Cows for Chris H.

Hope you feel better soon Chris! I was at the fair again tonight, saw the cows and thought about how much you love them. I hope you are 100% again soon!

"60 Miles for Our Melons" - Chunky legs in motion - part tre

You know what "melons" I'm talking about. "60 Miles for Our Melons" is the name of my team for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day, 60 Mile walk. It's coming up pretty soon...in 4 months and 20 days to be exact. Not that I'm counting or anything. I am excited and nervous, and worried...but mostly excited. I had a blast doing the walk in 2006, but it was a lot of work. I'm walking with teammates this time though, instead of doing the "I can do it all my myself and be miserable walking alone, with no one I know to talk to, mile after mile, day after day..."Wow! That sounded real good and pathetic, didn't it? Actually I had plenty of company last time, and an AWESOME support crew (you know who you are) that was waiting for me at every pit stop-to bandage my poor feet and give me lots of encouragement.

Our team passed a little milestone this weekend, going for our first team training walk of 5 miles. We started out nice and early Sunday morning, getting to the lake at 6:40am. After a good stretch, we were on our way. It took us exactly 1 hour and 40 minutes. That's a 20 minute mile at a nice, comfortable pace. Not bad for these chunky little legs.

Dog Surf Competition!

Check out this YouTube video a friend of mine, Judy from the S.D. Golden Retriever Meetup Group, made of this past Saturday's Dog Surfing competition. My girl, Jill is featured in the video right around the 3:25 minute mark. Check out her second ride. She didn't want to get off the board! Go, Jill, go!

TGIF-ish

TGIF to all of you out there in the working world. I am one of the few, the lucky, the non-employed force of America. I am a stay home Mom, which is not saying that I don't work, but more like saying I work 24/7 and don't get a paycheck. I am not complaining though, not one little bit. I LOVE what I do, love being home, love taking care of the house, the kids (who pretty much take care of themselves, other than needing Taxi rides everywhere) the dogs, the yard, etc. Love it! I do feel bad though sometimes, when a "working" friend will email me with "TGIF!" I remember the elated feeling I used to have when I did have a paying job, and Friday would roll around at last. There were few feelings better than Friday at quiting time. I never really had it too rough though...my last position was in the corporate office of a candy company, and a large part of my job was sampling goodies that we were thinking about adding to our inventory....oh yeah, that was tough, "Do I like the Milk Chocolate Malted Milk Balls best, or the Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Malted Milk Balls? I dunno, I better try them both again..." Yes, it was a tough job, but someone had to do it.

TGIF has a little different meaning to me now...still as enjoyable, but just different. It means that my days will be busier, in and out of the house all weekend, doing family activities, making more planned out meals...keeping up on everyone to keep the house in decent order....fun stuff like that. Sometimes I feel a little more like a drill seargant than a Mom....but I guess that's all part of the job.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Harley heads home

It was time for Harley, the service dog I take care of, to head home today. Days like these, when I take her back to her owner are both sad and happy for me. She was with us this time for nearly 3 weeks. I've had her for up to 6 months at a time in the past. She is a wonderful dog, and melds perfectly in with our family, but she's not ours, and I have to keep reminding myself of that fact. She is a service dog, and wonderful companion to a man who loves her. We love her too though, and enjoy every minute that she spends with us...how could you not love a face like this?

Fairest of the Fair

...OK, well, I'm not exactly the Fairest....but, you know, close enough. It's Fair time again here in Sunny Sandy Ego, and I thought I'd share a couple of random pictures I've taken over the course of the 3 times I've already been so far this year. I got an unlimited entrance ticket again this year, for the bargain price of only $12.00, because it's just not enough for me to only go once. Last year I really got my money's worth out of my ticket, going at least 5 or 6 times. That's a lot of Fair...that's a lot of food....that's a lot of Tums.

Um...no thanks, I'll pass on these...
Ain't that the truth!
Lick the glass? I'll try not to!
The following two drawings were in the Student Art Exhibition. They were done by a young lady in a local high school. I thought they both incredible. Oh, to have talent like that!
Where's the beef? Right here, baby!
My friend raises and shows bunnies. What sweet balls of fluff!

