Bug Guts and Puppy Cuts

CURRENT MOOD

Rolly is the best Dalmatian pup. 

A Wednesday night wuzzz up to you! It's been a minute since I've posted but living the California dream (or as I call it LTCD) and healing the elderly has been consuming my life. The weather is finally staying warm and the momentary heat wave of upper 80s-90s has passed for now. I've been busy planting, cleaning, running miscellaneous errands, and napping. So I know that isn't exciting (and it isn't) but keeping busy with this stuff and general work/home life balance, you know? 

Work is good. Picking back up but we're making it. I would still like a position where I can tell everyone else how to do their job better, but that's also nothing new. I'm not saying I'm a crackerjack prize OT but I feel like I've figured out how to balance out my OT life and keep my Cruella DeVille face for home only. 

So, the title. I cannot get all the freaking bug guys off my car and Lord knows I've tried. I think it's a combo of a lot of bugs, driving, and a white bar. One of these days I'll be able to buy a car that I want that is also the color I want (a nice cherry red, dark green, or cobalt). My car is working out just fine thought with all new brake pads, rotor(s), and a caliper ($$$$$) and new tires in March. But I can't work without a serviceable, safe car since I work over the river and through the woods (to grandmothers' house) from work. 

Also, Bella got her second home-made hair cut and it was really no easier the second round- still requiring 3-4 sessions and lots of treats to get through. It's getting better but she was initially a full-on Monet (see 3rd picture below). 

So like 3 weeks ago, Bella and I went to Bear Valley Road in Colusa Co. to see some wildflowers. It was a beautiful day and I was disappointed I didn't see more poppies. We don't have the 'super bloom' up here but they are everywhere just in much smaller clusters. The drive was on a gravelly rough road (and I knew this) but we made it and enjoyed the drive but will not go there again. Bella got to see the big California dogs AKA cows up close. She didn't understand them and they her. Regardless, they looked udderly at peace in the fields. 

Like the Dalmatian puppy, I am getting hungry and also getting a headache. We are alive and well here in the Golden state. 

Peace, love, and as if!,

ME

Canine Capers & the Coast

Good evening!

Here we are Thursday night and it has been a day- started out ruff and then ended with a nap after work and a bath shortly. I'm loving the bathtub life after having an amateur bathtub in Fresno that drained too quickly. So, this morning on my way to work- hadn't even gotten to the highway yet and some asshole is already tailgating me. Look buckaroo- we all have some place to get to but riding my butt isn't help your situation. As I was clearly turning into the gas station parking lot he was still tailgating me so he got 1 finger in the air. I'll let you guess which one.
But the day ended better because it just did with me getting my chores done early so I could go to the ball a.k.a home. Working in LTC (long-term care) definitely has its ups and downs but you meet some really great people who have lived full lives and have so much to say and share if you take the time to listen to them. I've met some real wackadoos along my OT SNF career and have some great stories about that but there are so many people at the end of their lifespan who just want someone to show them time, love, and tenderness. (cue the GREAT Michael Bolton song of the same name). Sometimes it's just getting them extra pillows or bringing someone cute hair barrettes. I wish some folks would see that a little bit can go a long way. Anyway, this one lady who is just adorable (gave her the barrettes) goes around the building quite a bit in her wheelchair and is very social. She stopped by therapy after lunch and asked if she could come in and do the leg bike- I asked her how she was feeling and she said to be honest she was sad because she misses her family. So I set her up on the leg bike and cranked up some classic 1970's Elton John for her and off she rode. Sweet lady. Also, we know how I feel about leg/arm bikes but it wasn't a treatment session and it was for the legs. Bless her heart and everyone elses' at that stage who miss their families who don't have enough 'time' to see them.

Sentiments aside, I will move on. It's been busy at work so I haven't had time to post because some days I get home and its time to shower and go to bed. Good news though I have an app on my new (small) TV to do new Turbo Fire/Jam workouts on.
So, two weeks ago I had a Thursday/Friday off (it was great!) so Bella and I drove down to Santa Rosa for shopping and then to drive to the coast. Santa Rosa is the biggest city within 2 hrs that has everything you need, otherwise it would be going East a bit to Sacramento. Not too much of a time difference from where I'm living. Santa Rosa has TARGET and OLD NAVY. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I should have just gone to a WalMart for a nicer, bigger one as the local one (Ukiah) is shit (doable, but still shitty). We just don't have a lot of chain stores so you drive at least half an hour (for me anyway) to go to a decent grocery store where you're not overpaying too much (it is California after all). So I happily went to Target to get my new TV (24" so it is small but functional) and dawdle as well as visit Old Navy because I love that store. Both stores always have things I don't need that I never knew I needed in my life. We stayed the night in Santa Rosa because from there I drove west to the coast (about an hour). Here are some pics. Beautiful, gorgeous day.

BODEGA BAY, CA (@ Bodega Head)

Everything turning green and so luscious (except for me)! 

"Like, I love being included and not having to walk but I also hate this bag and the sun shining in my eye"

Lots of people around walking the trails and enjoying the view. 

Drove up the PCH going North from there heading towards the road we would take back towards our CA abode. These next pics are at Duncan's Landing, not too far north from Bodega Bay. 

Would you just look at all this RICH CONTEXT??? So pretty. 

Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena CA

This lighthouse is on the westernmost peninsula of the continental United States, therefore the first land to touch East of Hawaii. #themoreyouknow

A spot where many a woman named Brandy stood weeping or wishing for her lover to come home from his first life, his love, and his lady- The Sea. Really beautiful view and cool area. 

I could have gone up to the top for my Crossfit training (kidding) but I knew Bella would have barked the entire time I was up there because that's the kind of dog I have. 

Also, Bella went downstairs to the basement foyer (there is an empty apartment down there) this week and pooped after clearly scoping out the space (she moved the barrier I had for staying upstairs). What's funny about this is that Bella is consistent about where she poops inside in the event that it's urgent. Basements and closets are her M.O. for hideaway poops. So she's a genius but also barked at a cement dog statue a couple days ago that we see every time we walk that way... but everyone has their moments..

Well, if you have made it this far, I thank you and hope you appreciated the pics and my captions/comments. Don't worry, if you don't find me entertaining, I still find me entertaining. 

Lots of love to all of you!

Peace, love, and hideaway poops,

ME (and Bella)

Fruit Smiles

Super Moon setting the morning after. 

Happy Wednesday from NorCal! We're still having rain but it appears we will get a break for the weekend, which for us (dog and I) starts TONIGHT. I am very excited to be able to take Thursday and Friday off to get the heck out of Dodge for a bit. Shopping and beach-combing planned. 🐚🐙🌲🐋 Will try to post this weekend sometime. 

Anyhow, I wanted to provide some photos for our trip 2 weeks ago to Calistoga to get out of town and go on a short hike (poor endurance- both Bella and I).  Calistoga is located in Napa County. 

Napa County of course is 'wine country' along with Sonoma County. Really also mountain vineyards here in Lake County and Mendocino too. So just all of Northern California pretty much. So really, NorCal is where you want to go for wine and weed as the 'Emerald Triangle' for growing cannabis is where my more northern SNF is. Pick your poison, or have both. I'm no somelier but I do enjoy a glass of sparkling wine. Moving on. So, towns like Calistoga, Napa, etc. are all wine towns and that is their tourism focus which means for the Average Jane like myself you can't afford to eat, drink, or stay there unless you marry well.  Kidding... But really Calistoga is a cutesy little wine town and they have this Oat Hill Mine Trail (some name like that) right off Highway 29 in town- this trail is part of the Silverado trail which connects to nearby state parks. It was a beautiful day with gorgeous views and dogs galore. Bella and I didn't make it all to the top because of previously stated endurance issues. 

Yes, Bella is in a backpack. She enjoyed herself while I carried her ass around.

New hat courtesy of Etsy. #finethreadart

Laundry to do, baths to take.

Peace, love, and ABBA🎶💃

ME

Spring Awakening

Hey there! 

Just wanted to post a 'quick' pupdate for those concerned about my dog's well-being (believe me I had a request for photos) and how everything is going.  I'll post again hopefully in a couple days with more pictures.

Bella is doing just fine. Now that it's warming up she's enjoying Sunbeam on the deck and out front. We spent some good time outside today so we both got our share of vitamin D. She's still needy, annoying, and particular. I also just described myself, I think. 

A couple weeks ago I made the executive decision to purchase dog clippers a la Amazon because grooming shops are limited out here but mostly because Bella is non-compliant and a bitch to groom. She is doing so well at home with our groomer there but that has taken a lot of Time, Love, and Tenderness. So it took me about 4 sessions to groom Bella because she hated me and snapped at me and did not like the clippers buzzing about her (NOT noiseless like the ad). It took a lot of treats to get to the current look. 

Now that I have newly-honed grooming skills, I'll be accepting pets/humans by appointment only for cuts. Dogs and/or humans (buzz cuts only) must be extremely compliant, added bonus if they have no teeth.  I'll be calling my services Lindsey's ButtCutts: Pawfessional Grooming Services.  If you are not aware of a what a butt-cut is then you likely didn't grow up in the 90s. Classic middle school look. 

Now that I've given you all those beautiful images (don't you want to go watch 7th Heaven and Now and Then??) I will get going. We are doing great and enjoying the spring that appears to be staying with us now bringing more sunshine! Got new tires 2 weeks ago cuz I put on a lot of miles daily to get to work (drive an hr). Work is great- SUCH a wonderful thing after the Craft sisters in Fresno. 

Peace, love, and #godsplan,

ME