National Geographic photos!

I just have to share these links with you guys.

The first is a feature of NationalGeographic.com - their "Scenic Drive Guides to National Parks." Beautiful photographs of some of my favorite places in the United States. If I could, I would post a photo from the site, but I think technically that is a no-no. It's actually an advertisement, but I don't care!

The other is a photo of a liger - a lion/tiger hybrid. I've never seen a picture, but it's exactly what you would think of if you thought of putting a tiger and lion together - half a mane, lion's body, tiger stripes! And it's popular because of Napoleon Dynamite, or so they say.

All for now!

 

Puppy no more

After fostering Darby Coyote (aka Munchkin), the sweetest little shepherd girl, I decided not to keep her.

I SHOULD HAVE KEPT HER!

It was a tough call, but she had a few health problems I was concerned about, and she kept beating up my family's three little dogs. Looked like she was going to grow up to be an alpha female, but we were a bit worried she might hurt Tiny accidentally. She's just so young, it's hard to tell what kind of temperment and health problems she might have when she gets older. Gosh but she was the sweetest little thing. She was great in the car, and pretty good in her crate - only whined for a few minutes before quieting down. I think sometimes I bored her, especially when I was trying to put together my kitchen chairs and she kept stealing the screwdriver and anything else that was shiny. I brought her out to the park on Friday when I played horseshoes with my cityworker friends, and she was the best! She is a bit of a chicken so she didn't wander very far, but once she warmed up to the guys, she was the happiest little puppy and I could keep her off her leash without worrying about her.

I also know that having a dog would be a major hinderance to being a wildland firefighter in the future. Some places will allow dogs, and not all jobs travel as much as others... it would be do-able but challenging. For now, I had to give her back.

... But if she's not adopted out in a few weeks, I'm gonna take her back, as long as her health is better. No more worms! YUCK!

I even taught her how to sit and lie down in 5 minutes. She was so smart! And so pretty! It's lonely without her around here now. Granted, it was stressful and tiring trying to pottytrain her and deal with her endless puppy energy, but right now I miss having to take her out ever hour (only to have her end up peeing in the house anyway). She was a pain in the butt, but I loved her anyway! I mean, who doesn't appreciate unconditional puppy love? :)  She just followed me around and stared at her with her big brown eyes and tongue hanging out, watching me do dishes with such adoration, thinking I'm the most important person in the world when I am brushing my teeth... Why can't I find a man that treats me like that?! HA! :)

So here's lots of cute pictures. I hope Darby Coyote finds a great loving home! And if she doesn't... well I'm gonna get her back!

(photos are from my cell phone, that's why they're fuzzy)

 

My baby!

Got a pupper!

12 week old shepherd/spaniel mix, named Munchkin for now - but she won't be a munchkin for long! She already has big paws... and she's such a sweetie!

Need to think of a name!

Fastest trip to Colorado EVER

I packed the mini van and hit the road for that beautiful state called Colorado.

I got as far as Ann Arbor and bailed. As I was driving up 23, I thought about going north to the U.P. But I bailed on that idea when I got to I-96 and just went back to Royal Oak.

How lame is that?! But if I'm going out west, I might as well make a better trip out of it than this lame attempt. I want to see Montana, Wyoming, AND Colorado - if I'm going to one, I might as well go to them all.

I should have had this revelation BEFORE I started driving... but I was just so excited at the thought of being back there, I didn't really think it through.

So here are some pics from Ludington, and from Chicago. I think I'll just watch TV, build a bookcase, and go to bed early. Sounds like a decent labor day weekend to me!

Hmmph

I SHOULD be on the road right now, on my way to Buffalo, Wyoming. But I think my fire buddy out there got dispatched somewhere, since his cell phone isn't working. He might be on a fire, or even helping with hurricane clean-up. So I'm not going there.

Instead, I SHOULD be on my way out to Red Rock Lakes and Dillon, Montana to visit Howard, Marilyn, Jeff, Gillian; and watch those sexy cowboys in the rodeo; and tear it up for the Labor Day party. But because of the hurricance, gas prices are outrageous and I'm a little concerned about driving THAT far - about 32 hours. So I'm not going there.

Instead, I SHOULD be on my way right now to Fort Collins/Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park, to visit Jon, Scott, and Bill; and check out all those trees and plants I slaved away at planting, transplanting, raising, killing, and restoring; and finally climbing Longs Peak; and doing some bouldering and smelling the alpine air under that deep blue sky. But my mom is trying her hardest to bribe me to stay - promising to go furniture shopping with me, and go and find me a PUPPY this weekend! Plus, it's usually nuts in Rocky Mountain around Labor Day, and gas is more expensive there than in Montana. I miss it there so badly, though, and want to go, that I just MIGHT still head out there soon. I haven't made up my mind yet.

So instead, I am relaxing in my one armchair in my apartment, watching Gigantic, a documentary on They Might Be Giants, and putting off making the decision. If I don't think about it, I don't have to worry about it, right??

WHAT SHOULD I DO?!

Or, I might just go up to Copper Harbor. I haven't been there in years. Just need to get away!!!

The biggest reason I am hesitating going to Colorado is the fact that I am worried. No road trip is very good if there is that underlying concern about how much money you are spending, how much gas is going to be, if there will be shortages, etc etc. Hard to relax and enjoy yourself!

"If there's still ramblin' in the rambler let him go!" - Yonder Mountain String Band