Into the Wild

Okay, so remember how awhile back, I did a post dedicated to the best movie that has ever been made, Harry and the Hendersons? In that post (if you don't feel like reading it), I talked about how there is so much nature that we don't see, and how I always see animal tracks at the Nature Park, but never see the animals. Well, I know where they hide now- in our backyard.

As you've probably gathered (or as you probably already know because you know me and that is why you are reading this), part of my daily routine is getting Molly out for a good walk. We usually do two walks, but if we have the opportunity, we'll do one super long one, usually at the Nature Park, or along the trails near our house. These walks have become one of my favourite things, and I was so looking forward to a summer full of them. In referencing another past post, I did a photo blog a couple weeks ago, detailing an amazing adventure Molly and I went on one morning. It was so much fun, and I could not wait to do it again. Fast forward to now- Molly and I have been doing lame sidewalk/subdivision walks for the past week or more, out of fear that we will get eaten by large, scary, monster animals. Okay, not really, but we have been avoiding the trails out of fear.

It's out there...

 It all began two Saturdays ago, when I was leaving the graveyard and a woman stopped me to tell me there had been a coyote sighting in the area. Yikes! She advised me to carry a whistle with me when I was out walking, just in case. I don't consider myself a paranoid person, and usually I would brush this sort of thing off. However, a couple things set off a mental alarm in my head: 1) The woman ended our conversation with "A coyote would love to get a piece of that dog", and then looked at Molly. Thanks lady. 2) Animals are out there, they always have been. However, there are less wooded areas for them now, and that means less food. So they obviously need to leave the woods to find what they need to survive- Beagles and Beagle owners, of course.

A couple nights later, I was sitting in my living room, when I saw an animal scurry across the church parking lot behind our house. I quickly got up and ran to the window. Most nights, we see a fox we named Peter run through, but this animal was different. It was darker, and ran pretty fast. Coyote, Clinton told me. Gah!

Last Saturday, Clinton told me that after dropping me off at a friend's house, he came home to find Peter the fox screeching at the sweet little dog that lives across the street from us. He said it was making an awful noise, and the neighbours had to whip rocks at him to make him leave. Sheesh- why would Peter do such a thing? He's always seemed so nice when scurrying into the church parking lot and peeing in their flowers, and then prancing off again. But not anymore- Peter's hungry for white, fluffy dogs...or a Beagle? Nah...maybe? No.

Later on, around 1am Clinton tells me, Molly started barking at something out the back window- towards the church parking lot. When Clinton got up and wiped his tears from watching Marley and Me with Molly (why anyone would make themselves suffer like that is beyond me), he saw not one, not two, but three coyotes. Holy moly! Friends, I am terrified. Molly and I are suburban walkers now, and it is soooo boring. I miss the trails, but I think every time a squirrel scurried across the path now, I would be blowing the whistle Clinton gave me "just in case".  I mean, look at this insanity:

"Molllllllyyyyyyyyy!!!!!"

Am I being foolish? Should I continue to be enjoying nature with my dog? I know that coyotes and fox have always been around, and I also know that it's not as though I'm walking around with a chihuahua, but I also know that coyotes have actually attacked people before, and also that my dog (as sweet as she is) is so friendly and playful that she would probably run at one, tongue hanging out like Odie, begging to be attacked. Peter doesn't scare me so much, but those dang coyotes...I feel that they would be like bullies, stronger in numbers. My whistle might not do it. Seriously, take me back to the part of the city with no woods around it...I'll take the traffic over the crazy animals.

Words to Live By

I'm so embarrassed that I actually blogged about Casey Anthony this morning that I felt I had to follow up with a blog slightly more suited to this page. I'm back!

I found this page of quotes today on (you guessed it) Pinterest (I should get paid every time I promote that lifesucking page). I'm pretty sure I agree with most of them. I had to share my favourites (with commentary, since I love to hear/read/share my own thoughts) because they are priceless.

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
- I have actually said to my best friend "If I die, I need you to burn my diaries. They are located..." (like I'm actually going to publish that!)

2. Nothing sucks more than the moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
- This is the point in the argument where I just storm off and say "I don't want to talk about it anymore!" Then I sit in my room, and go "Okay, do I apologize, or just let it fizzle out? Crap!"

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
- I would have to ask my mom, but I'm pretty sure I was always game for a nap. Anyway, I would definitely revisit the lifestyle where a daily nap or two was acceptable.

