November 15

I headed off to bible study at my new church after finding my faucet had separated and had water pouring all over under the sink.  I was determined to attend.  What a great bunch of women.  Hershey and Josie stayed in their crate in the garage.

They love to play on the carpet.  That is a no no as they tend to leave a mess.  I don't know whether to leave or stay.

The rental people told me not to expect it to be fixed until tomorrow.  I guess we eat out tonight!  Nice.

On Saturday, Larry and I rode bikes from the house. (Okay I walked it down to the first street.) It is only 5 miles from down town with a bike path the whole way.  Awesome.  We watch the America's cup practice races from the Broadway pier.  So much fun.  After that we stopped at Tradder Joes for food.  Fit it into my bike bag and then rode home.  Larry took the dogs to the dog park to exercise them and then we had our neighbors over for wine and cheese.  So much fun.

It's October and we are in San Diego.

Where did the time go and what is happening?

Hershey and Josie are adapting well to their new place.  We take walks at Liberty Station or at Shelter Island.  Then at the end of the day we hit the dog park.

We got a new car - MDX where Josie already chewed the seat belt on the trip to Palm Springs. $450.00.  She has chewed Hershey's collar two times already.

Here is the view from the golf course where we had Sunday brunch.

We took the dogs to the dog park after brunch on Saturday and took the tram up.  It was so much cooler up there. The dogs stayed in the hotel room.

Lake Tahoe

The dogs and I have been banished to our home in Lake Tahoe so we can show our house in San Jose.

Jose came up here with a cone on her head.  She was then boarded at the vet because she was having a hard time keeping quiet and I went to San Diego to check out homes to buy.

We found quite a few fixers in the Point Loma area of San Diego.  Our hotel was way up by Larry's work.  It seems different to go to work there and come home at night that to pack everything you might want to do in a day and then return.

We would love to have a view of the ocean and be able to take our dogs to Dog Beach every day.  Ocean Beach is a fun community.

We now have to fix up our Tahoe house and prepare it for renters.  We leave on Labor Day to find a house to rent in San Diego.  We are afraid it will take too long to sell our San Jose House.
The dogs enjoy the beach here at Tahoe.

We love sitting and watching all the traffic in the San Diego Bay go by.  Larry spent two days of vacation painting the inside of his boat.  Now he has three days of work and then off to San Diego.

Wine Dog

First we took a quick trip up to Tahoe, where Larry fixed the dishwasher.  I noticed the hot tub was low and there was water around the tub.  The tub had a link in the heater element.

Low level of water

Water along bottom of hot tub

This is the part that needed to be replaced.

Josie is almost 5 months old.  She is about 40 pounds.  I was trying to figure out how big she will be compared to Hershey.

Hershey's picture of her paw came out distorted.

Now for the wine dog story.  Larry and I just enjoyed a wonderful meal and were sitting down to enjoy our last glass of Peachy Cannon zin.  I was in the reclinder and Larry was on the couch.  Josie jumped up on the chair with me.  I yelled, "Get off!"  She saw Larry on the couch and leaped over. Wine spilled everywhere.  She became a poke-a-dot dog and Larry and wine all over his shirt.

The wine did not seem to bother Josie at all.

We took the walk up the hill to the half way path.  Josie and Hershey enjoy their walks.  A house burned on Sunday on Moraga.  It was a five bedroom just like ours.  The worst was over the living room.  So sad. :(

Work on the House Completed While Dogs Were in Tahoe

We had the house painted and new garage doors installed.

We also had the cabinets refaced.

My iphone does not take the best photos.

But then again, it could be the photographer.  Ramon came and cleaned the house but you would not know by the mess the dogs have aready made. :(

Off to Tahoe for another adventure.

Pet Toy Evaluator

Somehow, I need to contact the dog toy manufacturers   and let them know I have a good quality control department.  If their toy makes it through Hershey and Josie - it is a good one.

As you can see the rope toy with the ball inclosed is not longer recognizable.  The other toys are in process of being evaluated.

