Anogete's Journal

A gaggle of these little guys (gals) hang out in the basin beside my apartment. When I started feeding the birds, they hurried up the hill and partook of the food as well. I rarely see them fly, but I know they can. They prefer walking around on the ground and running away when something scares them. They've taken to sitting on my porch and waiting for the food to drop down. What are they? I think they are quail. They run in packs, but two of them have taken a special liking to my porch. They aren't as dramatically-colored as the pictures of quail on the net, but they do have little whatchamacallits on the top of their heads.



Jason says he's going to shave off all of his facial hair. We'll see how that goes.

Ferguson and I just got back from our walk. I brought the camera to take pictures of the ridiculous snow on the Sandia Mountains in effin' mid-April. The weather is nice today--upper 50s with sun. It's due to climb up to the mid-60s later this afternoon.

( the walk turned into ferguson picture spam )

I have a myriad of veggies left over from our produce box this week. It looks like we're having pasta with zucchini, asparagus, and kale for dinner.

I'm working on a top secret knitting project that is going to be Doctor Who related and made of complete awesome. Jason is super excited about it.

Dwight Yoakam will be performing at a casino just outside of Albuquerque at the end of the month. Payroll Girl and I flipped our fangirl lids over this and resolved to get tickets and go oogle him. The Jasons (her husband is named Jason also) do not have Dwight love, and we thought it best not to invite them. Alas, when we went online to the casino's website, the tickets were already sold out. Poo poo on that. The sexy will be so close, yet so far away.

Want to hear something awesome? The bit at the end about Catwoman is the best. Have I posted this before? I guess you can never have too much of a good thing.

( my name's batman, but you can call me bob. and when i see the boy wonder, i just say, 'yo rob.' i used to wear a big cape and do the leotard bit, but now I'm wearing all these fuck-all-you-motherfuckers hoodies 'cause i don't give a shit. )

We went to the annual Chihuahua Easter Parade yesterday. It's the yearly fundraiser for the Chihuahua rescue I adopted Ferguson from. No, I did not make my poor dog (who fancies himself a stud) wear a ridiculous Easter hat of any kind. He did have his blue sweater on, though. There were several vendors selling treats and/or passing out samples. There were dog trainers and scary pet cremation people there. And a fairly large silent auction of several fun things, including a very weird painting of Jesus with a pack of Chihuahuas* sitting around him. No, not kidding. Jason was so amused, he took a picture. Ferguson had great fun frolicking with the other Chihuahuas, but he looks so huge compared to the pure bred ones. They're all dainty and three pounds. Ferguson is a muscular eleven pounds. He was popular with the girls, though. Margaret (who fostered him for a year before I found him and adopted him) was there. She crawled around on the floor to say hello to Ferguson, but he ran away. It was just so odd because he loves women. I can only assume he remembers her and does not want to go back to the strict regime of her house where all the dogs sleep in crates at night and do not get chicken jerky or stinky bully sticks. Spoiled little brat.

Someone stop me from writing Watchmen fanfic. I really don't need to do this. Really. I'm just going to shoot myself in the foot.

*EDIT: holczar13 has informed me that the Chihuahua dude is Saint Francis of Assisi, not Jesus. Which made more sense once I Googled Saint Francis. Because we all know that I have shit knowledge of religion. Harry Potter spells? Know too many of them. Denizens of the Underdark? I could name a few. Lars von Trier movies in the order in which he filmed them? So easy. The difference between Jesus and Saint Francis? Clueless. Actually, I didn't know there was a Saint Francis. I just thought they named hospitals that. You church-goers are cringing right now. Sorry.

After a stifling day in the office, I had to get some fresh air after dinner this evening, so I took Ferguson on a walk to the park. It was all blue skies and sunshine with temperatures in the mid-60s. If you're not enjoying Spring yet, then I send my Spring mojo your way.



