Cause for the Paws

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Woah!

Hard to believe I've slacked so much on the blog. I think my lack of children to blog about makes me feel out of the blog-loop perhaps. So, considering I have no children to blog about- read at your own risk!

So what's new with us? I'll say tons! As many of you know, John's been out of work for almost a year! So, after countless hours of searching for jobs, and always wondering what he really wants to do with his life. Amidst all of this "soul searching", once again, St. Louis gets voted #1 in the country for violent crime, and with that comes an email from my friend in Denver who owns a crime scene cleaning biz asking if we'd be interested in becoming a franchise of his business. After thinking on it for a while, we declined to franchise, but John and his best friend decided to embark on their own gig, and from that came Bio-Clean 911! They've spent a lot of time researching, investing, and selling the business, and are finally up and running, ready for crime! They spent a week in Denver shadowing crime scene cleaners, and have seen about as bad as it can get. Their stomachs held strong, and they are excited to get started. Follow them on facebook to keep up to date with their success!!

And, I'm happy to announce, after 3 LONG years living in the equivalent of a fraternity house, and getting the question "um, didn't you study interior design?", we've finally grown up and bought our "big girl" furniture. Yes, its true. The real-deal. No pottery barn here. Antiques, and custom furniture. Little girl's happy!

Dogs are all alive- Charlotte has not killed anyone/anything since her schooling in December. While she's leaning toward her homicidal ways at times, once we get her training collar back on her, and get some training sessions in, she's right as rain!

I promise to keep up to date with the blog, and expect to hear more about Bio Clean 911. We're excited, scared, and nervous all at the same time!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Happy New Year and all that

December was sort of a chaotic mess. The holidays came upon us so fast, and at one point, it was in the 60 degree range. It just didn't feel right. So around December 20th, I realized I had not bought a single Christmas present, and had no intentions of facing the crowds. So, I got online and hit it up!

Here's my little helper helping me "wrap" my gifts in envelopes!

As I mentioned before, we sent Charlotte to a 2 week intensive training school. We picked her up on Christmas eve, and she's amazing! She is a totally good girl, and doesn't try to rip the face off of anyone anymore! We're pleased.

For John's birthday (day after christmas...does this make him the anti-christ?) we met a few friends at a place near us. I love this picture because john's actually laughing in it. Why? Because I'm trying to explain to him the guy with the ridiculous jeans is really gay. He doesn't buy it....fast forward 5 minutes. Guy in jeans makes out with friend. I have a picture of john's reaction. Its going in the photo album!

And here is a typical picture of my husband- not smiling. Notice his handsome bulldog with wings shirt. That was my gift to him, which he loves and wears adoringly. This was taken christmas eve. We started out at John's Aunt's house, but subsequently were kicked out and forced to move the family to john's mother's house. Why were we kicked out? Well, I blame the dog below- but he pleads innocence! See picture below.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Resolutions

This weekend John and I stopped by his mother's house to get the slideshow of our wedding pictures she ordered, and burn a few copies for friends and family. John's mom wasn't home, so I asked John where she kept all her photo albums. Sidenote: How do I even know she has photo albums? The woman is so organized, and is a perfectionist to an almost anal degree. I guessed correctly. John told me to look in the cabinets under the bookshelves, and sure enough, i found about 20 leather bound albums, perfectly labeled in clear view by date. I was green with envy. So I pulled out john's baby pictures, and was totally mesmorized. I feel like I got to see him grow up, and see his family in a new way. I saw his loving mother with him in every perfect picture, while his father was behind the lens. Funny, too i noticed, when his father was in the picture, the photo was always blurry! I bet this drove him nuts! Anyway, I decided at that moment, to make photo taking and organization a new priority. A problem I have with capturing candid shots is my camera is less than candid. Its a rather large SLR, so I decided to invest in a point and shoot and keep it close at all times. I've also resolved to have all of my photos printed on a monthly basis and keep a running photo album. I think these memories are so important, and are becoming a forgotten hobby.

Also, in the news: My sister is coming home for Christmas. She'll be home Thursday, late, and we're very excited. Let's hope the weather cooperates. Friday, we finally get to see Charlotte after 2 long weeks away at "boarding school". We sent her to an intense training school to hopefully break her of her dog aggression, which we could see was also becoming aggression in general. We have missed her so much- so much where I may or may not have done a drive-by just on a whim she would be outside. I'm bad.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Rehearsal Dinner and Turkey Day

My Uncle Joe, on Left, was the officiant at our wedding. He is a federal Judge. My sisters boyfriend Steve, and cousin Katie, and my dad.

Me, sis on right, Ania from college in front, and good friend Kate Suggs in back

Dad and Uncle

John's mom, my new mother in law, and my handsome husband, John. Love that scruffy beard!

I will make a notation. I was glossed over on Thanksgiving. I was pretty drugged up from some severe back pain I've been having. Finally hit the urgent care the following Saturday where they told me i have to see my dr. Went to the dr the following Monday and had x-rays and blood work. Turns out this spry 31 year old has an arthritic hip which has caused me to have a bone spur in my hip. Ouch. So I'm off to the Orthopedic Surgeon to see what's up with my hip. I hope to get a handicap parking sticker in the meantime!!!

Wedding Bells and Gobble Gobbe Gee!

Its been a little while since my last post, and its not for lack of good reason. I've managed to get myself married, and spend my first thanksgiving as a married woman with my new family. It was great. The wedding was to die for. So, I'm including some pictures, of the wedding and thanksgiving, and rehearsal dinner, etc. By the way, wedding photos by Susan Jackson Photography. She's amazinggggg!

At the historic Chase Park Plaza

Oh me oh my! Little do i know that those 4.5" heels will exacerbate a condition I haven't yet found out I have! My dogs were barking, and we did pictures before the wedding!

Still at the Chase

At Tower Grove Park. Wedding was in the Piper Palm House. The Oldest Greenhouse west of the Mississippi. Neato!

These last two shots were Susan playing with me a little. I've compressed about 550 pictures, and chose these for you to see. I thought the cupcake was going to fall on my dress and stain, or hell knows what else. The veil I was feeling weird about putting over my face, because nothing about our wedding was traditional. But, looking at the photo, I am so glad I did. She is such an amazing photographer.