Daily Tussle

We don't have the biggest backyard, but certainly it's big enough that they don't have to do this under me everyday. And yet they do.

Bella's the verbal one (I don't know where that comes from!) and Sam's the instigator (on top of Bella) who uses my legs as a blocking tool. And yes Molls - I wore the shoes for you :)

PS - here's Bella's head post-play.

Good for Me; Not so Good for Her

I love this time of morning. It's not often that I'm awake at this hour on a Monday, but today it was totally worth it... at least for me.

Morning temperatures dipped to the low 60s today. I actually wore sweats on our morning walk. The sun was dappling through the trees - and once we got past the playground and into the hiking trail - it was cool and shady.

That's where it all went wrong for Bella. I could hear the snorting, so I knew what was around the corner - Bella, not so much. So when she finally realized an entire family of deer was about 20 feet away - she freaked! Snorting and jumping and pulling. This snorting and sniffing went on for 3/4th of the hike. By the time we got out of the trail - there were poodles in front of us & Corgies behind. Bella spent the rest of the walk running forward and backwards.

Now she's sitting on the bedroom patio - I'm sure thinking - "why didn't I poop out there?"

That's going to make for a long afternoon.

All's Right in the World Again

After a couple weeks of craziness & traveling - we're finally back to our routine.... Bella fishing in Lake Austin & chasing other dogs.

When we get home, she lays down, rips a big 'ol toot & jumps up looking back at the spot where her butt was - like, what in the sam hell was that???

Wednesday's Wine

La Crema Chardonnay.

Something about La Crema - it's like a restaurant standard that La Crema should be ridiculously overpriced at the bar - and yet I always order it because it's such a drinkable wine.

One thing I did learn about La Crema last night - is that if you mix it with my friend Allison & sushi - you might as well order it by the bottle.

Fabulous & Flawed

Fabulous: My new 4" black, peep-toe pumps.

Molls found them for a party I had last weekend... and I LOVE THEM! Although I towered over most everyone, I was dying to wear them again... bad choice.

Flawed: Wearing them to work on Tuesday.

In the morning, it seemed like a good idea. I had at least 3 complete strangers tell me how much they liked them - and several comments at work. However, when I took them off 6 hours later to give my feet & ankles a break, they wouldn't go back on. I had even more complete strangers point out that I while I stood there for my live shot - I wasn't wearing shoes. It was a sad end to the day.

Today, flats.

The Difference between Locals & Tourists

My husband & I went back to my hometown last week. Of course we wanted to hit the beach, so I took him to The Wedge. It's a famous beach for body-surfing - although the waves are quite small this day. We hadn't even set-down our towels, when he started asking where all the "stuff" was. Having grown up on the beach - it never occurred to me to go to the main tourists spots where they have over-priced ice cream and bathrooms. But I was game - so we went to the pier.

It was pretty crowded for a September Saturday. After paying $8 for parking, we picked a place. Sadly , the place was right next to this group of teenagers and adults. I say sadly, because this was a group of teens that have no hope of accomplishing anything significant in life. Their "role-models"/adults were drinking cheap beer by noon and dropping the mf-bomb as if it were a preposition. This went on for more than 2 hours - it was pathetic. These kids have no hope - and these adults have no clue. It takes so much to offend me - and these adults did it in less than 2 hours. We finally got up and went for a walk.

On the upside, my husband is hot - and the overpriced ice cream was soooooooooo good!

Odd Obsession

When I was visiting Mom last week, we took The Huganaut to Avila Beach on California's Central Coast. Mom had no idea how he would do because he's newly adopted and she'd never put him in the water. Well, he loved it.... but IT FREAKED ME OUT.

It was all the seals! A few years back a woman was swimming not far off THIS SHORELINE when she was attacked & killed by a great white. I'd heard many people say all the seals attract the sharks. And here we were, watching The Huganaut swim out past all the seals to fetch another dog's ball. (no, the other dog did not like it!)

I became obsessed with watching all these seals - they're EVERYWHERE.

When 1 Just Isn't Enough

Fortunately, this morning it wasn't snails.

This is how the Huganaut greeted me this morning - 4 toys in his piehole (Mom & I are having apple pie from Avila Valley farms this morning.)

A white cow, a green schnauzer, a white fluffy doll & something with blue hair. I have to admit -it was pretty impressive.

Today we're going back to Avila Beach so he can chase his own tennis balls. Yesterday, The Huganaut kept stealing the tennis balls from all the other dogs :( I was slightly concerned that he would get bit all the seals that hang on the shoreline - but they don't seem to mind all the dogs crashing in & out of the waves.

Tonight, we're off to a local winery - for this week's Wednesday's Wine Post!

The Other Male in my Bed

This is the handsome male that decided to crawl into my bed this morning.

His name is Hugo. He also goes by The Huganaut. He's Mom's new boy.

Mom says he knows how to fetch the paper. So she let him outside to show me his trick - and right now, he's eating snails.

I'll bet that's why his breath is soooo bad.

Fortunately, he's beyond adorable so he's still loved this morning.

Also, Mom says 2 toys in the mouth at one time is just the beginning. I'll keep my camera close by - so we'll know within days if that's true!

