Dog Chase Dog Day

I have attempted to capture my dog boys enjoying an afternoon of fun. I Hope you enjoy the photo-essay of their antics as much as I enjoy watching them play.

The Old Boston Bulldog: Pablo

The Pug: Fernando

Fernando: What are you looking at?
Pablo: What are you looking at?

Fernando: Whatever...just stay away from my bone.

Pablo: Whose bone?

Fernando: I'll show you whose bone it is!
Pablo: You and what army?

Fernando: I'll show you an army! 

Pablo: You'll have to catch me first Shorty!

Fernando: Got ya String Bean!

Fernando: That was fun. What's next?

Pablo: Hang on a second. This collar is annoying.

Fernando: Tell me about it Bro. 

Walking the Dog with Mama Zoom

Eager passengers await a trip to the beach. Pip has a brownie snack in hand for the road trip. Could these 3 get any cuter? Love.

Mist and Pip (somehow I managed 2 dogs and the camera!). Mist doesn't need glasses but likes to wear this non-prescription pair she bought herself :)

A cool wind swept over the beach.

The girls didn't want to stick around. It was such an unusually cold morning.

I took over the beasts as we headed for less windy lands.

Later.

Mistaya's nickname for me is Mama Zoom. I love it because I am a mom and I teach Zumba. I am very excited because the gym I want to work for has (potentially) 3 classes for me to teach. It is relatively close to my home and it is the gym Peter works out at every morning at 5:30 am.

I am working on my writing when I'm not teaching Z--things progressing in my e-publishing. I am thinking I might have the right balance this year of writing time and teaching Z. Just enough socialization to allow me to focus when I have my solo writing times. I dare say, from personal experience, it is a delicate balance for minds like mine: super creative and social.

Mistaya and her friend swapped personalities for a day--yesterday they wore each other's clothes and pretended to be obsessed with the other's passions. Mist's friend wore Mist's silver "moon boots" and her David Bowie t-shirt to school. Mist wore her friend's The Beatles t-shirt. It was a success and they left their other friends rather confused.

Tabs' team won The Battle of the Books for their school and will advance to the district finals. The team reads ten novels and is quizzed on their knowledge of the books. Tabs is excited and is rereading a few of the novels to keep fresh.

Pip is the Pip--loving kindergarten, soccer and her dogs.
Peter arrived home last night after his trip to the prairies. And tomorrow we all leave for the Island. My dog-boys will be going to the Dog Spa for 4 nights (Pablo's first time).
Will post next from beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. Hopefully I'll have a few whale pics from our Georgia Straight crossing.

Hot PINK!

All Dress-up and Ready For The PINK Party!

Host Pippi Greets Her Guests in a Unique Dancing Greeting

(Forgive the cheesy grin--what can I say, I was excited to be at the party!)

Peter Gets into Party Mood Schmoozing with the other Guests

More Schmoozing...

My turn to Schmooze... 

Party Host Pippi, Not One to Miss a Pose For the Paparazzi

Entertainment Included The Game of Life (Tabs and Pip setting it up)

Sunday night I was handed an invitation to a Pink party--it was to commence immediately after supper in Pip's room. I was to dress in pink. Later, the party location was changed to the rec room for more space. Pip was a lovely hostess and her family attended except big sis Mist because she had a lot of home work. Pip and I won The Game of Life, 3 millions dollars +. We were a team--lesbian veterinarians with one son and a dog. Veterinarian was our second career, at first we were super-star Zumba instructors based in Paris. Now that was a fun job ;) I like that my kids automatically assume when they land on the "get married" square that they can choose a gay wedding or not. Pip decided we were going to be a two woman couple. I thank Canada for being a country that this idea based on equality is the norm.

BTW, Mirror Mirror was entertaining. I liked Julia Roberts and the 7 dwarfs. It was most definitely for kids but I didn't mind it. I always applaud the retelling of fairy tales with the princess being strong and in control of her own destiny.

So, I have one month to finish editing my novel and get it e-published. Can I do it? I need an editor who is efficient and fast. Will research this. This is my priority--publishing my two novels within the spring deadline. Must not take on too much at this time as this will take up most of my days. Editing the novels to comply with e-Book standards will be a lot of boring, fiddly tech work. Formatting is nothing like a traditional novel. The writing was the easy part. So, I will know within a few weeks if I can do the journalism class at the end of the month--it depends on how advanced I am with the publishing.

Possibly teaching more Zumba classes with a gym closer to my house :) Subbing for sure and they may have a class for me in the summer. Looks like I have 4 classes for sure this spring. I want to taper down to one over the summer.

