Hear this, Miami

You are getting a second chance at signing Brees. Do.Not.Blow.This. Find the money and grab him quickly. You can be great once again.

Oh how I love thee, Taj Palace

The other night we ordered take-out from our favorite Indian restaurant, Taj Palace. It is oh so tasty and eating leftovers the next day makes me just as happy as the night before. I typically get the Tandoori chicken w/extra Naan. Naan ranks up there as one of my most favorite foods. The kids always get Shrimp Masala, while DH goes for the Chicken Vindaloo. The jasmine rice is always cooked to perfection. Not too chewy, not overcooked, not sticky...just light and fluffy and full of fragrant flavor. I always put some of the tomato-based sauce (the name of it I can never remember) that comes w/the Tandoori Chicken over the rice. There are no words for how good that tastes. Yes...Indian food is a thing of beauty. To me anyways.

I do worry that the downtown location and not so lovely building facade will ward off would-be patrons, so if you ever get down there stop in...it's worth it. It is right next to the old Wall Street Bar & Grill and don't let the looks of the place fool you. The food and service is excellent!

LP buys CWEC

NEWSFLASH: I should've blogged about this last month but I've been so busy that I haven't had time to.

On January 10, 2006 myself and my friend Heidi purchased The Cascade Wedding & Event Company. I was sad to hear that Pat & Jen had plans to sell the business as I truly love both them and their designs, however I was excited to take my creative spirit to the next level. There was a lot of crap that happened (through no fault of Pat, Jen, Heidi, or I) that tested all of us but proved just how serious we all were. In the end everything worked out and we are all happy. Heidi and I got to do our first Bridal Fair and were quite pleased with the way our booth turned out, not to mention all the people we got to meet with. I finished our website and have it up--you can see it at Cascade Weddings & Events. We had to change the name ever so slightly because Uncle Sam doesn't like using the word Company in a name--or so I was told by a guy at the IRS. Not wanting to risk it, we obliged.

So far we have been meeting with all sorts of brides and companies and having a ball. I will continue doing photography, however I will not be booking near the amount I have in the past in an effort to balance both companies fairly and like I want to. I don't want my photography clients to suffer, nor my decorating clients to suffer. It should be fine as I have the help of my husband, my dad, and friends--not to mention Heidi's friends as well.

If you're looking for decorators for your wedding, we invite you to click on the link above and view what we can do.

Oatmeal and gas

The other day while driving home from the Northeast side of town, I came to a red light. While waiting for the light to turn green I noticed the sign at a gas station that caught my eye. It read:

"Oatmeal bar - Mon., Tues. and Thurs."

Oatmeal and gas? Come on...be serious. Who would actually eat oatmeal from a bar, let alone a bar in a gas station? All I could think about was the week old hot dogs rotating on those little metal roller thingies, or the pretzels that have been there for months just circling and circling waiting for someone to pluck them off their hooks. How could they possibly think that an oatmeal bar would sound even remotely appetizing? And how often do they change that vat out? You know oatmeal gets all sticky and hard if it sits out for too long. What would the condiments be like? Honey...brown sugar...raisins...apples...twinkies...beef jerkey? T.A.S.T.Y. Had the light not changed so soon I would've attempted my photographic superpowers w/my oh-so-technological-advanced camera (a.k.a. a phone I am taking college courses for to learn how to operate it) and snapped a pic of the sign promising wholesome, oaty, goodness to those daring enough to just come inside. Of course there was no real camera in my car. I mean, that would make me seem like a true pro and gawd knows we can't have that.

That night I mentioned what I saw that day to my husband.

"I'd eat it."

"No you wouldn't. It's oatmeal...in a vat...w/condiments...in a GAS station."

"Oatmeal is good."

"Normal oatmeal is good. Gas station oatmeal bar oatmeal is not."

"I'd still eat it."