SO dog toy manufacturers let me know if you have a toy for my dogs to evaluate.

Pup Back From Tahoe

I had to leave Josie and Hershey in Tahoe while the painters came.  After the painters finished, the cabinet refacer came.  It was a long mess in my house.

Then we left for Indiana to go see Alex's wedding.  It was so fun to see family. But the trip there was not too good.

First the American Airlines plane before ours to Dallas had mechanical problems so they gave the ealier flight our plane. So we had to wait 2 hours to fly out of San Jose.  Of course we missed our next flight, so they had us wait for the 8 pm flight just in case a seat became available on that one.  So much fun to sit around an airport for 3 hours waiting for a flight.

Yes the 8 pm flight is booked so now they gave us a room voucher, a meal vouchers for dinner and breakfast.  We took the shuttle to the Comfort Inn and moved into a 90 degree room.  After the air conditioner worked the room became cool enough to sleep in.  We caught the 6 am shuttle to go back to the airport.  We were awarded the last two seats on the plane.  Here is our view...

We landed on time, retrieved our rental car, and drove to the Residence Inn in Carmel, IN.  We had two hours to find lunch, shower and change for the wedding.  My parents were driving over from Zionsville to pick us up.

July in Indiana is always hot.  We drove to Noblesville to the main park which had an inside facility which housed the wedding.  I was able to hold Violet during the ceremony.  It was a double wedding with one of the grooms cousins renewing their vows.

Alex looked grown up and his wife so beautiful.  They will had a rough road but love can cover alot of troubles.  Violet, their baby, seems so well adjusted.

Here is my brother Chis and Violet.

After the wedding we went to Mom's and Dad's for a visit to watch the Tour de France.  Jim met us there.  Afterwards we went over to Jim's to visit with him and his family.  So much fun!  We had omlets at 10:30 at night.  Deni is a great cook.

Sunday was spent at church with Chris and his family.  Yes he had Violet.  Then we had lunch with Jim and his family - BBQ porkchops, corn on the cob, watermelon and fresh pineapple.  It was great.  We then went to the pool with the younger ones.  After that we left to watch the Tour De France and go out to an early dinner with Mom and Dad.  At night we were able to watch the Carmel fireworks from our hotel room.  They were great and lasted over 30 minutes.

Monday up early and back on the plane.  No problems.  Back in San Jose but no dogs.

Tuesday, I drove up to Tahoe to pick up the dogs.  We took them to Kiva Beach.  Hershey and Sammy love to swim and find the toy.  Josie is a bit afraid of the water but will go out about 3 feet.  It is not relaxing to take three dogs to the beach.  Nathan had the day off so we relaxed together before he had to leave for a seach and rescue training.

Wednesday, I drove back to San Jose with my two dogs.  I am glad Nathan and Kristen took such good care of them.  By afternoon I was back in class.

I can't believe it is June

My students want me to bring in the puppy.  They don't know what they are in for.  They loved having Hershey visit this year but the puppy is trouble.  Tomorrow is graduation.  I have been trying to clean up my room.

So far, Josie wakes up around 3 or 4 am ready to play.  I am tired and want to sleep.  She barks.  I don't know what to do.  Any suggestions?

I have taken her on walks around the block.  She pulls a bit on her collar and I stop and tell her not to pull.  We don't want fast or go very far yet.  I want to improve this soon.

Josie loves to chew magazines and newspapers.  Today she ate through a bag of lentils.  They do go crunch when you chew them.  I hope they don't make her sick.

My neighbors cut down their trees so now I have a great view of their house :(  The back yard is no longer shaded and I notice the fence is very old.

This weekend we need to clear out the garage because on Monday I should have my new garage doors.  How exciting.  I will see how Josie and Hershey do with construction workers around.  Next the house will get painted.

Larry does like to nap with Josie.

Now what!

