Week 2 poll results

37% of voters would prefer - To spend a month in a covered wagon

62% of voters would prefer - To spend a week on horseback

I could have sworn we rode 30!

Not having a job certainly has it's advantages (along with it's disadvantages, but lets not even go there). Leah and I decided on Tuesday to go on a bike ride on Wednesday. I hadn't ridden my bike for real in a while and I was really looking forward to it! So around 2:00 we started pedaling towards the church in search of a bike path Judy told us about.

It felt so good! Not only the exercise but just the relaxing familiar motions of riding a bike! I was feeling very proud of myself being as out of shape as I am for how good I felt. We found the trail by church, but I'm not sure we followed it exactly how Judy was describing it. Oh well. We got to the point where we were pretty close to Joe's work so we decided to go see him! (approx 5 mi. so far)

After visiting Joe, we were still feeling good so we decided to bike to a trail that Leah used to ride when she was growing up. I don't know exactly where we were but I know we got onto it somewhere off of Tejon. We ended up at Goose Gossage park. (add approx 3 mi.) At that point, we decided that we would keep going on the trail to a bike shop that Leah used to ride to. We both needed to relax a little and refuel with a Power Bar. So the journey continued.

I can't say that I was still feeling quite so awesome at this point. I was out of water and I was pretty tired. I was thankful that we were nearing the bike shop. We kept riding. As we went further we realized that the bike shop was actually much further North than we had thought. So we took a turn off the trail thinking it would lead us to a park where they would have restrooms and a water fountain. No such luck! It was not a park at all! It was a new shopping center that was being built along Nevada! There was no drinking fountain in sight! (add another 2 mi)

Instead of continuing on we decided to turn and head for home. We began to head South on Nevada until we hit Mt. View Lane. We turned and what did we find?!? Oh Thank Heaven! A 7 eleven! We stopped there to share a Power Bar and each get a Gatorade. (add 2 mi) Although I wasn't feeling the same energy as when we started our bike ride, I was feeling much better after this stop. We continued east on Mt. View until we came to Austin Bluffs (another mile) and got to ride down the big hill!

At Austin Bluffs we caught the trail we had started on and decided to take the bridge that took us right to Flintridge. Now I don't know if it was just me yesterday, but I never knew how long of a street Flintridge was! We rode from Flintridge to Westwood and took that to Leah's place. (adding another 3 mi) After we locked up my bike and she carried hers up the stairs we collapsed for a while and did some stretching. We were wiped out!

Did you do the math? As far as my map quested guesses tell me, that's 16 miles! Craziness! A little too ambitious for my first time on a bike in about 2 years. I could have sworn we rode 30! Yea us!

Week 1 poll results

11% of voters would prefer -To have invented the TV remote and be famous.

88% of voters would prefer - To have cured polio and remain anonymous.

This is a good sign

Proud mother of two!

For the past few months O'Malley has been having a bit of a bladder control issue. Even going as far as relieving his bladder on the clothing of over night guests. He's been to the vet several different times coming home with medications for bladder infections. When he would start the medications he would do better for a while and then the issues would return.

Even though I felt sorry for him and what he was going through, I began to think I was reaching my breaking point! I was trying to consider different options figuring that the reason he was in the animal shelter to begin with was most likely due to this very issue. I didn't want to give up on him. He's the sweetest kitty I have ever had. So I began with a litter box additive that was supposed to attract him to the litter box. I tried removing the lid from his box. I even got an additional box. I tried the "Cat Attract" brand of litter. Every time I thought it had helped the issues would begin again.

My next thought was that maybe he needed a buddy! Marika had mentioned that her friend Shera had been looking for a home for their kitty. She was also a sweet kitty, but since their family has grown by two in the last two years they didn't feel like she was getting the attention she needed.

Before we left on our trip to Canada I took O'Malley back to the vet in hopes that we would be able to control things while Claire and Fay were looking after him. This time they did a few things differently. First, he was prescribed the usual antibiotic for the infection, but in addition he was also prescribed a medication that helps with digestion, a prescription wet food (since all the store brands made him sick) which helps him get more water into his system and a low dose of anti-depressants. (The thought of kitty anti-depressants is funny) While on vacation O'Malley did very well never having any "accidents!" I was still considering the possibility of a friend for him.