I am currently waiting for this to happen. I keep reminding him that this gas station likes to switch it up and he's going to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. Just like the Krispy Kremes they had there last year. We spaced it and didn't get to partake of the deep fried goodness (thankfully we bought some off a Cub Scout or Pioneer Boy, or whatever they call them out here, in the parking lot of Target some months later). If he goes to the oatmeal bar I am so taking my camera. It will be worth the strange looks just to document the fact that there is indeed an oatmeal bar inside of a gas station.

Everyone relax...FEMA is here

Right now, Ryan and I are watching Supervolcano. Scratch that. HE is watching Supervolcano, I am surfing the net. As of now the supervolcano has errupted and all hell is breaking loose. They cut to the token "hot old chic" who is talking to the director (??) of FEMA as he is assuring her that they have everything under control. Insert Ryan here...

"Everyone relax, FEMA is on the case. We'll be there in about 3 weeks."

"You're just full of wittiness tonight, aren't you?"

"This must have been made before Katrina."

"Had to have been."

It says it was made in 2005. We're thinking it was released in EARLY 2005. He has been doing this all night. I'm not sure if it's the beer or the fact that he is trying to convince himself that he does not, in fact, have to go back to work after 3 whole days off, but he's got a hair up his butt that is providing me with mucho entertainment. Nothing beats watching badly mad dramatic movies with your sarcastic husband.

2006 already?

It seriously can't be 2006. We JUST celebrated my daughter's 6th birthday so there is no way her 7th birthday is coming up in 3 months. Plus, I just got used to writing 2005. Now I have to pay attention again? My brain can barely process large pieces of information and asking it to process small details is bad. Unless I have a camera in my hand. And 9 times out of 10 I do not have a camera in my hand when I'm writing a check or signing a document.

In all seriousness this has been a pretty good year. I documented the weddings and events of some very fabulous people and my relationships with a few of my clients turned into friendships. Plus, the cherry on top was meeting my future couple-to-shoot, Heidi and Jon. Two of the funniest, most down to Earth people I have encountered. We hit DiLusso's on Christmas Eve and hung out, drank tea, talked about med school, life, and (I think??) wedding stuff. Course the latter was not nearly as important or fun as all the other stuff but it had to be done, right? ;o) Right now Heidi is jumping up and down saying, "Look--we're on Laura's blog!!"--I know this because I "get" Heidi--just like I know I will crack up when she sends me her next installment of funny emails, and just like I know I am soooo gonna cry at her wedding. Why, you ask? Simple. She and Jon will have already turned from "client" to "friend" way before the big event which will make it that much more memorable and sweet for me. Now if she gets me that meat hat and turkey leg necklace she's been promising, it might help hold back the tears...or it might not.

I also got to spend part of New Years Eve with one of my most favorite couples ever, Tony & Patty (plus their nieces who are so stinkin' sweet and cute--sorry girls, it's true!). I had been invited to Patty's parents house for their New Years Eve Bash and desperately wanted to go, but alas I live with the most anti-social being on the planet. So instead we stayed home, played XBox 360 w/the kids, everyone stayed up until midnight, watched the ball drop (tape delayed of course), then went to bed. I know you're jealous...such fun we had. Ah well...back to Tony & Patty: we all met at McMennamin's where we dined on hairy food. Okay, so I didn't eat it and actually sent something back for the first time in my entire life, but at least it gave us a great story to tell. Wanna hear it? No? Then quickly turn this off because I'm about to tell it. Patty and I had to be like each other and both ordered the Mushroom Crostini. Neither one of us was hungry but thought a nice little appetizer would be perfect. All of us were happily chatting away (me still not believing how big the girls had gotten since they were flowergirls in Tony & Patty's wedding) when the waiter brought us our food. I immediately noticed the long, black hair sticking out to one side but didn't say anything right away. Maybe it was shock...or maybe it was me thinking that if I pretended not to have seen it, it would magically disappear. Not so. After the waiter left I showed the nasty intruder to Patty. I picked it out. I laughed. I told them I'd eat it from the other side. But I just couldn't. I kept laughing. It really wasn't that funny but it was better than gagging. They finally convinced me to send it back. So I did. Patty and I decided to split hers as we both knew it was "hair free" (she checked to be sure) so the waiter vanquished my Mushroom Crostini with the side of hair, away. Tony very graciously let me keep the receipt because it said "Hair in food." Oh yes, I'll be scanning that in and posting it for your enjoyment soon. Right after I post the pics of our tree. Belated? Maybe...but I'm doing it. Why? Because there is something really funny that goes along with the tree pics and you can't have one without the other. Well, maybe you can but since this is the first live tree I've had since I was a kid I simply must post pictures of it. I know that has nothing to do with my hairy food story yet work with me--it's late.

