Angels or Demons?

Well, they look like angels here... but man, they can really turn into demons when they're "playing."

These pooches belong to a co-worker's family - the Andersons - for whom I've been house/dog-sitting when they leave town, for probably over five years now. I think Festus (the black Lab) and Nikita (the Rhodesian Ridgeback mix) are the 5th and 6th dogs I've sat for them. They are also the most active ones, by far. Trump, Gus, Forrest and Emma have since passed; now it's Festus and Nikita.

Festus is pretty needy, he likes to come up behind you and put his head (well, his whole body, really) between your knees, and he's REALLY cuddly. Nikita likes to bite - don't leave a hand hanging by your side or it might get bitten off! She's the alpha dog in the house. But in spite of their quirks (like all dogs have), they are really fun, and I always feel safe in the house with Nikita The Attack Dog.

So this is how I spent July 4-15... feeding, walking and playing with two fun dogs. (Plus the Andersons are pretty generous when it comes to compensation. No complaints here.)

HP6

Saw it. Loved it.

Can't wait to see it again!!!

Happy 4th of July!

I know, I know, it's July 8th, not the 4th. But since I'm home sick with an obnoxious cold, I thought I'd update my blog with some pictures of some of the things I did over the holiday weekend.

On Thursday night, I was able to go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house with some friends and their family members. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had, since I went through the open house with non-members, and was able to answer (decently, I hope) some of their questions about the temple, and Mormonism. They were some of the neatest people I've ever met! And the temple was, of course, beautiful.


Friday I got up and took the dogs for a walk - as you can see, they don't care much for pavement.



It was a gorgeous day for a walk! I think we went about a mile and a half - long enough for those silly dogs, I'd say, judging by the tongues hanging out of those mouths.

Then mom and I met up with my sister Melissa for lunch, and after tossing around different places to eat, we settled on this:



Oh yes. That is lunch and dessert in one. These guys have A-MA-ZING food, I highly recommend it! They're located on 300 South, Downtown, just past 300 West, due north of Pioneer Park. DELISH.

As for the actual FOURTH of July, I was lazy, barbecued with my family, and started dog/house-sitting for some friends. (I'll post pictures of Nikita and Festus later, they're so hyper I don't know if they'll stay still for the camera!) I didn't watch any fireworks, unfortunately, and feel the need to repent of my lack of gratitude. I haven't been feeling very patriotic lately, and I must apologize to America - the land of the free - and to those men and women who gave their blood and lives for our freedom. In spite of what's happening to our country now, watching more and more freedoms being swept out from under us, and several corrupt leaders, I must thank God for this land - it is a chosen land, and He is watching over it - and us. I feel very blessed to live here, and to know that our founding fathers built this great nation on true and everlasting principles.

God Bless the USA!!!

What I've Been Up To Lately

I've been a busy little beaver lately. Between work, working out and working at the temple, I have:

Helped my sister and brother-in-law paint their basement: (That's my brother Steve, scratching out my message to him that he stinks.)



Volunteered at an "exchange" for the Ragnar (Wasatch Back) Relay Race in gorgeous Huntsville, Utah with my brother Dan:



And spent a couple of nights at The Grand America Hotel with my mom and my sisters and my cutest-ever little one-year-old niece, where we napped, got manicures and pedicures and massages, shopped, saw movies, and ordered takeout from P.F. Chang's. This was the view from our room:


Spectacular.

Next up: Camping during the 4th of July weekend, the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house, dog-sitting at the Andersons, and the midnight showing of the upcoming new Harry Potter movie!

I think I might sleep for a week straight when the summer is over.

The Proposal

Last weekend, I went to see a sneak preview of the movie 'The Proposal' with my good pal Audrey.

The first half of the movie was hysterical. I laughed so hard I about peed myself. Then it took a turn for the weird... I'm still not sure how I feel about it. There were some scenes that I thought were unnecessary (hello Betty White decked out in full Indian garb and dancing and chanting around a bonfire), and WAY too much skin for my taste (Sandy B., you have a stunning figure but I don't wanna see it all). But all in all, I really enjoyed the movie. And I am now a fan of...

Ryan Reynolds. I know he's been in a ton of stuff, but I've never really seen him in anything except maybe an episode of Scrubs and in magazines on the arm of Scarlet Johanson.

And now I can see him on my computer screen. MMMMMMM.