Monthly Archives: January 2014

Sweet Doggies Everywhere

30 Thursday Jan 2014

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Lousy

During my dog sitting business I’ve watched a lot of dogs and most of them come back to stay more than once.  Some, like Dragon (schanuzer) or Asscher (golden retriever), are with me enough that I remember their personalities, likes and dislikes without having to reference anything.  Others like Vesper (german shepherd), I have to be reminded about their personalities and special individual needs.  Luckily when a dog leaves me to go home he/she gets a “Report Card” that reviews what we did during his/her stay and a few stories about the dog and his/her interactions.  When a dog is coming back I don’t fully remember I look back at their old report card and end up giggling all the way through it.  I find all these dogs so amusing!  Here are a few snipits from these write-ups:

Asscher

Asscher

“Asscher finally lived up to your warning that she doesn’t like hats and glasses.  Tuesday she jumped in my lap when I had my feet in the pool and snatched my hat off my head.  She was nice enough to give it back to me even when I made her pose with it on and take pictures.  Today (Friday) I was sitting on the ground in the park taking her picture and she decided I could do without my hat and glasses.  All I could hear over my own giggles while pushing her off, was the rest of the humans in the park laughing their heads off. ”

“Jax and Bear celebrated Riggins birthday with him on Sat.  Bear wouldn’t wear a hat but Jax played along and all three got an extra treat for posing in pictures!”

“I can’t even express in words how much Dragon and Jax love each other.  The two of them are inseparable.  Dragon is going to have a tough time after his friend leaves!  My favorite thing they did was play tug of war which Jax always let Dragon win at.  It was adorable.  Sat after everyone got a bath Jax sat nose to nose with Dragon as I combed out Dragon’s hair.  He wasn’t going to let his buddy deal with such horrors alone.”

Dragon

Dragon

“Friday night I was in bed sleeping and the dogs heard something at the front door.  Dexter was on it and I could hear his bark as he lead the charge.  Dragon (a schnauzer) and Riggins were on his heels to back him up.  In the meantime Kona (a pit mix) ran the other way, jumped on my bed, and buried her head under my arm.  That was how it went for the whole weekend.  If barking was required, Dexter would sound the alert and Kona would run the other way.”

“Lousy was definitely the leader of the pack.  He would “jump in” any of the dogs that tried to join them.  Once they proved they could hang with him he was happy to include them in the fun”

“I would laugh every time Dexter got in the car.  Riggins would go first and get comfy.  Then Dexter would jump up and immediately crawl on top of Riggins.  Riggins would give me a look like, “this kid … what are you going to do?”  Dexter would then find a spot VERY VERY close to Riggins (close as in partly on top of).  The two of them are so sweet together!”

“Riggins can sometimes be a little old man but he LOVED playing with Peanut.  Peanut would jump on him or give him nonstop kisses until Riggins engaged.  Then the two of them would play for hours”

“Sometimes when we went on our hiking/walking adventures she [Creature] would squeak the entire time.  While at Hahamonga/Rose Bowl my friend who was with us was in awe of her little squeak.  It made us both laugh.  Someone who passed once asked me if she was sad and I said, ‘Nope … she is thrilled to be running around!'”

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Creature

“At the dog park Ike was quick to engage in play with other dogs.  Riggins would want to jump in but didn’t know how.  All that energy would end up with Ike humping some poor dog and Riggins humping him.  None of the dogs ever seemed to mind.  I broke up a lot of hump trains this weekend!”

Don’t you just want to cuddle them all?  (Just a second I have to go let Vesper out of time-out for being mean to Dragon.  BRB.)   What I NEED to do is write out the “Wendy only notes” on the report cards before I save them on the computer.  You know those little things I need to remember but aren’t really highlights of the trip.  Things like,

“Had to get used to putting Vesper in time-out for being mean.”

“Tends to want to pee in the dinning room.”

“Tends to want to pee on me.”