In closing I want to thank all of you who invited me to be a part of your lives in 2005 and wish you all much success, love, and happiness for 2006. For those of you whom I have only exchanged emails with, traded voice mails, and/or actually had the privilege of meeting already, I also wish you all the same. I do hope this year does not go by nearly as fast as last year, however I have a feeling it will. Especially with my new adventure........to be shared soon.

In the meantime, enjoy my latest site and company. iMeg design--web/logo design and custom greeting cards. I will not be doing many websites or logos as I know I'll be too busy to take on a bunch, yet it's fun to do a few here and there. I do love designing and the custom greeting cards have me totally excited! More on those coming soon. For now, here you go: www.iMegdesign.com.

Merry Christmas!!

Hope you all are having a very merry, very safe, and very wonderful Christmas! We here at the Leslie household are enjoying the day. Ryan is installing (or should I say trying to install) the XBox 360 Santa brought for the "kids." I am trying to keep my eyes open given I didn't go to bed until 1 a.m. and Megan woke us up when it was still dark. Not sure how early it was, but the sun wasn't out yet--and that's just way too early for me. Both kids are playing their Gameboys and the dogs are passed out on the couch and futon, respectively. We made quite a nice haul this year and feel very lucky.

This afternoon/early evening we'll be headed to my dad's for Christmas dinner there. We would bring the girls but my car just can't support that many being's in it at once. So instead we'll have to bring the presents my dad got them back here. I have a feeling they won't care so long as they can devour whatever it is we return home with.

I hope Santa was good to you all this year and if you're traveling do be careful!

Do you understand the words that are coming outta my mouth?

"Which one of you peed on the floor? I know one of you did it. You, young one, you look guilty. You know there's no peeing in the house."

"Ummm...mommy...they can't understand you."

"Oh yes they can. They understand me perfectly."

And to think, I thought I had Miss Kya Bear potty trained.

The search has ended...but not with the happy ending

Finally, I have found that which I covet. Fred Meyer's, bottom shelf, far right, in the drug aisle. It's there. In all it's glory and splendor. "Did you get it?!" you ask? No, I did not. "Why?!" you say. Because I was shopping with both kids and DH. That shouldn't make a difference, right? It does.

Me: "Ohhhhh! That which I covet!"

DH: "What?"

Me: "Tylenol PM Golden Vanilla! It's here!! I've been looking for this forever."

DH: "Yeah, that's exactly what you need."

Me: "I didn't say I NEEDED it. I said I wanted it."

Megan: "Mommy, why do you want that?"

Me: "I don't know, honey. I just do. It's one of those mysteries of life."

Ian: "I don't think it would taste all that good."

DH: "You so aren't getting that."

Me: "Fine. I may not get it today...but I know where it's at. And it will be mine."

I admit it, I caved to peer pressure and left my beloved item at the store. I knew I should've held my ground, but I didn't. Lo and behold, guess who was looking for Tylenol PM tonight because he has a headache? That's right, the voice of reason (a.k.a. DH). We could've had THE BEST Tylenol PM EVER...instead he took Advil. Maybe I'm not so crazy now, huh?!

Like Earl says...Karma will get you

I guess it must have been about 9 months ago, but DH and I decided that we needed a bigger vehicle. Of course he already had plans to buy his new baby (an '05 Subura WRX STi) so I was told that around August we'd be able to get mine. I test drove several SUV's...the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Nissan XTerra, and the Honda Pilot. While I was still deciding (and saving up) I noticed that the tires on my '00 Hyundai Elantra were missing any and all signs of tread. Since I was planning on purchasing a brand new vehicle and money was of the essence, I chose some of the cheapest all-season tires I could find. I figured they'd be waaay better than what I already had and if the new owner(s) wanted to upgrade, they could. It's not because I'm usually cheap, or didn't care about the new owner(s), I just didn't have the money. Okay, I did have the money but only in the sense that it was in the bank...I just thought it would be better served by going towards the down payment on the next vehicle.

Fast forward to now. Winter has come. I still don't have my new vehicle. Why? you ask. Mums the word but there are potentially big things on the horizon for me. Big things that cost big money, unfortunately. So the SUV has been put on the back burner for now. No big deal right? Ummm...kind of. For one we can't take the dogs with us anywhere as they won't fit in either of our cars with both of the kids and both of us. Secondly, as I mentioned above, Winter is here. Here in Central Oregon this means snow. A lot of snow. I love the snow...I just hate driving around in it. And now, because of my cheapness Karma has come back to bite me on the ass. While these tires are safer and much more grippier (yes, I just said grippier) they are nowhere near what good tires should be. I am learning this. The hard way. And the funny thing is, is that I drive like a grandma in the snow. I seriously anger people because my car slides at 30 mph so I typically drive about 25-30 in 35 mph speed zones. I also seem to be the ONLY person in Central Oregon not cruising around effortlessly in an SUV or AWD vehicle. Just the other day the kids and I ran to JoAnn's and despite my feeble attempts to go a "normal" speed, the guy in the big, red, Jeep Cherokee hated me. So much so that while turning into our subdivision he decided he could stand my presence no longer and floored it...passing me at MACH 5 and spraying snow, ice, and rocks all over the side of my car scaring the ever loving beejesus out of us all. Nice. I guess this is Karma's way of paying me back. Maybe I should make a list like Earl did. Who knows...it may lead me to winning the lottery. Now that would be cool. For now I am taken this as my lesson not to be cheap when I don't absolutely HAVE to be.

In the meantime, I will continue to drive like a grandma when the roads are nasty. Especially with my cheaper than, and about as useful as, dirt tires. So all you SUV and AWD-owning people out there...cut this grandma-driving chic some slack. I'm from the Midwest where 1" of snow will shut the whole city down.

Let it snow, let it snow...

Lexi and Kya say to Mother Nature..."Bring it!!"

And now for something completely different

Presenting my son's Thanksgiving story that he wrote for school. He's in 4th grade. I left his grammar basically the way he wrote it with just the changes he said he should've made and some added paragraph breaks to help make it easier to read.
-------------------------------------------------------
Hello. My name is Greg, the International Spy and my brothers Skippy and Taco. They don't have jobs. But the story begins in Cheeseville, NY.

Bzzzzzzz! Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Bzzzzzzzzzz!

Now that was Old Tipper testing his new chainsaw. Then he went inside the farm. "Well," I said, "He's going to cook us all!" Taco reacted by grabbing an egg and threw it at the rooster. The rooster got hit in the face and he screamed. Well, Taco wasn't very smart at all. And Skippy...well let's just say he's near crazy.

"Hey!" yelled Old Tipper. "Who left the bacon on the floor?" "Gloop!" yelled Taco. "Oh be quiet." said Skippy. "No!" yelled Taco. Believe it or not this argument lasted for two years. Then Old Tipper put us in the refrigerator. "How are we going to escape now?" I asked. "The North Pole!" shouted Taco. And by now you probably realized that Taco is not smart and sometimes funny. Skippy sighed. Then Taco began to lick all the food. Every bit of it. Outside the refrigerator was Old Tipper who finally got his chainsaw to work! His wife, Mrs. Tipper, was sitting on the table.

"Okay." said Old Tipper. "Hold those chickens and I'll do the rest. So she took all of us out of the refrigerator and flushed us down the toilet. "Why did you do that?!!!" asked Old Tipper. "That was our Thanksgiving dinner." "Oh really?" asked Mrs. Tipper. "AAAAAHHH!" screamed Skippy as we fell into the sewers. "Oh yuck!" I yelled. We saw dead fish, rotten apples, and even trash cans. "I wonder how they got trash cans in the toilet?" said Skippy looking very interested. Well soon we were walking through this smelly place. But when we got out we saw an airplane. "Cool!" we all said. Then we got in. Soon we were off and one of the wings of the airplane slashed right through the Tipper's house! "I think there's someone at the door." said Mrs. Tipper. "I'll get you one day chickens!!" yelled Old Tipper. "We're not chickens!" I said. "We're TURKEYS! There's a difference!"

Old Tipper opened the fridge and ate some bacon. "Hey!" said Old Tipper. "Why is everything wet?"

The End.
---------------------------------------------

And that my friends comes from the mind of my son.

"Dear Santa Paws, we want a new mom..."

It just had to be done. How could I let a year go by where I was shooting Santa Paws and not get pictures of my girls? That's like sacreligious. And although DH really, really, really did not want to bring them down, he did. So he's partially to blame for the traumatizing. I told him to come in around 3:15 because I knew by then we'd be close to being finished and they wouldn't have to wait around. The door opened and not only did I see my girls, I heard Kya scream. She was so sure that wherever they were headed was not a good place. Both of them were alternating between the splayed-legs-no-I-don't-want-to-see-what's-behind-door-#1 thing and walking on their own volition. They were slightly excited to see me however that quickly faded when they realized there was a big man in a bright red suit--and the fact that I was chasing them around with some crazy looking thing that had bells on it, trying to put it over their heads. We were spared anymore screaming (amazingly enough) but we had to pick them up and place them ourselves. Then Lynne had to hide behind Kya to make sure she didn't scoot out--which she had tried to do earlier--while Troy squeeked some toys and I snapped quickly. Two shots later we were done. I think DH was less than impressed, but the girls were very happy to get as far away from Santa as possible. I didn't see any bolting out of the doors on the way out, but I can only guess they chastised DH the entire way home. Plus, I think I overheard one of them tell Santa Paws that they wanted a new mom...and dad...for Christmas.

They did, however, cuddle with me that night so I think I am forgiven. For all I know, they blame DH. Afterall, he was the one that brought them down there.

And now for your viewing pleasure...the girls and the big guy in the red suit.

Saturday was a hit

Last Saturday, I shot over 70 pets and their people, which raised over $1400 for the Humane Society! Go Santa Paws! Although it was mainly dogs there were a few cats and all of them were oh so cute. Also, none of them peed. A small miracle at that. Usually we have at least one dog that pees. Then somewhere down the line the next dog smells the pee, despite the best efforts to clean it up completely, and subsequently pees as well. Par for the course. One thing that never ceases to amaze me are the dog wrangling skills of Lynne and Troy. Lynne is one tiny woman and Troy, though tall, isn't Arnold--but to watch these two in action you'd think your eyes were deceiving you. And, of course, I must tip my hat to the big guy...Santa. More often than not dogs come in scared out of their wits. The room we shoot in is foreign to them, has funny equipment, smells weird, and there's this big dude in a bright red suit and white beard wanting them to come sit with him. Not only that, but his mom and dad are making goofy faces, things are squeaking, and there's this bright flash that seems to come from nowhere. It's enough to turn even the most well-behaved dog into a snarling, snappy, attack dog. I am always awed at how calm the guys that play Santa remain. If it were me, I'd need Depends.

