So it's official! I have officially become a Zimmerman on July 27, 2007...last week I went down to Social Security and changed my name with them. It was an experience but it only lasted 20 minutes and I was on my way. I guess that's the plus side since I had to battle 880 and 580 on a Friday afternoon to get to and from Hayward where the closest Social Security office is.
Today I made my way to the DMV and sat in the waiting room for an hour to change my name on my driver's license, which naturally took 2 minutes. I am not quite sure what takes everyone so long, especially since the DMV breaks everyone out into alphabetic groups according to why they are there. So everyone in the "G" group, like me was getting their picture taken, getting a new driver's license or ID card, etc. I was very impressed with their wait time estimations. When I got there they said my wait would be 54 minutes and it was pretty much 54 minutes to the second. Very impressive. When I got to the DMV they were on G71 and I was G87, so based on the fact that I was literally at the counter, paid, and got my picture taken all in 2 minutes by my calculations I should have only been there a little over a half hour. Other than my analysis of why people wait an hour to be at the counter for 2 minutes, it was pretty uneventful. I hope my picture came out ok, but based on the current picture I have on my license it can pretty much only get better from there. In fact, the United Airlines ticket counter attendant even made a comment on it when I was in Omaha a couple of weeks ago. I also had a little trouble signing my name, first Allison S. Zimmerman was too long to fit in the little electronic signature box, which is actually probably a good thing because I have problems signing Zimmerman in cursive. There are too many humps with the double "m's" and then going into the "r," the "m," the "a," and the "n." In fact Jill developed a little tune for me to sing when signing it "My humps, my humps, my lovely Zimmerman humps." Sung of course to the Black Eyed Peas "My Humps." When I got home my new Social Security card was waiting in the mail box.
So the moral of this blog (rather than me continuing to ramble about my Zimmerman humps)...I am now officially (according to the US Government and the State of California) Allison Sara Zimmerman.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
New Jobs
Well our two weeks finally came to an end and Marc and I returned to work last Monday; Marc to Applied Materials and I to ConAgra Foods. We were both really excited to get to our new companies and start our new careers. We both had great first weeks. Marc already met one of his suppliers and tomorrow he gets to go to a SemiConductor conference in San Francisco. His new boss is really getting him involved and showing him the ropes.
My first week was spent in Omaha at our World Headquarters. It was a great way to start the company and get to know it. We had new hire orientation and I met a lot of good contacts throughout the company. Tomorrow I head out to Naperville for some product training for a few days.
All and all we had great first weeks and are very happy with our decisions, and waking up to go to work isn't so bad after all.
My first week was spent in Omaha at our World Headquarters. It was a great way to start the company and get to know it. We had new hire orientation and I met a lot of good contacts throughout the company. Tomorrow I head out to Naperville for some product training for a few days.
All and all we had great first weeks and are very happy with our decisions, and waking up to go to work isn't so bad after all.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Independence Day!
Not only did we get to celebrate Homer’s birthday this July 4 but we got to spend the day with Marc’s family who is out for the week from New Jersey. Dean (Marc’s dad), Terri (Marc’s Step-Mom), Greg (Marc’s half brother), Jaclyn (Marc’s step-sister), and Marc (Jaclyn’s boyfriend), Jill, Edwin, and Morty all came over today for a bbq at our house. We had a great day with lots of food. We had some noshes and then barbequed some burgers, dogs, and corn on the cob.
After we ate we planned out our Friday Sonoma Trip and then Dean, Greg, Jill, Marc, Terri and I went to the park down the street to play a game of 21 (basketball). We had fun, though Jill and I played barefoot and my tootsies are still screaming at me for that one. Dean and I had pretty close scores in our second game and he beat me by a few points. It was a ton of fun! And all of our arms are hurting!
Greg’s birthday is in a few weeks so we decided to celebrate his birthday on July 4 since we were all together. So I baked a cake in the morning which was FUN since I got to use my KitchenAid and my new pink silicon baking pan. We decorated it for Greg, sang him happy birthday and Marc and I got him a San Francisco All-Star Game shirt as a souvenir of his trip out here. It was a great day and I love entertaining, cooking, and baking but I can honestly say I am EXHAUSTED!
The clan:
After we ate we planned out our Friday Sonoma Trip and then Dean, Greg, Jill, Marc, Terri and I went to the park down the street to play a game of 21 (basketball). We had fun, though Jill and I played barefoot and my tootsies are still screaming at me for that one. Dean and I had pretty close scores in our second game and he beat me by a few points. It was a ton of fun! And all of our arms are hurting!
