Road Trip

 It's time to pull out the car games, fill up the tank, and get on the road!  Wes and I (and of course, my three tag-a-longs) are driving 390 miles tomorrow to get from Eugene, OR to my hometown, Leavenworth, WA.  It should be a day filled with adventure as we drive by Multnomah Falls, through a gorge full of giant wind turbines, and eventually trek over snowy mountain passes...and that doesn't include the multitude of beautiful parks rest stops we will probably visit.  

In preparation for the trip, it is necessary to plan ahead and pack the car the night before to avoid leaving an hour and a half behind schedule.  I have spent the day cooking, cleaning, and packing...ever so carefully to not disturb or stress the chis.  They know something is up when I'm running around like a mad person, and rebel by getting sick. It's like clock work. Angus was sacrificed to long-term care at the vet on our way out of town one Saturday morning.  If I didn't know any better, I would think he had planned it.  No other boarding facility would give him 24 hour care, feed him the finest organic entrees, or carry him around tucked under an arm before being passed to the next.  Of course, he didn't have to foot the bill at the end of his "hotel" visit either.  We all could have stayed at the Waldorf for his 3-day stint.  Regardless, with the luggage, the strollers, the tote bags, and car seat, it makes me glad I'm only packing for the dogs.  I don't know where children would fit if I had them. 

Pet Adoption

This story was featured on Mental_Floss, and I couldn't resist sharing it.  I could only hope my trio would be as gentle as HuaHua!

"In China, a chihuahua named HuaHua has adopted a chick. For whatever reason, the dog began to take care of the bird almost immediately after it was brought home. When the chick strays too far from it’s cot, HuaHua scoops the bird up in her mouth and walks the chick back to safety. As you can see, the chick looks delighted with this arrangement."

Rain, rain...go away!

The daffodils are blooming, the sun is setting later, and the Easter decorations are filling the aisles at Target...Spring is in the air!  Or is it?  The 10-day forecast is calling for cold, stormy, windy weather.  I am ready for some sunshine!  I found these pictures of a day at the beach last summer with the chis.  It gives some hope and inspiration to see that Oregon can have beautiful weather:-)

Dutch loves burying his face, and rolling in the sand.

Lola searching for a "bridge" to cross the 1" of streaming water:-)

Still searching...

Going to the dogs

Since I don't have children to dress up, I invest in another kind of wardrobe...for the chihuahuas.  My excuse is that they get cold easily, so they must wear a sweater.  If it's raining, a trench.  If it's snowing...well, then we pull out the snow boots to keep their little toes paws warm.  To coordinate their attire, they need a piece de resistance...a collar. Think of it as the big bow that is twice the size of the child's head to which it's attached.  Is that considered to be rediculous?  No, because it pulls the ensemble together.  If it serves a purpose, it's justified. 

 I love seeking out doggie boutiques when visiting new towns.  The best ones I have found are in California.  As Strasburg Children is to the South, Fifi and Romeo Dog Boutique is to California.  Do you remember the wardrobe Reese Witherspoon wore in Legally Blonde, and matched accordingly to her chihuahua, Bruiser?  It was Fifi and Romeo that fashioned the unique clothing, and therefore rightfully draws in a celebrity crowd. Riff-raff are also allowed, but must be "buzzed" in to this chic store in Los Angeles. 

Coming in at 2nd Place is Diggidy Dog, a quaint boutique in Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Carmel is known for being dog friendly, catering to dogs in restaurants, offering their own menu, and leaving water bowls at every shop entrance down Ocean Avenue.  Their selection of clothing, collars, bedding, accessories, and treats (located in the "bakery" section of the store) is superior to any fine dog store I've been to, including, do I dare say, Harrod's in London (who I'll give the 3rd Place prize to).  I love that Diggidy Dog carries their own line of adorable outfits in addition the mainstream brands that are well-known in the doggy couture world.  However, if "Diggidy Dog" or "Little Lily" labels are not distinguished enough, they have another section for the truly posh pooch.  Chanel, D&G, and Dior fabrics have been handcrafted into haute couture coats to keep your fur baby warm.

Lola in F&R

The name of the game

It's Monday...a long ways from Friday.  To lighten the mood, I wanted to share a few fun finds!  Games always seem to liven up any situation...a rainy Saturday, the last three hours before clocking out at work,  a college party, or a long, boring car ride.  I stumbled upon uncommongoods.com and found this, among other fabulous finds that they offer...

The Duh Game: 50 Questions You Actually Have a Shot at Answering.  THIS is going in the shopping cart, as well as this...

Just in case you feel like playing, but don't want to commit to an unsightly green monstrosity in your living room, this portable ping pong is just the answer.  It may have once been acceptable as doubling as a dining room table (never in my house), but alas I am no longer 20 and this invention has offered a solution to the aesthetically conscious. 

What games have you played lately?:-)

Where to next?

School is over. Forever. Or at least until I decide to attempt grad school, which seems to be the popular choice these days.  For now, I'm sticking with my first claim.  This means I need to do something productive since "studying" is no longer a viable excuse for what is filling up my day.  To get started on the next few days of the rest of my life I have composed the following list of to-do's...

# 1: Write a resume
#2: Have resume polished by "expert resume builder/executive hiring manager" (aka my extremely opinionated mother)
# 3: Find better resources for job postings...Craigslist can't be the only place to look. Being a bartender or a seasonal painter isn't on my career path, unless that's really all there is to do in this town.  And according to Craigslist, it is.
#4: Try not to settle.  Beggars CAN be choosers...right?

Good morning, Starbucks!

Cold and rainy Mondays require incentive to get out of bed...mine was Starbucks.  There is nothing like a hot cup of coffee to give that needed high to start the day.  Added bonus:  I found an empty Starbucks coffee bean bag in a kitchen drawer that I had saved a few months ago.  That's right, I saved 75 cents on my tall cup of the day in exchange for handing over my garbage recycling.  Win/win.