Keiffer Bean Rhodes

Greg and I have wanted a second dog for a long time. Several times, we came close to getting a friend for Lily, but circumstances didn't quite work out. It's a good thing for dogs to come in pairs. Lily struggles with separation anxiety each time her pack (Greg and I) leaves her, and now, she has a little brother who will remain with her.

Keiffer is a 4 1/2 month old whippet. Whippets are very similar to Greyhounds; they are fast, they love to sleep, and they love affection. Greg and I have been looking at Greyhound rescues near us, and we were planning on applying for a dog when we got back from our trip to Sacramento for Christmas. I was telling a girl I work with about our plans, and she informed me she knew a lady who had whippet puppies. Greg and I initially didn't think it was a good idea, but we spent several days discussing all the pros and cons. We made the trip to see Keiff last weekend. We asked a lot of questions. We took him home.

Keiffer follows Lily everywhere, and they have already wrestled several times. Right now, they are sharing a dog bed. Greg and I might just be stuck with sighthounds. They are fantastic dogs.

Doggy Profile: Boston Terrier

Since I work with dogs daily, I have a lot of experience with different breeds. Each dog does differ in personality, but there are some traits you can count on in certain breeds. Meet Greta, pictured above, the Boston Terrier. I walked her in San Diego, but I have two more of these little guys at daycare here in Syracuse. The three of them all have differences in their personalities, but I've noticed a string of similarities that I am listing below.

Boston Terriers are small with an abundance of energy. They are very intelligent, so training is easy. The Bostons I have been around do just fine around all people, kids included, but they are not the most cuddly creatures. They live for their toys. Bostons will happily spend all day chasing after balls. Toys are a higher priority than affection. When it comes to spending time around other canines, they do well, but they are prone to acting possessive over the toys they have declared as their own. Their short hair is a plus for dog owners who don't want lots of hairballs drifting around the house. So, if you want a dog who fits the following bullet points, a Boston might be a perfect pick.

• These guys do NOT shed bucketfuls
• They have plenty of energy, making good jogging buddies and excellent fetch players
• They would rather chase a ball then curl up on their owner's lap
• They are a highly intelligent breed
• Their small size makes them seem apartment-worthy, and this scenario will work if the owner is dedicated to exercising their Boston frequently (or sending him/her to doggy daycare!)

My Little Nephew, Baby Easton

Can't wait to meet you, little guy.

A Travel Story

Some people, when hearing the words "travel story," may immediately picture faraway locations such as Italy or the Bahamas. Some may consider closer closer locations, such as a beach or mountain spot a few hours from the hometown. I used to think travel stories required adventures that took a person away from their house and town; I thought the best stories would revolve around locations that were far and unknown to the traveler. My travel writing class this semester has shown me how wrong I have been. I've missed so much so close. Now, I have made it a habit to pay attention to my surroundings and the people within.

I noticed the farmers tucked under their fold-up tables at the market near our apartment on Fridays. One couple I assume to be a father and daughter dress in Amish attire. What is their story? I walked by an old man fishing at a nearby park. He sat in a chair perched near the water's edge. I don't know much about fishing. There is a travel story there. Destination? Park. Experience? Fisherman. Places provide a setting. People provide the beauty and depth of human difference and connection.

Anyways, I do have a travel story to share. Last weekend, Greg and Yangping, his friend from China, had their first soccer game. After leaving the field, Yangping and his roommate had us over for dinner. Stepping into their two-bedroom apartment located close to Syracuse University's campus provided a new travel adventure.

Yangping sat us down on their one piece of furniture, a small black couch leftover from the previous renters, and handed us his laptop. He told us to do whatever we wanted while he cooked. No matter how many times we asked if he needed help, he insisted we sit and relax. After awhile, Yangping and his roommate who is also from China (I don't to spell his name in case I get it wrong) had prepared a bowl of cut potatoes, beef and broccoli, chicken, and bowls of white rice. They gave us the only two bowls they had, and they used tupperware. The food was spicy and fantastic. Over and over, the two of them insisted we eat as much as we wanted. We talked about China. We talked about the States. We shared stories. We asked questions. We learned from each other. We shared in the beauty of those human differences and connections.

Hello World Series!

I was probably one of the few in Syracuse last night to sit down and watch game six of the Giants/Phillies game AND root for the Giants. Baseball is a great sport, despite what Greg thinks (though I did succeed in getting him to watch the last two innings last night)! Scoring doesn't happen quickly, and so mistakes are brutal/crucial when they are made. Each pitch is like a held breath. Even the waiting period for a fly ball soaring through the air heading for the ready outfielder is intense. Baseball gets me on the edge of my seat and keeps me there, and last night's game was extremely nerve-wracking. The Giants had lost the last game in San Fran, and I felt nervous about them flying back to Philadelphia. Yes, they only had to win one more, but still, the Phillies seemed pumped. After a struggling start (the Phillies lead the game by 2, pitcher Jonathan Sanchez got a little too heated, the game continued with a tied score), Juan Uribe hit a homer. I danced around the living room, and Lily joined me. Lily is clearly a Giants fan too! Then, after biting my nails through the last two innings, "Fear the Beard" pitcher Brian Wilson ended the game beautifully.

So, I can happily say, the SF Giants are heading to the World Series!

The photos are from sfgate.com and sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com.

Autumn Love: A Photo Story

The Kitchen Experiments of Erin & Greg

A couple days ago, Greg and I flipped through our cookbooks to find a new recipe to make. We settled one I had received as a gift a few years back from my Dad and Karen. We typically stick with chicken, so we flipped to the poultry section. Greg said we should just start from the beginning; we actually decided to start with chicken recipe number two: Pollo Relleno.

Cooking Experience Gained:

• There are certain techniques for flattening chicken breasts.
• White asparagus are not as good as green (We picked those for our side).
• Never cut jalapeños without wearing gloves. Because of this lack of experience, I not only cut them, but I used my fingertips to help scoop out the veins and seeds. As a result, I spent the following 24 hours (minus the seven or so hours I slept) pushing my fingertips onto cold surfaces. This resulted in several trips to the fridge to swap the soy milk for the ice-cream container then for the half-gallon of apple cider.

The result was fantastic. The breading on the chicken (a mixture of taco seasoning and corn meal) was yummy, and the insides were perfectly spicy and wonderfully cheesy.

Would we make this again?

Definitely, gloves included.