Are you suppose to change the name of your blog when you get married?

Because I feel like I should be coming up with something witty, and no one told me.

Such as,

"Mary and Joseph"

Original. I know.

A few of my favorite things

Riding a bike on a hot day just to have the breeze cool you off

Wild Sunflowers growing along side the road everywhere the Joe brings home as gifts to me

Getting letters in the mail

Penny catching food we give her in her mouth then dropping them immediately because it is too cold or too hot

Joseph making me breakfast in the morning

Making dinner with Joseph and dancing together in the kitchen to Irish Music

Hearing "Give me that girl" or "Love like Crazy" on the radio.

Having a clean house

Smell of baked goods

Weekend trips roaming around California

Patriotic songs around the 4th of July

Walking the dog and passing by people that say hello

Being so tired I can fall asleep, not forcing myself to sleep

Talking to people and learning their story

Sitting on the couch after

dinner, watching a movie,

Joe, Penny and I

The way Penny gets at 4:45 as we head to pick up Joe from work;

her eager look to find Joe at all costs.

Craving something sweet and realizing

I have exactly what I want

And...

*The other day, while Joe and I were discussing what my skin rash could be from, he stating that he believed it was caused from sweat glands, and mentioning that I sweat more than him.

The following comment I made was referring to the fact that I sweat a lot, but never verbalized, so he was not quite informed what I was talking about.*

Me: If you knew all the things you know about me now then, would you still have married me?

Joe: I would have done it sooner.

Park Sunday

Today was park sunday.

We find a park (starting today) on a HOT sunday afternoon. (Hot being 103 degrees.) And sit and enjoy the wonderful time we can have together.

Sitting in the shade on a green blanket.

Eating Chocolate chips and dried mangoes.

Feeding the dog milk bones.

Listening to Johnny Cash.

Playing Plants vs. Zombies

Painting my toe nails.

Talking.

Funny thing about small towns:

1. They have SOOO many churches! Their newspaper (that comes out every wed.) has a section for churches to advertise. Last time I checked, there were 17 listed. I know that is not all either, because the LDS and JW church were not there.

2. They have a lot of parks. For a town of 17,00-- including the womens prison, they have 3 parks! That I know of at least. And they are good size and ALWAYS being used! Tutoring, baseball games, parties, kids on swings, people enjoying the day. It is a good sight.

So we enjoyed the park today.

And BEST yet!

My husband did a WONDERFUL job painting my toe nails for the first time! =]

Didn't he do a fantastic job? So proud of him! =]

Plus- can you see that tan line on my feet? Wearing sandals all the time, just about everywhere I go. I wear other shoes about 5 hours of the week- 3 being the 3 hours I am in church.

=] I am proud of my flip flop tan line.

And some puppy love.

I just love that Joe is not bothered that his dog is licking my face like crazy for about five minutes.

But it is ok. She is just learning to love me more.

New happenings:

1. I burnt my finger trying to light a candle. =[ My nail got burnt. I hate lighters! Matches are the only way to go.

2. It reached 93 yesterday apparently....see, funny thing- is that I could have sworn it was hotter on Monday at 79. I am not liking this...

3. Joseph calls me yesterday at about 1, and really this is about how everything went:

Joe: Mary, I sprained my ankle and I am headed to the doctor.

Me: The company going to pay for it?

Joe: Yes

Me: *Now able to be concerned* Are you ok? How did it happen?

Joe: I jumped 9 inches and landed on a rock.

Me: Ok. Well get home soon.*Thinking his ankle will be broken*

******** 3 hours later******

*Joe walks in with an orthopedic boot on and using crutches*

Joe: It is just badly sprained. Have to wear this for a month and use crutches and go to physical therapy. It might be fractured- and it might take 6 months to heel.

Oh joy it is not broken!!!

(NOTE: It isn't like I am only concerned about money and not the welfare of my husband...because I am. It is just I am used to Joe saying, "Mary I broke my hand, I scratched up my arm really bad, I got my hand hun up on a fence, I almost cut off my finger" That spraining his ankle is not of any big alert anymore. That is all.)

BUT on the good side of things:

SISTER ERIN MAUREEN "MIMI" KEELIN ENTERS THE MTC TODAY!!!!!! =]

My parents drove to LA early this morning, and she will fly to Salt Lake and meet up with lots others and head off to the MTC! =] She was set apart, and is ready to serve! I am so happy for her. She will be great!

The Keelin girls. =]

All alone in the moonlight...

The temperature SAYS 79. =[ But I promise it feels like 90.

AND I hate the mail system. At least in Chowchilla. My wedding pictures should be here but the have not gotten to me yet! And I REALLY want them all! =[

Plus a big envelope with lots of little envelopes my mom sent to me has not gotten here...ugh. Chowchilla postal service fails.

It is summer though! But it is too hot to want to be outside to celebrate. And i lost my phone this weekend. Things just keep getting lost for me. A bit frustrating, huh?

Good news= My sister leaves for her mission Wed! =] And I got to spend the whole weekend at home, with my AMAZING dad and family. =]

Thank you AC

We got AC a week ago, or maybe two..

THANK GOODNESS!

It is 89 today? I DON'T believe it. But apparently it is. But if this is 89....oi, I am not looking forward to July. =[

I never knew what a good thing AC would be. Growing up in Santa Maria...never knew.

AC+ Netflix= good. =]

Plus, I am ALMOST done with my thank yous.

Slow, I know. I am getting on it- promise. Sent out most of them yesterday.

Plus, more pictures are coming! =]

And I got the papers to fill out to start volunteering! =] Oh happy day.

Plus I have been doing LOTS of research for our future puppy...

It hasn't been a week since Mahoney died. =[ I know. But it helps oddly.

We won't be getting another one for about a year, because we want to get a really little puppy and I need to be out of school to take care of it- so for now I am researching what kind of puppy we want.

No German Shepherd.

Joe does not like Dalmatians or Golden Retrievers

And we live in California, where we WANT to take the dogs outside on hikes, so no dogs with long fur to get caught with Foxtails and burs.

Plus it needs to love water!

Thinking a German Shorthaired pointer. Any thoughts?

Thoughts....

EVERYONE is getting engaged.

By the end of the year there will be 12 couples in my stake engaged/married (so far)... out of the 24, 19 are from the same stake.

I just think that is a lot.

Plus all the people from school I know...It's just the year of love.

It is exciting though! =]

Went home this last weekend. It was needed.

home reminds me of:

Slurpees

Beach

Donuts

Waking up to the smell of waffles

Family

Stories

AMAZING food by my mother

Old friends

Excitement for the mail, even when I know there wont be anything for me

Church

Golden Hills filled with beauty

Deer

Driving no where just to be somewhere

In-N-Out

Orcutt Burger

Food in general... =]

Good smells all around

Driving down the highway- seeing and smelling fields and fields of strawberries

Broccoli

Going to parks with ducks and swings

Saturday BBQ's

Holidays, the excitement, the spirit, the joy

Going to church and seeing people I have known and always love

Friendly and familiar faces everywhere I go

Tall Tales of crazy people

Just good times. Good things. I get to go back this weekend, my lovely sister Maureen (mimi as I prefer) is giving a talk before she leaves for her mission next wednesday! =]

I am so excited to be home.

Right now I am sitting with a fan on my to cool me down. It is too hot here.

"She died"

We named Mahoney after the character Molly Mahoney in "Mr. Magorium's wonder Emporium".

