Dogs(?) Playing Poker...

Here's the story...

My niece and nephew (in law) have this little joke about how Chris and Rosie (their American Bulldog) have a special club, and often hang out together late at night. When my sister's dog, Casey, joins them for the evening, the story was that , OMG , they were all hanging out drinking tequila and playing poker all night long...

So my sister sneaked this photo of the group which, apparently, has expanded to include my other nephew and, of all people, RILYNN...

Talk about corrupting a young child!

From left to right.. Kevin, Rilynn, Rosie, Chris and Casey (still with her pacifier... poker must make her nervous)

I love it!

She's Changing!!

Look... she looks older and more like a real person!

awww....

and she really is cute... even I can see that!! (grin) Check the 7th of October to see how much she's changed...

Christmas Fireworks at the Beach...

Ok.. so there's no visible beach.. We have fireworks at Christmas over the ocean. I can see them from my front deck... sorry about the shaking, but this was the last shot I took and my arms were tired! yeah.. I know it's long.. deal with it (grin) Merry Christmas!

How to Decorate a House With Cats in Residence...

Here are my decorations for Christmas. I thought I would put this first and then explain why, although I love Christmas decorations, I have limited myself to this. I photographed it from the side because the reflective power of the sculpture is overwhelming , so you don't see it at it's best.

Let me start by saying that the two cats that now own me are the ONLY two cats I've ever had that were hand picked... by me.

I got my first kitty when I was 2 and 1/2, and she was 'the cat to whom you compare all cats'. She died when I was 21, so I had her all of my life at home. She was tough and resilient and bold and fearless. She brooked no interference, took no prisoners and yet could be hand fed from a bottle when she was 14 years old. She was all alley and part persian which made her a fluffy tuffy.

We all loved her. Anything we had was hers, anything she had was hers.

Christmas was no problem. She took into stride anything or anyone who came in or out of either house. We added bunnies, hamsters, guinea pigs and birds. They were all in her care.

Good Kitty.

Smokey (original name, as she was grey Hey! I was 2!) .



I've been though a number of wonderful cats who had interesting traits and habits, but they all adopted me. Lucifer, our travel cat, was on of the most complacent kitties I've ever met. On the road or at home, it was all Ok with him. My last two kitties never touched anything in the house after being told once that there were RULES.

So, I finally go and select two cats allll on my own.

and they own me more than any.

and the house.

and I don't care.

HOWEVER, that being said, I'm not about to put a Christmas tree in their less than caring paws.

Hence the decorations they can't reach.

I do have a few things spread about the house that please me for Christmas... they have been spread about the house over and over, and not necessarily returned to the original bowl or basket or...

Well, you get the idea.

Oh Ok... Just in case you're not on my list...

THE CARD..

and to offset the rather clumsy work on this, my absolute favorite Big Sur Photo, taken coming down the road (to beat the school bus) early one morning..

It was my Christmas card a few years back..

Another Thanksgiving Tradition Handed (!) Down..

When my nephew was young, he loved black olives... come to think of it, I don't think I ever trusted people who didn't like black olives.. still don't. But, as usual, that's another story for another time.

Anyways, my nephew was particularly fond of 'loading up his fingers' with them.. one for each finger. It seems to me it took longer than it should for us to realize that we should have at least one extra can of them just for this... well... obsession seems like such a serious word... let's just call it a habit.

So.. in keeping with family traditions and familial traits and all that, he has taken it on himself to 'train' the baby.

and it seems to be coming along nicely, I think...



Oh... and don't you tell me this isn't an awwwwww moment! (just how many negatives CAN you get in a sentence and still have it come out positive? hmmm... "don't you never not tell me this ain't not the cutest baby ever" ??)

A Couple of Random Thoughts

You DO know that 2012 starts right here in Manhattan Beach.... (evil snicker)... this is a still taken from one of the trailers. I haven't seen the movie. Just ask Wyatt Burp, cuz we went down this very street to sit and talk at the beach when she 'dropped by'. Fortunately, it hadn't happened at that time... we're STILL saying "Phew" on that one!

On another note, the possibility of that event, plus the new baby, have apparently sent my sister's golden after a little bit more security in her life..

A Conversation in Line...

Since my last local friend moved away earlier this year, I have developed the frequent (and I"m certain annoying) tendency to talk to anyone. and everyone. at great lengths. at any time.

I don't know what effect this has on total strangers, but I do know that sometimes I have the most wonderful time!

Now I don't want all my long time, long distance mostly Deadwood people to feel left out, cuz you know I wear you out on the phone on a regular basis (for which I frequently apologize), but there's something about eye to eye contact that gives a conversation a needed.... well... oomph.

Case in point.

Today at the market, while I was stocking up for the up and coming flood they are predicting for our area (which will either NOT happen at all, or will drizzle for a couple of days and we'll all feel silly), I took up a conversation with the couple in front of me.

They were unloading bunches of stuff, a great deal of which seemed to be a surprise to her. This sparked a "you can never have TOO MANY CHIPS" epiphany that led to them telling me they were moving into a new house. I think they wanted to tell everyone, as well they should, but were relegated to me, as I am an ardent listener.

OK.. I lied about the listening part, as you all know, I talk much better than I listen, but I am TRYING to be better.

A new house. Their OWN house. We were all thrilled, and discussed the need to stock it to the roof with food (just in case of the flood or visitors or in case they had to bribe the not as outgoing neighbors).

The conversation was brief... well... not brief, as I said, there was a lot of food, brief enough and we all laughed and at least I came away feeling happy.

See what waiting in line can do for you?

Try it next time... and if they're rude... ?

Steal a bag of their chips...

Just Friends?

Casey, my sister's dog, has an admirer. HIs name is Mr. Ed, according to his collar, and he lives down the street. Casey has never shown an inclination to accept admiration from CATS, but then, she has never had the chance. Most of the cats on the street either tease her or ignore her.

This cat has it's own dogs, it's rumored, but must feel some compelling need to take on jussst one more.


Casey is confused, but not repelled by the idea. She has let the cat come in her house. Unfortunately, my sister's family is allergic, so the visit was short lived. Mr. Ed is also a male, and they don't require any 'cat markings' to add to the decor.

I do, however, just love these pictures.

I hope they become close friends and even play.

Like the video on You Tube... "Gabriel and Stanley".

I'd love to see that for these two, even if it's relegated to the yard.