In the end it is so worth it for all parties involved. We all really do enjoy doing this. Each year Lynne and I sit down and discuss what new things we can offer to the public, background ideas, and anything else that can make this years' event even better than the previous years. It is both exciting and stressful as we truly want to make people happy and give them pictures they will cherish. Although we know that this is fast-paced, assembly-line, photography, we also want to do the best we can in the few minutes we have.

Apparently this year the talk around town is that the Humane Society's Santa Paws event is THE event to go to. That makes us all proud and we know it's because of the loyal people that turn out year after year, the new folks that show up to support a cause that it's worthwhile to them, and all the ones that spread the word. The staff at Bend Pet Express deserve a round of applause as well for their advertising, hosting of the space, and wonderful support. It is such a team effort and I am truly lucky, and glad, to be a part of it!

Yellow means stop--it does not mean go faster

I consider myself a good driver. I go 20 mph in the school zones. I stop for pedestrians. I let people merge. I don't speed...okay, so I typically go 10 mph over in certain areas, but who doesn't? I have never been pulled over before (knock on wood). But all good things must come to an end as I learned this past week. There is a horrible intersection that I hit on the way home from pretty much anywhere I come from. Horrible not in dangerous. Horrible in that the light takes forever and a day to allow me to get to where I need to be (a.k.a. my home). On Fri. I was headed to pick up the kids from school and came upon said intersection. The light turned green...a few cars moved up...then it turned yellow. While it was still yellow I entered the intersection and proceeded due East completely oblivious to anything but the time. The bell was set to ring in exactly 10 mins. and I do not like to be late. The last thing I want are my children to be afraid that their mom is not coming to get them. Thankfully I wasn't sooo oblivious that it didn't take too long for me to notice the flashing lights coming from behind me.

Oh those so aren't for me.

Yes, they are.

I pull to the side of the road, roll down my window, and turn off my car. I grab my license as even though I have never actually done the drill I have seen it on TV. The officer walks to my car and proceeds to tell me that the reason he has pulled me over is because I entered the intersection on a yellow.

"I thought it was okay to enter when it was yellow, just so long as it wasn't red?" I said. And I meant it. Somewhere, somehow my brain had been engrained to believe that entering on yellow is okay. Red, not okay. Green is good we all know that. But yellow was considered safe. You know...green means go, red means stop, yellow means hurry up and drive because the light is about to change. He informed me that it was not okay to enter on yellow (nor drive faster). I glanced at the clock...8 mins. and counting. I explained that I had to pick my kids up from school in 8 mins. and that I honestly thought it was okay to do this, but I understood that he had a job to do and that I was in the wrong--no matter what my brain told me (I did not, however, say that last part--I am only stupid to a small degree). He was very nice, told me that the two people ahead of me that had also entered on yellow could've been pulled over as well (that's just my luck isn't it?!), and that he would give me a warning and let me be on my way to pick up my kids. 6 mins. and counting. I hand over my license and he calls me in to make sure I'm not some drug dealer cruisin' in a stolen Hyundai and once that comes back clear he returns with my written warning.

"Okay, so it's not okay to enter on yellow EVER, correct?" I ask him.

He smiles.

"I'm not trying to be a smartass, I swear."

"I know," and then he tells me the law...the real law. He ends by saying that "this could've been a citation." I thank him and once again say that I had no idea.
"In Indiana it's okay to enter on yellow," I inform the cutie...I mean, officer.
"It is? Hmmm..." I am soooo thinking this is true and he's probably thinking I'm really, really stupid (because I am dead wrong--I just don't know it). 3 mins. and counting. Cutie...I mean, the officer, thanks me for being so agreeable and letting him do his job.
"Hey, no problem! My dad was a cop and I understand your position." 2 mins. and counting. He gets back in his car. I start my car, put my license in my purse, and pray that he is going the other way. As nice as he is I do not feel like driving the exact speed limit the entire way to pick up my kids. Thankfully, he goes the other way. I arrive just as the bell is ringing. I call my dad and inform him that his wonderful daughter just had her first brush with the law.

