Post-Schna-ulations

Pancho stares at Jon

2010-10-30T21:30:00.001-05:00

Pancho stares at Jon
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

Classic

2009-08-17T11:38:00.001-05:00

Both of us being silly
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

This is from Lope and Tracy's wedding - Saturday, August 15th. Typical silliness.

Ha - and you all thought I would never post again!!!! Suckers!!!

CELEBRATION!

2009-02-11T20:55:00.001-05:00

CELEBRATION!
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

I love this photo. I loved this moment even more.

NEW POST

2009-01-25T19:58:00.002-05:00

Okay, so it's been a LONG time. Blame it on Facebook.

The update:

I am applying for grad school (yes, again). I will be going for my PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences...if I get in, that is.
I am taking the stupid GRE this coming Thursday (yes, again - apparently scores are only good for 5 years).
I will soon (sometime in February) be changing jobs. The new job will allow me to work full time and go to school. It will also make me officially poor. Woot!
I will make an effort to post more often. Really.

I have not yet made good on my promise to post Cubs post-season pictures. And that was from the 2007 post-season. Not that the 2008 post-season was really that much different. The countdown for 2009 has begun!

More soon (ish). :)

Elephant

2008-06-12T20:46:00.001-05:00

Elephant close-up
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

What? it's an elephant. It is just an elephant kind of night.

Backyard view

2008-06-12T07:25:00.001-05:00

Sunset behind the house
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

These are the woods behind our house around sunset.

Shake it up!

2008-06-01T21:40:00.001-05:00

Shake it up!
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

While the oven mitt was not ORIGINALLY a Sadie-toy, it fast became one of her favorites. This is a good action shot of her shaking it up - notice the crazy ears. Of course, after shredding it quite a bit, we decided that this particular toy would not be making the move with us. However, the toy at her feet in this photo - the "guy in a football" - did move with us and remains perhaps her second favorite toy of all time (next to her frisbee, of course!).

Beautiful city

2008-06-01T21:25:00.001-05:00

Downtown Pittsburgh
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

This is a view from the north shore. I took this after a baseball game several weeks ago, as we were walking back to our car along the Allegheny bike trail. it was probably around 10:00 p.m. I have other photos from this night that include fireworks over Mellon Arena because as we were walking back, the Pens were winning a hockey game.

Anyway, just thought you might all like a break from house photos.

Moving - FINALLY

2008-05-23T08:00:00.003-05:00

Sunday is officially moving day. We still have MUCH to do before that - including painting all the trim in the upstairs hallway, painting a second (and possibly third) coat in one of the upstairs rooms, finishing the stairs (have to still decide to exactly we're doing there), tearing up the second half the kitchen floor (did I mention that we decided to tear up the kitchen floor?), buy a refrigerator, and last but not least, actually PACK. This wouldn't be such a huge task before Sunday, if not for the fact that I am working from 8:30 am to 11:30 pm tomorrow. woohoo!

Anyway, here are some photos for your enjoyment:

Kitchen floor on the floor:

What idiots do to stairs:

Drawers complete

2008-04-27T20:26:00.001-05:00

Finished drawers
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

Something, something, something complete.

The cabinets are only half done to date, but will be done in 1-1.5 more days (of work, not actual days because I actually have to work too). I'll post a photo once everything is complete, but we have to wait until the electricians are out of the house.

Painting done!

2008-04-27T20:24:00.001-05:00

Kitchen cabinets painted
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

The kitchen cabinets are painted - eventually the walls will be orange, so the white cabinets will pop more.

Drawers almost done

2008-04-27T20:23:00.001-05:00

Drawers painted and trim completed
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

Tape removal felt so good.
The drawers are almost done - just need new hardware.

Stages of cabinet doors

2008-04-27T20:22:00.001-05:00

Stages of cabinet doors
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

The white cabinets in this photo have one coat of paint. The blue you see is tape. The orange is the trim.
Taping these cabinets SUCKED, by the way.

Cabinets painted - one coat

2008-04-27T20:19:00.001-05:00

Cabinets painted - one coat
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

Then we finished sanding and finished the first coat of paint. The walls will eventually be orange and not white, which will make the white cabinets look much better.

Work in the kitchen

2008-04-27T20:18:00.003-05:00

Work in the kitchen
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

And then we sanded off all the varnish and started priming.

Original kitchen

2008-04-27T20:18:00.001-05:00

Kitchen
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

This is what it looked like when we bought it.

House status

2008-04-25T08:31:00.002-05:00

Things we have accomplished:
Stripping 2 walls of wallpaper (though one of them should count as two by itself because it is the entire side of the house)
Removing cabinets and sanding 80% of them. This sounds unimpressive if you have never done it, but it has so far taken 4 days of work just to sand.
Primed and painted both coats on all the kitchen drawers and three of the cabinet doors. Still needs trim painted.
Bought new hardware to install in kitchen.
Made quite a mess in the house.
Purchased all paint, primer, etc. for the entire house.
Planted some things in the garden - hoping I don't kill everything that was already there, as is my tendency.

The electricians have completed the second floor rewire and are halfway through the first. They should be done by next Wednesday, which actually means May sometime I'm sure.

