The Day the Flowers Died

Today tragedy befell my new garden under the paws of a tyrant puppy named Ritter. I really can't place all the blame on him. It has been a particularly busy Saturday, and as such Ritter got left for a couple of hours in the back yard to enjoy all the sunshine we have been denied so far this summer. The new garden was just too tempting for an inquisitive puppy and by the time I returned several flowers had been ripped stem from stem, and holes from digging spotted the flower bed. From the looks of it, Ritter had the time of his life destroying, not eating, the purple flowers and redecorating the space. Originally this area was an old flower bed that Ritter liked to poop in (sorry all you faint of heart at the mention of things like dog poop!), but Dereck and I started to hate this, and decided to make it a fenced-in bed area. I should have taken pictures of the demolition before I set about cleaning it all up, but I simply left Dereck a message about his dead dog before grabbing a shovel and evening everything back out. Even now as I type these words I can see Ritter grinning in his sleep, and wagging his little paws in some heated chase sequence.

Another highlight of today was a BBQ held by my neighbors that has restored my faith in the Army community for being sociable and fun. Growing up in the Army has made me full of ideas and memories of what this life should be like, but Dereck is quick to remind me that my life was "Old Army," aka pre-Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of my neighbors are friendly enough, but there are also many that I have yet to see or even meet, some of which are women with husbands deployed. This makes for a very different dynamic on the street. The sun however has been making a huge difference, and I have seen the families crawling out of the dark houses and into the light for the first time. The best times we have experienced in meeting people have simply been when we are hanging out in the front yard, washing cars or doing lawn work. We also like to make an effort to take new neighbors banana bread, and that is how we met our neighbors across the street, and how we ended up getting invited to the BBQ. Dereck and I headed over before he had to leave for work (he is on a crazy work schedule of four and a half days on, three and a half days off), and we ate some delicious shishkabobs and ribs. Even now my stomach hurts from all the laughter and fun. Thank God for His ability to put people in my life just when I need them most. After hanging out for a couple of hours I headed back to the house and let Ritter out of his slammer (or crate) for a walk around the neighborhood, and I am happy to say he walked off leash like a pro.

This last week has also been full of fun times thanks to Dereck's schedule that found him off Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We took advantage of this by hitting Mt. Rainier State Park on Wednesday and Friday, in perfect coordination with the weather getting nice. And to emphasize just how important this weather break is, allow me to paint a picture of my first 4th of July here: I worked Freedom Fest on post for my marketing job, and I sported jeans and a jacket. Did I mention I was freezing? That's right! I was cold and shivering on 4th of July- definitely a first. The hiking was too perfect, and while I was breaking in my hiking boots, Dereck got to break in his new Vibram Five Finger shoes, the crazy grip shoes that have a slot for each toe (think of a glove, whereas a normal shoe would be a mitten). I asked him if he felt like Spiderman in the cool new shoes, and he responded by wearing them nonstop for two days. The idea is that this shoe strengths leg and foot muscles to help restore a natural gait and better running position, and believe it or not, I have seen more than a few pairs on Army guys at the gym. The hiking was insane with the scenery of the active volcano, and there is still snow closing all the trails at the summit. I was worried that a mountain lion or bear might eat us after reading all the warning signs everywhere, but the most wildlife we saw were mosquitos and deer- but the deer did have a baby with them, so I count that as double points! Our first hike was a 5miler that was super hilly and challenging, and our second hike day started at a glacier-fed alpine lake with the most insanely blue water ever, clear to the bottom where I could see every rock and stone. The only catch? We had to drive 11 unpaved miles in my Civic to reach the trailheads- something we didn't anticipate on the onset, and the roads were switchbacks on logging treks, where the scenic views were paired with sheer cliff drop-offs on either side. Naturally, I was pumped to not be driving this time, and instead commented on how much damage could happen if we dropped off and rolled down like slinkies.

During the "weekend" week we ran errands and visited the Olympia Farmers Market, something I am surprised I have not seen already. Between the "hippielicious" hemp ropes, soaps, and bags were tons of tasty looking food stands and deserts, and I am proud to admit I ate a snowcone, something I have forgotten the sheer joy of in my aging. Who doesn't like crushed ice and sugary flavoring oozing together? This place will make for a fantastic tourist thing for anyone looking to visit. My parents are coming in September, and I have already been tasked with planning the most mack-daddy vacation for their enjoyment. No complaints here though, I have a hunch they might take me out for food a few times while Dereck is in Missouri for training. And to that end, Ritter and I are sitting here, on a Saturday night, enjoying the "World's Ugliest Dog Competition," the last few rays of sunshine, and a cool glass of water- I couldn't be happier, unless Dereck were sitting here with us, but then he might judge the ugly dogs harshly, and that could ruin our chill vibe. It's hard to be cool, especially when the house has no A/C!