Greg’s birthday is in a few weeks so we decided to celebrate his birthday on July 4 since we were all together. So I baked a cake in the morning which was FUN since I got to use my KitchenAid and my new pink silicon baking pan. We decorated it for Greg, sang him happy birthday and Marc and I got him a San Francisco All-Star Game shirt as a souvenir of his trip out here. It was a great day and I love entertaining, cooking, and baking but I can honestly say I am EXHAUSTED!
Greg's Cake and my very first homemade cake, watch out Betty Crocker:
Happy Birthday to you...
Don't worry Greg, it's not really from the Limited...
Brothers:
Happy Birthday to My Boy!
I am writing this entry a few days after Homer’s 5th Anniversary with me. I call it is his birthday because I don’t really know when he was born since he was rescued so July 4 has become his birthday. Homer and I have taught each other so much in the 5 years we have been together and as much as he likes shenanigans and as much has he tests my nerves he is a total love bug and I can’t even begin to imagine my life without him in it.
I often felt like a failure when I first got him; he was insecure and unmanageable and nothing I did made he feel at home and consequently he misbehaved. But Homer taught me patience and true unconditional love. He was very sick when I first got him and I nursed him through that. He was also very aggressive so we spent 8 weeks in obedience school. He was there through bad boyfriends, following them to the bathroom with evil eyes, peeing on their clothes, and chewing their shoes. He was there to tell me Marc was a good guy and embraced him without ever damaging his personal possessions. Homer has taught me how to care for something unconditionally and how much it hurts to see something you love hurt and sick. When I was really sick about 3 years ago and Marc had to go to the East Coast for Thanksgiving. My parents were in Florida and here I was home and sick and alone. Homer never left my side. When I was really sick he slept on my head (something he always does when I am sick). When I was just resting he guarded over me by camping out at my feet on the couch and on the look out for potential threats. If I was asleep and my cell phone rang, Homer woke me up to make sure I answered it.
Homer has come a long way in the 5 years, he still has his separation issues and knows how to push his limits but he is such a sweet boy and has given me so much joy in the five years I have had him. Going to the vet or the kennel is no longer painful for either of us (i.e. I no longer leave with scars) but being reunited is like winning the lottery for him and having him home makes the house feel complete. He really is like a surrogate child to me (and almost to Marc) and I can not imagine my life without him. It is wonderful to come home every day to the excitement he displays when I walk through the door like I made his life by coming home; even after I scream and yell at him for peeing in the house he still wants to kiss me and be with me. Homer constantly keeps me laughing whether it is him barking at his Buster Food Cube because the food won’t come out and he thinks barking at it will help or him deciding its bed time and heading upstairs to sit in front of his cage waiting for his “yum-yum.” He also knows when it is time for his medicine and sits in front of the pantry to tell me he needs his medicine. And he still runs up and down the stairs to tell me my phone is ringing.
With all of the laughter and entertain me he has brought to me, we have had our fair share of medical scares; 2 grand mal seizure where he stopped breathing and I had to give him mouth to mouth to bring him back to life and recently when we thought his cough may be congestive heart failure. Nothing will ever be worse than the image that is implanted in my mind of him limp on the bed in my arms not breathing. I was not ready to lose him then and he was not ready to lose me I would like to think.
So here we are celebrating 5 years since we found each other. My friend Anne just lost one of her dogs unexpectedly and it has made me realize how precious Homer’s companionship is to me. We understand each other and I am so happy to be celebrating his 5th Birthday with me.
Homer had a wonderful birthday, his cousin Morty came over along with Aunt Jill, Uncle Edwin. Homer also got to meet his Zimmerman family. He met Marc’s dad, step-mom, step-sister, and half brother. Morty, Aunt Jill and Uncle Edwin gave Homer a wonderful present, a yum-yum, a newspaper toy, and a set of squeaky balls. Homer and Morty also got to have a hamburger in celebration of Homer’s birthday.
Happy Birthday to my Skillet! May we have many more years of laughter and companionship!
Before company arrived Homer enjoyed a Birthday Siesta:
I often felt like a failure when I first got him; he was insecure and unmanageable and nothing I did made he feel at home and consequently he misbehaved. But Homer taught me patience and true unconditional love. He was very sick when I first got him and I nursed him through that. He was also very aggressive so we spent 8 weeks in obedience school. He was there through bad boyfriends, following them to the bathroom with evil eyes, peeing on their clothes, and chewing their shoes. He was there to tell me Marc was a good guy and embraced him without ever damaging his personal possessions. Homer has taught me how to care for something unconditionally and how much it hurts to see something you love hurt and sick. When I was really sick about 3 years ago and Marc had to go to the East Coast for Thanksgiving. My parents were in Florida and here I was home and sick and alone. Homer never left my side. When I was really sick he slept on my head (something he always does when I am sick). When I was just resting he guarded over me by camping out at my feet on the couch and on the look out for potential threats. If I was asleep and my cell phone rang, Homer woke me up to make sure I answered it.
