The Salty Blog

I can’t believe I’m going to admit this via worldwide media, but I really, really like the Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown song, “No Air”. The one thing that makes it somewhat okay for me to say it out loud is that even John Mayer agrees.

So this brings me to American Idol. Tonight is Neil Diamond night. Last week was Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber night, and earlier it was Dolly Parton and two weeks of the Beatles. Is it me or is this entirely un-entertaining product we’re working with here? So I’m taking the liberty to give American Idol my free advice…

2009 American Idol Season 8:

Hip Hop: I get it that this is a family audience. LL Cool J’s “Doin’ It” and the Geto Boys’ “Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta” might be frowned upon. But Jay-Z, Will Smith, Snoop.

Boy Band: Oooohhhh ohh ohhh ohhh ohhhhh, HANGIN’ TOUGH. Ring any bells?

One Hit Wonders Night: Tiffany, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, Criss Cross. IMAGINE the potential. (um, and imagine the ratings, Fox)

Bob Marley/Dave Matthews Band: Go ahead, I dare you to touch these collections.

Beastie Boys, Grateful Dead, Tracy Chapman, Alanis Morissette?

Who would you like to see?

Our friends Rich & Sarah are going through some tough times over the last week, with both Sarah’s father and their first-born dog in the hospital. Maybe it’s too much McDreamy/McSteamy, but I feel like you kind of assume humans can overcome everything. While we mean to check in on dad DT as well, this is the note my dear husband just sent to Rich & Sarah about Ruben (brother Toro, to explain the title):

Sent: Mon 4/28/2008 4:46 PM
Subject: Rubix Cube

Give a call when you get a chance to let us know how you’re all doing, unless you’re tired of talking to everyone, then just text us to tell us the latest news, unless you’re tired of texting, then just send us a good old fashioned email, unless you’re tired of typing, then just drop us note, unless you’re out of notepaper, then just lite a fire and send us some smokesignals, but they might be hard to see, so just give us a call.

Thanks to the ladies in Boston who were able to join for a lovely “Detox Your Home” event on Newbury Street last night with Method home care! Okay, so it was a little more “Detox Your Liquor Cabinet”, but what did you expect from something I invited you to?

[disclaimer: it's not that I drink more than you, it's just that I mix and muddle more than you. and I seem to have a reputation for not accurately measuring the ingredients I mix with]

The night was all about ’sustainable sips’ - organic cocktails demonstrated by the lovely Liquid Muse, Natalie. I don’t think we ever even talked about cleaning products. The temporary Method store on Newbury is tres chic, but it will disappear on Sunday and you’ll have to go back to your regular grocery store to get your fix of Method products.

I am happy to say that we now have some awesome-smelling soaps and dish soap around the office today (and G’s office will have it tomorrow)! Everyone left with a bag of goodies and a fun “Clean Like a Mother” t-shirt. A brown t-shirt. I didn’t plan that.

(will post a photo of us here when I have it)

Not only are we home on a gorgeously sunny weekend, but it’s also the three-day Patriots Day holiday (for me anyway)! If you’ve never made it out to Chequessett Neck in Wellfleet, please put it on your must-do list. The whole penninsula walk into Cape Cod Bay is about 5 miles round-trip, but we’re looking for a calculator that multiplies that by the walking-in-sand factor. We did it in about 3.5 hours yesterday with our friends Danielle and Matti.

It wasn’t all a pretty picture, however. The boy dogs seem to have a penchant for rolling in dead birds - even a dead dolphin. We’re going to have a big group bathing session on the deck this Sunday afternoon.

The rest of the weekend consists of biking, yoga, construction projects, errands, cleaning… And we might have to make the first mojitos of the season as well!

Do you think the spring weather is going to stick?

We are fortunate to have a couple of our friends move to Portland, Maine this month. I’ve always thought of it as one of the cool towns in New England, but this past weekend I got to actually stay there for a couple of nights with Emily on Munjoy Hill. There is a long path along the waterfront, ideal for bikers, runners, walkers or the million dogs that seem to live there. The downtown shops and pubs are adorable and unique. The piers are home to cozy little offices, and the larger buildings all reflect beautiful modern architecture.

Food and grub: Sebago Brewing Company

Pet boutique: Fetch

Coffee and a smile: Hilltop Coffee Shop

Not to mention that Freeport is 20 minutes away – always a plus when two girls get together on a mission to accomplish anything we don’t do when boys are around (no, there were no pillow fights).

I definitely fell in love with Portland and can’t wait to return! Congrats to Em & Anthony!

Doggy update: Brewer has filled our home with lots of energy and laughter in the first week. What was a loyal, responsive and well-behaved pup has slowly come into his own in week #2, now testing his limits to see what he can get away with. Not so fast, buddy – we’re trained in Advanced Cesar Millan Floppy-Lab Whispering Techniques.

Happy to say Brewer dove head-first into the ocean for his first time ever!

His name is officially Brewer! Brew for short.

Gary just brewed a batch of extra pale ale to commemorate.

Not in a million years would we have predicted this end to Day #2:

Here we are! End of a most beautiful day and cozied up with lots of brown fur.

The day started at 4:30am when we got up and ready for a three-hour drive to Glastonbury, CT. We worked with American Lab Rescue to find our pal, but the transport of 50 to 100 rescue animals each week is thanks to P.E.T.S. LLC out of Tennessee.

We filled out paperwork at 8:30am, and randomly fit in an oil change and a bagel (why are bagels so hard to find now?) before the dogs arrived around 10am. Fifty anxious cars of people filled the parking lot.

One-by-one, dogs stepped down into open arms. They were rambunctious, nervous, giddy, stressed, inquisitive and tired. I’m sure every one of them is snoozing right now, and with any luck they’re snoring as loud as our guy.

Gary couldn’t resist a quick run into Bass Pro Shops to grab brand new beds for the boys, but with no luck. I stayed behind to let [Timber, Harbor, Beacon, Asa, Jed, etc.] out for a pee break, and the first guy who saw him said “that’s the most wonderful dog I’ve ever seen.” Interesting, cause no one wanted him in TN and we had to take a chance on Internet love. Do we have a spokesmodel here for lab rescue organizations?

Anyway, we brought Bromley and the new guy separately out to Dowses Beach in Osterville. We couldn’t think of a fenced-in area, so we picked a beach at the end of one long road. Butt-sniffing followed by tail-wagging, and we were in business.

Back home, the boys show their similarities - pouncing around, running in circles, butt-in-the-air play, tummy-rubbing love… New-guy shows some wisdom in that he detoured upstairs without Bromley knowing, leaving Bromley chasing only himself around the house until new-guy cut him off. Where the similarities stop is when new-guy starts snoring like a lab.

Bath time was precious, and boy did he need one. Might have been his first bath ever, judging from the reaction, but I think we succeeded in associating it with nothing but pleasantries.

I made cupcakes. Is that odd?

We’re about ready to head to bed. His name will come to us in a dream about a wise old gnome, I’m sure (”Brandon” was only temporary in the shelter, we learned). Stay tuned!

A wonderfully touching day.

THIS is what our incredible Saturday is going to look like this weekend! Please EVERYONE, consider adopting your next companion. There are dozens of breed-specific rescue options out there if you think you know what you want. These folks have pulled dogs out of poor shelter conditions, brought them into their own homes, and done everything possible to find new loving families who will open their arms.

Bromley’s family’s house burned down ten years ago, and Brandon’s family was displaced by a tornado. Both dogs spent too long in a shelter after that, having no idea what happened to their humans but willing to give their unconditional love anyway.

You’ve seen what we found in Bromley… a better commercial doesn’t exist. Yes, some dogs come from more difficult backgrounds, but you CAN find a match for your life.

A special thanks to friends Mike & Peg, Kevin & Danielle, Paul & Kristin, Carina, Tracy & Mike, the Mazzareses, Amy & Mike, Kim & Dave, Sarah & Roger, Nancy & Brian, Margaret, and several of our neighbors for taking the chance.

We’ve been talking about our next adoption for a year now, and wanted to wait for the right moment. Now that the days are longer, Gary started reaching out to a lot of lab rescue groups to find the perfect companion for our 10-year old Bromley.

Just a month or so into the process, we got the call today! We’re picking up Brandon THIS SATURDAY in CT!

Brandon is two years old and was displaced by a tornado in Tennessee. He will miss his family and particularly his sister, Chase, but we’re ready to devote all our time to welcoming him into our family!

Obviously many more photos to come!! And for those who’ve asked, we may change his name depending on how well he likes his current one.

Now…. leash, collar, younger dog food, dog bed…. Eeeeeeee!