Ativan, STAT!

What's worse than going to the mall? I'll give you a second to think about that.

I've never been a big fan of the American shopping mall. Growing up I lived more than 75 miles from the nearest structure posing as a shopping mall and I never ever had that feeling in my stomach compelling me to go and look at shiny things I don't need. I didn't cry myself to sleep thinking that my life would be complete if only I could saunter around in a building with 100s of of other people, buying things mass-produced in sweatshops and sold at ridiculously inflated or rediculously discounted prices. (Alright, so I didn't think about consumerism that way when I was 12 or 13, but I still really never got mall fever like the media tells us all teenagers do.) I still usually have to be hogtied and forced to buy new clothes. And Goodwill is my clothing store of choice (newest score: NorthFace fleece jacket, $6.99!! MSRP, $99!!).

Today my boss Andy didn't have any special plans for the afternoon. I called his mom to see what Zack (Andy's visiting 10 yr old nephew) wanted to do. She said "go to the mall and spend the money his dad sent him." Oh great, that sounds so awesome. see: sarcasm. So I get to take a 26 year old in a wheelchair and a 10 yr old with money burning a hole in his pocket to the most outrageous mall environment in the Portland metro area: Washington Square Mall. I've spoken of this devil before. Let's just say that the week after xmas, when all of the stores are trying to sell off the rest of their inventory AND school is out so the mall is overrun with emo teenagers, this is not the best time to go to the mall. If there's ever a good time. I kept seeing flashes of donkeys on Pleasure Island.

I couldn't decide if I was going to have a panic attack or a psychotic break. My day peaked just before I got out of bed, so this was right in line with the rest. Did you know that most stores in the mall aren't ADA accesible? What a shocker. Not to mention at any moment, through no fault of his own, Andy's arms and hands might whip out of control and crash a display of NASCAR calendars (not hypothetically). So Andy and I spend most of our time waiting, waiting, waiting. Waiting for a 10 year old to decide what he wants in Zumiez, what he wants in Spencer's, what he wants in Hot Topic. I was miserable, if you haven't figured that out.

[Let me also mention that Andy's mom has this week off. So instead of taking her nephew and son shopping, she sics me on it. Yeah, I'm getting paid for it, but that doesn't make it less tortureful. Tortureful: as in full of torture.]

Maybe I'm getting old. (No, I know I'm getting old. When Keith told me Katie was getting a Go Kart for xmas, I didn't respond, "Cool!" I said, "Oh, that sounds dangerous.")

Maybe it's that Keith and I are joining The Compact (stated mission: 1) to go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of U.S. consumer culture, to resist global corporatism, and to support local businesses, farms, etc. -- a step, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact; 2) to reduce clutter and waste in our homes, as in trash Compact-er; 3) to simplify our lives, as in Calm-pact) January 1st. I just don't buy into the mall craze. It's a scam. Sure I buy stuff I don't need. But I generally don't go to a place where that's their specific goal...to get you to buy things you don't need. It's all distraction and shiny things.

Gearing up for joining The Compact, Keith and I have been making a list of things we should buy before January 1st. After 1/1 we will restrict our purchases to the following categories: Socks/Underwear, Food/Health/Toiletries, Safety. Everything else we will get 2nd hand through thrift stores, craigslist, bartering with friends and family, etc. including clothing, furniture, books (which I don't really buy anymore thanks to a kickass library system), electronics, even gifts for other people. Luckily we have SCRAP and tons of other resources because this is a recycling kind of town. It just seems to us that so many people live disposable lives. We buy things new without thinking. We throw things away without thinking. Where does all of it go? Landfills. Especially electronic items. Tens of millions? A lot. So we are doing what we can to reduce the waste the United States produces. It's catching on.

Trash trivia:

• The average American throws away 3.5 pounds of trash per day.
• To give you an idea of how much trash we generate here in the United States, imagine a hole the size of a football field, including the end zones. If we bury all of the trash we produce in just one year, that hole would be 100 miles deep!
• Every year we make enough plastic film to shrink-wrap the state of Texas.

I was a little embarrassed carrying it down the street, after people had seen it sitting on the sidewalk out in the rain overnight, but Keith and I brough this treasure up to the apartment. He tried to play it off as a Christmas gift to me. Ha. But now I have somewhere to put my clothes. A little drying out, wiping down, good as new.

at 6:28 I've been up for almost 3 hours

(one of the side effects of Wellbutrin being I can't go back to sleep once I've been fully awake)

Lazlo was moaning and standing on Keith at 3:45 am so we took the doggies for a very short walk. By the time I get dressed, put on my coat/shoes/(new) hat! and walk outside (under 30°), I'm awake. I laid in bed for 45 minutes thinking about: the holiday shopping we have left, pros/cons of selling the Jeep, making paper, taking a nap later, making gnocchi for xmas... So I decided to just get up. Time for some chocolate milk= Nesquik + Silk soy milk. We scored some great stuff @ the market (+ The Internets) to ship out as gifts next week...very exciting to give things you think people will actually like as opposed to Last Minute 7-11 Gifts. We're going back to the market today to finish up.

it was cold @ the market

Keith just stumbled out of the bedroom to complain that I didn't tell him I was getting up and he's been cramped up in the bed while Mia & Lazlo monopolize whatever space they can. They are sweet babies. Seriously, Keith and I think they are falling in love.

I feel that nap coming on. First nap of the day before 7am. That's a start of a Good Sunday.

We're s-h-o-pp-i-n-g, we're shopping

Tomorrow a.m. we head down to the Saturday market to begin holiday gift shopping. Which I am kinda, surprisingly, looking forward to. I would 100.000x more like to buy arty things from local folks in the open air than spend $$ at a germ-filled, kids-screaming, shoving, panting, confined supermall (Andy's Personal Mecca). With only 4 or 5 people to buy for, it should be fun and quick. Will need fuel from Voodoo Doughnuts to get us started.

Keith just sat down next to me with a spanish rice-black bean-corn-avacado-cheese-tapatio quesadilla. My mouth is waaaaaaaaatering. And I wasn't/am not even hongry.

I put the idea of becoming vehicle-free on the table for discussion this eve. Put pencil to paper and it makes sense. Getting the addiction out of our systems will be the challenge. I figure we can rent a car anytime we need to go to, say, Idaho. And take the bus/MAX to Coscto and take a cab home. Cost effectiveness is paramount. This proposition will be voted on by all non-canine family members in the near future. Canines love cars, and traveling in them. We shall not be swayed by their input.

Saw Charlotte's Web this afternoon with Andy. It was really good. Not Oscar material, but very good. The only thing I missed (from the animated version) was Templeton's song (Paul Lynde!) at the fair. The animal-animation was very believeable, not distracting. And a good cast of voices including Robert Redford. ? Better than Unaccompanied Minors, which I was forced to view earlier this week. (Lewis Black you are dead to me.)

the elevator warped his head!

Keith's co. xmas party was last night. Most enjoyable "company" xmas party I've attended in a while. Ten cool people having dinner at a good restaurant. I had butterbut squash ravioli (vegan, yo) and a greyhound. Mmm good. Good people, Keith works for.

We will surveeeeeeve.

(That's some Tony Clifton for ya. You're welcome.)

Keith and I made it home from Kansas and we're still recuperating from jet lag and lack of sleep and stress, but other than that we're good. We flew Frontier and got live Mapquest® updates of our flight progress in the seat back in front of us: speed, altitude, all of that (also 20+ channels of DirectTV for $5!). Watching the altitude drop as we were approaching the Denver airport, it was going down....6000'....5500'....then all of a sudden: BAM. We've landed. So I guess it's actual sea level, not the plane's altitude... Another reason they won't let me fly planes.

"Can't you just drop us off???"

