Baby Proofing....

No one get excited, not pregnant. Not even trying to get pregnant. I am good for now without babies.

Then you might say well Lyndsey if you don't have any kids and don't plan on having any time soon, why are you baby proofing your house?

Well let me tell you...someone, won't mention any names **cough Hank cough** figured out how to open the kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

After awkwardly spending like 15 minutes in the baby section of Target, this is what I came home with. I bought the locks that go over the knobs on the cabinets, thinking that it would be so easy but not so much. I think the problem is that the knobs are to far apart about 4.5 inches, even though the distance is within the 4.75 inches that the package states, or maybe it's the fact that I put them on the cabinet that the garbage is in and the fact that I have to take the thing off 800 times a day just pisses me off. The inside cabinet locks are much easier then the ones that were in the cabinets previously, I got the spring loaded ones and it takes very little effort to open the cabinets. 

Now I just have to figure out how to lock the lazy susan cabinet that I have. And the bathroom vanity...yeah someone found out where I hide the toilet paper. 

Hopefully he won't figure out how to open the fridge...don't want him to drink all my beer. (I don't actually have any food in my fridge, it's really just beer and alcohol.)

Over and out,

A Engineer in the Kitchen

A Special Thank You...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day. Hank and I just chilled for most of the day, laid around the house, planted some flowers, and ate some food.

I just wanted to say send out a special thank you to all of the service men and women, that are currently serving, have served and have passed. But I also want to thank all of the families, the wives, the husbands, the sisters and brothers, the mother and fathers.

Many of you may not know this but my big brother, Pat, was in the Marines for eight years (he was honorably discharged in August of 2012).  I know what it feels like to worry about them coming home every single day. My brother spent about 3.5 years out of 5 off US soil, (he did three years of inactive duty after this first five). He's my only brother and even though we fought like every day of lives growing up, he is my best friend enemy. I am very thankful that every time he left he came back safe and sound. There are many men and women that weren't so lucky.

(Stole the picture off his Facebook page).

Like Aaron Ullom. I went to high school with Aaron, he was a year younger then me but he was one of those guys that was friends with everyone. I can't really describe how I felt when I saw that picture pop up on my Facebook news feed, no words can describe it really.

Lastly of all the people that I can't forget to thank is my best friend Mike. He joined that Army last May, after many many many months of me begging him not to, he went off and did it anyways. I am so proud of him.

The military is so tightly wound around me it's not even funny. I know so many people in the armed forces that I would be here all day thanking them. So next time you see a soldier thank them, if not from you from me. I love them all and what they do for us is amazing. This country would not be where it is to with the men and women that are willing to die and the ones that did die for The United States of America.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

A Friendly Reminder...

There was a death in the family this last week...and when I say death it was a uncle's dog that pasted away from eating a pack of gum.

I thought I would post a little reminder because I know a lot of my readers have dogs, that a pack of gum can and will more then likely kill your dog if consumed. This also goes candies and other sugar free foods.

A chemical called, Xylitol, that is used as an artificially sweetener for sugarless gum, candies and food. It can take as much as a TIC-TAC to be lethal. Xylitol causes a dogs sugar level to drop and start seizuring. 

For more information go to petmd.com.

Also I would like to tell you that ONE penny can also kill a dog. The copper causes blood cells to break down.

Over and out,

A Concerned Dog Mama

Bucket List #1: Visit All 50 States

The first item off my Bucket List. The states that are in bold are the states that I have visited. I will try to add post of the places that I have been but no promises.

Alabama	Alaska	Arizona	Arkansas
California	Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware
Florida	Georgia	Hawaii	Idaho
Illinois	Indiana	Iowa	Kansas
Kentucky	Louisiana	Maine	Maryland
Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi
Missouri	Montana	Nebraska	Nevada
New Hampshire	New Jersey	New Mexico	New York
North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio	Oklahoma
Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina
South Dakota	Tennessee	Texas	Utah
Vermont	Virginia	Washington	West Virginia
Wisconsin	Wyoming

Alabama:

• May 2013 - Clanton. Stopped at a Shell Gas station for gas (I know ironic) on my way to Florida.

Arizona:

• Phoenix - My grandparents lived in Phoenix until I was 15, so I've been to Arizona a lot.
• Grand Canyon
• Sedona

California:

• Los Angeles - I have an Aunt that lives in LA, so I've been to California a lot as well. 
• November 2005 - San Diego. My big brother, Pat, graduated from Marines Boot Camp.

Florida:

• August 2009 - Tampa. I have friends that live in Tampa.
• August 2009 - Gator Land. If you ever get a chance to go to Gator Land it is awesome! 
• May 2013 - Fort Walton Beach. Visited a friend that was stationed at Eglin AFB.
• Disney World. 
• Kennedy Space Center.