Must spend some time training my 5 month Old Boston Bulldog puppy Pablo. I can hardly keep upright when he pulls on walks. He is big(this is relative, I know--he's big compared to Fernando his pug brother), strong and agile. He finally took on Fernando the other morning when Fernando tried to steal his breakfast. He went after him so aggressively, I feared little Fernando might get hurt. Though, on inspection, his dear little black velvet ear was wet but not bitten. Usually its Fernando attacking the Pabs so don't feel too sorry for the little pug (he's not as innocent as he pretends to be).
- Pip has just announced she is starting a day care for dogs in the kitchen at this very moment--good. She was complaining she was bored and wanted me to attend a "Green Party." I'm still tuckered from last night's Pink Party! She's herding them into their kennel for "nap time." Pablo is resisting. Trying to be a human-alpha dog is exhausting! I always must intervene to make sure he doesn't get aggressive with the Pip. She's just announced after sleep time is dog snack time--they'll be happy now!

A Dog's Life

Below are my darling boys Pablo and Fernando. A day in their busy life. And the final picture is of Pablo napping on Tabs. Pablo is 3 months old and Fernando 3 years. What can I say, these boys are two of my best buddies on earth :)

I am home with 2 ill little girls. Tabs has an influenza type virus (fever, nausea, head cold--despite having had the flu shot). Pip has a cold. Their spirits are high though with treats from mom--fudgsicles and creamsicles. Tabs must recover quickly as she has her big school winter camping trip on Wednesday and she is so excited that her sleeping bag was rolled and her bags backed on Saturday!

 I just completed so much paper work and phone calls--I feel a little triumphant. More to tackle and then off to teach a mere 2 Zumba classes in 2 locations. A nice break from my usual 5 class Mondays.

I am determined to keep February an eat in only month. Tonight I am making pesto stuffed chicken breasts in the slow cooker. I shall eat later tonight when I arrive home from teaching at 8 p.m. That reminds me, the Zumba dance I posted this weekend still needs tweaking--must practice a new move before I teach it tonight! When ever I introduce a new song to my students, I warn them to be patient with me as I might blank out on a move. They are usually very forgiving. I was trained to introduce dances before they are perfect otherwise no one ever feels a dance is ready to introduce--so that's what I do!

The only takeout food allowed is for Pip's birthday party on the 12th. I have booked a hall and ordered ZumbAtomic balloons and bracelets. I need to buy about ten more sets of pom-poms. It will be my first official ZumbAtomics party. About 25 guests attending. My new business is called Z Parties. I host Zumba and ZumbAtomics parties. I provide an hour of dance and games and disco lights and Zumba trinkets to take home. Very excited about this as I am an expert on Zumba parties and the kids I teach adore my games! 

Gotta go serve my darling princesses their lunch in bed!

Have Dog. Will Toboggan.

Demon-Dog

Have Dog. Will Toboggan.

Snow has come early to the Okanagan Valley. We decided to make the most of it on Saturday morn. Fernando (our pug) had the time of his life, charging through the snow. In one of the pics, I am holding Fernando (he is captured in action) the pic is blurry but I included it because he looks like a demon-dog!

Birthday party at our house tonight, 8 little gals. I made an ice cream cake: coffee and toffee flavour. I worked all day cleaning and organizing the house. I hate to clean, but I like a clean and organized house so what's a girl to do? I've had housekeepers (but the truth is that it isn't the cleaning that is exhausting, it is the tidying). One must always tidy up for the cleaning crew so what is the point? I'd hire a housekeeper again if she (it's never been a he)  would do all of the tidying and organizing. The sweeping and mopping is the easy part in my opinion! Though, I do delegate as much as possible. Everyone has his/her jobs to do.

Anyway, I am an obsessive worker and thus I worked through lunch so by the time supper arrived and it was time to order the pizzas, I was starving! That's the way I am. If I'm immersed in a task--it is the only thing on my mind.

And of course, no party would be complete without the bleeping demon-dog whipping downstairs, inviting himself to the party and then peeing on the presents, a bag of skittles and a guest's coat.

Have Dog. Will Sell.

Barefoot Salsa Running

Fernando and Pip.

Stop the press. I am rewriting the entire Queen. Looked at it yesterday and I was hooked. I love writing it. All I want to do is lock myself in my office from dawn to dusk. If I were a man--no doubt I would. But I am a woman and I just cannot do that. It is a good thing because that life style would really mess with my body and brain. My children keep me grounded.
My mom is up the street looking after Miranda's girls while M & J are away with work.
I already have been sent a syllabus to my next class--looks like a lot of research writing. I'd forgotten how good it felt to be done all of my classes for my MA.
Weekend trips to Kamloops and Nelson ahead--before school starts. So much to do--must sign myself and my girls up for our fall lessons: skating, choir, tap and latin dance.

Oh...this is SOOO cute!  Fernando is waiting outside my office door for me at the moment, and looking out the floor length window. Mist and Pip just came down here and said that a baby chipmunk was sitting on the other side of the window and looking in at Fernando as he looked out. It ran when it saw my girls.

Beach day today and then "The Return of Nanny McFee" tonight with my little gals.
Feeling better today. Just got back from a morning run with 'Nando and my ipod. I felt so happy to be out running in the sunshine, listening to my music that I was literally running with a smile on my face and doing the odd little salsa step while 'Nando watered the trees..

May Long Weekend

A painting from my book "A Pug Named Pru."

May long weekend. We spent it tiding our yard and hiking around Knox Mountain. Tabs was ill Sat and Sun--she caught a gastro bug at the pool. Mist spent last night at her friend Sara's and is at the beach with her today. I am waiting to pick her up for supper. I have finished my paper, so all is on schedule for when I leave for Vancouver on Wed. We will all stay at our favourite hotel again: Hotel Vancouver. 

Peter and I enjoyed Star Trek despite my criticisms:

Jim Kirk, Spock and McCoy all miscast--Kirk and Spock not suave and macho enough for me. 

Though the other crew members were well cast: Bones etc.

Enjoying "The Office" DVD series. We don't have TV, so the shows are all new to me.

What to wear to Peter's convocation: sophisticated elegance, or summer ease?

I am starving!  Need to eat...

Slide 'em Cow Boy!

Fernando and Pip playing in the back yard today.

As soon as the big girls get home form school, we will be off to the new water sport centre to try out the surf and wave pools and water slide. Poor Fernando has to stay home--although I'd love to see him tackle the water slides. Mist had a track meet yesterday. She didn't run because her lungs are still congested from that flu. Triple and high jump were her best sports. Tabs is excited because her school will unveil their new playground equipment today.

I am trying to finish a paper by this weekend. We leave for Vancouver next week (all of us). Tomorrow the girls and I will plant our pot gardens on the balcony: Pumpkin, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, basil, dill, peas and beans. Peter is going to redo the front flower bed as the entire yard is in dire need of attention. 

After the pool and after my supper of slow-cooked beef Burgundy, Peter and I are going to see the new Star Trek.

Rewriting Pru has so inspired me to do all new illustrations for it. I must find the time! This may be my foot in the door. I love writing fiction. I have plans, oh boy, do I have plans...

Piggy in the Middle

Oh Fernando...

Breed: cross between a mountain goat/Tasmanian devil/Albert Einstein and cheetah.

Favourite game: piggy in the middle.

You are the piggy--Fernando the black streak that encircles you. You can NEVER catch him, NEVER.

Favourite hobby:

running straight up the slide at the playground and beating your kid to the top. Then he waits until your kid is about to slide down--he shoves her out of the way and slides down feet first--knocking your kid off the slide.

He continues to do this as fast as he can, always beating your kid to the top of the slide.

Favorite move: pooping on the leather sofa just to say he's mad at you for ignoring him for 1/2 a second.

Baby Hat

This is Pip yesterday. She picked out the hat herself and insisted on wearing it all day long. She calls it her "baby" hat. 

Pip and I had a beautiful morning. We did a little shopping for my mom's birthday present. Then we had coffee at Starbucks and each purchased a new book from Chapters. I finally got "Jesus" by Deepak Chopra. It is about the lost years in Jesus' life. It is written from the perspective that Jesus was an enlightened, holy man, not a god. This is the belief I follow.

Then we took Fernando to Tabitha's class for show and tell.

It is beautiful out--sunny and warm. We've tossed aside our winter clothing finally!

Tonight Mistaya's made supper--we shall dine when Tabs returns from ballet. Mist has made a slow cooked turkey breast in gravy, sweet potato and Brussel sprouts. It was her second choice after I nixed her first: onion rings and mushroom pizza on the side.

Fernando is proving to be a very unique little guy. Very bright. He talks back to you, singing when any loud noise disturbs him. He's very athletic--climbs and jumps, extremely devoted to me--follows me anywhere! And lion hearted--No fear. Loves all other dogs and jumps head first into mountain streams.

Tonight is a clean up as I am having a house keeper come in the morning to give me a quote.

I ran into Mist's drama couch at the gym this AM and described the fairy outfit we have, that Mist refuses to bring as a costume for her play (the fairies have to provide their own costumes). This one is an expensive and beautiful confection of aqua tulle--purchased last year for a dance recital. The coach--Jasmine--said she'd love to see it. So I sent Mist with it this morning and Jasmine loved it! Few! One costume sealed and delivered.

San Fran on Friday morning. I will have 3 days to tour alone as Peter conferences, then it is fours days together. I am so excited as we will stay at the Fairmont on the hill and have a suite. I will use my alone days to shop and try out a French Patisserie I read about and want to try out. You know me and French Patisseries! I could sip tea and eat chocolate all day long!

I have decided it is time to invent an all over cleansing stretch program like yoga but different--a more modern approach for the modern soul who wants to be limber but thinks head stands are for opossums and bats. 

Pippi singing "Hot Cross Buns" just in time for Easter. She often belts this one out while grocery shopping. It is the cutest rendition I've heard in a long while. Though Fernando may protest, as his attempt is below. He is the craziest dog--if you sing, or squeeze a noisy toy, he sings along. He's got the music in him.