Wednesday's Wine +1

This Wednesday's Wine is actually 2 wines... mostly because I'm visiting my friend Molly & her gorgeous family.  Her husband Dave started us with a 2006 Tiziano Chianti - while we sat on the patio while the boys had dinner.  It was lovely - sitting outside without bugs, without sweltering heat and having a little wine & lots of entertainment with their 2 1/2 year old & 6 year old!

We left the all the boys at home & headed to 3rd Corner in Encinitas for dinner.  I made Molly pick the dinner wine - a 2006 Justin Cabernet.  It's from Paso Robles - picked for it's intensity and consistency.  And no, we didn't finish it!

Why I Can't Go Back to School

If my stepson were to be a scientist, this is what he would be. (I'm not sure exactly what type of scientist has a goatee and a monkey.... but it sounds fun!)

I know this because tonight was Back to School Night. Because I'm new to all this, I learned some very important things tonight.

First - The principal wants money.

Second - The PTA wants money.

Third - The Science Club wants money.

Fourth - The Classroom Teacher wants money.

And all of those who want money DEFINITELY want your time too.

But perhaps the most important lesson I learned tonight is that when I get the little inkling to go back to school for my Masters - I can be rest assured my attention span in a classroom has dwindled to well below 20 minutes.

Things that don't work

I'd like to thank Tom for exactly nothing.

This is Tom's battery charger. He brought it over at 11pm Sunday night because my car battery died and he said this would charge it overnight & I'd be golden Monday morning.

Yeah, the charger didn't work & I was late to work. I think he was only in it for the free wine.

Seeing as how my day has moved on, I'm adding to the things that don't work this Monday:

*The jumper cables that come with my "safety kit" - they work, but they're about 7inches long.

* Finding HS kids to talk about skipping school... are you kidding me?? THEY ALL DO IT (that's what I told my mom)

* The VERY LOUD Reagan High School Band playing 2 feet away during my live shot.

* A pencil skirt and high heels - paired with a live van.

Now this is a Friday!

How good is my husband?

I woke up around 7 and took the dog for a walk.. the first thing I noticed?? It wasn't brutally and unbearable, hot outside. Now I know my man doesn't control the weather, but he gets props anyway because of the rest of the day which went like this: massage, facial, long manicure, longer pedicure, acupuncture and then fabulous hair cut.

Finished off with him grilling some dinner, doing the dishes and not even asking for me to help clean up the toilet that overflowed.

Sexy!

California Dreaming

In a matter of days, I'll be off to southern California - and I can't stinkin' wait!

Don't get me wrong, I like Lake Travis. Really I do. But today, laying on the hard rocky shoreline being bit by nasty flies, I really craved getting back home.

Lake Travis does have one thing the mighty Pacific doesn't - and that's a tolerable temperature! I went for several swims and it was the perfect temperature - not Florida bath water, but just right. Oh yeah, no sharks either. With everything that bites in Texas I kinda expected piranha, but under water may be the one place nothing bites in this state!

Wednesday's Wine

Tom & Carmen drinking Nimbus at the Blue Dahlia in East Austin.

The restaurant was packed so we sat outside and basked in the summer heat. The food was fantastic - although a bit too healthy for the guys.. and they had the lasagna!

At the end of the night - my man and I are walking back to our car when I hear this whimpering from across the street. Reluctantly, David walks across the street with me - and we find a little puppy locked inside a Honda Civic. It's still 85* outside, so of course I run over to where Carmen was getting into her car and tell her we have to rescue this puppy. The poor puppy is frantic; yelping and whining. So Carmen sticks her hand inside the 1 cracked window and tries to calm it. About this time - a woman comes marching down the street - all demanding "what are you doing?!? you can't stick your arm in that car!!" Turns out the car & puppy belonged to her friend who had just driven down here from Dallas and they all wanted to have dinner, so they locked the puppy in the car. I gave her the option of taking the puppy right now, or I'd call the police.... sadly she chose the later and1 minute later I'm on the phone with the po po. OK, so it wasn't just 1 bottle of wine with dinner.

Dispatch tells me I'm the second call they've had and police are already on the way. But while I'm still on the phone, the chunky monkey puppy owner and her scrappy boy come marching down the street all angry. My poor husband's turning his ring around - ready for the impending fight with a kid 1/2 his age. They're smarting off about how the dog is fine - and it's not hot in the car. I offered to let him talk to the police dispatch operator, he ignored me. Then they drove off, turning around the corner. We later saw Ms. Dallas sitting on the restaurant patio with the puppy on her lap.

I wanted to yell something, but my husband would have none of it. I guess the consolation is that the attempted puppy murder is probably back in Dallas by now!

Eye Boogers

I let my dog eat her eye boogers.

My friend Tom thinks this is disgusting.

I think it's the least I can do, considering I have to go digging around in her eyes to get the boogie.

Monday's Bite

Monday's are actually my Wednesdays.. oddly enough, it doesn't make it any better.

I thought this was an appropriate picture. It's our our bull shark. Made by a local Belizean. I love the marbled colors of this piece, and the way the tips of the fins are blond wood.

Almost makes Mondays seem less awful...