Heading Out

Tomorrow I am heading out to Las Vegas for 4 fun filled days. I'm going to gamble, enjoy some time in the spa, spend time with family and friends, and just relax.

I

CAN

NOT

WAIT

I just finished packing and I'm pretty sure I've packed enough "options" to last me about a month and a half. A girl has to have choices you know....

I'll update if I can, but lately my mobile blogging apps have been fussy. We'll see how it goes...

So...until I get back to ya ~ Viva Las Vegas Baby!

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

How cool is this?

Seeing Double?

On Sunday we went to Balboa Park and met up with some of our Golden friends. While we were there we saw Kona's younger brother, Maui. You can sure tell these handsome fellows are related!

I mean, seriously, how cute are these two? Maui, on the left, is two years younger than Kona. (I think it's super cool that he has a Hawaiian name too!) His folks are giving serious thought to working with him to help him become a therapy dog. I think that's a fantastic idea! I can just imagine if Kona and Maui did visits together - people would think they were seeing double!

Another Star is Born

Check this out. Thanks to my friend Robert for sharing this with me on FB. (It's a funky link, so go ahead and clink on where it says to watch it on youtube.)

In Honor of Skidboot - A Most Amazing Dog Indeed!

Take a few minutes to watch this video. It's been around quite a while but it's worth watching again. It will remind you of how brilliant dogs really are! They don't get nearly enough credit.

So, in honor of his passing, 5 years ago today, I present to you, Skidboot.

Skidboot, November 1992 - March 25, 2007

If you'd like to learn more about this amazing dog, and how his name continues to live on, visit his website here http://skidboot.com.

I Haven't...

In the last 32 days I haven't had any soda...or any carbonated beverages at all. I gave up soda for lent, not because I am Catholic, but just because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. It's been easier than I thought it would be.

In the last 21 days I haven't had any alcohol. It's not that I am a big drinker at all, however I do enjoy an occasional cocktail or two when I am out with friends. The decision not to drink hasn't been a conscious one, it just hasn't come up lately and I'm ok with that.

Now for the really interesting stuff. Since this past Monday I
1. Haven't had any caffeine
2. Haven't had any sugar (other than natural sugar in fruit)
3. Haven't had any bread, potatoes or rice (white, brown or any other color)
4. Haven't had any dairy products
5. Haven't had anything fried
6. Haven't had any red meat
7. Haven't had any fast food - including not one of my beloved Mickey D's Mocha Frappes!

I have been drinking a LOT of water, eating a lot of vegetables, fish, chicken and salad. I am really trying to learn a new way of eating. So far, so good. My weight is going in the right direction too- I'm very happy with my progress. I don't want to jinx things though, so I won't give details on that yet.

I have some personal things coming up that I really want to look good for-including my 30th class reunion in August. Oh, how I'd love to lose about 30 lbs before then! Wish me luck, so far, I'm on the right track.

Testing

This is a test of the emergency blogging network....this is only a test.

"Paws to Read"

Kona and I, along with some of our other Love on a Leash friends, started a new reading program at a local library yesterday.

Everyone really enjoyed it!There were about 7 or 8 children there to read to the dogs - not bad for a first gathering...and the little girl that read to Kona fell in love with him. It was so cute! She read him "101 Dalmatians!"

He paid attention and really seemed to enjoyed it.At the end of the hour, everyone was all smiles. It reminded me of why I enjoy volunteering so much!

Distracted

I can't believe that an entire week has gone by without me updating my blog. I feel terrible about it, I really do!

To say that I have been distracted is an understatement. I'd really rather not go into all of what's been going on around the homestead, but suffice to say that my brain has been otherwise occupied, and I haven't been in the best mindset to blog. 'Nuff said about that...

On to a couple of good things...I just wrapped up a pleasant, quiet, and relaxing visit with my boy. AJ was in town for a week for his Spring Break from Purdue. I was thrilled to have him in town, even if only to sit and chat with him, and enjoy some silliness. He is great company, wonderful help with the dogs, easy going, and helps to put the twinkle back into my eye. He headed back to Indiana yesterday, but he will be back for the summer in only two months. Mentally I've started the countdown already.

My knee continues to improve. Last Wednesday I finished up my physical torture therapy visits, so that's good. I've got great range of motion back, and other than it being a bit achy here and there, it's treating me pretty well. The 4 little incisions are healing well too, and I think with a couple of more weeks time, they will hardly be noticeable.

I've found that I still feel like I am under some sort of cloud...and in a funk. I just can't really explain it. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the combination of loosing my Dad, physically not feeling well, and dealing with some emotional baggage that has broadsided me over and over again lately. Yep, I know, probably not the feel good post you were hoping for...but that's life sometimes, right. I remind myself that I've got to take the good with the bad, the happy with the sad, the sh!t with the shinola. Ok, I just made that last one up...but you get the point. Sometimes it just doesn't all smell like roses.

I'm working on shaking the funk though. (That would be the name of my band, if I had a band, "Shaking the Funk...." - my friends who listen to Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw here in San Diego will relate to that...) but the funk is a persistent S.O.B., that's for sure.

In the meantime...I'll just keep hanging in there.

The "Voice"

Pickle is going to be auditioning for season 3 of "The Voice." HOW COOL IS THAT? She is debating on which song she should sing for her audition. I like both of the songs she's narrowed it down to, so I thought I'd put it out to you.

Which song do you like better?



or...



Please leave a comment and let us know which one you think suits her voice better. Her audition is scheduled for March 31st. Keep your fingers crossed!

Jesse the Jack Russell

I don't know about you, but I wish I had half of this pup's energy! What a cutie - and smart as a whip! (I love the peppy music in these videos too!)





I've been a bit out of it this past week. The knee has been healing well, but I have been unmotivated, and uninterested in doing much. I don't know why, it just is what it is. This Sunday things will improve though, I'm sure of it. I've got a special friend coming to town who I get to see in the morning, and I can't wait to see him - and Sunday evening AJ is coming home from college for his Spring break. YAY! I get happy just thinking about it!

Hopefully I'll be on the upswing soon.

How is this...

...for sexy?

In the words of my dear, honest friend Doug, "Ummmm, maybe not so much.."

It's not feeling too bad though, even after my first physical therapy visit yesterday. Yay! I am on the mend, that's for sure.

Under the Scope

I had a bit of knee surgery yesterday. I've been dealing with a sore knee for a long time now, and it was finally time to get if fixed. At first my doctor thought I had a torn meniscus, but the MRI showed arthritis and a bone spur instead. Hmmm, fun stuff.

Here I am waiting to be called back to surgery....

I guess you could say that the surgery has been looming over me. It's been heavy on my mind, to say the least. It's not so much that the actual procedure was worrying me, but more of the not knowing what to expect as far as recovery, etc.

To be honest, I was also worried about going under the anesthesia. With what happened just 8 weeks ago with my Dad, I don't think anyone could question my anxiety...but, as expected, things went as planned, and here I am. Fine and nearly dandy.

I've been getting around pretty good today without my crutches. Granted I'm not up for walking the dogs, or going to Disneyland, but I get to the bathroom and kitchen by myself without any problem. Yay!

Tomorrow I go for my first physical therapy appointment. Oh, I'm really looking forward to that. Ha! Until then, I'll sit, relax with my knee up and savor the sweet smell of the flowers my wonderful friends and family have sent.

Sent from my iPad as I'm sitting on my big @ss couch.