The Sunshine State

So where did I go?

Cocoa beach, Florida...

Where I saw a jellyfish in the sand...

And I met up with my mum...

Then, rain clouds rolled in...

So, we headed to 1936 Cairo?

Actually, an Indiana Jones Stunt performance and..

A Journey into the Movies to see...

Mickey's magical hat at...

Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida!

Nope, this crowd is not a special effect - the park was packed!

Pluto Rocks! (This is "Wagging Tales" afterall)

Our journey concluded with a Christmas light spectacular

So, there you have it. I traveled to Florida, met up with my mum (and visited my Aunt and Uncle). We then spent a day at Cocoa Beach and a day at Hollywood Studios in Orlando.

What about Tahoe and Ashley? Something tells me that they had a nice relaxing time at home with Brian while I was away ; )

Ashie!

Last Minute Getaway

Yesterday, I hopped on a flight and headed South...
Where do you think I landed?

Where am I?

Stayed tuned to find out - more to come soon.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday weekend to you all! I hope you had a relaxing time with friends and family and that Santa brought you everything that you wanted...

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Tahoe and Ashley received a few special treats from Santa too. They also received a special gift from their Aunt & Uncle... (thanks Cynthia & Mike!)

Yum, yum, yum...

Nom, nom, nom...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
Tahoe and Ashley were nestled, all snug in "OUR" bed,
While visions of chewie toys danced in their heads.

And I in my PJ's and Brian in his sweats,
Had just settled down to watch a Christmas Carol on the tv set...

When up on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter!

Off to the window I flew in a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the crest of the new fallen snow
Gave a luster of midday to the objects below.

And what to my wondering eyes did appear
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

  With a sputter of ashes -- a flurry of soot,
He slid down the chimney with all of his loot.
 
Tahoe and Ashley stood there so regal and proud,
Guarding their home with barks, oh so loud! 
St. Nick showed no fear and called them by name,
He knew in his heart they were gentle and tame.

He brought out his list, checking it twice.
"Well, my beauties, all year you've been very nice.
I have in my bag toys and much more,
Just tell me what you pups really long for."

 

My dogs talked to each other -- much to my surprise
and turned to Santa with tears in their eyes,
"We have chewies and balls and ropes to be tugged,
We are pampered and coddled and petted and hugged.
But for Christmas, dear Santa, we have but one care,
that all dogs be loved as much as we are.

St. Nick stopped for a moment to gather his wits,
"I have nothing to stop humans from being such twits.
All dogs are so beautiful and are such a treasure,
Living only to be loved and give humans pleasure.
This lesson I will try to teach,
Then maybe your wish will be within my reach."

 

St. Nick leaned over and kissed each beautiful head.
"Now you wonderful gray ghosts, go off to bed.
Think good thoughts and dream good dreams
Of running and jumping and playing in streams."

St. Nick turned to me, his face wet with tears.
"Be proud of your weims, they are such beautiful dears."

In an instant St. Nick disappeared in a poof,
And I heard him chuckle as he ran on the roof.
He jumped in his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle,
and off he flew like the down on a thistle.

And I heard him exclaim as the drove out of sight,

"Merry Christmas to All and To All Dogs a Good Life!"

Winter Solstice

Did you know that yesterday was the shortest/darkest day of the year in North America? In our area we only had 9 hours and 26 minutes of daylight! (Yep, I counted it down to the minute.) The good news is, the days will now get brighter every day for the rest of the winter - yay!

Happy weims!

Lucky for Tahoe and Ashley, I got out of work early yesterday and was able to take them for a walk before it got dark.

And... for all of you Seinfeld fanatics Happy Festivus!

Keep Fido Safe During the Holidays

Christmas time is here which means... Christmas trees, ornaments, holiday parties, baking and more! While this is a festive and fun time of the year, it's important to keep in mind that holiday decorations and festivities can pose potential dangers for our dogs and pets. Below is a listing of the top three most common holiday hazards for pets:

1. Rich Food & the Well-Intentioned Guest

Visitors (and Brian) are often the worst offenders when it comes to giving dogs food samples that will upset their stomachs—or worse. With rich holiday foods around, your dog may be begging more than usual for human food that doesn't agree with his/her stomach. Ask your guests to resist those puppy eyes and keep the human food away from Fido! Rich foods can cause stomach problems and pancreatitis and make your dog very sick. Also, keep your pet away from cooked bones: they can splinter or get lodged in your pet's throat or cause serious damage by puncturing his/her intestinal tract.

2. The Christmas Tree

If you have put a live Christmas tree up in your home, continue reading on. If you have put a fake Christmas tree up in your home, skip to = ).

