I'll do (almost) anything for something free.

So a few years ago  friend offered me a beer if I could rip a phone book in half.  So I did.  The friend welched on the offer but another friend bought me a Gatorade to make up for it.  But then my husband drank that Gatorade because he couldn't remember where it came from so I made him replace it.


This was the first phonebook I ripped in half.  Now it's a fun party trick and way less offensive then ripping puppies or kittens in half.  I hope you know I'm joking, I never do this at parties, ha! joking again, really I'd never hurt puppy or kitten unless it involved punting an ankle biter or punching a big dog that was going to hurt my dog.

So, today Scott was flipping through his Facebook and told me that Mesa Rim was looking for volunteers for Saturday's youth climbing competition.  I checked it out and for 1.5 hours of time they'll give you a free day pass (that's a $17 value).  BUT, for 10 hours of work they'll give you a one month pass plus yoga (and they offer yoga 3 - 4 times a day) which is a $105 value.  Oh, and you get lunch too.  Well sign me up!!

I emailed them right away and then called them a few hours later just to make sure they knew I was interested.  Well, 2.5 hours after the first email I heard back that they want me and I'm to show up at 7 am Saturday. 

Those who know me know mornings aren't my thing but now with Kivah that means I'll get up with her instead of Scott so some private Kivah time ain't so bad.

I really hope I don't have to take my free month of climbing/yoga immediately because it would work out well to use it in October when Scott has 3 weekends free due to SDSU's unusual football schedule.  (More on that some other time I'm sure.)

Here's a video of me bouldering at the ARC on the route that I got set. 

 



She's becoming ours

We've babysat a lot of pugs and a few non-pugs over the last 12 years and when their owners return you always have to give them back.  My brain is slowly wrapping itself around the fact that Kivah is ours forever and ever.  I don't have to give her back to anyone! 

Scott came home a little early again and we had an early (for us) dinner and then I went to the gym while he took care of her.  She slept mostly but she did do peeps and poops while I was gone so that was successful.  So far, and I don't want to jinx anything, we've managed to get her outside for every bathroom break.

Yesterday morning Fin wanted to sit on my lap like he always has every morning and I think we found a good compromise. 


I'm sitting cross legged on our ultra comfy computer chair.

 

About an hour after I got home from the gym, as we were watching TV, Kivah crawled up into my lap.  I thought she was just climbing up to then go over my leg and keep going so I stretched out my legs and instead she laid her head down and fell asleep!  So precious.  I think she knows she's our and we're hers.  This morning she did the same with Scott.

Today we're going to try leaving her for the first time.  She takes a long nap in the middle of the day and we're going to try to escape to Target for about 90 minutes.  I hope she stays asleep while we're gone!  Wish us luck :) 

So stinking cute!

All the build up and mystery to yesterday was that I flew up to Seatac to bring home our new baby girl.  (BTW, for those of you, like me, that thought Seatac was just the name of the Seattle-Tacoma shared airport you're wrong, it's also the name of the town it's in.  http://www.ci.seatac.wa.us/ )

So, without further ado, here she is-- Kivah!!

We haven't had a puppy since 1999 when we got Luckey so this is going to be fun.

Kivah is from Fantasy Pugs in Graham, Washington and Diana has been gracious enough to give us/let us buy one of her gorgeous show pugs even though she's just going to be a pet for us.  Diana was one of the co-breeders of the famous (at least in pug circles) Glory's Fantasy Tugboat Willy.

Diana and I have been in contact since August.  All of her pugs are spoken for by the time they're born so you actually have to get your name on 'the list' before they're even conceived.  Almost all of her pugs go to those looking to show their pugs so we were very lucky to get a pug from her even though we're not going to show her and she's just going to be our pet.

Now, about her name.  Scott and I joked that her little legs might give way under the symbolism of her name.  Kivah is a play on the word 'kiva' which technically is modern Pueblo ceremonial room but the term has also evolved to encompass bee hive style fireplaces.  When Scott and I were house-hunting in 2000 a fireplace was one of our must haves.  We also like to have bonfires on the beach (during the summer we go to Vacation Island/Ski Beach Park and have a bonfire and stay for the Sea World fireworks at 9:50 pm).  And about that spelling--K is the first letter of my last name, H is the first letter of Scott's last name, and both of our last names contain a V and both of our middle names have an I and an A.

Here's a video I took opening her carrier for the first time so Scott and I could see her "together" even though he wasn't with me.  Introducing Kivah

The Ultimate

Well, today is May 1st (rabbit, rabbit for those you that do that sort of thing) and I'm getting ready to do the ultimate "go so you can come back."  Scott's still sleeping but I got up at 6:50 am to have my coffee and read the 'tubes (internet) with the company of the cats. 

I waiting for the nerves to set in today like they did yesterday right after checking in online for my flight.  Hopefully my seatmates will understand if I have to go to the bathroom ASAP but let's just wish that doesn't happen. 

I have my bag packed and Scott put some movies on the Surface for me.  I even remembered to pack head phones, a snack, and our Bobble water bottle that trekked all over Europe with us (empty now, of course, because I wouldn't want to piss of the TSA people).

Wish me luck!

Will I sleep tonight?

Boarding passes printed, bag not yet backed.  No movie on the Surface yet.  But I did just get a quick tutorial on how to use the SonyCam.  I need to finish the vacuuming and put away the clean laundry.  And grab a shower before trying to sleep tonight. 

Our life it going to change tomorrow around 1 pm and we can't wait to meet you.

Howdy

"Go so you can come back" is a family saying originated by my mom made up to use when someone needs to go do something somewhere else and then return to where they currently are.  My husband often uses it on me when I'm wasting time in his office when I mean to be at the gym.  I use it on him when he needs to run to the hardware store for a tiny part that's missing from a project. 

Why a blog?  I don't know really.  I really don't have any web presence other than sports photos I take for SDSU.  I don't Facebook (though my husband let's me read his since we have common friends), I don't Twitter (but, I read my husband's, mostly to keep him up to date), and I don't Instagram (and again, I flip through his account, which our friends are on).  So, I guess this will be my way of talking to whoever stops by in more ways than a photo, 140 characters, or Likes & Dislikes.

I have no idea where this will take me but I'm ready for the adventure.