Puppies

So Penny had her puppies yesterday.  She ended up with five - four boys and one female.  Of course, the fight is on for the one female that also happens to be the runt of the litter.  The males are all huge while this little female is half their size.  My son plans on keeping one and while I try to insist that, as the owner of the father who sired the puppies I get first choice, he isn’t buying into that.  I want the brown male but that, of course, is the one my son likes as well. 

There is one male who is the largest of them all - so large he got stuck being born and had to have my son pull him out into the bright new world.  He may be the one I end up taking…if I get to take any of them.  Right now I’m not sure because I don’t have a place of my own yet but I should by the first of July and wherever that is, it has to allow me to have two dogs.  I’m excited about getting a puppy. 

There is one male puppy that is totally white, one with white & brown spots, one totally brown, and one black and white one.  The female puppy is mostly black with a little bit of white around her throat.

Well, it is beautifully warm outside so I should get out there and do something.  Was suppose to do something with my sister Cyndi but she never returned my phone message so she must have gotten busy doing something else.  Tomorrow I move to my sister Marge’s house for the month of June.

Of course, as I wrote the above paragraph, my sister called me.  :-)  Maybe I’m a bit telepathic.  She hadn’t received the message I left this morning on her cell phone which is why she hadn’t called earlier.  So we are going to eat and going to the movie later.  That will work out well because my son Wayne is going out with his girlfriend tonight and I won’t have to sit home alone the whole time.

I was kind of hoping my check would be in the bank today but apparently they aren’t going to have it in until Monday or Tuesday.  Bummer.  I have one more week of 3-11pm then move to 11pm-7am for two weeks.  Then I’m on day shift for a week before going on vacation.  As our vacation has been cancelled, I will be moving into my own place that week plus going to visit my sister in LaMars, Iowa.

My younger sister, Wanda, is moving to CO in June or early July.  Isn’t that the way of it? I move back from Florida and suddenly everyone else is moving away.  LOL.  Once she gets settled then I will try to make plans to go out there to visit her - maybe before Christmas.  It would be a fast trip and not even sure work would give me more time off till Spring but would see.  Might have to go down south to get my condo sold so everything is pretty much up in the air right now.

Well, my sister and I are going to eat at Panera and then go to “Prince Caspian”.  I didn’t see the first one except for excerpts at work in Florida but it will be nice to get out to do something.  I haven’t done much of anything since being back in Iowa - mostly due to my depression but that is a whole other story. 

 

Oh PLEASE!

At work last night we saw a short interview on CNN between Larry King and a man who insists his video of an alien visiting his house is real.  The man showed small clips of the video which had all of us in dispatch rolling on the floor.  Could it have been anymore lame??? And, by the way, why the hell was CNN, a NEWS channel, playing such shit? I think we need to find a new news channel to tune into at work lest we become dumbed down by the “news authority” CNN claims to be.

What irked me is that the alien looked like pictures of aliens first drawn in the 50’s for movies…something a child might draw and a bit “ET” looking.  How stupid does this man think we are? He even had “expert” witnesses on to prove he wasn’t a nut. 

I think we should give those people who first drew pictures of an alien with a rounder head, large eyes, small mouth and small body, a medal for being psychics and actually KNOWING what an alien looked like decades ago without ever having seen one.

Beam me up Scotty, there is no intelligent life down here!

The Heart Shaped Box

Finally finished this book by Joe Hill.  He is actually Stephen King’s son and is named “Joseph Hillard King” or something like that but he didn’t reveal that until after this book was published.

I did enjoy this book in the long run.  There were many times I thought the characters, given the circumstances they had already been through, continued to make stupid mistakes…however, working 911 has taught me that people are inherently stupid.  Even given all the right options, they will make the wrong choice anyway.

The story is about a rock star who had a bad childhood.  He is in his 50’s and pretty much played the field with women his whole life.  Of course he was rich so the women were willing to deal with his peculiar ways such as calling them by the state they came from rather then their names.

He decides to buy a ghost online and pays a $1000 for it.  The ghost ends up being the stepfather of one of the girls he had dumped.  The girl had, supposedly, committed suicide so the stepfather was bent on getting revenge on the main character.  Of course, things are not what they seem (duh) and the main character ends up in a battle for not only his life but the life of his current squeeze. 

It is entertaining and I would have finished it sooner had I not had to work so much.  Would I recommend it? Ah…I’m not so sure.  I guess I would to people who like ghost stories but not to the ones who want to stay grounded in reality.  It does, in the spirit of a King book, have some gross scenes that even I ended up skimming over because I didn’t want them in my head.

 

Bugs

Baxter and I went for our walk around the wetlands this morning.  It was incrediably buggy which made the trip less enjoyable then it was yesterday when the wind was stronger and the bugs less.  We have an 80% chance of rain today - hope so.

Baxter has been rather depressed lately and has started acting out more.  He growls more at the other dogs and sometimes at the kids as well.  He isn’t eating that much and just wants to lay around.  He does tussle with Rocko some each day but not as much as he did.  It is time to find another place to live.

Baxter and I will most likely go live with my sister for a month or two until we can figure out some logistics about renting her house.  It allows me to pay the taxes on my condo and get those payments up to date.  Maybe the first week of July I will drive down to Florida to get the rest of my stuff and get my condo up for sale.  It could sit on the market for awhile so would like to get a Realtor and get it all started anyway.  I’ve never sold anything so it is stressful thinking about what might be needed and what paperwork has to be done.

The kids have found a nice duplex to move into come the middle of July to August 1st.  They are very excited about it as it has a huge kitchen and a very large backyard with a patio.  They are already envisioning having their friends over for grilling out.  The yard is very important for the dogs sake.  Rocko is getting too big to be cooped up in an apartment all the time - the yard is fenced so he can go out as much as he wants.

I told them that duplexes require the renter to mow the lawn - they both frowned on that idea but I think they’ll warm up to it.  Like my son finally said, they’d have to mow the yard if they owned a place so might as well get in the practice. 

One more week of 3-11pm and then I’m back on nights - I can’t wait.  I would have sworn I’d be thrilled to be back on 3-11pm’s since I worked them for so long, but I’m not.  I hate it…absolutely hate it. 

One thing I really don’t like about this job is that they are always behind in paying out overtime.  Like I worked 21 hours of overtime in May but I won’t get it paid to me till July.  So whatever I work in July won’t be paid to me until September.  {sigh}.  Guess it is good if you know something you want to have extra money for a few months in advance…like Christmas.

Well, there you have it folks - don’t know what else to write about and I need to get ready for work here shortly.

A Tuesday Night the end of May

Well, here it is the end of May already.  I have one week to find an apartment and move…nothing like putting on the pressure.

We, my adventurous group, have had to cancel our Wyoming trip which is disappointing but really, it is kind of a relief not to have that on my list anymore.  Just have too much going on right now.  Really need to get that condo put up for sale soon.

I know I have been lax in writing on my blog lately.  I’ve been kind of down so didn’t feel like writing.  Writing made me think of the things that were wrong so I decided it was best not to write.  I wrote a post the other day while at the laundromat but can’t seem to find it now.

Work has been going alright.  I can’t get use to being on the 3-11pm shift again which is part of the reason I am down.  I can’t seem to get myself to fall asleep and end up being awake till 4 am and then having to sleep practically right up till time to go to work.  Today it was kind of crappy out so that wasn’t a huge deal but I’d like to not do that.

The dogs are out of the kennel and fiesty.  They jostle around all the time - gets kind of old but guess they need to get their exercise somehow.  Still no puppies…don’t get that either.

I Just Don’t Know

I honestly just don’t know.  After two hours of soul searching at the laundromat while I waited for the clothes to wash and then dry (miss my washer/dryer), I’m still no closer to knowing anything.  Isn’t that sad?

I do have stuff from work that I should be studying before work tomorrow…but I don’t feel like it.  I never feel like doing homework for a job…I’m not in school so it seems that they have no right to ask me to spend my personal time thinking about them.  Really irritates me.  They think that if I really want to do well at the job, I’ll do the extra work on my own time…they don’t know me very well.

Damn, I don’t want to work tomorrow or anytime ever again.  I told my son that it is sad how unsatisfied I am with my job.  It isn’t the work, I do enjoy that for the most part, but more the people and being around such negativity all the time.  It gets old.

Why can’t I be in a job that I can’t wait to go to each day? One that involves something I’m passionate about?

New Wyoming Trails

Bailey Lake Trail
Quick Facts

Usage: Moderate
USGS Maps: Pickle Pass; Bailey Lake; Pine Creek
Trail Number: #071
Length: 9 Miles
Ending Elevation: 5,790 Feet
Elevation Gain: 1,810 Feet
Difficulty: Easy
Beginning Elevation: 7,000 Feet
High Point: 7,300 Feet
Reservation: No
Season: June - October

Directions

From Alpine, Travel southeast on Greys River Road #10138 to Little Greys River Road #10124. Go north and east on Little Greys River Road #10124 about 14 1/2 miles to a cattle guard on the north side of McCain Meadows. Turn left into the parking area after crossing cattle guard. Watch for sign identifying trail.
Location Information
TRAIL BEGINS: On the north side of McCain Meadows off Little Greys River Road #10124.
TRAIL ENDS: At the mouth of Bailey Creek, in Snake River Canyon.

ATTRACTIONS: Bailey Lake is the largest lake on the district (35 acres), fishing is good and waterfowl can be viewed around the lake.

Big Spring Trail

Quick Facts

Ending Elevation: 9,400 Feet
Usage: Moderate
Length: 3 Miles
USGS Maps: Bailey Lake
Elevation Gain: 2,170 Feet
Difficulty: Most Difficult
Beginning Elevation: 7,230 Feet
Trail Number: #089
Reservation: No
Season: July - September

Directions

From Alpine, Go southeast on Greys River Road #10138 to Little Greys River Road #10124. Go east on Little Greys River Road to road end at Waterdog Lake. The trail leads around the east side of the lake through an outfitter camp.
Location Information
TRAIL BEGINS: At the end of Little Greys River Road #10124, at Waterdog Lake.

TRAIL ENDS: At the summit of Grayback Ridge.

ATTRACTIONS: Scenic views of surrounding mountain ranges and canyons from Grayback Ridge, abundant wildlife and wildflowers.

McCain Creek Trail

Quick Facts

Length: 4 Miles
Usage: Light
Difficulty: Most Difficult
Trail Number: #185
USGS Maps: Pine Creek; Deer Creek
Elevation Gain: 2,331 Feet
Beginning Elevation: 6,459 Feet
High Point: 8,690 Feet
Ending Elevation: 8,590 Feet
Reservation: No
Season: June - September

Directions

From Alpine, Go southeast on Greys River Road #10138 to Little Greys River road #10124. Go east on Little Greys River Road about 6 3/4 miles and turn right into a parking area at the mouth of Bull Hollow. The trail leads west across the Little Greys River and up McCain Creek.
Location Information
TRAIL BEGINS: At the mouth of McCain Creek on Little Greys River Road #10124.

TRAIL ENDS: At the junction with the Middle Ridge Trail #073 on top of Middle Ridge.

ATTRACTIONS: This trail offers scenic views of the Salt River and Wyoming Ranges from the top of Middle Ridge.

Cedar Creek Trail

Quick Facts

Ending Elevation: 7,750 Feet
Usage: Moderate
Trail Number: #181
High Point: 8,420 Feet
Difficulty: Most Difficult
Beginning Elevation: 7,040 Feet
USGS Maps: Smoot; Mount Wagner
Length: 3.5 Miles
Reservation: No
Season: June - October

Directions

From Afton, Travel south on Hwy. 89 about 4.6 miles south of Smoot to a gate on the east side of the highway with a sign 3The Kirkland’s Cedar Creek Ranch2. Go through the gate and east about 1 mile on the Cedar Creek Road to a flat 0.1 mile west of the Forest boundary. A blazed trail leads south up a draw.
Location Information
TRAIL BEGINS: 0.1 mile west of the Forest boundary on Cedar Creek Road.

TRAIL ENDS: At the junction with the Salt River Trail #032 at lower end of middle Salt River Meadows.

ATTRACTIONS: This trail leads into the scenic Salt River Range. It accesses Mount Wagner and the Salt River

Deadman Peak Trail

Quick Facts

Ending Elevation: 6,840 Feet
USGS Maps: Blind Bull Creek; Pickle Pass
Usage: Light
Trail Number: #076
Beginning Elevation: 7,290 Feet
High Point: 10,361 Feet
Difficulty: More Difficult
Length: 11 Miles
Reservation: No
Season: July - September

Directions

From Alpine, Travel southeast on Greys River Road #10138 to Deadman Creek Road #10005. Go northeast on Deadman Creek Road about 3.2 miles, watch for blazed trees on left side of road. The trail leads northeast through timber and up a ridge, not signed. The eastern end of the trail crosses Little Greys River immediately above an outfitter camp at the end of Little Greys River road #10047. It runs south about 1 mile before turning southeast up the ridge between Blind Trail Creek and Little Greys River drainage.
Location Information
TRAIL BEGINS: About 3.2 miles up Deadman Creek road #10005.

TRAIL ENDS: About 0.3 mile up Little Greys River Trail from Little Greys River road #10047.

ATTRACTIONS: Some attractions along this trail include the Deadman Peak Fire Lookout, the scenic Wyoming Range and the view of the surrounding mountain ranges (including the Tetons) from the summit of Deadman Peak.

NOTE: This trail is open to motorized trail vehicles from the trail head in Deadman Creek to the summit of Deadman Peak.

Telephone Pass Trail

Quick Facts

Usage: Light
USGS Maps: Blind Bull Creek; Pickle Pass
Trail Number: #075
Length: 9 Miles
Ending Elevation: 6,760 Feet
Elevation Gain: 2,480 Feet
Difficulty: Easy
Beginning Elevation: 6,730 Feet
High Point: 7,985 Feet
Reservation: No
Season: June - October

Directions

From Alpine, Travel southeast on Greys River Road #10138 to Deadman Creek Road #10005. Go northeast on Deadman Creek Road about 1 3/4 mile to the mouth of North Fork Deadman Creek. The trail leads left up a draw, not signed.

Pickle Pass Trail

Quick Facts

Elevation Gain: 1,310 Feet
Usage: Heavy
Trail Number: #093
USGS Maps: Pickle Pass
Difficulty: More Difficult
Beginning Elevation: 7,540 Feet
Length: 2 Miles
Ending Elevation: 8,850 Feet
Reservation: No
Season: June - October

Directions

From Alpine, Go southeast on Greys River Road #10138 to Little Greys River Road #10124. Go east on Little Greys River Road about 12 miles, then right on Road #10047 about 2 miles. Watch for trailhead parking on left. Signs direct to the Little Greys River Trail leading east up a slope. Follow the Little Greys River Trail #092 about 1 1/4 mile, and watch for a blazed trail leading left up slope.
Location Information
TRAIL BEGINS: About 1 1/4 mile up Little Greys River Trial #092.

TRAIL ENDS: At the junction with the Wyoming Range National Recreational Trail #048 at Pickle Pass.

ATTRACTIONS: This trail provides access to the scenic Wyoming Range, and the Wyoming Range National Recreation Trail.

 

Family Time

Spent the afternoon with my sisters - it was a real good time.  We laughed so hard and reminised about our Mom.  These kind of days are why I came back from Florida.  There is just something about getting together with family that soothes a soul.

We did discuss our upcoming trip to Wyoming some and had fun thinking up scenerios where we’d be missing our comfortable beds and civilization.  We came up with some good ones, mostly about bear attacks.

I really enjoyed getting together with them - the time went by way too fast.  I couldn’t believe we were there for 6 1/2 hours - felt more like 3 at most. We will have to do that more often.  Someday I hope I have a house so can be the hostess.  My sister Marjorie does a wonderful job at the role but I think it would be nice to give her a break once and awhile.  Surely she’d like to go to someone else’s house now and then. 

