Sometimes I really hate being a girl...

I have tortured myself over getting a different car since you just can't tied kayaks to a Celica. So I have shopped the internet, test drove cars and literally drove myself crazy choosing something. I knew that I wanted a truck but the jury was out between a Dodge and a Toyota. I love Toyotas but they are expensive. I was going to use whatever I could get for my celica towards the truck.

I gathered all my strength and scheduled an appointment with CarMax. I heard good things about them...so I committed the day to doing this. 11 am I was there, optimistic and enthusiastic. I test drove a few and fell in love. A mere 4 and a half hours later my love and I drove off. The ordeal left me starving and a bit weary. So I get home and Rich goes for a ride with me. He's sold, we go around the block and come back to park in our driveway. He says "pop the hood." And thats when everything went down the tubes...there's rust where there shouldn't be, we get on our backs in 90 plus weather and look at the under carriage RUST and MUD! So I (we) will return to CarMax tomorrow to try again...poops!

a new height in Geek-dom

We went to Tahoe for the big GeoCaching event. Geeks from around the globe gathered...the funny thing was this event coincided with Tahoe's (self proclaimed) "Opening Day." That means there were those of us, GPS in hand on the same streets with the margarita by the yard drinking Nevadans mixed in with the snobs from Heavenly Village (yes, they're trying to compete with Squaw)...we almost got lost in the fray but wound up doing a bit of it all. We found four caches, went into MontBleu, Rich checked out the W oars (purposely misspelled) dressed in four inch platform patent leather boots, watched the motocross crazies flipping and ate at Wolfgang Puck Express...The place was PACKED and by 3 I suggested we get home to our normal crazies...oh and we started our Tahoe adventure seeing something that I've never seen before...we turned from the highway to skirt the city hub and out runs this adult bear, I SWEAR, Rich initially didn't slow down cause it was sooooooo surreal... but of course he did stop. The bear gave us the paw and didn't stop to say hi! Happy father's day to all you fathers out there!

Rich's birthday weekend

We went to Pops in the Park with the Pyles....thats a lot of "P's." Edda made birthday pie and Mark and Rich wore the same outfits...oh my! Besides that, just relaxing...ps. found how to link Flickr pictures...check out Kelly's Memorial Weekend...damn bunch of photogenic folk!

a delish four day weekend

Starting out Thursday night with a Pyle visit, followed by Friday's visit to CR Loo. We went to this glass warehouse store in Richmond and we both bought some cool stuff.
Then as planned we meet with Cookie, Tom and Ian in China Town. Oh muy gawd...we have the most delish greasy meal ever, including salt an pepper deep fried crab....with the shell still on. Always great to catch up with family "face to face" plus with Ian going to UCSF this fall, we should be seeing all of them more regularity.

Then Saturday...catch up,cleaned the dogs, cooking and chores, for the evening we watched "Music and Lyrics" Cute and simple movie. Happy anniversary to us!

Sunday we were finally able to relax, we went and saw "Knocked up!" It was good...Freaks and Geeks good, not 40 year old Virgin good.

Then today we drove to Sausilito at 3:30am to go deep sea fishing. We wound up getting skunked but it was an adventure. Only two guys "hooked up" on 23 and the other 18 lbs.

Now back to work-but only a four day work week.

Meeps is in the building

Not too sure what's going on but he's up to his old tricks. He has five new scratches on me and has bit Rich's knee...that's our Meepers!!! Now for two weeks he is quarantined and we can limit our petting time to one half hour...it goes quick. But he's home, he may need a second treatment but its all worth it. Thanks for the well wishes....but he not totally ready for his unveiling....ps. Rich and I are going to SF today to connect with his Sister, her hubby and our nephew...very exciting and tomorrow is our 17th wedding anniversary.

Kellys Camping

Rich and I, Tig and Allie ventured to Kelly's for a quick camping trip. It was perfect...friends, beading, Coronas, live music, birthday girls, camping kids covered in marshmallow, summer, dirt, joy, sunshine and a little bug repellent.

Plus got home to this update on Meeps, "he's peeing, pooping, eating and drinking...that's all we expect at his point...call you Tuesday with a geigercounter(sp?) reading to confirm when he can come home. Well tomorrow's Tuesday...I'll keep you all posted. K

conspriring was involved

Greg and I were working on a birthday gift for Rich (Rich's bday is 6/10) Thinking I'm pretty smart enlisted the skills of a talented artist...I provided the canvas and Greg the talent. I thought it would be cool to have a spare tire cover, that ties Rich's FJ license plate reference to "Rocket Man." Yesterday while I drove home Greg called asking if we could give Rich his birthday gift early...I insisted no, we would have to wait, that its important that we all have something special on our natal day...so he came over for more conspiring. The moment he showed it to me, I was sold...so we gave it to Rich. YEAH, then only to be disappointed that it didn't freaking fit. Its still such a cool piece of art, we are just going to have to mount it and display it. Happy memorial day...Meeps is good, next update will come in on Sunday. Hugz

