Marvin Gaye in the G.O.

I was at the local Grocery Outlet on my lunch break, filling my basket with discontinued frozen dinners and enjoying "Let's Get it On" over the loud speaker, when the song was interrupted by a voice on the intercom that was all smooth and sexy like Marvin Gaye himself. This is what it said:

"Heeey Girlllll, I just wanted to let you know how much it means to me that you are shopping at the Grocery Outlet ta-day and I hope to see you back here reaaaaal soooon."

I thought I was going to die from laughter right there in the frozen food aisle. I guess none of the other shoppers were paying attention, because everyone just looked at me like I had lost my mind.

Oaks Puke

Delaney and I were so excited when she got free tickets to Oaks Amusement Park this week. I had just enjoyed the movie Adventureland and was feeling nostalgic about the huge rides I used to go on with my Dad when I was a kid. He used to give me tips to make myself taller when approaching the dreaded measuring stick that determines if you are big enough to get on the ride.

When we got there, the familiar Carney sounds and smells washed over me and I felt like a enthusiastic kid again. The first ride we went was the Tilt'a'Whril, which was super fun but I still can't figure out if throwing your body weight around actually effects the speed of the turns. I am convinced that the spins are pre-determined.

Next, we went on the biggest ride we could find (the screaming eagle) and waiting anxiously, just to be cut off by the gate until the next ride. Waiting gave us the opportunity to observe all of the glorious heights and turn we were now committed to. It was finally our turn and halfway through the ride I commented to Dee, "This isn't so bad, it's actually pretty relaxing". Famous last words before the pimply teenage kid kicked it up a notch sending us flying through the air at god speed.

We both got off the screaming eagle so sick and dizzy that we had to sit down for quite a few minutes before retiring to the Ferris wheel and bumber cars. We went home with our heads
down low, shamed and disappointed that once again, age was catching up to us.

Soap Box Derby

Every year Portland hosts an "Adult Soap Box Derby". Get your mind out of the gutter; there is nothing kinky about this event, just a bunch of grown ups designing and building engine free vehicles to fly down Mt. Tabor in. Brandon and I have gone since we first moved to Portland. Some of our favorites from the past include; a clawfoot tub with people bathing on wheels, an office cubicle complete with a computer, house plant and water fountain, and a mini Wineebago with six passengers.

This year won't be as memorable, I liked the leg-go car the best. Perhaps what I will remember the best is the crowd, as the years pass it gets increasingly more crowded. That probably won't stop me from going!

Mad Men

The contest is over! Thank you for voting/trying to vote for me. I'll let you know how I did at the end of next week. Last time I looked, I was in the "Contest Leader" category.

I've got mad style

You guys know the show Mad Men? I uploaded a photo of myself to enter a casting call contest. Please, please,please vote for me. I think it would be so much fun to win. You can vote once a day, so please vote today and tomorrow at this link:

http://madmencastingcall.amctv.com/photos/view/4025

If you feel so moved, could you please pass this on to people who know me, or you think would like to vote?

I really appreciate it!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer.Melanie

Long walks

Here is the progress on my craft kit:


The only thing that bugs me is that the guitar doesn't go through the mouth of the mask. Maybe it is a magic mask?



Brandon and I have been going on very long walks in the evenings. The weather has been so nice, and we are preparing for our long voyage on foot through Spain!

I saw this is someone's yard and the license plate made me laugh:

Favorite Wastes of Time

Here is a list of my favorite websites that keep me from jumping out the window from boredom:

http://www.failblog.org/
http://www.whythefuckdoyouhaveakid.com/
http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/
http://theboobs.blogspot.com/
http://thebloggess.com/

There are a couple of special interest parrot blogs and Mommy blogs that I am too embarrassed to post.

Friends! Please leave a comment and let me know some of yours.

Summer Part 2

Brandon and I went on a huge thrift store challenge Saturday all over the Northwest corner of Oregon (and into Washington). It was one of those good days where we found something cool everywhere we went. For instance, I found this 1960's craft kit illustrated below. Kind of like a paint by number, but really a multi-media by number using stones, crushed glass, glitter, cording and tiny tiles. I will keep you posted on my progress.
We also went to the board walk at Seaside and felt like we stepped into a warped world. We have been through Seaside a million times, but never stopped to go to the beach. I never knew such an awesome place existed. Bumber cars, tilt-a-whirl, carousels, arcades, candy shop after candy shop, tons of people. I couldn't believe I was on the Oregon Coast.