Things we have yet to accomplish before moving in:
Finish sanding, priming, and painting all kitchen cabinets. Attach hardware and rehang.
Spackle nearly the entire downstairs wall that is the side of the house.
Remove wallpaper borders in 4 rooms.
Hire a drywaller to fix the ceiling in one room.
Fix plaster in one small area of wall.
Sand, prime, and paint 6 doors in the house.
Wash, prime and paint almost all rooms in the house.
Have the chimney fixed (already arranged though - yay!)
Purchase a washer, dryer, and refrigerator and have them delivered.
Pull up the carpet on the first floor. Clean, clean, and clean the wood floors. Fix as needed.

PACK. stupid f*&king packing.

Move.

Other house tidbits:
LHPJ saw his first deer in the woods yesterday.
I heard the lions from the zoo the other day.
Our neighbor accidentally drove her car up onto another person's car - it was the neighborhood gossip. LHPJ got a phone call from our other neighbor informing him of this, so that we were not out of the loop.
We visited the 1 local bar - amusing story. I won't give you the long story, but it involved Robert Palmer, a mattress salesman, and a frantic search for a pitcher to serve beer.

Anyway, we are both just ready to LIVE there. This weekend will be another long weekend of working on the house - hopefully we will accomplish much. Most likely it will all take much longer than could ever be imagined.

WALLPAPER

2008-04-12T17:08:00.001-05:00

There should be a special place in hell for people who put up wallpaper.

Sleepy puppy

2008-03-30T01:06:00.001-05:00

Sleepy puppy
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

This is a great recent Pancho picture (though it's from December, so it's not THAT recent).
I particularly like the attentive ear.

Altaic Performance at Mr Roboto Project

2008-03-30T01:00:00.001-05:00

Altaic performance at Mr Roboto Project
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

LHPJ's first performance with Altaic.
At Mr Roboto Project in Wilkinsburg, PA.
March 8th.

This is also the first time I got to play with my wide angle (fish eye) lens, which I used to take this photo. It was not a great picture-taking venue, but still the photos were pretty cool.

News of the Schnah

2008-02-16T23:55:00.002-05:00

Today, LHPJ and I signed our lives and fortunes away.
In six weeks, the fruits of our sacrifice will ripen into a nice little house, in a great little neighborhood, with a really huge yard for puppies and growable edibles and such.
Can't get excited yet. No joyful dances.

Ok, maybe a tiny little finger dance of joy.

Pants Failure

2007-12-07T17:16:00.001-05:00

The title of my yesterday.

Driving in snow with people from Pittsburgh makes me want to THROW SOMETHING.

And now, a photo for your viewing pleasure.

Things to come

2007-11-22T10:27:00.000-05:00

I know I promised Cubs pictures months ago - I just mailed the film yesterday, so they will be coming soon.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, pictures from my trip to Phoenix this past weekend. To include, a giraffe licking people, lots of puppies, photos from the copilot seat of a plane (taken by me), and shots of me firing all kinds of guns. woo hoo!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

To Whom It May Concern:

2007-10-31T19:51:00.000-05:00

During the wee hours of this morning, you somehow found yourself on a Fair street in the land of the Squirrels. Whether on foot or by car, I do not know. What I do know is that you came upon something that you proceeded to take. That something happened to be sitting in my front yard. It was sitting there for all of TWO MINUTES while I ran upstairs to get my bag. When I returned, it was gone. You were not in sight, not on foot nor in a vehicle. I stepped outside and the lawn was empty. For a moment, I thought I was losing my f&*$ing mind.

Why, you ask? Because WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD STEAL A F&#KING WHEELCHAIR!?!?!?!?!!

I do take pleasure in knowing that the first time you tried to sit in it, you probably fell over because YOU DIDN'T TAKE THE WHEELS, IDIOT! I also take pleasure in the fact that once you do acquire wheels, you will realize that this is a SPORTS CHAIR and that it DOESN'T FIT THROUGH THE DOOR because it's too wide. Brilliant. Really.

What I also hope you discover soon is that the chair was recently adjusted, and I hadn't tightened all the screws yet - not until I was sure it was set up the way I wanted it. Hopefully your STUPID FAT HEAD will be too much for the lose screws and you'll fall over and cry, you STUPID ASSHAT!

Sincerely,
S

There's always next year

2007-10-09T07:45:00.000-05:00

And so it goes...

While the Cubs are out and this makes me sad, the Yankees being eliminated last night makes me do a little dance of joy. *dance of joy*

Now, I'm hoping for an Indians vs Diamondbacks World Series, though I think that Colorado vs Boston is probably more likely. Then again, I'm the one who said the Cubs would have a 4 run 7th inning on Saturday, after Ron Santo's rousing rendition of Take me out to the Ballgame. Oh well.

Pictures from the game will be posted in about a week.

Going to see the Cubs in the postseason

2007-10-03T20:43:00.000-05:00

Well, it's old news now that the Cubs clinched their division. Playoff game 1 starts in 18 minutes in Arizona. In three days, we'll be at game 3, being the crazy Cubs fans we are.

Yes, I'm a dork. I have the "Go Cubs Go" song downloaded in my ITunes. Go ahead, laugh. Yeah, get it all out now. Who'll be laughing if the Cubs win the World Series?

Oh shut up, I can dream, can't I?

If you watch the game Saturday, look for us in the left center field bleachers - row 8.