We had reserved an economy car from Enterprise because when you're driving across Kansas and paying with credit, let's face it...we didn't want to be giving blood to buy groceries when we got back. But when we got there all they had left in the lot were ginormous SUVs. So we picked the one that we were told would get the best gas mileage, and I suppose that 17.5 miles/gallon is considered good gas mileage somewhere...no, I don't think it is. On the upside, gas is only $2.20 in the Midwest, so we saved about $45 there. Driving a 2007 Jeep is quite a bit different than driving the 1992 Jeep we have. (And about $30,000 more. Eeek.) Also, a big shoutout to Rockstar for keeping a girl going driving across flat, coma-inducing Kansas in the middle of the night, staving off white-line fever.

Mia and Lazlo didn't kill each other at boarding/doggie day care, so that was a relief. They had to share a kennel and we weren't sure how that would go. But apparently they are getting along just fine, even unsupervised at night. The people at Virginia Woof were super nice and said they were sad to see Mia and Lazlo go home. I'm sure they tell that to everyone, but still.

Kansas City Here We Come

Searching for music for the trip to the Midwest next week.

powered by ODEO

We know from experience that there's nothing that tempers the monotony of driving across Kansas in the winter like good music. My Buzznet peep DJMark has been kind enough to give us several of his playlists from a radio show he does in Santa Barbara called Night Shift at the Thrill Factory, so we have a great mix there. Also got some stuff from Music for Maniacs. And this some from Odeo. Like this:

powered by ODEO

I've been on a Radiohead kick lately. I'm a latecomer, but really getting into them. Especially Easy Star All-Stars reggae covers.

The Internet Hiatus didn't last long. Haven't been reading much. Developments around here have kept us preoccupied. Also doing this 72 hour project thing, which is going so-so. Both cameras had the wrong time/date stamp set so, um, yeah that's something I should have checked before I started!



Made a trip to Costco, bought some pants, tried them on (too big), lost the receipt, found the receipt, lost the receipt again. It may be in the Jeep but if not I'm stuck with (another pair of) pants I can't wear. Okay so why can't Costco have fitting rooms? Wouldn't that greatly decrease the amount of refunds/exchanges they have to process? Not to mention the Customer Annoyance Factor.

So instead of doing anything productive in preparation for the trip we're going to make, Keith is sorting slides and I'm interneting. Stalling. Something. It just feels like a day when you don't do anything and it's ok. We're existing in that world where time is wayyyyyyy slowed down and you know it will eventually catch up, like TiVo, but for now we're stuck.

Two freight trains going opposite directions

Walking two pit bulls is a challenge. I anticipated this would take some training (me and them). Tonight I had to take them both to the v-e-t. It's a close walk, so we headed out on foot. It was exhausting. It's like having, I imagine, two 3-year olds---one weighing 70#s and the other weighing 40#s---trying to rip you in half. No wonder my back is jacked. This week I can move without excrutiating pain; last week, not so much. We found out that Lazlo is the "picture of health," and Mia may have allergies. That's it---we're returning her!! No, they gave us some shampoo and spray to help her quit itching. And by gave I mean charged $280.

waiting for the dr.

Hallelujah it's the weekend. I have tomorrow off so I get a 3-dayer. If you need a good weekend song, and who doesn't, here it is. I'm going to try to do this project where you take a photo of whatever you are doing every thirty minutes for 3 days (Fri, Sat, Sun). I don't think I will last the whole time; I can barely remember to take my meds every day. But I will give it my best effort.

So I'm going to also try an internet hiatus. I have checked out 8 books from the library, I need to start our end-of-the-year-update cards, and of course Dog Tending. So I'm going to unplug. I don't know how long it will last before I start going into convulsions and having hallucinations.

We've traded rain for cold lately and I'm none too pleased. I'd rather have rain. I don't live in Montana anymore for a reason and that reason is that I'm cold-blooded. Just ask Keith.

