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.