week

I've had a rough week. I've been working on two stories, one on overcrowding at an animal shelter here (lots of euthanizations). And one that is a pre-obit story on a prominent local figure/journalist/past mayor/activist who is dying from cancer. It's been emotionally draining.

I've decided blogging is no longer the way I want to communicate with you. I really enjoy actual conversation and this is too one sided. It is also a lot of talking about me, and I'd rather here about you! So call me. I miss all of my friends and family. I miss St. Louis backroads in the flats, meals with my grandmother, horror movies with my best girl friends, craft beers with my boys, being close with my family and waking up to coffee already made (regardless of how weak it might be brewed- love you, Mom). I'd rather hear my friends voices and see their faces.

Plus there are other reasons why I shouldn't be blogging about my personal life! DUH. Because people can read it.

The Man in Black

Get ready for a long blog post. I'd appreciate your undivided attention.

If you don't know already, I am a proud new momma...to a puppy.  He is a chocolate lab mutt, and after going to the vet today, I learned he is 11-weeks-old. He likes playing, running, cuddling, licking, biting ears and noses, eating pig-ears, humping and watching movies with dogs in them.  So far, he likes Beethoven the best.

I got him from a shelter organization called "Gimmie Shelter." I'd hate to give a negative recommendation to any group trying to save puppies, but I would suggest going anywhere else. He was supposed to be dewormed and have had two rounds of vaccinations. He was pretty sick the whole first week; I won't go into gross details, but let's just say he was doing the opposite of puking. And he wasn't eating. The woman I got him from said this was normal after deworming. I was skeptical and worried. I tried to get papers from this woman since the day I got him, and after about four attempts, she finally faxed my vet the papers.  She said he had two dewormings and that he was only 8-weeks old. PSHHHHH...liar.

Cash came away from the vet with a diagnosis of tapeworms and whipworms (a very rare parasite). But he also came away with a great vet.  I go to Gulf Gate Animal Hospital. It's run by a brother and sister vet, and they are awesome.  Cash really responded to her, and she is a woman who tells it like it is. I appreciated that. And I think both pup and I will sleep soundly tonight.  Him because he's been snarfdogging his food down, and me because he won't wake me up three times in the middle of the night because he has to poop. 

Love spans distance,

-Mally (and Cash "Trouble" Gnaegy)

P.S. We will try to take a family photo if he can hold still long enough. Maybe this weekend :)

B.B. King, ladies and gents.

I was on a B.B. King and Junior Kimbrough kick before moving here.  Then I found out B.B. is coming to Sarasota.  BOOYAH. Raise the Roof. Bomb-diggity.

On being a grown up.

I've been meaning to do this more often, but I've been swamped lately.  Work is fun, I really enjoy the community here. Everyone is very nice, and they are interested in getting to know me, too!

     I now know a ton of people living on Longboat Key (LBK) year round.  I've got an "in" at one of the resorts and another at one of the local Yacht clubs.  Of course, it would be ethically wrong to take advantage of these amenities....But if I'm already planning on taking boat rides with 75-year old, rich bachelors -  then, I spose my ethics are already out the door. Plus the private beaches are just SO much better.

     Bills. Budgets. Bedtime. Three things that are slowly turning me into an adult.  I got my power and light bill- It was at $176.  (Thanks mom for insisting on turning the air down when you were here!)  Anyhoo, I've been really good about keeping AC at 80°, doing laundry/dishes with full loads, keeping showers short with warm water (not scolding like I'd prefer), unplugging chords and turning lights off. Luckily, I budgeted for bills that are higher than I expected. Bedtime is good, I go to sleep pretty early because I've been trying to wake up at 5 a.m. to go....

     Running.  I hate running because my boobs bounce up and slap me in the face.  It's pretty painful.  But, I'm slowly starting to enjoy it.  I've made it 2 miles without walking, and I run for about 30 minutes three or four times a week.  And soon, it will cool off enough that I won't get butt sweat.  Butt sweat is not going to win over my attractive neighbor.
     Speaking of adult behavior: This is an example of one of the things my dad would like me to work on - lady-like demeanor.  But since only my friends and family read this blog, there's no hiding "the mallory." I have stopped burping in public.  But  mostly because if I burp at work, I have to blow it right in Kurt's face.  He doesn't know me well enough for that.  

Other adult things: Cooking-

I made Dalene's oreo truffle recipe and brought them in to work.  They weren't as good as Dalene's.  I also attempted to make Amanda's pesto pasta.  I made this bomb-diggity pesto using basil from my garden.  Then I thought, might as well make enough to eat all week.  So I have this huge amount of pasta.  I put all the ingredients in, but realize, "WHOOPS. Forgot the Feta." So, I went to the grocery store just for feta.  Then I added it, and was grinding a bit of salt as my finishing touch...and the lid of the grinder broke off and sent an entire container of salt all over my perfect pasta.  RUINED. 

I'm sure trying to do all these adult things.  I've got my eye on a humidifier, these velcro grandpa shoes (they rock), and I spose I'll need a cane to top it off.  Fake it to make it, right?  But I still prefer Rocko's Modern Life and Pee-Wee Herman to Fox news.

I miss you and love you.  I hope you're thinking of me as much as I am thinking of you.

Love spans distance,

-Mally

P.S. For the record, B.B. King is not from St. Louis and has not lived there.  I will sing for cool interviews.  This is my new angle.

Chorus.

You should know I have a Rihanna thing, and I like Nikki.  The Chorus is empowering:

"I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive, I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise, to fly."

"Cause I am not a word, I am not a line/ I am not a girl that can ever be defined/ I am not fly/ I am levitation/ I represent an entire generation"

What a great song to start off the day I turn in my first story!

I miss you all dearly.


Love Spans Distance,

Booyah.

I made friends.

I signed up for a soccer team.

I am a badass.

Look-i-dat, it's me!

Here's the intro they printed about me:

http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/Our-Town/0831201113776/Observer-welcomes-Mallory-Gnaegy