Homer has come a long way in the 5 years, he still has his separation issues and knows how to push his limits but he is such a sweet boy and has given me so much joy in the five years I have had him. Going to the vet or the kennel is no longer painful for either of us (i.e. I no longer leave with scars) but being reunited is like winning the lottery for him and having him home makes the house feel complete. He really is like a surrogate child to me (and almost to Marc) and I can not imagine my life without him. It is wonderful to come home every day to the excitement he displays when I walk through the door like I made his life by coming home; even after I scream and yell at him for peeing in the house he still wants to kiss me and be with me. Homer constantly keeps me laughing whether it is him barking at his Buster Food Cube because the food won’t come out and he thinks barking at it will help or him deciding its bed time and heading upstairs to sit in front of his cage waiting for his “yum-yum.” He also knows when it is time for his medicine and sits in front of the pantry to tell me he needs his medicine. And he still runs up and down the stairs to tell me my phone is ringing.
With all of the laughter and entertain me he has brought to me, we have had our fair share of medical scares; 2 grand mal seizure where he stopped breathing and I had to give him mouth to mouth to bring him back to life and recently when we thought his cough may be congestive heart failure. Nothing will ever be worse than the image that is implanted in my mind of him limp on the bed in my arms not breathing. I was not ready to lose him then and he was not ready to lose me I would like to think.
So here we are celebrating 5 years since we found each other. My friend Anne just lost one of her dogs unexpectedly and it has made me realize how precious Homer’s companionship is to me. We understand each other and I am so happy to be celebrating his 5th Birthday with me.
Homer had a wonderful birthday, his cousin Morty came over along with Aunt Jill, Uncle Edwin. Homer also got to meet his Zimmerman family. He met Marc’s dad, step-mom, step-sister, and half brother. Morty, Aunt Jill and Uncle Edwin gave Homer a wonderful present, a yum-yum, a newspaper toy, and a set of squeaky balls. Homer and Morty also got to have a hamburger in celebration of Homer’s birthday.
Happy Birthday to my Skillet! May we have many more years of laughter and companionship!
Before company arrived Homer enjoyed a Birthday Siesta:
Homer and Cousin Morty:
Homer and Morty each got a hamburger to celebrate!
Homer decided he wanted more....so he ate his cousins:
That was goood Momma!
I Love of Dogs:
So as most of you know I love dogs! I love big dogs, small dogs, round dogs, skinny dogs, any which way about it I love them. The only dogs I am not overly excited about are dachshunds but that is probably because I dated a guy who had one and his dog always got Homer into trouble. To me dogs are the funniest creatures; they are like humans stuck in these funny bodies. Each dog has their own personality and their own quirks. But they are more like kids because they are completely unbiased, completely honest with their feelings and completely candid with everything. If they don’t like someone they don’t try to hide their feelings, if they have to go to the bathroom, they don’t care if it is on the corner of a busy intersection or in an intersection for that matter. You know if they are happy, sad, excited, or tired. There are no games with dogs, other than fetch of course.
Winter:
Believe it or not I was once afraid of dogs. Our first dog was Winter, was a white German Shepard and was abused by her previous owners. She ran away and ended up some 10 miles away from her abusive owner’s home in our neighborhood. I remember it was summer and was probably about the 4th of July when we started to see her in neighborhood. She quickly was adopted (i.e. fed by the neighborhood kids). I was in early elementary school and kept my distance, she was big and scary. However, my brother really wanted a dog. My parents told him if I liked her and was no long afraid of her we could have her since all of the other neighbors who were interested in dogs had one already and my parents didn’t want to see her end up in a shelter. So my brother put a burger in my hand and sent me to the dog that would become Winter. It was love from there on. Winter and my brother always had a special bond; I loved Winter, and Winter loved me but she and my brother were very connected. Winter taught me the loyalty that dogs give to their human companions. My parents put an ad in the paper about a found dog and her owner’s came by to drop off her papers for my parents. Winter heard their car, jumped our backyard fence and chased after their Jeep. Here she was loyal to a group of people who clearly were physically abusive and probably also neglected her. Based on what I heard from the vet, she was most likely thrown against a brick wall and had scars on her legs from repeatedly hitting the wall. The thought still makes me sick. She eventually made her way back to our home after not being able to catch the Jeep and she was ours from then on. She was loyal and loving, the great thing about dogs is they seem to forget. At least Winter did, she forgot that her last experience with people was not so positive and she put her heart and soul into our family. She trusted us almost immediately and guarded over us. She was quite the watch dog! We had a neighbor who used to bully my brother and me when we were younger. Winter would be behind the fence outraged that her “brother” and “sister” were being tormented. One day the boy leaned across the fence and taunted Winter after he had been picking on us all day. Winter bite him. The boy’s parents said their son deserved it so we got to keep Winter.
