Two weeks ago I mentioned to Brian that I had been thinking of how we might be able to handle a dog.  Serra loves them and cried whenever the puppy a few doors down had to go back inside his house.  I said I thought it might be possible now that Serra was well on the potty training route and we didn’t have another kid coming right away.  Brian didn’t let me ponder these thoughts and try to change my mind.  Before I knew it we were headed up the coast to San Francisco to pick up Mo. 

Last Saturday Brian had a school meeting and we planned on meeting at the pet store to pick up some things for the little boy.  I waited for what I thought was a little longer than it should have taken him.  As it turned out, Brian blew a tire coming through Camarillo and had to change it.  It would have taken me a lot longer than it took him to get that all taken care of.  We feel very blessed that he was kept safe during that incident.  There was no place to pull over where it blew because of road construction and he had to ride the rim for a bit.  We were fortunate that it didn’t have to be replaced and the tire was only $50.  So back to the pet store…We contemplated over all the pet foods and vitamins and squeaky toys and left there with a dent in the pocket book.  Brian left me there and went straight to a hometeaching appointment. 

Sunday we attended our meetings and Brian did a little bit of homework while I got the car all packed up to leave.  We left around 2:30 and headed up the 101 and later up Hwy 1.  What a beautiful drive.  The sun was shining and the Pacific was fantastically  blue.  As Brian drove I read from an. “everything you could possible need to know about   Dachshunds” book.  We pulled into San Simeon around 6pm I think and checked into a little seaside Inn.  Serra~V~ thought this was great fun and imediately began jumping on one of the Queen beds in the room. 

We convinced her to put her shoes back on and went for a walk along the rocky beach.  We found hundreds of the perfect skipping stones and spent some time doing just that.  It was a very relaxing evening for me, but Brian had a little studying to do, but he didn’t do THAT much.

On Monday morning we strangely woke up at 6:30 and couldn’t fall back asleep so we got up and were out the door by 8:30.  We headed up to Hearst Castle and spent the morning there.  WOW!  What a little money can buy you… That place is way too much.  There is so much to gawk at, it is difficult to even begin talking about. 

What a view this guy had…The Egyptian statue is over 3000 year old and authentic obviously.

The guest houses were bigger than our entire place, and there is so much art and antiquities it is overwhelming.  (Some of it dating back 3000 years)  The thing I coveted was the pool.  It is probably larger than an olympic standard, but oval.  It looked so inviting  and I could picture myself swimming in it everyday.  So someday if I have a really big yard, maybe…just maybe…

Parts of the Greek columns and forms are from Greek ruins.  The black  parts in the pool are marble inlay from Europe somewhere.

Serra~V~ was not impressed with the tour and fell asleep which meant Brian had to carry her.  Fun for him.  She is no lightweight.  I was left to juggle all the cameras.  That’s ok though. 

  

The little ramp was for Helen, who was W.R. Hearst’s weiner dog, just in case she fell in…and what a dinning room!

We continued on up the coast and it was very curvey road with many cliffs and great lookout points.  I was amazed that the forest areas with pine trees butt right up against the coast.  It is so different than the southern coast that I am used to.  Very beautiful.  We stopped frequently to satisfy my itchy trigger finger and eventually pulled into Monteray where we stayed at the Hilton. 

  

 After dumping our stuff in the room we went exploring.  We tried to drive down to Pebble Beach but you can’t even go for a drive through the area without paying a fee.  We decided that it couldn’t be that different than the free areas around Monteray and so stayed there. 

It’s no wonder they call it Pebble Beach.  It’s not sand…but tiny pea sized pebbles that make up the beaches.  Very difficult to walk in…

We ate dinner on the Monteray Peir along Cannery Row and a steak and seafood joint.  I made the mistake of ordering something that was “market value” and not asking before ordering what that might be.  I figured it wouldn’t be much different than I had seen before at other places.  Wrongo Dongo!  It makes my stomach hurt to think how much that plate of food cost so I won’t talk about it anymore than that.  Just remember in the future to always ASK FIRST. 

