Thoroughly Exhausted Thursday...

No time for Wordless Wednesday this week! The fundraiser is just around the corner and the RSVP's now stand at 100+. Yikes! I hope we have enough stuff.

I have confidence that it will all be fine. Even if I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, I can see a rainbow just over the fence!

A Minute to Win it.

It's 11:30pm and while most people are tucked snugly in their beds, what I am doing? Practicing silly games for this weekend's fundraiser! One of the events we are doing is a "Minute to Win it" tournament, featuring 8 games that people have to complete to win the big prize. It's a $20 buy in per person for whoever wants to join in, with half of the pot going to the winner, and the other half going to our "60 Miles for our Melons" team. The games are relatively simple, at least on paper...


We tried a whole bunch of different ones, but settled on the 8 that we thought would be best for our event. They are all pretty non-physical, so people of any age could join in. They all take concentration, and some take a little skill.


It should be a lot of fun!

Here I am, tickled pink with myself for having stacked 5 red apples. Sounds easy, right? Ha! Give it a try, and remember, you only have 60 seconds, or you are eliminated from the tournament!



And here is Hubby trying out another game. Stack 5 quarters on the edge of a glass, with a dollar bill between the rim and the bottom quarter, and remove the dollar without the quarters falling. Good luck!

Balms for the Boobies!

I have a wonderful friend that owns a company called Coronado Soap Company. She has been extremely gracious to us and is creating special Lip Balms for our "60 Miles for our Melons" team to sell at our fundraiser coming up on Sat. (Are you coming? Why not? If you live in the San Diego area there's no reason not to! Send me a message and I'll send you the info!) She's come up with several flavors, each with our team logo on them, and I am just tickled pink about them! I can't wait to see and try them all!

Thanks so very much Coronado Soap Company! Our lips and our melons thank you! (If you are a Face Booker...be sure to become a FB fan of the Coronado Soap Company and see what incredible creations they will come up with next!

Jack and Jill

Puppy love

Camp Bow Wow!

Our Golden Retriever Meetup group had a great little get together today at "Camp Bow Wow -Premier Doggy Day & Overnight Camp." The very kind owners of the facility invited our group to come and play in their three indoor climate controlled play areas, as well as enjoy the outdoor areas where they even had puppy-sized pools set up for our pooches to splash around in!

Today was on of the hottest days we've had in a LONG time, and it was perfect timing to be able to let the pups play all morning, off leash, in the lovely air conditioning. There were a couple of sets of ramps and stairs for them to play on inside, and all of the dogs really seemed to enjoy themselves.

I was initially concerned that it might be a little crowded with our large and XL sized pups, but there was plenty of room for everyone to run about and have a blast. Ok, so there was one little traffic jam...

Our four came home tired and happy after our morning of fun. What more can you ask for?

If you are ever in need of doggy day care, or overnight care, and live in the San Diego area, give Camp Bow Wow a try! They even have a web cam so you can check on your "camper" via the internet anytime you'd like! How cool is that?

I know I sound like a commercial here, but honestly people, I was impressed!

Thinking Pink

It's starting to look pretty pink around here.Our big fundraiser is just a week away.

So far we are expecting around 70 people - give or take...a hundred or so! I seriously have no idea of the real number of people to expect. I'm hoping for a BUNCH!

I am excited, and getting nervous.

Do I buy 50 burgers, or 150?

Do I buy 2 cases of beer, or 20? I suppose if we start running short on anything we'll just go to the store and get more. Simple as that.

With that being said - here's what we've got lined up so far.

• Tastefully Simple goodies and home made goodies
• Silpada Jewelry
• Longenberger Baskets
• chair massages
• $10 hair cuts
• $10 eyebrow waxing
• Heritage Makers Scrapbooking
• Gold Buyer on hand to purchase old gold and pay you cash!
• specialty cupcakes and other specialty baked goods
• PartyLite Candles
• designer inspired purses and handmade jewelry
• handmade crochet hats
• $1 Burgers, $1 Brats, $1 Beers, etc.
• a "Minute to Win it" Tournament
• A Texas Hold'em Tournament with a JUMBO Payout!
  
  Raffle items so far include:
  
  One $40 Callahan's gift card
  One Lunch for Two at the Shakespeare Pub & Grille
  One $50 Olive Garden gift card
  two gift cards for photo scanning, good for 250 photo scan each
  One $20 Chloe's Carousel gift certificate
  Two $25 each Islands gift cards
  a manicure gift certificate,
  a designer inspired purse
  a Tastefully Simple Gift Basket
  a Rodan and Fields Skin Care Gift Basket
  a Pink Leather 2011 Pink Ribbon Day Planner

We are well on the way to having a very cool, very successful event, but I'm thinking that this next week is going to be super-duper, crazy busy! Bear with me. It might be a bumpy ride!

PS - If you are in the San Diego area, and are interested in coming to our fundraiser, please send me an email or message me, and I can send you the actual flyer - unless of course your are a stalker, in which case I'll send you my neighbor's address and you can just send a donation. Believe me, you don't want to mess with my neighbor. If you are Brad Pitt, or Robert Downey, Jr. you do not need to wait until Oct. 2nd to come over, please message me at your convenience and I will make myself available. Anytime. Seriously. ANYTIME.

At the Zoo

I spent 3 and a half hours at the zoo with my photography meetup group this morning.

I took 652 pictures.

I had 9 come out decent enough for me to share with you.

9

That's a pretty sucky percentage.

Thank goodness for digital cameras!

Here's what I liked out of the bunch....

This (below) was my personal favorite out of all of them I took today. I've decided I need more practice with my camera...lots more practice. I guess I'll work on that in my spare time.

Wordless Wednesday - An Evening at the Park With Friends

My Four Footed White Angel

I'll admit it...I am a very proud Momma.

Check out this article about Kona.

The Four Footed White Angel

I Dig Dudes in White Pants

I needed something to make me smile this morning. I woke up after a terrible night of (very little) sleep, courtesy of Lumber Jack Larry sleeping next to me, very grumpy and ready to bite some one's head off. Kona then really made my morning by coming in from outside, with dirt up to his little doggie elbows and snout. Oh delightful! Just what my little rotten morning needed...

After Kona and the outside excavation area were cleaned up, I came in and signed onto my FaceBook page. I saw this little video, and I have to admit, it made me smile for the first time today. I hope it brings a little levity to your morning too. Thanks Donna, for sharing this on FB and giving me something to smile about this morning.

Now That's Some Training!

Wow! If I only had the time....I'd love to be able to train my dogs like these pups! Very impressive indeed!

Flying the Coop and a couple of other things...

There comes a time in every parent's life when their children "fly the coop."

After nearly 24 years at home, it's time for Bear. This week she signed a one year lease on an apartment she will be sharing with a friend from work. Papers were signed Wednesday morning, and moving started Thursday.

Hubby and I spent the day helping her, and though it is not easy for us (physically-how'd all that STUFF fit in one small bedroom? or mentally - Isn't she still our little Sher-Bear? Isn't she way too young to be doing this? Wasn't it just yesterday we were teaching her to ride a bike and swim?) we are both proud of her, her decision, the choices she made, and her determination.

I think it will be a big adjustment for all of us, and I know it will take time to get used to. It will be a learning experience, and a great adventure for her, and I'm glad she's only 10 miles away. I could walk there if I needed to. Seriously...so you just watch it young lady, don't think I won't just show up any time, night or day to check on you...make sure your laundry is done, and your bed is made, and the dishwasher is emptied, and the bathroom has plenty of toilet paper, and..and...and...

Congratulations Bear, I miss you already and hope you are never too grown up to come home for dinner. I love you!

Signing the papers...

Her apartment is on the bottom left. They even get a garage!
Yay! A walk in closet - Lord knows she'll have that filled up in a heartbeat!
A nice little living room with a patio.

More of the living room.

She is a happy, happy young lady! The door on the right leads to the other master-bedroom and bathroom. They each have their own bathroom, walk-in closet and door to the patio. I have to say, it's a very cute little place!

Nice updated kitchen!

My first place was nothing like this!

I think she's going to like it here.

Now, just a few other things to share.

On a "timing"note... first of all I want to wish my brother a very happy 49th birthday! I hope you are having a heck of a good time at "Herb-a-palooza"...

Just two weeks from today we'll be hosting a Fundraiser Extravaganza at our house for our "60 Miles for our Melons" 3 Day walking team. If you are in the San Diego area and are interested in coming, and haven't yet recieved a personal invitation from me, send me your email address and I'll hook you up! You name it - we'll have it here! We are having a Poker Tournament, a "Minute to Win It" Tournament, TONS of awesome stuff to buy, including Tastefully Simple goodies, PartyLite Candles, Designer inspired purses, Silpada Jewelry, Specialty Baked Goods, etc. We'll have licensed professionals doing a hair-cut-athon, and eyebrow waxing. Well have a bunch of food - burgers, bratwurst, breasts (chicken that is), beer, soda, water, etc., and raffle prizes and games galore!

Four weeks from today Hubby and I leave on our 20th Anniversary Cruise! We'll cruise the Eastern Caribbean, and eat, snorkel, relax, and eat some more - all to our heart's delight.

Nine weeks from today I'll be walking day 2 of the 3 day. Am I ready? Heck no! Am I excited, you betcha! (I've already knocked out over 10 miles this morning!)

And last, but not least, 14 weeks from today is Christmas! Oh My!

Proud of our friend!

Our friend, and member of the S.D. Golden Retriever Meetup Group, Ricochet, has won a national award! Here are all of the details, courtesy of Fox5sandiego.com.

SAN DIEGO - A North County golden retriever that surfs for charity is one of five really good dogs being honored nationally by the American Kennel Club.Winners of the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence were announced Thursday in New York City. The winners will receive $1,000 awards on Dec. 5 in Long Beach, Calif.Ricochet was trained to be a service dog for a person with a disability, but she turned out to be too interested in chasing prey for that role. The 2-year-old female showed she could surf, winning 3rd place in the 2009 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. Now, she often surfs with disabled surfers, including a quadriplegic teenager and 6-year-old boy with a brain injury. Ricochet helps balance the board to keep them from falling off and helps them to feel excitement instead of fear.

In the 10 months, Ricochet has helped raise awareness and almost $50,000 in donations for a variety of charities, including the Association of Amputee Surfers, Ocean Healing Group, Surfers Healing, Surfers for Autism, and the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

Ricochet is honored to receive the American Kennel Club ACE Award, and will continue her commitment to helping others, while encouraging them to focus on the CAN do's in life, and realize that disappointment can be turned into a joyful new direction! To learn more about Ricochet's surfing, causes, and fundraisers, visit her website at http://www.surfdogricochet.com .

We are so proud of Ricochet, and honored to call her our friend! Keep up the great work!

Look Twice - Save a Life

A friend of mine had this posted on her FaceBook page this morning, and of course it instantly reminded me of my friend Mark, who was killed tragically on his motorcyle one year ago yesterday when someone didn't see him. Do me a favor...take the 59 seconds and watch this...and the next time you are driving, look twice.

A Rough Day...

I woke up knowing it was going to be a melancholy day for me. Today marks the one year anniversary of a tragic, needless accident that took the life of a dear high school friend of mine, Mark Taylor. The news of his passing came via a telephone call that I will never forget.

Needless to say, I think of Mark every day. I think of the pain his beautiful wife feels every day, I think of the loss his children feel every day, and I think of all of his other friends and family that miss his quick wit, quirky sense of humor, and big heart. Yes, Mark is missed by many, and forgotten by none.

