Morning Martini

Computer Woes

2012-01-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday somehow my computer was infected by a nasty bug that basically tried to eat my nerves and my files. It took over my own security and basically shut me down. So my sick little computer had to go to the computer hospital to have its disease removed. I just got it back yesterday and so far, so good.

I am extremely careful when it comes to security. I never open emails with attachments and I limit which sites I visit. I am also a stickler about updating my security each and every day. Mr. Pop is not as shy about these things as I am. He too doesn’t open attachments but he does follow links and don’t tell anyone, but I think he was the one who might have brought this monster home.

So now we’re good to go. I think Martini and Fred the Cat are kind of bummed that the computer is back home, they sure did get a lot of my time that would have erstwhile have been spent here at the keyboard.

I sure as hell hope this computer snafu is not an omen of what I should expect in 2012.

Hello 2012!

2012-01-02T07:50:00.000-08:00

The house was de-Christmas-ized yesterday. All the beautiful stuff is stored away and awaiting its time to shine next December.

We celebrated the end of 2011 big time here as it was time for it to go. I spent the first half of the year getting sicker and the last half of it getting well. I am so ready to put that time behind me and move on.

This year looks to be very entertaining politically. All these Republicans running for President in their own unpopular reality show. It’s already a comedy of errors.

Martini and Fred the Cat had fun having Mr. Pop at home for the holiday week. I thought it was fun too. We did not like getting into the old routine once again this morning, but it sure was great while it lasted.

So here’s to 2012! May it be a peaceful healthy and fun year.

Santa is ready to rock and roll

2011-12-24T10:52:00.001-08:00

Martini’s and Fred the Cat’s stocking are stuffed. Mr. Pop made his annual Christmas chocolate chip cookies this morning. The sweet potatoes are cooked, mashed, seasoned and ready to hop in the oven tomorrow. Tonight we will prepare a Christmas morning strata to cook for breakfast in the morning. So I would say we are pretty much ready for the jolly old man to visit tonight.

The girls at the lab delivered all things wonderful for our adopted family Thursday morning and were surprised to receive a picture of our family with Santa Claus and the sweetest thank you note I have ever read. The kids do not expect anything from Santa this year so they are going to be very happily surprised in the morning. It’s nice to be able to put faces on our adopted family, we have never been able to do that before. It’s especially nice to see those sweet little kid’s faces. They’ll be all big smiles tomorrow.

Santa will deliver our gift to us next Tuesday. Our very old refrigerator is just on life support so we decided to buy our house a new one. Rather than give each other just a bunch of stuff, for several years now we have instead bought something we wanted for the house. This year it’s a French door frig and freezer. I hope Santa doesn’t get a hernia when he makes his delivery.

A very Merry Christmas to everyone from me, Mr. Pop, Martini and even Fred the Cat
May peace be your nicest gift.

Ready, Set, Christmas

2011-12-16T12:54:00.001-08:00

Getting ready for Christmas this year has been just plain fun. I guess feeling better than I have for years adds to that fun. Tomorrow we are going out shopping for a Cabbage Patch doll for the little girl in our adopted Christmas family. Ha! You think I’ll stop with just the doll she wanted? Oh decked holly halls, no. I already have two books for her and her big brother. This will be a Christmas that they’ll remember a long time….and so will we.

Next Saturday Mr. Pop will continue his tradition of baking chocolate chip and walnut cookies. I can’t wait for that aroma to fill this house with wonderfulness. But before that happens I will pick up my new glasses and be able to see clearly again. That’s almost better than having a visit from Santa.

See, I’m just full of fun and Christmas spirit. Ask Martini, he’s probably tired of me playing with him and singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. But next Sunday morning when he wakes up, he’ll find out that I was right.

No More Bah Humbug Here

2011-12-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

We have a family for Christmas. We contacted another organization and were met with much gratitude. They knew of a single mother with two small children and we were told they would be “more than grateful for anything this Christmas”. Boy, are those three people going to have a memorable holiday.

The mother is asking for clothes for the children, everything from underwear to shorts and shirts and sneakers. There was only a small mention of toys. And the mother said a turkey to cook for dinner on Christmas would be nice but that her children’s needs come first to her.

Oh yeah mom, that turkey is coming along with a lot of others good things to eat. Those little kids will get all the clothes they need along with fun gifts from some jolly marine biologists.

Now I’m ready to say it really will be a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Bummer

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

For the past several years Mr. Pop’s lab has adopted a family in need at Christmas. This was coordinated through the local United Way. This year when the lady at the lab called the United Way to adopt a family she was told the United Way will no longer be doing the White Dove project but instead asked that everyone take toys and food to the fairgrounds and everything would be distributed from there.

I called the United Way today and asked why they had discontinued the project in the way it had been done before. Before, we got all the food and gifts for the family and delivered everything to the home the weekend before Christmas. I think we all looked as forward to that day as we looked forward to Christmas when we were kids. The lady at the United Way said the project had been discontinued because it was “too much work” for the few people who used to coordinate the project. Too much work once a year?

I reminded the lady I was talking to that this was going to be a difficult holiday for a whole lot of families, maybe more than there has been at anytime in the recent history. She repeated her line about “too much work”. What work? All they had to do in the past was match up families in need with businesses who wanted to help. We did all the work buying, wrapping and delivering what was wanted and needed by “our families”.

I explained to the lady that dropping off food and gifts at the fairgrounds just didn’t have the same feeling about it as seeing a mother receive food and gifts for her children when she had no hope for getting anything for them. Especially when the kids were getting some of the things they had asked of Santa. Talk about your heart swelling to three times its size.

We have a lot of money to spend and a lot of love to share and by god, we’re going to find someone to receive our Christmas gifts. We are going to call other organizations and churches until we find a family who needs us. No one is going to tell us that there isn’t a Santa Claus this year because we know better.

OMG!

2011-11-15T14:42:00.000-08:00

It becomes frightening when I learn that I know more about the US’s involvement in Libya than one of the Republican presidential candidates. Herman Cain is making me look way more intelligent than I thought I was. Thanks, Herman.

Happy Birthday, Martini

2011-11-09T05:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Martini’s fifth birthday. He has spent almost three years of those five with us. I don’t know who has been more fortunate, this little dog or us.

He got a bag of little organic sweet potato treats that we bought for him at an all organic dog bakery in Asheville N. C. All they bake there are dog treats and as far as I know it’s the only bakery of it’s kind.

He also got a new dog toy which quickly became his favorite among all his other toys. So I think if he could speak he would say he had one awesome day.

Martini relaxes in Savannah Georgia

2011-10-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

After the five hour car trip to Savannah, Martini relaxes on a chair in the private garden at the inn where we spent the night. Next I will show you Martini getting high in North Carolina.

