Volunteering

So it isn't as easy to volunteer outside of the HSPCA, or any other animal rescue facilities in Houston that don't kill Pitts for being Pitts. I will continue to donate my time to the HSPCA, and support all other organizations that keep all adoptable animals alive. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

The Zoo

Jared got to go to the zoo without me! So sad. He had three weeks off between school and his internship, which he started today. He and a group of friends enjoyed themselves their last week off!

Here is a pic of jellyfish.


I love turtles!


Pretty bird.


Yikes!


Very nice shot of the male lion.


A Fist.


Giraffes


And here is an elephant grooving.

Black and Blue Burgers

Our Memorial Day dinner was burgers stuffed with blue cheese and bacon, and topped with peppered bacon. Delicious!

Here Jared is stuffing the burgers.


Here is the peppered bacon.


The food is on the grill.


Oozing goodness!

Quitting the HSPCA

I can no longer volunteer at the HSPCA.

Since I began volunteering at the HSPCA I knew that they put down pit bulls regardless of temperament, health, or adoptability. I strongly disagree with this policy. I understand that it is impossible to have 100% no kill animal rescue facilities due to the gross pet overpopulation, but there is no reason to put down a dog for its breed, and no other reason.

I thought I could volunteer at the HSPCA despite my disagreement with this policy because I was not going to volunteer in admissions. That didn't work out. This past weekend someone stopped me in the parking lot of the HSPCA and handed me a very friendly, yet very scared, female pit bull he had found tied up under a highway. I called the other resuces in Houston, and no one had room, or would put her down because she was a pit bull. I wanted to bring her home, but was told this posed too great of a health risk to our dogs.

This pit bull is now dead.

I plan to contact pit bull resuces in the area and see what I can do to help. I will also start volunteering with free spay and neuter clinics, because if the shelters weren't overpopulated, this weekend's pit bull may still be alive.

Ear Cleaning

I do not know what Tancred's obsession with Kirsche and Sundog's ears is. He will do this for hours.

Bolt

Jared and I watched Bolt last night on Alaric's recommendation. Fantastic! My dear sweet nephew is grounded because he bought this movie on pay per view twice. The second time he did so after being specifically told not to. No TV for little Lucas! I recommend this to all those with and without kids, and folks with dogs will enjoy it the most.

Jared's Cooking

Jared has gotten oh so good at throwing very delicious meals together at a moments notice. This is one of my favorites. He cooked spinach and mushrooms in butter, added spices, milk, thickened it up. I don't know what spices he put in, but I'm telling you, it is fantastic. This sauce was put over chicken breasts and rice. His leftovers are in the fridge right now, I want to eat them!!

Recycle What?!?

Astronauts are drinking water from recycled sweat, urine, and breathe condensate. Equal parts icky and innovative!

Let the Right One In, Battlestar Gallactica, Band of Brothers, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Sukiyaki Western Django

I am starting a new label...shows! Jared and I love Netflix, and rent both TV and movies. Here are a few we have watched.

This past weekend we watched "Let the Right One In". I highly recommend it. If you watch it, watch it with subtitles. We didn't, and I think that distracted from the goodness of the movie at times.

We have also started watching Battlestar Gallactica. This was recommended by Alaric, I love it! I have really enjoyed all of his recommendations.


We finished the Band of Brothers series, and I want to watch it again. I would love to read about all the places my Grandpa fought in Europe, and plan a vacation to visit each battlefield.


We have also started watching old kung fu movies from the 60's. I recommend Yojimbo and Sanjuro. The guy reminds of of Colin Ferril, and he's like the original "man with no name".

I would also recommend Sukiyaki Western Django. Quentin Tarantino is in it, he's always been a fan of old kung fu. It's incredibly goofy.

Dog Training

I watch so many shows and read so many books, articles, and magazines, but I cannot seem to train Tancred in certain aspects.

Tancred is very smart, and did very well in basic training a while back. You can put a treat right in front of his nose, even on his paw, and he won't touch it until he's told. He will even do this in the park.

Despite this, I cannot get him not to jump on me, Jared, and our guests when we walk in the door. I cannot get him not to pull towards other dogs while we're on a walk. He typically walks great, almost a fully loose leash, on our morning walks, but in the evening it's enough to break your hand at times.

I do not want to have to hire someone to help train him. I'm going to try to put a training plan in writing that Jared and I can both agree too. We are inconsistent in what we do as individuals, and even more so compared to each other.

I hope I can get him under control before my folks visit! Mom, I hope he doesn't jump on you! I'll keep everyone posted on our success, and am open to suggestions.

Miscellaneous Dog Pictures

We're always taking pics of the dogs. I can't help myself! Here are a bunch of random pics.

Here is Tancred, birdwatching on his favorite chair.


Here is Tancred chilling on the Lovesack. He is the most photogenic of the three.


Here is Tancred's paw. I love the Super Macro LED feature on the new camera!


Here is Tancred trying to get us to play.


Mmmm, maybe he's too sleepy to play.


Here is Sundog sitting by the fence with his new haircut. He has been a lot more active with the new do!


Here is Kirsche on the carpet.


And here is the sweetest little dog belly in the world.

Birdie Update

Our nesting bird finally hatched some eggs! Unfortunately, one of them has already gone the way of the dogs. I hope the other two make it.

Aren't the cute?


Here you can see where there nest is located. It's electric!

The Houston Rockets

Sadly, the LA Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in game 7. Unfortunatly, it wasn't even a fun game to watch. We went out to Brian O'Neals with a group of friends, then went to the Chocolate Bar

afterwards. Mmmm.

ConocoPhillips

The Executive VP of Exploration and Production left CoP today. He will now be the CEO of LyondellBassell, a company that filed for bankrupsy last January.

Is that a new dog?!?

Nope, Sundog, a.k.a. Budbug, got a haircut today! I think this was the 3rd time I got him groomed in the 4 years I've owned him. He is actually a brindle Cairn, very rare. I found him on the street.

These are the before pics taken by the groomer. She was recommended to me by my hair stylist, and she lives down the street!

And here are the after pics. What a cutie!

Greek Fest Fall

I had a pretty bad fall at the Greek Fest a few months back, and the injury is coming back to haunt me. My pinky and ring finger of my right hand feel like they're falling asleep, and have felt like this for at least 12 hours now. I fell directly on my elbows, it hurt so bad I couldn't move my arms for a couple days, and it was a couple months before I could lean on my elbows.

I'm no doctor, but if I were to diagnose myself, I'd say the Greek Fest Fall damaged my ulnar nerve. If it doesn't get better in a few days, I'll start to try to treat myself. I diagnosed myself with Crohn's Disease years before the doctors did, we'll see if I did it again!

Cute Overload

I love otters!

Dressage

Today we went to see Aunt Karla (my Mom's older sister) compete in Dressage. This is a sport neither Jared nor I knew anything about prior to this weekend. We had a great time, and hope to see more shows!

Here are a couple pictures of Karla with her horse Venus.

Here is Karla riding. She had three rides today.

This is one of the horses grazing after a ride.

And I loved the look of this horse. The rider is an engineer, maybe I could do it too!

Dog Park!

We went to the dog park this Saturday. There is a very large park, 20+ acres, about 20 minutes from our house.

Here is Tancred running by the pool. He runs the entire time we're there, and he won't swim in the pools, only the mud puddles.

Here is Kirsche running to me. She is good about staying close and coming when she's called, the other two are not....at all.

Here is Tancred, panting like crazy.

Here is a little video of Tancred rolling in something. He smelled terrible when we left.


Here is one of the few pictures of all three dogs. Sundog typically hangs out under trees and walks along the fence. Tancred found a mud puddle to roll in.

Yay mud!

They have an agility course here, but our dogs won't jump through anything.

Here is Tancred in another mud puddle. He could actually swim in this one. Why won't he go in the pool?? The other two dogs hate water.

And here they are on the ride home. So tired and stinky. My new Matrix has stain resistant fabric, everything just wipes right off.

Outside House Pictures

I've shown most folks pictures of the inside of our house. Here is the outside!

Here is a panoramic of the front. We have much foliage.

Here is the front door.

Here is my car with one of our magnolia trees.

Here is the front sidewalk. We should probably trim those plants back, but I like them!

Here is the side of the house. I want to get a real gate put there.

Here is another panoramic of the back area.

Here is the backyard.

Here is Sundog, doing his favorite thing. He will sit outside for hours and hours. Notice the boards and chairs shoved under the fence. He also loves to escape.

Here is the bird that lives on top of our fuse box. I feel bad for her because I'm pretty sure she's sitting on an empty nest. More than one egg has fallen out, the dogs then eat them. It makes me so sad!!