Majestic Beast

During a play break while hiking in Redwood Regional Park. Two days + two hikes = two exhausted dogs. Timm doesn't sit still for a photo-shoot.

I'm so ready for the season

Check out my elf self Now with three of the best back up dancers a girl can find!

I'm In Love

If you ever have a moment to spare when driving through Healdsburg be sure to make a detour. This winery is well worth your time. Every wine they make is what I call "snuggle worthy" - deep, bold, perfect in every way. If you don't like it I'll give you your money back.

They are by appointment only so jot down the phone number & call when you are in the neighborhood: UNTI VINEYARDS
4202 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
phone: (707) 433-5590

The Purpose of Life

Too small to read? Just click the image to make it big.

Consider Yourself Warned

Never ever google images for "parasitic twin". Ew.

Top 25

My pal Laney asks for a list of my top 25 rock bands. I'm more of a folk-rocker but I'll try to do my best. Here they go in no particular order (I assume Laney's disclaimer that this may change at any time)...

1. U2
2. Fleetwood Mac
3. Styx
4. Queen
5. KT Tunstall
6. Eddie From Ohio
7. Poi Dog Pondering
8. Indigo Girls
9. Death Cab For Cutie
10. The Police
11. Elton John
12. Patty Griffin
13. The Waifs
14. Madonna
15. Brandi Carlile
16. Rick Springfield
17. Metallica
18. Boston
19. Shawn Colvin
20. Lyle Lovett
21. Van Halen
22. The Beatles
23. Mark Knopfler
24. Everything But The Girl
25. Simon & Garfunkle

I dedicate this one to Marcy

Boo 2007

Stupid Criminal

San Jose Mercury News - SF police say man wanted to burn Grace Cathedral

Three reasons he's not the smartest criminal in the bunch.
1) The Cathedral is a poured concrete structre - hard to burn.
2) He told his friend what he was going to do.
3) Fireworks.

Good Thing We Get Along

I just got off the phone with an attorney - looking for help in filing the paperwork to dissolve the Domestic Partnership. Even though it's amicable and J lives in NYC and all out property etc has been split up we still have to wait six months. Welcome to the longest break-up in history. By the time this is all final it will be about 16 months from the time was said the words "we're going to break up" to the time we have no more ties to each other.

Sometimes it seems like so long ago. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday.

What Took So Long

I LOVE the Muppets. I love SNL. Why did it take them so long to put this skit together? Maybe they needed Maya Rudolph - she's perfect!

Time Sucker

lolsecretz

This website mashes up the best of my two favorite websites:
I Can Has Cheezburger
&
Post A Secret

If you visit any of the websites & are confused - I apologize that you don't get it. Don't ask me to explain.

Enjoy.... or don't.

NATURE. Katrina's Animal Rescue. Slideshow | PBS

NATURE. Katrina's Animal Rescue. Slideshow | PBS

Today marks the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

GOATS!

I am happy today. Yesterday I was driving home up the canyon & what to my wondering eyes should appear but dozens of goats happily grazing on the hillside. YAY my goats are home.

The City of Oakland rents goats to aid in fire prevention. They wander about the hills at the end of summer "mowing" the weeds.

As I was looking for some pictures & links for this blog I came across two sad stories about these goats.
Hundreds of goats die in Marin accident

15 goats in herd grazing on brush shot, killed

Not this year

I just noticed on my calendar that today could be my 3rd wedding anniversary...

Where have I been?

If you want to read up on where I've been, what I've been doing or to see pictures of my travels please see this blog

Better than Shoes

It's "Muffins"

I'm Away

Want to know detials?

Weekend Wrap Up

I spent the past four days on "vacation" with 5 kids all under 6. Laugh if you must but it was fun. My sister & I took her two to Colorado to visit the brother & his three. And now photo evidence:

Meet Colton. This is one of the rare internet friendly photos I got of him. He is most often seen climbing trees, riding a scooter or playing baseball without pants. However if you turn on the sprinklers & invite him to run through he will have a melt-down until his swimsuit is found.

This little sweetpea is Hope. She's got a great bull-dog grin, loves to laugh and I taught her to say "woo-hoo". Yes that's an 8oz can of Coors Light in her hands. She's a girl after my own heart.

The two big-girl cousins cooling off after a hard morning of running through the sprinklers & making home-made ice cream. It's a rough life being 5 & 6 yrs old.


Jack. Brining up the rear of "generation cousin". He ate his first avocado, blueberries & peach this weekend. He still hadn't passed them when we flew home. I don't envy the person who gets to change that diaper. He's a good traveler.

