A Few of My Favorite Things

This is a really cute and fun blog that I borrowed (ok, stole) from Teandra. So here’s what you do:

Type your answer to each of the items listed below into a google image search and post a photo from the first results page. Hint: at first I thought you had to post the first picture, but it says you can pick from the first page, so having a few choices made it a little more fun.

Favorite animal:

Working at an animal sanctuary, this is really kind of an unfair question, but I went with cats & dogs. Since I live with them, I figured they better be in the top two.

Favorite place:
My answer is "home". This isn't my home, but it's someone's home. It's from a demo on insulation I think.

Place you would like to visit:

This is Yorkshire, England where Jon is from.


Your college major:

Psychology -- pretty straightforward.

Favorite holiday:

Thanksgiving, of course.

A bad habit:

This goes without saying....

An old pet:

Our first dog was named Poppy....

Age you will be on your next birthday:

(Yikes!!)

Favorite food:
Ooooh yeah, Mexican food!

Middle name:
Elizabeth....

Favorite color:

My fave is blue. I thought this pic was fun.

Where you live:
Kanab, Utah. And yes, it's really this beautiful.

Update on Gas Pump

For inquiring minds…apparently the hoses at gas pumps are equipped with quick disconnect valves so that when someone drives off with the nozzle still in their car, they pull apart quickly, and cleanly - ideally with no damage. That was the case last week when Jon drove off with the hose attached. The hose was reattached within a day. One of the clerks who works there in the evening knows Jon farily well as we frequent there often. She was not working the morning of the incident, but he went in a few days later and told her what happened. She laughed at him but was unimpressed. Apparently she informed him “People do it all the time”. So there you have it.

My new toy!!

So here's how it goes in our house when I want something expensive...

DAY 1

ME: "Hey Budgie, did you hear that there is a new iPod out? You know, mines not working too good."

JAIME: "Oh really? Cool."

DAY 3

ME: "Hey, so yeah....My iPod really isn't working still"

JAIME: "Oh that's too bad"

DAY 6

ME: "Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh, I need a new iPod......Waaaaaaahhhhhh"

Jaime: "How much will it cost?"

Sometimes it takes longer than that, somethimes shorter. Either way, I usually get what I want.

Love you babe!




P.S. I showed Jaime this post right after I published it.


She rolled her eyes.

Fun at the Gas Pumps

Did you ever see a photo like this and laugh "ha ha, what an idiot" or "how dumb, must be photoshopped". But no, I am here to tell you it happens, as is the case this weekend with my beloved husband. We were on our way to St. George to do some shopping and Jon pulled into the gas station. While the gas was pumping I gathered up some trash from inside the truck and put it in the bin next to the pump, and Jon ran in to get a drink and a snack. When he came back out, we both jumped into the truck and drove away....only a few seconds later we heard a huge crash and bang. We looked behind us and there it was -- the gas nozzle still inserted into gas tank on the side of our truck, and a long black rubber tube trailing behind it!

Jon hit the breaks and ran in to tell the clerk what had happened. She apparently shrugged her shoulders and said "ok". And Jon said "ok" and split. He replaced the nozzle back into its cradle on the pump and we drove off, laughing all the way to St. George.

Politics....Twice!

Ok, so it is a Presidential election year after all. I just couldn't go without posting this load of crap.

As someone who has been on the street with a microphone, for the Reporter to call out like that was a little out of line, but Mitt Romney is a lying piece of shit, that if elected, would make George Bush look like Dennis Kucinich.



Also his bouncer of a press secretary was an ass. Everything about it was lame, including the choice of Office Depot as a campaign stop. I'll bet it's the first time millionaire Mitt has even stepped in such a store.

This may get yanked off youtube....

Fandies

My throat is sore from cheering and my hands are raw from clapping. I don’t think I have experienced such excitement since I met Mickey Mouse at Disney World when I was eight. (Sorry dear…the wedding was thrilling and I almost wet myself that day, but still…)

We just watched Jon’s step-brother Andy win tonight’s episode of American Gladiators. He has now advanced to the final eight. For those who may have missed the glorious episode, we are hoping it will re-air on Sunday night. Stay tuned for updates. Go Rev!

Iceman

Happy New Year to All. I hope your 2007 was spectacular, and that your 2008 is even more blessed.