"I thought it was okay to enter on yellow," I half lament, half ask him.

"Actually, it's not. Yellow is meant to clear the intersection. The problem is that most cops don't enforce it because you're not running a red light, you're running a yellow light."

So how in the world does that translate to "this could have been a citation"?! I don't know. I do know that no matter what, it took me a half hour to stop shaking from the adrenaline and I was damned thankful that for once my stupidity actually helped me. I should be a blonde.

All you yellow light runners out there...knock it off. You could be next. And your cop might not be as nice.

I am thinking of sending him a thank you card and writing that even in Indiana I would've been wrong. I have no problems admitting when I'm wrong. My friends think this is a stupid thing to do to a cop. I think he'd like it. Plus I have the cutest cards that I made that would be fun to send him. It has a dog on it and everything...

Go Santa Paws...it's your birthday

I recently found out that all the appointments for this Saturday's Santa Paws event are booked. When Lynne from the Humane Society told me this I got all kinds of excited because the appointments are every 15 mins. "Man, that's a ton of people!!" I exclaimed. I didn't realize then that the kind of puzzled-okay, whatever you say-look Lynne gave me was because I am a total math dork. It has never been my strong suit. Even though I was once a drafter (that's right...I converted blueprints of houses into CAD drawings...which requires math) I have just never quite grasped it as much as one would think I should have. Imagine that very moment when while talking to my dad (I do that a lot) he informs me that 1 sitting every 15 mins. for 4 hrs. added up to a whopping 16 sittings. (Insert jaw drop here) Not quite what I had envisioned however it is still really good because last year I don't believe we booked all the appointments. Most people just came in and stood in line and yet it was busy, busy, busy--and raised over $4K. So even though it won't be hundreds of people with actual appointments (stupid math) I know that this year will be huge!

Those of you that haven't already booked your appointment for Saturday the 26th might want to try and get in now. Otherwise you are more than welcome to come on down, put your name on the list, check out my oh so cute Gina Alexander bags that I will be displaying, and all the other cool merchandise that Bend Pet Express offers. It's gonna be crazy AND fun!!

The Lexi-meister

Keep in mind that I have been both too busy and too lazy to take proper pictures of the gorgeous Lexi, but here are a few for your viewing pleasure. Yes, even professional photographers take crappy snapshots.

Lexi on bottom left, Kya on upper right--contemplating the meaning of life.

For the first few days, Kya kept trying to wrestle Lexi and Lexi kept going away. That has changed. Now Lexi layeths the smacketh down on Kya. Take that little sister.

I keep telling her she doesn't have to suck up to him, but she knows what charming a man can get you--food. And good food at that.

That's all for now. I swear I'll get some good ones and some that actually show Lexi's face soon. I want to have DH bring them to Santa Paws but he is convinced I will just traumatize them. I think they'd like to see Santa...and have a small woman man-handle them (lovingly of course)...and have a big guy with a mustache squeak things and make noises at them...and then have this bright ass flash go off in their faces multiple times. I mean, that sounds like fun to me!!

