I Can't Get No...

I had a craving for something other than my standard, leftover, grilled chicken and veggies for lunch today. I decided to hit up the drive-thru (shudder. I know) and grab me one of those tasty (looking) new Southern Style chicken sandwiches from McDonald's. I ordered and pulled ahead with my debit card out ready to be swiped. 

Nope. Sorry. Not going to happen. 

Their credit card machine was down, did I have any cash on me? Ha. In this day in age? I save my cash for tipping the bartender! So, I pulled out of line and headed home to let the dogs out. 

The craving stayed with me, and not be able to have it made it worse. So, I headed to the ATM to pull out $20 and back in the drive-thru line I went. This time, I ordered and had a crisp bill in hand to pay for my sustenance. The McDonald's employee and I exchanged goods. I drove to a shady spot and opened my sack, pulled out a (surprisingly light) box... only to find a box of chicken tenders. Not curiously non-chicken-like-nuggets.. but real, chicken tenders. Blah. Who wants that? 

That meant I had to get out of my car and head back inside and explain that my order was wrong. I finally got my southern style chicken sandwich and dashed for the car. I couldn't wait to devour it! 

Guess what? That sandwich wasn't very good. There's nothing on it but two pickles! Ugh. I think the fried-crispy-goodness gods must have been trying to warn me. I should have paid attention. 

Monking Around

Some of you remember the friend of my husband's who decided to become a Buddhist Monk in Thailand. Some of you have even asked how he's doing. So, I thought I'd give a little update...


But first....


My husband, Crystal's husband, the Buddhist Monk, and (as you all like to call him) Will Ferrel have all been BFFs since they were .. oh two or three. They all grew up in Bakersfield together, and most of them went to high school together. They were in boy scouts and play groups with each other. When college came, they all went their separate ways (from UCLA to Cornell).

Left to Right: Andrew (aka Will Ferrell), Mario (Crystal's hubby), Brandon (mine!), Sean (the now, Buddhist Monk). 

When Brandon and I first started dating and I learned of these friendships, I was a might bit intimidated. I had had boyfriends who worshiped their friends to the point that no girl ever stood a chance. Even before I got a chance to meet these guys, I knew right away that .. oh my gosh.. not only do they have an incredibly special friendship... they have healthy relationships with each other AND others. These guys are fabulous role models for what friendship should be.

Yesterday, we got some pictures in the mail from Sean's ordination ceremony. He also sent an email telling us that after the ceremony, they travelled to northern Thailand for a retreat. Here are his words telling about the trip back to the temple: 

On the last day of the one month program, we boarded another double-decker touring bus to return to Bangkok. Our driver was in a hurry, so he sped through the windy mountain turns dangerously, narrowly escaping cliffs that dropped hundreds of meters down into a river. But the last turn proved too twisty for our driver, so our bus fell off of the road and began to roll down the mountain. I thought we were done for. We all did. Fortunately, a big tree at the edge of the final precipice stopped our momentum. If the tree wasn't there, I would not be alive right now.

After a few days in the hospital, he's now back at the temple and we were able to talk to him last night.  He seems quite happy with his decision, and plans on remaining at the temple for a while. 

Here are a few pictures of the ordination ceremony... 

Now, I don't know if Monk's are allowed to blog, but Sean... if you are, I highly suggest you start! ... Congratulations! (Is that what one says to another after they are ordained?) 

Fame!

A while back, Finny had a dose of fame on LOLBostons.com ... yesterday, a kind Woofer informed me that my pups had (somehow) made it onto ihashotdog.com. 

see more dog pictures

My Other Love

HIS name is Thor. Most of the time, I call him Thor-Bear, Bear, Bear-Claw... or even My little Baklava.

He's the oldest of my two, and by far, the most sensitive one. If he were human, he'd be our little poet. He is attentive, obedient (for the most part), and oh so eager to please. His most valuable skill is being the perfect size (lengthwise and widthwise) for spooning while my husband is out of town. He snorts and grunts in his sleep. His little bottom teefers are crooked. He is perfection in the shape of a sausage-y, mutant-sized, boston terrier. 

