THE ZOO!!!

On our way to Janet's dog show this morning in Logan, which we got up at 8am to attend, she called and told us we shouldn't bother. But since we were half way to Salt Lake already we decided to do something fun while we were out. We being Kyle, his sister Erinn and her two kids, Connor (pictured above) and Elise (strapped to Erinn's back through the whole trip). It was great! 9am is the perfect time to arrive at the zoo. The weather was quite nice and the lines were non-existant. By the time we left a little past noon the sun was wretchedly hot, there were crowds everywhere, the line to get in was down the block, and the closest parking was at least three blocks away. But we just had to meandere the hundred feet to our very close parking spot to go home. It was great. I definitely recommend it. None of this sleep stuff. You can do that later. The exhibits at the zoo are improved too. The elephants have so much space and the hippos are gone. It's probably just as well. It was such a sad exhibit with the dark musty smell of hippos living on concrete slabs. My favorite animal was the Collared Peccaries. They are hairy pigs and so so cute! I've included a picture to appease your confusion/curiosity:

This isn't one that actually lives in the Hogle Zoo, because we all forgot our cameras. The picture of Connor and me is from Kyle's phone. Not bad for a phone picture! My phone camera sucks. But that's a different story. Long story short: I love zoos and I was so excited that we got to go today!

A Quickie

Not that kind of quickie you sick-os. My mother-in-law went to pick up my sister-in-law and her two children and her two dogs to come for a visit. She didn't want to go alone and promised me that I'd be back for my Wednesday appointments so we left Tuesday at 5am--yes I was on time, early even--and drove to l.a. After an hour and a half stop at Erinn's house we came straight back. And to answer all your questions--it was not awkward to be with my mother-in-law alone for that long. I really like her and we get along really well. I was really glad I could go with her. We even shared a bed and blankets. Kyle says that now we need to find a way for him and Bob to share a bed... let me know if you have any great ideas. I think it'd be good for him. He would appreciate how little I relieve gas if he spent a night with Bob. But the trip was quick and exhausting. I can't imagine how Janet, my mother-in-law felt. I slept a ton and she didn't hardly get to at all. Hardly even at night with two dogs and two kids. Despite her lack of sleep and Erinn's doddling Janet was true to her word and got me back on time for my appointment--which didn't go as well as I hoped...I had no idea what to say! That's how I feel often at my job, but I love it. Today I got to make dream catchers with a cute little six year old boy. I love my jobs- I'm really lucky. Anyway. I'm back and busy now! And I don't think the traveling screwed up my sleeping too bad. It's before midnight and I'm off to read Host until I fall asleep.

P.S. To any of those reading Host. Hang in during the beginning. It gets better.

BORED BORED BORED!!!

I so can not sleep. I have the most boring life now--I work around 16 hours week so long as people don't cancel on me, which happened all day today. So I sleep out of boredom and then I am up all night and then I am extra bored because everyone is sleeping. I can't stand it!!! My sleeping has been way off anyway since I ended school and this is just so much worse. I already finished the book I was reading, half of my netflix discs, and utterly failed to pass any levels on the Mario DS game tonight and really just want to sleep. But alas, here I go to start yet another novel.

Seattle

Kass and I went to Seattle this last weekend and it was so great to see Keri's family. We went to the aquarium, zoo, Taryn's soccor game in the rain and hung out a lot. It was so fun and her kids are so funny. I figured pictures are more interesting than words so here you go.

Cats and Dogs!!!

I'm not really a big animal lover, except when it's baby animals. The cats are Kurt's and the dogs are Kyle's mom's. They are both trying to find homes for all of them. I would take one but I hate hair and we're not allowed to have pets of any kind. But I'm actually kind of glad we have that excuse, because I think they're cute to play with but I have no desire to clean up pee poop puke or hair. The dog that Kyle is playing with has one blue eye and one brown, which makes him the cutest, but also disqualifies him from being a show dog. So if we were to take a dog, that would be the one. And his name is Star! How perfect!

How to get to know your neighbor.

Last night we looked at Pianos and then we bought this one this morning and they delivered it promptly. There were two delivery men who stood around a lot perplexed by our staircase. They finally said it couldn't be done, but that was not acceptable. I asked if they could just lift it over the railing and he said maybe if there were like five more guys, so I started knocking on every door in every building around us, even though I've only met two of them. I ended up rounding up four other guys and then Kyle got home. The delivery guys were coming up with this intense plan involving the truck and ramps, etc., but then the three hispanic guys I found just started heaving it up the stairs, quite the initiative. So they got it half way up, had to slide it up the upper railing and then rotate it onto the ground. After much grunting it was in front of our door, and then the delivery guy once again said, it's not going to work. I started to panic a little, but once again the hispanic guys paid no heed and got it in! They were so great. I'm gonna make them cookies. If it wasn't for them I don't think it would have made its way in. This is by far the greatest thing I have ever purchased! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! By the way, I have openings for piano students--so give out my name and number!

Emo

I saw this guy online and I had to make it for Jessica. The pattern was pricey so with Kyle's encouragement I tried to figure out how to make it on my own and it was a huge success! I love it. My next creation I'll embark on without a pattern is going to be Dr. Zoidberg from Futurama.