The "Ironman of Gaming"

I heard a bit of fun news that I wanted to share. You may remember that I recently took a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, to see my nephew graduate from High School. What I didn't bother to mention at the time, because frankly I didn't think it was that important, is that, like most typical teenage boys, my nephew likes to play video games. Boy, howdy, does he like to play video games! Well, for once in my life, I'm going to say something that I never thought I would...playing video games has really paid off for him. Literally. $10,000 worth of pay off. My nephew, we'll call him H.P., participated in a 3 day long video game competion...and won. First Prize. Big moolah for an 18 year old. H.P.'s Dad and Sister were there to watch him in the final rounds and swoop in at the last minute to claim the big prize. Third place won a T-shirt, second place won a plaque, first place took home the cash, and the title of "Ironman of Gaming." You've got to have some pretty sweet skills to take home the big bucks, and the big belt...don't forget the belt.

Fiesta Island Fun

This past weekend our Golden Retriever Meetup group had a get together at Fiesta Island, near Mission Bay, right across from Sea World. I'm not exactly sure how Fiesta Island ever got it's name, being that "fiesta" is suppose to mean party (of some type, I think...How am I supposed to know, I took German in High School...and I know for sure "Fiesta" is not a German word...) I'm thinking that "Sandy, barren Island, might be a more appropriate name, but I guess that's beside the point.

We had about 60 Golden Retrievers in attendance with their people, and everyone seemed to have a blast. This gathering was in preparation for a surf competition a bunch of us are competing in next weekend. Get this, the dogs, not the people, will be surfing. Our team is called the Golden SurFURS...pretty catchy, don't you think?

Here are a couple of pictures from our get together.

Bumper sticker

I'm pretty good about having my camera with me nearly everytime I leave the house. You just don't know when something will catch your eye...this caught mine.

Chunky legs in motion, part deux

It's been a while since I've updated on my training for the 30 Day, 60 Mile Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Walk, so I thought I'd take a couple of minutes to do that. Let me start by saying that it's hot here. I mean really hot by Sandy Ego standards. Three digits baby, by 11am. I'm kinda over it, if you know what I mean, and today is only the first official day of summer. Geesh!

My oldest daughter, for the purpose of this blog I'll call her "Bear", and I got a nice early start this morning, up at 5:45am, out of the house at 6:00am, and at the lake by 6:15am. It had already warmed up to 72 degrees when we started our 4 mile walk at 6:20am. Thankfully this time we both remembered to stretch. My shins didn't scream at me today, and I was a happy walker. We finished our walk in an hour and a half - not bad for the first time walking 4 miles without a stop. As most of you know, I've done the 3 Day walk before, but Bear hasn't. All of this training and stretching stuff is new to her...it's one heck of an adventure, that's for sure. By the time we got back to the car, just before 8:00am, it had hit 80 degrees. Yup, it's roasty-toasty here. Nice....welcome to summer!

These are pretty scenes from the lake at 6:30am this morning.
I like seeing things like this....

I don't like seeing things like this!

Milestones

Reflecting back on this week, I got to thinking that it's been a week of milestones for my family. On Wednesday my son, A.J., passed his test to get his driver's permit. I've seen him play Mario Cart, and other driver type video games for years...I'm thinking that the roads of Southern California may never be safe again. Buckle up for safety Boy!

Thursday was my Mom's 70th birthday. We told her we'd take her where ever she wanted to go. She wanted to go to a casino. Seriously. Cha-ching! Momma wanted to play the slots, baby! We went to a local Indian casino called Valley View. (Yes, surprisingly there actually IS a view of the valley from the casino.) After a delightful buffet of all you can eat goodies, which included Maine Lobster, and crab legs - more melted butter please! -we hit the nickle slots and had a blast. I bet you didn't know I was such a High Roller, eh? We all wound up coming out of the evening a little ahead of the games, that is all of us EXCEPT the birthday girl. She made a nice little "contribution" to the casino in the form of about $140 worth of nickels....oh well, we can't all be winners. Love ya Mom!

Today, my youngest, graduated from Middle School. That's it...I officially (for real this time) feel old. All those other times I said I felt old, I was just joshing....this time, I really, really do feel old. (That is, until something comes up that makes me feel even OLDER than I do today.) Anyway....my "baby" is officially a freshman. The hearts of the boys at her high school may never be safe again. That's my girl!

Sun 'n Fun

Today was a deliciously warm, verging on hot, late spring-early summer day here in Sunny Sandy Ego. After doing my regular "running around" stuff this morning-which drug its into the afternoon, it was time to come home and cool off. The dogs were as eager as I was to get into the pool. The water couldn't have felt better, the only addition to the afternoon that I could have hoped for was to have Brad (Pitt, of course) walking around with a tray of icy cold Malibu Rum & Diet Cokes for us to share...and some snacks, of course. Instead, I had to settle for 4 very happy Goldens. I've got it rough, don't I?

Harley and Kona
Kona and his new water toy
Jill, looking a bit water logged
Harley playing fetch
Mrs. Cool, and the Gang

Looking longingly...

Poor Kona, he stares longingly,waiting for the precise moment I say the words "Go Pool!" I swear, this pup won't have had enough water until his silky white fur is a lovely shade of green.

Remodeling fun

"OK, Honey, we are just going to have to put a little hole in the wall to hang the new TV...." LITTLE? Yikes!

From a different view for a change.

HA! How do you like them apples? (Or should I say - tennis balls?) For a change, I'm in the pool, and the pups are looking longing at the cool, clear water...don't feel too bad for them though, they played and swam, and frolicked (I love that word) and lounged in the pool for THREE solid hours today...while I slaved away in the back yard, planting, and cleaning, and pruning, and complaining....

At last it was my turn to cool off and enjoy the pool, which I did, dog free, for a change.

You can see they weren't too happy with me. Kona looks forlorn...Jack thinks that if he just pushes the tennis ball in, he'll have an excuse to get back in the water...and Jill is contemplating just going ahead and diving in. Harley is just outside of the frame, asleep, having given up the quest for more swim time. Poor, sad, pathetic pups...

Father's Day

I know I'm running a day late on this, but wanted to wish everyone a very happy, if not belated, Father's Day. This goes out to all of the Dads out there, whether your babies have two feet or four feet. I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing day. We spent our Father's Day doing what's been our tradition for quite a few years now, and that's going to the San Diego County Fair. My hubby usually finds something fun that he can't live without, and we all have a blast hanging out for the day together, eating all sorts of fun fair food.


I'm one of the lucky ones out there my age that still has my father with me. I know that I am very, very fortunate. My father has had a multitude of health problems in the last couple of decades, everything from a quintuple bi-pass to diabetes, thyroid problems, blood pressure problems, and a tumor on the base of his brain, just to name a few. But let me tell you, my Pops is a trouper. Rarely a complaint, always, ALWAYS a sense of humor, and the kindest heart a person could ever hope for. I am one very lucky girl indeed. Happy Father's Day Pops, I love you!

Oliver Twist?

Please Mum, can I have some more?

Kona's best impression of Oliver Twist asking for more porridge.

Elves?

"There are elves among us..." at least that's what I thought of when I took this picture the other day. It's Harley, the service dog I'm taking care of for my friend, and Jill, my own sassy little diva. I just love how Jill looks here.

No, no, bad dogs!

Yeah, right. Who could look at these 4 faces and tell them they are bad? Not me...even after I did find them swimming without permission just a few minutes ago. (Surprisingly, they are usually very good about "asking." They go to the pool's edge, stand and bark, and run back to the door to see if I've heard them. Usually I am right there, and can tell them "Go Pool!" or "No swim", and they get it...not today though, they just decided on their own.) I can't blame them though, they were locked outside (as we are trying to finish up painting in the living room) and it is warm, and the pool looked oh, so inviting! Now they are happy, and running around the backyard like spoiled little toddlers that got what they wanted and didn't get punished. Bad dogs...sweet, lovable, bad, bad dogs...

My "Civic Duty"

Yeah! I'm done! At least for another year or two, until I get the ominous letter in the mail again...you know the one...from "Superior Court of the State of California" -or whatever place you live....requesting you do to your "Civic Duty" by serving on Jury Duty. Yup, I did my duty yesterday, with very little pomp and circumstance, thank you very much...and now I'm done. The state of California has gone to a "One Day, or One Jury" type of service. You have to show up for one day of service, and if you aren't selected to sit on a jury, you are released and therefore done for at least a year. I seem to be one of the lucky ones that gets "the" letter just about every 2 years. I know some people that have never been called in....oh well....I'm not complaining (yes, I know it sounds like I am, but I'm not really....)

I spent the day sitting in the "jury lounge," (the word lounge makes it sound a lot nicer than it is really, but I guess it's sounds better than calling it the "jury holding area") The lounge consists of a very large room, with a small podium in the front center, and a great number of chairs, all in neat little rows, facing the small podium. There was a very small television in one corner and a couple of racks with outdated magazines and old books along one wall. And people, lots and lots of people, all seemingly equally thrilled to be there.

We were all told to be there promptly by 7:45am, which, being the rule follower that I am, I was. The orientation began right on time, and then came the stragglers. You'd think that people being called for Jury Duty, would at least make an effort to be on time....but you'd be wrong. There were lots and lots of latecomers...probably 50 or more. All hustling and bustling to find a "good" chair, one on the end of a row, where you didn't need to squeeze past people's knees to sit down. Most of them looked irritated, which in turn, I think, irritated the rest of us that actually did make it there on time....who did they think they were to stroll in late?

Anyway...the whole time I was there, there were only two panels of people called to go to courtroom to be interviewed for jury selection. The first group was of about 60 people, and they were being screened to sit on a 3 week case. No, thank you very much! I'm SO glad I wasn't called on that one, I've got such an honest face, you know, I'm sure I would have been selected to sit on the jury, and maybe even been the foreperson.(Hey, it's been known to happen!)....the second was a group of about 30 people called. I wasn't in that group either.

So, I read my book, (I got through over 150 pages in "Pillars of the Earth" - I'm on page 480 and still not half way through it!) and watched people. The jury lounge rates right up there with the airport and amusement parks as one of my favorite places to watch people. And let me tell you, there were some interesting ones to watch. WOW! Am I thankful that I wasn't in need of a jury of my peers yesterday.

A couple of interesting characters really jumped out at me. There was a pretty young woman, probably late 20's or early 30's in the row in front of me that picked at her nails incessantly. Nonstop, until the cuticles bled. Yuck! It was really actually kind of sad to watch. It's like she couldn't help herself. I kept trying to look away, but it was kind of like a car wreck, you can't help but to look as you drive by. I had to more...The seat I moved to was fine, until the cell phone of the person behind me kept ringing, over and over again. The ringtone was "Burning Ring of Fire", which at first made me actually laugh out loud...could you imagine that going off in a courtroom? "I went down in a burning ring of fire, I went down, down, down, and the flames kept gettin higher...." Guilty Your Honor! Lock him up for life!...Time to move seats again.

I found myself another place to sit, which, as it turns out, was right in front of a "burper." You all know the type. He must have thought it was fun, or cute to burp loudly and rudely in public and never bother to "excuse" himself. It was just plain gross. One time I actually turned around and looked to see if he'd gotten anything on himself. Geeze, I wanted to hurl. So...I was on the prowl again for a decent, semi-quiet, burp free zone. I finally found one, at the back of the room, with a couple of other people that seemed to be interested only in reading their books, and getting out of there at a reasonable hour.

At last, at 2:30pm, an announcement came over the loud speaker telling us that the courtrooms were no longer in need of juries for the day, that we had fulfilled our civic duty, and we were free to leave. People literally sprinted to the door, as if they might be called back if they hadn't exited the building within 30 seconds. I waited until the mass of people had calmed down a bit, and slowly exited the great "Hall of Justice" of San Diego Superior Court. Silly, just saying "Hall of Justice" makes me feel a bit like a super hero....no wait....that would have to be the "League of Justice" wouldn't it? Wonder Woman I'm not!

Through an amatuer's eye- a review of "The Strangers"

This will be one of the quickest movie reviews you've ever read - promise.

Don't waste your money. I am a horror flick fan, but this was a real stinker. A poorly done "slasher" film. Very little story line, (why do these freaks terrorize people in the middle of the night? Because they were home....who isn't home at 4am?) The real question is why the main characters open the door to strangers in the middle of the night...because they are in a movie, that's why. Real people can't possibly be this dumb, can they?

I won't drone on about how much I disliked this movie... I'm pretty sure you get the picture...my rating for this film is a solid "D" - and that's only because I like Liv Tyler...

The Frolicking Five

Five. Goldens. In the pool. Count them for yourself.

Longhorns in the Lone Star State

I'm in the process of redecorating my front living room,(I hate the process, but will love the result...) so I'm having a tough time sitting down to blog...(at least while the hubby is around)...gotta at least LOOK like I'm helping!

Any who....I wanted to share a couple of pictures real quick from my recent jaunt down to Fort Worth, Texas (can everyone give me a quick "Yee Haw!") Fort Worth is a fun place with lots to see and do. Of course my main objective was to visit with my brother's family, and watch my nephew graduate high school. But while we were there we did make it over for a quick visit to the World Famous (at least I think it's world famous....) Fort Worth Stock Yards.







Now, them are some horns!

Hey, good lookin....