Please tell me who / what ...

You Are... (click for fun)

Let me know who/what you are in the comments.

God is Good

Side Effects!

Is there such a thing as antihistamine rage? Yes I think there is.

My doctor prescribed Claritin-D to clear up the fluid in my ears. For the past week I've been in a horrible mood - snappy, jittery, kinda pissed off. I figured it was just part of the emotional roller coaster of the final stages of the break-up. Jane moved out on Tuesday. Mel's moved in. The house is a mess. Of course life is all shook up so it's normal to have some emotions.

After a few days of up & down I think it's more the drugs than my personal life. After a google search of my meds. I find out that my OTC drug has some side effects.

Claritin-D include stimulation of the nervous system leading to nervousness, restlessness, excitability, dizziness, headache, fear, anxiety, tremor, and even hallucinations and convulsions (seizures)."

So I apologize if I've been bitchy to you. I blame the drugs. I asked the Dr. for an alternative plan & have stopped taking these during the day. Let's hope my mood improves.

A Beautiful Sunday

Guess how I spent my Sunday? PRIDE AND JOY / San Francisco shows its true colors in annual celebration of LGBT people and those who love them -- drag queens, Dykes on Bikes strut their stuff on Market Street

It was a beautiful day in SF. I got a little sun, watched a lot of people, at some street faire food (not on a stick). I was home by 4 - it was an early day out.

At home Mel & I hung lots of pictures, drank some vodka lemonade & watched The Secret. I fell asleep on the couch by 9pm.

I'm back to work & ready for a new week.

The Important Blog

Do you ever read my other blog? Go now & check it out.

Ear Ache

For the past two weeks I've had a low ache to sharp pain in my left ear. Then the right ear got jealous & both hurt. I told my sister about it & she said her friend ignored an ear ache and her drum burst, blood & fluid drained out & she suffered permanent hearling loss. I called my Dr the next day.

So apparently at age 36 I get allergies. The pain is due to some fluid build-up in my middle ear. I am on OTC Claratin D. I had to go to pharmacist & hand over my ID & sign for the non-prescription meds. I guess I look like a meth cooker.

untitled

Does a song ever perfectly sum up your feelings of the day?

Click to listen... (don't watch it just listen - the video's a bit cheese ball)


"Last Tears"

These are the last tears I'm gonna cry for you
My cryin's through I'm moving on
I don't regret and won't forget
A single thing that we went through
But there are the last tears I'm gonna cry for you
You take things so much easier than I do
And you could live your life without me if you had to
And you believe that in the end it all works out right
And I might if not for you
And if you ask one which one lives just alone for love
I do
There was a time when all signs pointed to the warm south
The planets all lined up and built a new house
And everything we talked about felt like a prophecy
And when you looked at me they all came true
And if you asked which one wants to go the distance
I do
I'm gonna rack my mind one last time until I cannot think
I'm gonna dip into your memory and take a good stiff drink
And when I'm drunk on the last drop of sadness about how we went wrong
I'm gonna play this song
Make some coffee black and strong
Give thanks for healing time
And finally make up my mind

Happy Birthday to MK&A

I just got a call from my dad to inform me of Mary-Kate & Ashley's 21st birthday. Send them an ecard! Thanks to my dad I don't have to read the gossip pages anymore.

Eight Things About Me: A Meme

Janetagged me.

The rules:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3.At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

OK, so here we go with eight things:

1. In my mouth I have one false tooth & one baby tooth (in addition to all the regular teeth).
2. Chocolate makes me feel sick.
3. I love to volunteer.
4. I started college as a Food Science major and changed within a year when I saw that Organic Chemistry was in the list of courses.
5. I made it through high school & college without taking a chemistry course.
6. I shoplifted $1.00 make-up from local drugstore & got caught. Mothers are much more fearsome than huge security guards.
7. I fired a sawed-off shotgun.
8. I can't watch Terms of Endearment, Steele Magnolias or Old Yeller without crying.

Fine. I tag The Boy, Fuego, Weeds, Phred, Elmar, Slutty Priest, RedBullMom, and Ally Cat Mom

Nice Suprise

On Monday night I saw the Indigo Girls play an awesome show at The Fillmore. A great venue & one of my favorite bands. It was a good night out with a good friend.

I see a few live shows every year and from my experience the opening acts are usually a disappointment. Most times they actually suck. Monday nights opening act was not typical. Brandi Carlile was awesome. She rocked the guitar. Her voice was booming. I immediately downloaded all her albums when I got home. She's my new favorite.