Ready, set and about to go

2011-10-22T12:39:00.001-07:00

We’re all packed. We are all fresh from the hairdresser, barber and groomer. Fred is at the vet’s being boarded. Our vet has a new eco-friendly clinic so Fred the Cat is enjoying the new cat room there. Each cat enclosure has a private window so he can watch things happening outside. He’s much happier with that added bonus.

Martini has a new coat for the cold nights in North Carolina this time of year. He hates wearing it, but I gotta keep him warm. This will be fun for Mr. Pop and me because it’s been a long time since we have worn our “wooly” clothes.

Hopefully I will come back with lots of wonderful photos of Martini and the spectacular fall leaves. Until then take care, we will.

The Doctors Were Right

2011-10-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

When I was discharged from the hospital in August the doctors told me in about three months I would feel better than I had felt in years. Well we’re quickly approaching the end of those three months and oh my, the doctors were right. I have more energy than I know what to do with. I can eat and drink anything I want and I am feeling better and better every minute. Life is truly good.

We’ll be leaving in the not so distant future on our driving trip, for our 25th wedding anniversary, to see the autumn leaves and now that I’m feeling so much better, I can’t wait.

Martini goes in tomorrow for his annual dental cleaning, I get my highlights touched up on Saturday and Martini gets his hair groomed next Saturday. We are getting all ready for our new adventure and thanks to two wonderful doctors, I’m feeling fantastic!

Will Romney be the Republicans’ John Kerry?

2011-09-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

Right now it appears the stars are aligned to make Romney the Presidential candidate for the Republican party. I believe they would have a greater chance with Huntsman if the party members were all thinking straight but we know that isn’t the case.

I remember when John Kerry became the Democrats’ candidate back in 2004. I don’t think I was alone when I found myself unable to get really excited about him even though I knew I would vote for him. I mean what was there to get excited about other than the possibility that he might prevent George Bush from having four more years in the oval office?

I think if Romney is the Republican candidate he will leave the Republicans feeling his only plus is that he might remove President Obama from the white house. With the Republican party split between the sane Republicans and the Tea Party people, I think Romney's chances for success are far less than John Kerry’s were almost eight years ago.

Why Cheer for Executions?

2011-09-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

I watched the Republican presidential debate on MSNBC last night and my biggest OMG moment was when the audience clapped and cheered after the moderator spoke of the number of people executed in the state of Texas under Governor Perry. Why in the world would anyone cheer for something like that?

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

Thankfully hurricane Irene is giving Florida a break but my heart and thoughts go out to anyone in this hurricane’s path. Irene is about as welcome on the east coast of the United States as a fleet of buses filled with Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry supporters.

I had no idea how sick I was

2011-08-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

After my last post here I found out I was a whole lot sicker than I imagined

Yeah, back in July I knew things were not right with my health but I had no idea how bad they were. My doctor sent me for a CT-scan and with the help of an amazing surgeon they saw that my digestive system was not at all functioning as it should. Lots of things were going wrong.

The surgeon called us in the early evening of one Thursday, sent me to the hospital and scheduled me for surgery the following Friday morning. After three hours of surgery it was wait and see time.

Happily everything went well and all parts were in working order again. Total recovery will take a couple of more months but so far it’s all good. The surgeon said because the damage was slowly happening over maybe as long as a year, when things finally do get back to normal, I will feel “a thousand times better than I have in a long long time”.

So during my first time at the hospital other than as a visitor, I learned that it is true that the food there is horrific and also that there is no place like home.

Mr. Pop and Martini were so happy to have me back home after eight days of being away. I do believe Martini felt he was in charge of taking care of me after I came home. Any time I called to Mr. Pop to help me with something, Martini would bark as if to tell Mr. Pop we needed his help pronto.

All is well that ends well and so far this experience is ending very well.

Being Sick Sucks

2011-06-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, being sick sucks especially when it happens the entire week of vacation. I woke up our first morning of vacation sicker than I have been in years. With the help of just about every over the counter drug they make I made it the three and a half hour drive to the west coast. When we arrived I crashed on the couch of the cottage and didn’t show many signs of life for the next two days.

The bright spot was that if you are going to feel awful there is no better place than on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico. Yeah, I missed a lot of the fun things I planned to do but I didn’t feel the guilt you feel when you are home and sick and know there are things you should be doing.

With the help of Mr. Pop and Martini it turned out to be, if not a good vacation, a comfortable one.

We went ahead and reserved the same cabin for next year. My hope is, better luck next time.

The Dreamer

2011-06-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

Martini daydreams about vacation.

Getting Ready for Fun

2011-06-06T05:38:00.000-07:00

With just a little under two weeks until we head for the west coast of Florida, it’s really difficult for me to think of much of anything else. Whether it’s Palin’s rewritten history of Paul Revere or Congressman Weiner and his problems, I just laugh and move on.

Of course with a vacation coming up I have been stimulating the economy as much as possible. Which is more fun, getting ready for the vacation or the vacation itself? That’s a difficult question for me to answer.

Martini will be going with us and of course Fred the Cat will be at the vet’s facilities. The good news is our vet has a brand new facility and she went all green with the fixtures and the entire building. So Fred will have a brand new place to stay designed especially for cats. He’s feeling pretty special about his own get away.

My mind is not really on current events right now but more on future events and a whole lot of fun in the sun.

Yeah Blogger is fixed

2011-05-28T03:29:00.000-07:00

Hey, it works again

For several days now I have been unable to post anything on this blog because blogger seems to have had a problem and didn't recognize me or my password.

Sure is nice to be back and able to post again. I was afraid Morning Martini was doomed.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

Beach to the Rescue

2011-05-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of months it seems like everything we touch or don’t touch in the house has decided not to work correctly and of course that means calling repairmen and waiting on them to arrive at the their appointed time. Things like this drive me crazy. Even Blogger had its fits and starts last week.

The only thing that has kept us from going nuts is knowing that in just a few weeks we’ll be heading to Sanibel/Captiva beaches with our little Martini and all the wonderful things you take for a week right on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico. That beach cabin sounds better every day.

I think even Martini is keeping his sanity right now by having little dog dreams about sitting on the beach blanket under the big beach umbrella and watching the crazy humans in the surf.

The News

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

So after the President’s announcement Sunday night we haven’t heard much about looking into the President’s college grades and papers have we? I guess it’s kinda difficult to speak while your foot is in your mouth.

Why are so many on the right "dithering" this week?

Happy Easter!

2011-04-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Have a wonderful holiday and leave the ears on the chocolate bunnies, save them for me.

Republican Clown Car

2011-04-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

It would seem now that Donald Trump is driving the clown car that contains all the other clowns also known as possible republican presidential candidates. I wouldn’t want to be in that car or anywhere near it. Trump is so busy bragging about how “smart” he is that he just might run off the road. Add to that his refusal to recognize the President is an American citizen and you have a driver who is like a drunk at the political wheel. Can the crash be avoided?

