Fireworks and Other Scary Noises

For whatever reason, our dog doesn't flip at fireworks.  She normally ignores thunder (which is more than I can do; thunder is scary, yo!) and doesn't mind the dishwasher.  As previously discussed, the vacuum is clearly enemy #1, but other loud noises that most dogs fear usually warrant an ear-raise at best.

Last night, however, our puppers decided to start barking at fireworks.  Never before has she cared about them, and these were a good 7 or 8 miles away.  But the *boom, boom, boom* that went on for 10-15 minutes was apparently more than she cared to deal with.  We don't think she was scared so much as curious, but it was strange nonetheless.

Last year was the first fireworks experience we had with Miss Maxine (having adopted her in November of '09), and it was actually pretty wonderful.  Since she doesn't shy away at thunder, we figured, what the hell!  We'll give it a go.  Not only was she not scared, she actually sat and WATCHED the fireworks for the first 5 minutes or so.  After that, she just curled up on the blanket next to us and waited for it to be over so we could give her our full attention once again.    

We're hoping this year goes as smoothly, but with last night's little performance, it seems only time will tell...

Who Needs Sleep?

This gal.  :-(

The problem with having a clock you can read at night is that you can better count the number of times you wake up.  For example, I recall reading the following times between turning my light off around 11:45 last night and waking up to my first alarm at 7:10:

12:44

1:45

3:40

4:08

4:50

5:22

6:18

There may have even been other times where I just didn't bother to check the clock, as well.  Aye yi yi!

Part of it is my own fault.  Hubby and I took a 3.8 mile walk yesterday (which wore the puppers out and we actually had to carry her for part of it) and then ended up napping on the couches when we got home.  For a few hours.  Whoops.

Also, I apparently had my phone's volume on super high, because I can remember hearing the ding telling me I have a new email.  That's never woken me up before!  Ugh.

And then... Then there was the nightmare.  Nothing too graphic about this one, but it was terrifying.  I think I was a kid again and I was hiding from some hired killers who were at the house to kill my family.  I won't/can't go into much more detail, but suffice it to say that it woke me up and kept me up for a bit last night.

Here's hoping I don't fall asleep on my keyboard while working this AM.   

This Just In...

Cleaning still sucks.

That is all.

Las Vegas to Milwaukee: Points of Interest

Hello, dear readers!  Hope you're all doing just peachy.  I don't have time for an extensive retelling of my recent road trip, but here are some points of interest in a brief recap!

Thursday night, 6/16: Though non-stop flights are less hassle, I was reminded that four hours on a plane next to people I don't know in a seat I can't possibly get comfortable in is not one of my favorite activities.  

Friday morning, 6/17: Spent my birthday morning in my pjs watching TV (huzzah for Degrassi reruns on The N and Family Guy on DVR!).  It may sound boring, but it was pretty glorious.

Friday afternoon/evening: Celebrated 'Chranksgiving' with K, S and some of their friends.  It's essentially a combo of the best foods of Christmas and Thanksgiving, but in the summer.  Who says turkey should be a winter food only?  My contribution was cutting up bread for the stuffing and picking my own birthday cake.

Friday night: Spent about $30 at Red Rock Casino.  God, I love penny slots.

Saturday, 6/18: Waited for K to get packed and headed out.  K drove the whole day, since I'm not as familiar with mountains.  We drove from Vegas to Denver.  Dinner that evening was a bag of M&Ms.

Sunday morning, 6/19: Headed to Rocky Mountain National Park!  My first trip there (and only my second nat'l park).  Seeing so much snow in June is a bit of a mindf*ck.  Loved it.  It even snowed on us in the park!

Sunday night: I drove from lunch in Loveland, CO to our hotel in North Platte, NE.  I drove in some epic rain.  I was just taking it slow, doing what I needed to do, and cars kept pulling over and throwing their flashers on.  It was crazy!  K decided we should stop for gas at the next exit and wait some of it out.  About 30 seconds after that suggestion, we started getting pelted with hailstones.  Ended up parked along the side of the interstate for 20 minutes, and spent another hour at a gas station in Brule.  I got us safely to North Platte after that, earning some major respect from K.

Monday, 6/20: Got to see the Kool-Aid exhibit at the Hastings Museum!  Drove part of the afternoon, and we got into West Des Moines around 6, the earliest we'd reached any of our destinations.  It was nice to have an evening to relax.

Tuesday, 6/21: West Des Moines, IA to Milwaukee, WI.  Stopped along the way to see a giant wooden nickel, the future birthplace of James Kirk, and the world's largest truck stop.  Sleeping in my own bed was like Heaven.  

Summary:  Had a freakin' great time!  But there really is no place like home. :-D

Next Stop: Vegas, Please!

Tomorrow night I hop on my flight to Las Vegas!  While I will miss my hubby and the puppers, I'm really excited to spend another birthday out west.  :-)

The first birthday I spent in Vegas was my 22nd birthday.  Now that I'll be turning 27, things are a little different.  For example, I'm married.  Last time I was "kind of dating" someone (my hubby's best friend, in fact).  Kind of a big difference.  Also, I (probably) won't be getting anything pierced this time (whereas at 22 I got my bellybutton pierced at a placed called Precious Slut).  And the biggest difference is that I get to bring my sister home with me!

Again, as previously mentioned, I'm technically an only child.  But, I grew up next door to my best friend and her siblings, who I have adopted as my own.  K and S, my closest sisters age-wise, both live in Vegas these days.  K is a teacher and S is a student.  While S will stay in lovely Nevada, K spends her summers back home in Wisconsin.  How does she get there?  ROAD TRIP!

Yes, while part of my trip is to celebrate my birthday (and my 5th anniversary of my first Vegas trip), the main reason is that I'll be driving back to WI with K.  Last year, for those who don't know, I did the opposite trip - I drove from WI out to NV with her and then flew back (it was sort of a bachelorette celebration).  I'm looking forward to another great road trip (as, strangely, all of my major road trips in the past few years have been with K), and seriously happy to have my best friend back in the state for a few months.  :-)

So here's hoping everyone has a great weekend!  I know I will!