Are You More Girl or Boy?

Check which ones you like the best - then tally each section to find out if you are more boy or girl.

: Your boy side
[x] you love hoodies
[x] you love jeans
[x] dogs are better then cats
[ ] its hilarious when people get hurt
[x] you’ve played with/against boys on a team
[x] shopping is torture
[x] sad movies suck
[ ] you play XBOX 360/ PS3
[ ] you played with Hot Wheels as a little kid
[ ] at some point in life you wanted to be a firefighter
[ ] you owned a DS PS2 or Sega
[ ] you used to be obessed with Power Rangers
[ ] you watch sports on TV
[x] gory movies are cool
[ ] you go to your dad for advice
[ ] you own like a trillion baseball hats
[ ] you used to/do collect baseball collecter cards
[ ] baggy sweatpants are cool to wear
[ ] its kind of weird to have sleepovers with a bunch of people
[x] green, black, red, blue, or silver are one of your favorite colors
[x] you love to go crazy and not care what other people think
[ ] sports are fun
[ ] you like girls…
[ ] you’ll talk with food in your mouth
[ ] you sleep at night with your socks on
[ ]you own more than 5 pairs of shoes
[x] you have fished at least once
TOTAL= 10

—YOUR GIRL SIDE
[ ] you love to shop
[x] you wear eyeliner
[ ] you wear the color pink
[x] you go to your mom for advice
[ ] you consider cheerleading a sport
[ ] you hate wearing the color black
[ ] you like going to the mall
[ ] you like getting manicures and/or pedicures
[x] you like wearing jewelry
[ ] you cried watching The Notebook
[ ] skirts are a big parts of your wardrobe
[ ] shopping is one of your favorite hobbies
[ ] you don’t like the movie Star Wars
[ ] you are/were in gymnastics
[x] it takes you around one hour to shower get dressed and make up
[x] you smile a lot more than you should
[ ] you have more than 10 pairs of slip ons/ flip flops
[x] you care about what you look like
[x] you like wearing dresses when you can
[x] you like wearing body spray/perfume
[x] you like high heel shoes
[x] you used to play with dolls as a kid
[ ] you like putting makeup on others
[ ] you like being the star of almost everything
[ ] pink is one of your favorite colors
TOTAL= 10

Whoa, guess I’m more adjusted then I thought! 

Odd Hours

So I went shopping briefly today.  I picked up my hiking boots - $45 at Walmart.  I hope they are good ones.  They are Brauns and called “Frontier”.  I was going to get the “Rustler” one but decided the sole was so heavy that it would kill my knees on uphill hikes.  Both are waterproof.  The ones I bought are a tan color so will show dirt but hey, that just means they are getting used…right? I’m anxious to try them out tomorrow.

I was going to buy a compass but as I know so little about compasses, I wasn’t sure if the one I was looking at was good or bad.  They had two - one for map reading and one for sight measurements.  Wish I knew a bit more about them before I made my decision.

I wanted a buck knife rather then a folding knife but will probably go with the latter just cuz it will be easier to carry in my pocket.  I don’t know about rope, what kind of rope does one take camping and hiking in the wilderness???

While out shopping, I picked up Dean Koontz’s new book “Odd Hours” which is the fourth book in the series about Odd Thomas.  I’ve really enjoyed the other three and hope this one is just as good.  I love Odd Thomas and the way he approaches life.  I don’t know if you have tried any of them but I do recommend them.  They are “Odd Thomas”, “Brother Odd” and “Forever Odd.”

One of my son’s friends brought over his dog for a minute.  This dog was freaking beautiful! I haven’t seen a dog with such awesome markings since the dog show last year where the collie won.  This dog had brown and white markings but of a varying degree and unique pattern.  I would classify the dog as beautiful as my son’s boxer.

It rained here for awhile but is suppose to be fantastic weather all weekend.  I don’t know what I have planned other then meeting up with my sisters tomorrow in the park - I’d take Baxter but as I don’t know what we will do when we leave the park, I best not.

Happy Weekend Folks!