Here's a sample:

Be My Friend?

I've now got a profile on facebook. Want to be my friend?

I'm Trapped

I'm home while new carpet is installed. See the pretty new stairs:

poor Timmy is freaking out - see:


I'm trapped upstairs and starving right now.

Pucker Up

Sad News

This is my favorite time of the year. The rainy season has come to a close & the weeds are growing all over the hills. Oakland uses a herd of goats as fire abatement - the goats dot the hillsides chomping away at the new growth & clear the woods of fire danger. Goats are so cute & they do a good job. Today there was a horrible article in the news. Why would someone sneak up on a pen of one-month old goats & shoot them? Horrible person. I love those little goats. OAKLAND / Vicious slaughter of young goats provokes outrage; attacker sought

Crime

We got home today to find that our copper rain chain was stolen. Our neighbor across the street heard some noise & came out to see a guy yanking down our chain, jump into the getaway car & screech down the street. Unfortunately he didn't catch the license plate number.

It's nice to know that our neighborhood is being cased for decorative items to steal.

Arts & Crafts

I'm not an artsy type. If I were I think I'd make stuff like this

Best Gift Ever

Jane had this amazing "lithograph" made for me. I cried - it's so cool. The white spot on Otis is refelction from the flash.

So Tired

Beer is the best medicine after a 13.1 mile run. I was so tied in this picture I couldn't express my joy for finishing the race & loving every minute of it. I was sound asleep within 30 minutes of this.

The Best Of Kaitlin

Pierced Ears
Instruments
Uncle Scott

My Visual DNA

cool. thanks Tripp.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Oh So Cute

Why are sloths so darn cute?

Brilliant

So why hasn't a homeless person or a cartoonist thought of this before. Hilarious!

OTTERS!

I love otters. Look, these guys are holding hands (paws)

Improvement?

Before:


AFTER:


Why?... Because of this

Dog On Pillow

Jane likes the house to be toasty & I usually run warm so I turned off the heat while she's away. It was so cold last night that I got a spoon from this beast to keep warm. Even the dog was cold.

Yes I turned the heat on when I got home from work today.

GREAT TURTLE RACE

Wow - check out the GREAT TURTLE RACE

From Dr. Jim Spotila, turtle researcher, professor at Drexel University and president of the Leatherback Trust:
We’re doing this “race” to raise awareness and invite donations to protect leatherback turtles on Playa Grande's beaches and along the turtles' migration paths in the ocean. These amazing animals have been around 100 million years, but may have only 10 years left. I think the world needs to wake up to the issue and urgently help. As we say in the race theme, “They are going faster than you think.”

Populations in the world are crashing due to four human threats: egg poaching, loss of nesting beaches, accidental catch by commercial fishermen, and plastic -- leatherbacks eat jellyfish, which look like plastic bags. All seven major sea turtle species are endangered due to similar pressures.

Go to the website linked above & you can watch the race from Costa Rica to the Gallapagos Islands. The babies are so cute!

An Easy Addiction

This one's for Chicken & Waffles

Yes that soulful voice is coming from that tiny white woman. Enjoy & try not to sing it for the rest of the day....

I wish I spoke whatever language this is!

Listen Carefully

peeps for passover - a photoset on Flickr

peeps for passover - a photoset of the plagues

sample:

Simple Rule of Life

click on image to make bigger:

Signs of Spring

Thanks to Rachmom

A Daily Dose of CUTE!!!

There is no better way to start your day. The Daily Puppy

Is this fun or punishment?

Stuff On My Dog

Stuff On My Mutt: Stuff + Mutts = Awesome

I've been a fan of stuff on my catfor a long time. It's about time dogs got their due.

Pand In A Box

I'm spending most of my time blogging about my run over at See Sarah Run Stop by & say hi.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss

Hours of Seussian entertainment
Thanks to C&W for the heads up on this important date. Go spend some time getting with the good doctor!

Depression Humor

How did it take so long for someone to make the connection?

Silly Time Waster

Teen Girl Squad

Oh this will kill a few hours of the work day. I think Jenny & Joe will love it most.

Daily Ideas for Lent

40 Ideas for Lent

For those who don't want to make the 40 day commitment to one discipline click on the link above. Cool ideas of something to do each day. This week:
> Day 5 – Mon 26 Feb: Walk and watch
> Day 6 – Tues 27 Feb: Your chore is my chore
> Day 7 – Wed 28 Feb: Bake a cake
> Day 8 – Thur 1 Mar: Out your doubts
> Day 9 – Fri 2 Mar: Someone else's preference
> Day 10 – Sat 3 Mar: Send a message

Go to the website for more details & a fresh quote. I like.