taking the bus home, in a fog

CLICK ON IT ^^^^ FOR A READABLE SIZE. © Joe Sayers

papillon

So...today wasn't the best day. If you know me then you'll know what I'm sayin'. I did however have a moment of clarity. I was rolling a 2-wheeler of PW5500's (don't ask), from the warehouse into shipping and a butterfly landed on me. Now remember, it's 32° and snowing outside. This caused me to stop and contemplate...for about 15 seconds, anyway. WTF. I disregarded this almost as fast as it happened. My work day ended and home I went. We took the dogs for a walk and then I went to the store. On the way home I ran into "Cowboy". One of the local homeless dudes. We had a short chat, I gave him my gloves and $5. He said "God Bless". I didn't. I went home and started a load of laundry and walked into the trash room. There was the usual junk and a couple of board games. One of them was Rummikub. If you haven't played before then you should because it kicks ass. I took it upstairs to show April my score. She laughed, like she always does when I scavenge something from the "heap". She opened it and along with the game pieces there was a notepad outlined with insects. It is one of those pads with a magnet on the back so you can hang it on your frig. Written on the top piece of paper was this message. "To whom it may concern: if today an insect lands on you, then you'll know that this note is for you. The end." I have been incredibley lucky lately. I got to see my best friends, I got a new dog and everyday I get closer to the person I want to be. Thanks for reading. kb

Happy Thanksgiving

Things I am thankful for this year (in random order)

• my dogs!
• Wellbutrin ®
• rain gear
• oh yeah, Keith
• weekends off
• friends
  
• strawberry lime Jones soda
• public transportation
• voodoo doughnut
• my very supportive family

We're off to visit my family in Idaho. It's going to be a fun weekend involving pet wrangling (4 dogs, 5 cats), board games, gorging on food, making paper, celebrating a birthday (Happy 24th Amanda!), and much relaxing.

Meet Mia.

We went to the shelter today specifically to see Nadine. We met her, introduced her Lazlo, took them for a walk.

And then decided we should keep her.

She's a lover and plays well with Lazlo. They wrestled for the first hour or so we got home. Now she's sleeping (on his bed). I think we made a good decision.

And Nadine wasn't working for us, so we're changing it to Mia (as in Mrs. Mia Wallace).

Welcome to the family, Mia!!!!

Nadine?

Breed: Pit Bull Terrier Mix (dalmation pit mix)
Sex: Female
Age: 1 1/2 years
Weight: 35 lbs
You wont believe how far I have traveled, just to find a place to call home. I used to live in New Orleans but there are some bad things that happened there and a lot of us were left without a home or family. So I came all the way to Oregon in hopes of finding my lucky new guardians. My name is Nadine and I bet you can’t wait to meet me, I know I can’t wait to meet you. I am a sweet, happy, active girl who is just the perfect size with beautiful super short white and black coat. I am already housebroken and crate trained too. I love to play with other dogs and will be fine around respectful children but I need a home without those pesky felines! Why is such a smart, cute, dainty, lovely little girl like me still looking for place to call home? I sure as heck don’t know! Come get me out a here and I’ll let you pamper and spoil me rotten! 1-2 years old-35lbs. My adoption fee is $160 and includes; current shots, microchip, spay , 5 week Training Class, free veterinary exam ,1 month pet health insurance, leash/collar, food sample, toy & Treat packet.

I turn my camera on

Keith's group shot @ Vegetarian House

There was a break in the rain today and the sun was out. It was very nice. Lazlo and I went to the dog park and he slid around like a linebacker on a muddy field chasing his Frisbee. He didn't get exercise beyond 2 short walks yesterday because of the weather. So he got 2 park visits today which is like winning the dog lottery. However, muddy park = muddy bed. Keith yells at me, "Get your (my??) dog off the bed." And I ripped my yoga pants on the table!

dog park mud hole, a favorite attraction/water dish

My friend since about 1st grade, Autumn (top photo), was in town so we walked (distance grossly miscalculated!) to Vegetarian House for some outstanding food. We had ham* fried rice, pork* fried rice, orange chicken*, and chicken* chow mein. And we each had 2 spring rolls and honestly, I could have eaten a dozen or more. Keep em comin. Also, their kung pao chicken* is fantastic, but also $10. (Worth it really.)

Correction: The cow will not being giving as much milk as possible. That is all.

