Madeline

Our little pup Madeline had a really rough day yesterday. We started noticing a lump under her jaw on Sunday, and it had us really worried so we planned on taking her to vet's office first thing Monday morning. When I woke up around 6:45 am or so, the lump had nearly doubled in size, and also migrated into her throat. It looked so horrible, and although she didn't seem to be in any pain we couldn't help but be super scared. We literally rolled out of bed and took her straight to the vet's, where they determined that a piece of foxtail grass -



had gotten up under her back molar somehow, made its way down under her tooth, and into her cheek cavity where it formed a huge abscess and serious infection! It's hard to believe such a small thing could cause so much damage. It was really a fluke thing- although foxtails in dogs ears, paws and snout are a common occurrence, one causing this much havoc is not. The vet said we were very, very lucky we brought her in when we did because it could have be life threatening, as it was getting close to blocking her airway.

They had to slice open her throat/cheek (the incision is huge- there are some photos on my flickr so click on either of these photos to go there), and there is currently a drain running from her cheek, down through her throat. She is on pain meds and antibiotics as well. For these first couple of days (until Wednesday) she can't have any visitors and I need to stay with her. The hole in her cheek is so huge, and held with staples so if she gets excited or moves a lot it's dangerous. The pain medication makes her lethargic so I know we'll definitely make it to Wednesday without any issues. Madeline will then get the drain out Friday, and next week the staples will go.



Madeline is seriously like our child and it was so heartbreaking when we first picked her up. I also had no idea that animal procedures could be so expensive, it's seriously insane. Obviously completely worth it though.

During times like this, I feel really thankful that Hank and my schedule is so open. Thankfully he was not out tour right now because I don't know what I would have done, he is so calm in every situation- unlike me and my emotional self. I literally broke down in the vet's office, it was quite embarrassing. So Hank will be taking over babysitting duties on Thursday afternoon, when I head down to stay with Emily at her lovely hotel (sunning and swimming) and then head to California for Chloe's birthday weekend. I return on Sunday evening to resume puppy nurse status, and Hank flies out Monday morning to record with a new band. FUN! I am really, really excited for him about that, it's going to be amazing...but that's a whole different story :). So Ms. Maddie will have one of us with her all day, everyday. I am so happy about that.

I'm currently sitting here on the couch, Madeline is asleep next to me. I just ate some Kashi Go Lean with almond milk and berries, and I am contemplating which movie to watch. OR shall I start True Blood? Netflix just sent me 3 good choices. Happy Tuesday to me and my recovering daug-ter (get it, daughter but a dog? hmm...)!

Luiz Augusto, Azamba Tattoo

Olá meu nome é Luiz Augusto, e sou conhecido pelo apelido de Azamba Tattoo. Seguem algumas fotos de meus trabalhos. Espero que vocês gostem. Fiquem na paz!

HK9 Tattoo
E-mail: luizaugusto@digital-artist.org
Telefone: (21) 30831980
Endereço: Shopping Nova América, no Centro Empresarial, sala 412. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Fotolog: www.fotolog.com/azambujatattoo
Atendimento: Terça, Quinta, Sexta 14 ás 22:00hs, Sábado 10 ás 22:00hs e Domingos e Feriados 15 ás 21:00hs.

Sister, sister!

My sister and I got (very large) sister tattoos this past week. They'll be shaded and colored in a couple of weeks.

Here's us!


My very swollen leg:


And Lauren's!

teacup tattoo outline, originally uploaded by LaurHawth.

I love Prescott!

Today was such a wonderful day and reminded me yet again how happy I am to live here! The summers up in Prescott are definitely something to write home about- usually in the 70s-80s, fresh clean mountain air, and sunny. Today I spent the afternoon outside with friends and it was great. I walked down and met Amber Joy and Lilly (her new rescue puppy!) on the square around noon. I decided to leave Maddie home because Lilly hasn't gotten her spay scars out yet and I didn't want Madeline to encourage her to jump at all. There was the typical huge art fair downtown and Lilly was not having it, so we took her back to Amber's and then walked down to the Brew Pub to meet Adie, Addison and Cathy while they finished their beers. The afternoon turned into just relaxing, walking around and enjoying each other's company. Once Addy went home to eat the girls and I just sat in the grass on the square and had some much needed girl talk. Perfect weather, beautiful day. After hangouts we all decided to go see The Hangover, so we walked back to my house to get Hank and headed to the theater. I thought the movie was definitely funny- I've seen funnier, but this was total laugh out loud material, and it put me in a really good mood! Besides this splitting headache that suddenly appeared, that good mood is still here, now that I'm home and relaxing. Hank and Lance are recording in the living room, and I am going to spend the evening baking some blueberry flax muffins and continuing to organize this mess we made last night.