Funny how it worked out - this is just about where we sat on our Senior Ditch Day when we went to a Cubs game - this was technically the "first date" for LHPJ and me. yes, sigh and marvel over the cuteness of it. are you done making fun of me now?

GO CUBS GO!!!

In true Cubs fashion

2007-09-27T07:23:00.000-05:00

Magic number: 3

4 games remain - any combination of cubs wins + brewers losses = 3 means that the Cubs make it to the postseason. The magic number is getting smaller much slower than I would like, but would it really be right for a Cubs fan to feel comfortable right now? Still, I'd like to see them pick it up again before heading into postseason baseball, or they're going to have a majestic meltdown (and this time they won't have some poor fan in the stands to blame).

Go Cubs Go!!!

2007-09-23T16:11:00.001-05:00

We have tickets to the first NLDS game at Wrigley Field, and bleacher seats at that (the ONLY place a REAL Cubs fan will sit!!). Now, Cubs just have to hold it together and make the playoffs.

Magic number: 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some people never learn

2007-09-15T09:08:00.000-05:00

Concussions in High School Football article from the NY Times.

While this certainly isn't the best penned article, the points it makes are still really important. And frightening. While the deaths that were mentioned seemed to be the big, shocking moments of the article, it does take the time to mention that potentially serious effects from sustaining even one concussion - even if a person doesn't lose consciousness. Anyway, I think the article has enough in it to speak for itself, so I will spare everyone my lecture. :)

New Job

2007-09-06T14:42:00.001-05:00

This week, I started a new job. It will last through the end of January, at which point I will switch locations for about 6 weeks. After that...who knows? Certainly not me.

Not much to say about it yet - still learning the system.

And now a photo for your enjoyment...

Aha!

2007-08-19T10:47:00.001-05:00

I do have some photos from Phoenix - I forgot I took my digital camera out one day instead of my good camera. Anyway, this is one from Fiddlesticks, which is a mini-golf and more kind of place. I, perhaps because I am small and adventurous (or maybe just ridiculous), had the pleasure of riding the kiddie roller coaster with my nieces. We honestly were on the thing for 6 or 7 minutes I think. Around and around forwards and backwards. They loved it though and laughed at me because (and I quote my niece here), "Adults aren't supposed to scream on a kid ride - kids are supposed to scream!". It was funny.

A weekend at home

2007-08-19T08:41:00.001-05:00

After returning from Phoenix, I was home for less than 48 hours before I had to catch a train to Chicago for a good friend's wedding in Milwaukee. Woo hoo Wisconsin! Pictures from both weekends will be posted soon...or at least eventually. Finally, I am home for a weekend. LHPJ is away visiting friends and I'm hanging out with the dogs.

Yesterday, I saw The Whalers in a free concert as part of the Diversity Festival downtown. Good times, strange crowd, mild sunburn. I also got a free Pirates shirt from a booth they had at the festival - pays to know people.

And now...I'm off to the zoo!! Anyone suprised?

Heading west

2007-08-03T07:10:00.001-05:00

LHPJ and I leave today on our weekend journey to Phoenix, AZ for a 40th birthday extravaganza! It's strange not flying out during the wee hours of the morning - instead I woke up, took the dogs out, had a leisurely breakfast, and now I have time to just sit around for a while before getting ready to take Sadie to "camp". Even after that, I'll come home and have time to pack, eat lunch, relax a bit, and then prep Pancho for his weekend hanging out downstairs with his boxer friend Cutter. At last, we'll leave and spend 10 hours in various airports and airplanes before finally arriving in lovely Sky Harbor airport. Woo hoo!!!

It says something when I'm looking forward to the Phoenix weather because I'm too HOT here in Pittsburgh. Honestly, it was 102 degrees here the other day. I would take 110 in Phoenix over 102 and humid in Pittsburgh ANYDAY (especially because everywhere you go in Phoenix, there is air conditioning, whereas WE DON'T HAVE AC HERE).

And it continues

2007-08-01T07:41:00.000-05:00

More Cutbacks in HIV/AIDS Support Programs.

While at least most people have access to medications for AIDS in the U.S., that doesn't mean they have access to other services that address anything beyond survival. Sadly, after spending a lot of time in medical institutions, I can say that survival seems to be the goal. Keep the virus under control and the person is fine, right? Never mind the fact that many people have lost their jobs or can't get jobs because of discrimination (and yes, this does happen OFTEN). Doesn't matter if people can't afford cars and don't live in areas with good public transportation, so they can't get to their doctors. Who cares if they are nutritionally compromised, which undermines the body's ability to fight illness and heal?

HIV is a big one, but this mindset seems to be applied across the board. If a person can walk, talk, eat, and remember to turn off the stove, he's fine to go home, with no additional supports. So say the third party payers.

This soap box is nice and tall, I know. I just get frustrated, because I see it a lot. I can't close my doors, live in my little safe middle class bubble and pretend like the world outside doesn't exist - I wouldn't want to if I could. I also can't fight every cause - that would be equally as silly to attempt. I'm really not sure how to fight this one anyway.

So, I complain about it - that's what blogs are for, right? For me to be totally self-indulgant and whine and preach and say whatever the hell I want?

Woo hoo - it's all about me, ME, ME!

ok, back to being serious...

This sucks. That about sums it up I think.

