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....

Four on the floor

Just a quick note to check in, say hello, and let you know I returned safely from my Texas adventure. I have pictures to share, but don't have the time just yet to get them posted.

This afternoon I got a call from a dear friend of mine who has a service dog. I met this friend through the Golden Retriever group I organize, and have taken care of his service dog on and off over the last couple of years whenever he has to go into the hospital, or has had other things come up when he's needed a little assistance. I've had her for as long as 6 months at a time, and for as short as just a few days. I love this girl like she is one of my own, and in fact, I found out that she, Harley, and my girl, Jill, came from the same breeder, and share a parent. They are half sisters, and I think, somehow, they know it.

Jill, Harley, Kona and Jack

Today is the first time that I've taken care of Harley since early January, and the first time that she will be staying with us since we've gotten our new pup, Kona. I was a little concerned at how everyone would get along, just because of the dynamic of having 4 in the house. My concern lasted for about 2.3 seconds. That's how long it took for them to all start playing...just another one of the many, many reasons I love these dogs so much.

Greetings from the Lone Star State

I have a quick couple of minutes and thought it would be fun to say hello to "all ya'all." Ah yes, the Texas drawl is starting to creep in already.

Things here are great, and we are having a lot of fun, despite the hot (high 90's) weather and humidity that go along with it.

My nephew's graduation was lots of fun last night. They aren't kidding when they say "everything is bigger in Texas." The High School stadium where there ceremony took place was incredible. I'll post pictures when I get home and can load them. A couple of other "big" things here include the houses in the area, the big, wide open spaces, and hair...yup, LOTS of big hair here. Things are just a little different than what I'm used to in lil ol San Diego....more soon.

Ya all take care now, ya hear!

I'm leavin on a jet plane....

"...don't know when I'll be back again..." Well, yes, actually I do know. Late Saturday afternoon. Going to Dallas to see my nephew graduate high school. Should be fun...and hot. I'm really looking forward to it...all except the "hot" part. I'm afraid I might wilt, being the delicate, little (ha! even typing that makes me laugh) thing that I am!

Not sure what the availability of blogging will be, but I'll try my darnedest.

The Happiest (?) Place on Earth!

Yes, that's right, I was in Disneyland yesterday....all day...with 15 - 13 & 14 year olds. The "Happiest Place on Earth?" I think not.

We left our house at 6:30am...and rolled back into the driveway at 10:00pm. Pooped. Tuckered out. Done...Fini. I never have to go on a field trip like that again. I'm turning in my "Mom Volunteer for Everything" card. I was supposed to go to Jury Duty yesterday, but I postponed that little civic duty to join in on the fun of the Disneyland trip. Because, of course, they didn't have enough volunteer drivers, and I do have that big beast of a car that can hold 8....(no, not the Smart, the Expedition....although, I know if I tried hard enough, I could get 8 kids into the Smart car....the world record is 13 - I saw the whole thing on You Tube, so it's gotta be true, right?)


Suffice it to say that it was a L O N G day. I won't bore you with the details. 13 & 14 year olds....15 of them...'nuff said.

Good 'ol Walt and Mickey
13 & 14 year olds eat LOTS of these! I was wishing, at this point, that Tinkerbelle could use a little of her pixie dust and magically transport me home.
I still love Mickey.

Making the best of it.

While I was largely incapacitated this weekend because of the "injuries" incurred in the "incident" on Friday, I did manage to have a pretty fun weekend. (Being waited on hand and foot by family and friends IS all that it's cracked up to be, and then some!) I didn't have to cook ,didn't have to clean, didn't do any laundry...life was sweet...except when it came time to use the "little girls' room" -try unzipping with a brace on one hand and a thumb splint on the other! NOT so fun...thank goodness for elastic!

On Saturday we had a friend over with her 14 week old Boxer - Bonnie Blu. Bonnie and my little guy, Kona, are great buddies, and wrestle and romp and tumble together. They are fun to watch, and wear each other out wonderfully.

Jill wonders if Bonnie is going to get into the pool, or just stand there...

Bonnie is happy that Kona is out and ready to play.

Time for a rest.

On Sunday we had another friend over, who owns Joey, Kona's brother. These two together are like 2 peas in a pod. They have a blast in the pool and swim until they are exhausted. The last few times Joey has been over, he's gotten more brave about jumping in the pool from the side. This time when he was over we decided for sure, he's a natural jumper. A real "Dock Dog." He couldn't get enough of the jumping. Now, if he could only teach my pups how to do that! No matter where I throw the ball, my pups will find the nearest stairs and leisurely make there way in....ain't no jumpin with these 3! Check out Jumpin Joey!

Shades of blue, purple, and green...

No, I'm not talking about the pretty blue sky, lavender flowers, and lush, green grass...I'm talking about the shades of color that the skin on my left knee and left hand are now turning. Oh, how's that for a pretty visual for you?

...So, here is the scoop on the fall I took Friday...I was walking down the sidewalk to my driveway to meet a friend for a Starbucks visit, and a pedicure...(a girl's got to have decent looking toes during "sandal" season, you know...) I turned the corner to the driveway, and caught just the edge of my flip-flop on a sprinkler that had popped up to do it's sprinkling, and then never went back down. I did one of those slow-motion falls, where you think you can still catch your balance, but the top half of your body is way too far forward for your legs to catch up with. I let out an "oh.... OH.....OOOHHHHH!" loud enough to catch the attention of 3 neighbors that all came running out of their houses to see if I was ok. I'm thinking I must have yelled pretty loud indeed. The instant I went down, mainly on my left knee and the back of my left hand, I thought to myself, "oh, you didn't hit your face, and all teeth are intact! That's good!" The next thing I thought was, "Did I break a nail? Nope! All nails intact too. Yeah!" I have no idea why I was worried about my nails. I should have been worried about my poor left pinky finger that was mangled and bloodied from my (now severely bent) wedding ring. Delightful.

Anyway...to make a painfully long story a wee bit shorter.... I iced everything down, still went for my Starbucks and pedicure (hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!) and went for x-rays on both hands and my knee later that afternoon. Nothing broken, thankfully, and I was sent home with some Vicodin, a brace for my left hand, and a thumb splint for my right hand. No complaints though, I was very well taken care of this weekend, waited on hand and foot... now it's time to get back to reality. The brace is off my left hand, and things are getting back to normal for me...which reminds me....laundry awaits.