Happiness is a Way of Travel and Not a Destination

 Hurrah, my Elkie is bathed and soft and smelling undog-like. She is hanging by me post-dinner as I write this. We went to Petco, as I can no longer handle the upstairs bath routine. This is better, plus they do the nails & ears. Another puppy expense. And we are set here until Wednesday instead of swapping today. Pissed me off, but I am not upset with Elkie. She's a love. And I am excited that my Wine Guild club is meeting in person again July 21st. Schug Winery is featured, I know nothing about them. Tastings have been virtual since last surge (November).    So nice to see people enjoying wine . A lovely spot in the Sonoma area. I love vineyards, having grown up on a farm with a vineyard of wine grapes that we sold to the local winery - Franzia. I used to 'ride' the tractor up the hill and down as a child. Later my Dad pulled out the vines, leveled and sold the sand and planted with more almonds. Bought a couple of whites last night at Von's Market. Decided I woul...

  Let me start my blog with Elkie. She does ground me, in so many ways. We have a rhythm that is predictable. Up at 6am, breakfast at 7, nap at 9...you know the routine. Take a walk, run an errand, snooze in the kennel, outside to the garden, dinner, short walk and then cuddle & clean up time in front of the TV. Today I feel off-balance. Not sure why, though I was suppose to have lunch (my treat for his birthday) with Dan, who I met 25+ years ago. He introduced me to old-time country music and 2 stepping. Retired navy with one adult son in Michigan. We were involved for a few years (twice), then we decided to just be friends. On and off friends who enjoyed movies, country music, watching football on Sundays. Have seen a whole lot less of him the last 2 years...he calls occasionally for a 60 second conversation. Occasionally we do something together. Today he came over to show me something (I won't go into that) and to tell me he didn't want to go out to lunch.  Okay...but ...

  June 24, 2021                                                              Here's Elkie checking her Scent Male.  I spend quite a bit of time with email. Too much time perhaps, certainly too much time online. My 'lifeline' during the pandemic might be the ice berg that sinks my diet, and my health. Glad I got out for a nice long 60 minute 3-mile walk this morning. Ran into some former neighbors (who were not all that neighborly) coming back toward my street. They crossed the street and called out my name, so we chatted and did a practice Elkie greet. They did well and Elkie is learning. So my co-raiser last Saturday before our Sunday swap texts me that she believes Elkie has kennel cough, contracted 'at the vet's office'. Which is highly unlikely. Her boarding dog & her dog Willow show no ...

  Feels good to get away for a couple of nights with friends. Del & Jerine are my oldest (made) friends in San Diego. Jerine worked for me at IBM. The Orchard Hill Country Inn is only an hour away at an elevation of 4,000 ft. It was warm, but this hidden jewel was a pleasant surprise where the staff treats you like an old friend. A gourmet breakfast was included and we enjoyed on the patio both mornings. It felt like an escape from the congestion of the city, a place where your needs were attended to. Happy hour every day also included, gourmet appetizers with wine/beer/sodas. And the grounds were perched high above the little town of Julian, though walking distance to everything we needed.  I had a mission, too. I needed a new comfy hat with a brim for walking and wearing outside to protect my face from the bright sun. And luckily I found exactly what I wanted, but I found a second one that I had to have. So from now on, going outside, don a hat! Here's my 'dress' hat ...

  Elkie is a creature on a learning path - goal 30 commands by turn in February 2022 and having the temperment to 'serve'.  Now, in many ways I am also on a learning path - with the prime goal of living an intentional life of strength, health and positivity. As for the temperment to serve...well, I have been doing that since 2004 when I became a non-profit fundraiser. No reason to stop now.  Elkie aced the 'under', 'down', 'stay' commands this morning...followed by 'here'.

  June 11, 2021 I am a refugee from SparkPeople. The best feature was making new friends across the world and the vicarious thrill of seeing into their lives. It felt good to get to know people on the level of intimacy blogging and commenting on each others posts provides.  My first blog is about my pup... just 9 months old Golden Retriever / Lab cross. Her name is Elkie and she was 'known' on SparkPeople. Future service dog (I hope with a few tears) she is a love, smart as a whip and a canine vacuum cleaner, often inhaling things no dog should.  We will be together through February 2022. I share raising her with another person.  That's it, that's all...want to get moving on some other things and really needing to spend some time here to make it pretty and welcoming like ONEKIDSMOM. Please bear with me.