Workin Outside

I've got a lot of pictures and what the heck- I'll do two blogs in a day since I've been ultra-lazy in posting lately.

Sunday's are usually my gardening day. There is not a lot to do in the summers because most of my plants are not growing enough to need any sort of trimming and deadheading (removing the spent flowers)is not necessary since my plants are also not flowering. In addition, I have not been able to get out there the last two weeks because of the heat and the monsoons. Our poor front yard is quite a mess with a giant blanket of pine needles on the ground! I refused to rake the yard after the first big storm a couple weeks back knowing that I'd have to redo in a few days when the next one came. We even had hail during that big one!

Now "it's HOT" is my excuse. And it is!! This is my first summer doing any sort of gardening and all of my plants were planted in the spring. It is a struggle trying to make sure they survive the summer. An unintended consequence of wanting a great deal of diversity in plants is that they all need different levels of water but they are all on the same drip line. This weekend I need to sit down and find out how much water they each need and then change the emitters to match. Then, I need to figure out a better watering system so the plants that need water daily get it while the plants that don't... don't!

Anyways, Rachael was kind enough and enthusiastic enough to help me one morning while she was here. She helped me rake and bag the pine needles from the lawn and the garden areas. She also helped me spray my roses and hibiscus plants. These need weekly showers of water to knock off any pests like i.e. the spider mites that I thought killed my potted hibiscus. Every single leaf fell off of the bush-- I cut into the bark and verified that it was green, and so alive, and then transplanted it into the grown. It is now fully green again (though the monsoon tore a lot of the leaves) and doing great (so long as I can keep it alive through the heat!).

Much thanks to Rachael for helping me and keeping me company while I worked outside.

Summer Cousin's Visits

My cousins from Oregon came up for a two week visit earlier in July. Every summer when I was a kid my sister, brother and I would spend our summers in Oregon. I was happy that my cousins got to have the chance to do the reverse and come visit us! Alec is 17, Brooke is 14 (15 soon!) and Rachael is 10. Here are some pictures of a night we spent at Dave and Busters. We combined all of our tickets and ended up with over 5,000. I'm still amazed that all the stuff Rachael got fit in her carry-on suit case!

Sadielicious

In January, Joe and I decided to try and find a female Doberman whose ears were already cropped and who was approximately the same age as Max. We assumed this would be difficult because puppies are much easier to find then a full grown Doberman. We thought the ear crop hurdle would be difficult because it is a costly procedure and it's unlikely someone would spend that kind of money and the months it takes to post the ears, just to give the dog away.

But, within a week or two of searching (even less if I'm remembering right) Joe found Sadie. She was being raised by a Doberman breeder out north. Sadie's original owner actually had two female Doberman's and Max played with Sadie first. The crop was standard with her puppies and she had intended to keep Sadie to breed but decided not to.

Our goal in owning a second Doberman was to provide Max with a more appropriate playmate. Doberman's need a lot of exercise and attention and as Max grew it became abundantly clear that he needed a playmate that he could interact with on his giant, muscular level. The pugs were not that dog. Max was also fearful of other dogs and we thought that having a companion would help him socialize better.

Ultimately, we loved how he interacted with Sadie. She was very playful and had no fear or reservations about playing with a dog she didn't know. She was also on the small side for a female Doberman which suited us well given that Max is well and beyond the large end. We ended up taking Sadie home that evening.

You can see in this picture that Sadie's ears were already cropped. She was terrifed of the car on the way home, her original owner had said she had never been in one before (I guess that's farm life for ya). When we got home she jumped into Joe's arms and had her front paws around his neck and would not let go. But the minute he put her down in the grass she trotted around, found a toy and played.

Sadie is a beautiful girl. I wanted her spade because Max was not neutered and there was no way I was going to deal with a dog in heat and a maturing male. We got Sadie so they could interact and without her being spade and heat fast approaching we would have had to separate them.

