Day at the Dog Show

Day at the Dog Show

January has offered a day at the AKC Benched Dog Show at the Cow Palace the past several years. Usually it is just us "crazy Pug people", and this year I invited Virginia to join our Group. She has shown Great Pyrenees there in the past.

Though there were less vendors than last year, there was some great Art. The pugs showed at 1:45 pm, instead of the former 8:30 am ... so we enjoyed viewing them in the ring.

Two take-away's from today ... I met a fabulous collage artist by the name of Sam Price ... his hair reminded me of a former collegue ... Steve ... and go figure , he was his son ... it was fun to catch up a bit ... and re-live the afternoon Steve and Rex taught me to operate a Drake-Willock dialysis machine ... man-style! The second takeaway was, when at a Dog Show, the expectation is that you will photograph dogs ... not rusty walls! While shooting this shot today, a Pug Man and his pug positioned themselves in front of me completly blocking my shot. Guess they had never seen a woman laying on the floor, camera pointed at perfect metal and rust ... smiling ear to ear ... and thought she was actually DOING something ... I pride myself on not being "ordinary!!"

Rain, Mud and Muck

Rain, Mud and Muck

It seems as if it has been raining for a very long time...perhaps that is just my perception. The sky remains gray, the ground remains wet and slippery, and for horses the pastures remain mucky.

This is a picture I shot yesterday while touring back roads of my memories...good stuff! I like how the mud adds a dimension of texture and color to the blanket...and I know how much work the owner will invest to clean it...I do...and do not...miss those moments...

Visiting the Past

Visiting the Past

I took a drive this morning ... curious to see some portions of my past. When Laur was in her early teens we owned a horse. We sold him when she required a spinal fusion to stablize her spine. The 5 years in between were some of the best moments of my life, and I spent hours busing girls back and forth to the barn, watching them groom, wash, ride, tack, clean stalls and just hang out.

Elvis had several homes during the time he was ours...he loved to be outside, and so an indoor-outdoor stall was our preference. As I wandered along country back roads today, I stopped at one of his former boarding Facilities...now empty, gates barely hanging on fences, brushes and buckets scattered in the barn aisle and the back door of the owners home open and swaying in the rain and breeze. The property was completly abandoned, and felt empty and sad.

This is one angle of the barn that I shot this morning...if I listened carefully, I could still here the girls laughing and talking...and the memories made me smile...

Routine

Routine

I have been in a routine that is changing...Friday was a day I looked forward to...it had its own special feeling and meaning. Today felt like this picture of junk...fabulous in some ways, not so fab in others. I have learned that I thrive on routine, even when critically thought out is known not to be in my over all best interest...you live you learn.

This is a picture I found last week while scouring the back roads around Napa...it was cold and wet...and fabulous...I will always be attracted to junk...and perhaps that says it all...

Offers on the Table

Offers on the Table

Another day, another few dollars, and a new offer on the table...where does it end...what does it mean...??? Is it the one I want and will contribute to making me happy?

One of the many amazing things that I have paid attention to in the past 2.5 years is that the next big adventure is just around the corner...and the ringing of the phone and reviewing of my email can result in a direction I did not previously imagine...how is this reconciled....how does it even out?

This is a picture I took this summer ... it reminds my of a piece of rusted metal that is waiting for me in Northern California ... that in my mind would make a killer table...so this, as well as many dreams go on...and on...

Life Goes On...So They Say...

Life Goes On...So They Say

Today is still Wednesday...though it feels like a ???... I am not sure. My power was off, even though SMUD spent many hours during Fall replacing our 8 block "transformer", to prevent our yearly January multi-hour outage! My vehicle has gone from a 3 figure decimal place to a 4 figure decimal place repair and is still in the shop...and more paperwork is required to reach my goal of emancipation!

This is a picture I entertained myself with on Sunday...the day my life once again changed... I must admit that I will be glad when the "changes" are under reasonable control!!!

Today's Insight

Today's Insight

It seems like everyday brings a new adventure, and new insight. There are days that I appreciate this, and days I do not.

This afternoon I met an internet friend from my Pug Group...she is from Healdsburg and is staying in Sacramento while her pug is undergoing testing/procedures at UC Davis. We spent this afternoon and evening getting to know each other...she is a writer, and photographer...as well as someone who is married to someone she obviously loves very much, is in a happy relationship with, she glows in her own skin...something I dare to hope in quiet moments could be in my future...and something I have taken special care to screw up...up to this point...withdrawing and flight have become my self protective strategy, and now that I have figured this out, I am charting a new route.

One thing I have struggled with is how someone I loved had what appeared to be many "rules" around "things"...this afternoon it gobsmacked me that the very behavior I found difficult was mirrored by me...though my "rules" centered around how a "relationship" was to be conducted...perhaps a toll of a previous experience that was unpleasant and difficult. It feels great to have finally figured this out...and hopeful that I can do better next time...

This is a picture I took Sunday afternoon, as I drove alone looking for that one shot that would make it better...this barn did that to a point...though not a complete "cigar"...

The future is a mystical thing...and it is said it can be whatever you make it. Next on the agenda...what DO I want...and am I brave enough to make it happen...

Another Saturday in Paradise...

Another Saturday in Paradise...

This week was busy...SMF to LAX to San Bernadino to ONT to SMF...I was out of practice with packing, security was reasonable now that I know to send my Kindle thru the scanner with my laptop, and Starbuck's is still serving the Pumpkin Spice Latte, and grande was a fabulous one time trial size that made everything better.

Giovanni grew like a small weed in my absence, and has graduated to actually smiling now...so sweet...

This is a picture I took this morning while traveling to the Beach for our weekly visit, and the thrill of watching the pugs jet in circles. These Clydesdales' live in a huge pasture, and yet are nearly always huddled in the front corner near the highway, as if they enjoy watching the people and cars go by. Once we arrive at the Beach, it is entertaining to observe how Hannah, who continues to drag behind during most other walks, and can easily go a couple of miles in the salt air.

I am scheduled to be home for the next couple of weeks, the "to-do" list is long...and I look forward to knocking off a few more lines...

Been Gone So Long I Could Not Remember My Sign-In and Password!

Been Gone So Long I Could Not Remember My Sign-In and Password!

So what started as intent to share this awesome horse shot I was lucky enough to get today, turned into a 30 minute journey to remember my "login" and correct password for my Blog. Even with the hints I hide away in my iPhone I was still off base...close but no cigar if you will. I am fully aware of my lack of memory now...and hold out little to no hope for the next couple of decades of my life...

Tomorrow I leave for LA, for several days of work, and perhaps a bit of fun...guess I need to get back to earning miles and airline miles...and thinking about where to go next...