Yesterday, Josie decided to turn into a dalmation.  She found mud and was spotted all over.  She looked cute.  But trouble.  She can climb up on our dining room table whenever she wants.  So we have to keep the chairs pushed in.

She loves to wake up at 5 am and is ready to go for the day even when I am not.  The vet said she can start walking out of the yard on Friday but still does not have her rabies shot.

When she is tired she sleeps.  Hershey and Josie play a lot but Josie likes to have me there.  She now barks if I am not in the same room with her.  When I was making dinner, I dropped the califlower stem.  Josie grabbed it and ran outside.  I was able to persuade her that dogs do not really like califlower.

She now weighs 20 pounds.  So she has doubled her weight in just over 4 weeks.  She is always hungry.  She eats so fast she tries to take Hershey's food as well.  I think I need to get Josie the special dish to slow down eating.

Watch that puppy!

Thursday night, Andrew came home to play with Josie before leaving for Camp Roberts in the morning.  I am up first and out the door because I teach and like to be in a 7 am.  Larry was watching Josie but forgot about the bag of food left from his cancelled back country skiing adventure.

Josie ate through the bag and found the instant oatmeal.  What a mess.  But then there is more.  Larry left and now Andrew was in charge.  Josie has learned to jump up on a chair and then walk out and jump up on our kitchen table.  The bag of food was a target again.  Josie ate trail mix - chocolate and peanuts.  Andrew says he does not want to puppy sit.  He is not good at it.

Needless to say - this did not agree with her and the evidence was everywere.  Vomit on family room couch on 4 cushions, on the dog bed inside the cart, on the dog bed on the floor, on the throw rug...
Earl forgot to let me know before I walked in the door.

We were worried about the pup she had been sick since Thursday night and I had put her on a rice only diet and now this eating spree.

I think they have both survived.  Now I just need to wash the couch cushions but I need to wait for the rain to shop.

I need to find someone to watch the puppys for memorial day weekend when we are suppose to go see Larry's parents in Denver.

San Diego Trip

I could not take Josie on the plane with me so I need to find someone to take care of her on Friday and Saturday.  I think she had the time of her life.  My aide at work, Charlene Urakami, had two high school boys who were ready to try to watch a new pup and Hershey.

I was sacred to let her out of my site but I think Hershey and Josie had a better time with the Urakami family than then have here at home.  Here are some pictures.

This one is so good it needs to by my new screen saver.

I don't think Josie did their garden any good as she is slowly tearing mine to pieces.  Josie is learning how to dig and tear apart plants.  She did damage to the Urakami's back yard.  Here she is in action.

Hershey had a great time there as well.

It actually looks like Hershey is smiling.  Both dogs play together so well.  Hershey is so patient.  I can't wait until Josie has all her shots and I can take them both out for walks.

Another Week

Josie has doubled in size.  Her favorite spot in the evening is still Larry's lap.

She has destroyed the screen door.  It was already partially ripped by Sammy. But she did a job on it.  Now I was to just take it down.  All for now, I need to get ready for work.

Today we sailed.

And no I did not take Jose or Hershey.  They stayed home safe in their crates.  And the crates were dry when we arrived home.

I feel this pictures says, "Who, Me?"  "No, I didn't do it."

They play with each other all the time.

It takes 1 hour to drive to the boat and 1 1/2 hours to put boat in water and get into the bay.

But it is worth it.

We could have sailed for hours more but we had to get back for the puppies!

Slept through the night!

My first night of sleeping throught the night without a 3 am "let me out cry".  It felt great.

The dogs seem to get along.  I do hear the puppy yelp. I don't know if it is because she is biting Hershey and Hershey had enough or...

Josie does like to fall asleep close to us.  After eating dinner I find her asleep under our chairs.  She get her second set of shots on Friday.  I look forward to the time when I can walk her.

Josie and Hershey Play

It is so fun to watch the two dogs play.  Josie takes this rawhide and drags it away.  Hershey says, "no way" and chases it down.  She always wins and Josie goes flying.

 I wonder how much she has grown.

I have walked Josie in the LLBean back pack with it in the front.  She seems to like her walks but she is heavy.  I need to get a picture of us.  Hershey loves to run free at Bernal school.

Josie

This is Josie the day we picked her up.

This was taken yesterday.

Today she has messed inside twice :(

She is playing with Hershey.  I am glad she has a friend.  It was raining this morning when I was suppose to take them out on a walk.  I take Josie in a backpack which I wear in front.  She tries to jumpt out of it on our walks.

Wednesday, April 20 Update

So far my neighbor Earl has been coming over everyday that I have to work and let Josie out of the grade to help stop puppy accidents. Monday he stayed until 4 pm. Tuesday he was there we I came home sick from school. He seems to be enjoying her. I am so lucky he can help out.

Today Ramon came to clean my house. It was so dirty where the dogs are: locked in the kitchen, eating area, and family room. As I am typing the dogs are playing with a toy together. Ramon did hold Josie today and said he wants to hold her before she gets too big and barks at him.

Last night Larry had to wash Josie from an accident in the crate. :(

I found marks in my sink in the hard surface that looks like it has been damaged. Perhaps puppy claws are too sharp for that surface. We will have to wash her in the laundry room sink. She is so fun to watch as she slides around. Of course when Hershey takes the toy, Josie goes flying.

My aide's sons are going to watch Josie and Hershey the two days we go to San Diego. I hope that goes well. I am nervous but it will be fun to have a break. I can't edit my blogs from school because blogs are blocked at work. Nice!

I am trying out new dog food. California Natural and Innova. I don't know what one is best. Today Hershey ate too much rawhide too fast and lost her dinner. It was fun trying to clean it up before she or Josie could re-eat it. Ugh. The joys of dogs.

Saturday, April 16

The day begins by having to take the new puppy to graduate school with me at Santa Clara University.  I am in the Level 2 program for the Special Education credential.  I can't leave a brand new puppy at home for 8 hours alone on her first day with me.

So I pack up a backpack for her with paper towels, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day spray, chew toys, Science Diet puppy food, water bowl, water bottle and I am off.  Hershey is in her create and barking.  She wants to go too. The puppy cries in the car.  I tried to fit her in a small dog carrier but a 7 weeks she is already too tall.  I need to return it to Petco.

The class welcomes the puppy.  Overall she does not disturb the class too much.  Another student brings her daughter who was nice enough to bring the puppy outside when she needed it.  The puppy only had one accident and loves to sleep on my feet.

After returning home, I walked her over to Earl's house but the garage door was down so I assumed he was out.  I was tired of holding the puppy when I got home.  Hershey enjoyed the walk.  I can't wait until all her shots are complete.

The funny thing that happened was I ran into the bathroom and heard her touch her bag of food.  Then I hear her wining.  I run into the room where I find her head down in her food bag, with her eating as much as she can, while her body in up in the air.  She is completely stuck but quite happy.  I have to keep the food bag locked up.

Friday, April 15

Today Andrew and I drove to Merced to pick up our new puppy.  There were two females to choose from with both looking similar.  We watched them for a while and then chose the one who seemed the calmest.  We still can't decide on a name.  I wanted Josie for San Jose, Nathan liked Sandy, Andrew like Tahoe, and Larry likes Honey Bear.

It took about 4 hours round trip.  The puppy sat in the back with Hershey.  Hershey did not seem very interested in her.

Later that afternoon, I took the puppy out in a backpack that was turned around so she could be in front.  We walked to Earl's house.  I met his wife but he was on the phone with his brother.  I want to know if he would take the puppy out of the crate while I am at work.

The first night was hard.  She cried for 45 minutes and then slept 4 hours.  I work up and took her out where she peed and pooped.  I thought wow, I might have a chance at this potty training.

 When I put her back in her crate she cried for 2 1/2 hours.  When I could stand it no longer I got up but she was quiet.  To sleep again is wonderful.  Now why did I get a puppy?