I’m a member of a forum that is pretty straight forward, meaning not controversial, just fitness related stuff. I opened up a thread today that someone posted about getting the NFL guy fired that tortured the dogs. Ok, fine, sign the petition. People love dogs. I get it. Here’s where they lose me… a quote -”Animal cruelty is just the same to me as child abuse, spousal abuse*, rape, and the like. Hurting another human or an animal should NEVER be tolerated or accepted.” 

Can we all just stop equating dogs with humans? They are not our “babies” or “granddoggies”. We are not their “mommies” and “daddies”. Just STOP! There is not doggy heaven. Get over it. There.

Today, 7 years ago, I ate a bowl of granola cereal, headed to the hospital and 6 hours later Riley Steven Bangs was born. He weighed exactly the same as Christian, but he has a style and personality ALL his own. And he was all head. Here are a few pictures of him. I can’t seem to find any of his bald head. I think they were all pre-digital camera.

Happy Birthday, sweetie! I love you!

I thought I’d share this picture we got in Coney Island.

This guy was building sand castles on these two ladies laying by him, sleeping. We thought it was so funny we wanted to share it with all of you! Click on the pic to see our other NY pictures. There aren’t too many, but several of the food I ate.

Will It Blend?

Sara posted hers and said we had to post ours if we chose to comment so, here goes. I realized many of mine have to do with phone etiquette

1. Answering machine messages made by kids who: cannot speak well yet, cannot pronounce well yet, or you hear the parent in the background feeding them lines. I was taught the phone is a tool, not a toy.

2. Voice mail that is TOO loud. Just so you know, when I call you, my ear is RIGHT NEXT TO THE PHONE. When you create your outgoing message, please don’t yell.

3. Non-follow through: If you say you will do something, do it. Phone calls at the last minute are not okay. Be true to your word.

4. Using the phrase “I hope it was ok” for something you did and did not ask permission or get prior approval for. IE- “I hope it was ok that I ate all of your ice cream.” Well, I guess it really doesn’t matter NOW does it?

5. A barrage of questions like “what happened, what did you do, are you ok, etc” when you obviously hurt yourself and are not up to giving a full explanation yet. Just shut up and act concerned. Wait until I can breathe, then we’ll talk.

That’s enough. I’m starting to feel mean or grouchy.

We have made time for some fun outside of the wall building and wallpaper removal. We went to Santa Barbara to see the butterfly exhibit. It was so cool and well worth the drive and the $$ to get in. Thanks Sara for setting it up!

Riley waited VERY patiently and finally one came to rest on his hand!

I’m not trying to rush through this year, but next summer there will be NO HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS! Ugh. Every summer is loaded with some home thing that we can’t get to during the school year. Enough.