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.

Got that itch.

That tattoo itch.

But there are bills to pay first. BORRRRRRING.

I told Keith we should both make appointments for the end of the year. Then we would have something to look forward to. I have my design already. Or the basis of. I would like Whoever to tweak it a little; art it up. So it's like this:
Catrina with black butterflies coming out of her head. And the text "J'ai des papillions noirs tous les jours." Gotta find a font for that.

You know where you can get ANY font: The Internet. Oh Internet how I have missed you. The wi-fi was just not cutting it for me. Everything is so fast now. Praise Comcast.

It's supposed to rain tomorrow. Good. Lookin forward to it.
Here's a preview:

looking west up Burnside

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeets

(Shout out to Costco for 500 TC sheets.)

Been a busy week around Camp Blankenship. Thursday eve we had dinner with Tamiko & Dani, our only Married Couple Friends: lesbians (also Former Missoulians). We are very much looking forward to next summer when they move out here; we almost convinced them not to go back to Ohio. Anyway, Tamiko wanted to hear jazz or blues so I Googled "Portland jazz dinner" and the Googlers told me to go Jimmy Mack's. They were right on. Great music, really good falafel, onion rings, and Baba ganoush. We had two waitresses. When the band took a break we made a break for Voodoo Doughnut.

Friday night Dani's brother Jesse joined us and we ate Italian and then went to Voodoo Doughnut. This could be a bad pattern to get into.

(Keith, dinner on the sidwalk)

I should be cleaning the house right now.

Highlight of The (Yester)Day: Getting the bill from the M.D. from my ER visit (in addition to the hospital's bill). For nearly $300 I received: mediocre, nearly unacceptable care from an M.D. who asked me how I was doing and then before waiting for an answer stepped out the door to take a phone call, then left me waiting in the holding pen for an hour and then came back to tell me "Sorry, can't help you," but would you mind signing this form saying you will not hold us legally responsible if you decide to jump out in front of a bus? Thanks so much. Appreciate it.