And of course we walked by Voodoo Doughnut on the way home (breakfast...mmmm). Then Keith chastised me for giving money to a guy who handed me a note saying it was his 3rd day in town, from Memphis, and he would not "rob, rape, or kill" me and he couldn't talk because his mother tried to kill him when he was a baby. Keith thinks I am a sucker. I think that a) what you give out comes back plus b) if was conning me he deserves something for coming up with a very good plot line. The Street Kids downtown hold signs that say "Just want to get drunk," etc. I'd rather fund someone with real problems. Yeah, I just wanna get drunk, too. Learn to support your own habits. That's what the rest of us do.

Yesterday I got paid to show Andy how to make paper. He was ecstatic. Tomorrow afternoon we are going to a craft store to buy more deckles. Another paper-making weekend.

everydayisagoodday everydayisagoodday everydayisagoodday everydayisagoodday

What happiness to wake, alive again,

Into this same grey world of winter rain!

Especially if it's a payday Friday and you only work a half day.
That's a good day.

These are from a couple of days ago (when it wasn't raining!).

Paper-making class went awesome and we are going back this weekend. After that we plan to buy a deckle and start our own little recycled paper sweatshop. If you get a card from us this year it will be on handmade-blood-and-sweat-infused recycled paper. We're all about the recycling this year. Went to SCRAP and loaded up with stuff. Total= $3.50!

Movie theme has shifted. We didn't stay on roads/interstates/byways long. Now we are on States. So far we have watched:

• My Own Private Idaho--I had never seen it, but it's Van Sant and since we are in Portland.... (he lives in Portland). But it's distracting to watch a movie that's filmed in a city you are familiar with because you're always trying to figure out where they are. [Same thing with Drugstore Cowboy. Only Keith and I walked by the Drugstore Cowboy house the other day---it's in our neighborhood! It's on the National Historic Register. And it's for sale.] I really didn't care for Keanu Reeves's character's actions at the end. But overall, good movie. Also starring the late great (fellow vegan) River Phoenix.
  
• Mississippi Mermaid--Catherine Deneuve plays a mail-order bride. Drama ensues. Best thing about this film is the scenery: Reunion Island. Someone on Buzznet actually lives there!
  

Next up (this weekend): North to Alaska and Nevada Smith. Oh yeah. You can't go wrong with some John Wayne and Steve McQueen. Seriously, you can't.

And Keith saw that Season 6 of The Sopranos was out on DVD so we ended up watching 3 hours of that last night. Once you start, you can't stop.

It's a good weekend for indoor activities, says the Weather Channel:
In addition to rain rain rain rain, WINDS COULD ALSO GUST TO AT LEAST 60 MPH .

How to Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Seminar

''My sheep hear My voice.'' John 10:27 It's not our guarantee It's God's Take your walk to the next level and experience breakthrough succes in every area of your life. Prayer is exciting, When God does most of the talking Ecclesiastes 5:2 Your life is changed,forever. $120.00 for Couples

No, Keith and I did not choose the above class after (not) much dilberation.

Instead we are going to a paper making class on Sunday! Yes, that's right. We are adding Paper Making to the managerie of skills that will sustain us via non-tradition employment hopefully for the rest of our lives. Our latest ideascheme has been some kind of food vendor trailer that would be pulled by a VW biodiesel bus to county fairs/concerts/car shows/drag races/carnivals/. We were (are) thinking a) vegan corn dogs b) sweet potato fries c) savory waffles with various fillers (like a sandwich/taco...Keith suggests the name Wafflewich) d)....

toothpaste for dinner

How we came up with this outstanding and completely feasible idea is: 1. Bob's family used to do this with a french fry wagon and 2. We want to be able to travel with our dog and still make enough money to get by. Getting by in the living-in-the-parking-lot-of-of-the-carnival in the VW camperbus with our pit bull and reading lights sense? Perhaps. Maybe some chess or cribbage. But the point is: we would be happy. Our trip to the Ranch really reawakened our urge to be able to make enough money to live off the radar while being together as much as possible. (Plus, the dog.) And we want to travel. So what better idea than a food wagon? Of course Keith is the jefe and I will make an excellent cashier/public relations manager. Also, Lead Sign Maker.