Sadie was not allowed on the couch or bed at her original owners home. She was basically a farm dog and spent most of her time outside. Because of this she is very comfortable outside. Max, Otis and Brady will whine (Max espicially) to be let back inside when we let them out. Sadie will run around and enjoys plopping herself down on the grass to relax. We don't allow any of the dogs on the couch, but this does not apply to the bed. Most often all of the dogs will be on there with us. Sadie will claim whichever spot fits the following requirements: One, it is next to Joe. Two, it has lots of pillows. Here she is crashed on the bed, sprawled out across pillows. If she is laying like this and we leave the room, she will not move. The other dogs run out and follow us, Sadie is a happy camper just resting.

Her second requirement: Joe is nearby.

Sadie is not a fan of water. We cannot seem to teach her to swim. Her main issue is that she will not lift her butt up so she is parallel to the water. You can hold her up like that and the minute you let go she will let her butt drop. I just bought one of those blue, plastic play pools to keep outside. All the dogs should enjoy this since none of them can drown but they can all stay cool.

One of Sadie's ears dropped and we weren't able to get it to stand back up. We recently took her to the Vet and had a procedure called an ear floss done. I won't go into the specifics but it has been working and we are hopeful her ear will continue to stand.

We call Sadie "Sadielicious" alot :)

Sadie is definitely a Daddy's girl. She loves Joe and he dotes on her. She loves to rest her head on things-- pillows, furniture, people just to let you know she is there. Everyone who meets her comments on her calm and sweet demeanor. She is an instant favorite. I think she has one of those personalities that just draw people to her. One of my favorite things about Sadie is how good she is with the pugs. She is very much a Momma dog and enjoys laying with them and licking them to clean them. She espicially enjoys being around puppies and it is adorable watching her play with them.

Sadie is another joy in our already joyous household. She is completely lovable, friendly and playful. Having four dogs can be difficult at times, but she definitely completed the picture. Without her, Max would not have had the constant companionship that she provides. The pugs are much more relaxed in the house now, and love her just as much as we do.

You Tube and Music

I have two Ipods, and I never listen to either of them.

I also don't purchase CD's and I only listen to the ones that Joe puts in the car. In the 4Runner that would be the Twilight Soundtrack, Paramore, and One Republic.

I usually listen to the radio assuming there is something on I want to listen to.

I haven't downloaded a song off some bootleg program since my freshman year of college.

Instead, I'm on You Tube every day listening to whatever I fancy. I don't watch the videos and I don't care what they are-- I just open a new window and listen. There is probably an easier way to listen to music, like that playlist website where I could find a whole list of songs. But, that would require me creating and signing into something.

I seem to be inclined to anything I can have fun singining along to. I listen to Don't Stop Believing from the TV Show Glee every morning. I've been listening to When You Believe by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston and right now I'm listening to What a Girl Wants by Christina Aguilera. Every now and then I'll pop on Even Angels Fall by Jessica Riddle from the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack.

My favorite year of music though is 1997::: Hanson, Spicegirls, Jewel, Third Eye Blind, Duncan Sheik, Robyn, Sister Hazel, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, Merril Bainbridge, Donna Lewis and on and on and on. I think it was the year of my musical awakening. I listened to very little before that year (Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and Celine Dion) and 7th Grade opened up a lot more music to me.

I recommend going through past Billboard charts to see what year you identify with the most.

Here is the list from 1997 Billboard 100::