4. There is a great need for a sarcasm font
- I would be elated if they came out with a sarcasm font. It is my nature to be sarcastic, and sometimes I have a difficult time relaying my snarkiness through email, texts, and other social networking devices.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
- I've often wondered if there is a right way to do this that nobody told me about. I make what I call "a linen ball". I then fold the top sheet nice and neat, and stack it over top to flatten the ball. Good enough for me.

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
- Have to say, I have never wondered this until now. I never use cursive unless I am signing my name. Printer all the way.

7. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told how the person died
- I know it's morbid, but I often look for that when reading the obituaries. I can't help my curiosity! I also read dates on gravestones when walking Molly through the graveyard, and wonder how those people died. It's so weird. I am a weirdo.

8. I can't remember the last time that I wasn't at least kind of tired
- Seriously, what is up with that? I could always go for a lay down. I'm not always thinking about it, but at any given moment, if someone said "Go lay down", I think I would.

9. Bad decisions make good stories
- Sad, but true.

10. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu-Ray? I don't want to have to start my collection all over again...again.
- I don't even have Blu-Ray yet, so the thought of something else coming to replace it scares the bejeesus out of me.

11. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes I made to my 10-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
- Why does this happen? I am so happy I am not the only one who suffers from that moment of "Ah, what do I hit??" I have merely read a paper that I just opened, and gone to close it when it prompts me to save the changes...that I didn't make. Or did I? So confusing.

12. I hate when I leave my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone if importance the entire day. What a waste.
- I agree with this, but what I hate more is running to the store really quickly to grab something lame, like milk, in your jogging pants with yesterday's makeup falling off your face and your hair shooting in every direction and running into someone. Usually, someone you haven't seen in years. Probably someone who hated you in high school, and is now laughing about what a wreck you turned out to be. The worst!

13. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
- Never understood that one. Why the fridge and not the freezer? We use the fridge more? The freezer is up higher? Who knows...eternal mystery. If you do know, please share.

14. I wish Google maps had an "Avoid ghetto" routing option.
- This just made me giggle. I've never thought this, and have never had a problem with maps, but I find it quite hilarious. Maybe if I lived in a big city where there was actually a real ghetto full of danger, it would concern me. We just have kids with knives and such. No biggie.

15. I would rather try to carry ten overloaded plastic bags in each hand than take two trips to bring my groceries in.
- I do this all the time, and always end up dropping a bag, or the massive load of toilet paper I am carrying under my arm. Then I enter the house frustrated and angry, and swear I am not getting the next order of groceries. This is all Clinton's fault! ARGH!

16. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text
- So many people do this...I would never...pfft

17. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between hunger and boredom
- Probably my biggest problem. I have started asking myself "Are you really hungry?" The answer is always yes, but I do think about sometimes.

18. As a driver, I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.
- Yes! You are not driving a car...please get away from the middle of the road! PS- Simms Corner=not a bike lane. Alternate route, please.

I feel better now that I have posted something a little lighter and more my style. Now back to cleaning my house. Happy Wednesday :)

I Have No Legal Education Nor Experience...

Okay, so I know that this is getting far too much attention, and it's quite sickening the way the media has glamourized it, but I cannot stop thinking about this Casey Anthony case. It honestly has to be one of the most messed up, insane true stories I have ever heard, which is why it is so captivating...like a bad accident. Nobody wants to look, but people can't bring themselves to look away.  At least I can't, and I feel guilty for it.

I wasn't following the case, but my husband was. Every day, he would tell me what he read on CNN, and the more details he gave me, the more I found myself Googling articles and videos from the courtroom. After yesterday's verdict, I felt like I could throw up. I understand that the cold, hard evidence needed to convict Casey Anthony of murder just was not there- I get that. However, what happens now? That woman has so much explaining to do, and yet now she doesn't have to explain anything to anyone. She's been tried, and she's been found not guilty, so that's it? And why was she found not guilty as far as neglecting her child goes? Don't you think not knowing where your daughter is for thirty- one days and doing nothing about it constitutes neglect? Wouldn't the opposite of neglect mean caring for your child, and most importantly, making sure they have the basic needs of life and are safe? And by safe, I mean knowing where they are. Seriously, if I had a young child and they were missing for thirty-one minutes, I would be losing my mind.

