before the rain

ferdie and harper

Harper gets to spend a long weekend with my very first foster, Ferdinand.  They are hitting it off fabulously!

it's bike season!

Friends know that out of all the strange obsessions I have there are two that top the charts: dogs and biking.  Especially pit bulls and mountain biking!  The sun is out and even though my stomach is still a bit queasy it is high time to hit the trails.  Tonight I'll be joining some friends at one of my favorite mountain bike parks for the official first ride of the season.

my dog matches my bike.  i planned that.

I used me lunch break to pull the bike out of the closet, pump up the tires and collect my gear from various corners of the apartment.  This summer will be even more exciting as I'm planning on doing a couple MTB race series.

As you can see Harper was very interested in what I was doing, especially in my shoes and gloves.  Once she gets all her shots and is cleared to leave my apartment I'm going to start working with her to become my biking companion!  I've always been jealous seeing fellow mountain bikers with their dogs happily running along with them as they ride the trails.  It's time to start looking up some literature on how to properly train her!

i feel like crap

I've been sick since Friday.  At first I thought it was a quick stomach flu but now I'm thinking its probably related to the crappy way I've been taking care of myself.  My body used to not care what I put it through, but now its starting to get persnickety and is fighting back.  Damn.

waiting for something exciting to happen

This weekend was spent moving from the bed to the couch, then back to the bed.  Harper and I took a few well needed porch sessions where she chased bees and tried to prove she was a tough girl by growling at people walking down the street (she was quickly reprimanded). 

In the real world I'm starting a new work schedule, 8-6 every Monday through Friday.  It's going to take a while to get used to.  The biggest pain in the ass is going to be making sure I plan more carefully with packing lunch, prepping breakfast, packing the bike (I'm gonna try that riding thing again), and waking up early enough to get ready and take Harper for a long morning walk.  I realize this is much closer to a normal work week for the rest of the world so I should just suck it up... but my 9-5's were so nice!

wanting another vacation

Ya know what I've been thinking about the past couple days?  Georgia.  I visited it once with my best friend on a post highschool road trip to Florida.  It was beautiful and serene, no doubt my favorite stop on our journey.

I very much want to go back.  Even for just a long weekend.  I'd rent a room in a quaint bed and breakfast and then spend my mornings riding through the Spanish moss covered trees on a pretty vintage bike.  The rest of the day would be dedicated to reading, exploring and eating hot-boiled peanuts from the local gas stations and convenient stores.  

http://momfashionworld.blogspot.com/2009/11/savannah-georgia.html

another card

My apartment is getting cleaner.  The map is starting to come together.  Harper is still adorable.  And it's actually sunny today.  Yes!

I created another snail mail card.  This one's for a friend who's feeling a bit under the weather.  

The plan for tonight involves the studio and a glass of wine.  I've got most of my source images printed out and ready to go for continued map drawing.  Although before I head over to work-land I need to purchase another sketch book as I've filled the most recent one (I love that feeling).

introducing... harper!

our first cuddle session

I am completely in love with this wrinkly girl.  About 2 weeks ago my rescue group sent me a picture of a little gray and white pit that was staying in a Kentucky shelter.  I didn't have to think twice about taking her.  I picked her up on Saturday - she is so tiny!  My heart was beating like crazy when she was handed to me for the first time.  And I kid you not, a little tear squeezed out when she looked at me with her clear little eyes and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

chillin' in the kitchen

She came with the name Ferrari (ew...) but has recently acquired the much cuter name of Harper.  I'm still working on her elaborate full name, I think Cotton will be in there somewhere.  She's slept curled up under my left arm for the past three nights and has accompanied me just about everywhere.  She still needs another set of shots before she can start to tear up the public parks but that will happen soon enough!

Tonight she's going to help me work on a goal from last week, these map drawings!  She's joining me at the studio where she will meet the infamous Casey, Pancake Sue, and Dolly.  Hopefully they will be besties!

And yes, she's technically a foster dog.  No... I do not plan on giving her up.