O.K. live tree folks, are you still with me? First, I want to say you guys rock! In my opinion, it just isn't Christmas without a live tree and the smell of evergreen in the house. So, what do you need to do to keep your dog safe? Sweep tree needles up regularly or fence off your tree to separate your dog and tree. Tree needles are very sharp and can easily get stuck in your dog's paws or throat. Some dogs may even drink the water from the tree. Be sure to avoid adding preservatives to the tree stand water and carefully cover the stand with a tree skirt so your pet can't get to it.

= ) Welcome back fake tree folks... If you've adorned your tree with twinkly lights, cover electric cords for your tree lights so Fido can't chew them and electrocute him/herself. And let's not forget about the ornaments - some dogs play with ornaments as if they were toys. Ornaments sometimes fall off of the tree and break into small pieces on the floor and ornament hooks can easily fall too. If swallowed or ingested such items could get lodged in your pet's throat or intestines. Frequently check your tree and the area surrounding it for fallen ornaments and ornament hooks. Lastly, make sure your tree is anchored well so your dog can't knock it over. While it may be funny to think of grandma getting run over by a reindeer, I can assure you that it would be no laughing matter if Fido got squashed by the tree.

3. Presents

You're probably wondering, how can a present be bad for a dog, right? Well, the danger that I'm actually referring to is the gift paper, ribbons, and bows that we wrap our presents with. Shiny bows, ribbons, and paper can be particularly appealing to dogs, especially when they're placed on the floor underneath the Christmas tree. Any item that a dog swallows, including string and ribbons can become what vets refer to as a foreign body. Swallowing any of these things could require an emergency visit to the vet and surgery.

While all of the dangers described above can be hazardous to your pooch, they can also be easily avoided. Please take time to ensure that your pets are safe and happy during the holiday season.

Christmas Overdrive

Since returning home from a week out west, I've been busy preparing for Christmas. Yes, one has to "prepare" for Christmas these days. From writing Christmas cards, to shopping for gifts, to baking cookies and cakes, to decorating the house inside and out... I've literally been going non-stop! Of course, I have two of the best helpers in the world: Tahoe & Ashley.

O.K., I admit that Tahoe & Ashley have not really helped me write Christmas cards or shop for gifts or decorate the house but, they've been kind enough to sample the items that I've baked and most importantly... they've both patiently watched as I've run around like a crazy person and they've been there giving me a head to pet or a belly to rub when I've needed a break and some perspective.

Santa's Little Helper

Busy in Tucson

This week has flown by! So what have I been up to? Well, Babu and I have spent most of the week exploring the many things that Arizona (and surrounding areas) have to offer. Here's a quick snapshot of what we did:

Tuesday December 6 - Mt. Lemmon. We finally arrived in Tucson (Babu's new home) on Tuesday afternoon. To get an overview of the area, Babu took me on a scenic drive up to the top of a nearby mountain - Mt. Lemmon. It was a beautiful drive. We took a windy road past scenic vistas, rocks, and cactuses and climbed up to over 8,000 feet. A blanket of snow covered rocks and the grounds of a ski resort at the top of the mountain. Babu even had a little trouble with the car and ice - we actually got stuck in a parking lot for a little while! Luckily, folks in Tucson are friendly... a group of visitors to the mountain helped push us out.

Scenic vista on Mt Lemmon

Stuck in snow and ice!

Wednesday, December 7 - Biosphere 2 and Tohono Chul Park. In the morning, we visited the Biosphere 2 - a research facility and laboratory that is managed by the University of Arizona. The facility was built in the 1980's and served as the home base for two missions in 1991-1994 for two groups of Biospherians. Researchers in both missions were sealed in the Biosphere (the first group for 2 years and the second group for a little over 1 year) with the goal of measuring survivability.

Later in the afternoon, we visited Tohono Chul Park. The park has beautiful gardens and walking trails with all sorts of sculptures, cactuses, and other plants native to Arizona.

Babu at the Biosphere

The Biosphere

Posing with a cactus

Thursday, December 8 - Mexico & Tombstone, AZ. Yep, we crossed the border too! On Thursday we drove south, parked the car and walked across the border into Nogales, Mexico. I was surprised by the fence that separates the US from Mexico - it kind of reminded me of a mini Berlin wall. I was also surprised by the number of US Border Patrol that we encountered during our drive. That said, the two hours that we spent in Mexico was fun. We did a little shopping and talked with local artisans.