A few exciting things. For starters, I am working on a new project for the Community Programs & Services Division at Best Friends. It will be a lot of minute details and data tracking…tedious perhaps, but I am so well suited for this type of gig, it’s really quite fitting. It will be just like having all my old probate cases, but the cases will instead be centered around special project plans. I am looking forward to the new challenge.

Another exciting thing…tonight I went back to Jen’s yoga class. I must say she is quite adept at the whole exercise thing. Even at 7 mos pregnant and with a slightly swollen belly she is like this beautifully graceful swan….and then there’s me, the grunting elephant in the corner, sweating like a pig. Oh well. At least I went. I have a sinking suspicion that I’m not going to have much mobility over then next few days.

I just watched my dog (Moki) who is not really a fan of water, roll around on her back doing a snow angel in the back yard. So that was a fine treat.

And finally, but not least of important. Our friend and favorite Betta fish, Iceman passed on over the rainbow bridge to the big pond in the sky. He was a gift from me to Jon on his birthday in 2005. The life expectancy of such a fish is only a year or two. So I guess he lived a long and hopefully happy life. We adore him and will miss him.

REST IN PEACE ICEMAN ~ 2005 - 2008 ~ YOU WILL BE MISSED DEAR FRIEND

How Often?

How often could you say that the place where you work is the focus of a series on a major cable network?

Starting right after the New Year, the National Geographic Channel will begin airing the first of several episodes of a show named, 'Dogtown.'

The show centers around the lives of many dogs who come through the area at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary known as Dogtown. Most of the dogs featured in the show, are just like most of the animals we see. Sick, injured, very unfriendly or all of the above.

Even though Jaime and I don't actually work with the animals, we know most of the people in the show, and you will get a great look (it will be shown in HD) at the place that we call our "job."

For a sneak peek at the show, please click here. A short commercial preceeds the actual clip.

The first episode is January 4th at 9pm Eastern.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Politics (just once!)

I know I really shouldn't get into politics here. I won't do it often, because I just won't be so inclined. But one the by-products of illness (see below), is that I am not sleeping. So, a politics post it is.

I bought Barack Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, on a recent business trip. I am not done with it, but I really have a hell of a lot of respect for this politician.

Ick. Never thought I would say that.

Honestly though, watch one of the debates for the 2008 race. I double dare you. Either side. You will flip the channel at the end and have absolutely no idea what any of them stand for, who they are, or what kind of President they would be.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Barack could change the system. What he proposes in the book is what America's democracy used to be. A system that works for all Americans regardless of the size of your bank account. He shares some endearing stories about helping the people of Illinois while he was a state lawmaker. He also shares some terribly depressing stories about the failures of the system at the federal level.

I have said for the long time, there are two things that will change the political system for the better. Term limits, and campaign finance reform. The first being the most important. But how can we honestly believe that those that are currently reaping the benefits of the broken system, take those benefits away from themselves?

I don't really know who I will tell Jaime to vote for (I am still a citizen of the UK). Like I say, I like Barack, but I don't believe he can win. Hillary is an incredibly divisive human being. Guliani just stated that water boarding might be a good option (once in a decade). Huckabee as late as 1992 suggested that those infected with HIV be somehow quarantined (he defends it by saying we didn't know much about it then, but the CDC knew it wasn't contagious in the mid-80's). John Edwards is like the glitter of Presidential campaigns, you just can't get rid of him. Ron Paul, now here is a guy that I actually dare say I agree with on a couple of things. His libertarian ideals are interesting, he is just bat-shiat crazy. Romney, Kucinich, Dodd, Richardson, McCain, Thompson. Who cares. All bought and paid for.

Whatever, I think I am pretty representative when I say this. Wake me up when it's over and we have invaded Iran, and gas hits 5 bucks a gallon.

Sick....AGAIN.

I am SO tired of this! I have been sick more since I moved to Kanab than ever before!

This time I had been gone 2 of 5 weeks for work, lots of flying, and just lots of work. It was in the mid and upper 70's in Atlanta, and then I came back here to 20's? I am pretty sure that didn't help. Stress from having to take part in a skit for the annual all-staff meeting for Best Friends? Yeah, pretty sure that didn't help. Christmas party the day after that? Definately sure that didn't help.

This time it's a new sickness. Started out with a nasty sinus thing, which then moved to a gnarly cough chest thing. All wrapped up with a nagging low-grade fever.

Yay me!

God I Hate Blogger

I will try to fix those photos later.

Sorry

Willie (the real story)

Ok, well I guess I said in the last post that we had blogged about Willie before. Jaime informs me that I was wrong (something she does A LOT).

So anyway, from the beginning. I was assigned to run the campaign for the piece of legislation we are hoping to get passed in Georgia. We don't do a lot of legislation at Best Friends (there are others doing it, and doing it well), but this is something that is important to an Attorney that works for us, so here we are. I am actually really glad to be doing it. Even though it has been a long time since Georgia was my home, I still feel pretty connected to the place. So to be able to work on things in Georgia that I am passionate about is like double the fun.

SO.....we get the campaign going, figuring things out, and before we know it one of the founders of Best Friends says he thinks he can get Willie to help us out. Francis has spent a good part of the lsat few years focused on the Los Angeles programs we have, including hob nobbing with the rich and famous at our annual Lint Roller Party. So no surprise he knows a guy like that. Different skills I guess (I mean, I got married at the Governor's Mansion, but I don't know Willie).

The deal was set that we (the video folks and I) would meet Willie before his show at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, pop onto the bus, and have him record several public service announcements.

Luckily we arranged that Jaime could also come, and my boss and her husband came along. What we wanted I think was that we could all squeeze onto the bus, but the thing, although nice, was just a luxury coach. Not the biggest of aisles etc.

Here is my wonderful wife in front of his airbrushed custom tour bus....



Please note (if you can see it), the horse art on the side of the bus. Willie has fought for the horses for a long time.

So the actual shoot was really hurried. We had enough time because Willie nailed each take, but there was not a lot of time for chit chat. You know, I think everyone would have their idea of what it would be like to sit down and just chat with him if you know what I mean. Alas, we did not get that, but before we knew it, it was time for him to go on!

We to be honest did not have enough fancy armbands for everyone, so we were unsure of exactly how it would go. Actually we thought that ony some of us would get in! But again, before we knew it, one of his security guys said, "if you're gonna watch the show from backstage you gotta go now." So we all follow and get put just to the right of willie, right off the stage!

Sorry about these photos, they really are bad. Our camera was not so good considering the guy was like 10 feet away....


At points during the show he would tie on one of his many bandanas, wear it for a song, and then throw it into the crowd.



I mean the guy played for like two hours straight. For sure Jaime and felt like true VIP's!

Also, we didn't realize this at the time, but we were also backstage with a personal friend of Willie's who is also a legend.


Don't know if you can see the sliver of face off to the left, but that is Don Cherry. He was a 50's crooner who was most famous for his song Band of Gold. He is also famous for being the only person to have a top ten hit, and finish in the top ten in the US Open of golf in the same year.


So anyway, sorry for the long post, but it really was pretty damn cool!

As I said in the previous post the PSA is now out, and getting media play all over the place.

Willie Nelson!!

We've chatted about Willie before on this humble little blog. I have been working my little tail off this weekend along with many of my colleagues to get this together! The Atlanta Journal Constitution ran with the story on the 23rd, and then the story hit the AP wire which meant outlets across the country from CNN to Rolling Stone picked up the story!

Here is the video, please watch it and go to You Tube to favorably rate and comment on it!

Our first turkey free Thanksgiving (am I a tree hugger?)

The minute we began work for Best Friends Animal Society we gave up meat. It just seemed like the right thing to do. I mean how could I on one hand work for an organization that promotes "kindness to animals" and then slap a big steak on the grill?

Since then I have really enjoyed not eating meat. I feel A LOT healthier, and I think I have lost weight (by doing nothing else except giving up meat). We occasionally eat fish, and to be honest eating out can be hard so sometimes the choices are very limited (for example my family took me to a chicken restaurant called Roasters last week).

Anyway we went off to St. George this weekend to buy supplies for T-giving. Jaime's parents are coming down and Jen and Daron and Jen's parents will also be coming over. We have the tofurkey's and I really am anxious to try it.

One thing I never want to be is preachy. I feel like we all have our own personal convictions in life, and who am I to say what someone should or should not believe in? I mean we should all feel for and advocate for companion animals....who couldn't love a dog? But I suppose there are those people who see turkeys as just dumb animals who don't feel like other animals. That's fine but I would have to disagree.


This is Luna

We will be adopting turkey's for our families this year. The Farm Sanctuary provides a great program to care for those birds that have been lucky enough to be rescued from breeding facilities and slaughter houses. You can even choose which bird you would like to adopt.

Oh I should also mention that my father now believes I am a tree hugger.

I guess I am.

A long week...

I was in Atlanta all week for work. It was a really good trip in terms of work as we now can start formulating plans to get the campaign for SB 16 going. The amount of work is starting to dawn on me and it will be a huge undertaking, but I think we can really do some good.

I flew Spirit Airlines which is a super cheap-o airline where literally nothing is included. Want a coke? Pay two bucks. Not even a barf bag available should you need one.

Doing the cheap-o airline was good because it saved money but the times of the flights were terrible! I had to fly back late last night not landing in Vegas until midnight. Once I grabbed my bag, made my way to the car it was almost 1am, which is 2am Utah time. Three and a half hours back it was close to 6am by the time I rolled in.

Once I got out of Vegas and the highway was dark it started to get a little scary. I got almost no sleep on the flight back and I could feel myself getting drowsy. Once I hti Mesquite I realized I needed to so something to wake up. I stopped at a gas station and grabbed a mtn. dew. Still feeling tired I thought I would go blow the 20 bucks I had in my wallet (thinking a nasty loud casino might just get me going)



So I ended up at the Virgin River Casino and in front of a Monoply 2 cent machine. Honestly in two minutes I won 200 bucks! Quickly cashed out and made my way home. That's one way to wake up!!

Who Says Mormons Don't Have a Sense of Humor?

So I went for the obligatory female checkup today, and I had to chuckle. In a town (entire county even!) that is purportedly over 80% Mormon, on the ceiling above the examination table (positioned so that the patient would have a perfect view lying horizontally from said table) was this poster:

I am not a crazy huge fan of Orlando Bloom, although I have certainly seen less appealing images. I, for one would have preferred something with a vista or mountain scene (a setting sun in the Cook Islands perhaps?) But I still had to laugh. At times this place is so surreally serendipitous.

That's Life.......(and radio)

I wasn't happy at my previous job. It was a whole host of reasons, and I think really I just needed a change from radio. That being said there were certainly other factors about the situation at that time that just made my workplace an uncomfortable place to be.

I wasn't the only one that felt that way, others also did not like the environment and made their decisions to leave. In fact it was enough of the original team that people would mention to me that the show just wasn't the same. Now it really won't be the same.

The show's host, Michael Castner, of E! and KFI fame was fired yesterday I guess. The show from inception had been funded seperately by a generous grant from the board. Now that money was up, and they said that the show needed to make its own money and survive. The "official" word is that it was budget reasons that he was let go. I will say one thing, the show won't be the same without him. No matter what happened he was good at what he did.

Apparently though, he doesn't have any love for me....

Check out Frost's blog at the City Weekly....

Root Canal Day!

Everyone rejoice! The root canal is over.

And yes, it was horrible.

Just for reference I thought I would show these lovely things.



Those are apparently known as root canal files. So after they whack out a big hole in the tooth, they measure just to see how far they gotta dig in. Then they go in with those medieval looking shards of metal and pull out the nervy bit (I should have been a dentist).

I made the mistake during the procedure of opening my eyes. Not something I normally do, and now I remember why. I look up and see one of those files in the dentists hand. Maybe it was just the moment but I swear to god it was an inch long. Oh I should also mention that the novacaine wasn't working so well so when he was shoving a file down in two of the canals it hurt like a mother fu&$#%.

Health Insurance

Happy Halloween! We survived 3 mos without insurance! Woohoo! After 2 bouts of the flu and a root canal later, we are now once again insured. I'm actually not sure whether I should high five someone or crawl into a hole. Because of the new coverage I now have to make an obligatory appointment for the gynecologist and have a yearly physical. Trick or treat!

Tomorrow is Jon's dreaded root canal. I hope for his sake he gets the gas.