Entry for June 29, 2007

Entry for June 29, 2007

06/29/2007 04:12 pm
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

WOOHOO! Friday! Today has been flying by - I spend half of they day calling tenants to see what went on last night (how late they stayed open due to delays and how were sales, etc.). Then did a walk through with our new visual person.



Dan had to go back to work last night (around 6 p.m.) - he had just gotten home around 4 p.m. Then back in around 10 a.m. today. Luckily, his boss said just go home after this morning and use last nights hours are today's hours. So, he was home around 1:30 p.m. I'm sure he's crashed out. Maybe it's out to dinner tonight.



This weekend it's a trip to Petsmart. We decided to wait until fall to start the next training classes for Esa. We have so many trips planned within the next couple of months that it's just worth it to wait. She just doesn't seem ready for some of the things in the next level - like the come with distractions - yeah right!



I'm going to a crop club tomorrow to work on Esa's scrapbook. I haven't been scrapbooking in so long - I can't wait to get back into it - and meet some new people. I've e-mailed the organizer a couple of times, but this will be the first time actually meeting.

Entry for June 26, 2007

Entry for June 26, 2007

06/26/2007 11:11 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

The Mutts comic that I received via e-mail was so fitting today!

This weekend I was on Myspace and hear a Slaughter song that I haven't heard in forever. I couldn't even remember what CD it was from (What kind of fan am I?)! Then I realized, it's been FOREVER since I've even listened to any of my Slaughter CDs! So I pulled out the CD which the song was on and have been listening to it for the last two days - I've forgotten how good of an album Fear No Evil is.



Then the reminiscing! So many memories seeing these guys in concert and hanging out with them! Now that's a whole blog in itself!

Entry for June 25, 2007

Entry for June 25, 2007.
06/25/2007 10:45 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

Nothing too exciting happened yesterday.



We went and got groceries and stopped at the UPS store to send back a portable dog house that I purchased, but the store was closed - ended up just going to Dairy Queen and getting Blizzards.



We bought Esa another stuffed animal at the grocery store ($2.99) - it lasted about 2 minutes. We also bought a ball for her - she didn't know what to think of it at first, but she's starting to get the hang of it and has played with it a little. She keeps trying to bite it and, of course, she can't get her mouth around it. It's funny.



We started squirting her with water when she nips. So far it's working. It might not be helpful when we give her a bath, but I'm thinking stopping the nipping is more important than the bath at this point!



VJ finally got up around 4 p.m. yesterday. Then we all went to the mall - shopped and then had dinner at Chevy's. I got quite a few tops at Old Navy - all that I can wear to work this summer. Dan actually found a couple tops too. We ended up spending about $75. Not bad -got to love clearance! I also got a new purse - I had purchased a purse from Wilson's Leather about 2 months ago and the zipper has already broken on it. I just happened to walk into Wilson's and saw one just like the one I had, showed them the zipper and they said, we'll just exchange it. NICE! I was so excited. I'm really liking my purse and was upset when it started to tear. I so miss having a Wilson's Leather here in the Airport. They have the BEST sales - plus we get an airport employee discount!



My tummy is still not 100%, but I think it's getting better. I know the eating this weekend didn't help, but I'm sure it was from Five Guys. I'm going to limit the food intake today to liquids (soup and maybe some crackers) and see what happens. I had the WEIRDEST experience last night. I had night chills - and I mean bad. I was just shivering away for probably about 5 minutes. So, I'm hoping that was a turning point for whatever is going on with the tummy.

Living -- and Blogging -- the Green Life.

Living -- and Blogging -- the Green Life.

06/25/2007 11:53 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..Washington Post



Sunday, June 24, 2007; M06







Just how planet-friendly can you get in 2007? Is it possible to live without producing trash or using appliances? A handful of bloggers are finding out. The intimate details of their adventures are a helpful -- and often hilarious -- way to learn what you can do for the planet, as well as what you probably aren't ready to do.



The most famous blogger of the bunch, writer Colin Beavan of No Impact Man ( http://noimpactman.typepad.com), not only composts his own excrement and eschews electricity, but he does so while living in Manhattan (a book and documentary are in the works) with his wife and 2-year-old.



Among the anecdotes about stomping laundry in the bathtub are serious musings on such topics as the future of capitalism and the relationship between goods and happiness -- grappling with, as the 43-year-old Beavan puts it, "finding a sense of meaning in living in a way that I feel isn't all about me, but reflects my concern for my planet and my community."



Toronto journalist Vanessa Farquharson, 28 -- who has vowed to make one small change in her lifestyle every day, from trading tissues for hankies to unplugging her refrigerator -- writes Green as a Thistle ( http://www.greenasathistle.com). The site has garnered a following for its candid product reviews and amusingly snarky tone: An organic body wash is deemed "craptastic"; an entry on the perils of airline food is called "No Steaks on a Plane."



"It's been much easier figuring out how to make spinach last more than a day [without a refrigerator] than it has been finding a way to effectively wash my hair without sodium lauryl sulfate," she says.



Though these two sites receive thousands of hits a day, they're not the only ones worth reading. So many eco-blogs are out there that there's even a blog about the blogs: Best Green Blogs ( http://www.bestgreenblogs.com).







-- Eviana Hartman

Entry for June 24, 2007.

Entry for June 24, 2007.

06/24/2007 08:41 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

So - VJ made it down. He finally got here around 8 p.m. and off to Chipotle we went.



He's going to be here until Monday, go to VA Beach, and then back on Tuesday, going home on Wednesday. No real plans today - maybe we'll go to the mall or something.



I forgot to mention that I FINALLY finished Anna Karenina. WOOHOO! It was a good story, just very long. Now I'm reading Life on Planet Rock by Lonn Friend. It's going to be a fast read because it's all about the bands that I like - in their heyday.

Entry for June 23, 2007

Entry for June 23, 2007.

06/23/2007 09:10 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

working, working, working - YUCK!



My nephew, VJ, should be coming down today. It'll be good to see him.



Yesterday was nice and relaxing. After Dan went to work, Esa and I went for a walk. She was kind of out of it, but did pretty well. We just took our time walking around and stopped at one of the parks in the neighborhood.



I went out to dinner with Suzanne - payback for stopping in and checking on Esa on Tuesday. We went to Five Guys. This morning, I told Dan, remind me next time I mention wanting to go to Five Guys that it doesn't agree with me. I didn't feel that good last night and I still don't feel that great today! I think it's all of the grease and the 100% beef. I'm so used to eating turkey burgers. The fries are awesome though! I guess next time, I'll just eat fries and see how I do!



My niece, Chrissy, graduated last night. I just can't believe it. Unfortunately, she's got quite the social schedule, so we don't chat that much online (same with VJ). I have no idea what her plans are now. I have a feeling she'll be going to college if she can get in. She's never been that great at school, but does her best. She'll probably go to Alfred State and stay at home for now. Nothing wrong with that - I did it and her Mom went there too. I feel bad because I don't even know what she wants to get into!



I totally missed the Caps draft party yesterday - and the unveiling of the new jersey. I did catch a little of the draft last night. I need to find out more info on the guy we got - Karl Alzner. Supposedly, he's going to be a good defenseman - which is what we need.



Well - better get to work.



****



I left work early - about 3 when I should have at least stayed until 4 p.m. - oh well - I have not felt well all day. I came home and took about a hour or so nap and now feel a little better. VJ should be here soon and then going to Chipotle.



I forgot to post about Esa's new toy. First the background story - I saw on the Scooby Doo treats that they have tricks to train your dog so I went to the website and printed out some. One of them was hiding treats under papercups and having the dog find them. Well - I knew that wouldn't work for Esa since she would just grab the cup and play with that. I was trying to think of something to put the treat in and thought - EASTER EGGS!



At first I put the treat in the egg - she could care less - so we just started playing with the eggs - until they open up and then we throw another egg to get her away from the opened egg. It's SO CUTE! Her tail just wags away. Dan thinks we should get it on video.

Entry for May 22, 2007

Entry for May 22, 2007.

05/22/2007 11:45 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..Esa is just GOING through her toys! On Saturday, I stopped at the Dollar Tree and picked up a bunch of toys. Two of them have already made it to the trashcan. Those baby teeth are killers! She also ruined a "chilly bone" that was like $7, in the first use!



Yesterday, I stopped at the grocery store after work to pick up a few things and our next door neighbors where there. Elijah is around 4 and his mom, Elaine, said, "you have something to ask her" and he's like "how's your dog?" Then I invited him over when we got home.



He came over for a few and Esa was just chasing him and kind of ignoring him too. Then she started the nipping and would not calm down. So I told Elijah that it was time for Esa to go in since she was nipping him. I was so afraid Elijah was going to get hurt. I did let him know that he can come over anytime though.



Next weekend (June 1), Esa will be spending with Grandma Lois & Grandpa Harry. Well - Daddy Dan is VERY WORRIED about leaving her with the grandparents. He's so afraid that they aren't going to watch her and she'll get into something - whether it be something she shouldn't eat or knocking something over (since they have a lot of antiques). The whole time he's talking about it, I'm thinking - OK Lois has raised 3 kids and Noel (Donna's dog) stays there all of the time - I think Esa will be ok. I just said to him - If she gets into something, it'll be their fault for not watching her. Then Dan remembered that Parker will be there, so HOPEFULLY Parker will keep an eye on her too.

Follow up to Gilmore Girls

Follow up to Gilmore Girls.

06/23/2007 09:54 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..A Gilmore Girl Exits Onto Career Fast Track



By Ellen McCarthy

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, June 22, 2007; WE33







Let's say there's a celebrity publicist on the line, saying her client's on the other line, and she's ready to be patched through. And, oh -- one thing -- you've got only 10 minutes to ask every question you're hoping to have answered.



Well, you should probably consider yourself lucky if the celebrity in question is Lauren Graham. At least you know she won't waste your time with any silliness like breathing between sentences.



"I didn't know," she begins. "They cut our lunch in half today 'cause we're daylight sensitive and, I just -- so now I have 15 minutes to eat lunch. So now I only have 10 minutes.



"But, um, how are you?"



Fine, thanks.



And a little amused that she still sounds frazzled. Wasn't a major reason for the cancellation of the CW's beloved drama "Gilmore Girls" that Graham and her co-star, Alexis Bledel, wanted to dial down the intensity of their schedules? Right now Graham is on the phone promoting her role in the big-budget comedy "Evan Almighty," and she's talking from a rental car on the set of an indie film she's making with Matthew Perry. She'll go directly from there to shoot another flick with Greg Kinnear and is in the process of firming up plans for another project that will pick up right after that.



At least she hasn't had trouble finding work.



"It's really strange," she muses. "It's really interesting to me. I don't know what to make of it. This is not what I expected this time to be, and it's sort of like each thing has built on the thing before it."



In fact, "Evan Almighty" (see review on Page 35) came along before it was even official that the seventh season of "Gilmore Girls" would be its last. Fans of that show, who worshiped Graham as the single-mom master of rambling monologues and biting one-liners, might be jarred by her performance here. She's Joan, the adoring wife to Steve Carell's narcissistic newscaster-turned-congressman, who is commanded by God (Morgan Freeman) to build an ark in the middle of their Northern Virginia McMansion subdivision. (And it really was built, incidentally, in Crozet, Va., a small town outside Charlottesville where much of the film was shot. Final dimensions: 60 feet high, 250 feet wide, 260 feet long.)



The result is a four-jokes-a-minute movie, in which Graham owns almost none of the laughs.



"It's not about me," she explains. "The movie's not about the wife. It's somewhat about the family. The best I wanted to do is really connect to him and make that relationship as believable as possible in a small number of scenes. . . . For me, the job is totally enjoyable and worth it."



Running around with three sons and a few hundred animals waiting to board the ark, Graham exudes the same casual sexiness that defined her aesthetic in "Gilmore Girls," just none of the wit, none of the sass.



When they taped the final episode of that show, there was no certainty it would be final. Graham, 40, who grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from Langley High School, said she thought there was a 50 percent chance they'd all be back for one more season, so the thinking was, "Well, if this is the end, what would we like it to be?" she says.



And that, she admits, is a strange way to say goodbye to a job that has been central to her career and her life for the better part of a decade.



There "would've been a difference if we'd known it was the end -- emotionally, psychologically and even creatively, I think," she says. But the pressure that comes with wrapping up a saga with such fervid audience loyalty is tremendous, she adds, so "in a way, it was a blessing to just kind of have a quiet exit."



There was a public mourning of the show's passing, when it did become official, writ large on fan Web sites and television message boards. For her part, Graham, who had a great deal of say in the decision not to continue for an eighth season, hasn't watched the last episode. Any of the last few episodes, really.



"Whatever Freud would say about that . . . it's so strange 'cause I went into another job, and right after this I'm going right into another job. And I don't have a huge amount of perspective about it yet," she explains.



If it was a fraught, risky choice to give up the show that had been her rock, it was also an intuitive one. Her thinking: "I have had that job. It's been a steady job. It has been a rock in a lot of ways, and that's totally reassuring and positive. But I was starting to get itchy -- creatively, and to have more time and a different kind of lifestyle."



The different kind of lifestyle came quickly. Graham hasn't been home in a month. Her stuff from "Gilmore Girls" is still sitting in boxes in her garage. She's set up in a trailer with walls so thin, everyone can hear what everyone else is saying. (Hence the decampment to the rental car for this interview.)



"But this is the actor's life that I kinda forgot about, which is you go where the work is and you're kind of a nomad and you're living in a hotel," she says. She expected more downtime to recover from the show, but in a way, moving on immediately has been just as restorative. "Anything new is fun," she says. "Every person you work with has a different creative process versus on a show, you kind of get down a routine."



Not that another show is an impossibility for Graham. She has gotten offers, for one thing. And: "You know what? Also, I think the best writing for women is in television," she says with some touch of matter-of-fact resignation.



Still, for now she's having fun. And she's having 15-minute lunch breaks that don't leave her much time to breathe. Good thing for Graham, that's never seemed necessary.

Entry for June 20, 2007.

Entry for June 20, 2007.

06/20/2007 11:22 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

Back in the office - The seminar was basically just a rah-rah session regarding the mall division and about 10 minutes of talking about the airports. It was great to see everyone in the division though. I stayed at the Hyatt a few blocks from where the meeting was (at the Ritz-Carlton).

Monday night Dan asked me if I had gotten online to check my e-mail. I didn't even bother bringing my laptop, so yesterday when I got home, I checked my e-mail (since Dan asked me again). And there was the picture above.



We always do those silly little things for each other - which is cool.



Puppy obviously doesn't do well without me - She had an accident in the house on Monday - Dan thinks that he didn't get up fast enough to let her out. Then today, he called and said she had another accident - he didn't know when it happened. What the heck is going on? We'll see how she does tonight and the next couple of days.



When I got home, they were out on a walk. I went out to the porch and saw them down the street and started calling "ESA!" - she came running, pulling Dan behind her. SO CUTE!

Entry for June 18, 2007.

Entry for June 18, 2007.

06/18/2007 03:35 pm
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

Interesting things happened yesterday.



Starting Friday, the power to our garage kept going out and we had to reset the breaker. Then Dan noticed the outside wiring from the house to the garage was uncovered. He went over and basically touched it and SPARK! I didn't see it, but heard it! The electrician came by today - $150 later - wires are just taped up. We'll still have to cover them up, but at least now the garage doors work and no electrical issues.



Then we had a bird that was just trying to walk around our backyard - you could tell something was wrong with it. Well - that's the third one in 3 days. Dan said that Esa scared one from our backyard to the neighbors and it ran into the neighbors garage and fell to the ground - dead. Dan also found another one dead under our grill. All crows - Dan's freaking out so we left a message at the animal shelter. No response yet.



Westfield has a seminar starting tonight so it's off the hotel. I'll be back online on Wednesday.

Entry for June 17, 2007

Entry for June 17, 2007.

06/17/2007 09:12 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

Jeepers! A week has almost gone by since I last posted! I guess I'll work backwards -

Yesterday, Esa graduated from her puppy class! She's doing well with the different commands. The trainer showed us "puppy pushups" yesterday - where they sit and then down, again and again. Supposedly, it'll wear her out. She also showed us the submissive position - basically, just pinning her down until she calms down.



I felt so bad last night - I cut her toenail too much and at first it bleed a little, then later on, it broke off and was bleeding all over the place!



Esa will be getting some toys in the mail soon - I bought some toys on Ebay - I try to win toys that are close to the dollar store price - she goes through them so easily - no matter the price, so I might as well purchase the cheap stuff. We did stop at the Dollar Store after her class and I picked up a couple more toys. Our Dollar Store is awesome - some good quality stuff there.



Friday, Dan had to go to work during the day, so we got to see each other that night - luckily he was home by around noon, so I didn't have to run home during lunch. Friday was something at work. Friday morning, the by-pass door was guarded by TSA and all people had to be wanded, BUT bags were not checked. That didn't make sense. THEN, around 4:30 p.m., United had a bomb threat in their baggage claim area and the area had to be evaculated. Sounds fishy to me. The weirdest thing - it didn't make the news.



Wednesday or Thursday morning, Esa made a mess - she was passing by the dining room table and decided to pull it off - well, I had plants towards the edge and needless to say, Dan had a mess to clean up.



Tuesday, I ordered a cruise that we'll be going on - from Baltimore to Bermuda! September 2 to the 7th. I CAN'T WAIT! The price was great - about $500 each so for the total cruise, we're paying almost as much as we paid each when we went on the last cruise - and no airline cost! Grandma Lois & Grandpa Harry are already lined up to take Esa for the week. Hopefully by then, she'll be much calmer!



Dan's going into work today, so it'll just be us girls this afternoon. It's supposed to be very hot, so we'll probably be playing inside. They just got back from a long walk, so maybe Esa will take a little nap (I can only wish!).

Entry for June 12, 2007

Entry for June 12, 2007.
06/12/2007 01:22 pm
1 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

Well, the last couple of weeks, my knees have been bothering me a lot. Just achey all of the time - I've had this all of my life. Doctor's could never diagnose it as arthritis, but they always ached when I over did it and now - when it's going to rain.



I'm thinking the aching is because of the major walking I've been doing with Esa. Last night I mentioned it to the chiropractor. She said that it might be some loose cartilage in the knee, but we'd have to do an MRI to make sure. I told her I'd wait, but I'm thinking more and more that I need to go ahead and get it done.



I know that some of it must be the weight. I think I'd lose weight if I actually stopped the eating at night - I know I get enough calories during the day. Or even if I ate better at night - because that's when the pasta cravings kick in and I have a big bowl of pasta.



Esa was in rare form yesterday. She was terrible on the walk - she's never been like that with me. Laying down, ignoring me, pulling something terrible because she just wanted to sniff. Dan said that's what she was like after the incident yesterday. This morning he said he couldn't get her to calm down and go to bed after he got home.



Dan taught Esa "high five". Of course that was after I taught her "shake". It's cute.

Entry for June 11, 2007.

Entry for June 11, 2007.

06/11/2007 09:20 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

Monday again - The weekend went by way to fast. Of course, it's mostly concentrating around the pup, but it's all good.



Saturday, Dan helped his dad and his wife move while I stayed with Esa and we went to her puppy class. Esa did so well - it was a different trainer and she gave me some good tips on handling her nipping and the digging (she said we should stop the digging now, before it gets out of hand). I let the trainer know that I used the muzzle approach this week and she suggested not because it might make her hand fearful. So, we've been using time outs for at long as needed followed by playing alone time.



Sunday, we hung out at home until about 2:30 and then went to Chipotle. It was really nice and not hot so we took a long walk around the neighborhood. Dan had a hard time with Esa yesterday and we had a serious talk about how to handle her. I told him that it upsets me when he gets so angry at her and that I just try to do what I've read - I'm the one in control and try the calm-assertive approach. Dan said he thought of "I'm in control" this morning when she started getting out of hand and he basically pinned her down. When she got up, she was calm.



We also saw on the show "The Doghouse" about using a waterbottle with rocks in it to get the dog's attention. We've been using that and it seems to get her attention. We've been using anything and everything we can - one of them is going to work.



Dan just called a few minutes ago and said that they had some excitement on the walk. This lady was powerwalking and it freaked Esa out. Well, somehow, Dan dropped the leash and Esa went RUNNING! Luckily she stayed on the sidewalk, but the poopy bag holder was dragging behind her and scaring her even more. He said, finally she looked behind and realized that no one was following her and slowed down and went towards the grass. He was finally able to get up to her and grab the leash. He said the rest of the walk was out of control - she was still freaked out and finally they made it home. We're just lucky that she didn't run into the road.



That's the second time that Dan has dropped the leash. Last week, he was walking her and one of the neighbor dogs (Zena) jumped the fence. When he grabbed Zena, he dropped Esa's leash. Luckily Esa was too excited about Zen (who is 4 months) that she didn't realize it.



An Esa cute moment - this morning I came downstairs and sat on the floor, after a few pets, she went over to her crate, got her rope toy and brought it over to me! Then I pulled out her other toys, she went over, checked them out and brought Ottowa (red, black & white are Ottowa Senator colors) over to me! SO CUTE!

Entry for June 07, 2007

Entry for June 07, 2007.
06/07/2007 04:48 pm
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

I've come to realize that if Esa SEES a dog do something, she will do it too (so far they have been good things and not bad).



When Leslie (the trainer) had her dog with her, Esa saw Lucky "sit pretty", we get home and she's doing it.



Last night was another example. We've had two tennis balls for her ever since we got her. She has never really played with them - even when we try to get her interested in them. Well - last night, when we were out walking, she met a black lab that had a tennis ball and she SAW the owner bounce it and the dog catch it.



Next thing I know, we get home and within a half hour, she's playing with her tennis ball and I bounce it and she catches it! I tell you, she's a smarty.



The nipping just seems to be getting worst this week. She just isn't listening with the "OUCH!", the ignoring, time out, nothing. We've tried to not hold her mouth close, but I read online today that if the other items aren't working, hold her mouth close and look her straight in the eyes and say "NO BITE", so, I'm going to try that tonight. Wish me luck.

Trying to go Green.....

Trying to go Green.....

06/06/2007 10:45 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..So this week, I've made a conscious effort to recycle/go green. This week I'm doing the following at work:



•taking home my coke & water bottles for recycling .

•I've created a scrap paper pile from the paper that would have originally gone in the trash. - update 6/26 - I'm taking home my paper for recycling. The pile was too much and I was never going to get through it!

•using the hand air dryer in the bathroom instead of papertowels. Using Energy, but saving trees.

The airport is just now getting into recycling more than just cardboard. The effort hasn't started yet, but should (in one concourse only) next month.



I'm pretty good at recycling at home - plastics, paper, cardboard, using towels instead of papertowels, use rags for cleaning, etc. I've started to replace the regular lightbulbs with the energy saving ones - as they go out, so it's taking time. I check out Craig's List, I signed up for Freecycle and Ideal Bite this week. It's a lot of work, but the feeling is good.



I'm always so amazed when we go to Canada - there are recycle bins EVERYWHERE. It's awesome.



Last night went pretty good, until I stopped paying attention to Esa. That's when she starts nipping or when I'm on the floor playing with her. This week the walking away isn't working. She just keeps coming after me. I think I'm acting different though - not just getting up and walking away, but looking at her and talking - which you aren't supposed to do. So, need to make a conscious effort on that. We went for an hour walk. Esa loses her focus a lot on the walk - just so much to take in. I'm thinking about getting the long leash and working with her in the yard to get her to pay attention to us better.



We were looking at the next class in the training - it's basically reinforcing of the same thing we're going over in this class. I'm thinking we should just wait and get her to "perfect" (or as close as we can to it) the current lessons and then go to the intermediate class. She's quite a ways from perfecting any of the lessons when outside. She's pretty good inside, but outside there are way too many distractions.



******



June 13, 2007 - going green update -



An ideal just came to me while I was fixing my lunch at work - why not start bringing my own silverware and cloth napkin? Silverware is easy - we have plenty of it and I always sent it with Dan. I'll have to dig up some cloth napkins. Something simple, but yet, a big impact. We go through a lot of plastic silverware & papertowels here.



*****



June 25, 2007 - going green update -



Charging my cell phone today, and just thought - I have a solar charger for my phone , why don't I use it!



*****



June 26, 2007 - going green update



I just read an article that says that recycled paper napkins are better than cloth when you put the energy to make and wash them into the equation - and some recycled napkins can be composted.



Also, I read about using graywater - basically reusing any water that you can to water plants. This should come in handy since I have to water the outside plants every day lately!

Entry for June 05, 2007

Entry for June 05, 2007.

06/05/2007 09:25 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

OH - what a night -



Esa was in rare form - she's obviously been spoiled by having us around 24/7 for the last week. She would not calm down last night - nipping, nipping & more nipping.



We went for a walk around 6:45 p.m., came home, tried to do some training and the nipping started. So about 8 p.m. went for another hour walk. I thought she was going to calm down, but then the nipping started again, so bedtime. Then the crying - she finally calmed down around 10:30. I tried to sleep downstairs to be by her, but that didn't work either.



This morning, Dan said she had torn a hole in her bed ($30 down the drain) and he had to take her for a walk at 2 a.m. because she wouldn't calm down.



Hopefully, we can get her back into the groove of things this week. My knees are killing me today. I made the mistake of wearing flip flops instead of sneakers. I learned that lesson!

Entry for June 04, 2007.

Entry for June 04, 2007.

06/04/2007 10:05 am
1 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

It's not even 10 a.m. and I've had 2 diet cokes. I've gotten through all of my e-mails, but now have to get through the papers and followup to the e-mails.



OH, I WISH I COULD JUST STAY HOME! I know Dan feels the same too, but what do you do about the bills? Even if the house and car were paid off, we'd still have monthly expenses and what about the future? So, it's back to work.



It was a relaxing week, with not much accomplished, but it was all good. I did get some more items posted on Amazon, but I doubt they will sell. It's mostly 45s. I'm actually surprised they were listed on Amazon. I'll probably do a "group" listing on Ebay eventually or just get ready for the community yard sale in the fall. I would really like to make some money and get rid of stuff, but we'll see. If not, we'll get the tax deduction.



Esa is getting bigger and bigger. She's doing really well with her puppy class and has learned a couple of "tricks" beyond the class. She's getting "shake" and "(sit) pretty" and in class Leslie, her trainer, showed us "roll over" and "crawl"- which is from the intermediate class! Still got quite a bit to learn to be continuous on the commands though! We spend a few minutes several times a day on the commands and she does well, but when not in the "training mode", sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Entry for June 01, 2007

Entry for June 01, 2007

06/01/2007 09:24 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..

Man, the vacation is going by way to fast. I can't believe it's Friday already! We haven't done too much, but it was good.



I forgot to mention that we did go see "Pirates" - it was good, but LONG! It could have easily have been cut in half and done as two. It was good though.



Yesterday, we went to a farewell party for Kelly, my boss' boss. She is leaving Westfield after 15 years and going to another local mall management group. It was a fun time and even though I really didn't want to go see work people during my vacation, I knew I needed to go. Otherwise, it would end up on my review somehow (or at least mentioned verbally to me and never forgotten).



I think we are going to go to the park that Dan passes on his way to work everyday. Esa will like hanging out in the woods. Hopefully some good pics too.



****



Back from the trip - we had a lot of fun. Esa is exhausted, but she definitely had fun. She had a little incident - she fell into the water and Dan said the look on her face was priceless - it happened so fast that I didn't get a picture of it, but got an after shot. She immediately started to doggy paddle and when she got to the rock, she was just spread eagle. The funny thing, she probably could have touched the bottom. It was probably only 5 inches deep!