The 5 hour hair experience... and the bald cat

It was that time again to go see Lenea and have my hair redone. This time I wanted to do something different and fun. So I decided I was going to have her do my hair ala Rogue from X-Men except I wanted to keep my red.

Considering the fact that my hair was already red to start with, this was going to be a long process. For lack of something better to blog about, I bring you the entire experience in pictures.

12:38pm Yep, me with no makeup.. Bring it.

1:35pm Like the foil? I look like a home-made space alien.

2:42pm The first washing. My "drowned cat" look.

3:48pm It's not pink, it's salmon!.. time for more bleach!

5:05pm Thanking Lenea for another job well done!

When it was all over, I drove back from Milwaukie to Vancouver to pick up my dogs, and then went down to Beaverton to see Eldon. I promised him I would take him out to dinner. We went to the Old Spaghetti Factory near his house for some yummy chicken fetuccini alfredo for me and ravioli for him. It was great. He really liked my new hair too. I'm glad, but even if nobody else likes it, I'm happy with it and that's all that matters!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.. the bald cat. Monday at work I got to see in person my first Sphinx cat.

He was so cool! He wasn't that human flesh peach color of Mr. Bigglesworth fame, but a beautiful gray color with these enormous green eyes. I'm allergic to cats, but this is one cat I could actually have. I thought about it until she told me she payed $1200 for him. I think I'll stick with my hairless dog, thanks.

Movie Day

Because I hadn't been doing much lately, I decided to accept not one, but two offers to go see movies yesterday. I've been so tired, that sitting down all day sounded pretty good.
First on the list, Eldon and I went to see Underworld Evolution. I like vampire movies, so of course I liked it, but it wasn't as good as the first one, however the special effects were better. Some of the plotline was skewed and confusing, and the whole thing was very dark and tinged in a blue hue, but it was entertaining nonetheless. I like the way the lycans were done in this one better than the first movie.

After that, Eldon and I skipped across town, (well actually we drove) to the Mission Theatre to meet up with my mom and her husband. The Mission was playing Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I had seen the preview for it a long time ago and it looked interesting, but I had completely forgotten what it was about. I don't know why they like the Mission so much, the Kennedy School is so much more comfy to watch a movie at, but they were buying so I wasn't complaining. I got a yummy salad and had their Ruby. I'm not much of a beer person, and neither is Eldon, so the Ruby is just the right amount of fruity with beer to make it bareable for us "non-beer drinker types".


Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was definately the more fun of the two movies I saw today. It didn't have any real message, but it was really fun. There were lots of amusing parts in it, and I even got to tease Eldon that he was "that guy" back in high school. The part where the Briard ran in and snatched his finger gave me quite a chuckle, as well as the hanging on to the coffin above the overpass. (You'd have to see the movie.)

I've been busy

I haven't posted in a while. Mostly because I've not been doing much that's incredibly exciting to read about. I've been working a lot and not had much time for anything else... That and I had my computer out of commission for a bit. Thanks to the wonderfully talented computer wizard, (we'll call him Eldon) it's back and better than ever! I finally stepped out of the dark ages and got rid of my old operating system. I was still using Windows ME (gasp!)

So... what's been going on? Not a whole lot....

I had a couple graduations at work:

Buddy, Cassanova, Trixie and Shaps

Tucker, Sockee, Bernie, Whiskey and Cody

Tana, Aspen, Buddy, Gracee, Alex and Mellow

all graduated this week. The last one though, was the most fun I've had doing a graduation. Tana's parents, Mike and Sally are such wonderful people. They even brought a cake!

I also checked out all the hype about the doggie day camp at the Beaverton Petsmart location. I was actually really impressed. It looked like the dogs were having a lot of fun, and the place was surprisingly clean for having a bunch of dogs running around in it. Apparently they clean it once an hour, and they have three separate locations for the dogs, so they can separate the big dogs from the little ones, and kennels in case the dogs aren't feeling so well or they get too rough they can go on a time out.

I was most jealous though, about the fact that their training ring is also encased in the glass.

All in all, it looks like a fun place to take your dog for the day. They have someone in there with the dogs, watching them constantly to make sure everyone "plays nice", and it's not that expensive. It's like $22 for the day and it would be great to drop off those high energy dogs there while you go to work and when you get off, pick them up and they are just as tired as you. I love the idea of doggy day camps and I wish more people would do that for their dogs.

The Olive Branch

Because Casey has flaked on me twice when he said he was "definately" going to come out with me, he passed the olive branch out to me and invited me to his house for Movie night, with the promise of pizza, beer and movies.

