Christmas Day

My Christmas was started with a walk at the highscool with Donna and 5 dogs. It was a beautiful morning and the dogs got a great workout. While on our walk Donna asked what my Christms plans were. I told her I was going to put on a soft,warm, cuddley pair of pajama bottoms and catch up on my Netflix. Isn't that how everyone without children celebrate?
So.... There I am all toasty, with a hot cocoa and 4 tired dogs watching The Legend of Cleopatra, when Donna calls to invite me to Christmas Dinner at her house. Now I should preface this by telling you that I was invited to 3 other Christmas Dinners, I just thought it would be nice to unplug for a day.
Dinner is at 2:00, and yes Virginia, there is a Santa Fe, which was my opening statement to John. Then I proceed to track in dog poop on Donna & Jose brand new cream colored carpet. Do I know how to make an entrance or what? After Donna cleans me up, we spend an enjoyable afternoon together. Donna made an absolutely delicious lasagne and Jose made fresh bread. I was in heaven. Donna cut the lasagne in 6 equal parts, leaving none in the pan. The pieces were huge, but none was left on anyone's plate. Yummy.
After dinner we take a walk down to the water and through the woods, and when we returned to Casa Gonzalez we sit down to coffee and warm apple pie ala mode. Can it get any better? Yes. John is great, we flirt and get along famously. I leave around 5:00 with a smile in my heart. Thanks Donna. again

Feast or Famine

I know you are all probably dying to know how my love life is fairing. E-Harmony has sent me a bevy of men, but I've decided before I even start communication with them, they have to pass a few qualifications. They must be over 5'8", and have all their teeth. I don't ask for much.
So far I have had about 4 guys who have lost their wife after about 25-35 years of marriage. I admire any man who stays in a committed relationship for that period of time, but I can't help but think any of my actions will be compared to that of their dear departed wife.
E-Harmony is a process. You read a little about them, see a picture of them, if posted, send a set of 5 questions, answer a set of 5 questions, send them likes and dislikes, get their likes and dislikes, more questions on both sides...... needless to say it is a process. So I get to the second set of question with one of the widowers. I ask if he could have 3 wishes what would they be? 1. To have my wife back. 2. For my wife not to have died. 3. To have lived a ripe old age with my wife. DELETE The other widower, a man named Terry has potential.
Next, A 27 year Army Colonel, retired. Now owns his own defense business. How about dinner? Okay so he is only 5'7", a girl's gotta eat.
Vietnam vet, blah,blah,blah.
13 year old son, blah, blah, blah.
I ask,"Is there anything you would like to ask me about", "No, not really".
2 bronze stars, 1 silver star, 3 purple hearts, blah,blah blah. DELETE.
OH!!! Did I mention? The guy from Santa Fe is back in town. What was his name anyway?

Early Gift

After closing up shop on Christmas Eve, I went outside to load up the dogs. Harper and Bear were of course with me, and I was babysitting 2 other big dogs. As I was loading them in the back, Winslow got caught on my necklace. As I was cussing and bending down to pick up the broken pieces, Harper jumps up....not into the back of the car, as she planned, but into my left eye socket. Well after the stars and little birdies settled down, and I lifted myself off the ground, I ran back into the shop to see if my eyeball was still in it's socket. Believe me when I tell I was not sure if I would have sight in that eye. After coming home and canceling dinner plans, I called my friend Donna (best nurse in the world), and she came over and took a look to access the damage. 2 broken blood vessels in the eye, top and bottom. Small cut above the eye, swelling and contusion all around. All in all, Donna complimented Harper in her delivery and told me I would live to see another day. Thank you Donna.

Missing in Action

Well now that we've found Rachel, it seems I've been in hiding. Not to Worry, it has just been very busy at the shop. The last 2 weeks have been wonderful. If every week could be like Christmas week, I'd have a house on the water and in the mountains. Oh well, who needs 3 houses.
Now, let's try to catch you up. It never ceases to amaze me how many people bake during the holidays, myself included. I have had no fewer than 20 people bring me baked gifts. I am telling you, I ate my weight in sugar each week in the month of December. It got to the point where I went to bed with a major sugar headache 4 nights straight, and because of all the sugar there was NO sleep. I decided before lapsing into a diabetic coma, maybe I could share some of my cookies, heaven forbid I limit myself to 2 a day. I started putting them out at the shop, giving them to friends and the postman now thinks I'm Martha Stewart.
The season of giving, what a concept.