“Wants to eat all male runners on the hiking paths.”

“Wants to eat all the horse poop on the hiking paths.”

“MUST sit on my shoulder at all times.  Like a bird.”

“Will only eat if I feed her by hand.”

Who am I kidding.  Even with their little oddities I adore them all!  If you want to see more pictures of cutie dogs being happy head over to my babysitting page at http://www.dogvacay.com/pro/wendyandriggins.

 

Doctor Torture

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

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As you know I’ve had a headache for over a week.  I’ve also had a sharp pain in my lungs for a similar amount of time.  I felt it was time to go to the doctor.  My poor tortured doctor.  Here is some of our conversation.

Nice Doctor:  Hi Wendy.  How are you today?

Me:  Good.  I mean.  Except I’m here.

Nice Doctor:  Well what brought you in?

Me:  I’m pretty confident my right lung has collapsed and I have a brain tumor.

Cricket.  Cricket.  Cricket.

photo (74)In fairness to my doctor he is used to my overly dramatic self diagnosis.  In my past few appointments I’ve demanded my hand was shattered.  I had tendinitis and he told me to take ibuprofen.  That worked.  I’ve demanded I was having a heart attack and dying.  I don’t remember what the actual diagnosis was, short of me being crazy, but I’m sure he told me to take ibuprofen.  Today I was diagnosed with a tension headache (the most common of all the headaches) and some long name of something which just equals inflammation of something near my lungs that makes it hurt.  Cure for both?  Ibuprofen.  What did doctors prescribe before ibuprofen was discovered and put into a nice little pill?

Anyway.  I paid the nice man my co-pay and got the dogs and went to the dog park.  Since I wasn’t dying I figured I should jump back into life.

Some People Are Adorable

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

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(For some reason the videos aren’t embedding correctly.  My head hurts too much to try and fix it.  Please click on the links to view and just pretend they look good on this page.)

I’ve had a headache for over a week and pain when I breathe.  I’m pretty confident I have a collapsed lung and a brain tumor.  I suppose I should go see a doctor but that is so painfully boring so instead I’ll write this blog post!

You are used to me telling you about people who annoy me so I thought I’d give you a few recent examples of people being adorable.  When I say “people” I mean celebrities because they are all that really matters.

* Adam Lambert on Ellen – I don’t usually watch Ellen and I don’t watch American Idol so I was in for quite a surprise when I turned on the TV and happened to run across Mr. Lambert guest DJing on Ellen.  Honestly short of screaming his song “Whataya Want From Me” while driving (it’s a great song to sing/scream along to) I don’t really know Adam Lambert’s music but that’s ok.  Between his daytime talk DJing and that song he gets my “Cute as a Button” award.  Just watch this clip of him on Ellen and you will know why.  Isn’t he just sweet and adorable?  Super heart him.

* Drake on SNL – Much like Mr. Lambert I’m not really familiar with Drake’s music and I’ve all but given up on SNL.  I still record it but then usually fast forward through about 80% of it.  Not the night Drake hosted.  I was hooked after his monologue.  Give it a view … isn’t he just adorable?  He easily outshined most SNL hosts skit after skit.  Watch out LL Cool J, Drake may be my new favorite acting rapper (just kidding LL … you will always be my number one).

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”//www.youtube.com/embed/zqTXwvo4MY0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen>

* Pharrell Williams – I can think of two songs that Pharrell sings on but whenever I see his name come up on my iTunes I’m all in.  Reason number one is that he is adorable.  First of all his is hilarious in the Blurred Lines video.  I’m talking the dirty nudie video not the “safe for YOUTUBE” version.  Robin Thicke is so creepy you want to go take a Silkwood shower just from watching him.  TI makes you which that chastity belts (with a really strong lock) were back in fashion.  Pharrell you want to cuddle and cover in kisses.  It’s like no one told him the idea behind the video before he showed up (essentially naked women walking around fully dressed singers) then they called action and he just lost his mind and can’t stop thinking “LOOK BOOBIES!!!”  Only Pharrell can look cute in a snappy happy rape song video.  Sure Pharrell wore a ridiculous hat to the Grammys.  Apparently it was an homage to some old school hip hop video.  I don’t care what it is.  I think he pulled it off and I love him more for it.

