We got orders

It is final: we are leaving Charleston this summer. One Way has to report for duty at the USCG Smilax in Atlantic Beach, NC, on June 1.

Though it is sad leaving Charleston, we are looking forward to turning over a new phase in our life in a new area. Plus, it is supposed to be pretty nice there.

We are looking at purchasing a house (the market is certainly favorable for buyers right now). And I thought I would open the discussion to my friends and family ... What is something you wish you knew before you bought your first house?

We have never bought anything more expensive than my saddle (whew $900 ...) so this is a big leap for us. Any advice would be beneficial.

Also, if you know anything about Atlantic Beach, or Carteret County, please tell us about it!

Meet the Streets, part three

Meet Missy Cat. She is turning three in May and she has a weight problem (yes, I admit it).

There are two things most often said about Missy: "Wow, she is huge" and "Doesn't she look like she's lost weight?" The latter is said by me about weekly ... if she had actually lost weight every time I've said that, she probably be pretty emaciated by now.

Missy has been on a diet since she was 6 months old. We tried everything from barely feeding her a few kibbles to feeding her LA Weightloss for cats. The vet scorns us annually and continues to prescribe food that costs way too much and does way too little. We even tried to feed her that natural "Evo" cat food that is low in carbs.

So Missy Cat is fat. Get used to it.

Missy doesn't do too much besides look out her favorite window (pictured) and cry for food. But she is an excellent snuggler and likes new people.

She also rules the dogs. You can find Missy sprawled out on the floor, belly up, and the dogs won't bother her. Poor Ana has gotten a face full of claws too many times.

Missy sometimes goes on "cat walks." One Way refuses to walk her. I think he thinks it looks sissy to walk a cat. Really and truly, it isn't like I walk her. I put her outside on the leash and we walk in the front yard. She stops and sniffs and rolls from time to time. She will also chase the occasional squirrel up the tree.

Missy was a present for me when she was a couple months old. My childhood cat Picaso had been killed and One Way thought I would like a "replacement." Though I deny I wanted a cat to this day, I love her dearly. She is probably the most spoiled of all the Streets (next to me, of course!).

A public service announcement

The Street family needs to address some nasty rumors going around the nation:

We had no part in the film "Step Up 2 the Streets."

No Streets participated in the making of this film. Nor did the movie executives run this title by the family. It is simply slander and we will not stand this injustice.

Having our name affiliated with such terrible plot and acting is no doubt a part of a conspiracy to bring a bad reputation to one hell of a great family.

Should any reporters like to interview us on the matter, they can contact our press office at 843-555-5800. We will be taking this to the highest court possible.

Meet the Streets, part two

Next up is Buttercup. She's turning six tomorrow and just had her first horse show this past Sunday. (Notice braids and show attire ... also a very proud husband)



Notice my bad habit? I acquired this habit in the last year or so. To get into two-point, instead of dropping my heels and closing my hip angle, I push down on my toes like I'm standing on the stirrups. That may be a little too technical for my non-horsey friends and relative but basically all you need to know is that I need money for lessons (seriously, send money for lessons).

Anyway, Buttercup (show name: As You Wish) belonged to my friend Tara since birth. I broke the filly for Tara and really liked her, and for a while we had an arrangement where I worked with Buttercup and Tara paid the board. I know, I know ... I deliberately ripped my friend off (just kidding Tara, it was a hell of a deal -- you broke my balls over that one, haha).

Last year, I decided to bite the bullet and buy that little mare, and I haven't regretted it since. Although, I think Hubby Street (aka "One Way") might. Personally I think she is his least favorite, but not because she isn't incredibly cute (which she is) but because she takes my time away from him (he is too sweet). But, he knows she makes me happy and he endures her presence, and even helped me with the horse show this weekend.

One Way doesn't ever ride her, if he can help it. Though he did hop on at the show -- which he looked very cute with his long legs dangling at her knees ... wish I had a picture of that!



Buttercup is a palomino paint (hard to tell since she's been clipped!) and was originally just going to be my trail horse. She has shown a lot of promise over fences and I might look into a career in hunter jumpers for her. But I'll leave that up to her. Her first show went very well, no big incidents to report. She performed her best and didn't try anything "silly." I'm so proud of her ... now, all I need is some lessons to regain the glory of my youth ...

Meet the Streets, part one

I'm going to introduce the Streets over a series of posts. Most of you know us, but I figured what the heck ... I love talking about my family and everyone should love hearing about them, right? Right? (crickets ...)

First up is Ana. Yes, she is a pit bull. No, she will not sneak into your family's home and maul your children. She's not a monster and, in fact, is probably the most well behaved of all the Streets.

There are two reasons why Ana is first: 1) she broke her pinky toe (notice swelling on right paw in picture) this week; and 2) she is the most misunderstood of all the Streets. We don't know how she broke her toe, but I can tell you why she is misunderstood.

Back in the day, I held the belief that genetics can make a person or an animal into a monster. Too bad if you got f'd up genes, you're screwed. Pit bull? Euthanize it. Alcoholics in the family? Start going to AA now. I think this belief came from growing up with horses. When you get around horse people (who are absolutely bonkers a majority of the time) ideas come out of their mouths like so much diarrhea.

One of these ideas is breedism. Arabians are koo-koo; thoroughbreds are dumb; ponies hate all people. And no one ever questions this. Find an exception to the rule? Oh, that's an anomally. But the more you dissect the truth, you realize that a majority of crazy Arabians and thoroughbreds became that way because they were trained that way.

Let me stop you right there. Yes, breeding plays a role in all of this. Arabians and thoroughbreds are bred to be more "flighty" than say a Tennessee Walker or a quarter horse. But, you can manage their temperment.

Alright, back to the story: Street Hubby (before we were married) wanted a pit bull. I swear, I nearly stopped dating him over the arguments that ensued. To me, a pit bull was a headline waiting to happen. Now, at the time, Cesar Milan's show (Dog Whisperer) was gaining popularity. The more I watched, the more I realized that training was nearly as important as genetics. He would take fighting pit bulls and, through training, make them sociably acceptable. Just think what you could do with the right training from day one ...

OK, I also want to take this time to say a few things about the pit bull breed. Yes, they were bred to fight other dogs. Dog aggression is a part of the breed (just like rat aggression is a part of a rat terrier's genetics). However, handlers had to be able to grab the dog out of a fight without getting his arm gnawed off ... so, human aggression is a trait that was bred out of the dog. Dogs who attack humans whether its a chihuahua or a pit bull should be euthanized or put in an extensive training program.

Pit bulls are dangerous just like draft horses are dangerous. They are powerful, and when not properly trained or exercised, they can turn a situation on its head (think: carriage horse running through the streets of Charleston and maiming people).

Also, lets look at my own genetics. Alcoholism runs on both sides of my family, but I'm not an alcoholic. I was raised to be better than that. Though I'm sure it would be an easy habit to form, I have been properly "trained."

Back to Ana. She is certified through the AKC as a Canine Good Citizen. This means she has underwent tests proving she is safe with adults and children, crowds and more. The hardest part of us taking that test? She was too friendly with the judge and almost got us failed because she wanted to jump up and kiss her (oooooo .... scary). This test is not just for pit bulls; in fact, several breeds were present during the test and the only one to fail was a lab. The three pit bulls? Passed with flying colors.

Don't get me wrong, Ana does have dog aggression issues. But through proper training and good exercise, it is manageable. We've had only one dog fight with her, and it was provoked by the other dog (yes, another pit bull ... but it was over a tennis ball).

Let me end this by saying, pit bulls are a lot of work. I put a lot of time and money into training Ana. But you know what? All dogs are a lot of work. If people treated their labs or retrievers like how I treat Ana, those dogs wouldn't be "ball crazy" or bite family members (trust me, I've seen the stats, labs and other "family dog" breeds bite more children than pit bulls ... though, I'll admit that the damage is not as severe). Don't get a dog unless you can spend time and money on making it an example for its breed (or lack there of).

I like to think of Ana as a pit bull breed ambassador. We look forward to getting our therapy liscense soon. She will be working with sick children (she is so gentle and loving with them!). We have our problems, sure, but like responsible owners we have brought out the best in her. And her best is the sweetest, most loyal and gentle dog.

Encounter of the emu-kind

As most family and friends know, I'm a staff writer for a local paper. On my way out to take pictures of Al Parish's house (an investor who defrauded millions from clients and now his house is being sold to compensate them), I stumbled across an emu. Not exactly alien ... but interesting. So, being the animal lover that I am, here is the sequence of events that unfolded:



Street Mutt: "Oh look, an emu. How cute!"

What Street Mutt thinks the emu thinks: "Oh look, a human. How cute ... maybe we can be friends."

Well before long, Mr. Emu became a little more friendly ... or so I thought



I did not realize how long their necks actually were ... trust me, they are long. And, as it turns out, Mr. Emu didn't actually want to be my friend. He either a) wanted me to feed him or b) wanted to eat me. He tried to beak me to death, while I graciously (read: yelped and panicked) tried to take his photo.



After several failed attempts to kill me, he posed for me, giving me that sexy evil eye and swaying back and forth. What did I learn today? Emus don't make good friends ... In fact, I don't think they know the definition of friend -- unless it's "someone who I beak to death."