Today I got another phone call that I will never forget. I was in Costco buying the basics when my cell phone rang. The caller ID showed me that is was the sister of my friend Bob, another very dear friend from high school, who has spent the last year and a half battling cancer. The phone call was not good news.

Bob has been a heck of a fighter, first making it through stomach cancer last summer, and being pronounced "cancer free" only to have it reoccur months later, showing up in his bones, his lungs, his brain, and even his mouth. Each time the doctors thought they'd been able stop the spread, it out-witted them, and showed up somewhere else in him. I kept telling myself, that I know that everyone has "their time to be called home", and that God must have really wanted Bob badly.

Today Bob lost his fight. He was only 46 years old. I've said it before, and I will say it again...over and over and over again. Cancer sucks. In the words of my wise friend Harry "Cancer is a wretched disease. It robs us of our loved ones, and leaves in its wake shattered dreams and broken hearts. It strikes without prejudice or conscience. It is malevolent and an equal opportunity killer."

Rest in peace Bob. Your kindness, your incredible sense of humor, your endless jokes, huge heart, and lovable teddy-bear personality will truly be missed by everyone that knew you.

With love,
Sue

Bob's senior class picture from 1982 and Bob in 2006 at a Drama Reunion.

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In the hospital - Feb 2010 - still a smile on his face.

Enjoying a house call from Kona in April 2010.

Therapy

Kona and I continue to do our bi-weekly therapy visits to the VA hospital in La Jolla, and enjoy the wonderful group of people we visit with. We are blessed to have such great friends to spend this special time with.

A Great Sense of Humor

Take a few moments to enjoy this gal's great comic timing...she is a natural! She proves that laughter really is the best medicine.

Even a Bunny Needs a Break Sometimes!

I've been called a lot of names by a lot of people. Some good, some not-so-good. I take them all in with a grain of salt.

Recently, I've had a couple of friends that have started to refer to me as the Energizer Bunny. It seems that with the training I'm doing for the 3 Day walk, the therapy visits I do with Kona, the Meetup Groups I organize, the Love on a Leash Chapter I just created, my job, and of course the normal everyday "stuff" that life is made up of, I have gotten a reputation of being like the bunny and "going and going." I'm up pretty early in the morning (usually no later than about 7am) and rarely get to bed before 11:30pm - in between it's go-go-go. Yup, it's a full life, and I love it.

But...sometimes it catches up with me. It did today - big time. After having worked Friday night, then walked over 13 miles yesterday, then going to work in the afternoon, and then coming home to start working on a big 3 Day fund raiser we are hosting, I was wiped out last night. I got up early again this morning for another long walk (over 9 miles) then came home and got cleaned up, and left to run some errands. About half way through what I was wanting to do, my batteries wore out. Simple as that, stick a fork in me, I was done. Sometimes even the Energizer Bunny's batteries wear out....

I told Hubby to forget about the last couple of places we were supposed to go - I needed a nap.

Seriously.

I very rarely find or make the time for a nap.

Today was the exception. We got home at 2:30pm, and I think I was asleep by 2:35pm. I was awake just long enough to feel Harley jump on the bed and join me. We slept solid and hard for an hour and a half.

It was heaven!

I need to take more naps. Lots more...

Does that make me old? If so, I'm ok with it.

(But now, since I had such a glorious nap, I am full of energy again, and the rest of the family is settling down, getting ready to get tucked in for the night. Oh well, I had to do what I had to do.

Here are a few pictures from our training walks this weekend. We walked a total of 24.25 miles in two days! We are making great progress in our 3 Day training!)

We saw this sign in front of a restaurant we stopped at to use the bathroom...I love the message!

Almost done....

This was a 9/11 memorial we saw taking place as we walked by Solana Beach.

Yay! 4 hours and 21 minutes and we've walked over 13 miles!

Some people (who shall remain nameless...) take regular naps!

This morning at the harbor it was nice and cool again. We are so thankful for the fog in the morning when we have these long walks to do. It makes it so pleasant and cool.