Rainbow Bridge

My dear friend Erin has a sick family member: her dog, Sarge. Here he is at the New Years 2006 party. (Don't mind the drunk people, we're focusing on the dog.)

I am an animal lover and I have lost some good pets over the years, so I am feeling her pain. My first dog, Casey, was the sweetest, most gentle, not so bright animal a person can have. Here I am holding Casey when we picked him out of the litter at grandma's house.

(Side story: the flash of the picture scared him so much he pooped on me and I dropped him. That might account for the not so bright part...)

Casey died when I was seventeen and it was pretty much the worse thing ever. We pretty much raised each other and he gave me the gift of unconditional love. When he was gone it was pretty hard to deal, then one day I saw the Dear Abby article, Rainbow Bridge. It really helped.

Here you go Erin and anyone else with furry family members...

Rainbow Bridge
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of Rainbow Bridge is a land of meadows, hills and valleys filled with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, it goes to this place. There plentiful food, water and warm spring weather abound. Old and frail animals become young again. Those maimed are made whole. Together they play all day.

Only one thing is missing. They are not with their special person who loved them so on earth. Each day is filled with running and playing until the time comes when one suddenly stops and looks up. The nose twitches! Ears perk up! Eyes stare excitedly! This special one suddenly runs from the group.

You have been seen. Meeting, you take him or her in your arms once more. Your face is lovingly kissed over and over and over. Looking into the eyes of your trusted friend, you cross Rainbow Bridge together never to be separated again.

Reposting from Myspace 7/31/07

Blogs from before...

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I can't wait...

... to jump in rain puddles with you and sing silly songs about rain drops, while the neighbors look through the windows from their dry living rooms and cluck with disapproval.

... to tell you with weary indifference to "go ask your father" and then huddle by the door to hear his answer, which will be "go ask mom". You will stomp your foot with disgust, pouting, "She just told me to ask you!"

... to watch your face as we look at Christmas lights, your rosy cheeks bright and splotchy, your breath warm from the hot chocolate we just sipped.

... until you wake me in the middle of the night, whispering softly so you don't wake dad, "Mommy, can I sleep with you?" We will cuddle each other back to sleep: you with my strong arms that protect against those pesky closet monsters and me with the smell of your sweet hair.

... until you bring me your first artistic masterpiece to be proudly displayed, not on the fridge, but on my bathroom mirror--the last thing I see before I go to bed and first thing when I wake up.

... to see your face when we make our first (of many) trips to Disneyland. Dad will have to reign us both in with our glee.

... to listen to you voice your opinion over topics brought up on the evening news, the school playground, books we read, etc. I promise to be careful in voicing too much of an opinion, so you can form your own.

... for so many things--I am so impatient--but I will try, sweet boy, because each second is so wonderful and I know they will fly by with bittersweet speed.

Ain't misbehavin'

Just sew you know...

Erin and I are taking a sewing classes. Need proof?


I come from a long line of extremely talented women (yes, even you mom...calligraphy, cooking, storytelling) and then married into another clan with women of skill. (My mother-in-law made my wedding dress and landscaped my backyard!) Some might say getting someone to laugh so hard milk comes out of their nose might qualify or winning a fight in junior high by verbally abusing the girl before she could punch me is a valued skill, but... Actually, I am a pretty good cook, thank you very much. Anyway, I decided to try sewing mainly because when you have legs the length of newborns, knowing how to hem is valuable.

I'm trying at least. I hemmed some pants tonight, but that was after hours of trying to get my bobbin to submit to my will. I think this means I am on my way to being crafty. I'm not getting any big ideas, though. I don't know about knitting, since it is Arizona after all. I love to look at scrapbooking, but could you really see me doing that? For now I will stick to sewing. Well, until I sew my finger, and I just know that is going to happen soon.

My new buddy. She aint much to look at, but she gets the job done.

Rough crowd

I've got some 'splainin to do... I do not think Biden is a hottie-potatie. I agree that his eyes are a bit tight.

I (irresponsibly) knew little about the man before he took the stage last night and was desperate to hear from him. Boys and girls, I was quite impressed. I felt like I was learning about govt from a really cool civics teacher. I have read transcripts of past interviews and know he tends to be verbose, so I was worried he would talk in circles like other politicians we know and love. (ahem) That being said, here are some points that made my (semi) slanted eyes light up...

