HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I haven't posted in such a long time... life has felt so busy with no real spare time to write.

We did a crazy thing... we chose a dog based on three pictures and a brief description of his personality on-line! He was in a kill shelter so there was no chance to meet him prior to saying "YES!". My sweet BIL Richard picked him up for us and took him to Nevada City. I met him for the first time on Christmas Eve. He is a sweetie! He's a retriever, boxer, ridgeback mixie kind of dog, about a year old. He has a lovely red brown coat with a white belly, white paws, and the tip of his tail is white too. (pics to follow soon).

My brother Michael and Richard bathed him and gave him their own aggression test which he passed with flying colors! He is still a bit of a puppy, smart, curious but not destructive, and catching on to being house trained. He was a stray for a bit so he gets very scared by people and other dogs when were outside. (poor sweetie... but he will learn its ok). Were totally in love!

A Miracle!!!

Friday on my way into work I wanted to check on Paul... and there he was with Chiquita!!! I can't tell you how happy it made me to see her! I hadn't slept very well the night before worrying about him and thinking of all the ways I could help find her. But there she was!

Paul told me he had been without her for the entire night. He had seen her running early in the morning without her leash. He again said, "she was the only thing he had and his best friend."

The SF Chronicle had a great series of articles on the homeless and their animals. One vetenarian said she had never once seen an animal abused by its homeless owner. Oftentimes, the person takes better care of the animal than themselves. This vet went on to say that they use giving free medical care to the animals as a way to try to give the owners the services they need too.

Oh, and did I tell you that as soon as I got off the bus Friday morning a pigeon nailed me right on my freshly washed hair? My co-worker said it was good luck! Well, Chiquita was back so maybe she was right! But, YUCK!

I Am Utterly Heartbroken

Everyday as I walk through the Financial District on my to work, I pass this older man, a senior, who I figured was either homeless or living in a shelter. It turns out he is homeless. His name is Paul and his beautiful, brown Himalayan cat's name is Chiquita. They are inseparable. He carries her in a backpack or on his shoulder. She wears a leash and I have seen the two of them walking down Market Street, a main thoroughfare. He utter loves this cat and takes impeccable care of her.

Since I pass him everyday, we have become friends. In the past week or so he has been troubled by someone stealing from him while he is sleeping. First, it was his small, portable, radio & headphones. Its the only other thing he has and loves. He replaced the radio at the beginning of the month and then someone tried to steal his earphones. He had tied them into a hole in his jacket so when the thief pulled on them it broke. He had to replace these too.

Well, today when I saw him he told me that someone had stolen his beloved cat, Chiquita, last night. The two of them have been together for the past eight years. He tried to run after the thieves, but he cant run very fast. He started crying when he told me that she was the only thing he had. For the next three hours, he looked everywhere for her, but couldn't find her.

I can't tell you how sad this has made me. My friends at work remind me, with compassion, that this is life on the streets. A cat is stolen from a homeless guy so someone else can buy drugs. But, it breaks my heart nonetheless. I have been crying all daylong and praying for a miracle.

Deb's Babysitting is Back in Business!

Colcado... this post is for YOU!!

Several months ago our when our roof was being worked on, we discovered two baby morning doves on our balcony. Their momma bird would bring her babies first thing in the morning and then pick them up at dusk. When our roof was completed the birds stop coming. I was sad to them go, but understood that their momma thought our balcony was safe place to keep them.

Well, the other day I came home and saw something strange in the nest of leaves outside. When I looked closely it was two more baby birds! Their momma comes during the day to feed them. Here they are. The second picture was taken of them through my screen door so it isn't as clear. But, aren't they cute?

This morning when I woke up there were three baby birds... not just two. And, later there were two momma birds. But one baby and momma have gone now. But, I still have two out there.

Its funny to watch them fly since they don't fly very well yet. I can tell their aiming for a tree branch, but aren't able to fly directly there. They kind of swoop and swirl first. I love having them here.

Road Trip, Part Two

After getting on the road again, we drove from Boulder to Las Vegas... up and over the beautiful Rockys through mountains meadows that are exactly as you imagine them. Then we wound our way through canyons that bordered the Colorado River. My pictures, taken from the car while speeding, arent great but give you an idea.

I am voting Utah as the most beautiful state we drove through. Both the northern and southern parts were gorgeous! Very different, but amazing. Then into Las Vegas where we partied like rock stars for three nights and two days! Ok, our level of rocks stars... no shows, penny and nickel slot machines (about a $1 at a time)... our big cash winning was won by Ovid - $10.85!!!!

This is one of my favorite things in Las Vegas... the water fountain show at the Bellagio. It is truly wonderful.

Here's Ovid inside of the "palazzo " in the Venetian Hotel. Its my favorite hotel on the strip. This picture makes it looks like it is daytime, but its not that bright. All the commercialism aside, I love all of the various forms of art that are celebrated in Las Vegas.


We spent one day on the strip (that was enough for me) and one day going out to the west rim of the Grand Canyon. We came within 25 miles of Kingman, AZ and thought we would have time to go see my friend Laura... but we ran out of time driving down and back this 14 mile unpaved road in our brand new car. Laura, I was thinking hard about you all day long hoping we'd get a chance to see you.

Gail this is for you: On our way to our hotel we walked by the TK (Toby Keith) nightclub!!!! Ok, I didn't see him, but I did see a poster of him. At that moment, I was too tired to even take my picture, but I sure was thinking about you!

Ok, if you're wondering why we went to LV it is because Ovid has grown nieces there. So I dubbed this The Niece & Nephew Tour. We had a chance to see two out of three of his nieces and spend quality time with them. They are amazing young women and I am enjoying getting to know them.

Road Trip!!! Part One

Ovid and I went on a great road trip last week! We drove north, then east, through three states: Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, then took a left into Colorado. We spent three nights and two days with my adorable nephews:

This is baby Gray or Graybug as we affectionately call him. He is eight months old and so incredibly sweet! He cried only once when we were there & it was his auntie's fault. He loves to laugh, loves balls of all sizes, and is crazy about his older brother. This boy has the perfect baby's body. He's solid, has the cutest thighs and is strong! I have never met such a strong baby before!

My mom sent out an easel for Colton so he and I did some wild painting: including painting hands, making paint pies (you've heard of mud pies, right?) and standing with both feet in the paint bucket. Yep, some of the paint got on the paper... and a bath was definitely needed later! But, oh we had a great time of it!

This is Ovid and Colton at the Farmer's Market. I love going to Farmer's Markets and Boulder has a really great one. We tasted lots and bought some treats for later.

Here's Colton trying on his Auntie's reading glasses. This boy makes me LAUGH!

We had such a great time with all of them! It was definitely too short a stay... I miss them already!

My Everyday List

My dear friend Gail loves making lists and asked her friends to send her their lists. So here's mine:

1. Drink black tea with milk & sugar (till I feel awake!)
2. Tell my sweetie I love him
3. Talk to my mom & brother every day (I love them too!)
4. Stay present
5. Talk to my nephew at least once a week... more if I can reach my Boulder family (I love them too, of course!)
6. Get a good nights sleep
7. Eat well
8. Stay in contact with friends
9. Do the best job I can at work with kindness, understanding & compassion
10. Keep learning
11. Read
12. Exercise & make artwork whenever I can....

On other news, I bought a new digital camera, but it didn't come with a user manual... so one day soon... I should say one week soon, I will start posting with pictures again!