RACHEL, WHERE ARE YOU?

One of the biggest treats, for me anyway, about having a blog are all the comments from family and friends.
I have not had any contact with Rachel, since Trey called my house and told me they just got a puppy, and asked me some pertinent question about cleanliness after neutering.
Well, after thinking (to myself),"why would anyone want a puppy and a 7 month old baby at the same time", I gave Trey the best answer I knew. That was 3 weeks ago. Rachel, where are you? Please tell me the puppy did not send you to an asylum. I probably wouldn't even worry if you had made a comment on my Santa and Frosty entry, but no word. I have been searching milk cartons, and called Hawaiian rehab centers. Please if anyone has any information on Rachel's where abouts, contact me immediately.

Something to Smile About.

I am definitely one of those people who suffer from SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's as if the minute Labor Day hits, I want to go into hibernation until spring. The fact that the weather here has been unusually dreary is not helping matters at all. Cold, rainy, gray sky, even the Christmas carols seem sadder this year.

Well I was coming in to work this morning and Todd from the hair salon next door had put up a giant Santa and snowman. You know the big blow ups that always bring a smile to anyone who sees them. During the evening Santa either had too much to drink or Frosty said just the right thing, but this is what everyone in West Annapolis is seeing.

Thumpety, thump, thump. Thumpety,thump, thump. Look at Santa go. No wonder Frosty was a jolly happy soul.

Down with Clowns

Last night was Holiday Madness for the West Annapolis Shopping District. Somehow Woofs & Whiskers was the first stop for Hugs the Clown. Now I have never been a big fan of clowns, and when you add a gaggle of unruly children, mayhem ensues. Dear Baby Jesus, how many animals is it possible to make out of balloons. Stop squeaking the rubber chickens, where are your parents?, please don't pull on the dogs ears, who knocked over the cider?

You know all of this would have been fine if any of the screaming meanies bought anything, but oh no, they were here for Hugs the Clown. At the next neighborhood meeting I will be asking for the string quartet or the Sweet Adeline's, let Hugs go somewhere else. My heavens after she left I spent the rest of the evening cleaning up, and I don't mean financially.

I now have a new sign hanging in my window.

Sunday is Funday.

Last Sunday I got a real early start on my day by taking the dogs over to the high school around 6:30. We met up with Claudia and her yellow Lab, Moses. After a good 45 minute run/walk I took the pups over to Bob's house to wrap gifts for him. I love wrapping gifts, and Bob seems to buy something for everyone he knows. He does it all year long, so by the time December comes he has so much stuff to wrap, I feel like a kid in a candy store. Paper galore, ribbons in all shapes colors, bags, boxes, it rivals Santa's workshop. This was just the beginning. I've got probably half of the gifts wrapped here.

After about 3 hours of wrapping I headed home, showered, then dashed off to Anthropologie to take full advantage of my 40% discount. May I tell you, I had a ball. I don't think I've really bought any nice new clothes since I left Matthew. A bunch of the girls that I worked with were there and could not have been more helpful. 2 hours and a few dollars later I left with some really fun stuff. There's alot to be said for retail therapy. I feel great.

From there Donna, Jose and I headed to Towson for our orientation on our Mission to Bucaramanga, Colombia (thanks JT). After meeting some of the other and hearing more about the trip, I am now officially excited. Donna and one of the other volunteers check out locations on the map.

We all had to sign a waiver releasing Hands Across the America's of any responsibility in case of acts of terrorism, kidnapping and whatever else might happen while I am pursuing Sainthood. Afterwards we headed to G&M for the best crab cakes in Maryland. I, of course, had Chicken and Broccoli over fettuccine. It was the perfect ending to a great day.

'Tis the Season.

During this time of year I take Woofs & Whiskers on the road. For the past few years I have been invited to some of the greatest Christmas Venues in this area. 2 weeks ago I did The ALS(Lou Gehrig's Disease) Show at the Sheraton in Annapolis. Last week I set up at The Green Spring Valley Hunt Club and then Saturday I put my wares on display at "The Designer Show house" in Crownsville. It's nice for the outside exposure. Here is my set up at the Hunt Club.

Unsolved Mysteries

This post has been put on the back burning due to my processing it, but I know everyone is dying to know how dinner went. It was lovely. We all went to the Chart House for dinner. It's been awhile since I've been there, and the coziness of the lounge chairs and the view is hard to beat in Annapolis.
Now when people have known each other as long as John, Jose and Donna there is never a lull in the conversation. It was the kind of story telling that was as entertaining as it was enjoyable, and I never felt left out. During the conversation I learned that John and I share the same birth date, albeit a few years difference. No wonder I felt such a connection.
After dinner John and I went to my house and watched "Goya's Ghost", a video about the Spanish Inquisition and some of the injustices that occurred because of it. After the movie we called it a night... then a morning... John jumped in the shower, I walked the dogs. We had coffee and yogurt parfaits, talked very easily. I kissed him good bye at the door, never to see or hear from him again.
Now don't get me wrong. I knew going into this that it would be brief, that was part of the attraction, but I didn't think it would be quite that brief. Whenever I have fun with someone, and I don't ever hear from them again, I am continually playing back the whole scenario, wondering what the hell happen. We had talked about it being an interlude, about other relationships, about family, even about him meeting the 3 of us in Panama.
As much as I would like to think he was afraid of falling head over heals for me, I know he just wasn't that into me. So instead of having a friend in New Mexico, because let's face it, you can never have enough friends in warm weather locales. I have a new notch on the bed post, whose name I won't even remember in another week.... I Win!!!!!

Countdown to Colombia

Seven weeks from today I'll be in Colombia, South America. I have gone for my 2nd round of shots, gotten no further on my Spanish and have collected a big zero for the mission. They're going love me. Does anyone what to take us to Dulles at 3:30am the morning of the 15th?

Black Friday

Black Friday is alot different in West Annapolis than at the many malls we have to choose from. I had a very slow day, but none the less fun. My sister Kris came in with her killer cranberry and apple, crispy crusted, yummy dessert. I held off diving in right away, not because I am a pillar of disciplined action, but because I knew I had fresh whipped cream at home. It's always great to see Kris.
Then my favorite little older lady, Sylvia, came in and spent $278.63 on her Maltese for Christmas. We joked about how she had lived so long without some of the things she just purchased. A leopard spotted squeaky bra, a pink faux fur, and a bottle of Barkundy.
When I arrived home on my doorstep were 3 dinners from wonderful neighbors and friend. I know now that if I ever become a shut-in, I will never go hungry. Yeah right, ME, a shut-in.
Brian and Donna invited me over to spend some time with the family, but hey! there's a new guy in town. Maybe next year.

Gone to the Dogs.

Well once again I drew the short straw, so spent my Thanksgiving with 6 other dogs besides my 2, making the count 8. The cast consisted of a chocolate lab, yellow lab, 2 sheepdogs along with my sheepdog, Harper and of course Bear, a yorkie and a bichon. I know all my friends think I'm nuts, but they haven't had Thanksgiving with my family. JUST KIDDING FAMILY!!!!! Luckily the day was beautiful and I live right across the street from some of the coolest trails in Anne Arundel County. Unfortunately getting 8 dogs in the same photo would have entailed tranquilizer darts, so here are three at the store with me.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

On Wednesday evening I was invited to Donna and Jose's home for pizza. I had their dog Winslow, so after I dropped the other pups off, I headed down the street for dinner. They had a friend in town from Santa Fe, so it was the four of us. Now since I started this blog, I have made a habit of carrying my little camera around. I mean who doesn't like pictures when they're reading a story. Well, I decided to hold off on whipping out my camera and start snapping shots of a perfect stranger. I mean if he is associated with me... well suffice it to say his chances of ever becoming President are shot. I'm not sure if I should even use his real name..... names have been changed to protect the innocent and all that. Well after a fun meal together, and getting to know him a little better, I discovered that he is about as innocent as I am. Trust me when I say he will not be making a bid for the White House, not in this life anyway. I left that night enjoying the new guest and feeling a little giddy. His name is John.