I thought all the kids would get a kick out of these pictures. Bad Otis. He started chewing stuff up right after we ordered our new couch. In an attempt to distract him from the giant leather chew toy (that got here this morning) I bought him a new toy and a rawhide. I gave him the bone and snapped a couple pictures and went in the kitchen to do my homework. By the time I realized that Otis had been in the other room alone for a suspicious length of time, he managed to eat the entire thing.

I discovered something today - if you wear your running shoes while you are cleaning up - it makes you go faster.

Russell got home on Thursday night. He left again at 2:30 this morning. He is going back to Detroit, Oregon. He thinks he'll be there for a couple weeks. I think he's having a pretty good time. He said they sleep out on the lawn at the fire station. He brought a disposable camera with him last time. When he gets the pictures developed I'll make sure he gets them all on a cd so I can post some of them.

I am taking Kelly's advice and I am ordering prints of these flower pictures for my wall behind my new couch. These are the four that I picked out. I know Martha says that odd numbers are more pleasing when it comes to arrangements and everything but it was hard to get the same lighting in all the pictures. Anyway, I could get 4x6, 5x7, or 8x10. I am leaning toward 5x7. What do you think?

Russell and I went couch shopping today and I think this is the one we both like the best. So, what do you think? I need some feedback.

In case anyone is wondering, the Mormon guy (Benji) won.

I talked to Russ this afternoon - he heard a rumor that they might be headed to Texas. Yes, Texas. Hopefully he'll know more about it after dinner tonight. We'll see.

Anyway, I've just been hanging out. School starts next week and I'm pretty excited about it. My teacher sent the class an e-mail already so we can get a head start on the week's assignments. I'm glad, now I'll have something to occupy my time while Russ is gone.

This is embarrassing and hard for me to admit but I have gotten sucked into the gem that is "So You Think You Can Dance." I just remembered that it's on tonight and I think it is the finale. Anyway, there is this hilarious Moromon guy - you'll know which one he is right away - he's a swing dancer...

Today I hung a clothesline. They have a couple coin washer and dryers here at our apartment but it takes about 4 rounds in the dryer to get a small load dry. This morning I washed my sheets and hung them up to dry - I just made my bed and my whole room smells so good now. Don't clean sheets feel so good anyway?

I gave blood this afternoon for a kid in the ward's Eagle Scout project. I hadn't ever given blood before. They had to put ice packs on me twice. I got really lightheaded. It wasn't too bad though. Some one could have warned me about how huge that needle is... Is it weird that I am proud when they take my blood pressure and tell me how good it is?

Aunt Debbie and Uncle Doug surprised me yesterday. They were in Boise and we went out to eat for dinner. I took them downtown and we walked around and looked for a place to eat. It was fun. I was really bummed that I didn't bring my camera with me for a people picture.

I talked to Russ tonight. He was supposed to be headed toward Montana but they sent them back to Oregon. He has been chasing a bunch of little fires that are popping up because of the lighting. He says it's better than sitting around.

So, I finally finished the curtain for our sliding glass door. I think it looks a little too much like a circus tent but it's done and it is better than the stupid blinds we had up there. I was going to make curtains for the kitchen next but I changed my mind. I am making a new duvet cover for my bed. I am leaning toward brown. I'll have to see what they have at the fabric store...

Russell is about an hour from home right now. I just talked to him. He leaves again on Monday.

So, I've told you guys about my awesome knife before. If you don't have a nice knife for chopping - you have no idea what you are missing out on. Russell bought me this knife at Target and it was $40. They have the same knife at Williams Sonoma for $90! I swear - I just checked it out now. Last week I bought the sharpening steel to keep it sharp and it was $20. Totally worth it. Chopping vegetables or whatever is so much faster with a good knife. I can chop an onion into tiny pieces and be done before my eyes even start to water. I am recommending that you all go out and buy one and no I don't work for this company.

So, this week is going by so slow! I talked to Russell on Monday and he said that his group would be heading home Friday or Saturday. I can't wait and I know Otis is excited too.

I still haven't finished my curtain for the sliding glass door. I can't get in the mood to work on it. It has been really nice outside this week. I've been taking Otis to a school behind our house. The grass is all fenced in and I let him off his leash and we bring a toy and he runs around. I've been wanting to take him up to Bogus Basin again but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to go up there alone - does that sound like the beginning of a scary movie plot to anyone else?

The Dukes

I did it. I made it to the fabric store. This is the fabric I picked. I hope it doesn't end up looking too much like lawn furniture... I found some really cute red plaid fabric that I'm going to use for the kitchen and front windows but I didn't buy it today - one project at a time. The clearance section at Home Fabrics is awesome!

Anyway, Russell is still gone. That website says that there are 573 people working on that fire now. He has tried to call me almost everyday but he never has good enough service - I can't hear him at all. I am dying to know how it is going.

Otis is crying right now. He doesn't have to go outside - he wants me to go in the other room so he can go to bed... Baby.

Can anyone else appreciate the pose he's got going on here?

I am making Whoopie Pies this very moment. Gramps sent me 6 tubs of Fluff and I got them just in time to make a batch for the birthday party at work. When I make them, I really have to try to resist the urge to express my deep heartfelt love and appreciation because I have found that some people flat out don't like them. So, I've tried to down play the delicious Whoopie Pie goodness for my reputation's sake.

Anyway, Russell called me but only let the phone ring once - when I tried to call him, I got the dreaded voicemail. Bummer. I don't know what is going on. They did an update on that website tonight and it looks like he may be gone for a while...

If you want to see what is going on with the Maxwell fire that Russell is on, you can check out this website:

http://www.nwccweb.us/information/fire_info.asp

I think they update every morning. Yesterday it said that they expected that it should be contained by the end of the day. Today it says unknown...

I talked to Russell for about two minutes tonight. He is still in Oregon but he isn't waiting anymore. He's on the Maxwell Fire. I've been online seeing how much I can find out about it. It says that the terrain is steep and rugged but it estimates it should be contained by the end of the night. We'll see what happens.

In the meantime, I'm just hanging out. I really want to go to the fabric store but I feel bad leaving Otis. I know. Pathetic. Anyway, I have to take him to the vet again tomorrow. Should be fun.

Tired of the dog pictures? I don't care. Too bad.

What is wrong with my dog that he sucks, yes sucks, on this stuffed animal every single night?

Anyway, if you are looking for some motivation for getting in shape I have an excellent suggestion. Take some pictures of yourself in your bathing suit. I tried on every single one of mine and not one looked good. Bad sign. It reminds me of those year long profiles they do in Allure. I love those.

Otis and I went down to the river again tonight. We parked on one side and walked over a bridge at 15th Street. Little did I know, the next bridge wasn't until 9th! Poor Otis - it was a bit of a walk for him. In Vegas, the high temperature hits at what? about noon, maybe one? Here, we get to the high at 5pm. It sucks. So there we are, in the park walking along the river (hello bugs) at 6pm. Good idea, Cait.

I haven't heard from Russ yet tonight but last night he said that the three other groups that were waiting with them all got called out. He doesn't think he'll be home before he goes out on a fire. I think he's starting to go a little crazy out there. He told me that before he goes out he is buying a carton of cigarettes. His boss told him that he's seen one cigarette go for $15 and 3/4 of the guys in Russell's group smoke. Does that sound like something he would do or what?

When you were little did you put juice in the freezer to make yourself a delicious popsicle in a cup? We still do...

I am making myself dinner. Russell and I planned on testing a new recipe this week - Feta Chicken with Zucchini. He told me I better not let the stuff go bad - he's not sure when he'll be home. He thinks he'll be in Redmond for a while. They have more guys there this time than they did last time.

It should be a fun weekend. I think I am going to start fabric shopping. I am taking on the decidedly formidable task of making window coverings for all of our windows. It should be interesting.

The weekend did start out good though, I heard Bobby Brown "Every Little Step I Take." Does anyone know when that song came out? What was I, three? Anyway, good song.