Summer=WATER

Friday I played hookie from work and went to beautiful Sauvie's Island and convinced a hand full of friends to do the same. Then we got a MAJOR craving for burgers and shakes at the Northwest's finest Burgerville. I don't know whose brilliant idea it was to put calorie and fat intake on the items ordered on the receipt but we all got freaked out that one meal could equal more than a recommended daily calorie intake. I don't think that's going to help them sell burgers.

Then Saturday I met friends at their apartment complex to swim which was kind of a fiasco. This was one of those HUGE complexes with twenty buildings and apartment numbers like 287649. Turns out it also had FOUR pools. After a series of phone calls that were all "We're next to a brown building, there are a lot of kids in the pool, I'm looking at apartment number 87653!" After--no joke-- 30 minutes and three wrong pools later, Brandon and I were so fed up we were walking back to the car to go home, we heard one shrill scream, followed by a splash and knew we finally found the pool with our friends.

Lastly, Sunday Brandon and I went to the Oregon Coast and froze our butts off. The above picture can demonstrate--that red nose is no sunburn! Going there is more about the fresh seafood, ice cream, taffy and beautiful drive.

Secret Falls

We went on a 7 mile hike yesterday in the rain! Since we didn't get on the trail until almost 3 we felt the need to hustle so we didn't get caught in the dark. It was hard, but worth it. If you are nice and promise not to tell everyone you know, I might disclose the location.

Musette Bracelet GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Musette Bracelet GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Independence and Freedom

We celebrated this year with a party at our place. We dressed up, grilled up some hot dogs, pissed off neighbors with an out door SM performance, pissed off the neighbors with a firework battle and then pissed off the neighbors by telling them to piss off and call the cops if they have a problem. That's freedom and independence at its best.

Life in the Country

I went to Baker City this weekend for a meeting. Since you all know where I work, you know this was not your average white collar convention at the Ramada.

We started off with a regular 'ol hodown at a family ranch.

The 10 year old kid was nice enough to show me around. I confided in him and told him my big secrect (I've never actually been on a ranch!) This was his 4-H cow. It was shy.


The next day I had to give a speech to this crowd:

I was really nervous. I'm supposed to be the expert and my first time on a ranch was the night before! I got some really good feedback, though, so I think I did okay!

I actually had a really good time and realized life on the ranch ain't so bad.

Intellect of a 5 year old, maturity about the same.

Ruby's favorite thing to do is let out fake juicy farts, followed by fits of hysterics. Tucker has always laughed when he hears laughter, so then he chimes in. Faz came over the other day to meet Ruby. The first thing he walked into was a slow, low juicy one followed by two parrots cackling. He rolled his eyes at us and smirking, shook his head pitying on our poor souls.

Ruby, agent "050", Possum

We have a new member to our "flock". We were not looking for a new bird, so I think it is fate that he/she (DNA results to come!) found us. We had contacted a lady before we got Tucker about her African Grey, Ruby. We talked for a while but never heard back from her, until last weekend. She was holding on to him as long as possible, but was frantic to find him a new home because she was going to boot camp the following week. At first, we told her we already had our hands full and didn't want another one. She pressed, and we ended up with a 2 year old baby for free.

African Greys are said by scientists to be as smart as a 3-5 human child. Remember Coco? The gorilla that used sign language in the 70's? Animal Scientists did a similar experiment with an African Grey named Alex. Alex was so intelligent, that he could add numbers and identify colors. Ruby is no exception, he learned the word "Tucker" in the first 24 hours. With in two days he was saying "Tucker, no. Quiet Tucker."

Tucker loves everything about him, and Ruby only wants to bite poor little Tuckie's toes off. Even though Tucker is Ruby's elder by 15 or more years, he is not nearly as smart. They remind me of toddler brothers, Tucker looking up to Ruby and wanting to do and say everything his brother does.

Ruby is not the name we would have picked, but as we learned with Tucker's unsuccessful name change to Taco, it just is what it is! We have, however, come up with some nicknames for him. Possum is fitting because he is grey and he sleeps at the top of his cage, completely upside down. We also call him 050, because he can recite the entire answering machience recording from his previous home, but for some reason gets stuck on "050" and repeats the number series several times in a row.

Ruby is a very sweet bird and we can't wait to find out the bird's gender. Either way, I am sure I will have more stories about the duo to come!

Peace on Earth

Today I saw a crow, a squirrel and a rat sharing bread crumbs peacefully. I thought to myself-"if only people could do that...."

Fleet Week

Brandon, our other friend Brandon and I went downtown last night to look at the navy ships, here for the Portland Rose Festival. We all three brought our G9's (or G10) and couldn't have been bigger dorks. After walking from the Morrison Bridge, to the Broadway Bridge, to the Burnside Bridge to get the best angle, I felt like my legs were going to walk off my body.

Attitude

I like this guy's style.

I just finished Kafka on the Shore, by my (current) favorite author, Haruki Murakami, translated from Japanese. His most famous book is the famous Wind up Bird Chronicles.
His writing style is like nothing I have ever read before. Central themes run through a series of mysterious circumstances and are then given meaning. His novels challenge the reader without becoming a chore. The story lines are completely unpredictable, yet still believable. When you finish one of Mr. Murakami's stories you are left feeling like you have had the "most bizarre, vivid dream".

This photo reminds me of Kafka on the Shore because one of the characters is a victim of a war experiment that leaves him mentally handicapped, but with a new ability to speak with cats. The character, living off of government assistance, spends his days as a cat private investigator, seeking for missing or kidnapped cats.

Whenever I see the neighborhood cat in the photo above, I half expect him to ask me what the hell I'm looking at before telling me to piss off!

We are the Riff-Raffs

When I was little, my Dad played on a soft-ball team, the Riff-Raffs. Thinking of those long games bring back memories of hot summers, boredom, blue candy and dirt covered kid faces, grown women in halter tops and beads in their hair chanting:

We are the Riff-Raffs
the mighty, mighty Riff-Raffs
Everywhere we gooooo...
People want to knoooow...
Who we are.....

So this year, when Dad asked me if I wanted to go to the Memorial Day game while I was in town, I knew I was in for the long haul, but I was compelled to go. The game was in Madrid, an old New Mexican ghost town on the way to Sante Fe. The baseball park has not changed since the 1920's, when it became the first park in America west of the Mississippi to have lights. The stands and roof are entirely made of wood and I remember feeling anxious as a little kid looking up at the decrepit wood ceiling.

The weather was perfect, so we took Dad's motorcycle there. Nothing is like riding a deserted desert highway on a motorcycle, especially when you are not driving. The word freedom doesn't even begin to describe it. It's more like a medatative, out-of-body state.

We were the first to arrive. Killing time, we walked around the (former) ghost town expressing disgust at the tourist take over and talking about how it used to be.

When we returned and started to mingle, it was neat for me to be surrounded with "the adults" I grew up with, their children I went to school with, and their children I had not yet met. As the game began and was interrupted with the sound of dozens of motorcycles, I instantly remembered the tradition of the local biker gang flooding the field with machines and making sure everyone stopped to look. It cracked me up to notice that they all had matching vests, with the exception of the women's version that had "Property of boyfriend's name" on the back.

As the game progressed, I noticed a familiar face, a man called Papa Smurf, that used to play on the original team with my Dad. He was a spectacular hitter, but I guess the extra pounds were too much to carry to the bases, because every time he sent one soaring, a young guy I went to school with, Lester Gonzolez Jr., would sub-run. I wasn't the only to notice, because after the Riff-Raffs came ahead 15 or so points the other team was furious about the duo. Before I knew it, a pushing a yelling match broke out on the field and could have easily escalated into a full blow riot if the ump. didn't break it up with a threat to forfeit.

The Riff-Raffs weren't through though. Immediately after the altercation, Lester Jr. hit one out of the park, took the time to rip off his shirt, loosen his belt and run all four bases, showing his bare backside to the opposing team and the entire audience. It was the funniest display I have ever been privileged to see at a sporting event.

After we won that day, the trophy plaque was brought into the afterparty at the local bar. The crowd of chanting players stopped right at me and Dad, and I realized that the hooks were above us. There was nothing left to do but stand on top of the bar with my Dad and put the plaque in it's home.....at least until next year when the Riff-Raffs will have to defend it!

