Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained?!

Please welcome Maximus to the family

He is an 8 month old puggle (half beagle, half pug), who luckily is potty-trained..though is not yet extremely obedient ;)
We got him off Craigslist..:)

Ummm..technical difficulties...

Hrmm..all I did was add a couple links..and edit out a few others..and this garbage..so uh..please stand by..

No puggle

I called the lady..her husband answered and simply said they were giving the lil guy to another family. No reasons/explanation given. They werent even going to ever tell me..how nice is that!?

Sigh.

I then found an ad on craiglist for a cute lil one..$1400..ugh. No thanks.

Long weekend...

Well, my wife and I have been looking to get a dog for the last few motnhs. I hav ehad a dog since I was about 5, and miss having one up here. My wife only owned a pet for a few months in her life, as her folks never wanted one or allowed her to have one. Luckily, we are both avid cat-haters, so the choice of pet isnt a problem.

While I wanted a lab, or any of several other breeds, my wife was a bit more particular; it had to be small, non-shedding, good with kids..etc. We had settled on a puggle..which is a cross between a beagle and a pug. They are actually EXTREMELY popular now, and can go for upwards of $1200 or so..which is a bit too much for me. They also range from extremely pug looking, to very beagle looking..so its a real mixed bag there.
Anyways..we found someone willing to sell us one, last Christmas time, for about $800. All the plans were in place, she was simply returning from out fo town and we would make the transaction when she returned. The day before she returns, we get an email from her saying the airline wouldnt allow the dog on the plane (complete BS) and the deal was off. No other explanation. VERY WEIRD.
So that was kind of ok by us, since it was the holidays and expenses were high anyways.

Well, we decided to maybe adopt another dog in the alst week, through Petfinder, and we found a 1 year old puggle that we like. There is an application, which we filled out, and the lady came by with "Jake" on Saturday. Apparently there has been quite a demand for Jake, and she narrowed it down to 3 potential families for Jake, of which my wife and I are one. Luckily, he is only $300, and is about 95% potty-trained. He has all his shots and even has that computer chip implanted in case he gets loose. I guess we will find out later this week if we get him or not.
We could certainly get one for about $800 from a pet store when they come in, though we have heard nightmares that they are all from puppy-mills and have some issues..etc. Plus they arent potty-trained or anything.
On the other hand, each lil doggie needs someone to care for him, and that might be a way to get one, easy..if this deal falls through..since there does not seem to be any breeders I can find in Oregon, Washington or even Northern California.

So anyways..Saturday morning, we went to the gym for our spin class, then the dog lady came by, after which some friends of ours came over for dinner and drinks.

Sunday, my wife and I went to home Depot and bought a shower door (the master bathroom has the curtain which sucks), so we will install that in a week or two, once it arrives..etc. We did a few other errands, and saw "Match Point", which was pretty good, but a bit slow and could easily have dropped 15-20 minutes. Still, for not being a Woody Allen fan particularly, I did enjoy the plot, and the fact Woody was not in it, was a bonus. We did a few other errands, came home, played a board game (The 80s game) and BBQ'd corn and burgers for dinner, watched some Olympics and some other shows and went to bed.

Audra had to work Monday, but I didnt. However, I have been interviewing at a few other potential jobs, and one of them flew me up to Seattle for an interview on Monday afternoon. I think it went well, but I have had better interviews. This was the 5th at this place, and the other 4 went terrific. So, hopefully soon, I will find out some information..and if the money is right, the position and everything else works out, then I will have a new job in a few weeks or so. If I get the job, Ill explain everything in depth! Anyways..I caught an earlier flight back to Portland, came home, had lasagna with Audra and watched some tv, and went to bed.

The Olympics

My wife and I both love the Olympics..Summer and Winter. Since my wife was once a championship swimmer, she really gets into watching the swimming events at the Summer Olympics. And since I was a teenager, I got really into skiing..and used to want to be a downhill skier. While I love to ski at incredibly fast speeds, I just never had the opportunity (or talent) to really be ultra-competitve at it, though I did race NASTAR many times and did well. And obviously my wife (and I to an extent) enjoy watching the figure skating, luge, speed skating..etc..thats going on now.

But it seems no one is watching the Olympics this year. The coverage is pretty poor as well, here in the USA at least. I checked the ESPN website and according to their polls, no one watched or cared about it last weekend. Which is too bad..I love the whole spirit of the games, and almost every event is exciting to me..I even got into "curling" once. Yes, I admit it.

The USA needs to market their athletes better. Sure, some of the teenagers know about shaun White, the "Flying Tomato", and maybe some if us know about Bode Miller...and Michele Kwan..and thats about it.

Do you guys recall Dan Jansen? Summer Sanders? Phil and Steve Maher? Mitch Gaylord? Lenny Krayzelburg? Those are only some of the US successes. Its funny how in Europe, people like Pirmin Zurbriggen are/were superstars..and here..no one cares. I mean..no one here cares about Soccer or Hockey even, elt alone skiing, figure skating, diving..I find it sad. They represent a country in events that most people do not really even watch or care much about.

That said..I do wonder if the Lakers are going to make any trades near the trading deadline :)

Can I buy some pot from you?

Woman Allegedly Tries To Buy Pot At Police Station

POSTED: 6:07 am EST February 14, 2006

WEST FARGO, N.D. -- A North Dakota State University student is facing charges after allegedly trying to buy marijuana at the police station.

Saturday's incident was "about the craziest thing I've ever come across," Officer Ken Zeeb said. "This is something that you couldn't even make up."

The 20-year-old woman called the police station about 3:15 a.m. Saturday, asking where she could buy marijuana, authorities said. The dispatcher, after repeatedly telling the woman it was illegal to sell and possess marijuana, then told her that police had some of the drug in the station's evidence locker.

Zeeb had arrived for his 4 a.m. shift about 15 minutes early and was in the evidence locker room when the woman arrived.

"The dispatcher got on the intercom and said, 'You know what? She's here. She just handed me $3 for marijuana,'" Zeeb said.

The woman was arrested on charges of criminal attempt and possession of drug paraphernalia.

"She didn't seem like she was really under the influence of drugs or alcohol," Zeeb said. "She understood what was going on and articulated herself well."

ps - I didnt have the picture of Pinto asking Donald Sutherland to buy pot. Flounder will have to suffice.

Tubing

Well, after I got back from my vacation in Los Angeles, I had 3 quick days of work and then got to enjoy the weekend.

The wife had to work on Saturday from 8-5, and I went to the gym early in the morning. Since it was a really nice day, I mowed the lawn and edged and trimmed..I had not needed to do it since..November perhaps? I did a couple other errands and cleaned the house, paid the bills..etc. I watched some Olympic coverage in the evening and my wife and I made a nice dinner together.

Sunday, I had plans for us. The wife had said earlier in the week to find something fun and unique for us to do. Since we had not ever been to Mt.Hood, and we planned to go skiing in a couple weeks, I drove us up there early and we went tubing. First we went twice on the kiddie hill..and then went over to the "Extreme" hill..which was worth the hike. I did that 3 or 4 times..it was a lot of fun, and it was a beautiful day. We both laughed and had a good time. We zoomed back to Portland, had some dim sum at Dragonfish, and then caught "Capote". The theater was TINY..4 rows..and we got stuck in the front. Luckily it was not a movie like Lord of the Rings where it wouldnt be worth it. Still, our necks were hurting after..but wow, what an amazing performance by one of my favorite actors, Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He will win the Best Actor Oscar in a few weeks. I had read "In Cold Blood", and also seen the movie, but my wife has not ever read it. She might now :)
We are making homemade pasta suce, some turkey meatballs and some sort of pasta for dinner while we enjoy the Olympics and sneak on over to catch "Grey's Anatomy" later.
Back to work tomorrow.
Ugh.

Ashes and Snow..and more

I went to Los Angeles on Thursday morning of last week. My flight was actually at 5:30am and went to Phoenix and then to LA. If you recall, I was stuck in Minneapolis and Las Vegas over the summer and this was kind of a "make-up" ticket.
Anyways..my parents took me to this exhibit in Santa Monica that was FANTASTIC. It is all these I ndian and Asian people in these..zen-like states with animals around them..just goergeous photography and films, peaceful music..absolutely amazing..and no photoshopping or positioning of the animals..etc..I wanted to buy the book, but it was $130, and the dvd was $50. If the exhibit comes to your city..or country..I highly recommend spending the time to see it. The show is incredible.

So I also saw my grandmother for dinner on Thursday evening, and John Corbett walked by as well. Dinner was good..we arte somewhere on Sunset; I had a cholesterol clogging dish, Spaghetti Carbonarra..yum.

Friday I went out for bagels and cream cheese and some danishes (sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine..you dont go out and eat danish..you go eat A danish..) and took them to my other grandma who has lost her brain completely to Alzheimer's. Very sad. She would be better off dead I think. My mom thinks so too. My mom took me out shopping and I got a couple shirts, and then went and met my old boss for lunch. His SUV smelled like tons of weed, and I smoked part of a joint with him. We had some sandwiches and some beers and relaxed. I went out Friday night with my folks to a French restaurant and ate like a champ. I had a big stomach ache later that night though.

Saturday I played golf with my dad in the morning, and actaully did extremely well, considering I had not played in 6 months. I shot 2 over (uh..on a par 3 course..ahem). My cousin came over about 1 and we went to Hurry Curry in Old Town Pasadena for lunch (YUM) and then walked around for a bit. His wife was sick, so when we went home, she was still in her pajamas. I saw his house for the first time, saw their dog, Bubba and saw their pictures from their trip to Germany and Austria. We went to my favorite sushi place in the world for dinner, and then to Volcano Tea in West LA for some milk tea and boba. Mike, my cuz, didnt want to see Capote or Good Night and Good Luck, and we just missed the showing of Match Point. He had "Stor Crazy" on Netflix, which we watched at his place, which wasnt that great..and went to bed about 1am.

Sunday, we had breakfast and then went down to Wheatberry for a coffee and A danish. Read the paper, did the crossword and sudoku..etc. Walked on over to Borders books for a bit and then had a mini lunch at Hana Grill..though I just had salad because I was a little sick and a little full. Back home to change and then off to the Superbowl party (which you know how I feel about). But it was good seeing my family and we all had a good time..though the commercials sucked as bad as the game. Came home..relaxed, read my book and went to bed.

Monday, I was supposed to meet my friend Sandrine, but she was in Paris. Then my buddy Albert bailed on me for lunch. My ex-girlfriend had mentioned meeting for coffee, but she cancelled too. So I went to In-N-Out burger and then shopping, and only found things that were far too pricey, and went to see my grandma again for an hour and a half. I came home, did some packing, some reading, and helped my mom a bit in the kitchen. She made these BBQ brined shrimp, garlic bread, salad and some potato wedge things with some of my uncle's spices on them. My parents like "The Bachelor", so I watched it with them, and then went to bed.

Tuesday I had an English Breakfast Latte with my mom and then to the airport and back to Portland, where my wife picked me up and we came home..and that was my vacation and weekend..etc

Sheesh

That was a touchdown, not pass interference.
Nice reffing.

Also, good way to shoot yerself in the foot, Seattle..you owned Pittsburgh..at least for the first half.

Sigh.

Lance Armstrong LiveStrong Ride

Recently I have got into bike riding up here in Oregon, and Audra has also been getting into it with me. There are so many beautiful trails and rides up here, I do not know where to begin!

So when I heard about the LIVESTRONG Ride, a 100-mile bike ride that benefits the Lance Armstrong Foundation, I knew I had to participate.
More than 1.3 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer this year alone. Three out of four families in America will be faced with caring for a family member with cancer.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation was founded to provide practical information and tools for people living with cancer. Their mission is to inspire and empower people affected by cancer through advocacy, public health and research programs.

I need to raise at least $500 to participate in the Ride, but I hope to raise $1,000 or more. It’s a big goal, but I’m taking a big step. I would appreciate your support.

You can donate online at www.livestrongride.org or for me here. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this message and understanding how important this cause and this Ride is to me.

Regards,

Josh

PS - yes even $1 is cool :)