Dogs & Cats Holiday Cards

Also check out 26 years of Dogs, Cats & Holidays:


New Addition to the Family – 18 SEP 2014

A visit to the local animal shelter, lead to an increase to our four-legged family.
A seven year old Chihuahua-rat terrier mix, who the Vet thinks might be older because of the grey muzzle.
Her name was CiCi but since she didn't respond to that name, we changed it to Rita (Hayworth) as she dances (moon walks after whizzing) and does a two-legged hop for treats.
She fits right in with her new brothers, Rudy Vallee, and Clark Gable.
Her tail is usually up and wagging, she is bright eyed and loves to follow Gable around the yard while he barks at activity on the street, looking like Batman and Robin on patrol.
According to her records, she's been in and out of the pound several times over the years. I can only guess it's because at her late age she is still not house broken.
She sleeps under my arm, not moving all night, happy to have a secure, loving environment. Her presence has had a surprising effect on my cat, Max, who after several years, still hisses at Gable. Bringing one more dog into the house, has made Max acquiescent to the canine situation.

After six month there were no more accidents, once Rita felt loved and secure she became house broken. As of June 2019, she is truly a senior and having heart problems, taking three types of medicine each day...but she still loves going for a ride and taking walks with her pack.
Even has a new look:
On July 4th, 2019 Rite died in our arms, her five years with us seemed much longer since she brought so my joy into our lives. Adopting a senior animal is a precious gift to the animal and the owners. Rita earned her keep a year after we got her. A rat got into my brothers bath tub and Rita did her rat-terrier thing, breaking it's neck in a split second. She was gentle and loving with our cats, but would take care of any mice they brought into the house.
 

World’s Largest Rubber Duck – 06 SEP 2014

The duck was such a hit, it was held over for two weeks, calling it the "Duck Days of Summer."  It was fun to see it without the event fencing.
61 feet tall, 110 feet long, 85 feet wide, 11 tons, it's an inflatable, riding on a pontoon with its own generator which powers the fans that keep it inflated. It has traveled to Taiwan, Azerbaijan, China,  Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Japan, Brazil and in the United States, Pittsburgh, Norforlk and Los Angeles.
Everyone wanted to get their picture taken with the duck.
Like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, paying with perspective was popular.
 
In 1992, a shipping crate containing nearly 29,000 plastic bath toys was lost at sea when it fell overboard on its way from Hong Kong to Tacoma, Washington. This Chart shows their journey over several years:
Additional activities took place, including International Bird Rescue presentations, a canned food drive, Youth Duck Day, a Duck Dance and Dress like a Duck Day.
This afternoon, a woman showed up dressed like a fish and strangers were asking to have their picture taken with her.

Tall Ships Festival, Los Angeles - 20 AUG 2014

Today was the start of a five day festival being billed: "The Greatest Spectacle on the Pacific."
They moved the S.S. Lane Victory, next to the U.S.S. Iowa and brought in the world's largest rubber duck to add to the festivities.
At 2:00 o'clock, there was to be a grand parade of tall ships being lead into the harbor by the Rubber Ducky...
...either there was misinformation about the parade route or high winds caused the duck to turn back before it even reached Angel's Gate Lighthouse.
American Pride
 I only saw two tall ships coming in, when the duck was out (it seems their exact arrival time is not predictable).
Tole Mour
The 61 foot, inflatable rubber duck (sitting on a steel floating pontoon platform) was the hit of the show.
Everyone wanted their picture taken with the 11 ton duck.
Wednesday and Thursday it was docked in our new Downtown Harbor inlet; but by Friday night, it was moved to behind the cruise ship terminal (berth 91-93) docking it in front of the Tole Mour.
Tole Mour
A small model was placed on the grass near the pedestrian promenade. 
The real show was getting up close and personal with tall ships:
 
 
 
Spirit of Dana Point
The "Official Tall Ships and Maritime Ambassadors of the City of Los Angeles" are named after the author, lecturer, adventurer, sail training pioneer, Irving Johnson and his wife, Electa (Exy). She is considered a modern sail training doyenne and is also an author, lecturer and adventure.
Irving Johnson
Exy Johnson
Tole Mour

Old Fort MacArthur Days - 12 JUL 2014

This was the 28th Anniversary of this fundraising event and the 100th Anniversary of Fort MacArthur (San Pedro, CA).
Considered one of the longest running Living History events in Southern California...
...this is the place to see fighting armor, military history buffs, and reenactors, representing all of recorded history.
The last time I attended this event was in 2009, when the hill along Roxbury Street held the overnight campers.
This time, that area held three times the campers, plus they were spread out all along W Paseo Del Mar.
Besides an increase in overnight reenactors, there were many more families (people with children dressed in period cloths).
There were several merchants selling vintage items.
I love attending as soon as they open, when there are more reenactors than visitors and better opportunity to get photos without modern day people in the background.
I only stayed long enough to witness one WWII battle...
...complete with a P-51 flyover.
Use the links to check out previous Old Fort Days: