Finn's first week

Well, we have had our little pug for a week now. We gave him a week to adjust and for us to adjust to him. The first night, Jeff decided unequivocally that Finnegan is a genius...he walked avoided a trash bin and walked on Jeff's side. Do you think Jeff might just be a little bit bias?

Thursday he met Bean and Diz. It was love and first lick. Bean wished we could clone him. Diz wanted to control him. We need to watch the little one around Finnegan right now as he just loves him so much it kind of ticks him off. I think it will be better now that he is settled in.

We also gave Finn a bath on Thursday. He is not keen on baths but will tolerate them. As Neil told Finnegan, he was certain, that being my dog, Finnegan will just have to get used to baths. Too right, though I am seeing the wisdom of taking him to the groomer.

I think it unfair that I was gone all weekend to a seminar and Jeff and Finnegan bonded even more than they already had:-( Finnegan is definitely proving to be Jeff's dog. That said, all in all Finnegan is fitting nicely into our lives:-)

Our new family member

Today, 4.20.09, we were shown first hand how one persons misfortune can be an other's blessing. Please help us welcome Finnegan, the newest member to our little family. Finnegan came to us in a rather unconventional way. I had this wonderful couple as client's whose daughter's birth I was privileged to attend. In getting to know this couple I was also introduced to their practice baby. As fate would have it, I fell in love with the dog, and Jeff and I seriously considered following up on their breeder and welcoming a dog like Finnegan into our lives.

Just prior to an email asking if we would care to adopt Finnegan, Jeff and I had decided we were indeed ready to adopt a dog from the animal shelter. We wanted to wait until we had been to Vegas so as not to traumatize a dog, having to leave it just shortly after adopting one. Then we happened upon a request for a small dog needing a home as their owner was working too many hours to attend to him. We called and got no answer after leaving a message. A few days later, I called again not remembering if I had left my contact information with the owner. When I did get hold of him, he informed me the dog had been placed. I was disappointed but felt in was not diving order, and let it go. When we got the email, I jumped up and ask Jeff, "Honey do we want Finnegan?" I was so excited I could hardly contain myself, so while I felt sorry for his "birth family" I felt excited for this unique opportunity. Jeff had been talking about him ever since we decided to adopt Finnegan.

Last evening they brought Finn to his new home. He trotted upstairs with no hesitation as thought he already belonged here. On the advice of Amy we had his bed already here, so likely he smelled it and settled in almost immediately.

While I know this had to be an incredibly difficult thing to do, though left with few other alternatives, I admire and am grateful to this couple that they would honor me with their first baby. Jeff and I are over the moon with Finnegan.

Finnegan LOVES peanut butter and his family sent him here with a HUGE jar of it. On the lid inside is written "We love you Finny". I was so touched, so there is the jar left with love for Fin that you see just out of focus.

We trust this is just the beginning of a long and happy life for all of us, and the many adventures of Finnegan the fawn pug.  Here you see Jeff has indeed found a soul mate:-)

4.19.09 Mini-vacation

Our final day was spent grabbing breakfast at the restaurant amid the indoor rainforest and fountains,which was an unexpected bonus. The service was only mediocre, but the food was adequate.

We went over to the Mirage to look at the white tigers, but were informed that they are no longer there and there is a burger stand in their place...hmmmm.

After bidding farewell to Dave and Connie, whose flight was much earlier than ours we promised ourselves we would do this more often. Jeff and I then went to have a look at the new Encore which is Steve Wynn's newest hotel. This hotel is more geared to service than a casino. While it does have a select few tables and slot machine comparatively speaking it is very clean and seems to draw a different clientele. Then I went over to French Connection to pick up some more FCUK, which I received as a gift from Pauline, and a few years later from my Dad, only to discover that I no longer liked their new scents. I do hope they bring back the original scent. All in all it was a lovely relaxing day. We arrived at the airport 2.5 hours early!...thanks Jeff! and in route got on with a driver who drove dangerously close to the line and when picking up another set of vacationers, hit a partition, never paused, didn't wait for anyone to clean up the glass or called it in...kind of a white knuckle drive!

4.18.09 Mini-vacation

Saturday when I finally rolled out of bed, after keeping everyone waiting for breakfast we headed to Venice...okay the Venetian for brunch, again a buffet, a common theme in Vegas, and wandered up a level to the shops and indoor/outdoor Venice, only cleaner.

Once in the streets of Venice, a "street" performer walked up to David to check his reflection in his head:-) great fun, unfortunately, Dave's camera broke and the only on I had on hand was an outside only disposable, to the picture did not turn out. Pity.