Sharpening Markers

The album that my sweetie and his band mates worked so hard on is now released! I know I am bias, but I am truly impressed with the outcome. Listen for yourself! You can find it under Sharpening Markers on amazon, or itunes. It is better to go to itunes because all the songs are available! If you can't fork over $6 for all the songs, I recommend B-Rock and Nom de Guerre.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Will I ever be in a position of feeling appreciated? People are often too greedy, selfish and self-absorbed to even consider others. I blame it on the human condition and basic survival needs. I suppose it goes back to caveman being programmed to compete for food and shelter. Have we evolved? If not, is this lack of consideration how survival skills translate into modern society?

I have an internal conflict on this issue; on one hand, I want to be a good person and be considerate of others, on the other hand I think the way to earn respect is to demand it! You know, "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY"!

I want to achieve some balance where I can take what I need in life and also be there for others. Like when you are traveling on an airplane with a small child and you are instructed to put the oxygen mask on your face before proceeding to put in on the kid. Because if you die in the process of trying to save the kid, before long you're both dead.

The Amazing Squeaky Toy

This video is documentation that my bird can say his favorite word (Tucker) faster than humanly possible. The result sounds like a dog's squeaky toy. I know it gets old after the third time. I edited it down to 30 seconds and I guess I accidentally uploaded the original version. The visual stinks because he will only do it from his cage as a "call" to me in the other room.



He seems to be completely back to his normal moody self, you know, as opposed to the hormone crazed, sex deprived, demon that was formally occupying his cage and a completely separate room in my house.

The experience we've had with Tucker has made me think very seriously about starting or strongly supporting an awareness program. There are thousands of people like me and Brandon that buy birds as babies, realize that they are very difficult pets and take a lot of time, then dump them in a shelter, or worse, let them loose. In addition, most birds can live into their 80's and often times they will outlive their owners. The thought of having Tucker as an elderly person should probably make me happy, but there is something about the responsibility and permanence that makes me shudder. I try not to think about it.

Dom Deluise died Monday and I was pleased to hear that he wished that donations be made to the Lily Sanctuary, a parrot shelter and awareness organization. This prompted an awesome story on the CBS nightly news last night describing the difficulties of parrot owning and the growing problem in the United States of unwanted birds and lack of shelters. The parrot owner interviewed couldn't have said it better (as her parrot is sitting on top of her fridge throwing magnets on the floor) "There is not a day that goes by where I don't feel in over my head".

Persimmon Jewelry Kline Necklace GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Persimmon Jewelry Kline Necklace GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Picnic Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Picnic Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

A word from the lilac growers association

Every season I have a new favorite flower. It goes from poppies to peonies to iris to hellebore and on and on. Brandon never knows what to get me, but he can bet I'll like it.

Perhaps the strongest contender is lilacs. There are a million varieties available, but I really like plain, fragrant lavender lilacs. Call me old fashioned. They only bloom for a short time, but as silly as it sounds my mind keeps wandering to their beauty.

There is just something special about these charming flowers. When I was a florist I remember a neighborhood lady calling us screaming because someone stole lilacs from her yard and she was absolutely sure it was us. When I brought some to work today, my co-worker had a similar story about an old lady that staked out her lilac bush and came out yelling if someone as much as smelled one.

I remember my first florist boss describing lilacs to me (before I knew them by name). He said "You'll know when they're in because they will make the whole shop smell like a bit of heaven". I don't know if it is my subconscious or the smell of the vase of lilacs in my room, but I had a dream last night that I was in heaven- and of course it smelled of lilacs.

Folks in the Northwest

I love showing off my beautiful city when people come to town.  This weekend with my parents was no exception.  Coming from the desert, they insist on going to Multnomah Falls every time they come.  I can't deny it's beauty. 

This is one of Brandon's famous photos of people taking photos.  It's especially funny since the subjects are my tourist parents!

Our house is so lonely now.  Even Tucker is sad.  He probably realizes that it means no more peanuts from that nice lady that looks and sounds like his mom.

Swanki Hats GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Swanki Hats GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!
Go here! Cute hats.

Crappy Season

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I am upset with Tucker. I thought I would take this opportunity to explain. Birds are not like mammals who can be spayed or neutered because the anesthesia is too much for their systems. As a result, certain types of birds have mating seasons marked with heightened aggression and territorial behavior. Amazons are indeed seasonal maters and males are generally effected more than females. Nice research on our part!

In a previous post I mentioned that Tucker made a nest marking the beginning of his noticeable changes. Beyond that, he just seemed extra vocal (mating calls) and extra needy (remember, I am his mate). We didn't notice any of the craziness we had read about. That all changed about a week ago. He full on attacked me after he was begging to come get him out. I have three bite marks as battle wounds. If you can imagine, his bites feel like someone taking a sharp pair of pliers and squeezing as hard as they could. The end result for Tucker was being thrown on the floor. Thankfully he was not hurt, but I felt terrible.

Since the attack one week ago every time I come near his cage he puffs up, hisses and strikes through the bars at me. He has only been out of the cage once and he flew at me, bit me, landed on the floor and then chased me (try to contain your laughter, this is serious). The only way I know how to control him right now is to leave him in his cage. This makes me feel extremely guilty because I know how important out-of-cage time is for an animal that is programmed to have the entire sky as a playground. I'm at Witt's end and I feel like giving up.

Thinking of giving up on Tucker is another huge source of stress for me. I just don't know what his future would be should I give him up. I can't imagine anyone loving him as much as I do or being as patient as I have been, but I'm not sure I can handle the guilt and anxiety of keeping him cooped up every spring. Beyond the additional stress he would endure from changing "flocks" again, I am certain that his future would inevitably be someone losing patience as I have considered.

I have not read one piece of professional advice that has consoled me. All bird resources have the same thing to say: let nature run it's course, it will pass etc. What about the meantime? I miss my bird, can't handle the constant screaming and feel guilty about keeping him locked up. This is going to be a long six weeks.

Dr. Dog

Brandon and I just got home from a Dr. Dog show.  If you have never heard of this band, do yourself a favor and check these guys out.  Do you like the Beatles?  Needless question, but if you do, I can guarantee you would like Dr. Dog.  Not to say they are a rip off band-these guys are completely original but just as genius (as the Beatles).  

I have been fighting a cold, starting a new position (at work), upset at Tucker, dealing with some family issues and basically under a ton of pressure.  In addition, I had foot cramps during the whole set.  Listening to the sentimental music just brought it all out.  The tears just started rolling down and could not be stopped.  To top it off the only way to stop the foot cramp was to squat-leaving those around me to wonder why that girl wouldn't stop crying and just go to the bathroom already.

Relief

It reached 72 degrees today and I can't even describe how elated I was.  Everybody in the Northwest is on the same page.  The neighborhood dogs and cats seem to be smiling.  I spend the day in the yard shoveling compost, getting covered with mud and sweat, and I couldn't have been happier.  

Nesting

Spring is mating season for birds and they a notorious for being really moody for up to 6 weeks. We were terrified for the worst because Tucker is moody ANYWAY. So far, the only different behavior I've noticed is that he is especially needy. Maybe it's because he thinks I am his mate, but every time I leave the room he starts screaming and Brandon confirmed that he continues to scream all day until I come home from work. I read about this time of the year and how to discourage birds from any dark corners because birds will be encourages to make a nest (which I guess encourages the whole mating thing). I realized his cardboard house would be a perfect spot. Well, low and behold, in the corner of the cardboard box was a makeshift nest of chewed up cardboard, wood and plastic toys. I never dreamed he was so domestic! Now Brandon and I can't stop making fun of his ticking biological clock and his imaginary babies.

We also have a nest above our bedroom window from what I tell Tucker are the "homeless birdies that benefit from his wasted food". For the last week Brandon and I have woken up to a pair of house finches coming and going with branches and moss in their little beaks. They have sweet songs too. I can't wait for them to have babies!

The only ones not nesting in our house are me and Brandon. What we have been doing since the emergence of the beautiful new floors is called re-arranging.

The Vacuum Dance

This is what Tucker does when we sweep or run the vacuum. He is so still you might have thought that he died during an exorcism before being taken to the taxidermist. Please notice that when the noise stops he immediately assumes a normal stance like nothing ever happened.

Primavera

Spring is finally here!  In Portland, the only noticeable difference is the occasional splash of color from spring blossoms.  It is still 50 degrees and pouring rain.  It most likely won't change until July.

Camping in my yard

We just exposed, sanded and re-finished our hard-wood floors.  It's been a little crazy moving all of our house into half of our house, dealing with the noise, moving the bird around, avoiding fumes and the like.  But the reward is so sweet.  It has been kinda fun hanging with Tucker in the shop, I just wonder what the neighbors think about me brushing my teeth and washing my 

face in the back yard.  I've held all other bathroom activities until dark, (or at the nearest Starbuck's) so I'm fairly sure nobody has witnessed that!

Sincerity and Social Expectations

I hate it when retailers ask "did you find everything okay?"  It is the most insincere question.  Have you ever tried saying no?  Upper management does nothing to train the measly cashier to reply to a negative response.  They fully expect everyone to respond with manners, not truth.

I went to Target today to buy Eduardo a birthday gift.  I fully expected to find a card and either a book or magazine in Spanish, because the Latino population is a huge part of their clientele.  I couldn't find anything and nobody could help me.

So when I told the girl that "No, I didn't find everything okay" she was like a malfunctioning robot.  Double blink and opened mouthed she muttered something lame like "I'm sorry".  I know it's not the cashier's fault, but it reminded me of a time I asked a telephone sales person from India an obscure question just to through off his script.  

As annoying as it is to be treated like just another customer and not worthy of personal attention, at least it is amusing to challenge the system with social experiments.

Vet Visit

It's official, Taco is still Tucker and that's never going to change. "Tucker" remains to be my parrot's favorite word. "Tucker this", "Tucker that", "Hi, Tucker", "Goodbye Tucker" and then my personal favorite"Tuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertucker"

I'm not sure if it is a protest against the name Taco, but one thing is clear; the bird wants to be called Tucker. Fine, he wins. So, to avoid all further confusion please make note that my parrot's new (old) name is TUCKER.


On with the post....


Today was Tucker's first vet appointment. I was really apprehensive that he was going to bite the vet, but she was a pro and I was amazed at how he automatically reached his little foot out to step onto her hand. That was before she took blood, shoved a cotton swab down his throat, and clipped his wings. I knew that after that whole debacle Tucker would surely bite her. No, she passed him off and he bit me! HARD.


She sure was a pro alright. Next appointment I'm not touching Tucker for a full week.


It reminded me of how children will take out aggression on their mothers and hit them when frustrated. Maybe it's because they have an inate reasoning that their own mothers won't hurt them. Too bad for Tucker I am not his mother.

p.s.Before all you animal rights people get after me, this is a joke. I would never hurt Tucker.

Feature

My photo and blog link has been featured on one of my favorite blogs! iambossy.com is hilarious, so go check it out and find my picture on the left column under "Bloggers, they're just like us"

Bird Shop

Brandon and I went to our favorite bird store this weekend.  Two hours and $40 later, we fell in love with several birds and Tucker got some pimp new home accessories.  Check out this big blue bird, I love how docile he is despite his gigantic size.  I think he looks like a Jim Henson character.  

Video Application

There was a marketing outreach for the "best job in the world" to get people interested in the Australia Barrier Reef. The job really did exist and if I won I would have got $100,000 to stay in a nice house on an island in exchange for one blog a week. Sounded right up my alley. To apply, I had to make a video application. With the help of genius photographer (and now videographer) Brian Lee, and his editor this is what we got. The only problem is that it wasn't completed until the last day and the website server was too full to accept it. I guess over 30,000 people applied so they had a strict deadline and warned people not be last minute. Oh well, guess I won't be moving to Australia. It was super fun anyway. What do you think of my acting debut?

Eyelashes

It was my photography goal to get a close-up of Taco's eyelashes.  Here they are!  Isn't he sweet?

Eduardo

I have been practicing with my new camera. This is my favorite photo so far. This house belongs in a fairy tale.


Computer, meet Eduardo. We meet once a week and exchange languages. He pretends to understand what I am saying in Spanish and I (sometimes) correct his pronunciation. Mostly, we just talk and laugh a lot.

Taco's House....

Is really just a cardboard box, but he loves going in there. I think it makes him feel safe from the big bad humans who repeat stupid words really loudly over and over close to his face. The only problem with his house is that he has chewed a big hole in the bottom of it.

An ode to my best friends

Sarah!

Karli and Stevi!

My Sister -in-Law Mardi!

Stevi!

Anne!

Muriah and Dee!

Jessica!

I love my girlfriends more than anything. I don't think I could get through this thing called life without them. Every single one of them! I am fortunate to have too many photos of friends to post them all. Thank you all for bringing joy, laughter, compassion, inspiration and love into my life.