dogs and some other stuff

Feels like a random sort of post, so bullets it is. (I've just typed the first four bullets and most are about Abbie - apparently when I have pets, all I do is talk about my pets).

• Last night, a family was sitting off fireworks mere feet from a children's playground, on off-leash (unfenced) dog park, and with a canopy of trees above them. One of the dog owners talked to them. They did leave and were civil about it, but said there was no posted regulations against it. Perhaps they should post signs everywhere that just says "Use common sense. If you have no common sense, call ____ " ____ could be a line staffed with really blunt people who don't pussyfoot around. "Is it ok to set off fireworks ..." "Hells no!" 
• Miraculously, none of the 10-15 dogs at the park were spooked by the fireworks noise. Abbie seems unperturbed by loud or sudden noises. She notices them, of course, but doesn't get all fired up. I think fireworks will be fine for her tonight. However, I'm still going to take her with us to see fireworks because I don't know what she would do to the house if she got freaked out. 
• Of the dog park regulars we're getting to know, two of them are brown Newfoundland's pretty close in age. I've never seen a brown Newfoundland before. They aren't related and their owners didn't know each other before their Newfie bonding. Abbie gets along well with both of them despite one not yet being neutered. Apparently, you're not supposed to neuter a Newfoundland until about 14 months. For not being neutered, he's remarkably well behaved at the dog park. Abbie's other bestie is a shepherd/husky mix. She knows the route to the dog park well.
• She's still having diarrhea, but no longer with giardia (which she probably got from Run! daycamp ... which she will continue to go to once she's better because that's what dogs should be allowed to do: run all over 15 acres of wooded land with other dogs). Anyway, now she's on a strict diet to try to firm things on the tail end up a bit. This is how I know I'm a super duper lucky person: in the past couple of weeks, there are been no firm stools to pick up outside. She had an accident in the house (first one). First, she went in, tada!, the bathroom. Second, it was a firm, normal poop. See, even when the dog poops it turns out great! 2013 is looking up!
• During a heatwave, the main floor and top floor of my place are like ovens. As such, Avery and I slept in the basement for several nights. Worked out perfectly. We started out in the basement last night, but I realized it was cool enough to sleep upstairs. 
• My settling in continues. Someday I'll post pictures. Today is not that day. 
• Today D and Mom are coming over for a family lunch in the courtyard. Tonight we'll all go to watch fireworks on the waterfront. Avery is currently wearing her reddest Christmas dress. This girl wears winter clothes in the summer and sun dresses in the winter.  
• Avery did a dance camp last week. This week was zoo camp. Dance camp is a definite repeat, but zoo camp is not. Next week she starts camp with her preschool Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays. That one is just playing and doing art and general merriment. In August she'll do a Timbers soccer camp with Henry. 
• Did you know that you can set your gmail account to delete if you haven't logged in for a designated period of time? I guess you would do that if you wanted it deleted when you die.
• On that happy note, happy 4th!