Don't Blink!

If you blink, you'll wake up a year and a half later wondering where this blog ever came from. At least, that is what happened to me. I am unsure why I haven't written in a while. Maybe lack of things to say, maybe I am just caught up in myself to think about it. Either way, the new year puts ideas in your head, and for me one was restarting up this blog.

I'm doing it really for my own prideful purposes. I'm so vain, I love to read what I have in the past, and what my life was like then. There is something about putting words and pictures together that bring back the past.

So.. I'll try to hit the high points in the last year and half, while hoping not to bore you in the mean time.

I left working at Amor Animal Hopsital, early last year and went to an all cat clinic called Dancing Cats Feline Health Center. It has been a long adjustment, but It was for the best.

My sister got married. I have a new brother. He is pretty cool. Most of all, I am so glad to see my sister so happy. Thanks Jeff, I owe you one.

I lost a kitten named Violet, to a nasty disease called FIP. First animal of mine I had to humanly euthanize at only 4 months old. It was awful, and eye opening. Even though I only had her for 4 months, she will always be with me forever.

I also obtained a small pathetic little ball of fur not long after Violet's passing. She weighed a total of 1lb and 4oz, full of ear mites, tummy worms, and God only knows what else! Her name is Wednesday, and she is five months old today. She fits in well with our family, except she just might fit in a little too well here. I think I should have named her Queen of Everything!

I dyed my hair blonde for a short while.

In 2013 I became a season ticket holder for my most favorite sports team Real Salt Lake.

Frankie and I applied and tested and became a member of Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA). This has given us the opportunity to start visiting a local old folks home near us. Very rewarding...and who knows where it can take us!

Yes, I still have my two boys. They are so damn adorable, I can barley stand it!

My youngest, older brother left for his mission a month ago -- to UKRAINE! Bah! I have very mixed feelings about it, but he seems to be having a blast at the Mission Training Center getting ready to head over the pond in February. I really miss him already, how will I survive two years apart?

I opened up an Etsy shop in October called Raging Stitches. I create cross stitch designs with a wicked twist. I am having a blast creating everything, and putting them together. You should take a look!

www.ragingstitches.etsy.com

And last (but not least), I am still married and madly in love with Brandon. He is my everything, and it has been a long year and a half, but he is by my side during all of it. I feel like after 3 years of marriage I still feel like I can't get enough time with him. I am very lucky to have that.

♥

P.S. - Don't worry my hair is back to it's normal color now

Woooof!

Well my friends my days of sleeping in, munching all day, watching Ellen Degeneres, and my afternoon reading time is coming to an end. Yes people, I found a job. I feel as though I have nothing much to say about it. However, when I interviewed my first impression was that I liked the place, everyone was really friendly, and that it would be fun to work with a lot of exotic animals. My first day is this Tuesday. Way nervous, but more hopeful for very good things.

So yes, I will miss having a bunch of free time on my hands, but lets face it - you can only be a bum for so long. I think what I will miss the most is my long trips to the Dog Park with the loves of my life Frankie and Reggie. I've found that the park is my happy place. I go and read while the dogs wrestle behind me. I will play fetch with Frankie, and chase Reggie around the park when he happens to get the ball (he loves a good game of keep away). I also have met some really great (and not so great) people there. I always have fun conversations, and have met a few friends a long the way.

This post is to the dogs and the great time I have there. I have come to look forward to seeing all these beautiful faces. I can't wait until the weather gets better, and I'll be able to go there and stay later in the day with the warm sun. I mean, how can you not get along with these beautiful creatures?

Although I may be working now, I'll still be making time to get to the park. I can't give up one of the great joys of my life.

P.S. I took all of those photos. Fairly proud of myself if you ask me. IT is never easy to get good pictures of dogs.

It's A Bum's Life

I can officially say I have GRADUATED! I am overjoyed and tear up just thinking about all those hard times with the blood sweat and tears. And now after so many hours and years of working day in and day out. All those days and nights spent up all night studying or staying in school until midnight working on projects. All of that is behind me now. So I have been spending the last week doing practically nothing. Can ya blame a sister? I'm just trying to re-charge my battery and soak in life, before I start up a huge new chapter in my life.

In the mean time I've been reading, hanging out with my family, waiting patiently (and sometimes not so much) for my husband to get home, and of course spending a lot of time with my baby boys. Last weekend was such a blast! Our family dressed up and headed over to the muttster mash with our other friends. We looked hot!

I had a great time watching Reggie and Frankie run around like maniacs. They had such a fabulous time and I always have a good time doing anything dog related. I was the devil, with Frankie being my hell hound. Reggie was a cop and tagged along his prisoner Brandon. Even with my great costume matching, we didn't win best costume. However, in the best trick competition Reggie won for playing dead! I never thought that trick would come in handy some day. He won a free grooming session there. Since he is terrified of being groomed I am going to put Frankie in his place. After they stole every snack and treat they could, we left and the boys slept great that night. I always like to go to dog events and enjoy time with my family.

