Damn You John Grogan!

It's an amazingly, beautiful, quiet morning here.  Well, except for the sound of my refrigerator - humming and grunting, it will probably die soon.  I think I may have lost the ability to sleep in, as I awoke bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7:30.  So I grabbed my Ipod and took myself for a rainy morning walk, and after I got back, took my shower and settled in with some coffee I picked up this book, which I have been putting off finishing for a couple of weeks now...

Yes, we all know how the story ends.  Perhaps that's why I've been putting it off.  I saw the movie and cried at the end - and proclaimed that it was terrible, and I vowed to never watch another movie starring any pet; dog, cat, fish, bird - whatever.  The book has been in my collection for quite some time now, but life got incredibly busy - and I just put off reading it, however, I love John Grogan's writing style - so picking it up for a fun read a couple weeks ago was a treat for myself. 

Until this morning, when I had to finish the story.  I've been picking this book up at random times reading snippets here and there and laughing out loud, recounting memories from my beloved furry friends through the years.  This morning I was weeping.  Not crying.  Weeping, as I was trying to finish this horrible, awful, no good book!  Damn you John Grogan.  I mean, thank you. 

This is my little baby Elby.  If you knew me in my youth, you know that I went nowhere without this precious furball.  She had an affinity for bananas, belly scratches and walks in the stroller with Naomi when she was a baby.  Yes, she sat next to her in the stroller. We had 15 years together.  Miss her dearly.

Buddy is not as portable, and not quite as smart.  He cannot resist chasing cats, walking YOU and pulling you with his leash, jumping up to lick your face and howling for no reason.  He also likes to spoon, lick the lotion off your hands, steal your food if you walk away, and he thoroughly enjoys propping his ass UP against any fence or tree and crapping.  Large amounts.  Did I mention he also enjoys rolling around in dead animals of any size?  Dead seal in Cayucos - 2007.  I have never seen him so happy.  Yet at the same time, I don't think I've ever been that angry at any of my pets than I was that day at Buddy.  However, he is my boy, and I love him.

I love waking up to this face.

Don't let him fool you.  There is nothing regal about him.  After I took this photo, I had to fight to keep him from pulling me down the ragged cliff behind him for a closer sniff at some vegetation.  Buddy currently resides elsewhere, and sees me for visits,  - we are looking for a rental where we can have our big bundle of boy back with us.

Can't leave Rambo out.  :-)

"I'm Just Writing an Obama to the Letter..."

Said Naomi - whilst watching the State of the Union last week and typing at the computer.  I love a good Freudian Slip.  Cute. Naomi just transferred schools in December, and has made good friends with a girl who claims to be a vegetarian....at 12.  My daughter has taken up a new cause. 
Here is what she wrote.

Dear President Obama,


As human beings we need to take a stand. We need to reflect on a very important issue. One of the worst of them all. Animal Cruelty. I’m not saying we should all stop eating meat, (I didn’t) but treating these creatures better would be a good option of considering. The average chicken pen is 8 and 1 half by 11 inches wide. Does that sound like good treatment to you? If we are going to be killing these animals the least thing we can do is give them a happy life while they have it.

Together, in this astonishing country, we should be able to think of something to help these poor creatures, such as farm inspections to make sure the animals are not being mistreated. Also if the farmers can’t take care of their animals properly, (with good homes and stable food supply) they should be given monitored government funds. This is the USA , the land of the free and the home of the brave, and I think if we all came together like I know this great country can, we could and would change the world. These animals need a change and I need your help. Please respond!


From,
Naomi Michelle Konrady
(6th grade)

Menage a Trois - Ever Tried It?

We went to Costco today!  I love this place.  I love that my boyfriend loves it just as much as I do, and I love that I found an amazing bargain on a great bottle of wine!  People were buying this stuff by the case.  At just under 8 dollars a bottle, no way would I be getting a case - but one bottle for a Saturday night is a nice treat.  Lighter and sweeter than I expected, a combo of Zin, Merlot, and Cab.  I highly recommend.  Yum....2008 Menage a Trois ;-) Folie A Deux Winery - St. Helena, CA

Suggestions From Your Child

I love being a mother.  I love being a preschool teacher.  I read this the other day, a little info sheet put together by another preschool teacher, and it brought a smile to my face and also gave me pause. It's so easy to be overwhelmed as a parent, that we forget sometimes how overwhelmed our kids can be too, and just how much they need our guidance and understanding.  I am also guilty of doing a lot of these DONT'S, but this is why I am a big believer in #17. ;-)

Suggestions From Your Child

1.  Don't spoil me.  I know quite well hat I ought not to have all I ask for - I'm only testing you.

2.  Don't be afraid to be firm with me.  I prefer it, it makes me feel secure.

3.  Don't let me form bad habits.  I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.

4.  Don't make me feel smaller than I am.  It only makes me behave stupidly "Big".

5.  Don't correct me in front of people if you can help it. I'll take much more notice if you talk quietly   with me in private.

6.  Don't make me feel that my mistakes are sins, it upsets my sense of values.

7.  Don't protect me from consequences, I need to learn the painful way sometimes.

8.  Don't be too upset when I say "I hate you".  It isn't you I hate, but your power to stop me.

9.  Don't nag.  If you do I will have to protect myself by appearing deaf.

10.Don't make rash promises. Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.

11.Don't forget that I cannot explain myself as well as I should.  This is why I'm not always accurate when I tell you things.

12.Don't tax my honesty too much. I am easily frightened into telling lies.  Also, I sometimes really believe things happened when in fact I imagined them.

13.Don't be inconsistent.  That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.

14.Don't put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I stop asking you, and seek my information elsewhere.

15.Don't ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible.  It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.

16.Don't tell me that my fears are silly, for they are terribly real to me and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.

17.Don't ever think it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me.

18.Don't forget I love experimenting. I couldn't get on without it.  So please put up with me.

19.Don't forget how quickly I am growing up.  It must be very difficult for you to keep pace with me, 

but please try.

I Love You SNL

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/update-seths-late-night-run/1194075/I don't know if Seth Meyers was the one who actually wrote this, but it's comedic genius.  Love this.

JELL-O

Chris informed me that while watching TV with Naomi the other night, this commercial came on...and she sweetly said - "You know, I just don't get the whole JELL-O thing." 
Bless your heart my sweet daughter.  I know it's probably too much to ask, but I hope you never do!
http://www.jackinthebox.com/commercials/

Lamb Chop

Getting out of my car in the Food 4 Less parking lot, what do my eyes behold?  I heard the bleeting first, and then when I actually saw it - hilarious.  Only in Atascadero.