What's going on?

WOW - my last writing was July of 09.

Here is an update on the pack.

Cats -
We lost Gizzy in July. A Necropsy was completed and she had cardiomyopathy. I miss her sweetness and the quite times we spent together when i groomed her. She "talked" often, especially at wet food time.

Tiger - I noticed she was losing weight. Off to the vet and her blood test results showed feline Leukemia. She has been indoors since she was a kitten. We aren't sure how she got the disease. Sometimes, we think the blood tests are wrong; at least that is what we tell ourselves. She is literally wasting away before our eyes. We are concerned for the other cats in the home - but at this point no one is showing signs.

Tom - Ol' man turned 18 in December. He is as grumpy as ever - taking charge of his herum..

We bought a new tower for the cats for Christmas. We had to put some steps next to it so fat @ss Dharma could get up there. I mostly find her and Holly up in the tree.

Socks - the fifth dog in the house is a total PITA - and would rather be with the dogs than with the cats.

Dogs
Well, it is winter and we really haven't done much. I get home late from work and it's dark already. I can sometimes fit in a training or session or two, but usually we are in bed by 8. So, basically they are all, including me, out of shape. It's almost like we are in hibernation.

Jake - We did a few flyball tournaments in St George and Vegas. It is what Jake loves and I like to take advantage of the opportunities for him to play. He has slowed down - and i expected that as he will soon be 7. But, I am just grateful, knock on wood, he is healthy for 7.

Zoe - She has become so lazy - hmmmm sounds like her human. She eats breakfast and then back to sleep. She and Sneek have become close - and they play often. Once in a while I catch her trying to get Maddie to play outside, but those times are far and few in between.

Maddie - Miss Maddie My snuggle bug. She has really calmed down this past year (knock on wood). Around Christmas she went on a hunger strike - not eating for almost 3 days. It was Christmas so most vets were closed. But, I got her thru the holiday by giving her Zantac and home made chicken soup (yes, I cooked). It took her a good week of chicken soup to recover. None of the other dogs got ill, so not sure what she got into to - but I am just glad she recovered and we didn't need to go to the vet.

Sneek - I don't think I can spend the next hour writing about her. I will just sum it up in one work"challenge". She has attended day care, on and off. We stopped going there because the girls she loves no longer worked there. The new staff doesn't understand Sneek's needs (or her desire to jump the 6 foot fence when left unattended). She is just about crate trained - just about is a vague term. She can stay in for 4-6 hours - although we have had to clip it shut otherwise she can escape. But still, progress has been made as we no longer come home to bloody paws or chipped teeth. We are still working on her flyball training. At this point I am not sure when or if she will ever make a debut. We did get her DNA results back. Her primary was blank, secondary was Boxer, and in the mix was Boston Terrier. So now I get even stranger looks when asked what kind of dog she is...

And - I turned 40. I just keep telling myself it's just a number - but then the aches and pains remind me I am not a young chic anymore. The last while leading up to the 40 - I have started to re-examine some things in my life. Let's just say I am now in the awareness stage :-)
I went home for my birthday and had a GRAND time. It was so great to see my Dad and sister. I so enjoyed my time with them and Hadley's mom and my brother in law. I want to go back more often, but at $350 a pop, well trips are far and few in between. I have some pics, which I might post later. It was nice to be home; almost too nice and too peaceful. It was comforting going back to my roots - remembering who I am, where I came from, why I am the way I am (see told you I am re-examining some things - sometimes I get to deep and freak out!)

That is the short update. I need to return to writing on the blog . I am missing moments here - and moments make up lifetimes and memories.

WW - Ann or Lori???

Congrats!

Just a quick shout out to congratulate my brother and his, now, fiancee on their engagement.
I am very happy for the both of you!

Yummy surprise!

So, I came home last night and there was a package at my door. A BIG box...

I did not order anything and then saw the return address was from my sister, Lori.

I opened the box and YUM YUM! Her, my niece, and my brother-in-law sent me some goodies!
They sent Synder's sourdough pretzels (the ones you can't get in Utah), some chocolate, some Starbucks coffee, a new coffee mug, more chocolate and some low calorie twix bars(?? lol). I got a cute little card and my niece wrote a sweet little note in it. I almost cried!

No reason for them to send those things to me. They did it just because. Wasn't that the sweetest?? Our Mom did stuff like that all the time. Our Mom taught us the "just because" little things mean the most. Funny, the things we carry on from our Mother.

Thanks again, Lori, Scott, and Hadley Ann! You really made my day.

And here are some recent photos of the Family from New Year's day celebrating Lori's birthday. They went to Fast Eddie's, one of my old hangouts in Illinois...Loved that place on Sunday!
The family and friends

Russell, Ed, and ScottAnd I just had to include this one because my brothers face had me ROFLMAO....
Typical Russell shot....

2009

Happy Birthday to my sister, Lori! Boy, you are sure getting up there - LOL


"Cheers to a New year and another chance for us to get it right"

Oprah Winfrey

Wishing you all a prosperous 2009!
R3K9S

King Louie

Meet my Sister's dog - King Louie...
I believe he is almost 2 - could be wrong....
Isn't he cute??!!
What a cute Christmas sweater!