Yesterday after Marika had gone to the movies with Shera and they had discussed the cat swap and it was decided that sooner was better than later. So yesterday evening O'Malley and I welcomed an addition to our little family! Her name is Quincie! She's almost six years old. She's a very pretty black cat with green eyes.

Shera, her husband and their two children brought Quincie over, stayed for a bit while we let the cats meet each other. It was agreed that we would first have this arrangement on a trial basis of a week. That way we could make sure that they liked one another. If I were them, it would be very difficult to give my kitty away. I hope they know that the person they gave her will love her! :)

Now having been here for almost 20 hours, poor Quincie is looking a little scared. I imagine that this is due to not only the completely new surroundings but also because of the huge cat that hangs out outside the door of the room shes in and every time she is brave enough to venture beyond that room O'Malley is right there to remind her she's not the only cat in the house. They have been nice enough to each other. The hissing has decreased from every time they make eye contact to every three or four times. She's come out from under the bed twice today for a little while to eat and be pet.

So welcome to the family Quincie! Hope you and O'Malley become bff soon!

Thank you Canada for introducing me to Molson Canadian. Thank you Molson Canadian for inspiring my new idea!

While we were in Canada I was trying to pick a beer one evening at a restaurant and happened to pick Molson Canadian. It was love at first sip! We tried several different beers while on vacation, but this was probably my favorite (besides the WRaspberry Ale but you can't buy that here.) So upon returning to the states I purchased a pack of Molson Canadian to keep in the fridge. Little did I know that the bottles come with "Would you prefer..." questions. That has inspired me to begin a series of polls on the ole blog for your enjoyment! I am hoping to change them out each week. I will start with the questions from the Molson and after I run out of those I will buy more beer, or come up with my own! So, answer honestly. Which would you prefer.

and then there were blog posts...

So after several weeks of the animals knowing nothing at all, I suddenly am finding things to blog about! Woo hoo!

So first things first, I made two offers on the cute little house downtown and someone else was willing to pay $2000 over asking for it, so I let them have it. :) I am still looking, but not full force. There are a few reasons behind that...

I am still living in my "Quarter Life Crisis." I mean at least I guess that's what it is. I had an epiphany in while on vacation and realized that I didn't have to become a homeowner right away. It is okay to rent for a while. Then I realized all the things I could do besides buy a house, like travel! I know one can do both, but it was just a freeing thought.

Another reason that I am not looking full force is because I quit my job on Monday. I won't discuss details of why here, but if you'd like to know feel free to ask.

So here I am, unemployed by choice, wanting to travel all over the place and looking for a social work job.

Canada

While on vacation in Canada last week I somehow found the time to update photos on facebook, but not on the blog. Maybe it's because I felt like the blog should have more words with the photos, and I didn't have the energy for that. Although most people who read this blog are also facebook friends of mine, I'll now repeat some pictures and share a little information about our trip!

Sunday after a safe arrival (note that I said safe, but not uneventful: for more details visit http://www.marikanolt.blogspot.com/) at the Calgary airport. We found our luggage, the rental car and hit the road. After going in the wrong direction for a bit, we stopped and were given the correct directions to the Wild Rose Brewery. On the way we pulled over to try to capture some breathtaking scenery on camera! When we made it to the Wild Rose Brewery, we enjoyed delicious food and beer!

On Monday we walked around in Banff and did some shopping. In an effort to satisfy a request from a friend I found the cardboard cut out of a Mountie to take a picture with!
On Tuesday we went to Lake Louise and Lake Morane. They were both beautiful places for scenery shots!

Wednesday was a lazy day. We spent most of the day indoors. Mom and dad went to the Safeway there and to the Farmer's Market. They got some of the most yummiest raspberries and blueberries! We into town in the evening and ate Cow's ice cream.

On Thursday we went to The Buffalo Nations Luxon Museum and walked to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. We also spotted a real live Mountie!!

Friday we went on a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. There were some really beautiful views!

On Saturday Nathan and Marika went on a hike and Mom, Dad and I searched downtown for a shirt for me to take home as a souvenir. After looking all week I thought I was going to do without, but I found one! We met Nathan and Marika at a Greek restaurant for our final meal for the vacation!
Sunday morning we headed to the airport and made our way back to the U.S. without any of drama we had anticipated for Marika's re-entry. Good trip!

Marika's pictures from my fried chicken birthday party!