If this weren’t so serious it would be fun to watch.

Just not that into it

2011-04-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

I am not going to watch the royal wedding later this month because honestly, I just don’t care one thing about it. This will not be on my “things to do” list.

I am tired of the ads for the cheap knockoff ring that replicates the royal engagement ring and I truly could care less if the bride signs a prenuptial agreement and even less if the new husband wears a wedding band or not.

The thing that most amazes me is why anyone would care about these details regarding the life of someone they had barely heard of just a couple of years ago. The television stations seem to be totally in awe of this whole event to the point they will be sending reporters there to cover it from beginning to end.

It’s not that I’m anti romantic or anything, I’m just not that into this event.

Finally!

2011-04-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

The third trip to the drivers license place was the charm. I took the eye doctor’s report and wore my new glasses. Do you think that was enough for them? Nope, I had to take their eye test again but this time I passed with flying colors. They did have a difficult time giving me change when I handed them three twenties for a bill of forty eight dollars.

So bottom line is the ordeal is over that I began on the Ides of March and completed on April Fool’s day. It’s all good and if I never see that man at that office again I will be a happy person.

Veggies?

2011-03-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

When did we begin speaking of vegetables as “veggies”? It makes them sound like they are sweet little things like puppies and kitties. How did vegetables become our sweet little buddy things while meats are not "meaties" and fruits are not "fruities"?

The Driver’s License Saga Continues

2011-03-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

I went to the eye doctor today and what a surprise. Even without my glasses my eyes are strong enough to have passed the driver’s license eye test. He did prescribe a tad stronger lens for my right eye but that was just because he said things at a distance would appear a bit “crisper” to me. It was such a slight change that he didn’t even encourage me to change the prescription in my sunglasses.

So next week when I get the new lens I will go back to the driver’s license office with the form the doctor filled out and see if the third time of trying is a charm.

To quote my eye doctor the guy at the driver’s license office is just “messing” with me and if I want him too, my doctor said he would go along with me next time.

Hopefully that won’t be necessary. But it’s nice to have a professional on my side.

Frustration and Bad Luck

2011-03-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

No big things are happening around here but a bunch of little ones are driving me crazy. I have been trying to renew my drivers license for over two weeks and each time I go down to renew them the man I have to deal with finds something more he wants me to do before he will issue them to me. First he questioned my birth certificate, So I had to go to the safety deposit box and retrieve it. For a bit there I knew how the President felt regarding his birth certificate. A copy was not acceptable.

When I brought in my papers the second time the same man decided I might not have passed the vision test so he sent me to my eye doctor for his analysis and that will be done this week.

The thing is every time I go to try to get my license I have to start at the very beginning and go through all the stuff I have gone through before. On top of all this bs, the guy keeps tossing out questions at random to try to rattle me. Just out of the blue last time he asked, “Where were you born?”.

I really think this guy thinks he should be working security in an Israeli airport. I’m betting he goes home at night and enjoys thinking about his astute security approach to renewing freaking drivers license.

Oh, and yesterday as I hit the flush lever on the toilet I heard something fall into the water. It was one of my very nice gold hoop earrings. Now that earring lives in our septic tank.

How has your luck been lately?.

Spring has Sprung

2011-03-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air here in south Florida and of course a trip to get flowers for the backyard was a must today. Mr. Pop is an avid gardener and loves to spend time making the backyard his canvas each spring. Martini went with us to get the flowers and as you can see here, he took time to smell some of them before they became members of the 2011 backyard art.

New Suit vs. Garage Sale

2011-03-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

While the Republicans want to take food and warmth from poor people in order to cut the budget, the President is saying we need to invest more into our country for a better long time outcome.

This is like a family and the father has lost his job. Let’s say they are several thousand dollars in debt on their credit card. Dad believes he has a better chance at a good job if he goes to the interview in a suit rather than the only thing he has, jeans and t-shirts. Yeah, the family may go another hundred or more in debt but if the money spent for the suit brings the results intended, then the whole credit card debt may be repaid faster.

The President wants to buy a suit for the country while the Republicans think the father should sell what few clothes he has at a yard sale.

Donald Trump?

2011-03-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Before Martini falls asleep he likes to fool around with his hair to get that Donald Trump look.

This Little Creature

2011-02-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

This is a sight I often see sometime during the day. Martini, awakening from his nap. He’s so small and depends on me, his caretaker, to protect him from all things large harmful. He has no conception of aggressiveness or danger. He’s never met a person or thing he didn’t love.

We have some friends who have a large ten year old golden retriever. We took Martini to their house once and I think they were sort of miffed that I wouldn’t let Martini down to “play” with their dog. I just couldn’t. Even though they say that their dog plays with another Yorkie that belongs to a neighbor, I didn’t trust their dog. Martini is a new dog to their dog and it would only take one move by this big dog to injure Martini.

Well, last night these friends called us and invited us to dinner at their house this weekend. They made a point of asking us to bring Martini too. Mr. Pop said we would love to and now that Martini has his carriage we would bring that for him to be in while we eat and visit. Again our friend insisted that their dog would be fine around Martini and they could “play”.

I just can’t let Martini loose in their house to “play” with such a big dog. My gut tells me it’s dangerous and in the past my vet has told me the same thing. You never know how any dog is going to react to another dog, especially a big older dog to a strange little dog. So we will accept their invitation but Martini will either be held by my or be in his carriage. If their dog did hurt or god forbid kill my dog hearts would be broken and a friendship of so many years would be in all kinds of jeopardy. I’m going with my heart and gut on this, knowing if I do, I will have no regrets.

Surprise

2011-02-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

Since our 20th wedding anniversary five years ago, Mr. Pop has been asking me what I would like to do this year on our 25th. I have mentioned all sorts of things but as of late I wanted to make sure whatever we did we could take Martini with us. I won’t even consider flying anywhere and especially putting another dog on a plane. Due to airport negligence I almost lost one of my dogs some years back. They forgot to put her kennel on the plane that I was on. I got her the next day but she was almost dead from stress and the heat in the cargo part of the plane.

Well, yesterday Mr. Pop surprised me with the plans for our anniversary in October. We are going to Savannah Georgia and then work out way up to North Carolina to visit the mountains and see the fall leaves. The best part is the reservations are already made at some amazing bed and breakfast inns. Each of them welcomes little dog. The pictures on the net are of beautiful old homes that have been refurbished to be gorgeous inns.

So now my thoughts are going beyond summer and into fall. I love to have something very special to look forward to and this summer when hurricane season panic sets in I’ll just start thinking about the wonderful fall trip that is to come.

Door to door spam

2011-02-16T11:19:00.001-08:00

When I am here alone I seldom open the door when the bell rings. My rule is if I don’t know you or expect you I won’t open the front door to anyone.

Saturday, Mr. Pop was here working at the computer and the door bell rang. Since he was here I picked up Martini and opened the door. There was a man standing there, he was nicely dressed and he had an assortment of papers in his hand. He told me he had been doing a survey in our area and then he flashed a paper with what appeared to be a copy of some sort of postcard copied on it. He said, “Recently you or your husband received a card like this asking if you would like more information…” I said, no neither of us had filled out such a card asking for more information on anything. We know better than to do that and besides we don’t want more information on anything that comes in the mail.

After I stated politely that his information was wrong I politely shut the door. I know there are all sorts of spam on the internet but now it’s going door to door.

Best Valentine's Day Ever!

2011-02-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Mr. Pop took me to two different choclatiers so that I could pick out the candy I really like one piece at a time. There was lots of fudge involved and anything that contained raspberries and chocolate. I mean that was serious fun.

Today the florist delivered a beautiful vase of flowers with all my favorite flowers including roses, carnations, lilies and others. That was a wonderful surprise along with the balloons and card than accompanied it.

Tomorrow night Mr. Pop will be preparing beef fillets along with potatoes and a Caesar salad for dinner. We’ll have a special wine to top the dinner off.

See why I said this will be the best Valentine’s day ever? It’s because I married the best Valentine’s sweetheart in the world.

Another week has gone by?

2011-02-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or does time seem to be flying by faster than ever before? I know I’m busier than in the past few years but it seems like every time I glance at the calendar another week or month has flown by. Maybe it’s true that time flies when you’re having fun because regardless of how fast time passes I sure am having fun.

Another Manic Monday

2011-02-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

Last Monday I was manic because due to a reaction to his annual shots Martini felt bad and refused to eat. I’m a dog mom and something like that worries the hell out of me. By Tuesday morning his appetite had returned and he was fine. There was a great sigh of relief at this house.

Because Martini had an appointment with the vet today to have his teeth cleaned I couldn’t feed him anything this morning. From the time he got up this morning he followed me around with this little question mark over his head. He just couldn’t understand why he couldn’t have any food. I felt like the worst person in the world every time I looked at him.

I just called the vet and Martini came through the procedure just fine and is ready to come home. In case you didn’t know, February is National Dental Awareness Month for dogs and cats so get you pet to the vet to check out his or her pearly whites.

Hopefully next Monday will be less prone to being manic for Martini and me.

That Face

2011-02-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 5, will mark the second anniversary of the first time I saw that face. Yes, Martini has shared the past two years of our lives with us.

I remember like it was yesterday the moment his rescue mom rang my door bell. I was so excited and anxious at the same time. All sorts of questions were running through my head. Questions like will he like us, will we like him and will we all adjust to one another. Had I only known then what I know now, my mind would have been at ease.

After I signed all the papers and the foster mom left, I just stared at this little dog not quite believing he was ours. He was so gentle and so sweet.

The next morning I got an email from the foster mom telling me she cried all the way back to her house. When her husband came home that night he was mad at her because he hadn’t had a chance to tell Martini good bye. Her husband said, “Maybe things won’t work out at his new home and they will give him back to us.” She said she told him, “There’s not a chance in hell that little dog will ever leave that house. The bond was there the second she and that little dog met.”

The foster mom was right as rain. There wasn’t a chance in hell that little dog would leave this house then and the chances are even less today. We have shared two years and we are looking forward to many many more.

(Yes, those are a few of him many dog toys he has received these past two years scattered on the carpet behind him.)

The Way Martini Rolls

2011-02-01T05:36:00.000-08:00

I took this picture at the green market this past Saturday. While Martini was safely enclosed in his stroller another small dog was stepped on and badly injured by one of the shoppers. It was a nightmarish scene that will haunt me for a long time.

When we witnessed the accident I told Mr. Pop, “This carriage is worth its weight in gold.”

Little dogs enjoy being with their humans but humans must realize that little dogs stand the risk of harm when they are on their leash and amongst so many big humans and big human feet.

I don’t know how badly that little dog was harmed but from the looks of his condition, it was really bad.

Ahh, Friday Afternoon

2011-01-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

Martini just returned from the groomer looking and smelling all nice and clean. Tomorrow morning we take him to the vet for his yearly booster shots and physical exam. After he endures that we are taking him to the green market and I’ll stroll him around in his handy stroller so he doesn’t get stepped on by excited shoppers. Tomorrow’s weather is going to be just right for a walk at the outside market. On the way back home we’ll stop by the seafood market for some fresh fish or shrimp for dinner tomorrow night.

Life is good, I think even Fred the Cat would agree as he naps in his new bed Santa left for him at Christmas.

Enjoy your weekend as much as we will ours.

No Guns in Speech

2011-01-26T11:46:00.000-08:00

I have heard some complaining today because the President didn’t mention guns or gun control in his speech Tuesday night. They said he missed an opportunity because of the recent Arizona shooting and some of the families being there for the speech.

I think he did the right thing by not mentioning it because all the crazies would be saying today that they warned everyone that Obama was going to take their guns away. Of course we know he isn’t and doesn’t plan to, but that would have given them fodder to use in their meme.

I am hearing today that soon the President plans to give a speech soon specifically about guns and the number of shots in magazines. That’s the way it should be, a specific speech on a very serious subject. That deserves a lot of time and tact to get it right.

Just because it’s cute

2011-01-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

Martini’s groomer knows I don’t want him to pull Martini’s hair up in one of those little top notch deals you often see on Yorkies. But the day before Christmas eve when he groomed Martini he just couldn’t resist putting a Christmas bow in his hair. It was just so darned cute that I didn’t mind one bit. Martini wasn’t crazy about it as he removed it about ten minutes after he came home. I’m pretty sure if Martini could talk he would have said to me, Get this bow out of my hair, dudes don’t wear bows.

Here we go again

2011-01-18T11:32:00.001-08:00

This is that down time between Christmas and Valentine’s Day. From October until the first of January there is a holiday every month. Something to get ready for and look forward to each month, then we hit January 2 and say, Now what?

This is the time of year your mind wonders toward spring cleaning and all that goes with that. Cleaning out that closet that you cleaned out and spruced up last year that has no resemblance to that same closet now. What the hell happened to my closet and who did it? Did I let negligence put me right back where I began last year? Looks like it.

As I make my list of to-do things I keep one thing in mind, if this year is as good at our home as last year was, we’re off to a very good start. Everyone is healthy and happy. That’s a good place to begin everything.

Easier than getting on a plane

2011-01-12T13:54:00.000-08:00

I find it interesting and upsetting that in many parts of this country it is much easier to buy as many guns and as much ammo as you can afford, than it is to get on a commercial jet.

Avoidance and Peace

2011-01-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

I have spent this week trying my best to avoid any political news. I don’t need to know detail for detail how the new Republican majority in the House plans to disrupt our country in every way possible. Just wake me when it’s over and let me know what I can do to help clean up the disaster.

It’s amazing how peaceful life can be when you cut out just about everything from the noisy world of political discourse. I’ll take a half hour of playing with Martini or watching the hummingbirds at the feeder outside my kitchen window over any talking head on television telling me what they believe I should be thinking.

Have a wonderful weekend and take time to notice the natural beauty. It’s there just waiting for you to notice.

Guess Who?

2011-01-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

Guess who got a nifty new camera for Christmas and hasn’t learned what to do to keep her little dogs eyes from looking like devil eyes in the photos?

Dog half in the Bag

2010-12-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago someone gave me a Christmas gift and it came in a red satin bag. This year “Santa” decided to put all Martini’s Christmas presents in that bag and let him go in after them if he were not too afraid.

As you can see from the photo, he wasn’t frightened at all. As he would fetch each new toy from the bag he would take it into the bedroom and then come back to see if there were more. At one point he pulled his head out of the bag and proceeded to drag the whole thing into the bedroom. I guess efficiency is another of his many talents.

A Little Dog Waits for Santa

2010-12-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

I’m sorry I can’t post Martini’s Santa picture right now. They printed out the picture where it was taken and as of now I have no scanner to put it into my computer. Instead I thought you might like this little picture of Martini taken today under the tree as he waits for Santa’s arrival tonight.

From Martini and his family to you and yours, Merry Christmas!

I saw Martini Kissing Santa Claus

2010-12-20T05:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had to run some errands and we decided to take Martini with us. One of our stops was a pet supply store. We put Martini in the shopping cart and entered the store. Much to our surprise we saw a very handsome Santa Claus and quickly discovered he was posing with pets for Christmas pictures. Mr. Pop and I looked at each other and decided, “Why not?”.

After a short wait in line Martini’s time arrived. I handed Martini off to Santa and Santa spoke so sweet and kind to Martini that Martini took to him immediately. With some prompting using a squeaky toy, Martini kind of doggie smiled for the photographer.

With his moment before the camera over, I went to take Martini from Santa’s arms. Just as I reached for Martini he looked up at Santa and licked or as we say, he kissed Santa Claus on the nose. So we didn’t see Mama Kissing Santa Claus but we did see Martini doing it. And yes at that moment the Santa did say out loud, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” He also told Martini that he would treat him special on Christmas Eve.

Who says there is no magic at this time of year?

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2010-12-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

Now I know how Santa feels every year. This weekend we purchased the bike I talked about in my previous post. It’s beautiful and wonderful. It’s a couple of shades of pink and sparkly. I can’t imagine any little five year old girl not loving it. The theme of the bike is the Disney Princesses and we found the helmet to match. On the handle bars there is a little princess pouch so I tucked a small Hello Kitty doll inside. When she unzips the pouch there will be a little surprise for her.

I won’t be able to see her face when she finds this bike by her tree on Christmas morning but I can remember what I would have felt had I been so fortunate when I was her age. Everyone remembers the Christmas they received their first bike and I will always remember the Christmas this little girl received hers.

Bike Buying Buzz

2010-12-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

Saturday we will be buying a shiny new bike with training wheels for a little five year old girl whom we have never seen or met. We will be the Santa for her this Christmas.

Mr. Pop’s lab employees again this year adopted a family for Christmas. They will be buying food and all sorts of wonderful things for a single mother and her three little girls. When one of the girls from the lab spoke with the mom over the phone the lady asked her to please not spend any money on her and instead use that money for a bike for her oldest little girl. When Mr. Pop and I heard about this we told the girl at the lab that she could count on us to buy the bike and a helmet.

So we are all a buzz about heading out Saturday morning to get this little girl her Christmas wish. Don’t tell anyone but chances are we will be picking up some things for her baby sisters as well.

Okay Santa, we're ready

2010-12-06T08:05:00.000-08:00

The outside lights are on house. The tree is up and beautifully decorated by Mr. Pop. We are just about ready for Santa Claus.

Even Martini and Fred seem extra frisky these days. I don’t know if the friskiness is a result of the pending holidays or maybe it’s the cooler weather we are having now. Tonight the temperature is going to be in the mid thirties. For us here in Florida that’s cold.

I am trying my best to avoid as much political talk as possible because everything else is just too nice to be tainted with political poison.

Celebrate

2010-11-29T11:19:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was wonderful and I believe the only holiday dinner I have ever prepared that I found to be very near perfect. It was a party for taste buds. It was so good that the leftovers lasted only two days.

Now that holiday is behind us and Christmas is sneaking up. The even better news for this part of the country is tomorrow marks the last official day of hurricane season. We have a lot of celebrating to do starting Wednesday and continuing throughout December.

Martini seems to be enjoying the fun as much as we are and meanwhile Fred the Cat thinks we’re all a little bit crazy. He might be a little bit right.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2010-11-23T04:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from two pumpkins and one little turkey.

Please don’t forget the cats and dogs

2010-11-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

So many places are asking for donations of food for local pantries and other organizations. Many of us will heed the requests.

Please remember the dogs and cats too. Lots of shelters are short of cash. My food pantry here accepts donations of dog and cat food for the pets of the people who come there for their own food. Often times a cat or dog is the only companion for an elderly person. Let’s help these people to be able to continue to provide food for their furry companions.

So Fred the Cat, Martini and I ask you, if you can, to please pick up a bag of dog food and or cat food at the market for the pets who also want something to be thankful for this time of year and always.

Three Cheap Thrills

2010-11-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

I love cheap thrills and find them all over the place. This weekend I found at least three of them.

First, seeing the first male painted bunting of the season on my bird feeder.
Second, seeing the first Christmas 2010 Coke can decorations.
Third, standing on the windy beach with Mr. Pop and Martini.

All three were cheap and thrilling for me. Life can simply be beautiful if you keep an eye out for the simple cheap thrills.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Martini

2010-11-08T03:23:00.000-08:00

Today is Martini’s fourth birthday. He has been with us almost half of those four years. Fred the cat gave him toys and we gave him a beautiful new bed. We went birthday shopping for him yesterday and took him along so that he could choose first hand the toys he approved of for himself. He went to the groomer Saturday so he is all fresh and beautiful for his big day. It’s a dogs life? Yes it is and it’s a good one!

Happy Tears

2010-11-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

We took Martini back to the vet today to see how his eye was doing. The vet put the dye into his eye and saw nothing. The ulcers were both completely healed and left no scars on his cornea. She took off his cone of shame and said for me to discontinue both the cream and drops. He’s good as new.

Of course when she said he was good to go I began to cry. Those were the happiest tears I have cried in a long time.

When Martini got home and realized he didn’t have to put the cone back on he was almost giddy as he ran all over the place wagging that little tail just as fast as it would go.

What a little trooper

2010-11-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

Martini has had his cone of shame on now for five days and he’s been amazing as he adjusted to it. He just seems to go with the flow as he gets through each day. Even when I am putting the cream and drops in his eye he doesn’t give me a hard time at all.

