Dogs of Our Own

Well, we finally did it! After many years of looking at Petfinder.org, Marc and I adopted dogs. Welcome Bailey and Sprout! Sprout is the black and tan, Bailey is the brown and tan. They are middle aged dachshunds, raised as pups with a family that gave them plenty of love and attention. Now the family has 2 little kids, which makes it harder to take care of "the boys," as I like to call them, so that's how Bailey and Sprout came to live with us. We're going to have a grand ol' time taking walks, sitting in front of the pellet stove, etc.! Mike, Marc, Bailey, and Sprout

Junior the Tiny Dog

Does anyone remember the Cities 97 version of "Dixie the Tiny Dog" by Peter Himmelman? We'll, it's a song about a dachshund sung in first person. Marc and I took care of Junior for about a week when Peter and Maria were away. We loved him so much that I had to make a little video of our 9 pound friend. Hope you enjoy! Mike & Marc

A territorial view

Well, one of the things that the folks of Seattle love is a view. We don't have a perfect mountain, sound, or lake view, but we have what is labeled a "territorial view." If you stand in the right place in the house, you can see the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, as well a a bit of Lake Washington. Pretty neat city living! Can you see the mountains and the lake? You might have to click on the photo to enlarge it!

Yap On - Yap Off - The Yapper

Well, we've found out that in addition to clapping hands, the bark of a dachshund can also activate "The Clapper." We're taking care of Junior for a few days - he's a great dog and doesn't bark much, except when people come to the door. Well, yesterday Marc and I decided to walk to Whole Foods, so we left Junior home alone. He got a bit lonesome, and as we were just one house away down the street, we could hear him barking. We sat there for a bit watching the light flick on and off as he barked and just chuckled. Today we had Bailey and Sprout (another pair of dachshunds) come over for a visit - the three dogs barked at eachother, and we watched the lights blink on and off. I snapped a pic of Marc and Junior - they've become good buddies, and Marc even loves Junior's breath after giving him fish treats! I think that Marc will put a bow in his hair to keep it out of his face!

Take a slow boat to Ketchikan

Well, now that I've discovered how easy it is to load videos onto Blogspot, I thought that I would upload some of the videos that I have made this year. In May, Marc and I took a cruise to Southeast Alaska. Neither one of us had been on a cruise before, and we wanted to see what it would be like. The ports were so-so - immediately off the docks were jewelry stores and other little stores that were not so interesting. Beyond the immediate town, however, Alaska was gorgeous. I especially liked taking the train up the Yukon Pass. We were on the port side of the ship and had a balcony - one of the most relaxing things was just sitting in our room and looking out at the coast of British Columbia and Alaska as we sailed North. All in all, it was quite a relaxing trip. I created a video that is a photo montage of our week. Enjoy! [Mike]

This home boasts a "roughed-in 3/4 bathroom!!!"

At least that's how the realtor explained it on the MLS listing. This is a basement bathroom that tops all, even some of those in Southern Minnesota that I've used while away at a curling tournament! We like to refer to the toilet as the "stool in basment," a term that I got from a former coworker in the lab. Since the floor is unlevel, it is built up on a pedestal (line by 1970s gold linoleum)! We told Emilie that it was "her bathroom," and to my surprise, she used the toilet without fear! The shower is a bit scarier - the water just flows on the floor, underneath the shower and beneath the toilet to the floor drain. Marc's dad Dennis is the first and only person to use it since we moved here - to quote the professor, "It's not a big deal, it's just like the army!" Anyway, it is a little rough, but the plumbing is all there for a future remodel. Besides, it is nice to have a second toilet, no matter how rustic! DT insists that we shouldn't remove it and that it's the best feature of the house - I suppose that if we ever pull it, we'll have to wrap it up for him as a gift!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Great thing about Seattle, is that we have 4 true seasons - just like Minnesota, although they are much milder. This snow shouldn't last, but it sure looks great! I tortured Marc by making him listen to the Chipmunks Christmas album to celebrate Dec 1 and the beginning of the holiday season. Marc even filmed a little video, which I edited and posted on the blog. Hi to everyone - we miss all our friends and relatives back in the Midwest! Mike and Marc