going to have 8 of us going....the it dwindled to 6 and then there were four! Seriously we even had a cancellation the DAY of my flight! DAMN that flu this year! Of the final four 3 of us were flying in from Dallas and one driving down from northern Alberta. This was going to be an interesting trip considering non of us have ever traveled together before or knew each other all that well........That being said....we ended up having a blast! My friends from Dallas were old colleagues of mine and they flew in before I did on a Wednesday. I flew in that evening and they picked me up at the airport and off we went to Banff, meanwhile in Northern Alberta, my Canadian friend has been driving for 11 hours just to ski for 3 days! Funny thing about him is that I met him last year at the hostile and thought what the heck..he should join my friends and I on our trip this year. With that the motley crew was formed!

We arrived at the cabin that night around 10ish and were all exhausted from traveling, so we cracked open some wine chatted and stayed up to late..........We stayed at the Hidden Ridge Resort in Banff, which was absolutely awesome....Did I mention the 30 person hot tub which we enjoyed every night along with 25 of our now newest friends! I can honestly say that I have never run around in a bathing suit, UGS with my hair frozen in ice cycles!

Thursday morning, we got up headed to the mountain and got our lift tickets and ski's. We skied Sunshine Village all 3 days. What is so great about the resort is that the you have to take a gondola to get to the base of the mountain. The first day was nice and cold...no major news to report except that Amy had the fall of the day/trip....which non of us could even see since we were in a complete white out!

BOO!

Pics from Day One

Day two was much more eventful and we couldn't have planned a better day. The weather was awesome! We started on the top of the mountain in the morning where it was Semi-sunny, which is all you can ask for in the Canadian Rockies and hit teh backside in the afternoon which also was sunny! I think we skied over 2 dozen runs that day! It was PERFECT. So perfect that I thought I would gather a little video while we skiied....ok...so I was a complete moron and skied with only one glove liner on, no poles, and down blacks just to get some good footage. I had to edit it a bit since the original cut was over 7 minutes......But it was fun.....Brian in the video actually decided he would go down a double black without knowing it...leaving me to film noting but white! I apologize in advance about the language, amateur video and wind sound....

After that run, my legs were exhausted and my hand was actually NUMB so I went in after one/maybe two more runs and had a beer! That night we went to dinner at the fondue place where we cooked wild boar, buffalo, venison, ahi tuna, salmon, etc on a HOT rock! It was the most bizarre and fun thing ever! We also had a telephone at our table! Why??? I have no idea! After dinner Brent continued to teach me how to play Texas Hold'em...go figure a Canadian teaching a Texan, Texas hold'Em. Which I was quite good at...and if you are wondering about the title of the post it is direct quote from that evenings game....where Brent actually dealt me an Ace and a King and under my breath SUPPOSEDLY I said "OH MY"...in which he immediately folded and I won the whole pot! Then he tried to lecture me on the importance of NOT saying "OH MY" whilst playing poker...I immediately argued not realizing I said it..and to this day I claim innocence on my mumbling....I know I never said "oh My"....I am much to smart for that.

Check out the pics from Day 2!

Pics from Day 2

Day 3 was kind of a wash considering it was already -17 before we made it to the base of the mountain. I hhonestly don't think I have ever been that cold before. My left leg went numb sitting on the chair and I think I got a little frost bite on my cheek. None of us lasted too long that day and we decided to call it early. Brent had a long drive and Brian, Amy, and I wanted to drink! SO we headed to the Banff Springs Inn. It was absolutely amazing! I must stay there when I grow up! While we were there we enjoyed a couple interesting cocktails around a Bar made of ice from Patron Tequila, in which now Amy and I are famous and featured on the Patron Website as well as in their "Patron Social Club Email"...but shouldn't we be since we are "Simply Perfect!"

Well that was my trip in a nut shell....Till tomorrow.....