Tomorrow morning we will take him back to the vet to see how his eye is doing so please keep your paws crossed for him that she will see some improvement.

Martini in the Cone of Shame

2010-10-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Last night when Mr. Pop took Martini out he saw two of those walking stick bugs that squirt poison when they are in danger. As he was steering Martini away from them there were two more he didn’t see and sadly Martini got too close to them and they got him in the eye. We quickly washed his eyes out with an eye wash but the damage was done.

This morning we took him to his vet and discovered he has two tiny ulcers on the cornea of his left eye. The poison from the bugs burned his cornea. The vet gave me a cream and drops to put into his eye three times a day. Because we don’t want him to rub his eye against anything until it is healed, he has to wear one of those plastic collars that makes him look like his head is coming out of the large end of a funnel. The vet is hopeful that things are much better in a week or so.

So if you saw the movie, “Up”, you know how Martini looks in his new cone of shame. We decided he can go trick or treating as the dog from “UP”.

Martini Visits the Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

Today we took Martini for his first visit to the Pumpkin Patch. He didn't wait for The Great Pumpkin, he picked it out and we brought it home. The pumpkin he chose weighed 19 pounds so Mr. Pop gave him some help getting it in the car.

Ya Gotta Vote

2010-10-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

No matter how unhappy you might be with your own candidate, you just have to vote because you know you sure as hell don’t want his or her opponent to win.

This mid-term election is as important if not more important than a presidential election and we all have to accept this major responsibility. Having a bunch of tea party people in DC is not what this country needs right now or ever.

Death and Life

2010-10-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

A week and a half ago our elderly neighbor passed away. He wasn’t a good man as far as people go and he was especially negligent when it came to his elderly wife. Of course we went to the funeral to show our love for the widow and her daughter. This was the first funeral we had been to in many years.

Last night we learned that one of our oldest and dearest friends had passed away. This man was Mr. Pop’s mentor and the best man at our wedding. He was like a father to Mr. Pop and a grand friend to both of us.

It seemed the neighbor’s death was waning and then we hear our friend had died. The neighbor and the friend could not have been more different in every way. We felt so sad last night and just sort of down in so many ways.

Then we awoke this morning to news of the miners’ rescue and somehow that elation is sneaking into us and shielding us from the recent personal news that has weighed us down.

Martini Goes to the Green Market

2010-10-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday we took Martini in his carriage to the local outdoor green market. As usual he was as good as gold and behaved like a canine gentleman. He was also a smile magnet. Each person who focused on him inside his little carriage immediately smiled and the conversation would ensue. They would ask his name and coo to him as he sat calmly inside.

Lots of people bring their small dogs to the market but most are just on a leash and lost among the people and the feet of those people. Had I been a vendor of the dog carriages I could have sold at least two on the spot.

We came home with an another orchid plant, some baked goods and a little pumpkin that is dedicated to Martini’s first market trip. As the saying goes, a good time was had by all.

Candidates from where?

2010-10-08T05:12:00.001-07:00

When I look at some of the Republican candidates and even most of them, I have to ask myself, where did these people come from and what the hell will happen to this country if more than a couple of them win? Seriously? When a candidate opens a campaign commercial by telling us, “I am not a witch”, that says so much about the political atmosphere of our country and none of it is good.

Martini

2010-10-04T04:24:00.000-07:00

He’s never shaken or stirred too much about anything…..except treats and toys.

Little Charmer

2010-09-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

While we were traveling we met a retired couple from the UK. The lady was attacked by a dog when she was a little girl and to this day is very fearful of all dogs. When she met Martini he was in his carriage and he and I were sitting on the deck at the marina. She kept looking at Martini and smiling at him, then at one point she just couldn’t help herself as she walked over and began petting him. Is he a charmer or what?

Missing my Playmate Today

2010-09-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

Martini is at the groomer’s this morning and he was long overdue for a shampoo due to his traveling schedule this month. I have both his beds washed and dry and waiting for him. So he will return this afternoon to the luxury of cleanliness all around.

I love that he’ll come home all clean and pretty but I have to admit, I miss my little playmate this morning. The house seems so incredibly empty when that small creature is not here. He may be small but his personality can fill up a very large space.

Home Again, Home Again

2010-09-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

Island Dog and his folks are home again and glad to be here. Traveling almost half a month was fun but it’s also fun to be relaxed at home for a while. It’s amazing how nice it is to be away and divorced from the everyday chit chat of politics.

I think Martini is the happiest of the three of us to be back home. Back home where all his toys live, where he is familiar with the outside bathroom facilities and back home where he can crawl in his bed to fall asleep without the fear of someone leaving him. When we brought him in the house last Friday he went bananas running from room to room and wagging his little tail so much you would swear it would fly off. He was one happy little pooch.

No matter if you are a dog or a human, there really is no place like home.

Mr. Happy Pants Rides Again

2010-09-20T03:48:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Mr. Happy Pants, also known as, Island Dog, also known as, Martini, will be on the road again and this time to yet a different beach. We are taking his doggie stroller so that while Mr. Pop is in meetings, Martini and I will be able to do a little shopping in a quaint little town. Since dogs are allowed at outdoor cafes, Martini and I will hang together all day.

Island Dog is packed and ready to rock and roll. I wish I could say the same but by in the morning we’ll all be ready for another great adventure. See ya next weekend.

Island Dog is Ready

2010-09-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Island Dog commented, “I’m ready for my close up, Mr. Pop.”

Island Dog gets upset

2010-09-17T03:18:00.000-07:00

Island Dog thought he heard the bartender at the tiki bar say, "Last call!".

Island Dog

2010-09-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

Island Dog, also known as Martini, relaxes poolside at Panama City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico.

Another New Adventure with Island Dog

2010-09-06T03:07:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning we are off to Tallahassee for a couple of days and then down to the Gulf Coast. Mr. Pop has business meeting for a few days and Martini and I are just going along for the fun. Fred the Cat will be spending that time at the vet’s boarding facility. I can promise you the ladies who work there are not looking forward to his visit. You would think with age he would mellow out but if you did you would be wrong.

So I’ll see you near the latter part of next week as the island dog and I are off to new places and new adventures.

Little Florida Secret

2010-09-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed this year that the future hurricane storms coming off the coast of Africa are turning up to the north before they hit Florida? Have you wondered why the cone of uncertainty suddenly turns northward? Okay here’s the scoop. The state of Florida is flying a plane out into the storms while they are crossing the Atlantic Ocean and seeding the clouds of the storms with Viagra. So far, so good.

Martini and the Groomer

2010-08-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

The man who grooms Martini also grooms all sorts of show dogs and travels around the country to do so. Today after he groomed Martini he said he looked good enough to go into any dog show ring. Then as soon as he removed his hands from Martini, Martini shook himself like a dog just getting out of the water. Then instead of looking like a dog ready for the show ring, he looked like a dog who had a fitful night of sleep.