1. Candle In The Wind 1997 - Elton John
2. Foolish Games / You Were Meant For Me - Jewel
3. I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
4. Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
5. Can't Nobody Hold Me Down - Puff Daddy
6. I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly
7. Don't Let Go (Love) - En Vogue
8. Return Of The Mack - Mark Morrison
9. How Do I Live - LeAnn Rimes
10. Wannabe - Spice Girls
11. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) - Backstreet Boys
12. MMMBop - Hanson
13. For You I Will - Monica
14. You Make Me Wanna... - Usher
15. Bitch - Meredith Brooks
16. Nobody - Keith Sweat
17. Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
18. Barely Breathing - Duncan Sheik
19. Hard To Say I'm Sorry - Az Yet Featuring Peter Cetera
20. Mo Money Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G.
21. The Freshmen - Verve Pipe
22. I Want You - Savage Garden
23. No Diggity - BLACKstreet Featuring Dr. Dre
24. I Belong To You (Every Time I See Your Face) - Rome
25. Hypnotize - Notorious B.I.G.
26. Every Time I Close My Eyes - Babyface
27. In My Bed - Dru Hill
28. Say You'll Be There - Spice Girls
29. Do You Know (What It Takes) - Robyn
30. 4 Seasons Of Loneliness - Boyz II Men
31. G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T. - Changing Faces
32. Honey - Mariah Carey
33. I Believe In You And Me - Whitney Houston
34. Da' Dip - Freaknasty
35. 2 Become 1 - Spice Girls
36. All For You - Sister Hazel
37. Cupid - 112
38. Where Have All The Cowboys Gone? - Paula Cole
39. Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin
40. It's Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
41. Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit - Gina G
42. Mouth - Merril Bainbridge
43. All Cried Out - Allure Featuring 112
44. I'm Still In Love With You - New Edition
45. Invisible Man - 98 Degrees
46. Not Tonight - Lil' Kim
47. Look Into My Eyes - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
48. Get It Together - 702
49. All By Myself - Celine Dion
50. It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Celine Dion
51. My Love Is The Shhh! - Somethin' For The People
52. Where Do You Go - No Mercy
53. I Finally Found Someone - Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams
54. I'll Be - Foxy Brown Featuring Jay-Z
55. If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow
56. Never Make A Promise - Dru Hill
57. When You Love A Woman - Journey
58. Up Jumps Da Boogie - Magoo And Timbaland
59. I Don't Want To / I Love Me Some Him - Toni Braxton
60. Everyday Is A Winding Road - Sheryl Crow
61. Cold Rock A Party - Mc Lyte
62. Pony - Ginuwine
63. Building A Mystery - Sarah McLachlan
64. I Love You Always Forever - Donna Lewis
65. Your Woman - White Town
66. C U When U Get There - Coolio
67. Change The World - Eric Clapton
68. My Baby Daddy - B-Rock & The Bizz
69. Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
70. Gotham City - R. Kelly
71. Last Night - Az Yet
72. ESPN Presents The Jock Jam - Various Artists
73. Big Daddy - Heavy D
74. What About Us - Total
75. Smile - Scarface
76. What's On Tonight - Montell Jordan
77. Secret Garden - Bruce Springsteen
78. The One I Gave My Heart To - Aaliyah
79. Fly Like An Eagle - Seal
80. No Time - Lil' Kim
81. Naked Eye - Luscious Jackson
82. Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) - Los Del Rio
83. On & On - Erykah Badu
84. Don't Wanna Be A Player - Joe
85. I Shot The Sheriff - Warren G
86. You Should Be Mine (Don't Waste Your Time) - Brian McKnight Featuring Mase
87. Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Madonna
88. Someone - SWV
89. Go The Distance - Michael Bolton
90. One More Time - Real McCoy
91. Butta Love - Next
92. Coco Jamboo - Mr. President
93. Twisted - Keith Sweat
94. Barbie Girl - Aqua
95. When You're Gone / Free To Decide - Cranberries
96. Let Me Clear My Throat - DJ Kool
97. I Like It - Blackout Allstars
98. You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow - Toni Braxton
99. You Must Love Me - Madonna
100. Let It Go - Ray J

Happy Fourth of July!!

Fourth of July is Joe's favorite holiday. We had a nice breakfast together and then spent the afternoon amidst a cleaning overhaul to prepare for my cousins' visit on Wednesday. We'll have three kids here (Alec, 17; Brooke, 14; Rachael; 10) for two weeks!!

Once cleaning step 1 was done, we met up with our friend Vivek and took the Light Rail down to Tempe for the fireworks show at Tempe Town Lake.



The show was great. There were quite a few parts when we thought we saw the finale--- and then it kept on going!

Vivek was shocked at how great the show was!!

The best picture of the night, in my opinion. It looks like a photograph of the sun from space!

Overall, we had a great time. Now on to cleaning day 2!