Cottleston Pie ~

MY TRAVEL CHRONICLE...

2012-01-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

M did great with her surgery... In on Tuesday, home on Friday. Not bad for a TKR! We freaked out her home health Physical Therapist... M greeted her at the door without her walker, and walking with almost no limp... The PT didn't believe she was the patient! Then she saw me sitting in the recliner and said, "Ah, YOU must be the patient". Nope ~ M had to show her fresh scar to get her to believe!

I did pretty good at playing nurse... except for one small detail. I got wicked sick on Thursday!! At first I thought it was allergies, but then it didn't get better once I got home. I started my second round of ABX today ~ can you say "sinusitis"???

Yuck & blech.

I DID get to see some old friends while I was there... H (one of my 'second' Moms); the Jungle Fighter and his wife; and Cal (who STILL owes me an album!!)

Worst of all??? I had taken 5 BG card kits with me to work on while there ~ I didn't even finish one of them!!! :( Hard to feel creative when you're either coughing or blowing your brains out...

Here's hoping I'll feel better soon!!!

GOING HOME!!!

2011-12-25T15:13:00.000-08:00

I'm going 'home' to Merced, CA in January!!!

Merced is where I grew up ~ 3rd grade through my first round of college... My oldest and dearest friend is having surgery, so I'm going to go feed her kitties, and babysit her the first few days she's home.

I haven't been there since 2000 ~

MERRY SOLSTICE, ALL!!!

2011-12-21T20:08:00.001-08:00

Remember ~ the axial tilt is the reason for the season!!!

23.5 *

FINALLY!!

2011-12-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

As always ~ click to enlarge ~

Nothing special... just getting some pix on the pages. I used some very old BG papers...

One of the 2 pages I did with the BG page kits... a little too busy, but at least done!

A 'freehand' page... used some papers and embellies from an'08 kit ~

DING-DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD...

2011-12-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

Psycopath #2 is dead ~ what will take it's place???

MTM & THE LOST ART OF SCRAPPING!

2011-12-16T17:15:00.000-08:00

Menopause the Musical ~ if you ladies of a certain age ever get the chance to go to this show ~

GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I laughed until I cried, I hooted & hollered, I tapped my toes...

They've not yet posted their 2012 schedule, so keep your eyes peeled!

MenopausetheMusical.com

TLAOS ~

WOW! Who knew it would take me so long to get back into it! I sat and stared at pix & a blank page for what felt like forever... and then once I did start on a page, nothing seemed quite right!
Finally I gave myself a quite stern talking to ~ 'Just get the damn page finished!!" ~ and got 'er done. Great page? No. Good enough? You bet!
Second set of pix ~ looking through papers for some that fit, I came upon an old Page Kit from BasicGrey that worked, so easy peasy.

Then I was able to create a 2 page spread on my own ~

VOILA!! My groove hath re-appeared!!!

Yippeeeee!!! Pix to follow...

WHERE TO BEGIN?!?!

2011-11-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

At long last, my table is clear of ATCs and printer's trays... and I am getting back to my beloved scrap-booking!

I've completed less than a handful of pages since the move in June, and I can't wait to get back into it!
We've just had printed up about 50 pix, so I'm diving in head first...
Wish me luck!!!

SURRENDERING ~

2011-11-27T20:35:00.000-08:00

These lovely words came from my friend Faerian, reprinted here with her kind permission ~

"surrendering the need to be right
surrendering the need to examine all wounds and slights and injuries
surrendering the need to be good
surrendering the need to be more
surrendering the need to be wanting
surrendering the need to be needful
surrendering the need to compete
surrendering the need to conform
surrendering the need to be liked
surrendering to the will of God/Goddess/All that Is and just floating on this river which knows where it is going...

trusting that the eddies will be there when i need to rest
and the rapids will bounce me out on the other side
and the sun will shine on me and the stars will guide me"

AMEN

WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON...

2011-11-20T12:06:00.000-08:00

A Tim Holtz shadow box... This is the project I started on at the McCall retreat...

Click for a close up ~

I used TH tissue tape around the edges, colored with his Distress Stains. Most of the shells, rocks, driftwood and corals are bits I've collected over the years. The "seaweed" under the whale's tail is florist's moss; the bottled sands are from Morro Bay State Beach and my beloved Montana de Oro State Park. The shaker box (the shiny box lowerish left) also contains sand from those beaches... And yes, Kylie ~ that's another one of THOSE coins in there with Captain Jack! ;-)

Enjoy, and TFL!

2011-11-10T22:08:00.001-08:00

HUG A VETERAN TODAY!!!

Heads Up, Folks!!

2011-11-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

The fantastically talented Lynn is celebrating her blogversary today with a wonderful give-away... You can visit her drool-worthy blog at ~

trashtotreasureart.blogspot.com

{Sorry, right now I can't get a direct link to work, so you'll have to C/P}

She is also in my "Where I Go" list in the right side bar ~

Enjoy!!!

SCENES FROM A CRAFTY RETREAT ~

2011-10-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

As ever, click, then click again to enlarge...

The ironing board became our stamping "store" ~

My little corner ~

The Vagabond station ~ right next to me, so I had lots of company!

Some of the resort ~

Warning on the door to the main outside trash cans! ~

More of the grounds ~

IF YOU NEED A SMILE...

2011-10-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Watch this little guy's morning bath! Thanks to Jo; hope you don't mind the 'steal'!

RE: CULTISM...

2011-10-08T23:09:00.000-07:00

Perry is correct ~ Mormonism is a cult.

But then, so is Christianity.

Draw.

Bowling w/ Cats!!!

2011-10-07T22:25:00.000-07:00

My annual offering...

http://www.syix.com/elmer/Flash Bowling 35.htm

Edit ~ sorry, but I can't get this to copy as a link!!!

2011-10-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

Rest in peace, Steve. And thank you.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING...

2011-09-29T19:46:00.000-07:00

...in my artsy/crafty world ~

A week ago last Monday, I was thrilled to be invited to be a guest at a 'Designing Divas" meeting here in Eagle. The Divas are a group of local women that do all kinds of wonderful altered art; most of them have had things published in some of the top crafty magazines here in the US ~ Stampington, Somerset, etc.
I had a ton of fun, created something wonderful, and met new friends ~

One of the ladies (B) I met that night invited me to be a guest at HER smaller group of artsy ladies; we got together yesterday afternoon. Again, I had a blast ~ received and created some gorgeous cards, got some help with a project I'm working on, and laughed a lot ~

Heaven!

B has ALSO invited me to join herself and 2 others from the smaller group for a crafty retreat up in the mountains about 2 hours north of here ~ 3 days of pajama-clad creativity and wonderful friends ~ needless to say, I am over the moon!!!

As I've said elsewhere ~ I knew this place would be great for my creative soul ~
but I had NO idea just how quickly or intensely it would happen!!!

Now I need to get my butt in gear and find a part-time job to support my habit!!!

Thanks for listening ~ and to all you other 'starving artists' ~ GO FOR IT!!!
Dreams DO come true!!!

My Chunky ATC!

2011-09-21T13:10:00.001-07:00

As always ~ click, then click again to enlarge...

Back ~ the 2 oval pieces are covered with Glossy Accents, so they're shiny & dimensional...

Front ~ the pennant strip above the Dr's head is actually purple felt...

Side 1 ~

Side 2 ~

Feeties!

Ballons over Boise ~

2011-09-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

About 90 seconds long...

Tell them you love them ~

2011-09-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

I spoke last night with a friend who just lost her 25 year old son. When I asked her what I could do for her, she instantly replied, "Tell the people close to you that you love them NOW."

Coming on the eve of the 10th anniversary of 9/11/01, her words were especially powerful & touching.

So, in honor of she & her son, I want to pass the message along ~~~

Tell then you love them NOW ~

2011-09-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

NEVER FORGET ~~~

The balloon ride!!

2011-09-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

As usual, double click pix to enlarge...

The gang at the tailgate party afterwards... Yes, there was the traditional champagne!

Away we go! What you don't see is how tight I was hanging on at first!!! And I was too nervous to turn around and wave at the husband!

Aye, Aye & Up She Rises...

Tim, the pilot, firing up the propane...

Pretty maids all in a row...

The dashboard ~ Jim said "Nothing like a B-52!!" My apologies ~ I should have rotated this pic before posting it ~ the instruments are ABOVE the gas tank!

Neighbors ~

My ATC class...

2011-09-01T12:48:00.001-07:00

...was a great success! We had six people, which is a nice, manageable number... And they all did great!!!
From L to R and top to bottom...

The jewelry designer
The scrapper
Our 20-something gentleman
#s 4 & 5 ~ these ladies really got into it!
The jewelry designer's daughter ~

Click to enlarge ~

About our young man ~ he was trying so hard to be so very exact and precise, but was WAY over-thinking things!!! So I did the only thing I could ~ I took his scissors away from him; told him to get OUT of his head, and to go with his heart/creative soul ~
And bless his heart ~ he GOT it!!! He really got it!!

All said they had a great time, and wanted to explore further ~ so I consider the evening a great success!!

2011-08-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

My beautiful new mirror up in the Sea Gypsy's Nest ~ much better than the boring rectangular builder's POS!!

Double click to enlarge ~

A close up of the sand-cast shells along the edge ~ I couldn't have found a more perfect mirror if I had tried!!!

Now I just need to patch and get rid of the gawd-awful choc. brown paint!!

Up, Up and Away!!!

2011-08-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

...in my beautiful balloon!

bobbie's Bucket List ~

Hot-air balloon ride

CHECK!!!

And... PRICELESS, because hubby is footing the bill as my birthday present!
Thanks, honey!!

In other news... There's a very good chance that I will be getting to play puppy mid-wife again! My friend K. has bred our Seamus' sister Hannah. We won't know for sure that she's pregnant for another week and a half ~ if she is, she'll be delivering around October 6th. Yippeee!

Expect lots of pix from both events!!

A Mariachi Beluga!!

2011-08-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Be sure to turn your sound up and click to enlarge the screen!

The Purple Ball

2011-08-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

We bought the hooligans a new toy the other day. I wasn't sure that Bailey would 'get' it, but after about a minute of him watching Seamus with it, he joined right in!

Sorry about the 'feetz' section...I thought I'd turned the Flip off!

Around Eagle...

2011-07-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Double click to see full size...

The entrance to our little subdivision... Great Sky Estates

The entrance to a subdivision near us ~ fabulous falls!!

---

At the entrance to yet another area near us..

All of these shots are from an area in front of the Eagle library...

Yes, there is more...

2011-07-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

...to the house than just my 'Nest!!! :-)))
Click pix to enlarge...

above and below is the shelf in the laundry room. We're going to raise it up; it will make a perfect space for dog grooming.

The other side... I love having the sink; it will be great for arranging flowers...

New dining room table...

Detail at corner of K. cabinet ~ just for fun...

From the dining room into the kitchen... the pantry is to the left of the frig; MaBr is left thru the arch...

The sink corner of the kitchen. Jim LOVES the the maroon wall ~ his college color!! I can live with it for now, but it will probably be changed to sage green later on...

From the kitchen into the living room... the glowing door leads to the patio. Jim loves having a gas stove!

Our little pantry ~

My shower area (I now have my bamboo shower curtain up, so it looks better)

Half the reason I wanted this house!!! Pure luxury...

Sink area... I'll be changing out the large 'sheet' mirror with 2 smaller ones... After living with a bathroom that was teensy for 5 years, having all this storage blows me away! To the right is the entrance to the closet... I'll spare you pix of that!!!

MaBr ~ I still have some wall hangings to go up around the mirror...

For behind the bed, I have a GINORMOUS wallpaper mural to hang ~ a National Geographic map of the world...

Thanks for looking!

The Sea Gypsy's Nest...

2011-06-29T17:12:00.000-07:00

So not a huge amount of changes ~ just some more arranging and straightening up... click to enlarge ~

Above and below ~ the closet ~ more room than I know what to do with, thanks to the husband's lovely shelves!!!

Above and below ~ the BaRm ~ lighting is weird; the walls are actually milk chocolate brown ~ BARF!!! This will be the first room to get repainted!!! Lavender, soft sea blue, light sea green.

Above & below ~ the closet in the main room ~ again, more room than I know what to do with!

Scrap Central ~ I've already made my first creation evah here!

As much as I love my wicker chaise, I'm going to replace it with either a sleeper sofa or a "click-clack" bed (a sofa that pulls out to become a bed.

HOUSE PIX!!!

2011-06-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

Just the front of the house... that window over the garage is the main window in the Sea Gypsy's Nest (my new name for my craft room)...
Click to enlarge...

the front door view...

The next 4 are the beginnings of the SG Nest... The doorway in the back R is where we could, if we wanted to, put a shower in. But I've had Jimbo put me in floor to ceiling shelves for my stash!!!

One of the little storage areas up here...

A BRUTAL WEEK!

2011-06-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

And it's all my own fault...

I've been pushing myself WAY too hard; trying to get as many boxes unpacked as fast as I could. Why do I do this to meself?!?!

But at least I've been sleeping GREAT at night :-)))
And our new soaking tub has been used once than once!

The husband put the final shelves up in the storage room upstairs today, and other than boxes containing finished albums, there is nothing left to unload upstairs...
I've got more storage room than I know what to do with!!!
And yes, I've got pix ~ I'll probably start posting next week.

And speaking of upstairs, I've decided what to call my space up there... "Sea Gypsy's Nest". (tho I'll still use the term "ScrapCentral".
The new name reflects my love of the ocean; my wandering soul/spirit/heart, and my tree top views up there!!!

So far, we've found nothing broken... not even the transparent cloisonne ~ the real test will be the staghorn coral piece and the capiz shell lamp (which won't get opened for a while) Kudo's to our movers!!

Off to treat meself to a wee bit of Grand Marnier, then to bed...

Exhaustedly yours ~

ATCs ~ SARK swap #8

2011-06-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

Steampunk Theme ~ double click to enlarge...

FreeStyle Theme ~ double click to enlarge...

TFL!

ALL MOVED IN!!!

2011-06-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

We made it safely to Eagle last Thursday; the movers unloaded us Friday.
And we've been busy as bees ever since!

Sweet hubby set up my scrap furniture yesterday ~ now comes the daunting task of setting all the rest of it up... Daunting, but much fun!

We had forgotten how beautiful this town was... even the parking lots are lushly green!!! I'll take some pictures ASAP.

We're completely exhausted, and very happy!!!

So ~ it is almost done...

2011-05-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

Our part of the packing, that is. Now all we have to do is wait for 1530 on Tuesday, when we have final signing... then the celebration begins!!! Dinner out, champagne at home...

Then Wednesday the movers arrive...

In a funny way, it all feels rather anti-climatic... guess I'm holding my breath till AFTER the signing!! And hoping the psycho/pregnant/wild woman doesn't throw a spanner into the works!!

Still here...

2011-05-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm still here... but then I always have known I wouldn't be 'raptured'

;-)

A Day of Rest ~

2011-05-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

We've been packing for just over a week now ~ have we moved yet?!?!

Yesterday, we both took a MUCH needed day of rest ~ we'd spent most all of Thursday emptying the potting soil & plants out of all our pots ~ all 20 or so of them!!!
We were both wiped out; woke up yesterday stiff & sore... So, since we had already planned on taking either Sat. or Sun. off, we changed it around.
We spent the day exhausted ~ watching TV, playing on the 'puters, reading... It was a wonderfully lazy day!!!

I'm going to start packing up ScrapCentral on Monday ~ Wahhhhhh! :-(

It's looking like we will close on this house on the 25th, with the movers starting to do their thing that day; drive over to Eagle on the 26th, and then unload us there on the 27th.

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Leah & Indy

2011-05-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

LO of my sister and one of her beloved fur-babies ~
Double click to enlarge ~

SOLD!!!

2011-05-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

My dream of getting out of this hell-hole that is Yuck-ima has FINALLY come true!!

Yes ~ our house has sold, and we are buying the house of our dreams in Eagle, ID.

It has all happened so fast ~ we got an Email from our agent telling us that an offer had been made on our place here on Sat. morning (30th) ~ we countered the offer that day, and by 10 PM that evening, they had accepted the counter...
The house inspection happened on Mon. (5/2) ~ we only have 1 thing to fix!
We started interviewing moving companies today (with another on Fri. and on next Mon.)
The appraiser is coming tomorrow ~ whew!! And we started packing yesterday!!!

(and my back is already killing me!***sigh***)

As for the house in Eagle, they have accepted our offer; we're just waiting to sign the final paperwork.

Our buyers would like to move in on or before May 27th, but they've given us a bit on wiggle room... I don't really want to move ON Memorial Day weekend; and the moving companies would prefer to not do so either...

However it works out, it is going to be a wild ride the next 3-4 weeks!!

K, our friend in Boise, is thrilled ~ we know we're going to have some great adventures together!!!

Yippeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

For Mollie ~

2011-04-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Double click to enlarge!

I should add ~ these ATCs were done by my scrapping friend Ruth ~

Think different ~

2011-04-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Though this is a bit clipped off on the right, you can still enlarge to full screen if you need to (bottom right corner) ~
Sound on!

Random Fact of the Day...

2011-04-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

The five-trillionth digit of pi is 2.

That is all.

Scenes from a wedding!!!

2011-04-11T16:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have FINALLY finished our niece's wedding album!! And it should be to her in plenty of time for their 2nd anniversary ~
Double click on the pics to enlarge...
TFL!!

The 'blank' spot on the left (below) isn't really ~ there are 2 embossed butterflies there that just don't show up well ~

End of Life Care ~

2011-04-07T15:11:00.000-07:00

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/07/tedmed-grace-at-the-end-of-life/?hpt=Sbin

AMEN!!!

The Ultimate in B.S.!!!

2011-04-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

So I received my quarterly statement from my miniscule nest egg company today... and I was actually looking through it!! (Only because I thought some of the lawyer-speak gobbledy-gook in it would make some good ATC backgrounds ~ which made the husband LOL!)

Anyway, I found this little gem of utter and complete bullshit in there, and I thought I'd share it with you ~~

"The second section of the table, "Hypothetical", provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund's actual expense ration and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund's actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period."

Even just typing that makes my head hurt!!

A NEW LOOK!!!

2011-03-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to change the look of C. Pie for quite some time now... so here 'tis!! We're still doing a bit of tweaking, but the renovation is 98% complete.

I can not thank Sharon of PlumRoseLane enough for the work, attention to detail and creativity she put into my makeover ~ she really listened to my wants & needs, and combined the 2 beautifully ~
She was also patient with my techno-challenged self, for which I am VERY grateful!!

So ~ go, have a look 'round, then leave me (and Sharon) some love!!!

2011-03-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

Kathy ~ this one is for you!!!
Why Seamus needs a younger dog to play with...
Poor Bailey eventually got up into my lap for 'protection'!
Sound on...

Dali & Disney...

2011-03-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

Turn your sound on...

Elizabeth ~

2011-03-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

R.I.P., Liz ~

The world will never know another like you ~~~

A 'Twinchie'...

2011-03-20T16:29:00.000-07:00

This little cutie is only 2 x 2 inches... double click on the pic to enlarge...

Thanks for looking!

ATC swap #7!!!

2011-03-08T12:12:00.001-08:00

"Sweets to the Sweet" ~ (double click to see larger)

"Food" ~

Thanks for looking ~ leave me some love!!!

Ketchup...

2011-03-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

In no particular order...

We will be meeting with our new Real Estate Agent (REA) tomorrow to look at comps, and probably to sign a contract, putting our house back on the market. So back to the grind of keeping the place "show ready" ~ and the hubs is already whining about it ~ but still with the shiny prize at the end of the stick ~ getting the F*** out of this hell-hole...

Spring is finally ~ FINALLY ~ beginning to show her face around here! We've got tulip and daffy-down-dilly shoots coming up; new growth on some of the roses, and we've been able to open the house (windows) up a bit lately ~ YEE~HAAAAAAW!!! I put out our blue ceramic pots on Sat.; ~ I'll still wait a bit to plant them out as our night temps are still a bit chilly ~...

Artistically ~ my 7th SARK ATC has come to a close; I'm getting ready to send all the goodies out in the next day or so. And I'm super excited about Swap # 8 ~ 'SteamPunk' & 'FreeStyle' ~ I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with in these categories!!

I'm working hard on the niece's wedding album ~ I'm about 2/3 done, and I really want to have it finished (if not to them) by their second anniversary!

Re: my life-saving trip to Los Osos (CA) 3/17-22 ~ it worked, though not in the way I'd originally anticipated...
It was, of course, awesome to meet up with my dear old friends... but it was my NEW friend I met up with there who made all the difference in the world...
Where I'd thought I'd only wanted quiet calm, she showed me how much I'd needed a very girly, VERY giggle-ly riotous time, too!
Yes, I had my necessary solitude ~ but she gave me the gift of laughing harder and longer than I had for a very long time!!
So between that, and the chance to show off my beloved central coast, it was a fabulous get-away...
Big hugs to you, KT ~ ya rat fucking bitch ho' bag slut!!

And our vow still holds... What happens in Cali STAYS in Cali!!! ;-)))

I Just Finished Reading...

2011-03-03T21:06:00.000-08:00

"Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk" by David Sedaris

Review ~ don't waste your time, effort or money. Not entertaining in the least; insultingly dumb. No point to it.

Minus 5 stars.

ATC from a Gift Kit...

2011-03-03T16:57:00.001-08:00

As part of my latest swap, one of my swappers sent me a little card kit as a hostess gift...
this is the card I made from it ~

The "love" is silver IRL, as is the heart in the lower R corner ~ dbl. click to enlarge ~

LH Dachsies at Westminster '11

2011-02-14T18:16:00.000-08:00

LHD's RAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!! Click here...

Turn your sound off, cause their music is awful...

Hello to the OWOH gang!!

2011-02-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

To all of you visiting from One World One Heart ~ Hello!!! Welcome to my blog ~ please feel free to wander around and see what's what!

You might want to check out my "labels" section ~ be sure to check out my fur-baby videos!!

Thank you for coming to visit ~~~

Well, shit!!!

2011-02-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

My Steelers certainly shot themselves in the foot, didn't they?? While GB didn't really play all that well, they definitely deserved to win ~

shit

The Gallery of Regrettable Food...

2011-02-06T01:46:00.000-08:00

O.M.G.!!! I just found this site tonight, and I've already got a sore throat from laughing so much...

I especially loved Gel-Cookery, and the Chopped Spam Glorified Flapjacks (in "Pour on the Glorified Outdoors")

I've been laughing so hard Seamus thinks I'm crying and has been trying to get in my face to 'lick it and make it better'...

Portrait of a Menopausal Woman...

2011-02-03T22:03:00.000-08:00

Picture, if you will, a woman, fresh out of the shower...

It is February in the high desert ~ about 33F out ~ the house temp is set at 63F...

Our subject is quite comfortable in her tank top, light-weight jersey dance pants and open-toed Birkies...

Drinking wine with ice in it...

With a small fan blowing air around her...

I THINK THE ESTRADIOL HAS FREAKING STOPPED WORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

************************************

BTW ~ Cliche it may be, but the 3 guitar solo in Skynyrd's "Freebird"
STILL kicks major ass!!!

;-)

A Crise de Nerfs, and a trip...

2011-01-28T20:31:00.000-08:00

I have not been 'home' to Los Osos in over 2 years... and today I was REALLY feeling it...

Tears and abject homesickness...

So, because the hubs is a dear, sweet love ~

I will be going 'home' towards the end of Feb. for 4 or 5 days...

I don't care if it pees rain the entire time I'm there...

I'M GOING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Austrailian floods ~

2011-01-16T00:52:00.000-08:00

If you would like to help, here is a link to the Aussie Red Cross ~

[Dang! I can't get the word 'here' to hilight in red!!]

if the link doesn't work, c/p this ~

https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp

Some of my far flung friends and their families are very affected by this ~ please help if you can ~~~

Reunion...

2011-01-15T22:42:00.000-08:00

So today's mail brought me the preliminary notice about my 35th high school reunion...

Hmmmmmmmmmm ~

Haven't been to one yet ~ wonder if it's time to go? High school was such a horrible, wonderful, awful, poignant time...

Why do reunions have to held in the summer? July 30th in "Mer-dead" is hot, hot, hot...

But, if the house hasn't sold, I might just go... It's been FAR too long since I've had a 'bobbie' vacation; and I would also swing down to my spiritual home on the coast...

The thought of seeing Marreeeeeeeee & HeidiMom & Larry & Marina & Pamikins & Mar-tay & Liz 'n Ger is SOOOOOO tempting!!

Ah well ~ too soon to be laying plans, and lordy only knows what will happen 'twixt now and then...

What are YOUR thoughts, experiences, etc about high school reunions???

My beloved Steelers...

2011-01-15T17:05:00.000-08:00

Yahhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Now THAT was a football game!!!

Thank you, Universe!!!

2011-01-14T22:25:00.000-08:00

For the 57* and mostly sun-shiny day we had today!!!

2011-01-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

Working on a problem...

This one is for you, Pammy-kins!

2011-01-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've been hibernating...
Now that we are emerging from the VERY deep chill we been locked into for the last week or two ~
Here's what's going on with me...

We've decided to keep the house off the market until the end of Feb. ~ hopefully this spring won't be as atrocious weather-wise as this winter has been! Also, I'm enjoying not having to keep the place immaculate 24/7

Crafty stuff ~ I'm still working on R & C's wedding album (!!!) but I'm up to the wedding ceremony (which should go pretty quickly) ~ bless R for being so patient with me!!

I've enjoyed my break from ATC hosting, but now I'm raring to get started on the next one ~ I'll be starting up the SARK #7 Swap in about a week and a half.

I've also been playing with some little goodies that I can give out as RAK's with Swap #8 ~ but those are top secret!!!

I'm working on the Goddess Leonie's delightful work book (see here) ~ just doing a bit each day ~
And I'm seriously considering signing up for ABC's new Creative Dreams e-course (see here) ~ she does such amazing things!!

Reading ~ just finishing up SARK's newest book ~ "Glad No Matter What" ~ I STRONGLY recommend it, but then I do that for ALL of her books!!!

Hope you all survived the holiday horror-go-round with your sanity intact ~~~

Hugs ~~~

I think I'm fighting off some kind of low-grade bug (haven't been able to regulate my body temp well at all) since the first of the year ~ bleah. But it will go away ~

Merry Solstice!!!

2010-12-20T17:33:00.000-08:00

Remember ~ the Axial Tilt is the reason for the season!!!

The Solstice this year is hi-lighted by a lunar eclipse ~ it is the first time this conjunction has happened since 1378 ~ (632 years!)

There is also a full moon ~ AWEsome!

Below are some great Solstice videos ~ please turn your sound up and enjoy!

Moose & Squirrel...

2010-12-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

...playing ball in the snow 12.2.10 ~ about 2 minutes worth...

The new nick-names...
Seamus has, for a long time, been 'Shay-moose', or just 'Moose' ~
it seemed only appropriate that Bailey became 'Squirrel" ~
as in 'The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show'!!! ~
my all-time favorite 'toon!!!

PS ~ there is some sound, but it's pretty inconsequential...

Throwdown...

2010-11-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

Way to go, P-Dub!!!!!!!!!!!! You kicked that city-slicker's turkey damn butt hell's ass all the way back to Manhattan!!

You RAWK, Woman!!

A Moment of Silence, Please ~

2010-11-15T20:14:00.000-08:00

Ringo, the last surviving shrimp in my '09 EcoSphere, passed away today ~

"It Don't Come Easy"...

RIP Ringo ~

for more on EcoSpheres, see here...

In other news, Methuselah (my one remaining shrimp from the ES Jim bought me in 9/05) is still floating along ~ someday I shall have to post about his amazing journey through life...

LO help needed...

2010-11-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

For the niece's wedding album (so shuddup about the orange already!)...
What does this need??? (double click to enlarge)

The New World Order ~

2010-11-12T14:20:00.000-08:00

I love it! Click here ~

Where I've been lately ~

2010-11-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

In ATC~land! My last SARK swap is (mostly) over & done with ~ here are my cards...

One of the themes was "Technology" ~ I wasn't too sure how I would do on this one, but thanks to my good buddy Leo da Vinci, I think I did pretty well ~ (he was my jumping off point) Double click images to enlarge ~
A friend sent me a bunch of the little circuit board bits (thanks, Pondie!) I don't know if you can tell, but the Enterprise image is popped up w/ PopDots ~ and there are lots of Stickles ~

The husband helped by finding me a great link with tons of cool techie drawings ~

For the "How do you Do-odle?" theme ~ I had MUCH FUN with this!! Shaving cream backgrounds; foil/alcohol ink backgrounds ~ and tons of doodles! #3 (the little girl) is something I used to draw all the time in school (tho never in such detail!) ~ a friend said there is enough detail in it to provide a lifetime of therapy!!! 'Shup, you!!!

And my SARK Swap gang came thru with flying colors this round ~ their creations are ALL so wonderful, and show such a GREAT variety of imaginations!!! I'm so happy I've gotten all of you so 'addicted' to this art form!!
{YEATCQ} ;-)

Chilean miners rescue to begin...

2010-10-11T22:36:00.000-07:00

... at 11pm EDT/ 8pm PDT Tuesday night ~

Please send them your prayers, thoughts, and good vibes...

If you would like to send them a message, here's the link...

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.minmineria.cl%2F

Tissue paper Pom~poms!!

2010-10-08T23:11:00.001-07:00

I originally saw these @ The Beach Cottage; and then (as I was studiously avoiding Bitch Stewart's sites ;-) I found this great tutorial...

http://nothingbutbonfires.com/2010/02/how-make-those-tissue-pompoms ~

click to enlarge...

It needs a bit more fluffing, but I'm pleased with the way it turned out, especially for my first try!! It's about 14 inches in diameter.

Cuz ~ don't panic!! I haven't gone over to the dark side!! I used the orange/black combo a) for halloween and b) so that if I mucked it up, I wouldn't care so much about wasting those colors!!! ;-)

Surgery Update!!!

2010-10-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

I just got fired as a patient.

Yes, you read that correctly.

I. Have. Been. Fired.

Because I wanted to ask him a question about decompression vs. transposition.

Guess his little ego just couldn't handle that.

His scheduler (who is the one he had call me w/ the news ~ the bastard didn't even have the balls to tell me himself!) said he said it was a personality conflict.

WHAT a f***head!!

Good riddance.

Now to find another arm surgeon ~ one who doesn't believe he is GOD.

One joke my patients always loved...

"What's the difference between God and a doctor?"

Elbow update...

2010-10-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I tweaked my wrist yet again... I finally went to the doc because the pain is getting worse, and taking longer to go away with each 'tweak'. Plus, the next morning, I woke up with extreme pain in my elbow on that side and the saddle between the ring and pinkie is painfully numb! WTH?!?!? This is new!
(bet you know where this is going, don't you Mareeee?! ;-)))

Doc gives me a referral for an orthopod... who won't even look at me until I have a nerve conduction test done...