Georgia:

• August 2009 - Atlanta. Their airport sucks!

Kentucky:

• May 2013 - Bullitt. Slept at a rest stop on my way to Florida.
• May 2013 - Florence. Stopped at a Speedway gas station on my way to Florida.

Louisiana:

• August 2009 - Monroe. Visited a friend that lives there. 

Michigan:

• Born here and raised in the Great Lakes State.
• July 2012 - Silver Lake Sand Dunes and Hank went too.
• December 2011 - Kawkawlin. Bought first home.
• Mackinac Island. 

Mississippi:

• August 2009 - Vicksburg. Visited the Civil War Battlefield. 

Nevada:

• July 2004 - Las Vegas. It was hot very very very hot...like 125 flippin' degrees hot.
• July 2004 - Hoover Dam. 

Ohio:

• May 2013 - Toledo. Stopped at a Speedway gas station on my way to Florida.
• My Aunt & Uncle lived in Columbus for many years. 

Pennsylvania:

• May 2012 - Austin. Picked up the Hanky Panky up from the breeder. 

Tennessee:

• May 2013 - Columbia. Stopped at a BP Gas station on my way to Florida.
• May 2013 - Goodlettsville. Stopped at a Shell Gas station on my way to Florida.

What states have you been too? Any awesome places that I must go too? 

Over and out,

A Engineer in the Kitchen

Roaming Free

Since the day Hank has come home, he has stayed in his kennel. Well because I am lazy and didn't feel like unpacking his kennel, so I decided to give him a chance out of the kennel.

This is what I came home too...

The bedroom door was closed (he knows how to open the door) and the bed was made. Random goodies weren't on bed.

Bathroom door was closed...bathroom sink was not running. Ball might have been there but food containers definitely weren't. 

See that random bits of something on the floor...it was a candle. 

My counters were "clean"...

I have since made sure that EVERYTHING was picked up and put away, and that there is absolutely nothing on the counters. I have left him alone without being in his kennel and he has done better. I still come home to the bedroom door open and the bed messed up but the "destruction" is less.

Over and out,

A Engineer in the Kitchen

How to Travel with A Dog...

I now consider myself an expert on this subject...I guess after 1064 miles, 6 states and 20 hours in a truck (oh and that was one way). I'm either an expert or crazy. 

I had a great time down in Florida and I would totally do it again. Driving through Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama was just beautiful. 

Here are a couple of tips for traveling with a crazy dog.

• Pet friendly hotels...they are all over the place, make sure you find one. 
• Check for weight limits, yes some say they are pet friendly but only allow pets that weigh up to 20 lbs.
• Bring kennel/crate...its good for safe traveling. Also bring bedding and toys from home as well, it will help keep them calmer with the reminders of home plus keep them entertained. 
• Bring vaccination records, you never know you may need them.
• Remember medication if your dog takes it.
• Make sure identification/microchip information is up to date.
•  I even went as far as put the phone number of my friend that I was visiting on a tag to make sure that if anything was to happen there was another number that could be contacted if I wasn't available. 
• Bring extra dog food. Bring portable water bowl.
• Since I was driving, had the space and keep this food in a storage bin...I took the whole bin. 
• Make stops every couple of hours.
• I stopped every state line and in between as needed. 
• I would recommend don't feed a lot of human food. 
• Hank doesn't get a lot of people food, its limited to fruits, vegetables and meat that I personally have cooked (occasionally he might get crust of bread.)
• Well me not thinking about it, I stopped a couple times at McDonald's and I bought Hank a plain hamburger (just meat and bun). Yeah, he puked later that night...it was disgusting and I learned a little lesson.

I consider myself very very lucky that Hank is very good about going for rides. He literally slept the whole way there. On the way home we hit Ann Arbor (about 1.5 hours from home) and he started getting a little bored. 

My faithful watch dog.

Over and out,

A Engineer in the Kitchen

Where is Lyndsey...

I bet many of you have been wondering where I have been...well let me tell you. (And if you haven't been wondering where I have been well that is just rude and you need to show the love a little bit more.)

I just finished up my second to last semester in college. That is right this girl has one more full semester and she will be graduating. With that being said, I have been looking for new jobs, but I'll save the job hunt details for another day.

I snuck a way to Florida for a couple of days to visit an old friend that is in the Army.

Then I came home to work on a few things around the house.

But there is one thing about my that many of you may not know. I actually enjoy working, I enjoy having the routine...now don't get me wrong, I don't really like my job but I do like having somewhere to be and do.

Stay tuned over the next couple of days I have a few things to tell you.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen