<p>Today I:</p>
  <ul>
    <li>built a mud flap on our rear car gate so the little dog, Beta can't get out</li>
    <li>unstuck two french doors</li>
    <li>clean some random crap out the yard</li>
    <li>moved the compost bin</li>
    <li>did some diplomacy with the landlord</li>
    <li>listened to some podcasts: Planet Money and The Pipeline</li>
    <li>made and ate a great lunch out on the poolside in the sunshine</li>
    <li>read a little bit of The Elements of Typographic Style</li>
    <li>played with the doggies</li>
    <li>walked around the yard, slowly</li>
  </ul>

  <p>I'm currently waiting for my lovely girlfriend Stacey to get home from work to spend a little Quality Time™ together. All in all, a pretty great day. Life is finally starting to work out.</p>

  <h3>The Problem</h3>

  <p>This is Beta, Stacey's dog. She's cute, clever and a little rascal. She's small, fast and a runner.</p>

  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/4198272829/" title="Beta in Santa Monica, California by veganstraightedge, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4198272829_599c89a49c.jpg" alt="Beta in Santa Monica, California"></a></p>

  <p>This is the rear car gate and driveway in our back yard. Take note of the gap between the gate and the ground. That is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68QpAAH4_VM" title="YouTube - Finding Nemo- Escape from the fish tank">recipe for escape</a>.</p>

  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/4354006649/" title="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in by veganstraightedge, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4354006649_9abda11e1d.jpg" alt="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in"></a></p>

  <h3>The Solution</h3>

  <p>Mud flaps… or something like that.</p>

  <p>There happened to be a couple pieces of carpet in the driveway. I think they're there to deal with muddy days. Or whatever. I got out some tools, cut one piece of carpet into a few strips and punched some holes into them.</p>

  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/4354007835/" title="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in by veganstraightedge, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4354007835_97c0ccd142.jpg" alt="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in"></a></p>
  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/4354755320/" title="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in by veganstraightedge, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2710/4354755320_88ab6b9670.jpg" alt="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in"></a></p>

  <p>I used some rubber coated steel wire cut into ~18" lengths to tie the strips of carpet to the fence.</p>

  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/4354011961/" title="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in by veganstraightedge, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4354011961_85f62b4206.jpg" alt="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in"></a></p>
  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/4354756566/" title="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in by veganstraightedge, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4354756566_d8c24717f6.jpg" alt="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in"></a></p>

  <p>In the end, it's a little bit low rent and not the prettiest thing in the world. But you know what? It kept Beta from going under the gate (which is the first place she checked when I let her out of the house after I was done) which meant that she and Civ (and the landlord's dogs Ezra and Madison) could run wild and free all day in two yards and the tennis court. It also meant That I could have all <strong>seven</strong> doors open all day enjoying the beautiful weather and sunshine. A win for all of us. Additionally, both Civ and Beta are tuckered the hell out from running around all day. And <em>that</em> is why we picked this house as our new home.</p>

  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/4354013333/" title="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in by veganstraightedge, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4354013333_ee43de16db.jpg" alt="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in"></a></p>

  <p>PS. The gate can even still open. It just needs to be lifted upward a little bit more than usual. A small price to pay in my mind.</p>

  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/4354761116/" title="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in by veganstraightedge, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4354761116_42d8c039f9.jpg" alt="Installing a carpet flap on the bottom of our car gate to keep Beta in"></a></p>