Momentous Photo Event

In an effort to do something slightly more healthy than sitting in front of the tv, the chilluns and I have headed outside after babe2's nap and before dinner to walk all over our turd-infested property.  I usually grab the camera since the sun is starting to set and the lighting is good.  And I think it will be riveting to look back on photos from this time and see the exact same orangey-red light cast over everything.

So when I dumped my photos to keep up with my project 365 thing that I did for one whole day last week before taking the next three or four off, I got confused.  They were all out of order in my folder, today's photos in front of those of yesterday and the day before.  And then I saw why.

Just like when the odometer in my stylin' '99 Honda Civic flipped and I didn't notice for about 700 miles, my camera's photo numbers flipped and started over at 0001.  I'd hit a milestone and not realized it.

So even though I thought I'd post photos about how exciting my hillbilly afternoons are today, I must post these momentous photos instead.

So are you ready for photo#9,999?  To see how the 9,998 photos preceding it since October of 2004 helped hone my photographic skill and develop my eye for important subject matter? 

I know, take a moment.  I'll wait....

You see, I have learned that one of the ways to compose a good photo is to have a front, middle, and back.  So I'll walk you through b/c there's a lot here.  In the corner, up front, you're right.  It is a sled.  As in for snow.  In addition, you might like to know that it's also broken, so technically, it's not even for snow anymore.  Hasn't been for years.  I'm not sure how it ended up here by the house, but lately I've put it to good use b/c that red runner is just the right length to fit under the flower garden gate (to the right) and keep the dogs from scooting out underneath.

I'll get to the middle of the photo in a second b/c that was the point of the picture.

In the background, you'll notice something day-glo orange.  A different, harsher orange than the light cast from the setting sun.  That's a snow fence.  Around a pool deck.  A pool deck without any stairs.  (Are you seeing now how this photo tells a story?)

Ok, so back to the middle.  What is it?  Here, let me show you.

This is photo 9,999.  3 1/2 years of photo taking have led up to this moment.  My dog, Hurston, peeing, and another dog, Belle, looking on. 

But there's a story here too.  Hurston, you might remember, is a she.  And she has many issues, from OCD, to separation anxiety, to a rather disgusting penchant for eating her own poop.  Add to that list gender dysphoria. 

It's hard to tell, but her hips are slightly askew as she pees.  Why?  B/c her right leg is cocked.  Our third dog, Dora the Explorer, had just pooped somewhere in the vicinity, and that meant Hurston had to stake out her territory.  She marked over the poop, cocked leg and all.

But wait.

Belle is on the move.  She's headed to Hurston.  What does she have planned?

Yes, she too marks territory.  With a leg cocked.  High, I might add.

Where's little Dora the Explorer?  She's off eating cat food with babe2.  But yeah, she does it too.  She not so much of a leg cocker, but you can tell she's marking b/c she humps the air while she pees.  In fact, there are, at times, seemingly endless circles of marking as each one lines up to mark and remark vital territories in the plot to own the fenced in front yard. It's like a real life game of Risk taking place everyday outside my window.

This is a classy, classy place, yet one where you can feel comfortable talking your shoes off (though I wouldn't recommend it outside).  I just didn't want you to forget. 

Comments

[Asthmagirl]

Forget? It's been carved in my brain with acid!
Our dogs do this too, except for Maddie, who's oblivious to such campaigns. But Fiona and Cassie take it very seriously. Cassie even pees on mole hills when we go to the golf course. They are high on her personal interloper hit list.

[Annie]

My big brute of a dog is lazy. Male, and he likes to just stand there when he pees. One second he's trotting along, the next he's peeing. If it weren't for the sound of Niagara Falls under him you would never know!

Great 9,999 and 10,000th pics!

[Foolery]

Jeez, Sarah, you can make me laugh even when you don't try. And I think you may have just explained to me why this winter my camera magically started giving every photo a 2003 date.

[Meg]

Oh dogs. They are fabulous additions to our lives. Especially when one has a blog. When in doubt, blog about your dogs weird quirks. 'Cause who in this world has a normal dog?

[The Domestic Goddess]

HA! This is GREAT!
What a way to mark it!

[staciesmadness]

well THANK GOD you got those moments on film.

ROFLMAO

[KathyLikesPink]

That was hilarious! And much like my life-monumental events happening and I don't even notice until it's over. What's that saying - when my ship comes in I'll probably be at the bus station.

[Debbie]

You don't know how I love finding someone who's "just not right" like me! You rock girl and are so friggin funny! God, this read was so what I needed this morning!!

I do have one question...what is the big grey concrete thing?

[girlplease]

For some reason I'm picturing the peeing dog with a cigarette in its mouth. Don't ask me why.

[mommypie]

The really funny thing is, one day you'll look back on this photo and be all, "aw, remember when?"

[creative-type dad]

Wow, that's hilarious!

[mj aka sugarmama]

You are too much! That was just hilarious!

[Jason]

Ugh. I got stuck on the part about your dog eating her own poop. I used to have a dog like that. His breath was terrible!

What would make one want to eat their own poop? I don't understand.

[Bogart in P-Towne]

Outstanding...

[Jessica]

OMG that is too funny.