You see it all around you, good lovin' gone bad...

Some more of my fav blogs are going on hiatus, some permanently.

This form of.. whatever it is, journaling? digitally hanging out? online attention whoring, whatever,
seems a better fit at sometimes than others for all of us.

I have to say that my mom dying of breast cancer than has metastasized to her brain, and homeschooling, and teaching at our co-op, and having a husband who's been unemployed twice in the last year has made some serious demands on my own time.

Those of you who still manage to make it over for my infrequent and occasionally insipid updates may have noticed a decline in general quality and giddiness around here but I'm glad you come by anyway. Your efforts are noted and appreciated.

I used to blog every single day, even most weekends but that got to be a bit much.

I remember when I first heard about the "blogging without obligation" idea. I quite liked the idea and decided that although I'd started my blog to entertain my friends it was, in fact, my own creation and existed to serve in whatever way I chose.

Perhaps it would be kinder to let this blog completely wither from the lack of attention I lavish on it so abundantly but I am not ready to do that.

So Dog's Life will continue to scrape along in whatever way seems best compatible with my life.

Hold on loosely, but don't let go.

Stir fly, uuuuh, I mean, Stir fry

My peeps know that I am not really the chef around here. Yesterday though, I was at the library and saw this bookbook promising quick, simple, delicious dinner recipes. The photos were awesome and I started to drool on it right there in the aisle. It was a little embarrassing. I checked the book out so I could clean it up later and decided on the way home I needed to have stir fry for dinner. It wasn't one of their recipes, but I was feeling inspired.

So that pic is how it looked just before I threw it over some noodles. It was so pretty.

Also, it was freaking fabulous tasting. Some of that green stuff in there is broccolini which I picked up on a whim and have decided I vastly prefer to real broccoli, at least the stuff you get in the stores around here (which I suppose might not fit the definition of "real" broccoli since it is probably all hybridized, and chemicalized and whatnot. Real broccoli, grown by people who surround it with tender loving care and the wafting scent of patchouli and hemp, is probably far more delicious, with balanced chakras and a happy aura, but I am an impulse food shopper and there was no farmer's market available at the moment).

I am going to stick the recipe here, not because I assume you culinary geniuses around here NEED another stir fry recipe, but so that it is preserved somewhere for the next time I have this whim, although you are welcome to use or alter to suit yourself

Stir Fry a la Logo (not authentic, but still yummy)

1/2 pound stir fry meat (yah, that is right, I bought it already cut, I'm lazy, so what)

marinade in:

soy sauce

rice wine or mirin vinegar

sesame oil

Sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes, whatever

ginger

garlic

Combine to taste in a bowl, throw in meat and go check your blog, or facebook, or twitter, or whatever. Give it 30 to 60 minutes. You will need the last 15 of those to...

Chop up:

Red bell peppers

broccolini

baby carrots,

green onions

mushrooms

Stir fry meat in sesame oil (ok, you can mix half and half with olive oil, or Wesson or whatever but the sesame oil is important) med high to high heat is good, really (this is a reason I love to stir fry, you are finally allowed to cook everything at really high temps, oh, and save the marinade, it is going back in the pan).

When your meat is about 3/4 done, throw in peppers, broccolini, carrots, and onions.

Cook another 3 or 4 minutes, meat should be almost done and veggies ready to go but not get squooshy at all. Throw in 'shrooms and sauce (marinade) and get that bit all hot.

Serve over asian noodles of your choice

(if, like me, you forgot to pick up noodles at the store when you got your stir fry stuff you can totally cheat. Throw a couple ramen noodle bricks into a bowl, sprinkle with one of the season packages and augment with whatever your favorite flavors are from the marinade ingredients above. Pour boiling water over them but don't let them sit in it too long, or they will get squooshy, and we all know squooshy is BAD! After they soften pour off the water and voila, you have noodles).

Answers to life's big questions can be found in the kitchen.

Insalata Caprese
This is proof that God loves me and wants me to be happy.

Next, the sad but true reality,
some things in life just really suck.

Hurry! Summer's almost over!

We've been keeping plenty busy around here and can hardly believe it's almost school time again.
Here is a picture of Thing One and some of his buddies at an end of summer party.

This summer he and his dad have been working on his grown up room. He now has a loft bed with a desk underneath that he and his dad built themselves.
I will have to get back there and take some pics. It is a thing of beauty.
The Aged Ps decided to do some clearing out so Thing Two got a desk.
Here he is enthusiastically helping me with sanding it.
Thing Two also got a fish last Friday. It was a beautiful blue and red half moon betta.

The observant reader will note that this fish above does not resemble the above description. That would be because Saturday evening the first betta (the Alpha Betta, as we have been calling him) decided to commit suicide. It was quite tragical.

The next day the pet store replaced Alpha Betta with Beta Betta (aka, the Bettah Betta) you see here.

The Bettah Betta seems to be settling in though he is not eating yet.

As fun as it is to buy school supplies I am not entirely certain I'm ready for summer to end.

Fodder from friends

Blither did this the other day and since all the cool kids are stealing her memes. I thought I would do this one.

Not to mention, Lime did it too.

1. Can you fill this out without lying?

I CAN, but I believe the pertinent question is, WILL I? Too bad you didn’t ask that.

2. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?

Speaking of pertinent, or impertinent…

3. Who was your last text message from?

My auntie, ex-auntie, pal Mel.

4. Where was your default picture taken?

From the internetz, random image theft, I couldn’t find who created it. Do you like it?

5. Last person you rode in a car with under the age of 20?

My car barely 10 years old. My friend Rosey rode with me in it just yesterday. I don’t know when I was last in a vehicle that was OVER the age of twenty.

6. Name someone that made you laugh today?

The Frantics “Boot to the head.”

7. How late did you stay up last night and why?

Later than I should have. I was reading.

8. If you could move somewhere else, would you?

Anywhere in Western WA or Western OR is good, otherwise Europe, preferably not too far south.

9. Ever been kissed under fireworks?

Uh huh, and some other stuff too

10. Which of your friends lives closest to you?

Patti, she lives on the next block over.

11. Do you believe ex’s can be friends?

Sometimes

12. Calling or texting?

Yes

13. How do you feel about Dr Pepper?

I am pretty sure he is not a medical doctor.

14. When was the last time you cried really hard?

In April. Thanks for bringing it up. Want to give me a nice papercut and pour lemon juice in it?

15. Where is your biological father right now?

Left of here, physically, politically he is waaaaaay right of here.

16. Where are you at right now?

In the state of annoyance….because of the APPALLING language transgression in this thing

deep breathing

17. What bed did you sleep in last night?

We discussed the impertinence.

18. What was the last thing someone bought for you?

A Krispy Kreme donut

19. Who took your profile picture?

I STILL DON’T KNOW, it was only 15 questions ago, quit bugging me about it already.

20. Was yesterday better than today?

Yes, no, well, I don’t know, what are we using as a means of comparison?

21. Can you live a day without TV?

Oh yah, just leave my ‘puter alone, or I’ll knife you in the eye.

22. Are you mad about anything?

You, baby, I’m maaaaaad about you.

23. Do you think relationships are really worth it?

Only the good ones

24. When was the last time you were disappointed and why?

Yesterday my friend and I tried a new sushi place. It was not all that.

25. Are you a bad influence?

On whom? Regarding what? I have no recollection of those events.

26. Night out or night in?

One of each, please.

27. What items could you not go without during the day?

Heart, brain, lungs, beyond that I’m pretty flexible.

28. Would you share a drink with a stranger?

Like, in the same glass? Eow, no!

29. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?

My mommy

30. What does the last text message in your inbox say?

“Looking forward to it! Hoping it will be sooner rather than later.”

31. How do you feel about your life right now?

Ambivalent; parts are awesome, parts suck.

32. How many times have you been pulled over by the police?

Um, more that 2 less than 20. I’ve only had two speeding tickets. One at 17 and the other about 10 years ago.

33. Do you hate anyone?

Nope, it’s bad for you.

34. If we were to look in your inbox, what would we find?

Nothing incriminating, I delete all those so the Dept. of Homeland Security will leave me alone.

35. Can you easily tell if someone’s fake?

Not always. I tend to believe the best of people, turns out not everyone deserves that.

36. Has anyone ever called you a perfectionist?

HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH! Uh, no

38. What song is stuck in your head?

Making Whoopie (I just got a Sinatra CD)

39. Someone knocks on your window at 2 AM, who do you want it to be?

The tooth fairy

40. Wanna have kids before you’re 30?

I don’t know, because, it’s like, sooo much responsibility, ya know what I mean?

41. Name something you have to do tomorrow?

Go to a party, woo hoo!

42. Can you whistle?

Yup, even while I work too.

43. Do you sleep on your side, stomach, or back?

On my side.

44. Do you think too much or too little?

I’m with Blither on this one;

“Both.. And always at the wrong time.”

45. Do you smile a lot?

I don’t know, probably.

46. Who was your last missed call on your mobile phone?

Nicki

47. When is the next time you will see the person you like?

Wow, THE person I like. Well, I will see Mr. Logo next week. I will see my pal Mel in just a little bit, and I like her too. Take your pick.

48. Are you happy with your life?

If I say no do I get a new one? No? Ok, then I will be happy with what I have :D

49. Can you handle the truth?

I have hot pads, why not?

50. What book are you currently reading?

Plato and a Platypus Go Into a Bar

Frost/Nixon

Plum Wine

51. Do you hate the last guy you had a conversation with?

Nope, I don’t hate, it’s bad for the spleen.

52. Is there something you always wear?

My epidermis

53. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?

Thinking I would whip out a quick little meme…these things always take longer than you think they will.

54. Honestly, who was the last person to tell you that they love you?

Thing Two, actually he said, “I love you more than you love me.” I think he was being honest, though, obviously he is wrong.

55. Did you have an exciting last weekend?

I can’t remember, that doesn’t seem to support the idea it was exciting.

56. Have you ever crawled through a window?

Ever?? Well, yah, but its been at LEAST a year.

57. Have you ever dyed your hair?

I had somewhat purple-ish hair quite a while back. When I dressed up as Snow White I dyed it black.

58. Are you wearing a necklace?

Nope. No jewelry at all.

59. What’s something that can always make you feel better?

Feeling loved, awwwwwwwa

60. Will this weekend be a good one?

Sure, why not.

61. What do you want right now?

Ii want to go eat some hummus.

62. Have you ever worn the opposite sex’s clothing?

Yes, but I wasn’t cross-dressing, ok, stopping trying to make it sound all weird.

63. Look behind you, what do you see?

I can’t see behind me!! Quit trying to freak me out.

64. Have you ever worked in a food place?

When I was 16 I worked at Wendy’s. In fact, I was Wendy for parties and such. Go ahead and laugh, whatever. Your pants are unzipped, HA!

65. What would you name your future daughter?

Hilda Otilda

66. Any summer plans for 2009?

Yup, can’t wait till it gets here!!! Oh…hang on…

67. What’s on your schedule for tomorrow?

I have to get early, thanks for reminding me. I hate you :p

68. Does anyone know your Facebook password?

I do

69. Would you like some cake?

The cake is a lie.

I have a new book to read.

I am hoping it will be entertaining.
I mostly picked it up because the title made me smile:
Plato and a Patypus Walk into a Bar.

Soooooo...

we decided we needed to get the heck out of Dodge. Our first choice for a vacation spot (the Esteemed Elder Sister's guest room) was already booked (by the Aged Ps).
So we headed for the coast. We've been camping out, and we are having a blast.

Mr. Logo is a camp cook extrodinare and Thing One and Thing Two have been charming and helpful. It's actually been going so well, I'm puzzled.
We went to the Hoh Rainforest.

We watched elk cross the river and walked right past this deer as it snacked on leaves.
They are very bold.
The rainforest, provides ideal growing conditions for the trees, moss, and so on. Here is Thing Two providing a comparision at the foot of a Sitka.
Thing One took this pic.

Thing Two liked the way the moss was growing here like an archway.

Here is a nurse log.

This is the uprooted remains of several trees that had grown together. They went over this winter.

We thought this looked like animal head.

Wolf? Bluejay? What do you see?

We also went to the Olympic Game Farm.

The Things, who were smiling at the camera just microseconds before this instant were distracted by the llama who was approaching me to rub against my head.

We drove through and saw some of these,

and some of these,

some of these,

and we all really liked feeding bread to these.

There were peacocks, and peahens.The bison have HUGE prehensile Jabba the Hut tongues, gack~

But the fallow deer were so sweet and let us pet them and feel their antlers.

The white rhino is either impressively mellow or deeply depressed.

Here's a llama, there's a llama

and another little llama,

fuzzy llama funny llama,

llama llama duck.

Here are the yaks. These yaks are gentle and willing to take bread from your hand and let you pet them.

Thing Two was a little unsure about the whole deal at first, but he got the hang of it.

The Game Farm has some pros and cons but is mostly a really fun way to spend some time.