Sunday, March 29, 2009

Spring Snow

It's March 29; nine days after the first day of Spring, and we awoke to snow this morning. It's now 9 a.m. and starting to melt/rain. However, I was able to get outside and get some nice shots.

These are the woods we walk through every morning and night during our Scott/Lucky walks.

Daffodil

Flowering Cherry


Flowering Cherry Blosson - this bloom will be ready to burst in about 4 days I would bet.


Daffodil - next to house.

I also got some pictures of Scott and his neighborhood girlfriend - we refer to her as "Chow Chow." She is our neighbor's dog - she is 12 and deaf and as a typical Chow Chow is, not sociable to people. She does like to greet Scott though, and Scott always perks up to say hi to Chow Chow...

Scott & Chow Chow
Scott posing for a nice picture in the snow

Our road we walk every morning and night


Thursday, March 26, 2009

Dog Movies - Part I

I decided to take some video footage of the pooches today.

Here are Mattie & Scott outside. Mattie likes to concern herself with other dogs in the neighborhood that might be down the hill, so she tends to keep her focus to the left.





This movie is of all three dogs. You have to understand that Mattie tackles and chews on Lucky like this daily - multiple times per day. Lucky never has a scratch on him afterward; in fact, Lucky sometimes eggs Mattie on to come and tackle him. Scott typically doesn't want anything to do with the situation though...




And last, Scott the Herding Dog is also Scott the Tennis Ball Dog. He likes to chase tennis balls, especially when outside. In this case, he actually retrieves a ball to me even though he loses it down the hill and has to find it in the lower yard, out of my sight. Scott sometimes doesn't want to give up the ball though, preferring to lie down at the point of "attack" and pluck the ball-fuzz off of it.

Monday, March 23, 2009

You Know the Type, I'm Sure

Okay - I ask everyone out there.... who has a stupid co-worker story? Oh wait! I DO!!!

Get this... I work on a team of three people - there is me, our coordinator and a manager. We are a small department but we accomplish the amount of work a 5-6 person team would. Anyway, we sit in a cube-farm at work. We share a cubicle-wall with some HR people who talk about things I KNOW I shouldn't be hearing about. And katty-corner to my cubicle is another department pocket of cubicles that I will refer to as "The Others." I am actually quite friendly with a couple of the "The Others," but I have to say, half that team has some serious personality conflicts with A LOT of the other people at my company.

It's also important to note that my department tries desperately to keep drama to a minimum.

So, last Friday I took a vacation day, and my co-worker worked at home that day, so 2/3 of our department was out of the office. On Friday, my manager, who was in the office, was approached by one of "The Others" about the telephones at our cubicles. More specifically, that our telephones ring when we are not at our desks and it annoys her. So, she told him to instruct us that we should always put our phones on a 'direct-to-voicemail' setting when we are away from our desks.

Okay...

FIRST: We don't get many phone calls.
SECOND: Why is this person concerned about my phone anyway?
THIRD: Does this person not have enough of their own work to do that they must go nit-pick and nose their way into other people's business?
FOURTH: Does this person not understand Market Researchers and the sick type of humor we have when it comes to things like this?
FIFTH: Does this person just not realize who she is messing with?

Given the fact this particular individual has given my coordinator-colleague problems in the past, and that she has been a weird b-yatch to me and a few others I'm friendly with, for reasons unknown to us, I will not let an opportunity go unadressed.

So, I turned the ring volume up to the highest setting on my telephone and got to back to work.

Well, let me just tell you, the phone-gods answered my prayers and my phone was ringing off the hook today! And, in true passive-agressive Washington-woman style, I let the effer ring the full 4 rings each time before I picked it up, just before it went to voicemail. It was loud too and I KNOW she could hear it.

I'm sure you all have this type of co-worker at your current job, or had one at a prior job. You know the type, right? The sneaky, back stabber who doesn't step up to help others unless there is something directly in it for her. The type that isn't solution-oriented and prefers to go to management instead of talking things through with the colleague first. The type that blames others or tries to snitch on them. The type that is the first out the door in the evening and has really, really bad hair.

I am looking forward to the rest of the week in the office now!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Saint Patrick's Day

So, I'm half English - my mom is a full blood Englishwoman, complete with accent and interest in all things to do with the royal family. Growing up, Saint Patrick's Day was never a big holiday in my family. I recall asking my mom "Hey mom, why aren't you wearing green today?" And she would blatantly answer "Because I am not Irish." I asked her this every year, always knowing the response I was going to get, but asking anyway because I loved doing it.

