Hot In The Valley

It was 100 degrees on my dashboard when I stopped for Chipotle today.

Pretend I didn't say that. I shouldn't have had Chipotle.

Anyway...

I'm camped out in the Valley for the weekend, housesitting for The Married Couple and babysitting Gracie and their new addition, the fabulous feline Bluebird with her gorgeous multicolored eyes!

Oh, and I'm taking care of the chickens too. Brown and Gray. Brown was being a bitch and wouldn't go in their house at bedtime. But I finally corralled her. 

It's a wonderfully convenient coincidence, because yoga training this weekend is at the Encino studio, so I'm in the area. We're gathered with the two trainings going on at other locations and focusing on anatomy this weekend. My brain is overloaded. I'm not so good with the science.

I'm tucked up on the couch, watching a DVD and prepping to study my sequence until bed once it's over. Four hours of lectures and demos. Muscles! Bones! Compression! Extension!

Bluebird joined me. Gracie's bored. She did get a walk though!

A perfectly lovely Saturday. 

But hot.

No like hot.

Freedom Day

Gosh, sorry y'all. I was off living life yesterday, and I'm sure you just missed me terribly.

Right?

Sure.

I hope you all enjoyed your day of freedom from work (hopefully) and from the British (WOO!). You know, personally, I can take or leave the 4th of July, as a holiday. It's okay. But I enjoyed myself yesterday.

My parents throw a party every year due to their excellent view of the Santa Barbara fireworks, and of course I usually attend. Plus my sis and her boyfriend were in town for the weekend, along with her pup.

I'm always happy to help my mama out in the kitchen, so I spent the first part of the party there, and the second part drinking a bottle of wine.

Wiiine.

But let's not talk about wine, let's talk about food. And freedom. (I did go to the new SB CorePower yesterday, and freedom was the theme chosen by the instructor. FREEDOM!)

That whole introducing food groups slowly? Didn't work. Freedom is hard. But, you know, nothing has affected me awfully terribly. So that's good news.

Also in good news: I actually can handle freedom, in some ways. I have not gone crazy on portions, or on options. I had a few things the last two days that stray away from the way I've been eating the last month, but I wasn't tempted to go hog wild and binge on anything or everything. I was content to eat like a person.

Win for me.

Freedom tastes great.

'MERIKA.

Puppy Mall

my mama drove us down to LA to the Century City mall for an early morning showing of "The Great Gatsby", which we both thoroughly enjoyed. We then spent the rest of the day shopping. And shopping, And...shopping.

You know who else was shopping.

Puppies. A lot of puppies.

God, I want a puppy.

BUT I CAN'T HAVE ONE.

Good thing this mall is dog friendly.

Dogs Vs. Cats

A Glorious Day

That's the word my Biff and I keep using to describe everything we do today.

Glorious.

We woke up and took the pups to get their exercise, getting it out of the way bright and early. Then we hit an amazing yoga class, had a fantastic brunch complete with champagne "poinsettias", ran a few errands, and were back home on our asses with nothing else left to do before three pm.

My darling Biff made us "spa water" with mint, cucumber and lemon after we showered off the sweat, and we are now lounging, reading, writing, enjoying the glorious sunshine.

Glorious, glorious, glorious.

Cinco de Buffo

After we got our tattoos yesterday, it was time to celebrate the Birth of the Buff! We got back to their awesome house in the Valley to find The Husband setting up to throw her what turned out to be the best party ever, full of margaritas and snacks and puppies and people who love her, so basically, what more could you want?

We dined on a light salad, and a less light mini margarita, which packed enough of a punch that I passed out for an epic nap while spooning Jojo.

Bitty bottles! ALWAYS WITH THE
WRINKLE FACE.

After we napped, I ate another salad, because apparently that's all I do, then we started drinking more margaritas, and the partying began!

It was a fantastically fun evening, and a much necessary letting down of the hair, literally and metaphorically. I should straighten my hair more, I like flipping it about. It's always amazing to spend time with my ladies, and my Spanish girl was there too with her Puerto Rican lovah. Also, I talked to a boy I met last December at a party, and he remains cute and I am intrigued. And I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen since their wedding, which was really fun, and a lot of the girls I bonded with at Buff's bachelorette were there, which was so great. Also, met some of her coworkers, and it's important to meet new people! One of the girls was super sweet, and works in the area I live/work in, so that's nifty.

The pups also had a grand time, Jojo and Gracie performed quite well for the guests and played and played and played until they passed out. Frankie did very well accepting attention, even though she gets a little scared in large crowds. Of course, immediately upon entering their home she found a toy she liked, and spent most (all) of the evening guarding it from every other creature. Silly.

So all in all, I say: SUCCESS. 

Pictures.

I ended up with ALL THE PUPPIES. Oh yeah, and Drunk Me
decided Fanta sounded like a GREAT IDEA.

NO ONE MUST HAVE THE TOY.

The Husband asked if I wanted him to
take a picture, and I said I preferred
narcissistic self shots. In which I make
dumb faces.

King Tiburon sleeps.

Doodle cannot part with the toy to join the others.

As always, The Married Couple were excellent hosts. I want their house and their pets and their awesomeness.


Basically, I want to be them when I grow up. Is that okay?

It's Linkin' Time

28 Dogs That Know Exactly How You Feel This Morning

*Or afternoon.

23 Puppies Stuck On The Work Week

WHERE ARE YOU, FRIDAY?

The Baby-Sitters Club: Where Are They Now?

This. Is. Epic. SO brilliant, so honest, so believable. Oh Stacey, you were always my favorite.

27 Reasons Darla Is The Best Vampire In The Buffyversee

I can get behind this, at least LADY vampires. Spike will still always own my heart

First Listen: Music From Baz Luhrmann's Film 'The Great Gatsby'

The ENTIRE soundtrack this time. IT'S SO GOOD. And I officially like the Florence song now that I've heard the whole thing, though it's not my favorite of hers.

The 12 Ways We Are Amanda Knox

I've been fascinated with this case for years, since Amanda Knox went to my university. I definitely want to read her book, I think it will be pretty fascinating and this article makes it sound like she's very honest and forthright in the book. For the record, I think she's innocent.

I’m still here: back online after a year without the internet

This was a great read, and so appropriate for me right now as I thoroughly and completely fail at my Screen Free Week. Which I will try again. Just...not now.

Night and Day

Tree

Dark. Mysterious. Trapped.

Deuce and Annie Boo

Happy. Sunny. Free.

A Dog Story

I once saved a puppy from drowning in a pool.

For reals. I jumped in and saved her! I am pretty sure I was clothed at the time, but I can't promise you this. I was seven or eight. Can't remember.

Is this worthy of bragging rights? I ask for a reason.

Basically, I'm contemplating my online dating profile. The fated day approaches on the distant horizon. Is that the sort of hilarious fact one could share to entice the fellas? 

Probably not.

See, I could use the same profile I had last time, and clean up with the messages quite well I'm sure. It worked out for me in the past, got me plenty of attention. I actually got more than a few comments about my profile being "really funny, most girls aren't actually funny", which really annoys me as I know I've mentioned, but what can you do. 

But I don't really want to use the same profile because a of all, boring, and be of all, what if someone recognized it and was like, weren't you on here LAST YEAR? I mean, that would be creepy status, but whatever.

New profile, new name, fresh start, new fun facts.

I've lived in Belfast, was mugged in Paris, I'm a future sexy yoga teacher in training...

I...saved a dog from drowning?

Nah. 

I have to take out Bacon though. 'Cause if you Google that shit, I come right up.

Best. Day. Ever.

I think Gracie very much enjoyed her day as a working girl, though she didn't really do much.

She distracted the employees.

Put on her best CEO face and barked some orders.

Then gave me kisses.

And slept.

Overall, a productive day indeed.

Me? Oh, I actually worked. What a weird feeling.

Assistant to the Assistant

This week was Administrative Professionals Week. A whole week to celebrate me and my people, the copiers, the staplers, the shredders and the labelers.

We got an official day, too. Wednesday.

I got a giant fortune cookie in the mail on Monday, and left it in the kitchen for people to eat. When I did, I dropped a super obvious hint about the made-up holiday, but no one bit.

I did not get celebrated.

But today, you know who I'm celebrating?

My new assistant, Gracie.

My Buff and I have often discussed having a "take your niece to work day", and it turns out that The Husband is off to Vegas for a bachelor party this morning, and she had to work, so poor Gracie was going to be alone most of the day.

I was happy to solve that problem.

Gracie got dropped off a little after six am, and I let her on the bed with me, and of course this offended the Tree, who decided to take Gracie's bed.

Before work, my assistant and I went to Office Max to pick up some supplies for a conference next week. Gracie is a big fan of the car.

Then we made it to the office, where Gracie was overwhelmed with the excitement of other pups. She found much love for Yogi, who is her new boyfriend.

Stay tuned for more about Gracie...will she do any work today at all? Who knows.

A Tasty Serving of Links

Good evening.

Some links before bed?

We'll start with something fascinating and a little education.

And now for the ludicrous.

Dogs Who Know How to Shake It

"Arrested Development" Season 4 Photos: The Bluth Family On The Rise!

Meet the Man Who Was Deported From Saudi Arabia for Being Too Handsome

Well, yes. Yes I WOULD like to meet him, thanks. 

Also...

And last, but certainly not least, we have Einstein the fishy.

AWWWWWWWW.

Sweet fishy filled dreams, friends.

A Life In List Form

1) I just ate cereal out of a mixing bowl. That's embarrassing.

2) My antibiotics are making me sleepy, and I actually feel more sickly now than I did before I started taking them. Fuck you, modern medicine.

3) I went home early after my Super Important Meeting, which was Really Not A Big Deal, but I Made Progress In Life Today, and I Like Capitals.

4) Then I was going to nap, but my sheets were so gross and full of cat hair that I dreamed about them last night, so I changed them.

5) THEN I napped.

6) Now I'm irritated, because The Progress I Thought I Had Made has totally been cut at the knees because of me going home. Fucking hell. Whatever.

7) Here's a puppy.

Meet Anna

This is Anna, after Anna Kournikova, chosen by her daddy when he was in college and she was the hottest thing out there.

Ms. Anna is very discerning, and much prefers ladies to gents, and in fact, prefers pretty girls above all. They're her favorite.

Today she asked ever so politely to sit in my lap while her father was in a meeting.

And my ego grew three sizes today, because the dog thinks I'm pretty.

Visual Memories: From iPhone Depths

After yesterday's photofest at SBCC, I had almost 8200 pictures on my iPhone.

That is a little bit excessive.

So I sat down last night and gave myself the task of starting from the very beginning of my library, which dates back to college, and going through and deleting at least 2,000 pictures. Minimum.

I got it down to less than 4,000. So, more than cut in half. Baller.

So of course, the vast majority of my pictures are of Bentley, and if they're not of Bentley, they're of puppies.

And it turns out I have taken some awesome pictures.

You shall NOT watch America's Next Top Model!
You shall watch MEEEEE.

Dubs as a puppy attacking his big sis.
Awww, I miss our Jolie!

Pirate face.

Jolie and Frankie! One of my favorite pics.

The time Bentley got DIRTY. He was not pleased.

JoJo liked bums.

And Bentley likes bugs.