She is not my dog, she is my friend - Jeff

Some very bad news this week. Mia has been ill for awhile. Jeff's dog for those of you who don't know. She wasn't just a dog - she was a friend. She had the best life that a dog could have. As a puppy she had not just one owner but a community. Mia spent her time on the couch, waiting for someone to come home and take her somewhere. Maybe a hike, maybe a visit to friends houses, maybe just to get tied to a bike rack while someone was in class. She had a very good friend for awhile named Charlotte. Charlotte would come to the door and see if Mia could play. Word was she was the mayors dog. Sometimes Charlotte even got to go for a hike. Mia probably saw more of the West than most people. She wasn't fed people food until the grand canyon and a girl named Aurora gave her McDonalds. Mia then travelled to Riggins with her best friend Jeff and became a river dog. She rafted the river like a pro - even when I was too scared for the river - Mia was ready to go. Mia joined her best friend, Jeff in his wedding to Judy. Then Mia became a big sister to a dog named Gabby who I am sure learned from Mia. We will all miss Mia. Our good and wonderful friend. We can all learn from Mia - always ready to go, never concerned where. Following are some photos.

Girls Weekend - Orcas Island

How do you do it justice? Time to just be. Usual thoughts and worries slip away as we climb in Ember's car to drive around the island. People in the back, people sitting in the front. Giggling down the road to pick up Sylvia, who went for a run and went so far she needed us to pick her up. We are not sure where she is, but no one is concerned, she will be found. Then we will go to the dump where goods are exchanged. There is only 10 minutes left to find a treasure. No one is concerned. Then Heather needs to go scout a place where she is doing a wedding. Half of us go. The drive turns into a sightseeing trip to the top of the island. We are blessed with an amazing view and even more laughter. On the way back, the breaks in the car smell like they are about to give out. No one is concerned. A phone call to everyone else brings us to a restaurant for dinner. After lots of crafting, which I avoided, we play a game of Balderdash. I am not sure we are really playing a game, but we laugh a lot, and no one is concerned At the end of the weekend, we all say goodbye. Hopefully it won't be long until we get together again we say. We will see each other for an hour or two in the meantime. But it will be at least another year until we can do a girls weekend again, where all of life's stress melts away and the stress free personalities of yesterday surface. Until then, maybe someone could explain how Heather's hair is always so fabulous on girl's weekend?

Rambling

Girls weekend starts for me in 48 hours. I can't wait to get on the airporter and sit and watch out the window as the cars go by. Then one of the car loads (hopefully) will pick me up at Seatac. It will be so full with junk there will hardly be room. It is raining here. Damon accuses me of loving it (I do) and the cold weather (I do). Scorching hot is on its way and then it is just miserable everywhere. Too cold inside at work and you feel like such a jerk turning on the heater because the air conditioner is too cold.
I went to the dentist yesterday. It has been a long time since I have gone. I had to get an hour worth of xrays and I kept gagging. Then the xray taker and I would laugh. At one point I started to panic, which is when it pays to spend your day telling people "it is only your body going into to fight or flight and releasing adrenaline. You have to take deep breathes to get more oxygen in your blood to get rid of some of that adrenaline (I learned the last part yesterday in the carpool)" and "what thoughts are you having, you think you are going to embarrass yourself by panicking or crying, so what if that happens, you will still live". I wish I could tell my mind to shut up.
I have two cavities. I am counting that as a success after such a long hiatus from the dentist. He said I have nice "Gig Harbor teeth" as I am apologizing for how dirty they are.
And one final thought - all you stupid football players with multiple personalities could you just keep that to yourself? That would make my life so much better.

Kitty has talent!

I got a manicure

From one of my little visitors at work. How pretty! Sorry the photo isn't very good. In the backdrop is our new table that I am enjoying while typing. Following is a photo of our new table from the Pine Shop. I never knew that I wanted to sit in kitchen and be on the computer, but I guess I do since I am doing it. Nate and Sue have a new blog: http://thepineshop.blogspot.com/. Another blog that I can't get enough of (for obvious reasons) lately is: http://ittybittykittycommittee.blogspot.com/.

I have been carpooling with a women from Yakima that I work with and also another therapist from Zillah. The commute flies by. The only thing that sucks is cleaning out the cars all of the time to be somewhat respectable. Neither are hoity-toity, but I can't really say "sit on a seat of Tarns dirty hair". See very last photo of our new pet. On the way home I was told all of the great points of Ford Escorts from the early the 90's. Thanks Linda and Dan, the car is running great. And the car wash by my work is fabulous. 5$ inside and out. It is for sale if anyone wants a car wash. People in Sunnyside love to wash their cars. Okay, I am rambling, hope all is well in everyone's world

A Year Full of Blessings

Video of cute little Harper (and kitty). We had a fun visit with Nate, Sue and Harper. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes.

A year full of blessings. Last year on my birthday I was offered my present job. The job has been filled with challenges but everytime I reflect on how much I have learned I am so grateful. Throughout the first 6 months I didn't know how I was going to make it, but now as the year closes I halfway feel confident. Another year will bring on much more knowledge and competence. We also decided on a wedding and were able to plan a wedding (with help of family and friends) in a few months. Everyone in my life presently is healthy (knock on wood). All is calm and well. Sigh.

Damon's Race

Here is my first attempt at my video debut with the new video camera my parent's gave me. So hope it plays. Damon is the very last one in the beginning. He finishes in the middle with the alien voice yelling for him.