Anyone Got a Chain Saw?

Yipes! Boise has been having a lot more random wind and thunderstorms in the evenings than I remember from summer-past! While they are fun to watch, they are NOT fun to the new home-owner, particularly one with mature landscaping and a POND to clean out!!

Does anyone have a chain-saw I can borrow??

Jared said when I took the 3rd photo (yes, yes, before I actually put the camera down to help him!) "Don't take that picture! Everyone will start telling you that I rigged this the wrong way!" Hey! I figure, if he was the only one around able to help me out? He can use whatever he is willing to donate from that scary van of his! I was waiting for him to bust out a bungy cord!

What you can't see in these photos is Tuggles, right in the middle of the action. When there are fireworks going off (and my neighbors went crazy until well past midnight!) he is never more than 2 inches away from his Mama at any time. He was huddled next to my foot in each photo. Once we went inside and Jared petted him, he was fine. Poor Dogger!

I Have the Greatest Friends!

July 1st was my birthday - either you know how old I am, or you don't need to!!


I haven't had a birthday party since I was four years old... My friend Tina opened up her house, her yard and her barbecue to, oh, I dunno, maybe 40 of my closest friends?!?! Whatta gal! She even got me my first keg... Those were sweet, sweet words: "I just tapped my first keg!"

I was too overwhelmed to bring my camera to the festivities... but here's a shot of my gifts. I was really moved...

And, I was really ok with never having another party where the focus is all about me, me, me!! Seriously - never again. Opening presents in front of everyone, the tiara, nope, nope, nope. Very fun, but now that I have experienced it , it's all good. I'm done. That rules out bridal showers, wedding receptions and baby showers, too! (Yeah, we'll see!)

The party was actually a week before my birthday. My birthday weekend was awesome, thanks, in part, to the 4th of July extended weekend. On my actual birthday, I did my Boise Run/Walk run on the Greenbelt, had coffee with Coach Steve and some of the other runners, puttered around the Saturday Market where Dan Costello serenaded me, snacked on Kettle Corn, met Adam at a new pizza place in Bodo called Proto. We poked around a scooter shop, but I decided a more reasonable mid-life crisis expenditure would be a manicure/pedicure.

Lo and behold! Upon returning home, GUESS who had mowed my lawn? Adam did! Adam did!! That's one of the bestest Birthday presents ever! Then I dragged poor Adam and Eva to a terrible play! I am normally a big supporter of community theatre, sooooo... we'll just assume it was an off-night, and say no more about it!

Funny - having a birthday infused me with a nice energy - something I really should figure out how to project more often than once a year! I had people smiling at me, telling me I "glowed," and complimenting my perfume throughout the day. I have to believe it had more to do with my confidence and something else I was giving off than the actual perfume, ya know?

The "magic" continued on Sunday, when I spent the morning stamping with some girlfriends in a coffee shop where the owner kept refilling our lattes - my idea of heaven! Then I met Coach Steve for a "core" workout and bike-ride. He let me try out his new recumbent bicycle - just not the same as the three-wheelers Adam and I rent at the Oregon Coast!

A new feature of the Boise Run/Walk fitness program is dinner with the coach! (?) Steve is a OSU fan, but as a U of O alum, I forgave him, and let him grill shish-kabobs for us. We had a nice chat about Oregon, travel, and religion... and for a non-date, sadly, it was one of the best dates I've had in a long, long time! ;o)

Thanks in part to my conversation with Steve, I met Stephanie for lunch on Monday to get some spiritual advice. I dragged her to "Renewal" (ironic?) a consignment shop on 8th Street where there is a Roy Lichtenstein print for sale that I adore. It's just really, really big, and seems a little expensive for just a print. I don't love the frame, so... I just showed Steph and controlled myself! (WHA??!! Self-control?? Could that be, no, say it isn't so - MATURITY manifesting itself??!)

Then I went on an awesome bike ride along the Greenbelt. The rest of the afternoon was spent at the Meridian DMV, renewing my license. No complaints, though - much shorter lines than in Boise and they are located right next to a Hastings, so I was able to get a number and then run next door for an iced mocha!! My picture didn't turn out too badly, considering I was a bit disheveled from my bike ride!

So, here we are on the Fourth of July, early afternoon, and all my chores are already done! Just gotta run to the store, and then I can relax before I attempt to make an appearance at TWO different parties before I get home to comfort my firecracker-distressed

dogger. Sigh... life IS good!

I've been bitching about my yard, but with Adam's help, it's

actually been very rewarding. Here's a photo of some of the rewards that come with roses, though I'm still not thrilled about the dandelions...

So all in all, aging hasn't been TOO painful this year. Good friends, great weather, presents, and beer! Who's complaining?!? Oh, and of course, there's always Tuggles. WHAT would I do with out my Uber Goober??