Day86 - Friend, Sister of Mercy to all squirrels

Wednesday, March 26, 2008: The Vet: Squirrel

It was a beautiful morning as I filled our squirrel and bird feeders while chatting with the neighbor down the way. I was excited about laundry again like I haven't been since at least fall. Spring Fever and all.

Later, while hanging up clothes I thought I caught Luke hanging out under the quite dormant Rose of Sharon. A quick second look proved that it was just a squirrel - a Luke look-a-like. I turned back to my laundry, starting to fold some things that were already dried and trying not to spook the little guy with the big black eyes.

Fold, fold, fold. I look back and the little squirrel is sitting still, falling asleep like Luke likes to do: scrunched up, eyes fighting to stay open, head bobbing. I think to myself, "How blessed am I that I see this little guy sleep. Today is awesome!"

A neighbor's dogs bark and yelp - the squirrel barely moves. Neighborhood kids throw snaps - he barely notices. I see that his tail is not moving although his eyes are somewhat alert. "Oh shit! What the fuck is this going on now?"

I go into the house to call Troy and the squirrel looks up at me not at all excited or visably nervous. Over the next hour, I check on the squirrel constantly and research and make calls. Center Wildlife Care directs me to both catch the little guy and transport him to Animal Medical on N. Atherton (the other side of State College, about 15 miles away). Meanwhile, I'm IM'ing both Jess and Troy and freaking out.

Frick. I don't want to catch this guy - I can stress him out or hurt him more. In the end, I had to go for it. The fucker looked like Luke.

I called Ryan for help, but I was able to catch him on my own easily before he got here. The squirrels manor was so at ease, it's almost indescribable. I know, because I went into great detail with Troy and he still looks at me kind of sideways.

This is the only picture I took, with my cellphone as we arrived at Animal Medical. He was sitting up and alert like this the whole time. Easily the best traveler I've ever taken with me for a ride. When we got inside, I filled out a little sheet of paper explaining where he came from and what the trouble was. Then I was off.



I called my sister when I got out and when she made an audible "Aww," my grandfather in the background asked what happened. He said to get that squirrel a wheelchair - they have them for dogs, why not squirrels. Tre and I joked a little about having our houses be race tracks for wheelchair bound squirrels.

So, I'm sad. Troy said that the squirrel is probably sitting in a wheelchair with a cast on his leg waiting to be released. I have a hunch that isn't so. I'm still unsure what is wrong with him, although I'm leaning towards broken back/leg or some kind of poisoning. We have had a lot of starlings lately and I know someone in town likes to poison them. But I've also seen squirrels jump around on our back porch and completely miss their mark.

Either way. The morning dove couple is back and she's sitting on her nest again on the back porch. Circle of life, etc., etc.

Day85 - Toofy, you dirty little bastard.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008: My Bathroom: Toofy bath.

Toofy is a big dirty guy with poor hygiene and incredibly thick white hair that he doesn't really care for properly. And it's impossible to brush him because he goes on and on like your stabbing him with an ice pick. It's just a comb, a wide tooth comb at that, so why are you complaining you gross bastard?

Today I gave him a bath and a haircut all by myself. Note for next time: wash him in either the kitchen sink or bathtub because he officially fills the entire bathroom sink. I would have like to have taken a picture of the whole ordeal, but he was pissed and ready to run and trying to clip his hair around his nether regions without making him into a girl was quite a feat. Because he is so fat, when you hold him certain ways he wheezes or whines. It both entertaining and disconcerting.

Here he is between bath and cut. Don't assume that because he looks like the Easter bunny that he was all shits and giggles right here. He is mad - raging mad and I was waiting for him to take a celebratory piss all over me. He did not. But you can see that his jib is still orange with carrot stain. That may never come off.




This is the business end of a Toofy. Because he is a male, he developed this lovely "grease spot" right above his ass crack. It's more like tar and impossible to get rid of. It's used to mark all of OUR shit so that Luke won't use it. Ha. Trust me, Luke will use it anyway Toofy! He doesn't care because he is a jerk.




Enough. I'm going on like he is my kid because he kind of is and it is getting embarrassing.