Now, I knew the English and Irish haven't really gotten along much in the past. Since 9/11 though, things have been a bit calm between the two countries. But, I'm sure there is still some strife in some areas. I never really delved much into the "fightin' Irish" mentality, that is, why were/are they so angry at the English, and it seems, angry at everyone for that matter? What is this all about?

So today, while I worked at home, I played all the Irish music I could find in our CD collection. No Irish drinking songs today - I'm talking U2, the Cranberries, and my favorite, Sinead O'Connor.

Each of these bands/singers have some pretty signicant Irish culture behind them - they're not only from there, but some of their most successful songs have been written about Irish events; specifically, not so nice events that deal with their hardships experienced as a country over the centuries.

So, I'm going to share three songs from these three artists.
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Sinead O'Connor singing Irish Ways and Irish Laws...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02bpR4D4laU&feature=related

And the lyrics:
Once upon a time there were
Irish Ways and Irish Laws
Villages of Irish blood
Waking to the morning
Waking to the morning

Then the Vikings came around (1)
Turned us up and turned us down
Started building boats and towns
They tried to change our living
Tried to change our living

Cromwell and his soldiers came (2)
Started centuries of shame
But they could not make us turn (3)
We are a river flowing
We're a river flowing

Again, again the soldiers came
Burnt our houses stole our grain
Shot the farmers in their fields
Working for livings
Working for a living

800 years we have been down (4)
The secret of the water sound
Has kept the spirit of a man
Above the pain descending
Above the pain descending

Today the struggle carries on
I wonder will I live so long
To see the gates being opened up (5)
To a people and their freedom
A people and their freedom

Once upon a time there was
Irish Ways and Irish Laws
Villages of Irish blood
Waking to the morning
Waking to the morning

Notes about this song:
(1)The first documented Viking landing took place in 795. Until the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1170 the Vikings would play an important Role in Ireland, both politically and economically. They created trade Routes, founded kingdoms, and built the first towns in Ireland, Including Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
(2) Oliver Cromwell landed in Ireland in August 1649 at the head of a Huge army, by May 1650 he had crushed opposition in all but the West.(By 1652 the Irish population had fallen to .7 m. In 1641 it had Been 1.5 m. By 1660 .5 m cattle were being exported annually to England.)
(3)Both Cromwell's and subsequent colonisation campaigns used the twin Techniques of "planting" English and Scotish settlers and forcing Some locals to change or "Turn" their religion to the Protestant Faith. So here he uses the ambiguity of the term "turn" to echo both The image of the unbowed Irish peasant and a metaphor for Irish History flowing like a un-turnable river.
(4)Since the first English invasion in 1170
(5) "Gates" here evokes both images of the be-sieged walled cities of the 17th century and also of the present day prison camps in the North Of Ireland which at the time the song was being written (in the late 1970's early 1980's) were the subject of much political campaigning Including Hunger Strikes by the inmates.

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And here we have U2 with Sunday, Bloody Sunday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFM7Ty1EEvs -- I didn't realize this all went down in 1972 by the way... that doesn't seem very long ago.

The Lyrics:
I cant believe the news today
Oh, I cant close my eyes and make it go away
How long...How long must we sing this song?
How long? how long...cause tonight...we can be as one

Tonight...

Broken bottles under childrens feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I wont heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall

Sunday, bloody sunday
Sunday, bloody sunday
Sunday, bloody sunday (sunday bloody sunday...)(allright lets go!)

And the battles just begun
Theres many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart
Sunday, bloody sundaySunday, bloody sunday
How long...How long must we sing this song?
How long? how long...cause tonight...we can be as one

Tonight...Tonight...Sunday, bloody sunday (tonight)
Tonight
Sunday, bloody sunday (tonight)(come get some!)

Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Wipe your tears away
I wipe your tears away(sunday, bloody sunday)
I wipe your blood shot eyes(sunday, bloody sunday)

Sunday, bloody sunday (sunday, bloody sunday)
Sunday, bloody sunday (sunday, bloody sunday)(here I come!)

And its true we are immune
When fact is fiction and tv reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die


The real battle yet begun (sunday, bloody sunday)
To claim the victory jesus won (sunday, bloody sunday)
On...Sunday bloody sunday
Sunday bloody sunday...

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And, The Cranberries singing Zombie...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y68m23x4Nc

The Lyrics:
Another head hangs lowly,
Child is slowly taken.
And the violence caused such silence,
Who are we mistaken?

But you see, it's not me,
it's not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying...

In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey.
What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, dou, dou, dou, dou, dou...

Another mother's breakin',
Heart is taking over.
When the vi'lence causes silence,
We must be mistaken.
It's the same old theme since nineteen-sixteen.

In your head, in your head they're still fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are dying...

In your head, in your head, Zombie, zombie, zombie, Hey, hey, hey.
What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, oh, oh, Oh, oh, oh, oh, hey, oh, ya, ya-a..

Notes from Wikipedia...
"Zombie" is a
protest song by the Irish band The Cranberries from the 1994 album No Need to Argue. The song, which laments The Troubles in Northern Ireland, features a heavy guitar riff which is uncharacteristic of the band's usual sound, more akin to heavy metal than their usual alternative rock style. This song met great success in many countries, including France, Belgium, Australia and Germany where it topped the charts.




Thursday, March 12, 2009

Spring Is Really Coming!

I'm working at home today and found the sunshine just too tempting. So I put on my boots and went outside to take some pictures of what I call "fetal spring" - I know it's coming, it really is.

We still have about 3-4 inches of snow on the ground and the ice on the roads is almost totally gone from our neighborhood. I may actually take the Hybrid to work tomorrow!


Yes, even Border Collies must emerge from their winter slumber and begin to accept that Spring is here!

My tulips... struggling to come up through the snow. Well, they actually look pretty healthy.


Hello fake plastic garden squirrel. I have missed you!


Why, hello Hybrid Civic! Let's get that snow off your windshield, shall we?


And hello to you Camelias... these ones will be pink and really bushy.


Please survive Mr. Heleborous. This plant is "elk-proof", so I have like four of them, but I think one didn't survive this winter.


This is some type of floral/ornamental cherry tree. Just look at those baby leaves and buds!

What's left of you Crocus plants? Poor things came out last week and then got 7 inches of snow piled on top of them. They look pretty good considering...

Monday, March 9, 2009

Snow Insanity


You know, I really don't think Scott is liking this particular snow storm. He's here at the end of driveway, looking for a place to mark probably, and he's can't find anything. There is about 5-6 inches on the ground at this time (about 10 a.m. this morning).

I took both sheep dogs outside at the same time - Mattie on lead of course, just in case another dog in the neighborhood decided to go out too. You can see the size of these flakes coming down - it's insane.


Looking down our road... We live on a hill, and then our driveway is also a little hill. We have the most excellent sledding hill in our backyard. I'm sure Jerill and I will be out there tonight!



YakTraks are $25 rubber/steel things that you stretch over your shoes to prevent slips on ice. These were quite the investment as neither Jerill nor I shovel snow.

I've been simmering a lamb leg all day - I hope it comes out good. I didn't use a recipe, just sauted some onion and garlic, added broth, added some old tomatoes I had, a 1/4 cup of port wine and a tablespoon of English Mint Sauce (not jelly but watery, vinegary, minty stuff). I've peaked a few times into the pot and it smells/looks delicious. I'm going to also put a risotto together.
So, it's obvious by my picture taking and my evening dinner simmering on the stove that I worked at home today. I just didn't want to struggle to get to work in traffic and snow and potentially get rear-ended in traffic or slide into a ditch along my own road (how embarrassing). I'm staying in.
I discovered a new cocktail this weekend though that you should all hear about: the Sidecar. OMG these are yummy. Check out this site for history of the drink and how to make it. http://www.esquire.com/drinks/sidecar-drink-recipe (and no, I wasn't reading Esquire.com,it just happened to come up close to the top in my Google search on Sidecar Drink Recipes).
Another thing as the snow continues to build outside, I thought itwould be a hoot to share my dogs' astrological forecasts with you. I just learned this weekend that Scott is a Gemini (born June 6, 1999). Well, this was quite a shock for me since Mattie is a Gemini too (and I'm a Gemini as well which really means we have 6 personalities between the 3 of us). Lucky, the little stinker, is a Virgo. Here is what the Internet says about my dogs and their astrological destinies...
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Gemini: The Yapper
The Gemini Dog will be restless, versatile, exuberant...and many other things as well...all at the same time. He or she is easily able to communicate feelings (whatever such feelings might be) and will soon have any owner well-trained. This split-personality dog is, in essence, an eternal puppy, quickly bored and requiring constant attention. Physically, the Gemini Dog is likely to be slightly underweight due to the fact that he or she goes everywhere "at the double." An alert and graceful creature, the nervous energy of the Gemini Dog enables this canine to keep going all day, should the need arise...and even when there is no need. However, the minute the Gemini Dog is asked to undertake anything boring or mundane, he or she will be overcome by nervous exhaustion and collapse into a shivering, twitching, hyperventilating wreck. A puppy governed by Gemini is sure to bring chaos into any home. To this little soul, everything will be new...the house, the people, the garden...and the happy pup will be more than content to explore, anxious to learn everything about his or her new surroundings and those with whom he or she is going to be living. The length of this "Indian Summer" will depend upon every variable possibly imagined...the number of rooms, number of people and size of the garden, to name but a few. In short, a Gemini Dog oozes charm and it is not long before he or she will have the entire family (and most of the neighborhood) wrapped around his or her dew-claw.