Meeps is baking as I type

the vet hosp just called, drained of energy i can't even capitalize...ive cried off and on all day. being a fairly chipper person, people (good meaning or otherwise) want to get all up in my grill cause i'm not surrounded by my usual blue disney birds but this kicked my ass. all walls keeping my emotions in check crumbled when they took my baby behind closed doors. now don't get me wrong, all the people that i encountered there were real "animal" people, educated and enthusiastic...but if Einstein took meeps away i wouldnt feel any better with his genius.

he was so brave...if i can figure out the technology i will share the photos from my phone. the vet walked in on our conversation, and asked what i was doing...my response, dahhhhhh I am taking pictures of my cat.

so riding the emotional waves this afternoon I made it through all my chores and was making dinner. then the call came in from nuclear....something something on caller id. i pick up immediately (after the synapse fired) and carol informed me that meepers was mid process and she was giving me an update. the tumors that they found are graded from 1 to 4 and the first one they found was a three and the other one was larger than a 4 (how can you have a range that caps at 4 and then rate it above 4??????????) So i lost it but ultimately he is where he needs to be. can't wait to know he's ok and home....I guess this is one of those "good news/bad news" posts. he may have to stay longer...my heart is just sick but logic brings me around that he's in the best place possible. my tummy and heart hurts. thanks for the positive thoughts, dare i ask for more?

Radio iodine therapy

I'm taking Meepers in tomorrow for Radio Iodine Therapy...if they accept him, they will give him a subcutaneous injection...leaving him radio active for 7 to 10 days. We have been treating him with pills twice a day for almost three years (can you believe he's eight?) managing his hypothyroidism.

When he returns home, we have to have limited access for the following month. I packed a bag of food, his bowl, a towel and a small stuff animal. Please join me in sending him good thoughts tomorrow. We are going to miss him sooooo much, through his special way, he keeps all of us "in line."

Tour DeCure

Today we rode 25 miles for the American Diabetes Association, for us and many of our loved ones. We got some wonderful donations, couldn't have done it without them and all we had to do was ride. We rode until both our asses were numb. Plus to make the event more special, we had a pot luck at one of my Doctor's house last night. He was quite a host, his wife was wonderful and the company made the evening very special. We lounge around his pool, noshed some yummy bits and enjoyed the entire cast of characters. Its quite weird to combine "work life" with "weekend/normal world." And you know what, it was perfect. My new company is filled with crazies. And I'm so thankful...First Health eat my shorts! Back to numb butts...some folks rode 10 miles, some joined us for the 25 mile ride and the studs rode 50 or even 75 miles. Our Sacramento office is quite competitve with our San Ramon office... in donation and participation-we kicked their numb butts to the curb. Thanks again to my family and friends for donating and confirming that our commitment was a "worthwhile endeavor."

We did Race for the Cure on Saturday

Its always a surreal and personal experience. As you run you see different names of family and friends that have lost their battle with Breast Cancer. Rich and I enjoy the experience and appreciate the opportunity to give back a little. We have the Diabetes bike ride next weekend.

Love to My momma and all you mommas out there!!! Here's us at the Haceinda in Folsom this morning!!!! Then shopping with the three ladies....look out!!!!

the saddest of news

We have found out that our dear friend, Sandy Crowder has passed away. Of his forty eight years, our circles of friends have overlapped for more than twenty years~Rich and I intermitently just cry. Even though you may not see someone all the time, they may still hold a special place in your heart. I remember him being there celebrating my twenty first birthday, I remember Thanksgivings with him and a outrageous birthday of Richs involving golf and the Zebra Club.

I remember him expanding our circle of friends with his friends and family. Plus the Bocce Ball Tournaments were soooooooooooooooo fun for us, reconnecting with him, at his ranch in Lotus, all with one goal in mind~FUN! Sandy embodied joy and a love of life. Please enjoy these pictures and though our circle of friends is now smaller...it just mean those of you, our rare friends and family, in our lives are that much more important.
Life is precious and delicate~love you all!!!

to dye or not to dye...

Ok, my friend Nick came over for a play date. I wanted to tie dye sheets and initally they came our great...then I washed them...they turned dingy and lost there sparkle. Was my mistake only using Rit dye?

never knew how much I hate roosters....

What the hells up with all the roosters? No matter what time you go to sleep, it wasn’t a guarantee of a good nights sleep, between fishermen yelling to each other at 5am before they head out and the frackin roosters. Someone at the Oasis Hotel needs to re-locate those bastages…or make a nice stew!

