As of late, I've been spending a lot of time tending to my veggie and herb garden.
As I am out there doing what I need to do - I keep getting attacked by these horrible flies. What ever happened to the annoying house fly that didn't bite? They're eating me alive when I'm out in the garden. It's become a big problem. I woke up last night to me itching those bites, now I have welts like you wouldn't believe. Tonight, I'll be purchasing a couple of fly traps to keep those thirsty blood suckers away from me and my dogs!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Weekly Recap
It's been a busy time for us. Last week we had two professional development evening events (Wed. and Thursday). Needless to say, we were both very exhausted and drained.
Friday we hang out with the dogs and Carlos started watching No County for Old Men. I fell asleep, too much dialogue to keep up with. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to start it at 10pm :S The end was kind of BLAH (that's all I'm saying so I don't ruin it for anyone).
Saturday we hung out with Ryan and Christina. (Ryan and Carlos have been friends since the 6th grade!) It was great hanging out with them, we tried to hit up some of their usual hot spots (they use to live in Pasadena years ago) but most of the restaurants that came to mind were CLOSED :S We ended up at Barney's in Old Town and finally got to see Ryan on his new bike. (I'll add pictures soon.) Later, we stopped by Trina's house, she threw a b-day party for her boyfriend Chris. He's turning 30 (FINALLY). After the festivities, we headed back to the parents house, hung out a little while, picked up the dogs, and headed home.
You all are going to think we're NUTS, but we ran another race - The Magic Shoe Run (5K) in Irvine. Carlos finished in 23.22 minutes (7:31 min. mile) and I finished in 38.52 (12:30 min. mile). I walked more than 1/2, my right legs acted up but I had a strong finish :D
Friday we hang out with the dogs and Carlos started watching No County for Old Men. I fell asleep, too much dialogue to keep up with. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to start it at 10pm :S The end was kind of BLAH (that's all I'm saying so I don't ruin it for anyone).
Saturday we hung out with Ryan and Christina. (Ryan and Carlos have been friends since the 6th grade!) It was great hanging out with them, we tried to hit up some of their usual hot spots (they use to live in Pasadena years ago) but most of the restaurants that came to mind were CLOSED :S We ended up at Barney's in Old Town and finally got to see Ryan on his new bike. (I'll add pictures soon.) Later, we stopped by Trina's house, she threw a b-day party for her boyfriend Chris. He's turning 30 (FINALLY). After the festivities, we headed back to the parents house, hung out a little while, picked up the dogs, and headed home.
You all are going to think we're NUTS, but we ran another race - The Magic Shoe Run (5K) in Irvine. Carlos finished in 23.22 minutes (7:31 min. mile) and I finished in 38.52 (12:30 min. mile). I walked more than 1/2, my right legs acted up but I had a strong finish :D
Friday, July 11, 2008
Congrats Carlos!
Carlos is a runner, there's no denying it. He runs on streets, sidewalks, paved roads, dirt trails but decided to compete in a trail run. He's been itching to participate in Vasque Peters Canyon Summer Trail Run Series (3 races during the summer) put on by http://www.renegaderaceseries.com/ . He missed June's event, just did July's, and plans to do August.
It's a 5 mile run through Peters Canyon, the flat, the sandy, and the hilly. He anticipated a 55 minute run so I timed my own pace to make sure I was at the finish line when he came in. With all the excitement and adrenaline, he powered through and finished in 42 minutes (8.40 minute mile). Great time for someone that hasn't trained on rough terrain.
I'll post a sweet video and some pictures soon!
It's a 5 mile run through Peters Canyon, the flat, the sandy, and the hilly. He anticipated a 55 minute run so I timed my own pace to make sure I was at the finish line when he came in. With all the excitement and adrenaline, he powered through and finished in 42 minutes (8.40 minute mile). Great time for someone that hasn't trained on rough terrain.
I'll post a sweet video and some pictures soon!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Faster than a Speeding Bullet
This 4th of July was filled with excitement, Carlos and I, along with our cousin's Jorge & Melissa participated in the City of Lake Forest & El Toro High School Education Boosters 14th Annual 4th of July 5K Run/Walk. I know that's a LONG name.
We had a great time, Carlos led the the charge with an impressive 8 minute mile (24.33 time) and I pulled up the rear with <12 minute mile (36.25 time). I'm feeling pretty good, I shaved off almost 3 minutes from my Iron Girl time, I didn't walk this time, and it was an uphill course.
So I may not be "FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET" but I'm getting there!
We had a great time, Carlos led the the charge with an impressive 8 minute mile (24.33 time) and I pulled up the rear with <12 minute mile (36.25 time). I'm feeling pretty good, I shaved off almost 3 minutes from my Iron Girl time, I didn't walk this time, and it was an uphill course.
So I may not be "FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET" but I'm getting there!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Addicted
I'm hooked on the show Secret Lives of Women, they repeat the shows all the time on WE TV and I finally caught up -- there has been such interesting topics:
Mafia Wives
Girl Gangs - nearly 50% of all gang members in the US are Latino
Polygamist Sect - focused on FLDS polygamist group
Psychics
and so much more! Check it out: www.wetv.com/secret-lives-of-women/index.html
Mafia Wives
Girl Gangs - nearly 50% of all gang members in the US are Latino
Polygamist Sect - focused on FLDS polygamist group
Psychics
and so much more! Check it out: www.wetv.com/secret-lives-of-women/index.html
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Groomer Has It - Winner
One of my favorite shows concluded this past Saturday - Groomer Has it (on Animal Planet). The finalists: Artist and Jonathan, the winnings: $50,000 and a tricked out mobile grooming truck ($75,000 value).
Artist was the underdog from the start — a single father from the ghetto, with the least amount of professional grooming experience, but the biggest heart. The other contender, Jonathan, is a self-described celebrity dog groomer with the educational credentials and over 15 years of experience.
What Artist lacked in experience, he more than made up for in heart, compassion, and the willingness to take and learn from criticism. The judges mentioned that he was the contestant that received the most criticism in the whole show! From challenge to challenge, Artist grew in confidence and ability.
Artist had me, when they did the shelter challenge. Contestants visited an animal shelter and selected a dog to groom for the day. They were also responsible for finding the animal a home. The other three contestants, (including Jonathan), selected dogs that were relatively easy to groom. But Artist, chose a dog with an extremely matted coat that came from a puppy mill, despite knowing that his selection could send him home.
Artist Knox won and I couldn't be happier. He openly wept and was so appreciative and thankful for the opportunity. Snooty Jonathon said he was robbed. What a prick!
Artist was the underdog from the start — a single father from the ghetto, with the least amount of professional grooming experience, but the biggest heart. The other contender, Jonathan, is a self-described celebrity dog groomer with the educational credentials and over 15 years of experience.
What Artist lacked in experience, he more than made up for in heart, compassion, and the willingness to take and learn from criticism. The judges mentioned that he was the contestant that received the most criticism in the whole show! From challenge to challenge, Artist grew in confidence and ability.
Artist had me, when they did the shelter challenge. Contestants visited an animal shelter and selected a dog to groom for the day. They were also responsible for finding the animal a home. The other three contestants, (including Jonathan), selected dogs that were relatively easy to groom. But Artist, chose a dog with an extremely matted coat that came from a puppy mill, despite knowing that his selection could send him home.
Artist Knox won and I couldn't be happier. He openly wept and was so appreciative and thankful for the opportunity. Snooty Jonathon said he was robbed. What a prick!
Tired!
This past weekend, I decided to beef up my veggie/herb garden. So I bought a couple more plants and put some organic fertilizer on them.
It's been a struggle, the dogs (I suspect both) seem to love the fertilizer and my poor plants keep getting unearth. I started out with a 3 foot fence, our dogs are medium size so I figured it would be enough to deter them from jumping over. I haven't seen any signs of digging but I started to notice the fence becoming warped.
Monday morning as I'm getting ready for work, I look out at my newly re-re-planted plants and notice some have been dug up again, I decided to head over to Home Depot and put an end to it. Realizing that the Australian cattle dog* genes in our dogs may be more pronounced, I decided to beef up the fence to 5ft (I wasn't messing around). I get home and go to town installing the new and improved plant prison. I get ready and rush into work.
When Carlos gets home, he thinks it looks ugly (too exaggeratedly too big) and asks me "how are you going to get in?" Of course I knew it would be a big problem, you see the fence is now attached to sturdier 5ft. posts and I used zip ties to secure the fencing to posts. It's indestructible!
He kindly offers to put a door in for me so that I can get in and out of the area. We head to Home Depot, buy more materials, get home - start digging holes for the posts, cutting the wood, screwing it in, stapling the fencing to it -- we finally finish closer to 10pm.
I'm hoping this keeps them out - otherwise, I may not have a garden.
http://www.cattledog.com/misc/intro.html
*The Australian Cattle Dog personality is often reserved with strangers and even FIERCELY protective when they perceive that their property and/or persons are being threatened. The ACD is intelligent, but can certainly often be described as hard-headed and stubborn. Once an ACD has befriended you, they are a friend for life (Ripi has too much memory loss, we have to work on that with her). Owners often refer to them as "velcro" or "shadow" dogs...because wherever you go, there they are!! (that's definitely Ripi) A bored Cattle Dog is a destructive Cattle Dog!! ACDs make excellent running or biking companions (that's why they leave me behind)
I guess we're going back to morning and evening walks!
It's been a struggle, the dogs (I suspect both) seem to love the fertilizer and my poor plants keep getting unearth. I started out with a 3 foot fence, our dogs are medium size so I figured it would be enough to deter them from jumping over. I haven't seen any signs of digging but I started to notice the fence becoming warped.
Monday morning as I'm getting ready for work, I look out at my newly re-re-planted plants and notice some have been dug up again, I decided to head over to Home Depot and put an end to it. Realizing that the Australian cattle dog* genes in our dogs may be more pronounced, I decided to beef up the fence to 5ft (I wasn't messing around). I get home and go to town installing the new and improved plant prison. I get ready and rush into work.
When Carlos gets home, he thinks it looks ugly (too exaggeratedly too big) and asks me "how are you going to get in?" Of course I knew it would be a big problem, you see the fence is now attached to sturdier 5ft. posts and I used zip ties to secure the fencing to posts. It's indestructible!
He kindly offers to put a door in for me so that I can get in and out of the area. We head to Home Depot, buy more materials, get home - start digging holes for the posts, cutting the wood, screwing it in, stapling the fencing to it -- we finally finish closer to 10pm.
I'm hoping this keeps them out - otherwise, I may not have a garden.
http://www.cattledog.com/misc/intro.html
*The Australian Cattle Dog personality is often reserved with strangers and even FIERCELY protective when they perceive that their property and/or persons are being threatened. The ACD is intelligent, but can certainly often be described as hard-headed and stubborn. Once an ACD has befriended you, they are a friend for life (Ripi has too much memory loss, we have to work on that with her). Owners often refer to them as "velcro" or "shadow" dogs...because wherever you go, there they are!! (that's definitely Ripi) A bored Cattle Dog is a destructive Cattle Dog!! ACDs make excellent running or biking companions (that's why they leave me behind)
I guess we're going back to morning and evening walks!
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