Still. Ah, here are two more. See, still stained from carrots. Also, do you see how big he is in my hands? He is HUGE. Filled mostly with water and giggles.




I love my brazen little bastard.

Day84 - Another step. Another day.

Monday, March 24, 2008: The garage: Wet sanding the painted beast.

I know I've wet sanded before. I've even wet sanded paint before. But this is the first time I've sanded the PAINTED TRUCK! I am freaking overjoyed. Over the moon. In a little bit of heaven.

Until I have to, you know, do the actual sanding. Then I get all kinds of whiney and angry.

Here are the doors.




The shine before I went to work.





Troy was still sanding the bed, trying to get it into some kind of shape to primer.




Ofcourse, me with my new hair. It's still really weird to see me with it.




At work, cursing life.




I woke up easter morning with a text message that the truck was painted and it was honestly the best present I've gotten in a long time. The light at the end of the tunnel is just a little brighter now.

Day83 - It's my squeaky sheep, Edie!

Sunday, March 23, 2008: My Nana's: Fighting with Edie.

We were at my Nana's again today, getting plied with kielbasa and red beet eggs when Edie started a fight with me over her squeaky sheep.

I don't like to tease Edie but I do like to compete with her for who is most awesome. I usually win.

This went on until Edie got tired. I claim victory.



Notice my Nana neither surprised or entertained. She had 6 grandkids and is now at 3 great grandkids. And she was one of 7 growing up on a farm. She has probably seen it all at this point.





This is the immigrant Edit and her babushka.





Tre was the photographer.





I was the ass kicker.

Day82 - My Nana will get you every time.

Saturday, March 22, 2008: My Nana's: Monster-In-Law

We joke that my Nana has this knack for finding the crappiest movie on TV and make you watch it. It doesn't even have to be a movie - it can be The Ghost Whisperer or some crime/mystery show with that chick from Life Goes On. Point being - it's not the medium, it's the crap factor that ropes her, and in turn, us in.

Saturday we watched Monster-In-Law. I did not hate it. I actually liked Jennifer Lopez (which I CANNOT even type without thinking of South Park) and thought that Jane Fonda was actually the worse of the two. Tracy stole me away to the mall before I could finish it, so I have no idea how it ends.

Now I have to watch it all over again because I have to figure out what the frick happened with the wedding. I will curse you forever Tre.

This movie. Still 10 times better than Pushing Tin which is, in my book, the worst movie ever made.

Day81 - I'm a good Samaritan, mostly.

Friday, March 21, 2008: Our front porch: Runaway Escort!

Let me tell you something about our neighborhood. As blessed as we are to be able to literally roll down the hill and into the front door of a Dairy Queen, we are also very close to a popular bar (there are like 4 in town).

I have seen all many of drunks. Some fall into the neighbors bushes on their way up the steep incline. Others trade cash for rides across town. Still, others crash into your porch in the middle of the night and take off.

So it's not unusual to have a car do some weird shit on our street. Sitting on the porch watching the sober and the straight parallel park is a treat for me. We came out and saw this guy.




At first I thought it was just some jackass that didn't know how to drive a stick. The car would drop back 12 inches and then stop. 12 inches. Stop.

As we approached it we saw that it was empty. And the doors were locked. AND it was on a slooooooooooowwwwwwwwwww path of destruction with the neighbors blue Corsica.

I called 911, Troy got a large piece of scrap wood from the backyard and we waited for the cops to show. And waited. And waited. And then went inside and waited some more. Meanwhile, all manner of jackass crammed their cars/SUV/Trucks through the small space left open in the road. This was often followed by squealing tires because they are so ANGRY they have to take it out on the pavement.

50 minutes later a neighbor from a few house down came out with his friend and we went outside to retrieve out prop. He was kind of embarrassed as I guess anyone would. The cops never showed although we heard them chirp the sirens once. We wondered what the hell a cop in the Font would have to do at 11 at night. We had no answers.

Day80 - I think she is actually a little bit of alright.

Thursday, March 20, 2008: My Kitchen: Honey Mustard Chicken Wraps

I must admit that I watch Rachel Ray. And I like her. Troy is not a fan but I kind of like how completely crazed she is. I don't think that she gives a shit about much, she's just trucking along, working her ass off while cashing large checks. I feel the same way about Martha Stewart: you may not want her to be your neighbor/friend/relative but you have to admire her for succeeding as well as she has.

Back to the point. I like watching her show sometimes in between the hour when Troy's says that he's leaving work and when he actually leaves and gets home. That can be an hour and a half depending on how distracted he gets. Or, as I like to think about it, how long he thinks he can go before I go batshit insane from hunger.

This is something RR would make. I cut up chicken into bit sized pieces, tossed them in a bag with 2 tablespoons of honey and dijon mustard, added salt, pepper and whatever else I could grab from the pantry in one hand. Shake bag. Let sit. Toss in oven for 25 minutes.

Here area the little nuggets on whole grain flat bread with feta cheese and baby greens. It was really very good and easy. See. She's not all that bad.

Day72 - Sunrise, sunset.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008: Cali Day 7


Last day in the Bay Area!


We headed out to the airport around 6:30. Not to bad of a start time considering on the way out we were awake all night.

We at at the terminal and people watched the security checkpoint. It was really kind of interesting.





When I say that the takeoffs and landings at Oakland are scary, this may help your imagination. Here is how close you are to the bay when you takeoff. It is the same in reverse.




The whole of the bay.





It was very turbulent and cloudy. Some of the trip was rocky.




We landed in Chicago and had some time to get lunch. Here is my lunch buddy. It's Troy's vest with our pillows in it. We had some nice conversation.





We ate a Potbelly's. I wouldn't recommend it. My sandwich didn't taste like anything. Not good or bad - just nothing.








Here is Chicago.




We flew over Lake Michigan for quite a while. It did not thrill me. I shut the blind. I don't really need to see this to imagine my doom.





But it was rather neat to see in person. I've never seen a lake that big frozen.





Sunset in Pittsburgh. The last leg of our flight was about 55 minutes. That was great because we were tired and had another 3 hours on the road to get home.

I do love that our trip began with a sunrise and ended with a sunset. It's poetic if you dig that kind of thing. And beautiful as well.





Here is the Pittsburgh carpet. Not that great actually.




My least favorite.



And that was the end. We got home and went directly to bed and crashed immediately.

Our trip was great. We almost didn't come back and I can see why people stay. But I'm glad to be home.

Day73 - aldjfoiulkdjlkjvioq

Thursday, March 13, 2008: Bellefonte: Angry Walk.


Today was one of the rare fights that Troy and I have. It wasn't pretty, nor lovely, and is completely none of your business. It was over as quickly as it began, but in the middle I took a walk around Bellefonte.

I started up the very large hill on Bishop just past Mike's Video. Wow. Now that is a hill. I really thought someone was going to find me crumpled in a ball at the top.

Here is my route. It was actually a pretty nice walk and I'm glad I got to take it by myself.




I guess there is always a silver lining somewhere.

Day74 - I'm wal'nutty over you.

Friday, March 14, 2008: My kitchen: Walnut and Goat cheese pizza.

I wanted to recreate the magic that was this gourmet pizza from Oakland. We gave it a fair shot.

Our crust is the whole wheat dough from Wegmans. It is soooooo yummy.

I used Feta cheese for the goat cheese. And diamond walnuts.




Yum.


the other half of the pizza was mushroom and spinach. Very, very good as well, but I'll stick with the walnuts.

Day75 - Screw you ovaries.

Saturday, March 15, 2008: My John, Citaphil

A couple of months ago I started using Neutrogena's equivalent of ProActiv.

I did not work for me.

Eck.

I'm trying Citaphil as recommended by acne.org. I eventually will try their whole regime, but I need to find pillowcases that will not stain from regime (benzoyl peroxide namely).




I'm kind of glad Neutrogena didn't work because I am in love with Citaphil right now. It's extremely gentle. It's very much like thick water. Or a hocker if you will. My face feels clean too.

I also found out that the acne that I have right now is because my ovaries hate me. Maybe it's because I keep asking anyone/someone to take them PLEASE!

Screw you reproductive organs!

If you see me, you will know if it is working. If not, more drastic measures will be taken.*



*But probably not.