The next morning we pack all our gear, and still have a left over bag that goes to Skip and Bevs for safe keeping. No sense lugging unnecessary weightsince we had to carry are gear in our kayak from island to island. We head out in vans to our “put in spot” and the first problem that we notice is the ruder doesn’t work….Chewie with Paddling South actually said something about how this would really screw the perro! Ha! 45 minutes of gerry rigging it, they got it at least secured. We are four tandems kayaks and two singles for our guides. We head to a national aquatic preserve after a short kayak, when we toured in the San Juan Islands we kayaked six hours a day…here its more like 2-3. Once we landed, I realized that this was the most remote camping that I’ve ever done. Just the 10 of us…like Survivor! …or LOST! During the day is was super hot so we did loads of snorkeling and the other Richard did do the best Jaws theme ever! foreshadowing The first days hike took us up in elevation (yes Rich had his GPS there) over 1200 feet to the other side of the island. When we got there we were treated with that afternoons dolphin show…unbelievable. We found dolphin bones, what a trip! On the hike back we were joined by a tarantula…at this point its sinking in that this desert paradise has risks too.

The guides, Antonio and Jorge were always finding ways to tire us out so we hiked, kayaked and snorkled most every day…by the end…there was a little mutiny. The next day while kayaking, we saw

The Rooster theme was haunting us…but isn’t this frackin cool fish. I wonder what the creator was thinking with this one!?! Although this was impressive, it was the surrounding school of shark that really freaked me out. They followed the rooster fish was circled around and the funky dorsal fin surrounded by single dorsal fins FINS> Rich and I were intrigued and then blown away when the entire school went under our boats. The water is crystal clear and we could see these 4 plus foot fish…the guides reverted to Spanish and they said, “nooooooooooooo those aren’t sharks” but I don’t believe them. See the picture, that’s exactly what these fish looked like, minus fisherman, boat ect. The last picture is of a bat ray, these were so cool, the would horizonaly jump a foot out of the water…looked like they were jumping for joy.

Next nights wildlife encounter was a rattlesnake and swarms of bees. Thankfully they canceled that days hike. And as a point to how rustic it was, we pulled up to one beach, and Jorge points confirming the bathroom was designated beyond the barbed wire fence…you needed to grab the shovel, dry bag with TP and the ammo box (for which to burn your TP) you must dig a minimum of 6 inches to do your business-oi, I paid for this adventure didn’t I…I could have been down by the pool with a drink with an umbrella in it, a shower, bed, tv…oh I digress…

The next installment will have highlights of the hours that we spent throwing rocks at rocks and collecting seashells that we couldn’t take home…so we just took pictures of them….

Intermission....

Rich figured out a way to make Pizza on the grill with clay tiles...yummy

putting it to words

I'm finding it daunting how to put to words just a fab-bo vackay and do justice to both my fam and new friends....so its early sat morning, one cup of coffee down and I;ll try to smack this outta the park. We arrived in Loreta two sat.s ago, checked in and walked to my uncle and aunts place. Lo and behold it was two blocks from our hotel. Uncle Skip and Aunt Bev were sooooooo welcoming and really helped us get our bearings there. Rich and I haven't traveled together, to another country, where we didn't speak the language. And its freakin unbelievable how much the communication thang can prohibit us from getting a beer/ride/hotel room/pizza ect... So the first night we went all around Loreta, learning were the ATM was (it spits out peso...very important) safe and good places to eat, ice cream shop, the church (mind you we were there Easter week...loads of church activities), the store and base camp of Skip and Bevs. Plus we experienced Skippy's high fiber Tequilla Sunrise, twice the pulp and no skimp on the booze! Even bigger surprise was finding out the my cousin, Ali and his family was showing up the next day. Now I haven't seen Ali since my dads funeral 11 years ago.

So before our kayak adventure begins, we get to have Sunday night dinner with the bigger Houser gang. Yeah and another Skipper drink...Pina Coloda...all these drinks that I've stayed away (I am and idiot!) now mind you we are shoving off 7am, the next morning with six other crazys and two guides to kayak from island to main land to island just outside of Loreto. That's when my Uncle Skip at Sunday dinners says to Bev, "I'm not going to tell them the story" Bev counters" good don't." Nothing can really stop Skipper from telling a story, so they go back and forth a couple times only resulting in him telling all of us the story of the kayaking guide who got stuck between the mainland and the Isle of Carmen in the Wind. She called in to the Marina Captain that she was in trouble, her guidee's had returned to the island but she was trying to make it back across...and she was in trouble. Now mind you she's on a channel that anyone could listen to, so all these other fishermen were listening to her cries for help. Two and a half hours of it until she lost her battle with the sea. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhKay, time for us to go and start our adventure!!!...no words were exchanged between Rich and I on our walk back to the hotel that night...more later.

We're BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Greatest Vackay ever, perfect balance of family, new friends and adreneline pumping adventuring...more to follow lata but for now, here's a taste!!!!