His Mom's favorite place for him to be - on his bed
Louie's favorite place to be - looking out the window checking out the view
And just because this was in her photo account..
Here is our family when we were in Chicago. We were looking at old photo books my Aunt had.


Isn't my Dad a stud? LOL He is in his early 70's and looks SO GOOD .....so much younger than he really is. He credits his 100 % Polish heritage for his young looks. We hope we look that good as we age.

WW - My #1 Guy and I

P.S - Jake - you, my pup, are my #1 boy....

Off to the Windy City

Well, off to the Windy City I go today. It will be a short trip. My Aunt did not want a wake or a formal funeral. So, we will meet at the cemetary - have a few prayers said - and she will be laid to rest with her husband.

It is so COLD in Chicago! WTH - Blowing snow??!!! More like blowing Ice! And when they say high 20's - bull crap...More like-0 degrees with the wind chill. Oh and lovely..... SNOW . At least I am not flying into St Louis where there will be freezing ICE! Still can't believe I lived in the mid west for over 28 years with weather like that. Guess once you get use to it - well you get use to it. I have been spoiled with the weather here in Utah. I remember first moving out here and people saying how cold it was. I would lol. You haven't experienced cold until you have done a winter or two in the Mid-west.

Oh well....I told my Dad an Italian beef sandwich should be awaiting for me in his car when he picks me up at the Airport - extra juice and extra peppers pretty please.
Best thing about Chicago - their food.....That is for sure..

Another one of "those" phone calls

I got another one of "those" phone calls yesterday afternoon. I was about an hour into my night shift and my Father kept calling. I finally answered because when he calls over and over again - there is either an emergency or some important news.

Dad is very gentle when he speaks of sad things and I am grateful for that....My Aunt, my Godmother, passed away yesterday between 4:30 and 5:00 CT. Feels so funny typing this....When he told me - I just could not believe the news - but do you ever? Just so darn shocking......she just turned 60 this year.

She was more than an Aunt to me....She went above and beyond the formal definition of Godmother...If you are Catholic, you probably have a Godmother. And you now how special that relationship is..She was more like a mother - a really cool mother whom you could tell tons of secrets too - the stuff you really could not tell your real mom. Since moving to SLC - I did not see her often. But we spoke on average about 1 time a week. She was always important to me - always there for me. After Mom passed, I relied on her more and more for support and she relied on me. I guess my Mom was a sort of Mom to her too....

She took me to see Grease 17 times when it came out! We would sit in the theater and watch it over and over. God - what a PITA I was with that movie - LOL So many good memories with her - we would laugh so much! when I was a little girl, I use to make her take me out on her dates with her too. And if she left me - they said I would cry and cry and cry....She would get scolded from Papa for leaving "the baby". She would have to turn around and bring me with her...LOL

She loved dogs - and had many thru her years. She loved to hear about my pack and especially about Jake and his adventures in flyball. She often called to talk about the latest funny dog commercial - especially the bean company that had the talking Golden Retriever.

She has had a hard life - a lot of deaths. Both parents passed by the 70s. Her sister in the 80's. Her dog Bingo in the early 90's. Her best friend, our Aunt Barbara, in 98. Her husband in 02. And her other sister, my mother, in 05. These deaths affected her greatly. I believe after her husband passed - she kind of gave up. She would have good days - but then she would have really bad days....

I hope you are at peace now Aunt Shirley. I hope you are reunited with all your loved ones.
Enjoy your bingo game in the sky

"Only a Aunt can give hugs like a mother, can keep secrets like a sister, and share love like a friend.".

Sweet Snow!

We took Hadley up to Brighton on Saturday to try to snowboard.
Gosh it sure was gorgeous.

This is what Hadley said at the end of the experience.. "Do we have to go home? I wanna stay... Can i take the hill myself?" I think that says it all.......

Come on DUDE! Learn to fall....It will be spring by time you get it......

Ok...finally on the snow and learning the ropes



Waiting to hit the big hillAbout time!



HERE


WEGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Hanging with Papa - hope that hot chocolate is for me papa....

Dad this was too cool!

And they call it puppy love.....

Kitty love too!

7 1/2 hours.....

Till Vacation!
w00t!
I am off of work all next week (well - I have to come in Wednesday afternoon for EOM).

I will spend most of my time cleaning the house and running errands. Not a vacation per say - but spending time at home with the dogs is always a vacation in my mind.

Then Wednesday evening, the family arrives.. I have lived her 10 years and this is the first visit for my Dad and my brother (he drove me here but left the next day). So, it is a HUGE deal to have my Dad visit.... Hadley was here last year with my sister.

..I am nervous and excited at the same time. Mostly nervous about cooking...

My father says "doesn't matter what we eat or what we do. I just want to spend time with you, Ann..." And..."Is there a motel near by - in case the dogs need a place to stay while I am there?" LOL

I just LOVE my dad!