Now, I've been thinking about the law...which I don't really think about too often. I'm more into thinking about food and clothes and crafts and stuff. You know, the big things. But submersing myself in this case the last couple days has got my wheels turning. These lawyers have been working their asses off on this case, however the final verdict comes down to the jurors. These are every day citizens with no legal background, but yet they get to decide the fate of people. Why is that? Who came up with that system? I get the whole "neutral third party" deal. But I just can't wrap my head around why these decisions are left in the hands of every day folks like you and I, when there are people that study law and go to school for years to be part of the system. I'm baffled. I'm also baffled as to why people who are being tried for any crime don't have to testify. For real! I can't understand why it is optional. If a person cannot take the stand without jeopardizing their "not guilty" stance, then doesn't that indicate that they have something to hide? If I was being tried for something, and I knew I didn't do it, I would have no problem testifying to save myself. It's just shady, shady business, and I really feel like these "rules" need to be re-evaluated. I am miffed. Like I said, I get the whole "we need hard evidence" thing, but the legal system is weighing on me right now, and I can't help but think that some changes need to be made. There are just some things that make me scratch my head. And since I like to think simple thoughts, this is really bugging me!

I just had to write about this and get it out of my system- I apologize if you got here thinking you were going to read about the bee hive Molly and I found on our walk, or a new way to make a grilled cheese. Next time, kind readers...next time.

Dang, that's crunchy

I'm always on the lookout for new foods...and I am also always on the lookout for cheap foods. Too often, I'll find myself jotting down a new recipe, only to rip it up and throw it away because I don't already have, nor do I want to buy, half the ingredients. I especially hate things that call for celery. I  buy it, use one stalk, and find myself hesitantly picking up the greenish-brown soggy remains of it three weeks later from the bottom of my crisper. It's gross.  Seriously, they need to make a gorcery store where you can buy things like one stalk of celery because I will never use the entire batch. Ever. Ever. I try and fail every time.

Sidenote: I just realized I have come up with the most genius idea ever- "Produce Bulk Barn". How amazing would it be to be able to buy just enough lettuce for one salad, instead of a head of lettuce? Or two radishes instead of a whole package? One carrot, four mushrooms, etc. My dream. Kind of like a liquor store that sells mix and cigarettes (why have they not started that yet? Not that I would need the smokes, but it would save a lot of people from making multiple trips in preparation for a party). I know you can buy many things in the produce department based on how much you need (potatoes, apples, etc), but there are certain things that you are forced to buy as whole packages, and it just doesn't fly with me all the time. Again, I will never need a whole celery plant, or whatever it is.

Anyway, back to where I was going with this post. During my daily Pinterest frenzy the other day, I came across this really cute and yummy looking snack. I saw it on my friend Barb's board, and was amazed that I had all four of the ingredients. Here is the delicious work of art:

Ingredients:

Apples
Granola
Peanut butter
Chocolate chips

You simply core the apple, slice it into cute bagel-like shapes, and add the PB, granola, and chocolate chips. Then you top it with another apple slice, and voila! It is so yummy! I don't have an apple corer, and tried to do it manually, but was not successful. So, I just cut the sides off the apple, and did it that way. It's all going to be eaten anyway, and I imagine my not-so-cute apple sandiwches tasted just as good as the better looking ones in the picture. I highly recommend this as a fast, delicious snack. Happy snacking, readers!

How Can You Live Up?

This is my grandmother:

  

She is going to be 92-years old this year. I know, right?

She still lives in her house, where she has lived since she was four. Her mind is all there, and she does not have a caretaker, or anyone visiting her home (besides her children) to help her with her day-to-day. She always has on fabulous clothes (I remember looking at her on Easter Sunday, and thinking "Would it be weird if I asked Gran if I could borrow her scarf sometime?" I decided it probably would be, although she absolutely would let me), and takes care to make sure she looks her best when going out. I've never seen her with a grey hair (not to say this has not occurred, but it has to be a rarity), and have only had to visit her in the hospital once, when she had surgery on her knee. Did you read that? Her knee. Did I mention she's almost ninety-two???

I can't help but wonder what her secret is. I know she was never a big drinker (so I'm not really sure what happened to the rest of us), and was not a smoker. She has a huge heart, made of some indestructible matter, like tungsten. Her kids are all funny, and from what I'm told, so was my grandfather. I firmly believe lots of laughter can really do a person good. Gran could be living proof of that.

I feel very lucky to have Gran, and she is absolutely the center of our entire family. The list of admirable qualities she carries could go on forever, but there is one downside to being a part of her clan: huge shoes to fill. How can anyone live up to that? She's the best of the best!