That picture of us together makes my heart sing happy songs. I like it when I get to do something to help out other animals, while enjoying my own. Life doesn't get better then that.

Boys Night Out

My boys all got a make over.

It all started when I had the urge to give Frankie some red nails.

Arn't they pretty?

Reggie looks sassy in orange.

Brandon chose the dainty sky blue. (Ignore the crappy paint job)

I'm lucky to have such secure men in my life. Who let me frantically paint their nails when I have the urge.

Proud Mommy

Over the weekend Brandon and I went to Dog Days. It's a festival where you can bring you dogs, adopt dogs, and do almost anything dog related! I helped Utah Friends of Basset Hounds with their booth this year, and might have even got a hound adopted.

When I had some down time, Brandon and I took Reggie and Frankie over to try out the lure race. It is where a a fox tail is on some kind of zip line, and the dogs chase after it going through hoops and jumps. Frankie ran half way through, then ran back to the start. He didn't really get how to do it.

Reggie was a complete natural though. He flew through the course with ease. Here is a video of his second run. He got a little distracted when he saw Brandon, but other then that he did GREAT! I am such a proud Mom. Just look at him go!

Strut Your Mutt 2011

Strut Your Mutt was above and beyond what I was expecting last weekend. Brandon and I woke up early to get to the park so we could check in. I think Reggie and Frankie were more excited then I was!


We quickly met up with our team Utah Friends of Basset Hounds who were at the front of the start line. It was easy to find them considering all the basset hounds howling.


The walk was great. Everyone walked around the park in unison. I had a lot of time to think about how Brandon and I accomplished a lot by raising $390 and being around people who felt as passionately as I did. It was a rare moment in time where I felt like I was doing exactly what I should be doing - especially for a very special cause that doesn't get enough recognition. Once the walk was over, because we raised a certain amount of money we were able to go to the VIP area, which was fabulous!


We had breakfast


The boys got pedicures


We even had a pet physic that did a reading on Reggie and Frankie. It was very interesting. I was told Reggie is thankful that I put ice in his water (which I've done for years - and everyone made fun of me for it). She also said Frankie was glad to be in a forever home. Along with a lot of other silly things. I have to say I was impressed, it was a good time.

Most importantly we relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful day.





I can't thank everyone enough for the donations, love, and support we had. Thank you for helping me do something very important. Rest assured I'll be doing the same thing all over next year.

Everyone was just a little tired after all was said and done.

Current Happenings

I am currently at work and had the urge to listen to Nsync's No Strings Attached album.


Its amazing how the memories just flood back to me and all of the sudden I am 14 again walking down the stairs to my room to listen to the album. Searching everywhere I seriously can't find the CD, and when I walk out of my room to ask someone if they have seen it, I see my mom speed walking/dancing her butt off on the treadmill with giant headphones on.

"Rachel! This new Nsync album is the bomb - a little dirty, but great to listen to while working out!"

And that people is why my mom is amazing.

Also later on that year my dad stood in line with me early on a Saturday morning to get tickets to their concert. He even made deals with other people in line to make sure we got tickets. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours kind of deal. Then my dear father proceed to take me to the concert, buy me a t shirt, a seat cushion, and a program. He also tolerated me when I stood on my seat and cried the entire time for the love of my life JT!

And that people is why my dad is amazing.

On another random subject, I bought this today.


It is a stuffed shark that turns into a pillow. Enough said.

Also I love Brittni, especially when she comes up and we spend Easter weekend together.


Enough said.


P.S. Reg and Frankie are best brothers now. Exhibit A:

Life is pretty fantastic.

My dear friend says yesterday, "Rachel, what has happened to your blog?"

"Um, it died?" I reply.

It has been dead for a month for two reasons

A) I'm lazy
B) My life is so boring

But, I figure I better start now rather then later. But to be honest, I don't really want to talk about all the things that has happened in the last month (or at least make a post about each one). So, here is a very brief re-cap for you.

On March 19th I went to The Monster Ball by Lady GaGa. There are no words that can describe how beautiful, and inspirational it was. Basically it changed my life, and I will never be the same. It was like being born again (no joke).




The semester ended for me. I officially passed my surgery and anesthesiology class. So, if you need your dog or cat spayed/neutered I can assist with that. Also, this means I only have two quarters left with school and I am done done done!

I went to the Color Festival. I had fun, but the weather made me feel bitter about going. I'm not sure I'll be going again next year. It is getting too big, and too crazy now.





My dad had his 48th birthday, and I love him to pieces.


And of course if you forgot, I have the most beautiful dog in the world. Who got his picture taken a week ago.




I think that about does it. Everything else in my life is pretty dull right now thanks to all of the school and work I've been doing. But, I should be posting more frequently about stuff.

Happy Friday!

Puppy Love

Well, Reggie is still alive. It's been a wild ride for the last three weeks. Reggie took it really hard when we moved, and y'all know about the struggles I've had keeping him locked up in the house. I was pushed to my limit, wondering what was going to happen if Reggie kept acting up with his really, really bad behavior.

As luck would have it after that week we became friends again. He has been on some anti anxiety medication which is doing wonders for him! Now he takes drives all the time with Brandon and I, gets more treats, and even goes to the dog park. He has reminded me why I sacrifice and love him so much. Through and through he is a good dog, he just acts up every once in a while. (I wonder where he got that from?)

I just love this damn dog.

Reggie/Life Update

Well, after a week of trial and error we have finally figured out a way to keep Reggie in the kitchen while we are gone. Sunday evening I brought over an old wire crate I bought for Reggie several years ago, but haven't used in a while. Knowing Reggie we took no chances and zip tied the entire crate. Seriously, anywhere anything is attached we made sure to zip tie it to give it some extra strength. Quickly Reggie figured out how to open the latches himself, so to keep the door closed we had to use five padlocks to make sure the door was secure.


The first time we left him alone we put carpet underneath, and when we came home it was a huge mess. Reggie chewed on the locks until his teeth and gums bled all over the carpet. He chewed up a lot of the carpet, managed to flip the cage onto its side, and bang up the walls a little bit. Oh, he even got one of the five locks open.

So today we put wood at the bottom so he cant just rip it up with ease, and flip his cage over. It seemed to work better, because today there wasn't as much blood as yesterday. He did still try to chew on the locks though. Seriously, what have I gotten myself into with this dog?

On a more fun update over the weekend I got some Halloween decorations to put up at the condo. I've never been able to decorate my own place before, and even though I don't have much room I am so excited for my new Halloween decor!



I still plan on getting some type of place mat to put the pumpkin on, but I am proud of myself. Ha. I am really excited for fall, especially Halloween. School starts again this week, and I am a little excited for that, it's time to get back in the swing of things I guess.

I should also probably start thinking about putting my flip flops in storage, it's getting cold out there!

Jail Break

Reggie is a mastermind when it comes to escaping anything he doesn't want to be in. No one really understands how crazy he really is. Since moving into Brandon's condo it has been a challenge to figure out what to do with Reggie the few hours a day that no one is home.

So, we tried buying dog gates in the kitchen - he broke through that with no problems at all

Then we tried two dog gates, one wood, one plastic - He knocked over the first one (which he had to have used all his body weight to get it to move) and broke through the second one, with ease.

Now we have tried to use this heavy shelf that will block off the kitchen. For me to move it I have to drag/pick up with all my might to get it to where it needs to go. How can a 37lb dog possibly move this and escape?

Well my friends, he did it. I still don't know how.


This picture doesn't do it justice. I seriously sat there in aw of how he knocked this huge and heavy shelf over. In just two hours mind you. Not only did he knock this over, he also had time to chew on the side of the kitchen counter.


Now I have no choice but to crate him today. This is Reggie's worst nightmare. He hates that thing, and howls like he is dying until I let him out (he is a little dramatic to say the least). A bark collar was bought so that while in the crate he won't upset our neighbors. I love this dog, but he is seriously pushing me to my limits, all over again.

Lets hope soon we can all adjust to our knew home... especially that damn dog of mine!

July 4th Recap

I have had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. And I mean wonderful.

It all started when Brittni came from Cedar for Friday night before she flew out to see her family. I convinced Trent, Denice, and Britt to go up the canyon for dinner at a place called Silver Fork Lodge.




We had such a good time, laughing and eating food. Did I mention the view was great?


We even stayed up there far past our bed times. I don't regret a minute of it.


Saturday was spent getting Britt off to the airport, then quickly driving down to Utah county to meet up with my family for the Stadium of Fire. We set up camp (if you will) and spent the night playing games and goofing around.






I also bought a ton of glow sticks. Which we all had a good time with.












Of course the time came to snuggle up and watch some fireworks, which were lovely.




Sunday, the actual 4th my dad had a BBQ party at our house. Which was a very relaxing time.










Of course, when the sun went down the party became a bit eccentric. We had our own fireworks to launch, and a cozy warm fire to stand next to.




















I had Monday off from work, so it was spent with Brandon, Trent, and Denice, in Brandon's swimming pool of course.


I also spent some quality time with these crazy kitties.




What more could I have asked for? The weekend was perfect, so was the weather. Now its back to work, but I feel refreshed!