I hope everyone had a lovely day! Here are some photos from this afternoon.

Beautiful Prescott sky


Amber Joy and me


Cactus necklace, so cool


Amber and Lilly


Addison and Adie :)

Good morning Sunday!

I woke up super late today and I'm loving it, for once. Late last night Hank and I decided to rearrange our bedroom so I ended up staying up way too late, and we went to bed with it unfinished, which I hate! Hopefully this afternoon I'll be able to do the last of it. Today should be a great day, it's in the 70s and sunny, a typical perfect Prescott summer day. Amber and I are planning to spend the afternoon outside, introducing Madeline to her new puppy, Lilly! They'll be friends, for sure. Photos later!

xo

Saturday

welcome home, originally uploaded by daniellehampton.

Today was a great day. I got tattooed yesterday ("Tea for two" on me and "Two for tea" on my sister, with teacups and roses), and you can kind of see my extremely swollen thigh in this photo. Feels great. hah. But yeah, today was wonderful. Hank and I woke up and went food shopping - first to the local Farmer's Market, then to Costco, and finally New Frontiers. Because we were gone for so long we literally had to stock up on everything from ketchup to almond milk. I am looking forward to making some quinoa tabouli tomorrow, one of my favorite summer dishes. It keeps wonderfully in the fridge, and it super good as a quick side dish. I like to make a lot and then eat it throughout the week.

After shopping we took Madeline on a long walk, hung out downtown for awhile, and stopped by the new "barkery," which is a bakery for pups! It's right down the street and we loved it, which is so great. I'd much rather buy from them than a chain store. We got Madeline a few things including a little collapsible water dish to keep in my purse.

We got home and I went to the gym, had a great workout and now we just finished up watching "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," which was pretty okay.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days, Sunday! And what a nice feeling to not have to have a Monday at work immediately following.

I'm in a cleaning mode so I am off to attack our hallway closets! Organize, organize!

Home sweet home

Traveling is fun, but nothing feels like home! I'm in Phoenix now, until Friday- I get tattooed and have a few other odds and ends to tie up, and friends to see, before we head back up the mountain. Once I get back I'll only be in Prescott for about five days though, because Emily comes to town and I'll be with her at her hotel (swimming and sunning!), then heading to LA and Long Beach with Shirley and Alana. I feel very rushed but I know it will all be a lot of fun. Adie is in Prescott this weekend (and Amber gets back from San Francisco!), so it will be wonderful to do all our typical summer shenanigans. I know the summer is going to rush by- once I get back from LA, we have a bunch of stuff lined up- Amber Joy summer fun in Prescott, a week on the houseboat, LV, a week in San Diego, I'll be going to Brooklyn for awhile to stay with Em, Seattle/Portland, and LA a couple more times. I feel insane just typing it all out. Insane in a good way though! And then before I know it, I'll be back in my classroom come mid-August.

We left the beach this morning around 3:45am (yuck- way too early) and flew out of Newark around 7am. I twittered (tweeted?) about this earlier, but there was a woman with a rather large dog in a bag sitting behind us. I totally understand bringing your little pup in one of those carry-on puppy bags, but this was a bigger dog, stuffed into a duffel bag! It was so bizarre but the dog seemed happy, I guess. I slept for a lot of the flight and watched episodes of Carnivale while awake, and it all went by pretty quickly. We arrived in Phoenix early this afternoon and because I felt so gross I immediately went to the gym. I seriously feel out of shape right now, even though I ran so much. I need to lift weights to stay toned and right now I am not so happy, but, what can ya do? So I got back in the gym and I will back to my normal routine again tomorrow morning. I figure if I kick my butt for a couple weeks I should feel okay. I hope I do!

My body thinks it's 1:40am right now so I am going to sleep, I have a long day tomorrow. I am super excited because I am getting to spend time with someone who has been a big part of my life growing up, but I kind of lost touch with her somewhere along the way. My friend Rhonda was like my big sister from age 14 and throughout high school and part of college, and only recently did we reconnect. I am so happy about that! She is a really special person to me, and I have always felt a deep connection with her- soul sisters all the way! So tomorrow should be wonderful and I am really looking forward to it.

Alright, now it's really bedtime! I hope if you're reading this you had a wonderful night! xoxo