Our Thanksgiving Menu:

Gopher Hunters

But she has one hell of a personality...

This is the world's ugliest dog!

Suddenly I feel so much more attractive!

Somethin' is brewing!

I feel that everyone should have a hobby. Often I have multiple hobbies at the same time! My husband has never ever discouraged me from taking up any hobby no matter how crazy it may sound. I own a sewing machine that I don't know how to use. I have various pieces of exercise equipment (clearly untouched). I have a fantastic camera and multiple rolls of undeveloped film. I have cookbooks, knitting needles, and scrapbooking supplies. I have some really great computer programs for graphic design. I even have unopened bottles of tequila, rum, and vodka for the time I thought I'd take up drinking as a hobby. So when my husband decided to find a hobby, I felt it was my turn to be supportive. Randy's hobby is home brewing. Recently Randy finished a batch of pumpkin beer and was ready for something new! He decided to brew hard apple cider for the holidays!

This is a picture of Randy's latest project.

Around 6:15 this evening, something special started to happen... they started to explode! All over the kitchen walls, the floor...

and the ceiling!

It is my true desire for Randy to experience his hobby as fully as possible!

He will clean the mess up all by himself!

We will miss you Boo!

World's Greatest Dog!

Abagil (Boo) Cramer 1993-2005

Boo was a great dog! She enjoyed biscuits and daily walks. Although never fond of Mugsie the Shar-Pei, she was always kind enough to tolerate him. (That's just the kind of gal she was!) Being a no-nonsense Labrador, she always found it her personal obligation to announce at 9 PM every night that any remaining household guests had clearly overstayed their welcome and must immediately remove themselves from her couch. (But up until that time they were welcome to pet her and play ball with her). Boo's tastes were simple, she loved the smell of a shiny new tennis ball and the taste of a new plastic Frisbee. Although she traditionally followed all house rules, if the opportunity (such as an unattended plate of raw hamburger meat) happened to present itself, Boo would not hesitate to help herself to an early dinner and then deny any involvement!

Towards the end of her life, Boo had difficulty moving around. She was not ashamed of her disability, but she accepted it with strength and dignity. She waited patiently for her wooden steps to be placed at the door of the truck so she could climb in and make one of many trips to the doctor. She accepted the fact that she could no longer hop up on her couch, and bravely moved onto the floor to sleep. As her appetite fluctuated it became apparent that she could only eat homemade meals prepared twice daily by her loving owners, but she never once complained. Occasionally she gratefully asked for seconds. When she developed hearing loss, she still continued to bark at the UPS and mail delivery personnel, even on Sundays. It is hard to tell if Boo loved her family more or if her family loved her more. It is clear that Boo will truly be missed!

Is this Randy and Matt?

I think this picture says it all!

Christmas is a comin'

It is clear that the holiday season is just around the corner when folks start looking for the perfect outfit to wear for the annual holiday photo op! I just recieved my first family Christmas picture, so it is now official... bring on the holidays!!! I can't wait to see everybody's Christmas pics!

The Coon Family, Christmas '05

I truly believe that if this child had any more of a personality

she would explode into a million pieces!!!!

Does it get any cuter than this?

P.S. Randy and I tried to get an appointment at Sears for our family pictures, but they had a problem with bringing the cats into the store! We told them that these were seeing-eye-cats...but without the little seeing-eye-cat jacket it was a no-go. I seriously doubt Tank would wear the jacket anyway!

Love the new Madonna?

Larci and Kelly... you will love this...

Becky and Sabrina... who does this remind you of?

Click the link below for a great belly laugh...

UPDATE: IT SEEMS AS IF THIS HAS BEEN PULLED OFF THE INTERNET FOR NOW. SADNESS. MAYBE THAT IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE I WATCHED >qid. <~~that means more that four times a day... it's tech talk!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2152895828212859878&q=hung+up

Laus Deo!

Hello!! I know this entry is SUPER long, but in honor of election day I thought I'd show you another reason I am so proud to be an American!

Laus Deo

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, are displayed two words: Laus Deo. No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn't care less. But these words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia. Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world. So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say "Praise be to God!" Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo. Praise be to God!" From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with it's division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant...a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the North, the Jefferson Memorial is to the South, the Capitol to the East and the Lincoln Memorial to the West. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice. Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God! When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy. "One Nation, Under God." I am awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you never read it? Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on! "Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and l! ove for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Laus Deo! When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look. You may forget the width and height of "Laus Deo," it's location, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget it's meaning, or these words: "Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1)

Learning to Intubate!!!

Today we learned how to intubate (stuffing a tube down a patient's throat)

using a laryngoscope (scary looking metal thing)

and a big plastic dummy.

What's a Mini-Walrus???

A Mini-Walrus is a cross between a

Shar-Pei and a Basset Hound!

I love it!!!

Unfortunately, the mini-walrus is tres nouveau...

so I haven't really been able to locate actual breeders...

BUT... the newest, hottest dog on the market is

THE PUGGLE

half pug, half beagle!

(the last pic is a pooping puggle!)

**thanks for the tip, Becky!!**

My haaaaaair!

I did it, Larci! I cut my hair. (and took the pic on the right all by myself!) Ohhhh boy... Randy is gonna kill me... my game plan is to just pretend like I didn't do anything!! Oh, yeah and about the eyebrows... (for those of you not fully in the "know"... I had my eyebrows threaded today) seriously... are they SUPPOSED to be this far apart??? Is this what they mean by a "landing strip" WTF? Does anyone have a brown pencil? A crayon?

PS... for all of you who can find the time... Next Friday.... drum roll please...

Glen Ivy!!!!!

I will be there with my shiny new pal.... Kelly! Yes, Kel... I swooped a pic of you off the internet! Do you love it? OMG... I just realized that we sooo have the same hair cut now! Well, since we have the same clothes and the same shoes we might as well have the same haircut! We are sooo fab. Love YA! See you tomorrow when we go to see El Pollo Poquito! (Chicken Little)

Our Children.

It's strange... we can't seem to figure out why there is so much cat hair on our new couches!!!

This is just a caveat for all of our friends and family members out there.... if we are this bad with our cats... wait 'till we finally have children...

Playing Doctor!

As many of you know, my Respiratory Care Practitioner Program is in full swing! And boy am I tired!!! Above is a picture of the Riverside County Regional Medical Center, where I just finished my first clinical rotation! County Hospital, baby! At county I was lucky enough to help out in multiple C-sections, work in Critical Care, Intensive Care, and even work in a few traumas in the ER!!! Below is a picture of an operating room at RCRMC that I worked in!

I am always surprised to find out how few people actually know what the heck I do at the hospital! Most of the people who are in the medical field think we just suck snot out of patients! Turns out we really don't do that very much. As a Respiratory Therapist I am called to all level A (lots of blood and guts) and level B (a little less blood and guts) traumas. I am placed at the head of the patient and it is my job to keep the patient breathing. I had the opportunity to use my super skills last Friday night when a man came in who had been hit by a car while riding his bicycle. It was my first level A trauma and I couldn't believe how wild it got in those rooms!

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to assist in a few C-sections! The first time I just watched the actual surgery! YOWZER! But after that, I managed to get in there and work with the baby. When she finally came out, she was 10.5 lbs!!! I wasn't sure how they were going to get her out... but they did and we helped her start to breath by clearing all of the junk out of her lungs! Very cool!

ME!!! Do I look professional or what?

This is why many of you haven't heard from me in a few months. Turns out my world is 100% school right now. I am having fun... but I miss my friends more than you can imagine! Thanks for all of your encouragement with this!

Kisses!!! Jo

I wanna be a cowgirl...

Here we are... me and the huz! Gotta love it! PS I am not that tall, and he is not that short... I was working 4inch heels that day! But then again... I am sure that you are all aware of that already!

I'm coming out!!!

My first post! Schnnnapp! What's a girl to say? Well this is a blog about my life and right now that consists of my super cool husband, my crappy job, and school! Oh the pain! How 'bout I spend some time getting this together and then I write profound thoughts?? Lovely!