That about sums it up

2007-07-19T10:52:00.001-05:00

Sadie naps
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

This is how I feel today. It's not a bad day, I'm not particularly sleepy (though sleepier than I would prefer), just in the mood to lay on a comfortable couch and just be for a while. One of those days when a dog's life is enviable.

World's Greatest Bowler

2007-07-18T08:26:00.000-05:00

I have a goal - I will be the Queenpin. Oh yes.

Brained Cat

2007-07-13T22:41:00.000-05:00

Tonight, LHPJ and I saw The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Lights go up - cat brains on a table. What more do I have to say? Ridiculous, funny, fantastic.

Sturgeon Attack!

2007-07-04T17:12:00.000-05:00

Sturgeon colliding with boaters in Florida

Gate in Vigeland Park

2007-06-28T16:08:00.001-05:00

Gate in Vigeland Park
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

Weekend and such

2007-06-26T06:09:00.000-05:00

Last night, we bowled our first league games. This is the night when your average and handicap are first determined, so NATURALLY, I bowl three of the better games that I have bowled in the past several years. Nice.

Sunday LHPJ and I went canoeing - good times. Too tired now to go into detail - it's barely after 7:00 am.

It is hot as #!*@ right now. Well, not hot so much as humid, but the overall feeling is about the same. Sadie is on the couch giving me a pathetic look that says - "SHAVE ME!".

I'm posting this now just to kill time. It's rare that I have an extra ten minutes in the morning, but I set my alarm ten minutes earlier since I have been running late recently and catching the later of two buses that I will take in the mornings. This morning, I had to be to work by 8:00, so I have to catch the earlier bus. So now I sit here.

SO FREAKIN' TIRED!!!!

Now Sadie is asleep and mocking me.

Ok, bus arrives in 7 minutes. I should get going.

Oslo harbor

2007-06-21T11:29:00.001-05:00

Oslo harbor
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

This photo was taken around 5:00 pm sometime during the second week of May in Oslo, Norway. We ended up taking a cruise of the Oslofjord - it was a perfect day to be on the water.

Pepsi Max

2007-06-09T20:09:00.001-05:00

Pepsi Max
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

I love Pepsi Max. I've always been a Coke person more than a Pepsi person, but Pepsi Max is AWESOME. Sadly, the U.S. does not have Pepsi Max. Yet another compelling reason to emigrate.
This tiny Pepsi Max (can you tell I love to say that?) truck was outside our train from Oslo to Myrdal, loading the snack bar.

In other news...

I went to the Hope Network 3 on 3 basketball tournament today. There were 181 teams there (6 WC teams). We played three official games and a 4th pickup game (we being my team, named "Gimps Plus One"; I was the plus one).
One thing I didn't consider was what happens in the summer when one spends 4.5 hours outside, in the sun, SITTING WITH SHORTS ON.

Have you all figured it out yet? That the tops of my legs, from mid thigh to mid knee are TOASTED? Well, they are. And they hurt. Like a bitch. It really is absurd just how sunburned my legs are. I can't wear pants, I can't set anything on my lap - even walking up and down the stairs stretches the skin in ways that are unpleasant. Anyway, I will be sleeping on my back tonight.

On the plus side, we came in third, and made a pretty good showing in our game against the first place team.

Rooftops of Copenhagen

2007-06-04T20:15:00.001-05:00

View of the rooftops
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

We have FINALLY finished moving out of our old apartment. Now we just have to finish unpacking, hanging things on the walls, etc. etc. I'm thrilled. Still, it feels good to be done making car trips back and forth.

Enjoy the photo from Copenhagen.

Lighthouse in Oslo

2007-05-28T22:25:00.001-05:00

Oslo lighthouse
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst

I love this photo - the clouds, the light, the water - everything was perfect. This was taken from a boat trip we took in the Oslofjord (the fjord on which the city of Oslo sits).

The first of the Scandinavia photos

2007-05-24T21:30:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite photos from Vigeland Park in Oslo, Norway. Not only were the sculptures and the whole park really cool, but the incoming thunderstorms (that never actually hit us, thankfully) made the sky a pretty awesome backdrop for the photographs. For more info on the park, check out this site. I have MANY photos from our day at Vigeland, so expect to see more. I will also work on putting all my trip photos onto flickr soon, though right now the continuing move/unpacking and my internship are my top priority.

Home again

2007-05-13T08:21:00.000-05:00

We have returned and now we are taking today to recover. Overall, the trip was really awesome - pictures will be posted soon.

All the places we'll go...

2007-04-18T14:26:00.000-05:00

In a week and a half, we are leaving on our vacation. I CANNOT WAIT.

The first destination is Copehagen, Denmark (3 days).

Then, we are off to Stockholm, Sweden (3 days).

Followed by Oslo, Norway (2 days).

Then to Flam, via Myrdal and the famous Flam railway (1.5 days).

Finally, ending in Bergen, Norway where we'll get to cruise the fjords (2 days).

Hopefully, I will have even better pictures to share once we return. We leave on Monday, April 30th. During our 11 hour layover in Chicago, we'll actually get to leave the airport and go hang out with my family for a home cooked meal - WOO HO0!

We return home on Saturday, May 12th and get one night to sleep without the dogs around. That Monday, I start my internship and we start seriously packing up our place to move. yay.