Adopt Today

Or at least support your local shelter... Good job Pedigree:



and try not to cry!

Three of a Kind

Proof that an apple does not fall far from its tree.

Flashback

I remember when I was a kid Showtime used to air "exercise" programs like this. The innuendo was lost on me at the time. I just thougth it funny that they shows were on so late at night.



Oh the innocent years.

For Marcy

Property Value

Do we need to disclose the neighbors when we sell? I'm tired of the trash in the yard & their meth addicted pets.

Bad Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Better than Chocolate?

I actually wouldn't mind a few of the suggested items.

This link came to my attention via Dooce

Are you bored?

Are you bored?

For Emily

Check it out: sprite fruit

The Story of My Running

So as to not bore my (5) regular readers with the agony & ecstasy of my 1/2 marathon training I've created an alternate blog for that. Check out the link in the sidebar to hear about my blisters & cramps as I struggle to cross that finish line.

To all of you who said "count on me for a donation" - I'm counting on you! Feel free to click the link below or in the sidebar to make a secure online tax-deductible donation.

I'm nuts

On May 6 (two days before my 36 bday) I will run the Avenue of the Giants 1/2 marathon in Humboldt. I'm doing this with the help of Team In Training They train me so I can be in shape for the run. My promise is to raise at least $2,200 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to support blood cancer research. Funds raised go toward the cure of leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Check back often to hear about my journey. If you'd like to support me please click on the link to
Donate Now

Wish me luck!

I run in honor of them...
My dad:

Vanessa (click to read her story:


If you have a family member or a friend you want me to honor as I train please send me their name!

Guiness!

Watch this short film called Useless Dog (click here to watch) These will be the best five minutes of your day. Be patient through the credits to see a cutie-pie.

Perhaps this hits a bit close to home as Guiness could be Granite's twin (not due to coloration but by personality)

Enjoy

That Which Does Not Kill Me...

Should only make me stronger? Right? Please say yes. I've made the commitment to run The Avenue of the Giants 1/2 Marathon After tonight's informational meeting I'll begin the training. From tomorrow through May 6 I will be "a runner". That makes me cringe. I hate running. Honestly, have you ever seen a runner that looked like they were having fun?

But I also hate being the lazy slug I've become. I ran cross country in high school - was in great shape & had amazing calves (calfs?) I hope to regain some of that old physique.

Once I accomplish the goal I think I'll join Hash House Harriers That seems to be more my style. Run until you find beer!

I'll keep you posted.

World On Fire

Last month I spent the day with a group of teens talking about the UN's Millenium Development Goals. Our focus of the day was: extreme poverty. Our first project was to creat toiletry bags for distribution to the guests at the church hosting "Warm Winter Nights" - the church provides shelter & meals to homeless who need a place to stay during the winter. We sorted donations of hotel sized items and made 87 toiletry kits. Our next project was an assembly line to make a meal for 8 called "Love Soup". We layered the dry soup ingredients into jars, decorated the tops & tied on the instructions for cooking. By the end of the 2 hours we had prepared 786 healthy heary meals. It was amazing how simple the projects were and how easy it was to help those in need.

Before we celebrated the Eucharist we watched Sarah McLachlan's video: World On Fire (click to watch). Rather than make a fancy MTV type video she sat in a chair, played her guitar & sang. The $150K that could have been spent on production was sent around the world to those in need. Here is alink to the complete list of donations she made

That day left me inspired to do more. I'd love to hear about what you do to make the world a better place. Feel free to comment.

Jack William Crawford

Born 12/28/06 7.21pm 9lb 5oz 21" long (head was 15" around). He's darn cute.

Happy Timm

Granite took control over all the xmas toys. After a day of her desctuction Timm finally got to enjoy one squeaky toy for a few minutes.

Goodbye Godfather of Soul

He was 73 & say it loud.. he was black & proud and a sex machine

Arm's Length

Fighting For Oakland

For the record - I STILL BELIEVE!

This is a true story copied from the blog of my friend Chicken & Waffles (click on the link for the full story)

I believed in Santa Claus until I was 12 years old. It seems incredible now, but yes, I admit it. My parents were so accomplished in perpetuating a myth in such elaborate fashion that my brother and I were outright believers, even when we were on the threshold of adolescence."