So I get that done, and surprise, surprise ~ the wrist is fine (more on that later), but conduction is high moderately slowed thru the ulnar nerve. No history of a recent bump or yank or tug ~ this really came out of nowhere!!

So, dx. is cubital tunnel syndrome. And because by now the pain and numbness is constant, no conservative tx... Do not collect $200; go straight to surgery. On 10/14.

Fuck.

Understand, this is my RIGHT (i.e. dominant) arm. My RIGHT! Oh, goody, I get to learn how to wipe me own arse with my left hand!! (Shut up, Dood!)

I leave it to y'all to look up what the recovery is like from cubital tunnel transposition...
Nasty does not EVEN begin to describe it!!

Probably no crafting/scrapping for (possibly) months... Can you imagine how flippin' CA-RAZY that is gonna make me?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

My poor little wrist? (esp. at the ball of my thumb) ~ arthritis. There's some special name for it even.

So, if ya'll could send some love and healing thoughts my way, I'd sure appreciate it! And I'd also love some "not going crazy from boredom in the evenings" vibes...

Leonard Skinner ~

2010-09-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

9.21.10

(CNN) -- Leonard Skinner, the gym teacher who inspired the name of the legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died.

The band announced his death on its website, saying Skinner died in his sleep early Monday morning. He was 77.

"Coach Skinner had such a profound impact on our youth that ultimately led us to naming the band, which you know as Lynyrd Skynyrd, after him," wrote Gary Rossington, guitarist and a founding member of the band.

"Looking back, I cannot imagine it any other way. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time."

Band lore has it that Skinner was a coach and gym teacher at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida -- and a stickler for the school's policy against long hair.

He reportedly sent several students to the principal's office for violating the policy, including some who would go on to form an up-and-coming band with a tongue-in-cheek variation on his name.

The band formed in the early 1970s and had a string of acclaimed songs, including "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama."

Rest in peace, Mr. Skinner ~

The Poop... er, Pope...

2010-09-16T18:41:00.000-07:00

...said today that he is "shocked' by reports of sexual abuse/pedophilia...

Yep ~ that pretty much sums up of the intelligence level of the entire RC sect.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day...

2010-09-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

...is Sunday, September 19th...

Go here for more info and lots of fun stuff!!!

Free hugs ~

2010-09-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

Seems apropos for the day ~

Religion is like a penis...

2010-09-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

"Religion is like a penis:
It's fine to have one.
It's fine to be proud of it.
But please don't whip it out in public and start waving it around,
And PLEASE don't try to shove it down my children's throats."

Source unknown

Dancing at the Movies...

2010-09-01T00:08:00.000-07:00

I dare you to NOT tap your toes!!! (Stolen unabashedly from the Head Nurse's blog...)

You Are Worth the Time

2010-08-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Re: CA's Prop 8...

2010-08-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

A bit long, but worth it...

Editor's note: Lisa Bloom is the managing partner of The Bloom Firm, where she practices civil and criminal law.

(CNN) -- There's a big difference between a political debate about same-sex marriage and the recent hard-fought court challenge to the California ban, Proposition 8.

In politics, anything goes: Vague, sinister comments about same-sex marriage threatening children or undermining the sanctity of heterosexual marriage were prevalent during the Prop 8 campaign. In court, same-sex marriage opponents needed solid evidence to back up these and other claims.

Despite "able and energetic counsel," they never produced it. That's why they lost, resoundingly, in the federal district court. And that lack of evidence should dog opponents up through the chain of appeals that is now beginning, because appellate courts are required to review only the evidence in the court record and to give great deference to Judge Vaughn Walker's findings of fact. He was there, after all, presiding over the trial, and the appellate judges weren't.

And what a lopsided trial he presided over. All the anti-same-sex marriage arguments imploded when subjected to the rules of evidence.

"You don't have to have evidence of this point," counsel responded to the judge's question asking what support existed for their claim that "responsible procreation is really at the heart of society's interest in regulating marriage."

No, sorry, at trial, you do have to have evidence. Of this point and every point. (And since -- as even Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia once pointed out in another case -- the sterile and elderly are allowed to marry, it can't be all about procreation.)

Trials turn on admissible evidence -- primarily credible witness testimony or documents, in this type of case. And Prop 8 proponents did not have it. Over and over again, Walker's decision focused on the evidence, the mountain of reliable facts offered by gay marriage advocates, and the glaring lack thereof proffered by gay marriage opponents.

The same-sex-marriage advocates presented eight lay witnesses and nine expert witnesses.

One plaintiff testified that marriage would be a way to tell "our friends, our family ... that this is a lifetime commitment ... we are not girlfriends. We are not partners. We are married." The other three presented similarly compelling, credible testimony about the damage to their dignity, the economic losses, the sting of discrimination they suffered daily due to their legally enshrined second-class citizenship.

Opponents offered exactly zero lay witnesses to explain, say, how their heterosexual marriages would be undermined by same-sex marriage, or how children would be harmed by a neighbor's same-sex marriage -- though these were central arguments made during the Prop 8 campaign.

The evidence at trial proved that children raised by gay or lesbian couples are just as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by heterosexual parents. That gay folks are no more likely to be child molesters than heterosexuals. That marriage has evolved in this country to allow for women's equality and interracial marriage. That no "undermining" of straight marriage would occur if marriage further evolved to allow same-sex couples to marry, too.

This evidence was put forward by an impressive roster of Harvard and Yale marriage historians, UMass Amherst and UCLA School of Law economists, a UCLA psychology professor, a Columbia University epidemiologist, a psychologist and a political scientist. Many had written extensive peer-reviewed articles and books in their areas of expertise. All their testimony withstood full and fair cross-examination.

On the other side, pretrial, same-sex marriage opponents had designated a number of witnesses. But when push came to shove, at trial they elected not to call most of them. Walker pointed out that they didn't call a single official proponent of Prop 8 to explain the discrepancies between the arguments in favor of Prop 8 presented to voters and the arguments presented in court. Ouch.

In a nice trial "gotcha" moment, gay marriage advocates read in deposition testimony from two witnesses who were to testify for the other side -- yet their pretrial testimony instead supported the gay marriage advocates. Opponents offered no explanation for why their witnesses flipped. Another embarrassment.

Ultimately, same-sex marriage opponents called only two witness, the founder of the Institute for American Values, who the court found lacked qualifications to offer expert testimony, and a Claremont College professor, who "sought to rebut only a limited aspect" of the plaintiffs' case.

Here's the kind of "evidence" gay marriage opponents offered at trial: Homosexuals are 12 times more likely to molest children, their witness argued, and allowing same-sex marriage would cause states "to fall into Satan's hands." The witness' source of information? "The internet."

There's not a judge in this country who could rely on "evidence" like that.

Walker made 80 meticulous, detailed findings of fact on every aspect of marriage, with hundreds of citations to the evidence cited at trial. Perhaps the most critical finding was No. 58: "Proposition 8 places the force of law behind stigmas against gays and lesbians, including ... gays and lesbians are not as good as heterosexuals."

Ultimately, Walker found, that was the heart of what same-sex marriage opponents advanced: "a desire to advance the belief that opposite-sex couples are morally superior to same-sex couples." Constitutionally, in a country that guarantees all Americans "equal protection" of the laws, that is unacceptable.

Given all these detailed evidentiary findings that follow ineluctably from the marriage opponents' failure to put on much of a case at all, and given Walker's finding that Prop 8 violated two separate constitutional provisions -- the due process and equal protection clauses -- it will be extremely difficult for an appellate court, following well-established rules of deference to lower court findings, to reverse.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lisa Bloom.

Why I love the French...

2010-08-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

Click here... sound on!

Inanimate Objects ~

2010-08-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

Just something to think about, for fun ~ not a tag!

List 10 inanimate objects you would like to be...

Here's my list ~

1. a peacock's tail feather...

2. a dandelion seed head...

3. a 2,500 year old giant sequoia...
~here are some cool factoids... http://library.thinkquest.org/J002415/Facts/facts.html

4. a mountain...

5. a helium filled balloon set free...

6. a mirror on a busy New York City street...

7. a piece of driftwood...

8. a sandy ocean beach...

9. a meteor from the far reaches of space...

10. Half Dome in Yosemite... wonder if the climbers tickle???

(Yes, I know the giant sequoia isn't technically inanimate ~ I just couldn't resist adding it!)

Prop 8 overturned!!

2010-08-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This will, of course, end up before the Supreme Court...

Hormonal Maelstrom...

2010-08-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

maelstrom

noun

1. a maelstrom in the sea: WHIRLPOOL, vortex, eddy, swirl; literary Charybdis.

2. the maelstrom of war: TURBULENCE, tumult, turmoil, disorder, disarray, chaos, confusion, upheaval, pandemonium, bedlam, whirlwind.

Uh huh. Yeah. Yep. Yes. My Charybdis is called menopause, and it doth sucketh (pun intended) BIG TIME!!!

Yes, the Estradiol has helped with the hot flashes/ power surges/ global warming...

However, it seems to be having NO effect on this newish onset... what can I call it? phase/ stage??? of my particular journey to crone-hood.

Rage, anger, frustration, rage, (even worse) memory loss, severe emotional lability, rage, lethargy (physical & mental, thank you very much)...

And I hate it. I hate me when I'm in the throes of it. I hate the screaming, the tears, the all of it. The unfairness of it. (HA!!!!)

And the absolute WORST part is that I seem to be completely helpless to stop it. Regular bad moods I can handle and get over ~

This shit ~ no.

I know I'm not alone.
Hell, if you really want to end the war in Iraq/Afghanistan, or to put Iran's head idiot in his place, just send a thousand or so women like me out there ~ it would be over in no time.
Those fuckers would never know what hit them!

But in the meantime ~ poor hubby, poor puppers, poor me.

Does this shit EVER end?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Pardon me, but now I'm going to go bury my face in a bowl of popcorn...

Edit ~ and then I found this...

"Recently I read about menopause in the 1700's. It was thought that if the woman didnt menstruate then stagnant blood would build up in her body. To rid the body of this stagnant blood they attached leeches to the nape of the neck, the back and genitalia. About a soft drink can full of blood would be sucked at one time. I am happy to be living in 2010."

soul sister smile!

2010-07-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

If this doesn't make you smile, I'm gonna worry about you!!!

SnuggleBunnies

2010-07-21T17:26:00.001-07:00

Click to enlarge...

TFL!

Legendary...

2010-07-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

I just found this on "Texts From Last Night"...

"I managed to convince him it was his fault I cheated on him...he spent the last 40 minutes going down on me. I feel legendary."

I love it!!!

Wake up Time!!!

2010-07-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

Bailey & Sam, pondering their sleeping 2 legged food dispensing machine... Click once or twice to enlarge...

TFL!!!

More from Positively Present...

2010-07-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

"I recently wrote a post called, "How to Stop Waiting: Lessons from a Self-Help Junkie," in which I reviewed the very inspiring and easy-to-relate-to book by Kristen Moeller, "Waiting for Jack: Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie." (For those of you who haven't yet picked up a copy, it's worth it. Great read.) In that post, I talked about my experience with the book and, of course, Kristen's own experience with waiting on the next self-help fad to save her. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview Kristen and gather some of her thoughts on living in the present moment, as well as her suggestions on living a more positive life. Here's what Kristen had to say...

Why is it so important to live in the present moment?

Before the book The Power of Now there was The Precious Present. I first heard the message of this book in 1989 while in treatment for the second time. It tells a story… it rocked my world. I didn’t live in the present and I wasn’t even present to this fact. The present moment is the only moment that really exists. The past becomes a memory, the future is only a thought—all we have is now. Life happens now and now and now. If we aren’t present, we miss the real gifts of life that are happening right now.

How does living in the present impact your life on a daily basis?

Living in the present reminds me of what is most important to me. My life is quite full and I can easily get caught up in the details and miss the beauty. Earlier today, a bellowing thunderstorm settled in around my house. What matters to me is taking a break from my work and comforting my 95 pound dog who shivered with fear at each thunder crash. What matters to me is stopping to breathe; taking time to comfort a friend; not just listening to but hearing my favorite band. These are thing things I will remember at the end of the day or the end of my life—not how many emails I answered or bills I paid.

What has changed for you since you stopped waiting?

Sometimes I still do wait—but I have shown myself the power of simple actions. When I grabbed the $100 bill out of Jack Canfield’s hand, I altered my life forever. I didn’t realize this at the time. I knew I was taking bold action. Now I consciously remind myself that the simple action I take today can lead to a miracle tomorrow. We never know. The point is to keep moving forward, keep stretching, growing and being willing to go for it.