This vacation is MUCH needed. While things have occurred since we made the decision to go that would have probably led us to NOT book this trip, I am VERY happy that we did and are going.

Goodbye to an old friend

2007-04-10T12:45:00.001-05:00

Napping siblings
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This is a sad month, as in mid-May, I will bid adieu to an old friend (pictured here). No, not Pancho, nor Sadie (who was particularly young nad cute in this photo, by the way).
No, it will be a farewell to The Poof. The Poof which I purchased in 1998, the fall of my sophmore year in college. For 9 years, the Poof has been a great chair, napping place, and more recently, dog bed. It has stopped running dogs from careening into the radiator or other furniture. It has provided a comfortable place to sit whilst watching movies in college. It was a soft landing for my many leaps from my ridiculously high bed at Hope. The Poof has never failed me.
But, all good things must one day end. The fluff is gone - it no longer stands two feet tall, but instead is a permanent pancake, taking up far too much space. It has begun to spill its contents, with the help of some big teeth (not mine...or LHPJ's). It is covered in hair and dust and stains from dog vomit, puppy accidents, and assorted beverages that have been spilled on it over the years.
It sort of smells funny too.
This will be the final home of The Poof. It will not make the trek with us to the new apartment. It will be left out on the curb for the garbage men (honestly, who would want it now??).
The dogs will get a new bed. We have moved beyond the college years of lounging in structurally free furniture. The time of The Poof is over.

Goodbye, fair Poof. You have served me well.

We got it!

2007-04-09T20:58:00.000-05:00

We signed a lease tonight. Woo hoo!!
While the new place doesn't have a yard (which is a downside), it has wood floors, a built-in bookshelf, 2.5 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, and the best part - - - it's in Squirrel Hill, which is a neighborhood we LOVE but thought we would never be able to afford. This place, for its location, is a steal.
And, it is plenty big for the dogs.
Oh, and it has a balcony, with a view of the Cathedral of Learning - - at least in the winter when there are no leaves on the trees.

So, we move in May.

Now, maybe I will sleep better. I just won't think about the fact that everything for the rest of my classes is due next week and I take the CRC exam in 2.5 weeks and haven't begun to study. yay!

BLARGH!

2007-04-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Good news - we think we found a place.
The catch - we have not yet spoken with the landlord; only the tenant.
Bad news - I seem to have lost the ability to stay asleep throughout the entire night. I have become well aquainted with the general sounds of my house between 4:30 and 7:30 am.

Other news - for the past week or so, Sadie has routinely been coming into our room at 7;30 and crawling into bed. She won't sleep there at night, but seems to think that my head is a good place to sleep in the morning. Good thing I'm short - I end up with my feet hanging off the bottom of the bed, with 75 pounds of squirmy hairball at my head. Still, this seems to be the point at which I am best able to fall back asleep on the rare mornings when I don't have to get up so early.

Hmm...LHPJ just got a call about the potential future apartment....must go.

In other news...

2007-04-06T09:40:00.001-05:00

Cow fish
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

My favorite fish from the Seattle Aquarium - I love this fish.

In other news, this past Monday night our landlord informed us that he is selling this place and that he needs this apartment empty to do all the necessary work on it before selling it. SO...we're moving. Again.

BLARGH!!!

Friendly fish

2007-04-06T09:37:00.001-05:00

Fish Starfish
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This was taken at the Seattle Aquarium on our trip to Seattle in early March.

Sled Hockey

2007-04-02T17:13:00.001-05:00

...and crashing
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This was my attempt at sled hockey. I actually wasn't TOO bad about remaining upright. I just got brave and swung a little too hard at the puck. Honestly, it's REALLY easy to fall over - you just have to lean a little bit too far to one side or the other. At least I actually hit the puck...

Update

2007-04-02T17:02:00.000-05:00

Well, I passed. I have some work to do and some changes to make on my thesis, but the hard part is over.

My Mom and Dusty visited this past weekend and it went well. I will post pictures sometime soon.

Now, I have to finish up the rest of the semester and study for the CRC exam.

Our trip to Scandinavia is officially booked - more details to follow.

I have to also get certified in CPR and get a complete physical this month - woo hoo! This is required for my internship, which begins a couple of days after I get back from Scandinavia.

I think I will post a photo or two now for you, as it has been too long.

Why I fell off the face of the planet...

2007-03-27T16:18:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow morning at 9:00 am, I defend my thesis.
Fun times.

Thursday night, my Mom and her husband will be here visiting too.

Four weeks left until the end of the semester.

Then I take my CRC.

Then I go to Scandinavia for two weeks. WOO HOO!

Then I start my full-time, fourth month, UNPAID internship. yay.

From there, who knows?
Job?
PhD?
Any suggestions?

MS Bike Tour

2007-02-21T10:35:00.000-05:00

My brother-in-law is doing the MS Bike Tour "Tour de Farms" in Illinois in June. He is looking to raise $500 to ride in this event. If you would like to make a donation, here is the link:
Kevin's Bike Tour Page

The ref beats his wife! The ref beats his wife! And she likes it!!

2007-01-30T19:59:00.000-05:00

Go Bears!

We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation, With your T-formation!!!

Snow Day!!