Holy crap! Blind Onion has some incredibly good effing pizza! After work tonight, which is quickly becoming less and less fun by the day, (not because of what I do, but because of who I work for) I went over to Casey's house for Movie Night.

When I arrived, he and Rose had already finished watching one movie, so I got to chose the next one. Since I had been told that Constantine was a good flick by several people, and it was in his collection, I chose that. Rose however, couldn't handle the demonic images, and left 1/3 the way into the movie, claiming she was going to have nightmares. She'd never last if she had to watch a movie with Warren, haha!

He had ordered pizza from Blind Onion, and it was so good, I can't even describe it. Constantine was pretty good too. Despite Keanu Reeves, who I still claim can't act his way out of a paper bag. If I were ever to become an actress, I'd want that guy's agent. He can't act for shit, but he gets the best roles. I loved the special effects in it.

Great day for me.

Today was filled with three of my most favorite things. Dogs, friends, and laughter.

I had planned to go to the dog show at the Portland Expo Center ever since I heard about it a month ago. Knowing I have Sundays off today would be the only day I would be able to go, even though it was going on for 3 days.

As we were walking in, I thought this was rather amusing, considering they were hosting a DOG SHOW.

Unfortunately, this was also the day I stayed up very late the night before, so we didn't make it down there till about 2:30. That was ok, knowing that Eldon and Ildiko, (the two I managed to drag with me), wouldn't get half the enjoyment or have the attention span I do when it comes to dogs to stay all day like I would if I were going by myself.

We had a great time regardless. We spent most of the time shopping at the little vendors that they always have at the show, fooling around with some of the items, and I bought the coolest bumper sticker. it says: My Weimaraner is smarter than your honor student!

I got to see the only other hairless dogs in existance... The Mexican Hairless. And some people think MY dog is ugly. They are much bigger and stockier than the Chinese Crested, and they have literally only a tiny bit of stubble on their heads in "full coat." They were a lot of fun and really cool though. Their skin was amazingly soft. I wish my own skin was as soft as theirs. I almost bought one of those wetsuit looking jumpers they're wearing for Rikka, but they were crazy expensive. If they made it in pink I probably would have had to buy it. Good thing they don't.

Ildiko and I both really liked Charlie, the Irish Wolfhound.

We also got quite a kick out of the giant Bull Mastiff. He was really funny. He would let out one random bark from time to time as he lounged on the carpet watching the show.

I also got to dance with an Ibizan Hound. He was really cool. They're not a common dog, in fact this was the first time I'd ever touched one. They have really soft fur like a greyhound, but their skin isn't as fragile. He was fun.

We really didn't watch much of the show, but I did get to meet and greet the female Weim who made it to the group. Her owner/handler gave her a kiss for good luck before her showing. She didn't win best of group though, weims never do. It's a disappointment as well as a blessing, because any dog that wins a "Best in Show" at a big dog show becomes the new popular breed, and that's not always a good thing. Last year a German Shorthair won Westminster, and I've seen so many people with them lately. This is a bad thing because these dogs are definately not dogs for everyone. You have to have a definate commitment to your dog if you're going to own one. All dogs need excersize, but with a GSP it's a REQUIREMENT. If you don't provide excersize for a GSP, you won't have one very long. They will either run away and get their own excersize, or they will destroy your house and end up in the pound. :(

We didn't have time to see who actually won the best in show, because we also had plans to meet up with a bunch of people at Harvey's Comedy Club.

We got there early enough so we had time for introductions and to laugh a little.

Geoff and Eldon finally met, and got along famously, seen here trying to light their straws on fire with the table candle.

Warren and Eldon gave Ildiko some lovin before the show...

Me, Chris and Geoff pondered the word "fist" as a verb.

Tom Clark and Johnny Sanchez were both really funny, despite Tom Clark's Jim Carreyesque performance. Don't get me wrong, I love Jim Carrey, but Clark was more like Jim Carrey lite. Johnny Sanchez was very funny though. However, probably the most amusing thing that happened had very little to do with what was going on on stage. Here's how it went down:

Geoff: Hey, where's my jacket?
Chris: Um, oh was it leather?
Geoff: Yeah and it was on this chair.
Chris: Oh, that was yours? I'm sorry man, it was on the floor here and I didn't know it was yours, so its at the lost and found!

The amusing part is, the way Chris talks, it sounded almost like he was just fucking with him. His delivery was such that he very well could have been outright lying to him. I actually had to ask. He wasn't though, so Geoff went and talked to one of the waitstaff, got his coat back, and all was well. Geoff even showed us his talent with straws. This is not the first picture I've seen with something up Geoff's nose.

After the show, Chris and I stuck around to see the open mic portion in the lounge, as our old high school buddy Robert was there performing some new material. With the way he was in school, it doesn't surprise me at all that he's a comedian. If you have a myspace account, check out his post about his latest job interview.

I got bit today.

I've only been bitten by a dog 4 times in my LIFE. I'm a dog trainer. If I was afraid of being bitten, this would be the wrong career for me. That being said, only one time was the dog so viscious that I couldn't do anything to help the owner help the dog.

In my class tonight, I had 8 dogs, and we were discussing leash walking. Most of the dogs in class were just adolescent dogs around 6 months of age. Then there was Munch. Munch is a year old Border Collie mix who the mother and son adopted from the Humane Society. When I first met him, he was a little timid. That's when I signed him up for class. The first week was mostly lecture, so I didn't get any sense that there was more than just a shyness issue from him.

Tonight we were discussing leash walking. I demonstrated a Gentle Leader on one of the dogs who was very hyper. The family was amazed at the difference in just a few minutes. He did the usual little tantrum, but was over it and relaxed fairly quickly. Munch's mom asked if she could try a leader on Munch because he was very "headstrong" and thought it might help her.

From the second I touched his collar, he showed his teeth at me. That didn't stop me from touching his collar, but the mom got very nervous, so I made her drop the leash and I took the dog to the center of the room, and explained to her that if she was afraid the dog was going to bite me, he would bite me. After a short staring contest, (which I won) I put the leader on. He threw a big tantrum, even doing what I like to call the crocodile death roll.

All of that was normal, except that I didn't get the leader on as tight as I wanted it, and he was able to slip the nose loop. So I had to go back at him again. This time he showed teeth, let out a low growl, and then managed to nip me on the hand. No puncture, no bleeding, and it wasn't prolonged. It was just a quick snap and release, and it happened so fast I barely noticed it. He did get me though, there were small indentations in my hand where his teeth landed, but the marks went away by the time class was over. No harm done, I still won. This is the important part. I didn't back down. The lady was so upset she actually cried. I tried to relax her, but it just wasn't going to happen. I ended up doing the walking demonstration with her dog because she was so upset there was no way she could control the dog, and he absolutely needed someone who was both calm and assertive to walk him at that point.

It was after class that she explained to me that she had actually been turned down by not one but two animal behaviorists whom she tried to see regarding his issues. Apparently he's a food guarder, as well as having issues with having his collar touched. She's only had the dog a couple weeks, and sadly from the sound of it, she probably won't keep him. I tried to tell her that I would do everything in my power to help her and to please not give the dog back to the shelter, because he would probably be put down if she mentioned the fact that he bit me.

I also explained to her that he actually has really great bite inhabition, as he gave several warnings before he actually bit me, and even when he did, he didn't puncture the skin. This means that he's not too far gone and is able to be rehabilitated. However I don't think she could see past the fact that she has a young son and that he is capable of biting. We'll see if she comes back next week. I certainly hope so. If she isn't strong enough to stand up to him, he would be better off in another home, but finding the right home for a dog with issues like his is going to be hard. If I could, I'd take him and help him myself, but I just don't have the time and probably don't have all the necessary knowledge.

Too bad Cesar Millan lives in California. This would be a case for him!

Even I think this is ridiculous!

I love my dogs, and I do feel guilty when I don't spend enough time with them, but THIS is silly.

This company makes a phone that attaches to the dog's collar so you can call him up during the day while you're away and talk to your dog.

It's cute, but I also think it's a bad idea. You know how your dog acts when you come home... they get all excited and jump around.. do you really want them to do that while you're not home? Get them excited while you're gone and have fun picking up the mess when you get home!

Although the GPS part is kinda cool. It would be great for dogs who like to wander. However, if your dog wanders it's usually because you aren't providing enough mental and physical stimulation for your dog. WALK THE DOG and he won't feel the need to take himself for one.

My phone could beat up your phone!

So I decided that today it was time to finally get a new phone. I wanted a phone that I wouldn't easily tire of, wouldn't be outdated as soon as I took it out of the box, and had a camera phone.
I spent much much time looking at my choices, and decided to spend way too much money on the one I really wanted. It has a 1.3 megapixel camera in it, which is pretty sweet for a phone, and I got a $100 rebate on it.

It also doubles as a walkman. That's very cool, since until now I was in the dark ages and did not own any sort of mp3 player. The thing I like the most about my phone is that it's not a flip phone, but instead it's a swivel phone! You'd have to check out this link to understand.

Eldon is all about gadgets and gizmos, and I even got his approval on this phone. This means a lot to me because he wouldn't let me buy something that was crappy. I had to pry it out of his hands in order to figure out how it works! Yay me, I made Eldon have phone envy! lol.

