I married a Celebrity.

Last night Ken was on the news! He was interviewed about the recent activity in the stock market. I was so proud of him! As soon as he finds out I posted this on here I'm going to be grounded and have to take it down- so watch while you can!!

Gloves are On.

I'm not a confrontational person. I'd go as far as to say- I avoid it. It makes me uncomfortable. But last night the last straw was drawn.

I came home from work and running a couple errands and got the mail. Pretty routine. In the bottom of our mailbox was a newspaper article from the Post Register entitled "Caring For Pets." It was in the YourVIEWS section of the paper and was written by Angela Jones of Idaho Falls. I don't know Angela but allow me to share the column with you:

"What is it with some dog owners? I am beginning to think that many of them are deaf! In our neighborhood, there is never a moment when you can't hear at least one or two dogs barking. We are dog owners ourselves, and our dogs spend the majority of their time outside but they don;t bark 24 hours a day like so many of the other dogs in the area. All it takes is a little time and attention. If a person wants a pet, why not take care of it? What's the sense in having a dog if it's going to continually be on the end of a chain or locked up in a little pen? What did they do to deserve that kind of treatment? I wish people would take having a pet more seriously, and if they choose to take on the responsibility, they should treat that pet as a part of the family. Would you allow your children to stand outside screaming at the top of their lungs for hours on end or chain them up so they only have a few feet in which to run around or put them in a tiny pen where they have to sleep and eat in the same place they go to the bathroom? I don't think so! You'd go to jail if you did, and it should be the same consequence for a pet!"

Needless to say I was pissed. Not only that, I knew who put this in my mailbox. Rachel. Rachel is a bit of a meddler. The first summer we had Rusty she called the cops because he was disturbing the peace. We were home- and he wasn't. 3 times Ken and I have been in the yard and she's cornered us about how noisy he is. Yet, we never seem to notice his obsessive barking. For those of you who know Rusty, and I think most of you do, you know he is spirited. He has a big heart and lots of love. He shows this love by a warm sometimes over abundant welcoming at the door and his constant desire to be next to you. But you also know that Ken and I are not abusive people. Rusty is well-fed, well-exercised, and well-loved. SO this article enraged me.

Before confronting the demon across the way I decided to do a little investigating. I went to every one of my neighbor's homes. Some of whom I have never really been to before. I simply asked for a report on Rusty for his "obedience classes." Rusty already did obedience school but it's the only thing I could think of. I went to 7 houses. All of them said the same thing. "Oh, Rusty! He's so sweet. My kids love him. The only time I hear him bark is when the mailman comes" "Oh, Rusty! What a dog! Lays there all day! Does bark at the mailman though." "I like having Rusty next door. He knows all of us and lets me know when a stranger is in the neighborhood." I had my ammunition.

After a quick pep talk, I marched my little buns over to Rachel's house, newspaper article in hand. Boy she did not know what was coming to her.

She answered the door. I held up the article.

P: Did you put this in my mailbox?

R: Um...

P: Did you put this in my mailbox?!

R: Yes, I did.

P: Why? Why didn't you just call me?

R: I didn't have your phone number.

P: That's *bologna. You could have knocked on my door. You obviously know where I live. What do you have against Rusty anyway? It's been this way since we got him.

R: He barks all the time! You don't know! You neglect him! You work and don't know what he is like?

P: Really? He barks all the time, huh? Well, I asked every single person in the culdesack and everyone across the street from us and no one else seems to share your opinion, Rachel! So what's the deal?

R: Well, they're just trying to be nice- because I've talked to all those people too and they all told me that he barks when the mailman comes.

P: Yeah. He does. He's a dog. All the dogs in our neighborhood bark at the mailman. It's in their nature.

R: Well you guys neglect him and he barks all night.

P: Wrong. Every night at 5:30 I am home. Rusty comes inside. He's with us all night. He sleeps indoors in the room right below me and Ken. Believe me I am very aware of when he is awake. You need to stay the "h"* out of our business Rachel!

R: As an animal lover and a member of this community I think it is my business when I am trying to read and your dog is barking for 4 or 5 hours at a time.

P: You're lying to me Rachel. Rusty does not bark for hours on end. You know you're lying to me. And guess what? We're not moving! We're not getting rid of Rusty! Live with it. And! In the future- if you think he is barking incessantly, CALL ME! Don't put articles in my mailbox! Don't talk to Ken! You... talk... to me.

That shut her up! Oh it felt so good! I felt liberated! We're the youngest people on our block and I think Ms. Rachel thought she could pick on us and bully us and get away with it. Not this time around. Think again. It's given me the biggest high. I've been listening to Jock Jams ever since and looking for the next injustice to fight.

*Words have been changed for sensitive readers.

Flickr Tag

Okay, newbies. Apparently "Bloggers" play tag. And they ask each other questions and have to respond in their own blog. This one is Flickr Tag. (Flickr.com is a photgraphy website.) This is so much fun- but time consuming. I spent my whole lunch hour. Am I a loser? Maybe.

Directions: Type the answer to each of the following questions into Flickr Search. Pick an image that comes up - it has to be on the first page of results. Then post the pictures with each question and answer.

1. First name:Patty (I think this little doll baby has some serious Patty-tude!)

2. Favorite Food: Tacos. I would skip the tomatoes... and add olives. Ken and I accidentally stumbled upon "jalapeno olives." When your mouth stop watering get to Albertson's and get some. Wow.

3. High school I went to: Thomas Jefferson High School. I can't believe no one on Flickr has ever taken a picture of my dear Alma Matter! What the H??

4. Favorite color: Yellow. Both peaceful and powerful.

5. Celeb crush: Phil Mickelson. It all started with that commercial for California when he says, "we're just a bunch of pencil pushers." I la-hove (!!!) that commercial. Does Ken love it? Not so much.

6. Favorite drink: Shirley Temples! Ken's dad makes them for us pretty much every time we go over there. It makes dinner more fun!

7. Dream vacation: Italy.

8. Favorite dessert: Caramel Cheesecake! Oooo! They added pecans. That would be delicious.

9. What I want to be when I grow up: School bus Driver. Ken thinks this is completely absurd. But, I remember my bus driver. Alice. She drove #2. I loved her. And she always made it seem like she loved me. There is a special connection between driver and passenger on an Elementary School bus. This picture pretty much sums up what most of us remember of our bus drivers.

10. What I love most in life: Being Loved. I feel loved from so many places and people. It makes everything else seem incredibly insignificant.

11. One word to describe myself: Free. I know there is nothing I can't do. Nothing to hold me back. I'm free.

Confession:

I read the blogs of people I don't know. My friends know them- but I don't. I confessed to Natalie yesterday and figured I better let the rest of you know in case you want to protect your friends and family. After I read the updates posted by you I almost always go over to the list of you "Friends and Family" or "Favorite Blogs" and see what everyone else is up to. BAD! I know. I know. It's strange. But I'll be like 'Oh! How sweet Todd had his second birthday! Ooooo! Chocolate cake too! He's growing up so fast!' But really... who the H is Todd? I don't know him! I've never met him! This is ridiculous! But I can't stop! I'm addicted!

Natty Pat's

Anyone who knows me... I mean truly knows me... also knows Natalie. Natalie Munns. A true golden friend. Nat's got a lot to offer this world and trust me she is more than happy to give! Once upon a December her and I were going to open our own store. "Natty Pats." It was going to be a clothing store- but when I picture it in my head now it's an icecream shop! Uh oh! Natalie knows how to live life. It's really admirable. I envy her passion. Anyway she taught me how to make my blog look "cooler." How to break away from the blogspot templates. Questions? Comments? I'll give you her 800 number.

For all you regulars our there, don't be surprised if the face of http://www.kenandpatty.blogspot.com/ changes once or twice over the course of the next week. I am going to be experimenting. And, Nat? I dedicate this first layout to you! Cheers, darling!

Fishing is the COOLEST! You don't even KNOW!

Last Thursday my dad took me and Jules fishing. We went to Rigby Lake. What a night. We fished until dark! The lake is stocked so we figured we'd hardly be able to cast our lines in without a bite. Not so. The first hour and 40 minutes we caught nothing. The last 20 minutes, 4 fish were reeled in! Dad had to perfect and then teach "the technique." Which is: You throw your line out there and don't let it sink to quite to the bottom. Just let it rest 2 or 3 seconds then start reeling her in nice and even. Every 4 or 5 seconds give your line a little jerk and keep reeling. The trout will bite after the jerk every time. SERIOUSLY! Every time. I caught a trout that was about a foot long! My longest catch to date. I had a lot of fun with my dad and my sister and look forward to this being a more frequent event. I'm "hooked!" Hehehe!

...and the Livings easy

Summer wouldn't be complete without a camping trip with all the bells and whistles. And the Foster's provided just that. (Gosh we love those Fosters!) After work Ken and I hopped in the Trailblazer and headed for Swan Valley where we were going to camp with Jeff and Jenna. The spot was unbelievable! It was like a 5-star camping spot. It had it all. Seclusion. Scenery. Killer fishing spots. (We'll get to that.) And... AND (!!!) Jeff and Jenna had it all set up when we got there. The even put up a tent for us in the Lover's Cove. For dinner we had "Hobo Dinners." Also known as tinfoil dinners. But theses were unlike any other dinner over a fire I have ever had. It was so flavorful! I give credit to the chef and to the bacon. I felt like a true pioneer. That night we stayed up and swapped stories around the campfire like cowboys on the ranch. When bedtime came around I realized I forgot the foam mattress. (That didn't go over well.) The night was... long. I just kept thinking a bear was going to come and attack us. Even though Jeff brought his gun and said, "All you gotta do is say, 'J. G!' That means Jeff. Gun!" and he'd take care of it. I'm still a bit of a city slicker I guess. In the morning we got out our fishing poles and headed down the creek. It wasn't long before I caught the first fish of the day! Then my second! Then Ken caught one. And I finished the day with one more catch. Take a good hard look at the pictures if you want to see those beauties though. They kind of blend in with the leaves. It was so fun. I've been dreaming about camping every night since. And I am proud to say I am now a licensed Idaho fisherman. Feel free to call for a guided tour.