2007-01-29T09:52:00.000-05:00

Due to the weather and the big mountain between me and work, I didn't have to go in today!! I cannot even BEGIN to explain how good this is. That would require going into a LONG list of things I have to finish before the end of February (or before the end of this week, for that matter). Anyway, I'm very excited, and now I must work.

We are the Bears...

2007-01-21T18:28:00.000-05:00

For your listening and viewing enjoyment...
Super Bowl Shuffle Video

The audio/video sync isn't great, but it's good enough to be amused. And I'm proud to say, I STILL know all the words. :)

Bear down.

The Cake

2007-01-15T10:34:00.000-05:00

Cake 6
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Delicious delicious. There are probably STILL people eating leftovers of this cake! It was made my Erin and decorated by Erin and Tiffanie. Very good cake.

The Happy Couple

2007-01-15T10:32:00.000-05:00

The Look
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

If only I could ever REALLY be that serious. :) I think this is the photo we need to frame and hang above the couch.

The High School Gang

2007-01-15T10:30:00.000-05:00

LHS Reunion
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

The LHSers and handful of spouses.

Wow, I really AM short...

Killer squirrels

2007-01-15T10:28:00.000-05:00

Killer squirrels
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Everyone laughs, but Whitney and I know the terror of the zucchini bread eating demon squirrels!!!

The Basement

2007-01-15T10:27:00.000-05:00

Basement
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

The scene of the crime. I love this basement. The bar is around the corner to the right.

It's alive!

2007-01-15T10:14:00.000-05:00

The holidays proved to be very holidayesque this year. We were running around from one place to another, having Christmas with various segments of our families, visiting friends, etc etc. My Mom had a really nice wedding reception/party for us in my Grandma's basement - I will post a few pictures, but I have uploaded all of Tiffanie's pictures to Flickr and will be posting my pictures there soon. So, if you were there and want to admire yourself, or if you weren't there but want to gawk at those who were, check it out. It is in a set entitled Chicago Reception (to differentiate it from the Pittsburgh reception). I sort of felt like I was back in high school, at one of the combined family/friends parties that my Mom would have for things like graduation or some other milestone event. But this time, people had kids. Tres zarb (I would thank my junior high French teacher for that, but I am currently blanking on her name - my two more recent French teachers names are interfering...).

In other news, I have officially schedules my thesis defense. woo hoo! Now I just have to write the stupid thing.

Okay okay, I know you just want to look at pictures. I'll shut up.

p.s. Sorry to those with dial-up. Hope you enjoyed your lunch break. :)

Happy Holidays

2006-12-18T23:47:00.000-05:00

In the true spirit of the season, I bring you this game: Get Santa Drunk.
Friday, I leave for Chicago with LHPJ and Pancho. Sadie is staying at her doggie hotel and getting the spa treatment (aka: a bath and her nails trimmed). We'll be gone for a week packed full of celebrations - graduations, holidays, weddings, etc etc etc...

Happy Holidays everyone!

Blue-eyed puppy

2006-11-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

Blue-eyed puppy
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Happy 1 year anniversary Sadie!

Something old, something new

2006-11-22T15:13:00.000-05:00

New rawhide
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Haha, and you thought this was a wedding-related post! Well, you're WRONG!

This past weekend, Pancho turned 5. He is now officially going through his 30-something crisis (henceforth to be known as the GEM-crisis). We can jokingly call him old man and the like.

The same day was also the one year anniversary of our bringing home Sadie. I guess we have now moved beyond being able to call her our "new" dog. She is now just the BIG dog.

Recent dog pictures will be posted soon. However, since we are looking back on those days now, I will give you some older pictures to sigh over. :)

Happy Birthday Pancho!

Hell of a month

2006-11-07T23:32:00.000-05:00

In the past month:
My car has overheated on me TWICE and had to be towed to the shop.
This caused me to miss two classes - one midterm exam.
I lost my planner.
My laptop died. Totally. Lost everything on it.
Bought a new laptop. YAY!
Lost my cell phone at the park
Transferred service to an old phone.
Someone found my phone. YAY! Switched the service back to MY phone.
"Stoved" my finger playing basketball.
Accidentally stole my boss's power cord for his laptop on a day that he needed it.

Hmm...there are lots of other little things. It's one of those months when you just don't want to be around me I think.

What did I do yesterday?

2006-10-14T13:17:00.000-05:00

I had lunch at Kazansky's, I had dinner and drinks at The Sharp Edge, I watched the baseball postseason games, I got married, I stayed up late hanging out with Coco, and I played with my dogs outside twice. Overall, it was an eventful day I would say.

To Perm or Not to Perm my Mullet

2006-10-04T20:47:00.000-05:00

Today on the bus, I saw a Korean girl with a mullet. The bangs and back were straight and thin. However, the area between the bangs and back was permed and kind of crazy. It was very mullet shaped, but definitely not a traditional mullet. Very strange.

I bought a Halloween costume for Pancho this evening. Stay tuned for pictures. They will be worth it.

This past weekend I attended my fourth (but not final) wedding of the year. There will be another in December, though whether or not I can go is still up in the air.

I was in Columbus, OH at the end of last week for a conference. In two weeks, I will be in Baltimore for a Wheelchair basketball tournament (don't laugh!), and two weeks after that I will be in Boston for another conference. LHPJ also has two conferences this Fall in Ontario and Chicago. Would be nice if we could leave town TOGETHER for a change!!