The Gemini Dog is difficult to train, firmly believing that he or she knows what is best. However, if the impatience of a Gemini Dog can be overcome, then an owner will soon be able to teach this canine an entire battery of tricks...anything from "playing dead" to somersaulting through flaming hoops, for this is a dog who loves to "show off." With fleet-footed Mercury as his or her Ruling Planet, the Gemini Dog is one of the Zodiac's fastest runners and, not surprisingly, any Greyhound born under the influence of this sign is likely to enjoy much success at the race track.
It is important to note that the only time an owner will be absolutely sure of the whereabouts of the Gemini Dog is when he or she is attached by a leash. The remainder of the time, it will be anyone's guess. Much like the "Elephant's Child," who always wanted to know more, this canine will be inquisitive and enquring. The Gemini Dog thrives in new environments and will love it if the owner houses he or she with a friend for a few days. This is, however, a dog which tends not to be overly-faithful and, given the opportunity, may run away forever.

It takes the strength of personality found in a Leo native to help the Gemini Dog become more decisive, and a natural sympathy between the two usually ensures compatability. Aquarius owners, being broad-minded enough to allow things to follow their natural course, will also find the Gemini Dog to be a suitable pet.

Virgo: The Helper
The Virgo Dog is a genuine domestic creature, more resigned than any other Sign of the Zodiac to play the role of pet. In fact, he or she will feel totally comfortable in this position and accept it without a single murmur. This canine will be in his or her element as a friend and companion living with humans, and will strive to be the perfect pet. The Virgo Dog considers being told what to do as a pleasure...it also saves him or her the trouble of having to think up something. There will be no unpleasant surprises for an owner who returns home to the Virgo Dog since this canine is the cleanest and most hygenic of the Zodiac.
Physically, the Virgo Dog is strong and muscular but requires a lot of exercise when in good health. Unfortunately, this canine is also the hypochondriac of the dog world...a single flea, for example, and he or she will be convinced the pesky parasites are covering the entire body from head to toe...or a simple stomach upset, and the Virgo Dog will be certain that he or she has salmonella poisoning. The Virgo puppy will be easy to handle in the beginning, but as he or she gets older, trouble is bound to start. This canine is determined that his or her life be filled with beauty and nothing but the best will suffice...the most comfortable chair, the most delicious of food, the most luxurious of surroundings. The Virgo Dog will never be found sleeping on a hard floor and is sensitive to discomfort in much the same way as the fairytale Princess was to the irritating pea. The Virgo Dog tends to spend a great deal of time in the garden, communing with nature as he or she weeds, digs and generally makes a mess.

The Virgo Dog is never happier than when he or she is doing something for the owner. This canine will take over some of the many chores which pile up during the day...bringing in the laundry, counting the socks, clearing the table, for example. However, this truly helpful dog does not always get it right. As a creature of routine and habit, this canine will expect to be fed and walked at the same time every day. Generally, sheep dogs and working dogs governed by Virgo thrive very nicely, working from dusk until dawn and content in the productive nature of his or her employment. Since Virgo traditionally rules small animals, however, even toy dogs such as chihuahuas tend to flourish under this sign.
All Virgo Dogs are loyal and expect the same steadfastness from any owner. It should be noted, however, that this dog does not take kindly to small children. Being trodden on and grabbed does not suit the Virgo Dog one bit. Neverthless, he or she will be receptive to cats...a creature this canine appears to adore regardless of shape or color. Indeed, the owner of a Virgo Dog would be well-advised to bring a feline into the home.

Natives of Taurus and Capricorn tend to make the best owners for the Virgo Dog, sharing some of the earthy elements and even the penchant for cats. Basically, however, owners born under any Zodiac Sign will enjoy the company of this canine...with the possible exception of Scorpio subjects who tend to perceive the Virgo Dog as a tedious flatterer.

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Okay, the stuff about Gemini Dogs being hard to train because they think they know more than their handlers but they are fast and exceed at everything and anything you want them to do, and their "roaming" nature is true to the core.
And for the Virgo dog, I honestly couldn't have described Lucky better here! It's dead on. Especially the part about being a hypochondriac, getting salmonella poisoning, staph infections, hives... and I just love the bit about Virgo sheepdogs/working dogs are really great workers. Lucky does do flyball and although his knees give out on him, he still wants to keep going - perhaps that is what they are talking about here?
Here is the website I lifted this from: http://www.astrologyweekly.com/sun-signs/dog-horoscopes.php

Thursday, March 5, 2009

A challenge from Monique

I was challenged by a herding colleague with the following task:

Choose your "Top 10" in one of the following categories: Movies, Songs, Musicals, Cars, Bands or Sports. You must provide at least one point to defend why the item makes your Top 10. I challenge DeltaBluez Stockdogs, carefullyconstructednoise, My Hybrid Life.

So, I will choose 2 top 10's actually, one about Cars, as the challenge outlines above, and one about dog breeds.

Let's start with cars; I'll do dog breeds later...

#10 - The 2007 Fleetwood PaceArrow motorhome, with slideouts. The PaceArrow also signifies the successful dog show handlers at dog shows. If you had a PaceArrow, you won a lot. They are pretty luxurious. And, can you imagine how many dogs you could get in here?


The best-in-show way to go to dog events


#9 - Fiat 500. My aunt Maisie in England has driven a Fiat like this for many years - she's on her 3rd one I think. They are pretty tiny and yet, just so likable.


Aunt Maisie LOVES these things. They are pretty cute.



#8 - Jaguar XK8 Convertible aka "The Shaguar". Who doesn't love Austin Powers and that cool car he drove in the movies? I love it.



#7 - 2003 Subaru WRX STi Rally edition. Fast, nimble, fun, and it wins international rally competitions. The WRX line is by far one of the best sports car lines ever created (and I had a 2004 WRX at one time)

#6 - Gravedigger, the Monster Truck. I don't feel justification is necessary here. GD has been around forever, even had it's own cartoon. Outlived Bigfoot too (whatever happened to Bigfoot?). When I think "monster truck" I always think "Gravedigger."

#5 - 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle, in orange of course. This was my first car, got it in high school as a hand-me-down from my sister (was also her first car!). It was a solid car, albeit it leaked exhaust fumes into the cabin and you actually had to scrape ice off the outside AND the inside of the car windows. Aren't all Bugs like that though?

#4 - Audi A8L. Oh yes, this will be mine one day. I first recognized the A8 in my favorite movie, Ronin. It is the ultimate car and you can find me sitting in one at the car show this past year here on my blog. It has ultra-suede roof panels for crying out loud! So comfortable.

#3 - 2005 Audi Allroad. Okay, this is the car Jerill has right now. It's a tank, based on an A6 but with a sturdier, hardier everything. I was able to get to Diane's farm on the worst snow day in this car, along her crazy, icy road. I was actually passing other Audi's and Subaru WRXs that were abandoned on the road! In this car, you can get anywhere. It also kicked-butt on all these other cars in a German road test (the road was driving up a skihill!). See video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx2mgPw33r4

#2 - 1963 Aston Martin DB4 Series 5. I know a lot about this car because my dad owns one. Basically, this is the same car as was in the James Bond movie Goldfinger. The movie was filmed in 1963 and used the Series 5 DB4 for the movie, however, in 1964, the DB5s were built and so everyone thinks the car is a DB5. The car rocks and is just timeless in its looks and performance.
I got this pic of Dad's car from Flickr - some schmuck photographed it while it was entered in the Annual British Car Show in Bellevue, WA
#1 - Of course, to not disappoint, the number one car, according to My Hybrid Life, is of course, the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid. Duh, what did you really think I was going to put!?