So, taking one step closer to reaching our goals, tomorrow we are going to SCRAP to get supplies for our paper making class on Sunday. Our weekend is shaping up nicely.

Doggy Style

One of the blogs I have an unexplainable compulsion to read features a dog that appears with things balanced on his head, etc. (Do yourself a favor, watch this!)

Well, here he is dressed up for Halloween:

• as Yoda
• as Princess Leia
• as Darth Vader
  

I think that dog looks like a taxidermy'd dog. His eyes. Hilarious however.

Last Halloween he was a cow.

This inspires me to make Lazlo wear more things. Yesterday at the dog park a St. Bernard puppy had on a tutu. It was great. Of course, Lazlo was wearing his stylish new coat, but no costume because his parents are cheap and lazy. Luckily we had no trickertreaters as we had nothing to give and wouldn't have enjoyed being tricked. Who knows with kids these days?

It feels good to sleep in the new bedroom. It's a new room now that it's painted and we're moved back in. A grown-up bedroom. For reals.

Halloween consisted of watching Pet Semetary. It was SCARY!!! And eating popcorn, etc.

It's supposed to rain until Tueday. Wish me luck.

Weekend Warriors

dog + Pepto Bismol = mess


snuggle down


peeling tape


going to market


Horn of Africa + real fresh strawberry lemonade

Reelin' (from the fumes)

Painting and movies have occupied our free time as of late.

(bedroom in progress--last room!)

We're on a roll with the movies thing. We realized that we rented Freeway and Mean Streets in the same night so we established the Road/Street/Avenue/et al theme. Other themes will follow once we get tired of this one or we run out of good movies. On this one, to date:

• Freeway---Keifer Sutherland plays a pedophile/serial killer and Reese Witherspoon is a feisty teenager. It's a lot funnier than it sounds. Also scarier. I recommend this film to everyone. Bizarre and sometimes hilarious. I laughed out loud more at this than anything else I've seen lately.
• Mean Streets---Johnny better pay up. Classic. Watch it again. Now.
  
• Horatio's Drive---2 men and a pit bull (yay!) make the first cross country road trip in 1903; a Ken Burns/PBS documentary. Excellent.
• A Streetcar Named Desire---I mean, come on. It's Marlon. Brando. Forget The Island of Dr. Moureau. Forget you ever saw that. This, this, is Marlon Brando. Excellent.

Then we went into Watch This! on Burnside to see if they had a better different selection than Hollywood video (duh). We told the ritalined-out Clerk about our theme and he recommended:

• Sunset Boulevard---Watched the Making Of from special features and it helped a lot: explaining the context of the movie, why it was hated/loved, the message, etc. Very very good movie. Nominated for 11 Oscars in 1951. "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."
• Pickup on South Street---A great noir with a love story even. Seriously, a good one.
  
• Mulholland Drive (tonight's feature)---We've seen it, but who watches a David Lynch movie once. You have to watch it twice just to get the characters straight.

Also, in case you haven't noticed:

Happy Fall.

Saturday people (a photo essay)

Saturday market:

new coat for Lazlo $33

vegan hemp seed soap 2/$7

caramel kettlecorn $3

Library holds:

In alphabetical order: AdCult USA, Bush at War, Chicken, Colter

Antique Shopping:

I covet thee, $1500 doors

Now: Painting the bedroom

WTF

Keith here...
So this is for all of you who might need to hire someone in the future. First of all, not everyone looking for a job is incompetent. There is a reason they're looking for a job. Either they really need work or by the odd chance, they find what you do somewhat interesting and might want to learn something new. Don't assume that you are smarter than the person sitting across from you. Treat them with respect. If you have half a brain in that fetal alcohol syndrome shaped head of yours, maybe you should use it, if for nothing else than to smile. We should all take the time to try something new. Second. If you post an ad, make sure the ad contains ALL the information. If you want someone experienced in the field then say so. Don't say "experience a plus." Don't waste your time or anyone who might come in to apply. Just because someone answered your ad doesn't mean that they're sitting home eating BBQ Lay's surfing the web with their cock in their hand. Third. If someone does come in to apply for a job that you have posted, make sure that you're familiar with the ad. It really doesn't look professional when you hollar down the hall if anyone's seen the ad in question. Take a little pride in your position. I'm sure you didn't suck someones dick to make bindery manager. Fourth. If you have filled the position, remove the fucking ad. Maybe if I wasn't sitting in your office while you discuss your companies financial business over the phone in front of a stranger, I could be looking for a job that is still available. I never got a job that wasn't available and I'm sure you've never hired anyone you didn't need. Fifth. NEVER, and I mean this, NEVER assume that the person sitting across from you can't spell sarcasm. Give it a few minutes and then make that assumption. There are alot of intelligent people in the world who aren't fucking professors. There are alot of people who don't watch American Idol, WWF, Nascar or football. What you should assume initially is that this person doesn't even watch t.v. What you should assume initially is that this person has invested an incredible amount of time and money into what they thought was a worthwhile career, only to be disappointed. What you should assume is that this person actually knows how the world works, that life is hard, the world is fucked and they are willing to actually grace you shitty little company entertaining the thought of contributing something. Sixth and goal. Smile and be courteous. If you aren't, you are conveying an atmosphere of stress and confusion. Remember, nobody likes a jerkoff. Honestly. Nobody.

Well kids, that's the lesson for today. And what did we learn? Don't be a jag.
Thank you for your time and I hope to see all of you again real soon.
Until then, this is Keith.
lates

Just this side of crazy (just)

We watched a couple movies this weekend that reminded me: as much as I think I struggle sometimes to keep it together, I am not really crazy in that institutionable way (which is the only way it really counts if you're talking Crazy).

First, The Devil & Daniel Johnston. I've been a fan of Daniel Johnston since I was in high school and heard him for the first time. And I knew he had mental health issues. But this documentary we watched just blew me away. He does the whole Satan/God thing, threw his father's airplane keys out of the plane while they were flying, etc. Brilliant songwriter/incredible singer (in that off-key cracking way)/certifiable nut. Great combo if you think about it. Does being Crazy get you more play in the artist community? It doesn't seem to hurt.

Kurt Cobain wearing a shirt of Daniel's first tape

I've often wondered that, but haven't committed fully to checking it out. There's always the rent to pay. And Crazy don't pay the rent. So I save that scenario for What To Do After Keith Is Hit By A Bus And I Have to Make It In the World Alone (which, by the way, could happen).

Second: Edmond. I love me some William H. Macy. But in this one he goes a little nuts and beats up a pimp, slashes Julia Stiles, and ends up sharing a bunk with a black man in prison.

So, yeah, could we rent some movies that aren't so depressing? Repeat: I am not crazy. I am not so crazy.

In other mental health-related news: I have made progress toward getting my medical bills reduced. I told them flat out I didn't think the prices were reasonable for the (lack of) services I received. So I don't know where this will end up, but it's in the works.

And in deflecting-the-rain news: I ordered this jacket off SierraTradingPost.com today.
And I only noticed at the checkout that there was a Bible verse across the heading. Which turned me off. But I was 75% done ordering a nice Columbia coat for $70. So I went ahead. But I will remember their leanings when/if I go there again. On the other hand, they are environmentally-conscious, so, what, it's a wash? Maybe.

Reminds me of the Buy Blue directory.

Okay, from one semi-crazy (or two) to all you people out there in the Internet: goodnight.

Close call.

I almost got hawked on tonight: Keith and I were walking Lazlo down Burnside and right before I crossed the doorway of Tony's, a man stepped out and hawked a loogie on the sidewalk.
Then apologized for almost sliming me. Thanks, buddy.

Tonight at the dog park we met a woman who found my photos on Flickr and recognized Lazlo. Turns out she/her husband/her dog Caesar live on the floor below us! Crazy internets!

There`s no love like the dog love.

**Lots of links in this post.**

I think we have Dog Fever (again).

