Just booked our wedding stuff!

So we just booked our flight and the chapel for our wedding! if you want to go, please let us know fairly soon. i guess we can only have 20 people present, we have a lot of spots left - i just want to make sure family is included first before we start filling up any spots for friends. and it's more than ok with us if people can't make it. we know the date is quite inconvenient. there will be live feed anyways, so all you will have to do is log on to your computer if you want to watch. and we will plan a reception (and register for gifts!!!) when we get back. love you all!

p.s. someone yell at spencer! he hasn't posted in AGES!

Angie's 16th birthday vehicle

Let's take a moment to remind everyone what I got for my 16th birthday.

All I wanted when I turned 16 was a Toyota truck. I was given a real Toyota key, and told that my truck was waiting for me in the garage.

This is what I found.

Might I remind everyone that I never got a vehicle.

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Move forward 17 years, and I re-tell the story to Spenser on his 16th Birthday.

But instead of "Your truck is in the garage" - I give him a key and tell him "Your truck is in Uncle Shawn's garage."

He replied "You would never do that to me", and he had to wonder all the way over if his truck was real - or looked like this.

Ironically - I bought Spenser a 1987 truck ... which would have been brand new when I turned 16.

The Snell Ferrari

When I wished Erika Happy Birthday yesterday, I let her know that her car was "in the mail", along with the story.

She (like me) will carry the car into the next generation.

The Snell Ferrari
This Ferrari was assembled in 1981 in a Matchbox factory in England, but soon its lifelong home would be in a Snell household.
On February 17th 1982, a family friend by the name of “Stuter” gave this car to Frankie for her 16th birthday. It is assumed that this care was purchased in the Ohio area from a local dealer.
This car would go on many rides, it’s first accident would happen in the halls of Eaton High, at the hands of a close friend.

On August 20th 1983, this car was driven across the kitchen table and the ownership turned over to Shawn. What happen in those years that Mr. Snell had it … would take its toll on the precious paint job. No-one is really sure of its where about for most of those years.
On November 14th 1987, the ownership of this Ferrari would be transferred to Angie via Frankie. This care would spend the next 2 years in a variety of places, but on an April day in 1990 it would find a resting place in Angie’s living room. Rarely was it driven, for it now had years of memories.
There that car would sit, never to be driven … only washed and displayed … until 9 years later when on July 16 1999 the ownership of this car will go to the next Snell learning to drive. 12 years after Angie received this car …. And a full 17 years after this car entered the Snell family.

Angie gives up this car with a little hesitation, for it has become a part of her, she gives it up to her oldest niece, handing it to the next generation, the daughter of the original owner, knowing that it is in good hands.
Dear niece of mine take care of “our” precious car for it can never be replaced. For the next few years you will make the memories of this car, until you too … Must surrender it to another Snell coming of age.
Best of luck to you … Drive Safely.

Main Photo April 15 - April 22

...AND he's a pooper eater

On top of all the other issues I am having with Ollie

... he is a pooper eater.

Not just his own, but I think he actually prefers Ripley's.

Any one have have any ideas? His breath is about to gag me!

Main Photo April 6 - April 14

Another addition?

So the other day at work, Frankie is talking to a co-worker about dogs. Within a few minutes she is online at petfinder.com looking at dogs like Roxy, Aussie/Collie mixes. She shows a few to her co-worker and then continues looking. My phone starts beeping like crazy with new emails. Each one a different dog. After the 3rd one, I call her with this question "What the hell are you thinking?"

The last one is of this dog named Dodge. Now let me say that we have not spoken about getting another dog at all. Nothing. Not a conversation. Frankie starts telling me about Dodge, how he is living in a home in Billings with a family that has a few German Shepards. One of the Shepards seems to think Dodge is a toy and is bullying him. The owner wants to find Dodge a good home as it will be easier to find a home for a good dog than a bully. Frankie brings up a few good points about this. 1 - Lola brought a new dynamic to the cats as Midnight and Elmo play with her, but not each other. Same with Roxy and Copper. Maybe because Copper tried to eat Roxy in the beginning. 2 - I am home currently and would be able to help acclamate Dodge to the family. 3 - Roxy would have a playmate at the park, since Copper just walks behind me.

We asked friends on line and most of them think it is a great idea. This might be our way of doing charity work without spending a ton of money we don't have. The main cost would be going to Billings to get him, but then we would make a long weekend out of it and see Ol' Faithful in Wyoming. Something most of us would never see unless you are in the area. Same with Mt. Rushmore (thanks Roger and Ang - that was cool). Any thoughts?

Ya gotta admit - he is damn cute!

Mikey - Who's in the bag?

I've had this recurring dream (4 times now). I first had it about 3 years ago, and I had it again last night.

The dream is the same every time, and goes like this.

Mt Saint Helens is erupting, and has turned day into night. We must be close to it because I can see the red explosive ash behind us. We are in a truck, and Mikey is driving. We always have a third person but I can never tell who it is. He is driving frantically, but I soon realize he is not necessarily going AWAY from the moutain. I soon realize that he is trying to find a place to dispose of the body that I now see in the bed of the truck .. wrapped in a white sheet.

So my question is... Mikey - who's in the bag?

When outside forces finally force you

I had a bit of a meltdown in Costco on Wednesday. It caused me to re-think all the things I have going on. After a round of layoffs, no sleep, too much to do and dying chicks I had to figure out what I could let go of.

I've dropped my economics class - there is just no time. The chicks are taking much more time than I expected, and since they are a living thing ... they get priority.

Also ... Ollie is still not up to par, and if he is going to be my dog, I must spend some serious time trying to help him overcome his past.

On the agenda today ... I have 74 trees (samplings mostly) to plant. Again a living thing that takes priority.

Trying to keep things alive and keeping my job far out weighs a class right now.

Main Photo March 29 - April 5

And Life takes another turn

Hey all,

So you all know that I was working for a start-up right? Well they lost a majority of the funding and I am now a man of leisure. Well that is until the severance package dries up and Frankie's list is gone. It's ok as this was something I expected. I knew something was going on and just waited for the shoe to drop.

Otherwise, Frankie and I are doing well. Putting our house back together after Camden's stay. Oh yeah, I am pretty sure that Cam got me sick. You just can't help but kiss that little face, even if he is sick.

I am hitting the job boards and stuff this week and reaching out to contacts I know. Let's just hope it doesn't last long.