risen from the ashes

Wow.  Reading this blog brings back some great memories!  I really miss San Francisco, and I'm sure Dash really misses being the center of attention.  Since September 2010 we've moved home to Hawaii, bought a house, and had our first child.  Life is quite different for my little wigglebutt these days.

If anyone out there in internet land is reading this, I've started a new blog called Sweet Home Hawaii.  Please stop by!

If you're a new visitor to this blog, that's awesome!  I had it set to private for a loooong time and just recently made it public again.  Even though the dates are a few years old, the stories are still very entertaining.  Enjoy!

prayer request

Please keep those affected by the San Bruno fires in your thoughts and prayers tonight.  The TV footage is like something out of the movies, with a funnel of flames shooting into the sky and smoke billowing everywhere.  One man who was interviewed said he barely didn't make it.  After negotiating past a stuck garage door and a burning car in his driveway, he drove through the fire and out to safety as his tail lights melted off.  It's just insane.

I cannot even imagine what it would be like to go to work as usual then come home to discover my entire neighborhood was on fire, or to be any of the brave professionals coming to their aid.  This is one of those moments that seriously makes my heart stop.  It makes me 1,000 times more grateful for the love of family and friends, for the warmth of the sleeping puppy beside me, and for a strong, safe roof over my head.  Over 50 families have nothing more than the clothes on their backs right now.  Their houses are completely burnt to the ground.  What if they had a dog at home like I would have???

chew on this

Haven't been able to post in a while because someone (cough cough) chewed through my laptop charger and they don't sell a replacement for it at the store...  I guess that small victory the last time I left my charger out has been taken back now that Dash chewed through the cord right in front of me.  It only took one or two bites before I realized what he was doing, but by then it was too late.  The cord was goners...

ARGH.  All my pictures are on that laptop and now the battery is dead.  (I'm posting this from my work computer.)

wedding pics

Apparently this did not end up as scheduled to post (like I intended), so I'm just going to officially post it now...

china camp

A few weeks ago we took a risk and packed our camping gear without a reservation.  Luckily there was one open site at China Camp, right across the Golden Gate Bridge!  This big guy (I assume he was a guy based on his deep bark) was watching over the campground check-in for his owners.  I thought it was a hilarious sight to see his authoritative looking stare over the counter.  He looks so human like!

The China Camp area, like most places, did not have dog friendly hiking trails.  It's okay though.  We went on a photo excursion along the side of the road.  Papa enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the different settings on his camera.

Later Papa and I improvised and scrambled up the side of a hill to get a better view of the bay.  Coincidentally... the hill had a trail on it.  :)  There was lots of beautiful marsh areas with really interesting curvy lines.  And, we came right around the time of year when this weird orange stuff grows on the plants giving the landscape a bright tinge.

Here's Dash back at our camp site helping Papa set up the camera for more practice shots.  Of course, our mini Aussie kept making circles around the tripod with his leash and tangling himself around the legs.

Even with the delays Dash caused, we still got some fun night shots...  Not to mention the funny midnight intruder story that happened later that night!  LOL

gizmodo shooting challenge

I'm not sure if I've mentioned that Papa got a fancy new camera as his after-wedding gift to himself.  We've been on such a strict budget for the last year trying to save up for the wedding, and he has very patiently waited to purchase this camera for a loooong time.  Inevitably, many of his practice shots end up being of Dash.

Whenever Papa starts a new hobby, he loves to research and soak up as much knowledge as he can on his endeavor.  In his reading he came across the weekly "shooting challenge" categories on gizmodo.com... and with all the pictures he takes of our mini Aussie puppy this was an excellent venue to receive feedback on his progress.

Lo and behold... his picture was posted on gizmodo!!  Very cool if you ask me.  Check it out:
http://gizmodo.com/5621148/shooting-challenge-pets-gallery-5/gallery/55

crissy friends

Last week Friday on Papa's day off from work, Papa and Dash took a trip to Crissy Field.  While I was busy at a client meeting the boys were having fun in the great outdoors.

Here are a couple of "friends" Dash made at the beach.  Papa says our mini Aussie had dug a hole to hide his ball in, and these bullies kept pinning him down in it.  He had it on video, but I asked him to edit out the fight scenes and just keep the happy moments.  :)

Just when Papa was about to leave, he came across our mini Aussie friend Geordie.  We can never remember his owner's name (sorry!) but we've met him a few times now.  Dash and Geordie had a quick romp before it was really time to head home.

I love how Geordie has a really full, round head and a very substantial looking build.  From the first time I met him I thought he looked just like a full sized Aussie... but mini.  Dash definitely has more of a petite frame.

I couldn't help but laugh when I saw this picture.  On our computer it is saved as "bootylicious.jpg".  Those darn wigglebutts are just so irresistible.  Speaking of butts, Geordie's owner is actually the one who suggested I give Dash a puppy clip at the groomer to keep that crazy Aussie fur in check.  (He does it regularly and swears by it.)  As you know, I opted for the DIY version.

 Last time I saw Geordie's owner he told me he was getting a pretty little red merle girl to be Geordie's little sister.  Papa said she had stayed home during this particular outing, but hopefully we will get to meet her soon.  If she's anything like her big brother she will certainly be a head turner!

wordless wednesday

popcorn chicken bites

Dear Anna, Molly, James, and John:

Thank you very much for Dash's new dog treats (sent all the way from Pennsylvania).  We helped our mini Aussie to open the box and he was so happy to find this delicious surprise inside!  What was the occasion?

Dash was so excited to try the special treats, but I liked the clever packaging from Veronica's Doggie Delights and insisted on taking photos for the blog first.

See how nicely Dash is waiting for me to give me the treat?  It smelled so yummy but he had to sit patiently through a bunch of photos before he was allowed to taste it.

"Mama video taped me eating my treat.  She's weird like that.  Hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed the treat!  Maybe one day soon I will finally get to meet you all.  Papa says I'd have tons of fun playing with you.  Thank you again!"  Love, Dash

chew on this... not

So I was just commenting to Kirby's mom that Dash used to chew on everything we left out in the living room, especially cords... and guess what I did last night?  I left my laptop charger in the living room and went to work!  I had no idea either.  Papa pointed it out to me when I got home...

TA DA!!!  Untouched!!!  I was so proud of our mini Aussie puppy.  The cord was right next to his sleeping pillow and he didn't chew it at all.  This was just a small victory in the ongoing battle, but it felt really good.

portola redwoods

"Here we are camping back in May at Portola Redwoods.  There were trees everywhere."

"Peek-a-boo.  I can't believe this awesome tree was in our campsite."

"Papa says this sign means no golden retrievers.  Mama just rolls her eyes at him."

"Dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig...  I love doing this at every single camp site we go to!"

"...All in a hard day's work.  Now it's time to snuggle in the tent!"

coyote sighting

I've heard lots of stories about coyotes in San Francisco.  In the Presidio area there have been reports of people's dogs being stalked or even attacked.  I think there were even reports of toddlers being stalked as they played in their backyards.  Tonight as Papa and Dash were running their usual Land's End route, they came across a couple frantically calling back their two off-leash dogs who were trying to scramble up a straight rock cliff.

What could be so interesting that dogs would try to crawl up a vertical surface?  ...A coyote!  There it was, staring down at everyone from the top of the rock cliff.  Papa said the coyote was about the size of a German shepherd!  I totally wish I was there.  That's one of the animals on my "they don't have those back home in Hawaii" list.

I don't think our mini Aussie puppy even noticed the coyote was up there.  He's not very big on using his nose.  I think he's definitely more visual, even with his toys.  Hide them under a blanket and you may as well have mailed them to Siberia.  Does anyone else have the same reaction from their dogs?

butt hair

I've been searching online photos for a picture of a dog with long butt hair, like an Aussie or a Sheltie, but apparently people don't usually photograph the hair on their dog's butts.  (Imagine that!)  I wanted to demonstrate the exceptionally long fur that was growing from Dash's hind legs and butt area.  It was sort of like this:

I don't know about everyone else, but this long butt hair was a real nuisance in the hygiene area.  Every time there was something or other stuck and it was never a pleasant discovery.  So, for the last few months I've been trimming Dash's behind with a pair of regular scissors.  We don't take pictures of our dog's butt either, but this one was by chance:

I trim his stubby tail area then go down each of his hind legs, holding the hair between my fingers as a guide like my stylist does.  The first time he was pretty squirmy, but I did it for the third time last night and he was totally calm about it.  It's not a super short clip, but it's enough to keep things neat and clean.  Does anyone else do this?

midnight intruder

Last night Papa and I went camping at China Camp near San Rafael.  Our mini Aussie was snuggled up in the tent with us and we were fast asleep by 10:00 pm.  Then at 2:30 am he jolted awake!

Dash sat straight up all of a sudden, and of course since he was sleeping on the bottom half of my sleeping bag, I was snapped out of my slumber too.  His eyes were large and darting back and forth.  Then it seemed like he focused in on one direction.  I strained my ears to hear what he was hearing, but there was just silence.

Grrrrrr..... What?!?  Dash was growling into the darkness.  He never growls at anything!  Papa woke up at this point and asked what was going on.  We both tried to listen carefully for the footsteps of raccoons, or something, anything recognizable.  Grrrr.....  Our mini Aussie was protecting us from something out there, but not knowing what was the creepiest part.

Then I heard it!  A very faint grunt.  Or sort of like a snort?  It was coming from the exact direction Dash was staring at.  After a few seconds of silence, another loud snuff.  I was straining to hear the creature's footsteps, but it was silent.  This made me think it was a mountain lion or a bobcat, since cats can slink along pretty quietly.  At this point Papa had heard it too.

All three of us were sitting in the dark focusing on this one direction.  Dash kept growling.  Then I thought I heard the creature start growling back!  It was a quick, short growl at first.  Then it sounded like it was really growling back at Dash, taking a breath then growling again.  Holy moly what is out there?!?

Oh wait.  Methodical growling sounds, with breaths in between, from a fixed location, and no footstep sounds....  "Someone is snoring." Papa concluded.  LOL!!!  Yup.  After listening for a few more seconds, it was just someone snoring.  Thanks for saving us, Dash!

wordless wednesday

jr ring

Last weekend our Aunty and Uncle from Thousand Oaks, CA stopped by on their way to Lodi and brought our mini Aussie puppy a present - the JR Ring.  Of course, Dash had a "toygasm".

At first Papa and I said, "Uh oh.  Dash will chew through this toy overnight!"  Thankfully, we were wrong.  We've had it for almost five days now and it is still surviving.  My favorite thing about it is the disc shape.  Dash and I have spent the last few nights playing catch with it, and I think it's really helping him to master the concept of catching the disc in mid air (rather than letting it roll along the ground first).  I'm guessing it's because the toy is soft and he can catch it in his mouth without knocking his teeth against it.

Once in a while he catches the toy flipped upwards so it covers his eyes, which is so adorable when he walks around blinded!  For some reason he prefers to catch it using the hole in the middle, not the outer edge.  Shrug.  At least he's entertained.

Thanks Aunty and Uncle!

sad face

Dash and I have somewhat of a system when I get ready for work in the morning.  Just after waking up I head to the bathroom and our mini Aussie knows it's time to grab a toy and settle down on the bath mat.  While brush my teeth he half-heartedly attempts to convince me to play fetch, but he knows it's futile.  Then I hop in the shower and he curls into a ball to nap.  After the shower I head straight to the bedroom and Dash knows to grab his toy and hop up onto the bed.  This is where it gets tough.  Usually Dash will nap more while I get ready, but sometimes he looks at me with those puppy dog eyes... like he's saying, "You're leaving soon.  I can tell.  Please don't go."

This picture doesn't even do it justice.  Who can resist a face like that?

love is a work of art

Even though the wedding is over, I loved this post I wrote on our wedding website so much that I thought I’d share it here also…

Note – this has nothing to do with dogs, unless you want to stretch the metaphor to apply to your relationship with your puppy…

07/26/10.  My favorite one-liner from our Engaged Encounter weekend came from a speech by Father Xavier.  He said, "Love is a work of art."  I am really moved by this simple sentiment and hope to be able to embody it like Dave & Lorraine and Joe & Maria (our Engaged Encounter hosts) have.

Father Xavier explained that if you consider love as a work of art, it will help you to understand that like all great masterpieces, love does not magically manifest itself as a perfect specimen.  Since I was in band, I personalized the example of love as a symphony.  To have a successful performance, each musician not only had to practice the current songs being played, but has probably practiced for years prior in many aspects of music to hone the skills demonstrated at the concert.  It is through the culmination of the hard work and conscious efforts of multiple people that a symphony can be considered great. 

Sometimes they probably don't feel like practicing and sometimes they probably don't like the song they are given, but a great musician feels the music in their hearts and continues on no matter what.  Sometimes certain songs are more challenging than others, but a great musician will still work at it for the joy of hearing the beautiful music that results.  For the most part, there is a direct correlation between the sweetness of the concert and the practice put in behind the scenes.  I think this is also very true of love.

Love is just like the symphony.  It is not a fairy tale that magically transports you to the happily ever after part.  Love is a decision you make every day, and something that requires constant work.  I think anyone who tells you their happy relationship just happens totally naturally is either lying, or is missing out on the potential for something even greater.  All those movies they fed us as little girls have set us up for disappointment.  I mean, just imagine the musician who goes through life never practicing?  He just picks up the instrument when it's time to perform.  Sure he could sound okay, but is he playing to his fullest potential?  Now imagine the artist who invests time and effort into his craft, and imagine the difference in quality you would hear at his concert.

So when things get tough and it may seem like giving up or moving on is the best choice, just think of love as a work of art and really consider whether you have actively worked at and contributed to the masterpiece, or if you have been letting your instrument collect dust.

:) At the end of that day’s session during a betrothal letter to my fiancé, I promised him there would always be beautiful music playing in our hearts and in our marriage.

runaways

My goal was to catch up on old stories from before the wedding, but something happened this weekend that I just had to share first!

This is Dash and our Aunty's dog, Koa.  Koa is a nine year old Lab who lives in Davenport (near Santa Cruz).  Don't they look happy together?  Even though there is such a huge age difference, Dash really brings out the puppy in Koa and they play non-stop...  Sometimes too much for the senior dog's old joints to handle.

This weekend we visited Aunty and Koa for a strawberry picking adventure at Swanton Berry Farm.  The dogs had a blast playing near the old airstream trailer store on the property, which is also owned by extended family.  The store showcases local products as part of the Slow Coast movement.

Anyway, I digress.  The whole point of the story is after the strawberry picking we dropped the dogs off and headed to the grocery store to get dinner items.  Keep in mind we left the dogs in the fenced backyard, just like in this picture below.  They look pretty innocent... right?

NOPE.  When we got back Dash was romping around the driveway!!!  GASP.  The backyard gate was wide open.  We all panicked.  Koa was missing!!!  This normally wouldn't be so bad, except that Davenport is right next to the coast and Highway 1.  Last time Koa got out he went a mile down the highway to his favorite beach, which he had to cross the highway to get to.  YIKES.  Long story short, after a few minutes of frantic searching we found Koa at the local park with some neighborhood kids... playing fetch.  They said he came to the  park himself, ball included.  OH MY.

The thing I can't get over is why Dash was still at the house.  Why didn't he follow Koa?  Why didn't he go any where?  I usually have a hard time keeping him focused on supervised walks, and now when he had the chance to roam free, he just waited?  Papa thinks it was because our car was still in the driveway (we took Aunty's) and he was also in an unfamiliar place.  In any case, we are SO SO SO THANKFUL that he was safe!

End note: It actually ended up being MY fault the dogs were loose!  I didn't know or didn't remember there were two locks on the backyard gate.  I only hooked one when I left.  :(

BONUS: Here's another touching story about a lost Aussie from australian-shepherd-lovers.com.  The owners, Toni and Byron are excellent writers.  I teared up at the end!

flashback

I have rediscovered some old videos we took of Dash when he was just a puppy.  This is my absolute favorite.  I still don't understand why he plays with his food like that.  Even now, when he receives a really great treat he savors it.  He'll go to the side and carefully place it down.  Stare at it for a few seconds.  Pick it up gingerly.  Put it back down.  Then eat it after a minute or so.  LOL.