Day77 - It's against the law for me to be engaged to you in this state.

Monday, March 17, 2008: Lonestar Steak House: Pulled pork

Today was Troy's father's birthday, and we went to Lonestar for dinner. I'm not a big steak guy. 1) because I'm not a guy. 2) because we have a 1/3 of a cow in the freezer and I don't want to buy the cow when… well whatever… you get what I'm saying.

I am a sucker for pulled pork. I think I would marry it if the laws allowed. So that' what I had.




So yummy. The bread was so good. The only thing I love more that pulled pork is bread. It is my albatross.


Because it was his birthday, Troy's dad got to ride a saddle while the staff sang. Here are Troy and I. You can tell from our faces how crazy it was.




Here is Erin, Troy's mom and Ryan also enjoying the scene.




And what a scene!


So, I would totally go back again if only for the pulled pork. It tasted like pig flavored candy. I know. I just sold it to you right there, didn't I.

Day79 - Are you a jerk because of the 3-legs, or was it always inevitable.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008: Chilla's New Cage


Let me just show you the carnage first.





That would be our brilliant little Tripods chew holes. What a dear he is.





He can fit through these, btw. Which I didn't realize until after we came back from a long weekend out of town and I found him running around the living room.



So, $60 bucks later, here is his new bottom. Which, no doubt, will be chewed to hell in a few months. Between this and his leg, he is an expensive bugger from the get go.





Here he is when he's not breaking my stuff. He's tired because he just chewed through a very expensive power strip or the tv cabinet. You choose.

Day71 - You can take a piece of the rock home with you for $6.95

Tuesday, March 11, 2008: Cali Day 6.

Ah. Our last full day here and John had to work. He had some supply problems at the shop and was waiting on a few more shirts before he could finish the job.

We drove into San Francisco on our own to do some shopping and go to Alcatraz. First stop: San Francisco Chocolate Factory. Here is one of the tins that we bought as souvenirs for our families. Unfortunately, the place was close when we got there. We decided head to Fisherman's Wharf to get something to eat. Because of unclear directions from Google, we went in the opposite direction and ended up in Bernal Park. You can see all of SF here. Wow.




Wow.







So great. A red tail hawk drafted by us, literally 10 feet away from our heads. It was crazy. They also had lilacs in bloom. So jealous.





We stuck around for a while and drove back downtown. We parked near the Chocolate Factory and walked down to "Out of the Closet," a thrift store that donates proceeds to AIDS charities.




I found this there. I so wanted to buy it but what the fuck would I ever do with it.




What I ended up buying was this dress. It will probably be my Cruise Dress.






Eventually we made it to the Chocolate Factory. This chocolate is crazy good. Better than you can imagine good. It's weird that it so great. Like, there must be crack in it good.






So, onto The Rock. It's kind of hard to get tickets to Alcatraz. Always buy in advance. In the summer, you may have a 2 week wait.

Troy looking very handsome.




The one picture of me not acting up.





The view of the city from the boat.




Alcatraz warning.




Here are some random shots of the island.








The morgue. The exam table was made out of concrete and looked like a potters table.




I'm busted.




This is all they had, plus 1 bed.




Here is a part of a poster that was ripped down. Meow, ladies.








The place is just beautiful. And you can see the both bridges (Oakland and Bay) and all of SF. This is one of my favorite places that I've been on our trips and it's no surprise that's it's being reclaimed by nature.

The old officers club.










This guy was bigger than Edie, my sister's dog, and that dog is a porker.







I really would like to go back when the gorgeous gardens are in full bloom.


After we got back to John's house, we went down to Piedmont to a pizza joint that we went to last time, Pizza Pizza. They make specialty, organic pizza.

I had this. Spinach mushroom:




Here is the best thing I had out on the west coast. Goat cheese and walnut:




Holey moley! !!! It was so freaking good. Just yum alright. Just yum. My new favorite. It doesn't taste at all like you expect it would. Just really good.


We sat around, drank Sierra Nevada and listened to stories from John's friends until they kicked us out at 9. We said goodbye and took the steep road back to his house and that was it. That was the end of our vacation.

The rest of the night we hung out with John and packed. And then we fell asleep.