We also took a gondola ride in the outside canal, as Jeff and I took the indoor ride before. We had an adequate gondolier, but recommend overall the indoor gondola ride. We then headed back to Treasure Island for some pool time. The pool was a disappointment in that it was over crowded and not nearly big enough to accommodate the large number of guests, accompanied by smokers all over and not relegated to a smoking area, but the sun felt amazing! Connie and Dave scored four lounge chairs, prime real estate at the poolside. That made it really nice for us, and we were grateful as we were at the bar getting drinks unaware that they were already at the pool.

In the evening we attended our main reason for this mini-vacation which was taking in the Blue Man Group. I highly recommend this interactive show which incorporates alternative ways of communication to speaking. Great fun! Following the show we hunted for dinner. We were told that Morels was one of the top 10 restaurant in Vegas. Being a steak and seafood fine dining experience this appealed to the three carnivores, and I could get a baked potato for $7.00...the steaks were a bit more pricey at $185.00! Hmm I wonder if you get to select the cow it comes from! We ended up back at Treasure Island and had a delightful dinner, including champagne to celebrate Dave and Connie's 13th wedding anniversary, for just over the price of a steak dinner across the way for all four of us. We played the tables and slots following dinner all preferring to stay in the hotel that evening following dinner. I did not see Connie as she went up to bed having fallen asleep between pressing the "spin the reels" button and waiting for them to stop spinning. She went to bed after that without further adieu. I bet a dollar or so and got a return of $75.00, I quit shortly thereafter. Jeff on the other hand paid for his entertainment:-)

4.17.09 Vacation!!!!!

Jeff and I took a mini-vacation to Las Vegas. It was so nice and warm and relaxing. I highly recommend a kwik get away from time to time! I was up all night the night before with a new family. Once I hit the place with Connie and Jeff I slept from minutes before takeoff until we were landing. SO, essentially, I left rainy Portland, went to sleep and awoke to sunshine. Now THAT is the way to go!

Friday night we checked in, a bit revived, and changed for dinner. We moseyed over to Bally's for what I thought would be a buffet that Jeff and I remembered being there last time. It seems they have remodeled and it no longer existed, so we went another buffet in Paris. There I had a divine eclair for dessert and my first,and probably my last chocolate cherry crepe. The best part of the crepe was watching them make it in the first place. I have never watched someone so skilled pour it, smooth it, turn it and flip it. Very cool. It was nice to have dinner over a bottle of wine, and lots of chatter with Dave and Connie.

We watched the fountains at Bellagio a few times before slowly making our way back to our hotel, stopping by Margaritaville on the way back. I had never been to Margaritaville and feel also that I have been there, done that, bought the T-shirt (okay saw their T-shirts) and prefer a more sophisticated lounge to Margaritaville, BUT the view is beautiful on their covered deck overlooking the strip.

By midnight I was already done for the night, despite my nap, and fell in to bed. The newly refurbished rooms at Treasure Island and very nicely appointed and the curtains are so dark that I did not awaken until almost 9:00 the next morning. Not even a glimmer of morning crossed our room, or my nervous system.

Easter

Today was our first relatively quiet Easter morning.  We got up around 8:30, emptied the dishwasher, put the bread in the over to thaw quickly as we forgot to set it out last night despite our promises to ourselves, grabbed a cup of coffee and slowly got ready for the afternoon which promised more excitement. Neil and Riss were coming over with all four kids, Abby and Nick included.

We received word that we had an E-aster card for the whole family as well as an earlier call from my Dad to say Happy Easter.  Everyone got to see it after dinner.

Later in the afternoon Jeff and I say and watched old Easter videos.  It was good to see the old flicks again while preparing Easter dinner.

When Rissy and Neil arrived Diz was asleep in the car, so the parked in the garage and we set out to play Bean's new game from his birthday.  Neil won...as usual.  Conrats Neil:-P

Riss and Neil brought dessert, a bunny cake they made together.

Charissa and Neil also brought enough candy to last us until next Easter.  They said they were asked by the bunny himself to delivery all these goodies personally.

Bean and Diz played with a few Easter goodies they found here at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  They boys wrestled their Dad...and lost.  It was good to see the three of them playing.

Today feels like it is time for new beginnings.  Makes me wonder what is around the next corner.

Big shoes to fill

Thought these were great pix from the Tulip Festival.  I thought I would share them with anyone who is reading these.

Tulip Festival

Jeff and I had never been to a Tulip Festival that either one of us can remember.  It made for a nice change as we were expecting rain and were so pleasantly surprised that it was only cloudy and overcast.  The variety of colors of course beg to be photographed.  Jeff got off a few shots too on my camera.  It was a nice change and held the promise of spring and the suggestion of change.  Time for all things to begin anew.

would you believe...

...you can speak only to your grandson, quasi offend a mother and make a child cry all at the same time?  Yesiree, it can be done!

So, I took Bean and Diz to the zoo today to look at the African animals as part of the unit on Africa.  It was a glorious day weather wise, we were looking at the hippopotamuses which are adjacent to the old black rhino(s).  Let me start by saying I am a zoo member, and as a zoo member we get their quarterly newspaper as well as online updates.  I recalled reading an update about THE black rhino passing.  I remember thinking how sad, I did NOT remember that there were TWO rhinos at the zoo.

Diz was asking about the rhino at the zoo while looking at the hippos. I replied that there was no point walking that way as the rhino died.  Diz took the news with curiosity while this other 4 year old boy looked at me in horror and said "The rhino died!"  I said "Um yes," and uttered "sorry" to both the mother and the child for blurting what I assumed was a commonly known fact.  The boys eyes well up with tears as he looks to his mother for an explanation.  She comforts the boy by saying "It's alright he is in heaven with Jesus."  the boy then looks to me inquiring as to why the rhino died.  I didn't want to lie to the kid, and I didn't remember if it was just old, or sick, so I told him the truth.  THEN he asks again, but why is he in heaven?

I looked up at the mother and said "Let me guess, Christian?"  She indignantly crosses her arms and relied "yes!"  Now, I was trying to be culturally aware!  I now I can hear the roars of laughter from those of you reading this, but I do try...once in a while.  So I said "Maybe God thought it was tired of being on this earth and called him home."  I then tried to dismiss it.  Not a chance! HE asked WHY would god want him in heaven?  I replied, "Has Mommy ever taken you home to rest when you were too tired and needed a nap?"  He of course replied affirmatively.  I said "Maybe it was like that, the rhino just got too tired of being here on earth.  Maybe if we are lucky there will be a baby rhino to live in his 'habitat'."  Kid says "But then they will have to take him from his home and Mommy and Daddy."  Myself, I am thinking, do you think that didn't already happen!?!  I said "Sometimes zoos have baby animals but don't have the space for them and they share them with lucky zoos like us."  This seemed to satisfy the kid.  He walked off with his mother, head hanging.  I apologized again, and she said "It's okay, he is really sensitive and loves his animals." Diz by contrast is more inquisitive and scientific in nature.  He wanted to see the dead rhino!  I said that they probably put the dead rhino in the ground so he couldn't see it.  This was not going to satisfy him, he had to see the empty cage..  And now..the rest of the story...

We talked about dying animals on the way to the cage, how they get old, their bodies inefficient and no longer work, we round the corner to see the one rhino that is left lazily resting beneath the shade. Bean and I looked at each other in utter disbelief and felt sorry for the poor disheartened kid, who, thanks to me, can't believe everything adults say and will probably freak next time he has to take a nap  Ahhhh all in a days work:-)

Bald Peak at Sunset

So we rushed back up the mountain just after sundown.  We tried to make it there before, but Mother Nature had a few minutes on us.  He is the best of those shots.

Lazy Sunday

Today, Jeff and I got up late, and went to Bald Peak Park.  I had found this quiet little gem on a weekend that Jeff left for a dive.  I was alone with my music and desire to find new things.  I went for a drive as we had seen this road on one of our bicycle journeys and wondered exactly where it lead.  now I could have looked on a map, but I decided to see for myself.  It was a lovely evening and I wished upon my arrival that evening that I would have had my camera.  I returned with Jeff, camera in hand today, and again this evening on our return, unplanned trip to the casino.  

Here are some of the shots I like from our journey today.

   
 

The 1st photo is of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams. To the left wit Jeff on the left is the western side of the park.  To the right is Mt. Hood.  Bottom Left is Jeff with a photo of me in his glasses and the backdrop  Last is the look to the western valley below.

April Fools

So rather than playing April Fools jokes as I usually try to do for the grandkids, I was thrown off my 'A' game a bit by an early morning phone call.  This phone call was in the form of disappointing news, but resulted in an overabundance of food.  Being vegetarian and having a big pork roast and fruited Jell-o, I wondered what I would do with all the food.  I decided to call the clean up crew, also known as my daughter, son-in-law, and family, and boy did they clean up!

It was a nice afternoon after all with an impromptu family dinner that we eaten, and leaned up by 8:00 just in time to relax.  We sent them home at 7:30 with the kids teeth already clean and ready for bed.  No fuss, little muss, no planning, no occasion.  So, while saddened by the news, we made the most of it, and I enjoyed my immediate family.