Dogs come when they're called;
cats take a message and get back to you later.
Mary Bly

Today I'm participating in Kelly's Korner with "Show Us Your Life." This week's topic is pets.


I've had a lot of pets growing up and always loved animals. It certainly comes from my mother who loves them even more. From cats to Labradors, I loved having animals as a child. As an adult, I knew I just couldn't live without a pet.

In 2005, I went to my local Humane Society for my very own cat. While browsing a fuzzy, Tabby paw stuck out of the cage and rested on my shoulder. That's when I met Bella.

Also known as Bella-Bell-Bell, Bella-Lou, Bella-rina and, unfortunately, Bella-schmella. Nick also calls her Pukey or Squawker.

I adopted her when she was 8 1/2 years old and she is now about 13 years old. We always joke that "Bella has baggage." Wouldn't you if you lived in a cage for over 3 years?


She is a good snuggler when she wants to be but also bites and throws up a lot after eating random pieces of plastic. That's okay, I'll put up with it if she doesn't have to be in a shelter and can just live the rest of her old lady years asleep on the back of the couch.

These days her favorite activities include bird watching from the den (I put a bird feeder right outside the window), running through the house as fast as she can without a destination, stealing pony tail elastics and napping with Nick.

Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.
Arthur Schopenhauer

I popped into Walgreen's today on my lunch break to pick up a few things and took my place at the end of a loooong line. One register open, of course.

So this elderly gentleman in front of me (with his cart full of Scott's toliet paper on sale, just like my mother!) said, "Please, dear, go ahead."

I was shocked. When I politely declined he replied, "I'm retired. I've got all day to stand here but I bet you have to get back to work! Please, go ahead."

How nice is that?! It just made my day. When I'm old, retired and with plenty of time I'll be sure to do the same. I appreciated those extra minutes to get my errands done and head to the office.

Then he proceeded to talk to his wife at a high decibel on his cell phone, "What? I said I'm at the Walgreen's. Yes, I've got all the toilet paper I can handle."

But it was okay, I didn't mind a bit. He had a free loud-cell-phone-talking-pass from me!

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.
Lin Yutang

We returned late Friday night from our wonderful eight days in California and Las Vegas. We had so much fun that now we're both sick! Oh well.

Here are some favorite photos:

We began our trip staying in South Pasadena at a darling bed and breakfast called The Artists' Inn.

Friday and Sturday we spent the day at Santa Anita for the Breeder's Cup. Nick was in hog heaven, or is that horse heaven?

View from our seats at the Breeder's Cup.

On Sunday, our one year anniversary, we headed to Las Vegas for three days to explore and see my friend Ashley and her husband CJ.

Fabulous anniversary dinner at Olives in Bellagio. We sat right on the patio to see the beautiful fountains.

Exploring the Strip - here in front of The Mirage.

With CJ and Ashley at M.

Ashley and CJ took us to the delightfully tacky Fremont Street of old Vegas. Fun!

We drove out to the Hoover Dam, very cool to see.

On Wednesday we headed back to California and stayed in Santa Monica.

Exploring Venice Beach. It was, um, interesting.

Our very-California view from lunch at Venice Beach.

View from our hotel room of the gorgeous sunset on Santa Monica beach.

On our last night we went into Hollywood to the Laugh Factory. Saw a great lineup including headliner Tim Allen. We actually sat right next to him at dinner before the show at Greenblatt's.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• finally being home sweet home.
• piles of clean, folded laundry.
  
• Delsym cough syrup in orange flavor.
• picking up Audrey Niffenegger book at the library without having to wait on the request list.
• beautiful tree silhouettes with no leaves.
  

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them, in my life, I'll love you more.

The Beatles, In My Life

Happy first anniversary to my darling husband! It was a busy year full of moving, new jobs, new house and lots of change but still a wonderful one.

Here's to many, many more (maybe just not all as busy!).

A vacation trip is one-third pleasure, fondly remembered,
and two-thirds aggravation, entirely forgotten.
Robert Brault

Starting after work today, Nick and I will be on vacation for a whole eight days to California and Las Vegas!

See you when we get back (with lots of photos, of course!).

An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.
Winston Churchill

Did yesterday feel like the longest day ever?

I had plenty to do on my list but nothing to take up the whole day! I was up and wide awake at 7:30 a.m. and in bed by 8:30 p.m completely exhausted. Nick was asleep on the couch at 7 p.m.! It was dark by 5:30ish so when I looked at the clock after dinner I was so surprised it was only 6:15 p.m.! It felt like midnight.

But I do love that it is dark and cozy earlier. Great excuse for a Crock Pot dinner, PJs and television in the evening as the weather gets colder. I also love that it isn't pitch black out when I wake up at 6:30 a.m. Much easier to rise with the sun shining!

Hopefully I'll get on this schedule quickly. Happy no-more-daylight-saving-time!

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• we leave for California and Las Vegas in just four days and our one year anniversary is in just a week!
  
• meeting my neighbors at the Halloween block party.
• glowing pumpkins on our front porch.
  
• finally filing that big stack of stuff on my desk.
• mini two piece packets of Starburst candy when one is pink and one is red.
• The Real Housewives of Orange County season premier on Thursday.
  

Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,
voices whisper in the trees, "tonight is Halloween!"
Dexter Kozen

On Friday night Nick and I headed over to Angie's house for a fun Halloween party!
(Angie's camera takes much better photos than mine so these are all her cute shots.)

Cheery front steps

We were Swine Flu.

Darling cupcakes

Some blog friends: Alyssa as Ms. Frizzle, Heidi as a witch, Angie as
Beth from Dog the Bounty Hunter and me as the first half of H1N1.

We won "most original costume!"

Random: lacking any definite plan or order or purpose

• Junior League meeting tonight, hope my committee event announcement goes well!
• We leave for California/Las Vegas a week from tomorrow. ACK! So excited but so much to do between now and then.
  
• I dressed very nice today for a client meeting that was canceled. A waste of a good outfit day!
• Nick and I finally figured out our costume for Angie's Halloween party on Friday. Actually, Nick thought it up, he's so funny. I love Halloween and he has never dressed up for it as an adult. Does he know what he was missing? Hope it turns out cute!
  
• I have a leather portfolio with a large legal pad in it that I use for work. Just my big to do list and notes. I just used the last sheet of my old legal pad and slide in a new one. It's just like a new tube of toothpaste. Divine.
• All of the beautiful fall leaves are blowing off of the trees. It makes me sad. It's like when all of the tulips lose their heads in the Spring.
• Christmas is just 57 days away, which means my birthday is just 62 days. Only the best month of the year. Sorry mother, December beats October.
• I bought a jug of delicious apple cider. Very yummy warmed in the microwave.
• My car's engine temp light keeps clicking on at random times and beeping. I've had it checked and there is nothing wrong. Even the temperature gauge shows everything is cool and dandy. It is very annoying. Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeep.