Junior

From the streets to a cozy, loving home:

One chilly March evening, we heard a cat yowling and tried to ignore it thinking the neighbors had a cat who wanted inside. 30 minutes later we realized the sound was coming from our back porch. A little white and tabby cat was sitting at our door, looking pitiful and hoping to be let inside. With two greyhounds who have a rather strong prey drive, and a husband who cannot breath when he's around cats, I regretfully closed the blinds thinking he would find his way home. Two hours later... Being the animal-lover I am, I couldn't let him just freeze out there. I rounded up some old blankets, a water dish, and even some of the dog food. The appreciative kitty ate the dog food, drank the water, and jumped into my lap, purring.

Oh no. Attached! But cannot keep! What do I do? ... Aha!

Mom and dad. Cat-lovers for LIFE!

Luckily they were able to take him into their home "temporarily" while I searched for a permanent home for the little cat. Once someone e-mailed me letting me know she was interested in adopting him, I called my mom to let her know the good news.

Conversation:
Me: "Mom! Someone is interested in adopting Telly!"
Mom: ... "Oh no Bee Bee. We can't give him up now!"
Me: "But you and dad said, 'no more cats!'"
Mom: "He's such a little doll, we're definitely keeping him. Look he's talking!"
Cat: "Meow, meow, meow!"

Now: Telly, Cairo, Spanky, Junior, Junie's (more nicknames to be determined over the course of his life...) is living comfortably at the Brown Family Home for Wayward Cats. Here are some photos of him when we attempted to make him a PetSmart model.

I  will steal your soul!

I will NOT obey you!

I'd rather play!

Or snuggle with my favorite person!

Thanks Mom and Dad, for giving Junior a loving home!

Gray Skies, Snarling At Me

On October 5th a freak storm hit Arizona. There were tornados touching down in the Northwest, East and in Flagstaff... Flooding, high winds, ominous-looking clouds, baseball-sized hail that broke windows in homes. Hail that totaled cars--that totaled our 2010 Subaru Outback that only had 14,731 miles on it... not that I'm bitter, just sad that our little Subie didn't get to make it to 200K miles, and play in the mud or take us on more camping trips. Yes, I know it is "just a car" or a "bucket of bolts"... but I am sad, but thankful that it protected Adam on that drive home, and thankful the storm didn't hit as hard in our neighborhood. Rest in Peace little Subaru Outback.

Here are photos from my hour-long drive home from work (a drive that usually takes 20 minutes). Taken while stopped in the Jeep... Well, mostly stopped. Photojournalism at its finest!

Crazy Weather in Arizona!!

Currently there is golfball-sized hail in Cave Creek AND Tornado warnings! These photos were taken around 12:30 today. Right now it is pitch black out. More hail and lightening... I might be here for a while!

When weather happens in Arizona, it is exciting! Especially after months of 110+ degree days. Bring it on, Mother Nature! Bring it on!