Fuji is a Gift - 05 DEC 2009

This was our second year joining the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade as part of the group from Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA). Last year we got to ride on the float but this year we had to walk the entire way.

Since Fuji loves to dress up and stand out in a crowd, I made her into the gift of love.

Everyone is always asking me what kind of dog she is…thinking the answer will be Basenji or Chinese Foo or Kishu Inu (which is why she is named Fuji)…but it turns out her mom was an Akita mix and her dad was a Sheppard mix (and she’s half the size of either of those). So when a guy shouted out to me, “Hey, is she a Boxer?” I started to tell him Akita/Sheppard when the joke hit me...tonight she’s a Boxer.

Pancho Gets a New Home - 24 NOV 2009

The trip to Santa Barbara yielded more than just culture…we stopped at a local theatre to purchase tickets for “Tea at Five” where Stephanie Zimbalist portrays Katharine Hepburn. We walk into the lobby and find this adorable dog, who was looking for a new home…when I sat down, he jumped into my lap and I was hooked! So Fuji, Jan & Max have a new baby brother. He’s under two years, a Schnoodle (Schnauzer Poodle mix) who’s owner died. This is his before bath time picture.

After, we gave him a new name: Rudy (for Rudy Vallee) because he tends to hum, sing and purr.

Teddy Bear Museum – 23 NOV 2009

We drove up to Santa Barbara to check out the Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum & Library (QuinlanMuseum.com). It was so worth the 2+ hour drive. Where else can you see over 3,000 dolls and teddy bears depicting the widest range of time, culture, countries and entertainment? This unique museum is the personal display of Susan Quinlan’s private collection and you even get to have Susan give you a tour…it felt like visiting with your favorite Aunt. Her knowledge is boundless and her hospitality unmatched. She offers you free tea or coffee in a beautiful room filled with teddy bear murals. Tinky Winky really enjoyed this part of the tour. I was overcome with a sense of history displayed in her rooms…for me it felt like time travel, renewing old memories long forgotten. You name the doll or the genre and you’ll find it in her displays…everything from indigenous people to science fiction.

Happy Holloween 2009

Let the Holidays begin!

.

Remember...

.....time will pass,

..........events will happen,

...............how you feel about them...

..........................................is your choice.

Lobster Festival San Pedro 2009

Today Fuji won 3rd place in her first (and perhaps last) Lobsterdog Pet Parade (costume contest). The dog was to be dressed as a Sea Creature or Seafood. No store bought costumes. Fuji was a Sea Urchin, the green kind are from colder waters so I said she was from the Bearing Sea.

Grand Prize went to Gorgeous Bob who was so cute he could have won with seaweed tied around his neck. But his Angle fish costume was also gorgeous. (If you look up the Cutest Dog in the Universe it is Mr. Winkle which looks like a cousin to this dog...I think it's a Maltese.)

This Lobster got 2nd place, large dog.

This Jumbo Shrimp got 1st place, large dog. Her owner was wearing a sign announcing herself as “Cocktail Sauce”. 

In the small dog category, third place went to this Seal.

The Pub Lobster on the plate, got 2nd place.

And the Clownfish got 1st place. Turns out, this was an old dog that had won several times before. ..seams the crown has been turned over to another adorable little cutie.

Other contestants, A bag of fish sticks:

I think these guys were part of a band and just put dresses on their dogs and called them dancing fish.

This was a Hula Lobster, only to get the full affect you needed to be viewing it from above.

See the hat, sun glasses and grass skirt? She was suppose to dance around on her hind legs to show off her costume but wouldn't do it on stage. (Probably got to tired from dancing back stage.)

They said this one was a puppy who almost grew out of her costume before the big day.

This was a little mermaid.

This one looks like they took a dinosaur costume and attached a crab. He was actually a Monster Seafood Chief, but his hat kept falling off.

Silverfish:

Yes, it's as sharp as it looks...I was bleeding from both forearms by the end of the show because I kept taking her costume off when we were back stage so Fuji wouldn't get too hot.

Although there were no written guidelines explaining the judging criteria in advance, it was announced that it was being judged on originality & creativity. All dogs over 30 pounds were considered large dog category. All in all, I think we were robbed, Fuji was much more creative and original than large dog 1 & 2. There should have been a middle size dog category (under 50 over 30). A small dog will always win when it comes to cuteness and lets face it…they are easier to decorate. Besides if it’s under 30 pounds it’s really not a dog…it’s a toy!

Congratulations Gorgeous Bob you were FABULOUS and deserved the Grand Prize!

P.S. Keep an eye out on Animal Planet, they were filming.

(On stage photos taken by Todd Titterud.)

Not German for “No” - 09 SEP 2009

Today is 09/09/09 the date that is written the same in America as in Europe. I left the house at 9:00 AM looking for images of nine. The first stop being my house number.

Then two block away, 9th Street.

Four more blocks and there was a 99 Cent Store.

I found 9’s that listed a price, defined a length of time, marked a location, called out the time, differentiated like objects, identified a vehicle, assigned a date, labeled a street, registered an order, tagged a station, declared a beginning, posted a restriction, translated a bargain and distinguished a historic site...to name a few. I won’t bore you with all 99 images, just show you a some highlights:

There was also the implied number:

I saw 9 Pelicans by rotating from the same position:

And just before reaching home, in the middle of the street:

Tinky Winky’s Return - My Birthday Surprise!

I decided to spend my birthday weekend at the cabin with friends. There was an Air Show at the Big Bear Airport and guess who I ran into? Yes, Tinky Winky and Friends. She was in Australia performing folk music with the Teletubby pack when she learn that the Royal Air Force would be displaying a Merlin Helicopter at the "Wings Over Big Bear" Air Fair. She got a ride to the UK and then talked an Engineer into giving her a ride back to California. (Merlin not pictured.)

Several types of aircraft were on display and there was a jump display.

Along the way TW also picked up a new friend, Mr. M. Lodge III, great grandson to "The" Moose Lodge (who must be rich since there is real estate all over the country with his Great Grandpa's name on it).

When I came back from fishing, I was greeted by Fairy Dogs.

Our traditional group shot.

The whole Teletubby clan (plus Moose) helped me celebrate my birthday. I was told due to fire regulations in the woods, there was a band on lighting a mass amount of candles. 

As the night wore on, we found Teletubbies really enjoyed their first introduction to pumpkin pie (my traditional birthday cake). They even forced us to lower our hats so we couldn't eat any more pie.