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Littering our noise on the Earth
Archive for August, 2008
August 15, 2008 at 1:34 pm · Filed under Better World, Pets
We got a dog!
We told O that as soon as we sold the tiger bus (our ‘71 VW) we could add a dog to the family. He was pretty attached to the VW, and didn’t want us to sell it, but once we made that deal he never looked back. We sold the bus right before we went to Colorado and - without meaning to do it so quickly - found a dog the day after we got home.
Ziggy was part of the Pixie Project, whose mission is this:
he Pixie Project is a non-profit animal adoption center and pet supply store conveniently located five minutes from downtown Portland. Our goal is to help alleviate overcrowding at high-intake county shelters by taking adoptable animals and making them available for adoption in a nurturing and family friendly environment. We then match happy, healthy, loving animals with their forever homes.
The people at Pixie make sure that they can keep track of the animals they adopt out for the rest of their lives, and really try to ensure that the pet and family are a good match. After we filled out the paperwork they answered any questions we had, ordered us a cute dog tag, and will cover any vet bills for the first few weeks. They will even help you to find a pet if they get lost. I felt good about using a place so dedicated to the animals.
His description was so perfect, we had a hard time believing it was all true:
I am an adorable, loving and smart 2 year old Pointer / Lab mix who is sweet with everyone and everything! I adore other doggies, cat, and kids and I love to play. I am smart and already know all of my basic commands and I am house and crate trained. I am loving and always up for a fun adventure. I am just an all around cool, cool guy!
We went and met him, filled out the seven page application of doom, and found out by the end of the day that we were approved. They were worried he might have some separation anxiety because he wasn’t with his friend he came to the shelter with, but he has been nothing but fantastic since he came home. The description was perfect! He is mellow and friendly and has a set of super long legs.
He was put in his place by Sophie this morning - she stalked him under the kitchen table and backed him into a corner against the couch before laying down in front of him and not letting him leave. He finally just gave up on the crazy cat and went to sleep.
August 14, 2008 at 9:19 am · Filed under Vacation
We made it home! Someone needs to let the town of Sublett, Idaho know that they are halfway between Portland and Denver and should build a nice comfy hotel. We stayed in Ogden, Utah instead of Twin Falls, Idaho, hoping to even out the drive a bit. Instead, we managed to switch the long and short days around. At least when you get back into Oregon you lose an hour and it seems like you haven’t been driving quite as long.
Colorado Sunrise
Once again, the kids did surprisingly well. Movie players are the way to go. When they weren’t watching, they were sleeping. We stopped for lunch on the first day at a brewery in Rock Springs, WY. It was called Bitter Creek Brewing, and the beer was actually quite tasty (I had the stout, D had the alt). Unfortunately they were out of three of their normal brews, which limited our choices. I was stunned to find a restaurant in the middle of nowhere Wyoming that had gardenburgers on the menu. Excellent!
Wyoming
Bitter Creek Brewing
The motel (just a Best Western) had a pool, so the kids had a chance to cool off and work off some energy before bed. We hit the road after a really tasty breakfast at the coffee shop (Jeremiahs - kids had chocolate chip pancakes, I had french toast made with banana bread, D had a really tasty veg omelet). We saw a ton of pronghorn antelope going through Wyoming, but after that we didn’t really see any wildlife at all, except one lone coyote and the requisite roadkill (skunk, badger, fox).
Columbia River & Mt. Hood in the distance
The trip was fun, but we are glad to be done with all that driving. D and I did get a chance to listen to some good podcasts, which really helped the time go by.
August 10, 2008 at 6:33 pm · Filed under Vacation
I really wanted to go up in the mountains while we were here, so we drove up I-70 into the trees. We stopped briefly in quaint little Idaho Springs before moving to Echo Lake.
The lake is at 10,550 feet in elevation and it was cloudy, sprinkling and cold. We were all wearing shorts and sandals, but braved the little trail around the lake. The scenery was beautiful, with higher peaks shrouded in mist behind the lake and clouds reflected in crystal clear water. We ignored the goosebumps and raindrops and enjoyed our lunch.
O had a great time running in and around the trees and scaling the boulders. XM liked watching the ducks.
Saw spectacular sunrays through the clouds over Denver tonight, it gives the illusion that we are now so close to the sun that the beams don’t have as far to go. There was also a huge rainbow stretching almost as far as the eye could see. It was stunning.
We leave bright and early tomorrow, back through Wyoming and on to Ogden, Utah where we’ll spend the night in an air conditioned hotel room and not a broiling cabin.
August 9, 2008 at 8:45 am · Filed under Vacation
Walked around downtown Denver (aka LoDo) yesterday. Started with a delicious lunch at Breckinridge Brewery, across the street from Coors Field. All the beer was delicious. Good variety of veg food. Friendly & attentive service.
Walked up & down 16th street mall. City getting cleaned up & decked out for Democratic Convention next week.
Made a final stop at Wynkoop Brewery. Service frazzled & terse. Beer not very tasty. My Monkey’s Fist IPA was downright foul (should have guessed by the name) - I drank less than half of it.
Got home in time to watch big black cloud head our way. Constant lightning, it was crazy. Watched the Beijing Opening Ceremonies when the weather allowed the signal to work.
August 7, 2008 at 3:22 pm · Filed under Beer, Vacation
Free tour plus three free tasters, all you need is the time.
August 7, 2008 at 8:55 am · Filed under Vacation
Drove for 12 plus hours yesterday across Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, & Colorado. Had clouds with us from Utah on through, crazy rain in CO-had to pull over until we could see again.
Arrived a little after 8pm, got a good nights sleep & all cleaned up. Looks like a beautiful day ahead!! Going to tour the Coors Brewery.
August 5, 2008 at 6:40 pm · Filed under Vacation
It’s hot. We are on a vacation, heading towards Denver to visit friends. Everywhere we go, it is hot. I never get used to it.
We spent 10 hours on the road today, driving from Portland to Eden, Idaho, which is just east of Twin Falls. The kids each had access to a movie player, which kept them occupied for many hours. We played a little scenery bingo, & didn’t hear “I’m bored” until we were 17 miles from our final stop of the day.
We had lunch at the Baker City Cafe in Baker City ( duh). It was delicious, & the people were super nice. Cute town. We are staying at Anderson Camp RV Park in one of their camping cabins. The kids love the bunk beds.
We had dinner at the pub attached to Trail Creek Brewing. Good food, & really tasty beer. Time for early bed. Wish the cabin had A/C…
Tomorrow: through Utah, Wyoming, & Colorado to Denver!
(10 points if you can name the song referenced in the title)
ETA: night was terrible. Sweltering in cabin. Had to play musical bunks all night. Somehow I ended up in the top bunk.
