Scottish Brogue

I took photos of my washer/dryer on my phone, but they don't do my new appliances justice...so those can come later. I don't believe any of you are on bated breath for those photos.

So lets run you through the last week:

(+) Friday Sushi/Sake Happy Hour with friends--plus shoe shopping! Heaven.
(+) Saturday Renaissance Faire with friends/adopted family - found healthy eats and indulged in others that weren't (think cookies & cream gelato - yum!)
(-) Sunday consisted of 4 different stores to find a light fixture for the kitchen that I could actually like (sorry babe)
(+) Curtis installed another florescent fixture to replace the old one that was shorting out - thank you for being such a real handy man!
(±) Monday I was summoned for jury duty, again (payment for our American privileges, dread to go/potentially a boring day)
(+) Tuesday ordered the NEW kitchen cabinets -wow!
(±) Wednesday - We still can't decide on counter tops (a great luxury problem to have)
(-) Thursday - Horrific motorcycle accident, pray for them and their families...and PLEASE keep a watchful eye while on the road for your fellow travelers

(+) Friday/Today
In my own little tribute I rode into work today on my moto. It would be silly to be scared, but accidents like this give you a whole new gravity on the realities of the road. So today I overcame any apprehension and chose to be cautious, but to get out there and do what we love....RIDE.

As I fueled up Gracie this morning, a city worker was gassing up his truck and came around the Circle K pumps to tell me to "be careful riding out there." I nodded in appreciation at his fatherly comment and said I would. Then he did a double take at my moto and enviously complimented "niiice Harley." :)

On a lighter note, I pulled into the office the same time as a co-worker. She eyeballed me as I slung my leg off the bike and took my helmet off. Later after she had made her cup of tea, she came by my cube in her thick Scottish brogue and confessed...

"I saw you ride in on your motor-bike this morning and I got out of my mini-van...and it just made me feel old."

I couldn't help but exclaim how adorable she was! It was such a honest comment and in her accent it made it even more endearing. People around us make life wonderful...and I can't wait for this weekend.

Positive attitude, good times ahead...

Domesticated Diva

Earlier in the week I rummaged through the salvaged pile of sundries in the middle of our garage. Our stuff had been boxed, bagged and covered with a plastic tarp which was then in turn covered by drywall dust, mud and paint over spray. I got myself shimmied around the edge of the garage between the boxes and the garage door/walls and dug in, under and through the muck.

I FOUND THE WINDEX!!! Who knew I could be so freakin' excited to clean my mirrors and windows. Got a bar of soap to replace the paper thin traces of soap that dwindled in our shower and found another tub of Lysol Wipes. Who knew I was so domesticated?!?

I believe tomorrow I get my new washer and dryer. I will take photos like a proud parent and post. Again in an odd twist, showing that I am getting older...I am excited to do laundry. The fluff and fold was a nice idea, but it was still an inconvenience...the conveniences of home still rule.

Now there is great talk of new cabinets and counter tops as the insurance-paid flooring goes in. I will keep you updated as we figure it all out.

Refreshed

I was on a natural high as I slung my leg over my trusted Harley and zoomed into work. I skipped into the office after the exhilerating and brisk ride this morning. It felt really good to get out on the moto and just feel free. I tore up the freeways going 75 MPH and just let it all rip down the freeway...I love the rumble of the engine, it just started my day out right!

With all the random bad stuff that had been happening, I had this huge fear something bad would then in turn happen on Gracie. Thankfully my guardian angel is by my side and I have been unharmed these last two Fridays. Curtis has also been riding into work (safely)...and it is just nice to know we still enjoy it. Even better that we have the mellow Arizona weather to do it in! I can't imagine having to winterize our motorcycles and pack them up because of snow! It makes me sad and I think I would go through withdrawls of riding.

We may not always be in love with AZ, but we can absolutely be thankful for what we have.

Bullet Points

We all like concise info...here's a bullet point update:

• Lenny vs Cat - pup went from looking like a Greyhound to looking like Spuds McKenzie (Bull Terrier on stilts) since his muzzle got infected and puffed up huge
  
• Lenny took a trip to the vet, some doggie pain killers and antibiotics later...and he is okay
  
• Cat sighting - he's alive
  
• The House is almost back to normal - still no appliances and floors, but even more back to livable space :)
  
• SRP is doing maintenance on the service box in our backyard...servicing that only happens once in 20 YEARS is happening of course this month also and that means strangers are also accessing our backyard consistently
  
• And on a bright and happy note, I am typing this on my new laptop
  
• The recipe quest is not quite on track...but we are eating some new foods (mostly soup, I don't know why because most of the time I avoid eating them --shrug, go figure)
  
• Soon we will take a trip away from all this and go to Colorado to see friends and family

Curiosity (almost?) Killed the Cat

Lenny turned 7 years old last Tuesday and this Monday, he met his first cat. Lenny has a high prey drive (he was a Class A racer in his career) and we were always curious to see what would happen if he met a kitty face-to-face. Now I know.

We were getting our insulation blown back in our roof today, so Lenny went to stay at Uncle T's house so he didn't get an ulcer listening to a "vacuum" going all day in the roof. He was a good boy all day, I let him outside for the bathroom and while outside he kept sniffing around where a kitty sat watching him on a bench. Lenny eventually circled to the back and the cat moved.

Our sight hound saw. And the chase ensued with a very unsuspecting cat who didn't know he had to run that fast. Back and forth, cat couldn't get over the fence (too fat), couldn't get through an open slat on the fence and then couldn't get under T's porch in time. And then the scariest thing ensued, Lenny, pounced it like a toy, that awful cat MEOW-AAAWWWWING sound droned out and the scratching began. I started yelling...shouting, nothing broke it up. He was in hunt mode.

I jumped up on the wooden porch and the clamor allowed the cat to finish going under the porch and for me to pull Lenny inside the house dripping in blood.

This is what happens when he met the cat:













I am not sure how the cat is doing, I really hope for the best. I can't blame years of breeding and instinct...it's just what greyhounds do...and not all chase cats. And don't get the wrong idea that my Lenny is bad...just still learning what retired life is all about. Perhaps some day he will take up golf instead.

Sunday Fun Day

Today we made our way over to Costco to do a bit of restocking and while there we tried some samples. In the past we have made some bulk errors on food choices, today we found one in store:

Vegan Bocca Burger samples...



...topped with provolone cheese.


Well, there went vegan treat --and we had to giggle at the failed effort. :)