Changes

Like I mentioned before, I was in a funk last week. The truth can come out now, I was a little stressed. I was actually in the process of interviewing for a job I really wanted.

Long story short... I got the job. Today, I gave my two weeks notice to my current job. It was something I had stressed out about all weekend.

Changing jobs is a good thing for me, for many reasons. Though it is always hard to leave something you are familiar and comfortable with and start a new job and have to learn all over again, to be familiar and comfortable. I am up for the task. 

....All of that being said, I've been sort of in and out for a while because that is all I have really been consumed with recently and I couldn't quite discuss it on my blog. I actually prefer not to discuss anything about work on my blog, but figured this was benign enough yet still allowed for you to get a glimpse at what I've been doing lately. 

I start the new job in the middle of August... right after a short weekend camping trip with our friends! Woohoo. I really need the camping trip ... and I really need some s'mores. 

**PS... we aren't going camping until August 15-17.

His Favorite Spot

His name is Finnegan. We like to call him Finn, Finny, Da Finny-Winnies, and more recently, his nickname has been Skinny-Minnie... or Skinny for short.

He comes to you only when he decides he will allow you to give him attention. He can be stubborn. His most popular move, to stop dead in his tracks, stick out his bottom teeth, turn his head away from you and freeze. He usually does this when you are either asking him to do something, or getting him in trouble. He loves being perched on top of our love seat - either sleeping or with his ears perked and staring out the kitchen window watching people come and go. 

I love him. 

High Hopes

Around three months ago, Brandon and I decided to try and change our dogs' food. The change was based on stool quality and possible allergies.  We did some research and got some recommendations and eventually did a taste test to see which one the dogs actually preferred. Don't blame me! The taste test was actually inspired by this fancy lady! ha. 

Unfortunately, that food didn't help the situation. We waited about a month and their stools never firmed up. We decided to just gradually switch them back to their previous food, Canidae All Stages. 

This summer, Canidae announced that their dog food formulas were changing and that they were going to be manufactured by a less than reputable company. I don't know about you, but after the last dog food recalls and with Thor's history of digestive problems (regardless of if I brought them on or not), the new ingredients in the food and reputation of the new company worried me a little. 

Since I that initial food change in May, I've been pestering poor Colleen about her choice to switch Rocco to a raw diet. Rocco is a French Bulldog, and my dogs are Boston Terriers (poorly bred Boston Terriers, but Boston Terriers none the less). Both breeds actually have similar traits, from smooshy snouts, to ears that (should) naturally stand up and natural cork screw tails to their stout stature and broad chests. These breeds also prone to some of the same ailments.

My two boys, Finnegan and Thor, boston terriers. 

A picture from Colleen of Rocco, the Frenchie.

Colleen switched Rocco's food because of a vomiting issue. There wasn't an elongated soft palate or anything involved and her vet suggested switching foods. Her trainer took her to a holistic pet food store and recommended the raw foods. Since this change, Colleen's claimed that Rocco's vomiting has stopped for the most part. 

Brandon and I have a similar problem with Thor, and have a possible allergy problem with Finn. Today, I did some research and found loads of information on Woof Board and through out the internet concerning different brands of raw dog food. After reading the pros and cons of raw dog food, we came to the conclusion that it could be just what we were looking for! 

A few example of the benefits of raw dog food: (taken from Nature's Variety's website)

• Fewer allergies or controlled allergy symptoms
  
• Lush, glossy coat and helathy skin for less shedding
  
• Smaller, firmer stools for less backyard cleanup
  
• Healthy teeth and gums for better breath
  
• Increased energy for improved vitality and health

So... on top of it helping Colleen out with Rocco's tummy problems... we decided to give it a go. Our first day with it will be tomorrow. I know that with raw food the daily amount changes .. actually they eat much less because unlike dry kibble, their bodies are able to digest most of the food... but I am still nervous about how Thor is going to respond to "less" food each day. He's quite the piggy... but has a good 4 pounds to loose anyway.  

... I sure hope this works.