* Vin Diesel – Oh  you know I love Vin!  Love love love love love love Vin.  Remember when Riddick came out and I was all a flutter?  Well apparently Riddick hit number one on the EVD charts.  I don’t know what that is but I agree it deserves a celebration.  A celebration in the form of a Vin dance!  I mean please … be cuter … Riddick 4 Ever!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehwRXIPSWic

 

Saving That for a Snack Later

23 Thursday Jan 2014

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Let me explain a typical Wendy day for you.

  • Get up and throw on work out clothes to take the dogs out on a hike. (Since I have the tank top already on from sleeping in it I just have to add pants and a work out bra.)
  • Come home and shower.  Put on a new set of work out clothes because getting into regular clothes and taking them off later just seems like an extra step I don’t need.
  • Do some work and look for jobs online
  • Go to Bar Method
  • Come home and shower again.  I realize California is under a state of emergency due to an extreme water shortage so two showers a day seems excessive but I sweat excessively.  What’s a gal to do?
  • Put on pajamas (Tank top and underwear)
  • Watch TV
  • Go to bed and read a book.
  • Sleep
  • Repeat

This means I’m lucky enough to live most of my life in yoga style gear.  I say lucky because any woman over the age of 32 will tell you work out gear is the most comfortable clothing ever invented.  Men … I dare you to purchase a Lululemon outfit and not want to wear it all day every day.  This also means I wear a sports bra all the time.  THAT means I constantly have sports bra cleavage.

photo (70)Now I always have cleavage but sports bra cleave is different.  Normal bras push down on you in between your boobs.  Not comfy sports bras (yoga kind not running kind that just mush your boobs into one giant uni-boob)!  Comfy sports bras make a tiny (or large depending on what you have going on up there) pocket right between you boobs.  I tell you this because it is AMAZING to me how items find their way in there.  It’s like a have a magnet at the bottom of my bra that is sucking things down.

I’ve talked about the popcorn at movies before.  That is the best example I have.  I’m 39 years old.  I have no idea how I managed to drop so much popcorn as I’m stuffing it in my face, but I do.  Right down my sports bra cleavage it goes.  I try to casually fish it out but no matter what I always have to go to the restroom after and dump out my bra.  Much like you used to do when you were a kid after a day at the beach.  Except substitute sand for popcorn and your bathing suit crotch for a sports bra cleavage pocket.

Yesterday I had a cake donut (don’t judge I needed it and it was goooooooooooood).  Then I headed off to Bar Method class.  At one point of class I realized I had donut crumbs rolling around in my bra but couldn’t do anything about it.  When I got home I had cake crumbs stuck to the perspiration pool in between my boobs.  Although I have to admit the sports bra I wore yesterday was super boobalicious.  During heel raises, while I was staring at myself in the full length mirror, I thought that was definitely the sports bra I should wear if I ever convinced a guy I liked to come to class with me.

Speaking of boobalicious sports bras.  As I mentioned earlier running bras tend to mush your boobs up against your body.  It’s distracting to have them all wobbly while you run not to mention it can hurt.  Last Nov when I was with friends in Catalina watching my friend run the Marathon a woman crossed the finish line with the MOST boobalicious sports bra I have ever seen.  It was AMAZING.  She was well endowed and somehow had found a bra that kept her in place while still looking good.  It was kinda shaped like a halter bikini top so there was no sports bra, popcorn attracting, pocket.  A usable sports bra without having to fish food items out of it!!!!!!! I wanted to go ask her what brand it was and where she got it but I was too embarrassed to admit I was staring at her chest.  Although believe me.  EVERYONE was starring.  That is how great that running bra was!  If you know what it was please share.  That is important information that needs to get out there and be talked about!

Leave my Babies Alone!

22 Wednesday Jan 2014

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pizap.com13904298048481Maybe it is because I’ve had a headache on and off (currently on) for days.  Maybe it’s because I need to invest in Pepto Bismo I down the stuff so regularly.  Maybe it’s because I was snuggling cutie Lousy at the time I read the Facebook post.  Whatever the reason I blew my top.  Per a Facebook post by a dog group Pasadena is discussing passing a BSL (breed specific legislation) ordinance against “pit bulls.”  Oh no you didn’ (with finger snap).  Of course, because I’m a hysterical person, I, like many others, jumped to the idea that this means they weren’t going to allow pit looking dogs in their city.  Not on my watch Pasadena.  Not on my watch!  Luckily before I came on my blog to rant about it I did some research.  Turns out the BSL is specifically about spaying and neutering pit like dogs.  So I’m not so worked up as much as I was a few minutes ago.

First of all let’s address spay and neutering.  Do it.  ESPECIALLY if you have a dog breed that is unfairly targeted because of his/her breed.  There are way too many dogs in shelters and way too many of those are “aggressive” breeds (a term I don’t believe in but using to get my point across).  (I actually had no idea that so many dog owners were against spaying and neutering … perhaps they are just against being told they have to do it?  I’m not sure.)  Wouldn’t it be great if a gaggle of pittie owners could show up to the Pasadena council meeting with their “fixed” papers and say, “I don’t know what you are all talking about.  Go talk to the owners of those yippy chihuahuas.”  Should this be a breed specific law?  No.  Calling out one breed for one reason or another is ridiculous.  Unlike some other dog owners I’m a-okay with neutering and spaying laws (I actually thought there already was one … maybe that is just the city of LA) but I’m NOT okay with you demanding that of only one or two specific breeds.

NOW let’s talk about the breed of “pit.”  First of all there is no such breed.  Many breeds fall under what we consider “pit bulls.”  How would you decide if a dog had pit in him/her or not?  For many dogs I watch I get the comment, “it looks like he has some pit in him.” pizap.com13904325719081 Probably.  So what?  Let’s say you have sweetie Kona in front of you and it is obvious she is a mix of the “pit” breeds.  Then you would have one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met in front of you as well.  I love her so much I wrote a blog about her and her fellow pitties.  The reason you distrust pits (if you do) is because of what you have heard/read about them.  If I asked every single one of you what breed dog you have had an “issue” with I can almost guarantee other breeds would be more represented than those that we label as pits.  Pits get their negative PR from asshats like Michael Vick and others who raise these type of dogs to fight and kill.  That is a bad owner not a bad dog.  Even the dogs that were saved from Vick’s horrificness are living lives where they have proven to be sweet and kind animals.  

People who know pits will tell you they are extremely loyal and protective.  That they are cuddlers who want to be in your lap as much as possible.  That their big jaws that you may be afraid of give them the biggest smiles you have ever seen.

pizap.com13904329345771I’d like to convince you that pit babies shouldn’t be feared any more than any other breed.  I could do research and pull out stats on what breed has hurt humans the most and all of that nonsense but I don’t think it would matter if you truly are afraid.  I’m not suggesting that you go out and get yourself a pet you are fearful of.  I’m not saying that you have to love my sweet Kona or adorable Lousy.  I’m saying that you aren’t allowed to tell me I can’t have them as part of my family.  And although I personally am okay with breeding/neutering laws you don’t have the right to tell specific breeds that they have to be fixed just because you perceive them as scary.

Oh Pasadena.  I love you so much.  I wish I lived in you.  I go to you for everything from dining to doctors and yet your snobbishness is sometimes too much to bear.  Come on Pasadena.  Show me that you are classier than this and keep BSL out of your city.

(Pictures are of my adorable darlings that I have watched and loved that could be labeled as part pit bull.  Each and every single one of them a sweet doll.)

No Pain No Gain

21 Tuesday Jan 2014

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CaptureSometimes I have evil thoughts that prove I’m a bad person.  Let me share one of those such thoughts with you.

Last year I turned 39.  For the month leading up to my birthday I vowed to do 39 acts of kindness.  I loved doing it and it made me feel good about myself at a time when I had no job and was turning 39, which is no picnic.

This year I turn 40.  I don’t know who those people are that demand they are happy they are turning 40 and that their 30s are behind them.  I hate those people.  They have to be lying right?  Well either their pants are on fire or they need a swift kick in the bum.  Either way I’m not a fan of them.  Personally I am NOT looking forward to the end of March and my milestone birthday.  If you asked a 13-year-old Wendy where she would be at 40 single, no kids, no job and close to nowhere to live would not be what she would say.  I dare say she would call such a person a “loser.”  Who can blame her … she is 13 and has no idea the bumpy road ahead of her.

Since I’m in pain over this upcoming day I’m not really in the mood to relaunch my month of good deeds.  Instead I would like to cause pain in others.  If I had the money you know how I’d spend my birthday?  Forcing my friends to do the one thing I am proud of.  Bar Method!  Bar Method as an exercise is not easy.  If someone tells you it is then they are doing it wrong.  I happily drive to Pasadena and walk up the stairs to the studio 3-5 days a week.  All so I can have an hour to myself to de-stress and stay strong.  As you know I’ve been doing it for years and, although it may not be obvious to look at me, I’ve improved DRAMATICALLY during that time and it was not easy.  I worked very hard at it and frankly I want my friends to understand how hard that work is!  I realize that is selfish and I shouldn’t care but I’m almost 40 so back off.

I’d LOVE to have a private class and make all my friends (men and women) come join me for the hour.  Let’s just assume that all my friends would show up and it wouldn’t just be me and MAYBE a couple other folks (Leslie, Tricia & Giovanna I’m looking at you) having a private lesson in tucking (key pelvis move in Bar Method).  MAN I’d love to see some of my male friends grunt their way through thigh (the most torturous portion of class).  It would just make my heart soar.  If I could afford such a magical hour here is the set list I would like:

  • Plank after leg lifts – w/ option to bend leg and point foot up
  • Shoulder raises (vs. arm walks)
  • Bicep curl (anything as long as it isn’t in wide second position because that kills me)
  • Push ups (hold at the end)
  • Reverse push ups (hold at the end)
  • Leg lifts in parallel
  • Thigh! (1 – chair w/ ball 2 – legs together with ball 3 – parallel w/o ball just to give them a chance)
  • Butt! Pretzel at the barre.  I actually like standing seat the best since I can feel it target my tush but it’s too easy to cheat at that.
  • Curl! Arm dancing (as long as I can do it a few more times between now and then to perfect my form … that is a freakin’ hard ab work out), high curl, straight leg clam

Any Bar teacher would look at that set and cringe but I don’t care.  It’s the exercises I like paired with the ones I’m good at!  It’s the Wendy Show Off Set!  For those that don’t know Bar Method lingo let me translate:

  • Core ouch
  • Shoulder ouch
  • Bicep ouch
  • Tricep ouch
  • That muscle in the back of the bottom half of your leg ouch
  • Quad crazy ouch
  • Butt crazy ouch
  • Ab crazy ouch

Then after class I want to go get drinks at a bar bar!  The next day I can glow in my ability to walk and sit down as my Facebook feed is flooded with my friends agony over the smallest movement due to muscle ache.

See … isn’t that evil.  For my 40th I want pain.

 

Lousy is Back!

20 Monday Jan 2014

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My baby boy Lousy is back for a vacay!  Despite the fact that one of my closest friends can not (or won’t) come visit during his stay I’m very excited (he tried to eat her a couple times … no biggie).  I have another topic I had planned to write about today but instead I think it is appropriate for me to re-post one of my Lousy blogs.  Here you go …

Lousy’s Last Night

photo (3)I have to admit I’m pretty torn up about this being Lousy’s last night with Riggins and me. Despite of (or maybe because of) his need to kill friends and strangers I just adore him.  Although he may want to kill you, he is a giant cuddle monster to me.  I can’t move far without his adorable little wiggle butt somewhere beside or on top of me.   Right now he is under my desk unhappy that he can’t be in my lap.  By far the cuddiliest dog I’ve ever meant.

Running the Rose Bowl trails.

Running the Rose Bowl trails.

Since he is three and is Riggins’ almost 1/2 brother he reminds me of how Riggins acted at his age.  Lousy is a calm bunny compared to Riggins.  At that age I could not just watch TV.  I had to watch TV AND throw a ball down the hall over and over again.  Lousy will happily curl up and go to sleep at bedtime.  At his age Riggins would grab a squeaky ball and sprint around the house while I prayed to every god I don’t believe in to get him to stop.  In the morning Lousy will happily jump up on my bed and curl up at me knees for a few more zzzzzs.  At that age Riggins would be up and ready to go.  I’d have to semi-tackle him and soothingly pet and murmur statements of love to get him to settle down for a bit more shut-eye.

Almost 1/2 brothers at the dirty dog park.

Almost 1/2 brothers at the dirty dog park.

Riggins is older and calmer now.  MUCH CALMER and has been a champ with Lousy this week.  Although there have been a few warning barks, in general they get along great.  Riggins has even figured out how to use Lousy’s energy to his advantage.  Riggins will camp out on my bed or on my lap and when he hears something going on outside he will start barking letting Lousy know that he needs to check it out.  Lousy will then bound up from wherever he is and make a beeline for the door ready and willing to defend his new castle.  Riggins thinks it is great!  He gets to be the guard dog he wants to be without even getting up!

Runyon (It was hard to get him to leave my side so I could take a picture.)

Runyon (It was hard to get him to leave my side so I could take a picture.)

Baby on Board

17 Friday Jan 2014

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Remember when I made those super adorable receiving blankets?  Well the little baby that they are for just arrived last week.  Cutie Shane Jackson Michael Horn, because sometimes you are too cool for just one name!

Stolen from his Facebook page.

Stolen from his Facebook page.

Congratulations to his Mommy and Daddy.  Welcome Shane!

Live on Etsy

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

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photo 4 (18) photo 2 (39) photo 1 (43)When my friends and I wear our fancy flower headbands out in public we get attention, oohs, aahs, and “where did you get those?”  (read about them here and here)  Following the recommendation of a number of those ladies I opened up an Etsy store to sell custom-made flower headbands for those women (or men) who like to be just as fancy as us!

photo 3 (29)Yesterday my friend Leslie had Lakers tickets that she shared.  Over a mai tai at Trader Vic’s pre game Dee Dee and I realized although we have both been to many games neither of us had ever been to a Lakers game.  Luckily, per Leslie’s brilliant suggestion, our foursome sported some lovely and color themed headbands during the game.  It was the perfect way to cheer on our favorite team (at least favorite team now that we have team color headbands).  Dee Dee and I decided that we were really great at cheering on the boys down on the floor/field/whatever it’s called.  It may have been the mai tai’s talking but we agreed we should become professional sports followers/cheerers/commentators.

If you would like to purchase a custom-made glorious flower headband (and are located in the United States – I’m too lazy to figure out how to ship internationally) head on over to my spankin’ new Etsy store and put one in your virtual shopping cart!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WaytoWow

She Was Nice – Most of the Time

14 Tuesday Jan 2014

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Recent headlines like these:

Just make me more certain that my road rage and inability to sensor myself around stupidity will be my demise.  That or I’ll die of natural causes and when my body is found dogs would be snacking on my face.