• lots of facts and statistics--that is really putting yourself out there and though I know some of his numbers were off (he wasn't the only one) overall he illustrated his points well
• connecting a to b and then c--I like a smooth, focused arguments
• he called Palin on the "bizarre" notion that the VP office should have expanded powers
• his wife is a teacher
• he didn't back down from the working-mom argument

Those are just a few. My last blog was just to illustrate that he made an impression on me intellectually, not visually. Get your minds out of the gutter.

That being said, I honestly think Palin redeemed herself somewhat. She was looking like The Fool after the Couric interviews. Maybe I just don't get her "humor". I am glad she was able to step it up. I didn't want her to make it too easy to dismiss her...

PS- Katy, I loved your blog and can't wait to read the reasons why people like their candidates. I have similar convos with my students and appreciate an open sharing of minds. Despite my obvious leanings here, many of my students are baffled as to who I am voting for in the election.

Hello gorgeous

Joe Biden where have you been all my life?

You know you're an adult when...

1. You wake up at 9am and you are annoyed because you have slept the morning away.

2. At the end of the day you feel accomplished after stocking up on groceries, completing multiple loads of laundry (and possibly having the clothes put away), having empty trashcans around the house, planning meals for the next few days, clearing out the dishwasher, and bills are ready to be mailed out the next morning.

3. Red cups are used to hold paint for touch ups rather than beer.

4. You wonder how you can increase your fiber intake.

5. You anxiously watch at the grocery store checkout for final discounts and then discreetly celebrate with your husband if the savings are sufficient.

6. You realize people who furiously speed on the freeway are just wasting gas.

7. The statements come for retirement accounts and you check it out before peeking at catalogues.

8. You get catalogues in the mail.

9. You ask hosts for recipes of dishes served at dinner parties.

10. Your favorite music is played on specialty "flashback" programs on the radio.

Those are just a few things that make me feel like an adult. Not old, but progressively seasoned. What are somethings that make you realize you are no longer a youngin'?

Pics from back in the day:

Katy & me- dig the overalls

Red cups with Shanna and Brooke

Random house party when we were dating

Dorm days

Random pics

of/with people that I love. The list isn't complete...

Hell has frozen over

Two people I never thought I had anything in common with, other than the whole needing oxygen and water to survive part, provided soundbites I agreed with this week. The world really is coming to an end.

Mike Huckabee (former prez candidate) on our blooming economy:

"I'm disappointed and disgusted with my own Republican Party as I watch them attempt to strong-arm a bailout of some of America's biggest corporations by asking taxpayers to suck up the staggering results of the hubris, greed, and arrogance of those who sought to make a quick buck by throwing the dice." Fortune

Lynne Spears (2006, 2007, and 2008 nominee for Mother of the Year award) on teen pregnancy:

"I mean, the mother, [Sarah] Palin, was celebrated for this. Every woman in the world has applauded her strength and her convictions and poor little old Jamie Lynn - you saw how she was crucified. Everybody did, firsthand ... I just feel like it's been a very hypocritical situation." Newsweek

One of my non-negotiables

Just a warning: another political blog.

I can't say much because I am so annoyed about Proposition 102 (defining marriage between one man and one woman). So why bother saying anything? Well, prop 102 deals with one of my non-negotiables. And, jus in case you didn't know, gay marriage has all but been squashed in the state of Arizona.

Since 1996, Arizona has had a law that contains the one-man/one-woman definition. In 2003, a homosexual couple challenged the law as unconstitutional before the Arizona Court of Appeals. They lost their case, and in 2004, the Arizona Supreme Court refused to review the matter, which kept the door shut on same-sex marriage in this state.

So why is the proposition on the ballot this year? Have you heard the term "beating a dead horse"? Some day we might look back and liken the treatment of homosexuals today to the treatment of minorities when we made it illegal for them to marry a White person and other Jim Crow era beauties. Or, we might come to the realization that there is a separation of church and state. I respect people's faith, but I draw the line when you use your religious convictions to dictate my personal freedoms without consideration of other possible doctrines.

Straight people have effed up the institution of marriage. Why not let the gays have a go at it? Well, at least not in Arizona, please excuse us while we beat the rotten corpse of equal marriage rights.