Later in the afternoon, we drove on to Tombstone, AZ. Tombstone is a historic site best known for the O.K. Corral gunfight. We walked through the town that DocHolliday, Wyatt Earp, Johnny Ringo and a number of other famous Western Legends used to walk through. We saw a gunfight re-enactment, took a tour of the Good Enough Mine, and even visited Boothill Cemetery. (Arizona has pretty lenient gun laws. One is allowed to carry a concealed firearm around without a permit. In Tombstone, it seemed like everyone was packing a piece.)

Babu on the Mexico side at the US/Mexico border

A Tombstone local

Outside the O.K. Corral

Friday, December 9 - Pima Canyon. For my last full day in Tucson, Babu and I went on a 10 mile hike in Pima Canyon. It was a beautiful day! The trail was terrific - it took us through a canyon and up the side of a mountain. Along the way we saw many cactuses and had several spectacular views of Tucson. Lucky Babu... this trail is just minutes from his home and is one of three hiking areas that he has easy access to.

In Pima Canyon

A scenic view of Tucson

The Grand Canyon State

Today I headed South. From Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, I traveled to the Black Canyon. What's at the Black Canyon? The Hoover Dam, of course!

A view from atop the Hoover Dam

As I was walking across the dam, I saw someone that looked familiar... 

Could it be... Babu? 

Could it be...?

Yes, it's Babu!

(Ok, Babu actually joined me in Las Vegas a few days ago. He drove up from Tucson to support me during the race weekend. I'll be spending the next week with him in Tucson.) 

The Hoover Dam and the Hoover Dam Bridge were both impressive engineering marvels. It was a clear beautiful day and you could see for miles.

After the Hoover Dam, we continued on to the Grand Canyon West Rim to visit Sky Walk.  Sky Walk is on the Hualapai Reservation. The Reservation is approximately 1,000,000 acres and includes 1/3rd of the Grand Canyon. It was pretty cold at Sky Walk. There was snow on the ground in parts of the canyon and a chilly wind blew constantly. The canyon backdrop was massive and thrilling! There were no barriers or fences to keep one from falling over the edge. Cameras were not allowed in Sky Walk but we had an opportunity to climb rocks and take lots of pictures at another nearby site, Guano Point.

The Grand Canyon

Sky Walk at Eagle Point

A Hualapai Tribesman at Guano Point

Mission Accomplished

Yesterday day was race day! Here's a re-cap of how it went:

At 4:00pm yesterday, I met up with my Team Challenge teammates. Our coaches gave us one last motivational speech and then we all gathered together for a group photo. (All Team Challenge participants wore orange singlets during the race. There were 1,210 Team Challenge race participants from 75 different Chapters throughout the country.)

Our team - Team Challenge VA/DC Chapter

My friend Jim

Running in memory of Melissa

After the photos, I headed outside to Corral 17 - the area where our group was assigned to start. The Vegas Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 marathon had over 44,000 participants so a wave start with corrals or groups was implemented to control the crowds. I walked around a little more and tried to stay loose and relaxed. Staying relaxed was challenging though because there were so many people!

Corral 17

At 5:20pm, I made my way back to Corral 17 to meet my Team Challenge group and prepare for the start. With so many people and waves of starts, I didn't officially cross the starting line until 5:53pm. The race was an incredible experience. There were runners throughout the entire course! The sights of the Las Vegas strip and the people lining the course cheering kept my adrenaline pumping the entire race. There were runners dressed in tutu's, dressed as Elvis and other characters... I even came across a naked runner - what a sight!

The race

So, how did I do? My time was 1:52.15. That's a pace of 8:33 per mile. It's automatically a PR for me since it was my first half marathon. I felt good, strong, and prepared - overall, I had a solid performance and was proud to be able to run in memory of Melissa and for a great cause.

Special congrats to Jim on successfully completing his first 1/2 marathon. Also, special thanks to our friends who traveled thousands of miles to cheer us on and support us - thanks guys!

Viva Las Vegas

Well, I made it - I'm here in Las Vegas, NV! I'm trying to relax and get prepared for Sunday's race but it's a little difficult because there is just so much to see and do. I'm staying at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Mandalay Bay is the starting point and finish line for Sunday's race on the strip. Here is a picture from my hotel room.

My view overlooks the strip and race course

This afternoon I stopped by the race Expo to pick up my race number. While there, I had a little fun...

Vegas Bound

Lots of packing a prep this week leaving little time for blogging...
As some of you may know, I'm headed to Las Vegas tomorrow morning to participate in the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon on Sunday (12/4).  I've come a long way since I started training three months ago and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do on the race course. To all of my friends and family who have supported me on this journey - THANK YOU. I am honored to be able to represent CCFA and run in memory of my friend, Melissa Bealafeld Espinoza. Stay tuned for updates from Vegas.

Las Vegas, NV