Courtney

Here is the photo of Courtney from the weekend of fun. Doesn't she look adorable with her new short brown hair?

Long Weekends

This past weekend was 5 glorious days off. The first day was filled with rain/snow. Courtney showed up for the summer though (which was super cool). We had dinner out with great friends, we did yard work, I sewed up a skirt (which took 2 days longer than I thought it should ... photos coming once I get someone to take them), cage fighting night with screaming friends and large pans of enchiladas. I haven't seen Indy yet (which I need to do this week)

Funny picture from a friend at work (which I happen to totally agree with).

Photos from dinner out coming soon.

New The Wire word - Shorties (a.k.a girls)

The Wire

Last night we watched 3 episodes of The Wire (an HBO show that takes place in Baltimore). Mouser said that it would help me with my street vocabulary. Last night I learned two new words. Mope (someone who speaks and dresses ghetto) and beshitted (something that becomes shit). Beshitted will have to be worked into every day use!

More to come as the show continues.

On Their Back

Lately I've been hearing mellow songs and just grooving on them. There is one that is titled, "on their back" ... which has nothing to do with what you are thinking. It is playing right now and fantastic!

Recently I've seen two movies that I need to see again to even understand. First is Southland Tales. It seems like one of those movies that if you were drunk or high you might get. But, I just couldn't follow what was happening. The second is Revolver. It was written by two of my FAVORITE writers for film (Guy Ritchie and Luc Besson). The movie is about the odds and has a bit of action, gangsters and of course twists and turns (that only Ritchie and Besson could put together). But, at the end of the film ... you are still wondering.

Anyone seen these two films?

Back Yard Re-Work

Since the spring we have been working on re-doing the back yard. Moving the shed a month ago was the first step. Removing bricks was the second. Putting in railroad ties has been the latest part of the rework. Here are two photos of the work. You can see that the hill is taking shape. After this, we'll be bringing in some rock and getting the beds in planting shape.

Thank goodness for a good weather weekend.

Baby Birds

Saturday afternoon I noticed that Moab was looking at the ground outside the enclosed
porch. She was licking her lips and looking ... very interested in
something. I went outside to find a very small bird sitting on the
ground screaming. He had those soft little down feathers on his head.
Just a few of them. And not many other feathers on his body. There is a
House Finch nest right above where I found him.

So, I put on some rubber gloves, had Mike get the ladder, and put the little
dude back up in his nest. Note that this nest just had 5 birds hatch
and there were now NONE in it. I could see two male birds fighting over
head and no one was going into the nest to feed the little guy.

About an hour later I noticed that Moab
was looking at the ground again. I went back out and the poor little
guy was on the ground again. I got the gloves and ladder to put him
back - but once back in the nest he launched himself right back out and
onto my shirt.

I was at a total loss for what to do with the
little guy. We have a total of probably 8 House Finch nests around the
house, so I had Mike go check the nearest one for babies. He found that
there was one bird that looked to be around the same age (same number
of funky feathers on his head).

With a held breath I put the
loan baby bird up into this strangers nest and then waited inside to
see what happened. Momma bird came back and started feeding both of
them.Ignoring the fact that one of them wasn't hers. As of today, the
baby is growing and the mom is totally caring for it! Who says you
can't mess with Mother Nature?

Let It Rain Veggies

As the seeds pop their little heads above the soil I start to think about the long term (i.e. end of the summer) plans for my garden. One of the things I hate about New Mexico is that it is SO hot during the summer days that lettuce (unless in some special area), doesn't do very well. So I just bought the above item (from Gardeners). This way my cucumbers can grow and not cover the ground ... while the lettuce is cool underneith it. I'm super excited for it to show up!

Battlestar

Weekend & Weekdays

The past 3 weeks have been pretty much ... hell (when it comes to work). I've been trying to solve a bug that has been painful! This pain-in-the-ass bug was finished up last week and the sort of relief I'm feeling is astounding. Mike flew home on Friday (after having his seat given away on an across the Atlantit flight) and the weekend was spent doing very little around the house.

Now that a new week has begun, I'm trying to decide when to start the next large project. My motivation level is really really low.

Any advice? Give up and become a gardner?

Sunny Days

The grass is turning green. The fruit trees are in full bloom. I can smell the grill and summer fun just around the corner.

Spring Flowers

I'm not sure about spring flowers and the whole May showers bit (since we had snow this past weekend).

But I'm at home this afternoon (waiting on someone ... who was SUPPOSE to be here between 8am-12) and I figured I'd take some photos of the flowers out front. Pictures of spring in New Mexico.

Bad Kitty

On The Road

In Jack Kerouac's book there is a lot more drinking and driving than what is happening with me - but we are on the road again. We just made it to the motorcycle track (Deming New Mexico), where the skies are blue and the wind is blowing (go figure ... spring in New Mexico).

The photo is of Bend and his thoughts about traveling. He road down here on my lap.

Of course Mike is the other photo. Go Speed Racer!

Bad Omen

This morning, while walking into the office, I was next to a large building and I hear a THUMP. I look up to see a bird falling down right over top of me. It was a pretty little blue colored bird. This must mean something about today!

When The Outdoors Kills

I have probably never felt as bad as I have this weekend. First, I got a Wii. Which means that on Friday night I spent way too much time bowling (leading to a sore rear on Saturday morning).

Saturday was filled with a trip to the dump, unloading a shed, digging up trees and weeds, another trip to the dump. Ending with 9 people helping us move our shed across the yard. All of this is occurring outside where my allergies are making it very difficult for me not to sneeze and scratch at my eyes.

I wake up this morning to feel even MORE sore than I did on Saturday morning, and my right eye is swollen. I mean really really swollen. It looks like I ran into a wall or something. Anyway, today was putting all of the crap back into the shed, another trip to the dump, and transferring my closet from winter to summer. I'm now wearing fuzzy pink slipper and sitting on the couch drinking a large glass of water. For a 2 day weekend I sure am TIRED!!!!!

Heard On NPR This Morning

For those of you that don't know - I was born in Kalispell. My whole family is from there. This story just cracked me up!

Kalispell attempted robbery leads to charges
Posted: April 1, 2008 01:02 PM
Updated: April 1, 2008 10:53 PM
A Kalispell man will now be facing a slew of charges after allegedly attempting to rob Taco Johns with a replica of a Glock tactical pistol.

Officials with the Kalispell Police Department say that Shane Roe, 24, entered the business on Monday afternoon, displayed his pistol and then demanded free food.

The employee refused, and then Roe is said to have laughed and demanded money from the register. The employee refused again.

Roe then placed an order, paid for it and sat down with his female companion.

Officers later found Roe outside the Kalispell Center Mall and when he tried to hide his gun from view, he was arrested at gunpoint.

The gun was later determined to be an air-soft pistol.

- Angela Monroe reporting from KAJ in Kalsipell

A Flathead Valley man is facing Attempted Armed Robbery charges after allegedly trying to rob a Kalispell fast food restaurant.

The Kalispell Police Department responded to Taco John's at around 2:30 p.m. and officials tell us that a male and female suspect walked up to the counter to place an order, the man then demanded the employee give him free food, and displayed a pistol.

The employee refused and the man then demanded money from the register, but again the employee refused to comply with the would-be robber. The suspect then placed an order, paid for it, ate and left.

Authorities later located the suspect near the south entrance into the Red Lion Motel at Kalispell Center Mall, where a brief altercation ensued and the pistol was spotted.

Shane Roe, 27, ended up being arrested at gunpoint and is now being held at the Flathead County Detention Center pending his initial court appearance.

- Angela Monroe reporting from KAJ in Kalispell.

Ode To A Daffodil

As I sit her blowing my nose (allergies) and suffering away ... I
think, "My how I love spring flowers." In Seattle they would appear and
I would love to see them. Here I see them and revel in the gorgeous colors ... but they now always mean allergies for me.


Daunting the cold dew of winter days passed.
Daffodils peak out of the solid ground.
Delicious golden yellow.
Daydreaming of warm summer nights.


The photo is of my brother from a St. Patrick's day basketball game (Boston against San Antonio). He was one of the only Boston fans there. When we were kids people thought that we could be twins. What do you think now??

King Quilt Finished

This is the first king size quilt that I've ever finished. I've started a number of them. But, finishing always seems to be the problem. At the end it was a 10.5 hour push to get through them. Thank goodness it is done and on the bed. The cats totally approve as well!

For Cats Sake

I just saw
this article about a kitten that has "I heart ." on it's
side. This is cute because the kitten's mother is named Dottie.

Awwwwwwwwwwww. SO CUTE!

Bike It Up

This morning I rode up to work for the first time since the 18 degree
morning back in February. It was 33 degrees with a nice warm breeze. It
was great to get back on the bike. Test out the new head light that I
got around Christmas. And of course to have my workout in before I
start work.

Yippy for bike commuting!!!

Note
- I've never looked so hard at a pair of shoes as I did last night
thinking, "These weigh less than those. I'm taking the black pair."