( other pictures behind the cut, including ferguson attempting to point a rabbit out to me )

I had uploaded several of the Learn Welsh Podcasts to my iPod, and I listened to them while walking Ferguson. I'm sure everyone at the park thought I was nutty, running around calling out random phrases in Welsh.

My laundry is in shambles. I half-assed it last week and ended up leaving a load in the washer and another in the drier. I have two other loads piled in my bathroom floor. I hate laundry.

I read Paul Auster's Leviathan this weekend. Auster is one of my favorite authors, though he is rather difficult to classify or describe to someone. Wikipedia says he blends absurdism and crime fiction, and I suppose that's a good enough description as any, but I don't think it encompasses the depth of his work. Anyway, I went into Leviathan knowing nothing about the plot other than what was on the back cover, and I was not disappointed. The entire ride was gorgeous and tragic and uplifting.

The novel is narrated to you by an author named Peter. He wants to tell you exactly how his long-time friend and fellow author, Benjamin Sachs, ended up blowing himself up on the side of the road in northern Wisconsin--how Sachs went from an outgoing, successful author living with a wife in Manhattan to sitting on the side of the road with a bomb in his lap in the middle of nowhere.

It was quite a ride, and I had a difficult time putting the book down. Though it has a sense of being surreal--as I feel all Auster novels do--the events leading up to Sachs' demise are believable in a bizarre, coincidental way. There are several major players in the novel, and they are all quite likable in their own way, yet always somewhat tragic in their relationships with others and themselves. At any rate, if you're looking for a quick read, then I'd highly recommend Leviathan. I don't think anyone would be disappointed with it unless they care little for the inner workings of a person's mind.

Ferguson has joined me at work today because I'm taking him to the vet this afternoon. He needs his yearly check-up and the evil!shots. Poor little guy. I hate to do it to him, but the shots are necessary to register him with the city and keep him healthy. Every time I go, they try to talk me into getting his teeth cleaned, but I'm so reticent about that because he has to be put under to do the procedure. Plus, it's a load of money, and it isn't like he has horrible teeth. I brush them every day with a special doggie toothbrush and poultry-flavored doggie toothpaste. I'm a good dog-mom, dammit.

My book thong died a horrible and abrupt death yesterday evening. It just ripped in two in my very hands. I almost cried because it has served me well and kept my place through so many books. I was so distraught I couldn't even throw it in the garbage; it's still on my side table all forlorn and damaged. So, it looks like I'm going to spend a portion of my lunch hour buying a replacement.

After I did my sixty minutes on the treadmill, I called for Ferguson. He didn't come, and I didn't see him anywhere in the apartment. When I walked back into the living room, I saw his head, poking out of some old blankets I had piled in the armchair.

( the lazy adventures of ferguson, the dog )

Seriously, I have no idea what I would do without this dog. He's the coolest, sweetest dog ever. He's actually asleep on my lap at the moment. I interrupted his nap, so it's the least I could do. If you want a dog, then for goodness sake adopt, don't buy from a pet store or breeder. There are wonderful dogs in public and private shelters that need homes. Ferguson was nearly euthanized because his owners could not afford to pay the vet bills after he was attacked and nearly killed by their larger dog. Luckily, the shelter signed him over to an animal rescue that got him the care he needed so I could adopt him. Please, please, please adopt the doggies that need homes.

Jason's mother is hell bent on going to some wacky French restaurant in Uptown for dinner this evening. She's taking Jason and I out for his birthday. The thing is, I think the restaurant is a breakfast/lunch place, not a dinner place. As far as I know, they close at two o'clock in the afternoon. I've got my fingers crossed that this is true because I'm not a real big fan of French cuisine. Maybe we can talk her into making reservations at the Italian place across the street.

I toted my camera along on the walk Ferguson and I took this morning. Pictures of the lovely, sunny, and cool Sunday morning...

( we saw a roadrunner, but it was much too fast for me to get a picture )

I'm so happy autumn is nearly upon us. Walks when the temperature is in the low 60s are such a pleasure.

I figured out what the sculpture I spoke about in this entry is. I should have read the plaque at the head of the trail yesterday because it tells you all about it. It's a 5,000 pound, 22-foot solid metal sculpture by Ali Baudoin called Shrine to the Bear. It's supposed to represent a blade of grass (pampas?) that is used often as a symbol of that community. Ali Baudoin was born in Minnesota and moved to Albuquerque early on in life. Apparently, he's quite well known for his huge metal sculptures. I really like one called Rainbow Walker, but I believe it is in Huntsville, Texas.

Ferguson and I are back in our walking groove, and it makes me feel much better. Actually, I was feeling so good, I jogged the last mile back to the apartment. When we slipped in the gate at the complex, I saw the neighborhood dogs congregated outside near my building. Well, not all of them, but some. Luella was out there with her Papillion; a woman a couple doors down from us had her Pomeranian; and a girl that lives around the way was walking her Beagle. Ferguson had already met them all separately. The new addition to the gang is the Labrador that just moved in today. We all let the dogs play on the lawn for a few minutes before returning to our apartments. The friendliness and good attitude around here is a refreshing change. I'm not one of those neighbors that wants to be best buddies with people who live around me, but I do like to be on friendly and casual terms with people. Very few people would even say hello to me or anyone else at the old apartment. And they never walked their dogs, preferring to let them out on the balcony to do their business on the cement. What kind of life is that for a dog?

Anyway, I'm quite pleased with my choice of this apartment complex. Jason seems to be happy as well, seeing as how he's delved back into the Lovecraft book he was reading a month ago before we became uncomfortable at the other place. Like me, he can't read when life is in turmoil. So, his renewed interest in reading speaks volumes for his comfort level here.

Let's talk about how much I spoil my dog.

I'm a little bit ashamed to admit that I spent almost $15 on five cans of food for him. It's very good food, though. Human grade, even. I go to a specialty dog food store which specializes in only the best dog food available. A few weeks ago, they were giving out samples of Evangers dog food. I took some home, and Ferguson ate it up. I went back for more last weekend, and stocked up.

Typically, Ferguson gets a half a cup of dry dog food with a couple teaspoons of wet dog food. Evangers sells regular cans of dog food made with quality ingredients, but they also offer special cans of food that are hand packed. These cans aren't the loaf that normal dog food becomes, but expensive human food packed in a can for a dog. I got braised beef, mackerel, and chicken thighs. I haven't opened the beef yet, but check this out...

( holy mackerel )

Anywho, if you're looking for a wonderful treat for your dog, then check out Evangers Dog and Cat Food Company. Their representative in Albuquerque was very nice, and Ferguson loves their food. I paid about $10 for a five-pound bag of dry food (pheasant and brown rice). The dinners (regular wet food) aren't all that expensive - about $1.50 a can. The hand-packed specialties are a bit more pricey ($2 to $3 a can), but I only give that as a treat on top of his regular food. I even microwave the frickin' chicken and gravy for him like a loon.

P.S. - I downloaded all of Muse's albums today. I love them. Why didn't I know I loved them before now?

P.P.S. - I think I just adopted another hamster from a girl on Craigslist. I need to stop.

I do want to start a new website, but I just can't get it to look like I want it to look. Actually, I don't know how I want it to look, but the way it looks right now is definitely not it.

The office was closed today, so Ferguson and I slept in until 9:30 while Jason went to work. We watched The X-Files during a late breakfast, and then we went on a walk to the park.

( pictures! )

I'm dumping my credit card company. It's been real and it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Washington Mutual let me put a picture of Ferguson on the card. They're awesome like that.

This isn't really a picture of my card. It is just the example of what my card will look like when it arrives. You can fraudulently use the card number to your heart's content since it is a fake.



Too cute! Too cute!