Any suggestions for a really good (and CHEAP) weekend getaway from winter (January or February)? The plan is to go to Seattle over spring break, but that's a LONG way off...

LHPJ's Ape Girlfriend

2006-09-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

Cole takes a seat
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

No, that is NOT me!!

Cole took a particular liking to Jon. This was still during our ape and monkey encounter.

Shananagans

2006-09-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

Shananagans
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Our third and fourth encounter occurred simultaneously, with Cole the ape and Jake the monkey. We sat around a table and they played around us and on us. We could touch them and play with them, but we stayed at the table and did not restrain them in any way.

More pictures will follow soon of this encounter.

Prairie dog encounter

2006-09-11T19:52:00.000-05:00

Prairie dog closeup
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This was probably the least "exotic" of our encounters, but still good nonetheless.

Crikey

2006-09-04T11:10:00.000-05:00

I loved the Crocodile Hunter. This makes me sad.
The Crocodile Hunter dies today

Lemur in the sun

2006-09-01T17:48:00.000-05:00

Lemur in the sun
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

One of the lemurs stops long enough to get pet by Vik.

Lemur on my head

2006-09-01T17:47:00.000-05:00

Lemur on my head
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Somehow I ended up in the corner under a barrel, but the lemurs still ended up hanging out on my head.

Perch for a Lemur

2006-09-01T17:45:00.000-05:00

Perch for a Lemur
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Jon during the lemur encounter. The lemurs didn't stay in one place for long. They bounced around on the trees, on us, and all over the place. They liked to hang out on our heads and shoulders.

Amazing Exotics

2006-09-01T17:09:00.000-05:00

Lemur bite
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

One of the coolest things I've done in a LONG time was go to Amazing Exotics, about an hour north of Orlando. I am pretty impressed with what this place does. It is devoted to animal rescue and rehabilitation, education to the public, and animal husbandry. It is not open to the public except through guided tours. We did the most extensive tour, which included 4-7 animal enounters and lasted about three hours. The day we went, we were the only people there (other than staff, that is).

This particular pictures was from our first encounter with two Lemurs. More lemur encounter pictures will follow.

Here comes the sun

2006-08-31T23:22:00.000-05:00

Here comes the sun
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

As some of you might already know, over Memorial Day (yes, I realize this was SEVERAL months ago!) we went to Orlando, FL where I met up with my friend Jen and her roomie Vik from NYC (I know Jen from college). While normally, Orlando would be somewhere near the bottom of my list of places to visit, we were able to get a super cheap hotel (Jen's friend owns time share) that was super swank and awesome.

This photo is from the first night there, after a pretty awesome thunderstorm. This was on the grounds where we stayed.

Over this weekend, I will be posting more pictures from this trip, as I am now in the process of transferring them from snapfish to flickr. These were all 35mm pics, not digital - hence the need to transfer from snapfish. Anyway, I digress...

I leave you with this photo for now, as it is time for bed. It has been a long day. Goodnight.

Since we last spoke

2006-08-27T09:44:00.000-05:00

In the past two weeks, I have crashed my brand new car, pulled a muscle in my butt attempting to water ski, and gotten a puncture wound from a stick on my big toe. Fortunately, none of these events has been serious, though we are still without our car and will be for another week at least. woo hoo!! And, that will be expensive. The pulled muscle has been more of a nuisance than anything, and the toe thing is just a pain in the ass because I keep hitting and scraping it on everything. If I could explain the car accident, I would, because it is more than fitting. To sum it up in seven words, I fell out of a parking lot.

This past week, I wrapped up my second summer practicum, and I start classes on Monday. Well, sort of. I'm going to class for an hour, but then ditching out to go to the Cubs/Buccos game. :) Still, the semester will have officially begun.

Last night, I had too many rum and cokes, which resulted in my leaving voice and text messages to my friends that somehow centered around the Ghostbusters theme song. Oh that Ray Parker Jr.....

I may be joining a basketball team too. Go ahead, laugh all you want (especially if you've actually seen me attempt a lay-up (and you can laugh again because I don't know how to spell lay-up)). If the scheduling works out, I would be playing with the Pittsburgh Lady Steel Wheelers (don't quote me on that name folks), so my height would not necessarily work against me. Still, that whole lack of talent and tendency to fall over and hurt myself in strange ways may be a factor. I will keep you posted.

Pancho with his hedgehog

2006-08-20T13:31:00.000-05:00

Pancho with his hedgehog
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This photo was taken prior to the chomping of the ear, obviously. Pancho loves hedgehogs.

Sadie and Brutus

2006-08-09T20:31:00.000-05:00

Sadie and Brutus playing
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This was a few weeks ago, when Brutus would still run and hide under someone's legs whenever Sadie stood up. Still, he was pretty pugnacious (haha - sorry, I couldn't resist) even then.
Today, he was here for over an hour, playing in the backyard with Sadie. He has gotten very brave, and the two of them were hilarious. Sadie is suprisingly very good with him, despite the ridiculous size differential.

fyi - for those who don't know, Brutus is the latest addition to the Coco-Strange residence. He is close to 4 months old now.

Pancho was apparently jealous, because ever since we've been inside, he has been wrestling with Sadie like mad - chomping her face, her ears, her neck, her EYEBALL. It's pretty amusing.

From far away

2006-08-07T19:22:00.000-05:00

From far away
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Here's a shot from further away, to give you some perspective as to the size of the Fit. The Jetta in front of it was almost two car lengths away, and the truck across the street was even further up from the Jetta.
The car is tall, but REALLY narrow. SUPER roomy inside. Overall, it is exactly what we were looking for. I have to chant "I think I can" going up hills, but the tradeoff there is fantastic gas mileage.

Sitting dog

2006-08-07T19:04:00.000-05:00

Sitting dog
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This is a good interior shot, with Sadie sitting in the "trunk". While Sadie is sitting, she is a very tall dog. She can stand on the floor and put her head on the kitchen table without stretching, and she can easily put her feed on my shoulders (yes, I'm short, I know).

Pancho the driver

2006-08-07T19:02:00.000-05:00

Pancho the driver
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Notice how Pancho's left ear is floppy on top? Well, this appears to be a permanent thing now - I think it only adds to his weird little charming personality.

Fit from the front

2006-08-07T19:01:00.000-05:00

Fit from the front
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Extreme closeup!

Rear view

2006-08-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

Rear view
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Work it! Shake it!!

The Fit is Go

2006-08-07T18:59:00.000-05:00

The Fit is Go
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

I don't have any photos yet with people in them, so the size might be hard to judge. However, I am posting several pics to give you some idea of how big it is.

How much is that doggie in the window?

2006-08-07T18:58:00.000-05:00

How much is that doggie in the window?
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This is a good view of the back of the car, the trunk space, and a bit of the interior. Sadie loves her very own seat in the trunk. She has plenty of room to sit, stand, turn, lie down, or put her front legs over the back seat and block the rearview.

The FIT IS HERE!

2006-07-27T20:20:00.000-05:00

Well, we had a premature arrival, but fortunately, we were prepared and were able to pick up our new arrival tonight!! WOO HOO!!

Pictures to be posted soon. :)

Part of the foliage

2006-07-20T21:08:00.000-05:00

Part of the foliage
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Sadie takes a break on Memorial Day, hiding out in the plants of our backyard. I was not there to witness this in person, as I was in Denver, but LHPJ got this great picture.

The FIT IS GO!

2006-07-13T20:54:00.000-05:00

Coming this August ...

Rock N Roll!!!

2006-07-12T21:27:00.000-05:00

Rock N Roll!!!
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

I won't comment on what was inhaled, ingested, or otherwise consumed at this party, but needless to say, it was a wild, crazy time.
I'm particularly fond of this photo of The Don and myself gettin' down with our metal selves. I believe that The Scorpions were playing in the background - they're metal, right?
:) Okay, seriously, I'm kidding. I figured you would all know that, but I couldn't take the risk that ANYONE would take me seriously about The Scorpions being metal (ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE!!) OR about the possibility that The Scorpions would actually be playing in the background.

So, how many times can I mention The Scorpions in one post? This is more press than they've gotten in the past decade.

p.s. I'm wearing all black because I went to the party immediately following a performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors - I have not regressed to my pubescent days of all black on a regular basis. :)

Lounging

2006-07-11T19:43:00.000-05:00

Lounging
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

Don't we all have days like this?

Crashed

2006-07-11T17:45:00.000-05:00

Crashed
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

This is an old picture of Pancho, from our first apartment in Pittsburgh (sometime between the Fall of 2002 and the summer of 2003). I have countless pictures of Pancho sleeping, I know. Still, it doesn't get much cuter than this.

Two weeks and counting...

2006-07-01T17:02:00.000-05:00

I have now officially had this freakin' cold for two weeks. True, it has morphed from one kind of cold into another, but I'M FREAKIN' SICK OF IT!!!!
It's a holiday weekend, so I have time to recover, but would also like to take this opportunity to have some fun. Today was okay, because we watched World Cup all afternoon (Vive la France!), but by tomorrow, I would like to be out and about for a change. Stupid cold.

Penis enlarger pump???

2006-06-28T09:21:00.000-05:00

I have in my purse an attachment for my inhaler that looks like a penis enlarger pump - a small one, of course.

Behold:

and

I first became aware of this when my purse was searched at the Cubs game Monday night, much to my embarrassment.

Rachel Carson Trail

2006-06-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

View of the Allegheny River
Originally uploaded by sbjuengst.

I couldn't go this year, as I was out of town for a wedding, but this is a photo from the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge in 2004. Next year, I am DEFINITELY doing it again.

A month and counting

2006-06-11T16:52:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, the long delay in posting...

Basically, I have no excuse other than being busy, and who isn't? Sadie has gotten to be HUGE and full of energy, so she takes up almost all of my free time at home. I have two jobs plus two practica this summer, so that takes up all my time during the weekdays. Tuesday nights I am volunteering for the Three Rivers Adaptive Rowing program and Wednesday nights we have a pick-up frisbee game. The weekends have been full of dogs, traveling, and catching up on sleep. Today, I devoted to watching baseball - something I love to do but haven't been able to do much recently.

Soon I will have more pictures to post - this seems to keep me posting more often since it's quick, easy, and probably more interesting than reading anything I have to say. :)

Despite not officially being in class right now, I have a paper to write in the next couple of weeks. GRR!!!

Hmm..the Pirates are trying to lose again. WOO HOO!