RIP Yogi, Fred & Wilma, Scooby, Top Cat...

abc7news.com: Yogi Bear Creator Joe Barbera Dies At 95

Christmas Card & Two Great Gifts

IN-N-OUT Burger

In addition to the
Not So Secret Menu Items for IN-N-OUT Burger if you ask the counter employee for a map you'll get a wallet sized fol-up of all the In-N-Outs so you'll never be lost again!

Next time you're at In-N-Out (i.e. tomorrow . . . or maybe tonight), order a bag of these off-the-menu specials - they will appear on the receipt by name too!:

"3-by-3" = three meat patties and three slices of cheese.

"4-by-4" = four meat patties and four slices of cheese.

"2-by-4" = two meat patties and four slices of cheese.

*Note: You can get a burger with as many meat patties or cheese slices as you want. Just tell the In-N-Out Burger cashier how many meat patties and how much cheese you want and that is what you'll get! For instance, if you want 6 pieces of meat and 10 pieces of cheese tell them you want a "6-by-10."

"Double Meat" = like a Double Double without cheese.

"3 by Meat" = three meat patties and no cheese.

"Animal Style" = the meat is cooked and fried with mustard and then pickles are added, extra spread and grilled onions are added.

"Animal Style Fries" = fries with cheese, spread, grilled onions and pickles (if you ask for them).

"Protein Style" = for all you low-carbohydrate dieters, this is a burger with no bun (wrapped in lettuce).

"Flying Dutchman" = two meat patties, two slices of melted cheese and nothing else - not even a bun!

Fries "Well-Done" = extra crispy fries . . . even better than the regular!

Fries "Light" = opposite of fries well-done, more raw than most people like 'em

"Grilled Cheese" = no meat, just melted cheese, tomato, lettuce and spread on a bun.

"Veggie Burger" = burger without the patty or cheese. Sometimes we call this the "Wish Burger."

"Neapolitan" Shake = strawberry, vanilla and chocolate blended together.

Holiday Snowglobe

Holiday Snowglobe

This helps me get through the day. Enjoy!

On my grown up christmas list

Two great tastes that have to taste great together!

That's My Boss

SAN FRANCISCO / Episcopal bishop arrested in protest over war in Iraq / He and 200 others had marched from Grace Cathedral

Christmas Ideas

Welcome to the Oakland Zoo
What a great idea for giving the gift to that someone who has everything - support your local zoo!
Give the gift for ANIMAL ENRICHMENT

WHAT IS ENRICHMENT?
Enrichment is a term that describes a vast array of activities provided for captive wildlife. These activities can stimulate natural behaviors, such as scent marking, aggressive posturing, vocalizations or play behavior. Enrichment activities increase natural behavior and improve quality of life.

Enrichment activities can be a number of things. From spraying perfume on logs to get lions to scratch, rub or scent mark, to highly complex, computer run, random, mechanical food dispensers that simulate hunting. Some animals are offered live fish to catch in pools, others receive “puzzle feeders” to lengthen the time they spend feeding. Many activities are put on a schedule, and rotated to retain their novelty. This keeps the game fun. Other activities just need to be time consuming, and give the animal work or purpose.

Variety is the key to providing satisfying activities. Introducing new scents, objects, sounds and tastes keep the animals stimulated, and interested in their environment. This not only creates a healthier animal, but provides our zoo guests with a more educational experience. Enrichment can provide the opportunity to watch giraffe use it’s 18-inch, prehensile( grabbing) tongue to obtain food from a puzzle feeder, and you will have observed how a giraffe browses in Africa!

How do we come up with activity ideas? This is where knowing the animals is important. The keepers are often the ones to create new plans, based on both the natural history of the species, and
knowing the individual animals themselves. You would not want to offer branches on ropes if an antelope will eat the rope- this could make them sick. Or, chimpanzees may like popsicles made with fruit and juice, but for a lion, you better make a BLOOD-sicle! Creativity and animal experience are a necessary combination for generating new enrichment activities.

ENRICHMENT WISH LIST
Things you may already have around the house:
Perfumes
Spices
Towels
Tennis balls
Raffia
Cornstalks
Large nuts in the shell
Cardboard baby books
Plastic garden toys (flamingoes)
Telephone books
Blankets

Things that can be purchased at most pet stores:
Kongs
Manufactured parrot toys
Jolly balls
Large catnip cat toys
Any horse toy

For more information contact Margaret Rousser at Margaret@oaklandzoo.org

Roman Catholic Priest Calendar 2007

Click here to order your Calendario Romano 2007 - Roman Priest Calendar 2007
Talk about a nice icon! Is this the Catholic church's new evangelism tool?
Here's a sample: