Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's 86th birthday. He passed away July 11, 2005. I miss him so much.

Let the sun shine!

Boy, we sure got spoiled this past weekend with all the sunshine! Gimme more!! The mornings started out with some overcast. As the early hours passed, the sun started to make its presence. I began Sunday morning with a great yoga session with my friend David. That was an intense workout. Very different from the usual gym workouts. This is my third session and I enjoy it so much that I count the days to the next.

Later in the afternoon I had planned to do some things in the apartment. When I looked out the window, I thought my indoor plans could wait. So, I changed and took a walk from my place to Pt Defiance Park which is about 6 miles each way. It was perfect walking weather. The park was filled with others enjoying picnics and laying in the sun. There were two wedding couples being photographed. I stopped at the pond to watch the ducks, geese, fish and turtles. It was a wonderful day.

Hiking with friends

Yesterday was another beautiful day, and perfect for a hike with friends. A few of us from our men's group met at Pack Forest in Eatonville to hike the trails leading to Hugo Peak at the 1740 ft level. It was the perfect combination of trail levels suitable for all of us as we are at various experience in hiking. Our group was a total of five guys. Sometimes a smaller group on hikes work better since it's easier to account for each other. We even joked about holding hands on the trail to stay together! Silly boys!!

The views were fantastic and definately offered many photo moments. Though there were evidence of wildlife in the area, we were yet to see any. We did see many varieties of flowers and plants, many of which are only seen in environments such as this. Another hike to the forest is being planned to this time take the trail leading to a hike behind Mashel Falls. Now, that will be a first for me. A wonderful day!

Good friends!

Today was a great day. It was my second time volunteering with the free clinic for pets. This time my good friend, Keith joined me. I invited him to come over yesterday and stay the night. We stayed up pretty late making catnip sachets to give the cats at the clinic. Earlier in the week, I made bandanas for the dogs. We had such a great time talking and and making the sachets. Keith is a veterinary technician and I knew he would be of great help at the clinic. It was a very busy day for all of the volunteers. The day ended with us having seen about 60 pets! It's so rewarding. Keith absolutely loved it and will try to volunteer again. As for me, I'm planning to go every month, especially since I have Saturdays off from my job.

Another good friend, Theresa recently called me about doing some business marketing consulting. Okay, I should back-up abit and share some history. Theresa used to own a dog boarding facility for about 7-years and sold the business to retire in 2007. Well, the new owners have not been doing very good and she asked me for help. She also asked if I would be interested in managing the business. Apparently the current managers lacked the experience to grow the business. So, now the owner is feeling it. We have a meeting next Saturday where I will observe the current business and make recommendations. My experience in this is 9-years at my last veterinary hospital. They had a wonderful hospital and pet boarding, but did not know how to market the services. I was the kennel manager at the time and began brainstorming ways to build the business. Soon, they promoted me to an Assistant Administrator position in charge of marketing & promotions. To make a long story short, the business began to increase at a steady rate. It remained that way until upper management/owners made drastic changes that resulted in the decline of business and ultimately the close of the hospital. There's really more to this story, but I just gave you a quick picture. Anyway, I'm really excited about this consulting work and where (if anything) it might take me. Wish me luck!

Time Flies By...

Wow, has it really been 1-month since my last posting? Where did the time go? So many wonderful things have happened in that last month. Now, I'll have to play catch-up.

We had a great game night & potluck recently for my men's group. Welcomed a few new members and had a wonderful time sharing good food and company. We played a game called "catch phrase". Kind of a cross between Hot Potato and Charades. Only with this, you can talk. Anyway, it was a blast and is now the official group game.

I was invited by friends to thier Oscar night party in Seattle. Never been to one and really most times do not watch the Oscars. Okay, I admit I like to watch the Red Carpet and see the fabulous (and not so) gowns. Having designed wedding and evening gowns years ago in Los Angeles and Puerto Rico, this is my favorite part. It's been many years since I designed gowns. The last was a wedding gown in Puerto Rico well over 15 years ago. Anyone getting married soon or in need of a fabulous gown?

Our men's group is getting ready to start our first season hikes. I just love the outdoors and am fortunate to have friends to enjoy it with. Next weekend I'm hosting our meeting to welcome new members and discuss activity ideas. So far, lots of great suggestions. Just need to get them on the calendar.

Work is going very well and has kept me pretty busy. Just recently started volunteering with a group in Tacoma that offers free basic veterinary care for low income folks and seniors for thier pets. They meet on the 2nd Saturday each month and see between 45-50 animals. Everything from basic care, vaccines, flea treaments, food, etc. Everything given is donated and volunteers staff the clinic. My job is front of the house, checking in the clients, finding out thier pet's needs, applying flea treaments and just being a compassionate ear. Everyone is there for a reason. Bottom-line, they love thier pets and just need some help. They are so appreciative for the services we provide. I already have a few friends interested in volunteering next clinic day on March 14th.

Just looked outside the window and it is raining. Sure beats the crazy snow we had! We're in the northwest and learn to deal with it. It's all good!

Okay, this was just a very quick catch-up on my latest happenings. Stay tuned for more. Bye for now.

Post Holiday Potluck

This turned out to be a fantastic gathering of our men's group. There were even a few new members. One of the wonderful things about our group is making new friendships. I now have a few new friends in the Tacoma area that I did not know before. We had a good variety of tasty foods such as greek salads, beef stew, spanakopita, and enchiladas just to name a few. We shared many ideas for future activities and plans are underway for a cooking party and salsa dancing! For the cooking party, those attending will prepare a dish for the dinner (appetizer, soup, salad, main course, dessert, beverage). Dean has offered to host at his house where he has a huge kitchen. I hope he knows what he's gotten himself into! After preparations, we will all enjoy a wonderful full-course dinner.

Salsa dancing will be lots of fun for the beginner as well as advanced dancers. Dean has also offered to host this activity. There are a few in our group with dancing experience. Hmmm...to get in the spirit of the evening, maybe everyone should come in costume. This will definately be a fun evening!

Next activity is Boardgame Night on February 21st.

Good friends!

Tom and I have become really good friends since meeting last December. We've had some great dinners, watched movies and gone for lunches. The amazing thing is that we both worked (at different times) at the same specialty store in Beverly Hills, CA called Bonwit Teller. He in the late 70's and me in the mid 80's. To top it off, we both worked in the cosmetic department selling Estee Lauder! We shared so many memorable stories about the job, especially stories about meeting the Beverly Hills celebrities. Those were fun times! Who would have known that many years later, we should meet and have this in common. And we just live within minutes from each other! I mean, so close we can walk to visit!! Tom has been working for Holland Cruise Lines cruising the Mediterranean. He's away for seven months and then returns home for five months. It will be tough when he has to leave in March. Since he can get Internet on the ship, I told him to get a webcam so we can stay connected. Hopefully he will also take his digital camera to email me photos of the exciting countries he visits like Greece, Italy and Egypt.

Get Together with the Boys

So nice to get together with guys from the men's group. Last night a few of us got together at Mike & Dale's house for our monthly Gay-themed Movie Nights. They are great hosts and put together a really nice spread of refreshments and snacks. Even have a popcorn making machine like at the fairs! We also met a few new guys to our group. Always good to have more friends. The movie was called "Arizona Sky". Good story-line about first love in this romantic drama about two reunited 30-something buddies who fall back in love. This is one of the fun social events that we do. By the end of the evening, the new guys joining our group seemed like longtime friends! Next weekend, I'm hosting our Post Holiday Potluck at my place.

Forward with new promise and hope

I worked yesterday, so did not get a chance to see the inauguration live. I asked a friend to tape it for me and I'd watch it later in the evening. Yesterday at work, one of the clients commented that it was a going to be a good day. That single comment meant many things on different levels as I knew she was talking about our new President taking office. For me, it certainly was a good day as we all move forward in a new direction for promise and hope for our country.

This morning I woke with a feeling that something great was starting to happen. I look forward to what will come and how our country bounces back. We certainly are "remaking America"!

In the thick of it...

Yes, we are getting our share of the thick stuff here. The early mornings are really thick, then much less by the time I leave for work at 7:15am. By 6pm, it starts rolling in again. It's also been leaving frost and really cold. Yippee, scraping off the windshield! Yesterday it stayed pretty much all day. Kinda eerie feeling driving with very little visual distance, then seeing the glowing lights of an on-coming car or the stoplights at the intersection. Today, it seems to be lifting much earlier, so it looks like a reasonably clearer day.

Lunch with great friends

Today was a wonderful day. Enjoyed lunch at a local Hawaiian restaurant in Tacoma with great friends from my men's group. Ok, let me back-up a bit and first tell you about the men's group. I organized an outdoor & social men's group in Tacoma in May 2007. I've been fortunate to meet some great guys in Tacoma and surrounding areas and made some great friendships as a result of starting the group. We started with 5 guys and are now close to 160 guys! Now, back to the lunch. Anyway, a few of us met for lunch today and had a great time. If you are in Tacoma and want to try the best hawaiian food in the area, you have to go to Freighthouse Square by the Tacoma Dome and check-out Ali'i & Sumo's Hawaiian Grill. There are a few so-called "hawaiian" restaurants that just don't compare to this place. The cooking is local hawaiian-style as is the atmosphere and friendly service. They even have a small store with local island goodies from aloha shirts and sarongs to coffee and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Also, local hawaiian tunes playing to put you in the island mood. Be sure to go hungry because the portions are generous and as they say in Hawaii "ono, brok da mout!!" Translation: tasty, to break the mouth. Okay, that may not make any sense...oh well, that's our island pidgin talk. If you like desserts, Bert makes the best cakes like guava, passion orange and chantilly. I love the guava, but my new favorite in the passion orange...YUM!! So, if you're in Tacoma, call me and I'll join you for hawaiian lunch!

Getting my "work" groove on

It's been wonderful being back to work again! I really like my new job and feel so welcomed by my co-workers. Actually, I feel more appreciated in my 1-1/2 weeks there than I felt at my last job of nearly 9-years! Great potential for growth with this company. You know, I don't think I mentioned the kind of new job I have. Oops! I'm working at a veterinary hospital in downtown Tacoma. My primary position is receptionist and I will also be working with public relations and marketing. I already have ideas that I discussed with the owner. Definately something I am experienced with and enjoy doing. Part of the marketing and public relations will be coordinating community pet events to create awareness for pet health, the human-animal bond, and working with animal rescue and adoption. This is something I did on a regular basis at my last job that really helped build the business on many levels. So as you might guess, I am very passionate about animals and where I'm at now. All good things that were worth waiting for!

Fantastic News!

It's been a very long time, nine months to be exact, unemployed and searching for a new job. Well, yesterday I got a phone call and was offered a great new job! I was so excited and actually emotional because it has been so long. My first day is tomorrow, mainly the usual new hire orientation and paperwork. This new job brings many opportunities for a promising career. Definately growth potential for me within the company and an opportunity for me to use my marketing and promotional skills to help the business grow. Yippee!

More White Stuff!

Walking in a winter wonderland... HELLO, enough already!!! Okay, so I need to vent. Now, I'm fine. My only real concern with all of this winter weather is all the ice. Sure makes it dangerous and difficult to drive and walk in it. I was taking the dogs out this morning and slipped on some ice. Couldn't even tell there was ice. Thank goodness I did not fall. The dogs love to run, but knew how to navigate on the ice. They definately have better sense and just knew there was ice on the patio floor. The weather forecast calls for warmer temperatures which will help to melt the ice and remaining snow. Yippee!!!

Happy New Year!

Yes, we are in a New Year. Full of promise and changes for our country. For me, definately all things new. Last year was a year of difficult life changing experiences. The most significant was joining the group of many people falling victim to corporate down-sizing and budget cutbacks. Yes, for the first time ever, I was sent packing with not so much as a sincere Thank You for my dedication to my job of nearly nine years. This hit me pretty hard. Never would I think it would be so difficult to find another job. As of today, I am still unemployed. I know this won't be for much longer as I remain positive and keep moving forward in search of my new job.

The close of 2008 brought a very heart-warming experience as my ex-partner and I donated much needed items to a family truly in need. This wonderful family, a single mother and her three children did not even have a christmas tree yet were very content with what they did have. Fernando and I searched through our own belongings and found many things that we knew would be better used by this family. We even had an extra artificial christmas tree, decorations & stockings for them. So, Fernando's car became Santa's sleigh as we loaded up and he made the delivery a few days before Christmas. Later that evening, I stayed up late finding yet more things they could use. It's so amazing how many "things" we accumulate and many never even use. Worst of all, some things are new and never used! One of the greatest actions one can do is simply help, from the heart someone else in need. This action should happen anytime, not just during the holidays. So, in some way, we have adopted this family and will do what we are able to help them.

Happy New Year! Peace - Love - Friendships - Happiness