  

Serra~V~ enjoying the view at dinner…and loved the big drawers at the hotels.  We couldn’t keep her out of them.

I fell asleep around 11 and Brian was still wired from studying so I think he ordered a movie. I recall at least one moment hearing him laughing.  We got up and out by 9 and stopped for breakfast before heading up to San Francisco.  We found the 101 again and were at the place to Pick up Mo by 11:30.  I knew which one he was right away as he was a bit bigger than all the rest of the puppies he was penned with.  We let him out to get to know us a little and settle the contract and get a few instructions.  Serra was a little overwhelmed by all the PUPPIES EVERYWHERE.  But knew right away as we had been prepping her that this was her Puppy Mo.  I think she was pretty happy when we left and took him with us.  The breeder had a little moment with him and then let us go.  She stood outside and watched us drive away.  She said it is like saying goodbye to a child everytime.  I can’t imagine she has children.  I would think it would be a little different.  We drove straight back to Santa Paula with puppy on my lap.  He cuddled, kissed and slept the whole way back.  We even stopped at a park on the way and he stayed right with us and did a little puppy business while Serra played.  There were no messes  in the car thankfully. 

It has been a week today (June 1) and he and we are adjusting well.  The potty training thing is going pretty well although there have been a few mishaps.  When we get him fully trained I think we will need to borrow moms carpet cleaner to make me feel better. 

Mo did really well this weekend with all the people.  We spent most of the time in Calabasas with the family for Memorial Day and Doug visiting.  Brian spent most of his time in meetings for school and is starting to feel the burnout again.  Serra~V~ loves to play with the puppy when she wants  to but doesn’t like it when the puppy wants to play and she doesn’t.  NO, NO, MO!

I also did a first this weekend.  Canning on my own.  I have done it with Moms supervision so I don’t kill myself with the pressure cooker, but this time I took it home  and did it myself.  It is a lot of work and time but strangely satisfying. 

  

Daves recital…       Serra~V~ crazy sleeper…

Maurice has officially arrived in the Anderson household.  He has a wonderful personality, loves to cuddle, and is extremely handsome…..did we mention his father is a Mexican and American Champion? We can’t help but be very proud parents. Serra V and him have become fast friends thanks to some ”be soft” training of Serra on our part and Mo’s good nature. Here are some pictures of the little guy.  More pictures will follow of the rest of the fun trip (San Simeon, Hearst Castle, Pebble Beach, Monterey, et al) as we headed up the coast to pick him up.

His coat looks very black indoors but when you get him out in the sun it actually has a very dark brown shade to it.  Looking closely, half of the hairs are jet black, the others dark chocolate. And yes….he does trip on his ears (it’s rather cute). 

Mo will let Serra hold him and Serra is very good about giving soft kisses .  She will sit in her Tiger chair and say “puppy Mo lap”.

He’s all dauchshund…and he likes his monkey chew toy.

A very pleased boy and his dog.

You are all very smart.  We are really excited to take this step into pet ownership.  Expect to see him with us often.  Here are some other pictures of the past few weeks I thought you might enjoy.

“weffwees” bum

As Serra~V~ says, “BABY NA-NA”.

Girls out for breakfast at IHOP

Cute Kids

Crazy pant head

It looks like the adoption will take place on Tuesday.  We will be the proud parents of a little black boy, tenatively named Maurice after the recently deceased Gibb brother.  Although with ears this size we may have to call him Dumbo.

Here is our gorgeous 2 year old, being very cooperative for the camera.  What a star!

           

             

                                                  

 

 

We may be adopting a little black child.  We may even name him blacky.  The next few days will be telling.  We have seen pictures of his sister and he comes from championship bloodlines.  We would have to drive to SanFran to pick him up.  Serra’s always wanted a brother. 

 

Hee Hee…Just so you know I was giggleing the whole time I was writing that yarn.  The other day I was doing something in the kitchen and not really paying attention to Serra~V~ much.  she came into the kitchen and opened a low to the ground cupboard where she knows the large bowls are.  She took out a few and tried them on for size and then after making her selection toddled off.  After a few minutes I looked over in her direction which was to the stairs and I almost fell over laughing. 

She has these great sunglasses and they alone crack me up, but with the bowl-helmet added, it’s just too much.  She was just sitting there singing and doodling on her little doodler.  Of course, you may notice the ever present sippy cup right beside her.

While we were in Vegas a few weeks ago, we ate at Outback and were entertained for a while by a very talented balloon man.  He made the Little Mermaid for Serra~V~.

Ok, the story and picture you have all been waiting for.  The other day I was at the grocery store (Vons accross the street).  I usually just walk over because it’s close and it gives me an excuse to take Serra~V~ for a walk.  Anyway,  I was at the meat department and looking for the chicken they had on sale for 57 cents a pound.  I couldn’t find it for a few minutes.  Then, tucked into the back I noticed only one left.  As I reached for it, this lady came out of nowhere and grabbed it before I could.  I said, “excuse me, don’t you think that is a little rude?”  She just smirked and said “first come first serve.”  I countered, “Are you serious?  I was clearly reaching for that package and you know it.”  I shouldn’t have done it but I did.  I rammed her cart slightly and said, “You must have been raised by dogs with that grabby attitude.”  I then proceded to leave the area in  search of a manager so I could at least get a rain check for the item.  I didn’t even see it coming, but onlookers said she blindsided me with the frozen bird as I walked by.  It caught me on my left eyebrow and left me stunned for a minute.  The great part is that she wasn’t able to hold onto the bird as she swung it so hard.  It bounced off my face and landed in my cart.  I heard cheers from fellow shoppers as I took off with the prize.  I left the lady behind me yelling profanities. 

 

                                                           

That’s how it could have happened, but this is how it really happened.  It has been scorching here in mild Santa Paula: Record breaking heat for the time of year and area.  Serra and I spend a lot of time at the pool in the afternoons.  Whe loves it and calls it the “waddy”. On Monday we had been there for nearly 2 hours and I was out of the water watching Serra play.  She slipped off the first step and went into the water face first.  Now she had on a floaty, but hasn’t learned to manipulate her limbs properly yet so she was struggling to get her face out of the water.  I grabbed her up and was comforting the howls of indignance, when this kid ran by me and cuaght the edge of the lounge chair with his hip.  It swung forward and clocked me right in the eye.  It began swelling immedietly and by Tuesday morning this was the result.  Brian calls me his “prizefighter”.  Serra~V~ likes to poke it and say “eye owwie”. 

Brian was correct in mentioning our run in with the sasser virus.  It is so frustrating that we keep getting these things.  Brian spent 3 hours killing it last night and I spent 2 hours yesterday morning trying to get around it.  It makes you computer keep shutting down so you can’t even download the fixes.   I am glad Brian was able to figure it out. 

Serra touched the hot stove a few minutes ago and recieved a burn on her finger.  She keeps saying “done”  which means that she has had it with the hurt and would like it to leave please.  I have more to write but someone needs some lovin’.  Hope you enjoyed my little story.

 

I can post a few pictures that were sent via Tracy and Eric (Brian’s brother).  The baby that Serra V is enamored with here is their latest…Kathryn Diane.  Last picture is of his 2nd, Maiah, and her new trick.

If there is a virus out there our computer seems to find it.  Unfortunately our lovely desktop, fresh from a Best Buy makeover and new virus software installation, has fallen victim to the latest computer virus.  I’m about ready to take it out back, put it out of its misery, and bury it next to our avacado tree, however, Pam’s cooler head prevails.  Unfortunately our home dialup connection necessitates the appropriate patches to be downloaded at work as time permits and be brought home for application…..in the meantime, NO PICTURES FOR YOU!