I checked out a book called The Dog Bible from the library last week and it was like finding the owner's manual to Lazlo. Wolf pack mentality is something that doesn't come naturally to humans and Keith and I have basically treated Lazlo like a fur-covered person since we got him. But dogs don't respond to the idea of democracy and they actually like to be told what to do! Amazing! So we started doing a few of the things suggested in the book and it's already making a difference in his behavior. He's probably thinking, "Way to go guys. Two years into this and you're finally getting it." We also checked out the dog whisperer website and he basically teaches the same principles: "in order to properly fulfill both our dogs and ourselves, we need to become our canine's calm, assertive pack leaders." Okay, we are totally on board. I can't believe it took us this long.

Yesterday afternoon we went to our first pit bull meet up at a state park south of here. There are about 30 members in the group, but 7 showed up. A manageable group. It was good meeting other pits and other pit owners. One lady showed up at the end and she was a breeder. So I wasn't too excited to have her in the group, but I don't have a say in that so... But she was bragging about having litters, etc. (And, yes, we bought Lazlo, so that sounds hypocritical.) And another guy with his family walked by while all of us were standing near a trail with our dogs on leash of course. He says, "I'm skittish of pit bulls." We all say, "Well, they're good dogs..." etc and he says "Except the ones that eat children." It's so frustrating to hear people say that. I can't be nice to people that make ignorant comments like that. He wasn't joking, either. He was being nasty. People who've haven't been around pit bulls (including us pre-Lazlo) get their prejudices from mainstream news that feeds on the sensationalism of pit bull attacks (which I won't get into regarding how dogs are classified, etc....). But people rarely read/hear/see the good press that pit bulls receive. Other than that, it was a great afternoon and we all said we wanted a chance for the dogs to run off-leash at our next meet up in a couple weeks.

Bubba and Sweet Pea

Buster the Monkey Dog

This morning we took Lazlo to another dog park--Gabriel Park. We've been trying out some that aren't too far from us. Driving, but still close. Lazlo played with a pit mix puppy named Malcolm and burned off a lot of energy. Then we played tug-of-war for a while. It's a good workout for me, too. Quads! Lazlo's flying squirrel sustained heavy collateral damage and had to be put down. So we got him a new frisbee-like toy that is rumored to be near-indestructible. We'll see.

playing @ Gabriel Park

Then to wrap up the weekend, this afternoon I finally made Lazlo his dog bed that I've been promising him since we found the material at The Bins.

And in non-dog news, last night the Portland State Viking football team got whupped by UM Grizzlies. !! Not that we were ever big Griz fans. But it was exciting to see them here. We saw a few people walking around PGE Park before the game (4 hours early!) and we asked them if they knew how many people from Missoula were coming over; they estimated 4,000-5,000. I don't know if that many showed up or not, but there were a lot. We walked around outside and tried to see if we could recognize anyone, but we didn't. Oh well. It was a rowdy bunch, though.

Dog Parkin

Explored a new dog park today.

Click for a larger version

Then to the library.



Then cleaned house.

Then computer/phone calls/dinner/movie/bed.

The end.

Maybe it's already started...

But I hope not. The past few days have given us a taste of the Rainy Season. Yesterday I waited for the bus in my windbreaker (note: not waterproof!) and got drenched. I didn't dry out until just before lunch. Fun. Need to get on over to Columbia I guess.

I got off work early today so Lazlo and I headed to the dog park before another shower moved in. As we were walking home I got several raindrops in the eye. Gotta take advantage of that sunshine while you can.

St. Bernard puppy vs. Pitbull

Also can we get a Woot for Internet RADIO?! Radio here is like radio everywhere else: boring. Only when you get on the internets you can choose from 10,000,000,000 stations, most of which have playlists you haven't heard repeated in 4-hour loops. Joy. Pure joy. Blues. 30's Jazz. Trance/House. Whateva. Even the Denver Police Scanner.

Had dinner last night with mom. She was in town for a seminar. One night only. It was nice to see her again, (hi Mom!) even though it's been less than a month since they were here. Like she said, who know when we're going to see each other again. Could be decades! xoxoxox

Okay, time to go meet Keith @ the MAX station. I tell Lazlo, "Where's Keith?" and he goes berserk.