How has living in the now made your life more positive?

The sweetest thing in the world is to fully soak up the lusciousness of the present moment. We may not like some moments and with others’ we may be more inclined to absorb them—but true life is in the richness of the moment. No matter how difficult a moment is, there is something to appreciate. The only “problem” with any moment is our resistance to it. When I remember this, I have the keys to the kingdom.

What advice would you offer for living in the present moment?

The advice I offer is to keep returning to the present moment. We will constantly drift from it. We will plan, worry, regret. In milder ways, we will drift, we will daydream, and we will go on auto-pilot. Just keep returning to the present. Attempt to have at least one thing a day that you totally take in. Absorb it, sense it fully consciously do this. Right now, the rain is falling on the metal roof of my house. A moment ago, I stopped and truly listened. I closed my eyes and heard the sounds. The thunder crashing, the rain falling. Tomorrow I will be able to recall it clearly. Many times we go through a day on auto-pilot and cannot remember anything with clear detail. Each day, choose at least one thing to fully experience. Then you know you are really alive.

I'm very thankful that Kristen was able to share her answers to these questions and provide me (and you!) with some insights about living a more positive and present life. Like so many of us interested in personal development and trying to make our lives the best they can possibly be, Kristen was sucked into waiting, to searching for the next thing that would be the one thing to save her. You can read more about Kristen's journey (and my own journey of reading her work) in the post "How To Stop Waiting: Lessons from a Self-Help Junkie."

What a WASTE...

2010-07-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

..of tax dollars...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/14/cheney.heart.surgery/index.html

Let the traitorous bastard die. My only consolation is knowing that you can only flog a dead heart so much ~

For some Friends ~

2010-07-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Bella's Tips for Being Present...

2010-07-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

I've found a wonderful new blog that I love, love love!

Here's the link ~ http://www.positivelypresent.com/

Dani posted this piece the other day, and has kindly given me permission to post it here. Bella is her adorable little dog ~

Bella's Tips for Being Present

Do less every day.
Bella doesn't overwhelm her schedule with To Do lists and appointments and activities. Bella knows how to take it easy. She spends most of her day relaxing and another good chunk of it playing. Now, I know we all would love to play all day long, but since that's not an option for most of us, I think we should all take a tip from Bella and just do less. Make fewer appointments. Schedule fewer activities. And, instead, spend more time living in the moments you're experiencing right now.

Live in the moment.
Never once I have noticed Bella fretting about the past or panicking about the future. Bella lives in the moment. Whatever is happening to her right in that particular moment is what she pays attention to. She lives in the now and she doesn't let the past or the present bog her down. Though it's probably easier for her to live in the now (dogs are pretty much built that way), that doesn't mean we all can't strive to emulate her present-living ways and live in the now.  

Worry less often.
Bella doesn't worry too much. Sure, she gets stressed out when the FedEx delivery person comes to the door and she gets a bit of anxiety when I leave her for too long, but, generally, she's not a worrier. She doesn't worry about things that are out of her control, the way us humans usually do. We could all take a tip from Bella and try our best to worry less.

Experience more joy.
There's no joy quite like that of Bella with a new toy. It doesn't matter what it is, but if you give her something new and call it "new toy," that tail is wagging and she's all over it, pawing it and biting it and flipping it up in the air with excitement. She fully understands what it means to live with joy and I plan to start embracing the joyful moments in my life just like Bella does.

Feel passion for life.
Just like her ability to be joyful, passion for life is something Bella also possesses. Though it might not seem like it when she's lounging on the couch, Bella truly is passionate about life. Everything she can see or smell is interesting to her. Details are important. She really gets into the things she loves (like playing) and we could all learn from her zest for living.

Stop judging.
To me, this is one of the most precious assets of any pup: they don't judge. Bella doesn't judge me when I make a mistake (even if it somehow effects her, like if I oversleep and don't take her out until later in the morning). And, maybe more important, Bella doesn't judge herself. She accepts everything for what it is and goes with it, something I truly aspire to do.  

Avoid complaining.
Life has some pretty big highs and lows sometimes and I know it can be difficult not to complain, but look at how dogs handle most situations...They deal. If they're hot or cold or tired or hungry, they cope with it. Yes, sometimes there's a little bit of whining involved, but generally they wait patiently until things get better. Remember the one thing dogs seem to know well: complaining gets you nowhere.

Don't create drama.
Whether you want to admit it or not, most people create a little bit of drama for themselves. Sometimes it's purposeful and other times its unconscious, but, either way, it's something many people do. Dogs don't do this. They face whatever situations they're given and they deal with them directly. They don't avoid or rationalize or blame -- and we'd be a lot better off if we didn't either!

Form deep connections.
Those of you who have (or have had) a pet probably know this: the bond between a pet and his/her owner is one of the strongest bonds out there. I love Bella pretty much unconditionally and I know she loves me unconditionally. It's rare to find a close connection with anyone, let alone a dog, but it's an important thing to have. Bella has taught me that close connections are one of the best ways to stay present.

Learn to be at peace.
Right now, I'm looking over at Bella, who is in the exact same spot as the picture above and she looks completely at peace with the world. She's lying down, observing the world around her, looking as if she's contemplating life's big mysteries. But she's not. She's just in the now, watching birds in the trees, the cars driving past, people walking to the Metro on the way to work. She's at peace -- and I hope to take what I see in her and experience within myself.

Look for magic.
This is one of the best lessons I've learned from Bella. She's always looking around her, nose in the dirt or carpet, hunting for something special. Yes, she's probably looking for the scent of other animals or a crumb left behind by the vacuum, but she's inadvertently taught me to pay attention to the little things, to the magic in life. Even the most routine things for her are exciting and, when I see that little tail wagging with joy, I can't help but be reminded that in everything, even the most mundane things like taking a walk down the same sidewalk, there is magic.

More puppy deliciousness!!

2010-06-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

All 7 puppies ~ one of the last times they were all
together ~~
The music is especially for you, K!!!

C, S & N...

2010-06-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

for now, a simple phrase will do...

FAN ~ FUCKING ~ TASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

more in the near future ~

Defining "pretty...

2010-06-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

VERY powerful!!! Turn your sound up, and click here...