I am glowing with pride at the groomer’s remarks about Martini’s show dog looks. The previous groomer really messed up the look of Martini’s head and face with the way she trimmed his hair. I have been brushing and combing him daily as his hair grew back and now he really does look beautiful. I think Martini knows it too as he struts around the house as if to say, “With my rocking looks and my sweet personality, who could say no to me?”. He’s right because I just gave him an extra treat.

Honoring MLK with Segregation?

2010-08-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today we saw a scant few faces at Beck’s “Restore Honor” gathering that weren’t snow white. Also at Rev. Al Sharpton’s gathering there were only a few white faces. It is so sad to me that on this day of all days there were basically segregated groups honoring MLK’s speech.

I hope one day there will be one very large gathering on this day to honor the words of this man and the faces will be all colors and in equal numbers. If Glenn Beck was truly concerned about this country he would have worked with Rev. Sharpton to make that come true this year. Now that would have been an event this country could have been truly proud of in so many ways and I think Rev. King would have liked it too..

Surprise

2010-08-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Mr. Pop told Martini and me that we were going to be traveling with him to Tallahassee and Panama City Beach next month. While he is at meetings in Panama City, Martini and I will be enjoying the prettiest beaches in the world…or at least that’s my opinion. There is no oil on the beach in Panama City and the place we will be staying is pet friendly and secluded.

I can’t think of any better news I could have gotten yesterday. Going to new places and seeing new sights is just what I need right now. I guess I’m in an August funk.

So Martini will be adding new stickers to his crate representing the beaches he has visited. He’s such a beach bum.

Now I’m in the midst of all the things that must be done to prepare for over a week away from home and I only have less that two weeks to get them all done. Preparing for a trip is almost as much fun as going on the trip. It’s all good.

The Time Has Come

2010-08-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

I think it’s time for a whole lot of Americans to just grow up and stop acting like spoiled petulant children. It’s time to take responsibility for our deeds and be even more responsible in the future. We could begin this process by welcoming the Muslim community center in New York City. The protest against the center brought out the most childish and ugliest our country has to offer. In the olden days it would be said that our country needs an adult to give this childish behavior a spanking. Today I guess it would be said they need a timeout. Acting out to get attention is something children do, adults should call out that behavior for what it is.

New Wedge Issue

2010-08-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Being against gay marriage isn’t playing as well for the right these days. It’s a wedge issue that the Republicans have played for a long time. Today thankfully more people are realizing it isn’t the frightening thing they once felt that it was.

So the Republicans need a new wedge issue before the November elections. What did they come up with? The idea of fighting the building an Islamic community center two blocks from ground zero and all its supposed negative repercussions. Sadly this new wedge issue may just work for them no matter how ridiculous their reasons appear to be.

Patience running thin

2010-08-16T07:41:00.001-07:00

I don’t know if I’m losing my patience as I grow older or maybe I never had a lot of patience to begin with, but as of late the patience meter is just broken.

All the brouhaha about Gibbs remarks about the people on the left did not bother me one bit and like him, I feel some of those same frustrations. While that was going on some Republicans were talking about changing the 14th amendment to the Constitution. Now we have the brouhaha about the Mosque that will be built a little over two blocks from where 9-11 site was in New York.

I have no patience for those who are trying to make something out of nothing and I have given you three examples of things which are getting unwarranted concern. No one was harmed by Gibbs’ words. No one is going to take an eraser to the Constitution and another Mosque being built in New York will not bring any harm to anyone.

While the right and sadly some on the left wail about these notions, the real concerns of our country seem to have been laid to rest.

Tea Party Taint

2010-08-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I almost feel sorry for the Republicans. Thanks to the folks of the tea party they are now strapped with some real strange people running for some big offices.

First they embraced these people and now they must wear them around their necks like an albatross. That’s what happens when you use people for your own selfish purposes. For a while they used the Evangelicals and then had to deal with their demands. Now they have done it again with the tea party members. Desperation creates strange and tainted tea stained bed follows.

Missing Something, I Guess

2010-08-11T04:09:00.000-07:00

I guess I just don’t get it. At a time when, as my grandmother would say, jobs are as scarce as hen’s teeth, a flight attendant gets mad throws a fit almost guaranteed to cost him his job and he becomes an overnight folk hero.

This guy forfeits his job during a time when we are told the most important focus should be on jobs and yet he is hailed for his actions? Maybe I am missing something because I just don’t see what he did as an accomplishment worthy of fame and admiration. When did losing it become cool?

Bitching for Attention?

2010-08-09T05:49:00.000-07:00

Anyone on television, radio or who writes for a newspaper who is now criticizing Mrs. Obama’s trip really should be embarrassed for being so incredibly juvenile. Seriously, is this trip bothering them that much or do they just enjoy bitching even when the subject they are bitching about is none of their business? I think they are simply screaming for attention.

Pretty in Camo

2010-08-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

Now that the Palin/Johnston wedding has been called off, what am I supposed to do with the formal camo dress that I bought to wear to the big affair?

Just look who's talking

2010-08-02T08:16:00.001-07:00

Have you noticed that many if not all the talking heads you see on TV speaking up for keeping the Bush tax cuts are the very people who benefit from those same tax cuts? Coinsidence?

Depends on the country, I guess

2010-07-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

I find it a bit ironic that the people in Arizona are all in a huff because Mexican people are walking across the border into “our country”. I bet these same people cheered as our military landed in the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan without invitation and stayed there for years to come blowing things up and leaving collateral damage in their wake.

I imagine some Iraqis and Afghan people might be in a huff about that.

Martini's New Apparel

2010-07-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did something I have never done before. I bought a lifejacket for my dog. In September we will be spending some time at a marina on the west coast of Florida and we may well be out on a boat. If we do go out on a boat Martini will be with us. Should Martini fall in the water he could swim but not for very long. So I decided it would be better to be safe than sorry.

The jacket is day-glow orange with reflective strips that would be visible in the dark. He sure won’t be making a fashion statement but this bright piece of apparel could save his life and having it sure makes the idea of boating with him, more pleasurable.

Weather and Weekends

2010-07-23T05:24:00.000-07:00

It’s breezy outside this morning and we have patchy sunshine. Since we are on the very most outer fringes of tropical storm Bonnie’s path we don’t expect much more than some rain throughout the day. Happily Martini has already been out for his walk and taken care of his necessary activities.

So this is just a day to keep an eye on the weather and stay happily snug inside the house. I can handle that, followed by another wonderful weekend with Mr. Pop and our little furry family.

One Proud Doggie Mom

2010-07-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

Because Martini hasn’t gotten to go in the car, except to the groomer, since we returned from vacation we decided to take him with us yesterday when we went to PetSmart. We needed more doggie toothpaste for him and we also needed wild birdseed.