My ever lovin' search

Behold the thing that I covet. That's right...it's Tylenol PM with Vanilla. Why on Earth would anyone covet that you ask? I have no idea. But I wan't it. I'm sure it will not taste nearly as good as I am imagining it will. And I am sure that I will not wake up the next morning feeling refreshed and well-rested. I will instead feel as if I have taken something to help me sleep...which usually translates into groggy, blurry, and stumbly the next morning. Still, I want it. I went looking for it again last night and knowing that Fred Meyer's does not have it I hit Albertson's. And then Wal-Mart. Yes, I went into Wal-Mart for this golden liquid that will probably make me smack myself and say, "Why oh why did you want this for?!" when I actually do find and buy it. Mind you I was looking for it because I am sick. It is either a head cold or stress...or a combination of both...but I needed and wanted some relief. I told my dad about this prize of prizes and he had never heard of it. "Maybe it didn't do well so they pulled it," we reasoned. Maybe. Or maybe "they" just want to taunt me. Don't ask who "they" are because I couldn't tell you--but I can tell you that whenever life isn't going the way you want it to it's always fun to blame "them" or "they" or "those guys." Try it sometime. Back on subject: I am sick. Tylenol PM with Vanilla is for sleeplessness with pain. Not stuffiness, not mucous, not coughing, not anything like that. But I was so sure it would do the trick that I went out 30 minutes before my beloved Lost started in order to try and find that which I covet. Albertson's did not have it though they did have the other same-shaped-bottle-same-stuff-but-not-with-Vanilla-in-it medicine. I sighed and decided I would muster up what little strength I had to venture in to Wal-Mart on a Wed. evening. I was not disappointed by the interesting life stuff that usually can be seen going on inside the confines of Wal-Mart. There were two kids dressed in footy pajamas hanging out of baskets, there was a very tall woman wearing a "Nancy's Trucking" jacket (go Nancy!!), and tired, confused looking people at every turn. There was not, however, any Tylenol PM with Vanilla. There was the same-shaped-bottle-same-stuff-but-not-with-Vanilla-in-it-medicine all over the place, though. See...I told you "they" taunt me.

I settled for Nyquil. I am still high from Nyquil despite taking it at 10 p.m. last night and only taking 1 instead of the recommended 2. It did not taste like Vanilla. But then, I got the pills and not the liquid. I know better.

I will find that Tylenol PM with Vanilla. I will buy it. I will take it. And I will hate myself the next morning.

Santa Paws is coming

This will be my 3rd year doing the Santa Paws event for the Humane Society and I am stoked to be shooting it again. It is always fun seeing the different pets that people bring in and people that have supported this event year after year. We will be offering different sizes and Christmas Cards like last year however we're also adding folded cards to the mix. No matter what it's a great fundraiser that is a lot of fun for pets and their people.

Hope to see you at one of the locations and times below:

Saturday Nov. 19th -- 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Westside Bend Pet Express
Saturday Nov. 26th -- 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Eastside Bend Pet Express

Call 382-3537 to schedule an appointment or just come on down!

And then there were two...

Yesterday, DH, Kya, and I all drove 4+ hrs. to the Washington/Oregon border to pick up the newest addition to our family...Channahon's Kolexi of Saghalie (a.k.a. Lexi). She is a beautiful 2 yr. old Chinook that is just as sweet as can be. She and Kya are half-sisters (they share the same father) and Lexi was also half-sister to Toli (they shared the same mom). The car ride was completely unenventful as both girls did very well--despite Kya's constant bothering of Lexi. She is the typical little sister...has to do everything Lexi does, always jumping on Lexi, and generally just being a big pain in the ass to her. We figure that once Lexi is more settled that will change. :o)

When we arrived home last night Lexi was quite confused and scared. We let both girls out in the backyard and it took us over 30 mins. to convince Lexi it was okay to come back inside. Our hearts just broke for her as it does for her mom who had to give her up. We know with time and patience Lexi will be back to normal and we are giving her all the love and space she needs. This morning has proven much better as she has warmed up to the point that she was trying to jump up on me. Plus, I even got lots of kisses before I went to bed last night, so there's hope yet! She's a total sweetheart and I know she'll fit in perfectly here.

Today will be a big day for both of them. We're taking them both to the U-Wash so they can smell purty. Then the kiddos will be coming back from my dad's and will get to meet Lexi. They are both excited and nervous as I told them that Lexi is bigger than Kya. She was raised around kids about the same age as ours so hopefully she'll be extra gentle w/them. For now it seems that anytime I pet Lexi, Kya must stop whatever she is doing, run across the room, and be petted as well. (insert rolley eye icon here) :o) Both of us feel very lucky to have two Chinooks grace our presence and home and we feel very honored that Cheryl entrusted the care of Lexi to us.

Pictures coming soon! I didn't want to traumatize Lexi anymore than we already did. :oO