Towards the end of the movie, Magorium tells Mahoney,

"When King Lear dies in Act V, do you know what Shakespeare has written? He's written "He dies." That's all, nothing more. No fanfare, no metaphor, no brilliant final words. The culmination of the most influential work of dramatic literature is "He dies." It takes Shakespeare, a genius, to come up with "He dies." And yet every time I read those two words, I find myself overwhelmed with dysphoria. And I know it's only natural to be sad, but not because of the words "He dies." but because of the life we saw prior to the words. I've lived all five of my acts, Mahoney, and I am not asking you to be happy that I must go. I'm only asking that you turn the page, continue reading... and let the next story begin. And if anyone asks what became of me, you relate my life in all its wonder, and end it with a simple and modest "He died." "

Mahoney died yesterday. Joe, trying to comfort me- says that her passing was sort of like how Magoirum died- and describing King Lears death, she died. Northing over the top, not tragic- just she died.

It was tragic for me of course.

She died of Parvo, which is a horrible disease. It is one of the top, if not the number one reason, dogs die (disease wise). Dogs infected with it have about an 80% chance of living- and puppies that get it have a less likely chance.

It is a virus, so there is no cure. It basically destroys all of the cells that reproduce fast- affecting the intestines. So, for puppies who do not have a strong immune system, their intestines are weak and easily affected, cells not able to keep up with the rate the virus is affecting them.

She started having signs on Tuesday- but both of us just thought it was a cold, she was just throwing up, not wanting to eat. We figured she had some bug in her tummy she was trying to get out. Wednesday she still had not eaten, was moving more slow, and just looked sick. I took her to the vet, where she showed every symptom of Parvo except for dehydration- which is what in the end tends to kill the dog. The doctor said that it was Parvo- and we got pills to give her. We bought Pepto and pedialite for her, and I stayed with her 24/7, giving her one pill every 12 hours, another every 12, pepto every 3, trying to monitor her water intake so she would not just go throw it up, and using a syringe all the time.

It was a long few days- Joe and I not sleeping very much since we got her for various reasons, and this night was the worst, taking her outside, always carrying her- trying to keep her alive.

Thursday it looked like she was getting better- but around 4 pm she started heavily panting, close to 5 I layed down with her and fell asleep holding her for an hour. When I woke up Joe was not home yet- and when he got home 30 min later, he knew that we would be lucky if she made it through the night. She was stiff, dehydrated, and as I lifted up her head to try and give her more water, she stopped breathing and I started crying. =[

To say the least, it was a horrible day. I only had her 11 days- I know, but oh I miss that girl. I miss taking her on walks and her innocent curiosity at everything. I miss her cuddling next to me on the couch and following me EVERYWHERE I go. I miss her sticking her head out the window to see where I am. I miss her following Penny and trying to play with her. I miss her being such a good dog, and laying down when we go in the car and sitting when I tell her to. I loved watching her be a dog. =]

It was a good week Mahoney. I love you, and I miss you.

Sick...

I feel sick. =[

It is NOT a comforting feeling-- especially when all I have is two dogs for comfort. I know they want to go out on a walk, and I want to go on one too! I want out of this apartment, but oh I am not feeling well. =[

Plus I have these odd blisters forming....and ugh. Lame sauce definitely. All I am doing is sitting watching lost, with a bag of ice on my blisters (I know that does not seem like the smartest thing, but it is the thing that has been working best), and a fan blowing in my face. Soon I will start uploading pictures and indexing. I want to go on a walk. =[

On Saturday Joe and I went to this lake near Chowchilla, Eastman lake, and we took our two dogs. I really wanted to know how much Mahoney likes the water- and it was funny. =]

We are not sure what she is- so we are trying to find out based on her characteristics. She is a unique one.

Penny is definitely meant for the outside- she would run through the hills and jump over rocks with ease. Mahoney tries to follow what Penny does, but she is a pup-so she does not think before she acts. Which there lays her flaw.

She jumped over rocks without knowing how far a fall it was, foundering through the air like a fish out of water.

She loved the water- well more loved splashing through it. When Penny caught on to a smell, Mahoney came splashing through to smell it too. Mahoney also likes to know what the smells are underneath the water.

We just laughed as we saw bubbles.

Sure, she is a bit special. But all great things in life are!

We went on this long hike in the Central Valley's 90 degree weather. We ran out of water just before we got lost =[ and up hills we hiked, sweating like mad men. I got stung by a stinging nettle- oi was it a long hike. But of course it felt good after.

Also, we got new neighbors the other week. They are loud.

Things to say

Here is a short rant from Mary:

I HATE with a passion the word "HUBBY". It is just a disgusting word that makes me want to spit every time I hear, read or say it in my head.

Maybe being an English major is getting to me (slowly), where improper words bother me...

I don't think so... this one just drives me crazy.

It might be the people that use it.

It just makes them sound naive and unintelligent.

"Hubby"

Ugh....blah. Find something better to say and use some brains. It is such a stupid word.

That was my rant. I tell Joe how it annoys me every time I hear it, I just wanted to make it clear.

Also- I would like to say how GREAT of a feeling it is when I get on facebook and see people's status's that say, "Done with all 250 invites!" And I can smile and laugh. I am DONE with that! =]

Not that I hated being engaged. I loved it. Planning a wedding, it was so much fun.

But tiring- especially being in school and working at 4 am.

Just being married is so much better. SOOO much better.

Thank you SO MUCH mom for all of your help. =]

Are you a fairy?

(Fairy God mother- Cinderella- in case you did not get the connection.)

Mahoney....she is such a cute dog. She follows me everwhere, and just flops down and sleeps.

Plus, she is a GREAT dog in the car. She lays down and sleep. What a dog!

Also...I should mention...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSEPH!!!!

I love you Joseph. =] I love your short ties that scottish people think are great. I love that you take pictures, know how to shoot a gun and love to take me shooting, and I LOVE that you are a cowboy! =]

I love that you got me a dog, because your's does not love me nearly enough. =]

I love that you do anything for me, and I always feel like the most important person in the world.

I love that you get all excited when you see a "Choo Choo Twain" and buy me slurpees and Horrchatas. =]

I love that you never make me clean the bathroom.

I love that you ALWAYS open the door for me. =]

I love that even on YOUR birthday, your ONLY concern is MY HAPPINESS.

I love that you took me to the Temple to be married.

I love that you drove 16 hours STRAIGHT with only 2 hours sleep every night the week before to be there when I got my endowments.

I love they way that we became BEST FRIENDS first and then started dating.

I love the way your proposed to me. I love that you gave my scriptures. I love that our marriage is based on Christ.

I love that you make me smile.

I love that you have made me laugh every day.

I love that you want to have me for eternity. That you want a family.

I LOVE you Joseph.

Introducing MOLLY MAHONEY!

The newest member of our family:

MOLLY MAHONEY!!!

But we just call her Mahoney. We got her yesterday, Memorial day gift! Actually- it is an early birthday gift from Joe to me for his birthday. (I love his birthday. I get gifts! )

There was a couple who had like 4 dogs and 3 dogs and a baby (and their house showed it), who were giving her away for free. We are not sure exactly how old she is- the people say that when they got her she was about 3 months, and they have had her since November, Joe is thinking she can't be about more than 10- she is still missing a tooth.

She is adorable. =]

She is a mutt- we think some sort of Mountain dog/Boxer mix, which is sort of cool.

We are all still getting used to the adjustment. Mostly Penny, she in her old age is not carring for having a pup who wants to play and jump on her. It is funny to watch- Mahoney does have a lot to learn, and she does have her problems, but I am so excited.

We love her! =]

Plus, we got internet today. It is a day of rejoicing!

ALSO, I feel inclined that I need to start a list as to why I BELONG on the Central Coast.

Starting with reasons I CANNOT live in Chowchilla, Ca:

*My body does NOT do well with the heat;

-I am not inclined to drink the water needed for this heat

-I sweat a lot

-We are pretty sure I got heat rash. =[ Stupid heat...

Ergo, based on this evidence alone, I should never be allowed out of the Central Coast for any long periods of time to live inless it is Tropical, Ireland or anywhere in the South Pacific.

(And I have no clue why everything is underlined. )