When we got there the parking lot was just about full. I think the best stimulators of the economy are pet lovers. I put Martini inside the shopping cart and as always he looked out through the little holes in the cart. He seems to have no idea that he could stand on his back legs and look over the top edges of the cart.

He loves to peek out at the hamsters and mice in their cages. A local shelter had brought about a dozen kittens who were looking for forever homes and he enjoyed watching them too. He shows no aggression or anything he just studies all these little animals. Shoppers were watching Martini with amazement as he so gently observed these other little forms of life.

It seemed every shopper in the store had their own dog with them and as almost always with pet owners, everyone was smiling and so polite to one another. There were lots of comments shared with us about how beautiful Martini is and how sweet he is and his excellent behavior. I just can’t explain to you how large that smile on my face grew as I listened to these words. I am so proud of my little dog and I love him so much. Even Fred the Cat has nothing negative to say about his “little” brother.

Casual and Frivolous

2010-07-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

Now we are hearing that Bristol and Levi are about to get married. Okay, fine. But here’s where it gets sort of interesting. According to what was reported on MSNBC this morning, when Levi was asked if there is a reality show in their future he said he couldn’t answer that question until the end of the week. Seems to me if there were no show involved he would have just said so.

Seeing as how Bristol’s mother has figured out a million ways to make money without doing anything, it only makes sense that her daughter might follow in her path.

See now why I named this post “casual” and “frivolous”? Ever so often one just has to kick back with useless info, and you know what else, sometimes it’s fun. Fun to watch what some people will do with their lives without giving any thought to what it will mean to their future.

Will she or won't she?

2010-07-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

We are hearing a lot lately about and from Sarah Palin. Too much in my opinion.

So with her name so much in the news and the new ad for Sarah Pac, do you think she’s going to run for President in 2012 and what do you think her chances are for getting her party’s nomination?

Beck's Plan?

2010-07-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

If you are familiar with Glenn Beck’s show on FOX you know as of late he has been talking a lot about Dr. Martin Luther King and is even going so far as to hold a rally in DC on the anniversary of Dr. King’s famous Dream speech. Beck even devoted an entire program to the black founding fathers. He’s all about African Americans as of late.

Then today (Wednesday) he is railing about the case against the Black Panthers that was recently dropped by the DOJ. He continued to do his usual rant against ACORN and the President’s past association with them. That is when it dawned on me what he’s up to. He is trying to cause a divide amongst African Americans just as he caused a divide amongst Republicans with his “Tea Party”. This is his plan to hope to turn some African Americans against the President. He thinks they are as gullible as the Tea Party Republicans. His ignorance is beyond words.

Ironic?

2010-07-06T05:55:00.000-07:00

The republicans are raising hell about the national debt they are leaving to their kids but they don’t seem to give a damn about the environment they are leaving to their kids. I would like them to explain that.

Only in America?

2010-07-05T02:48:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure what to think of the way our country celebrates the 4th of July. Yesterday there were mattress sales and furniture sales. Then I turned on TV to discover there was a hotdog eating contest. Seems the contestants were professional mass quantity eaters of all sorts of foods. Do other countries have such things? Do other countries have contests where human beings eat until they almost throw up and those watching come even closer to tossing their cookies?

Joey Chestnut ate 53 hotdogs and buns in ten minutes. I on the other hand managed to down one in twenty minutes. I have no future in the professional massive quick consumption world.

So if you bought a mattress or furniture on sale, good for you. But if you ate hotdogs until you about passed out, I doubt you are feeling so good today.

Tuning out the noise

2010-06-29T08:57:00.001-07:00

Since we returned from vacation I have not immersed myself in politics and it feels so good. I keep up with the generalities but I don’t get bogged down in the back and forth. Maybe it’s the summer heat or the need for a little more down time for my brain, but for now I will leave most of the squabbling to those who get paid to do it.

I had rather be laying on the floor playing with Martini or sitting on the patio trying to figure out what makes Fred the Cat tick than listen to talking heads on television telling me what I should feel or think. Life is truly too short to waste some of it feeling frustrated by the words of people who play no direct part in our lives.

Sometimes we just have to tune out the noise and appreciate the silence.

Martini Watch

2010-06-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

Martini went to the groomer this week to have the sand and salt spray washed out of his hair. Mr. Pop said that he went to the groomer to have the barnacles scraped off after his beachy days. So now Martini is all squeaky clean and totally beautiful again.

Remember that little song that kids sing about “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands”? Well, I changed the words to that a little for Martini. I changed it to: If you’re hungry and you know it bark your bark. Then: If you’re hungry and you know it then your bark will surely show it, if you’re hungry and you know it bark your bark. Martini has learned each time I sing “bark” at the end of those sentences to actually bark. He learned this in just two days. The little dude is so very smart to have a brain that has to be so very small.

McCrystal, Ignorant or Vengeful?

2010-06-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

I don’t know what will happen today with General McCrystal but in my opinion, based on the quotes by the General himself and his close aids, he appears to be either ignorant or vengeful. We have to wonder what his words say to the people our soldiers are fighting against in Afghanistan. If they are aware of his words, it can’t be good for our soldiers. When the General heading up the fight says negative things about his own Commander in Chief, it would seem to give the enemy a sense of superiority. That is not what our soldiers or our country needs to be broadcast right now.

As for the media, we all know damned well they already have a negative story written no matter what the President does today. When did it become necessary to always counter the President’s decisions with a negative construct?

Martini, the Beach Bum

2010-06-21T02:38:00.000-07:00

I have never seen a dog who loves the beach the way Martini does. I think he would spend the rest of his life just sitting on the beach if he could. He doesn’t want to chase the birds or bother anything, he just wants to sit on a towel under the big beach umbrella and watch everything and everyone.

When he wasn’t on the beach last week he was begging to go there. He met another little Yorkie named “Sassy”. She was full grown and weighed only three pounds. Sassy was very shy and fearful of the hunky seven and a half pound Martini. Martini said she was too little and I agree.

So we are back from a week of sun and fun. Today it’s back to the old grind and time to face the ton of dirty clothes we brought back with us. While I spend the morning doing laundry I imagine Martini will be sleeping in his bed and dreaming of once again being on the beach.

All packed and ready to roll

2010-06-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

Almost everything is packed and in the car. We’ll take Fred the Cat to be boarded in the morning and we’re out of here until next Saturday. I have no idea what Sanibel and Captiva beaches will look like this time next year so we are going to enjoy the hell out of them next week.

I’m telling you we are such trend setters. The President will be going to the Gulf coast too this week. Sadly, he will not be going for fun, food and adult beverages as we will.

I’m sure Martini remembers going to the beach last year because every time I ask him if he’s ready to go to the beach he gets excited and dances all around. Come to think of it, that’s the way I act too when someone asks me that same question.

See ya next weekend.