The camera makes me very happy because now I have a digital camera that's almost as good as the one Eldon has, and it's on my phone so I don't have to carry two things with me when I go out. It even has a self timer function on it. How silly/cool is that?

Ok, so maybe my phone couldn't beat up your phone. There's always something better out there, especially with anything electronic. But I'm happy with it, and that's all that matters.

Dog Lady

Warning!! This is not the usual chipper me.. this is me on very little sleep and some irritation at work talking.....

I had Chinese food for lunch today, and my fortune cookie read, "Without love, there is nothing." I agreed, and thought nothing more of it... until tonight.

I just found out that my friend from high school just gave birth to her third child on Saturday. (Congrats Nicole and welcome to the world, Mary Abigale.)

When I was in high school I had three girl-friends from the seventh grade on. I was always the outgoing one who never had a problem "getting a boyfriend," and they were much shyer with the boys. They all guessed it would be me to be the first one to have a kid. Jenny has 4 kids the last I heard, Nicole now has 3, and Misty has one. I still have no children and have never been pregnant.

Either this makes me very lucky, as I have been engaged once and never been married, or it makes me old and pathetic. I know 28 isn't old, but when a lot of your very old friends are married with children it does start to make one wonder, "what's wrong with me?" I made a lot of choices in my life that virtually ensured I would not be forced to live a life I didn't want. This makes me proud of where I'm at. I do have the freedom to up and "run away from home" anytime I want, whereas my friends I'm sure would love that kind of escape sometimes. But...

I do sometimes wonder, if it will happen for me someday.... I often joke to my friends that I will be the spinster lady, but instead of a houseful of cats, I'll be the crazy dog lady who sits around talking to herself and her 14 dogs. I love dogs, and at least I wouldn't be lonely, but the idea of purchasing a book like this one and actually learning to knit doesn't seem like such a terrible thing, and that makes me more than a little nervous of what the future might hold for me.

My future, a pictorial....

In my 40's with just a handful of dogs, still smiling.

Moo moo on, still able to walk, I can still get out with my dogs.

The economy declines to where there is no more social security, I lose my home because I use my savings on my dogs, rather than my home.

No offspring, no family, nobody even remembers me by name. I'm just simply...

Bar of the Gods

I'm not much of a barfly, but I think I've been to more bars in the past 6 months than I ever have in my lifetime. I'm thinking it's mostly due to the fact that for the first time in my life I actually HAVE a social life. I said this to Jesse the other night, and he said, "Be careful, those sound like words of someone who could turn into a raging alcoholic!" To which I explained that I only go out and drink with friends, and not every day. I classify an alcoholic as someone who either a) drinks at home by themselves on a fairly regular basis, or b) goes out to bars to drink by themselves, or both.

I hadn't seen Rosemary in a while, so after work I met up with her and we went out to the Bar of the Gods, or as the people around there call it, The BOG. Rosemary is always good for showing me a new bar, and this one was no exception. It was even named as one of Stuff Magazine's top 20 dive bars in the country.

It was pitch black inside, crowded and loud. So crowded in fact, that we had to ask a couple of guys sitting down if we could join them so I could order food. They obliged, and we chatted with them for a bit before a table opened up. Shane turned out to be pretty cool, and I think his friend's name was Zack (but I could be wrong, I'm terrible with names.)

I ordered their chicken strips and instead of the regular fries that came with it, I got their cheese fries with bacon. It was really good, although the chicken strips were not breaded.. it was sorta odd. Rosemary and I got caught up and had a good time, and then I saw something I didn't expect to see in a bar...
A guy was walking around in the bar with a dog!~ This made me very happy. I had to go over and talk to him and visit with his Staffordshire Terrier named Bruno. He told me about how he had rescued the dog from someone who had really abused him. In fact he had been sliced open with razors and had the scars to show for it. I was amazed at how incredibly social this dog was for going through such abuse. It was great to see a dog in the bar though... I definately will go back knowing they allow dogs inside!

Then Shane's friend left and he turned around and started talking to us, so we invited him to join us. He was a great conversationalist. We spent most of the time talking about (what else with me, dogs) and his favorite animal, the great white shark. Eventually, it was time to head out, as I had to work in the morning. We exchanged myspace addresses and hugs so we could find each other again. I have such a great time meeting new people, and I find as I get older it gets harder and harder, although with the friends that I've made in the last 6 months I've had no shortage of fun people to hang out with or things to do. I'm really happy with that portion of my life. Now if I could only get the rest of it figured out, I'd have it made.