Unfortunately Winter got sick and my brother and I had to decide whether to keep her alive in pain or put her to sleep. She developed a spinal infection and couldn’t even get up to go potty. My dad was away, it was raining, I was in 5th grade. My brother and I got Winter onto a skateboard with a blanket as a sling and somehow got her into the car. We decided that day that Winter’s quality of life was more important than her quantity of life. And so we said good-bye to her. Winter’s life taught us compassion and how valuable health, happiness, and life is.
Espresso:
When I entered 6th grade my brother had left for college and my parents told me I could have another dog. We went to the Humane Society and were looking at all of the dogs. My heart immediately went out to this brown mix that was sitting in the back of his cage shivering with fear, afraid to meet people. I wanted to reach out to him and comfort him but along came a black lab mix, dopey in every way; he was 9 months old and still very awkward in his body. He would continue to be dopey throughout his long life. He was visiting with another family, saw us and came to meet me. Poor dog didn’t know what he was about to get himself into. The family looking at him decided that we could have him; they weren’t interested in a dog that went to other people and was not interested in them. So Espresso entered our life.
There is so much to say about Espresso, while Winter was extremely special to me, Espresso gave me my extreme love of dogs. We were connected in the way that Ed and Winter were connected. He was the sweetest, dumbest, most beautiful animal. In his prime he used to run so gracefully, he was part lab, part Irish Setter, and part cocker spaniel. He was a black blur in the yard and when the sun hit him right he had shimmers of red in his fur. He could play fetch until my arm fell off, fielded softballs I hit off of my tee and had an extreme love for his ropey. Not only was he a beautiful animal he had a heart bigger than his body. He taught me the unconditional love of a dog and further enforced the loyalty that Winter only started to plant in me. When I had a tough time in high school Espresso’s fur caught the tears. He cozied up next to me and let me cry into his beautiful mane, then licked the tears, picked up his ropey and was ready to play. In a way he was telling me to not dwell on unhappiness to move on and live life. Espresso lived life and loved every minute of it. I graduated high school and went to college in Indiana. My time with Espresso got limited but every time I came home it was like I never left, his love for me didn’t diminish because I wasn’t there, in fact it seemed to grow stronger with the distance. After college, I moved to the Bay Area, Espresso was still alive and as goofy as ever and with his ropey in his mouth he greeted me with wagging tail every time I went home ready for a quick game of fetch. However, time was catching up with his body. When his hearing and sight began to go, he still knew my touch. He would pick up his ropey and be ready to go even though he couldn’t see or hear, he didn’t care. As he aged more he began to lose control of his hind legs but that didn’t stop him. Espresso also taught me persistence. As his hind legs got weaker his front began to grow stronger and he used his front legs and chest to move around. Here you saw this big beautiful black lab mix hopping down the street because that’s all he could get his hind legs to do. It was beautiful and pathetic at the same time. Espresso welcomed Marc and Homer into my life with the same gusto he had for his ropey, treats, and everything for that matter.
It was December of 2005 and Marc and I went to San Diego for Hanukkah. Espresso’s 16th birthday was 2 weeks away. He looked old and gray but he was still the same sweet dog, ropey in mouth he greeted me with wagging tail, he pained himself by trying to get up. You could now see the pain in his eyes and the tiredness that his old body felt. He was also frustrated that his heart and mind wanted to be the younger, boisterous, energetic animal he once was, but his body couldn’t keep up any longer. That night he stopped eating, he would eat a treat to humor me but he wouldn’t eat meals. We spent a lot of time together that weekend because somehow I knew the time had come to say goodbye to my old friend. My dad later told me he didn’t eat for 4 days, a sure sign he was ready to leave this world. Espresso lived his life, he waited for one last visit with me to say goodbye to him and then he was ready to go. Two weeks before his 16th birthday my parents put Espresso down. He lived a long happy life. I was at work that day and the minute he went down I felt it in my heart. I know it sounds crazy but when he was at the vet being put down I felt an emptiness in my heart, I called my mom and she didn’t answer. I knew he was gone without anyone telling me. My parents sent Marc up to Walnut Creek that night to tell me and be there for me. Marc didn’t have to tell me. Espresso lived his quality of life; he lived about 4-5 years longer than his life expectancy. He lived everyday as a treat, he loved to play but he was also compassionate to feelings.
The only comfort I could find in losing my friend was the Dog's Prayer:
http://www.showdog-magazine.com/Poems/poem113.htm
Winter:
Believe it or not I was once afraid of dogs. Our first dog was Winter, was a white German Shepard and was abused by her previous owners. She ran away and ended up some 10 miles away from her abusive owner’s home in our neighborhood. I remember it was summer and was probably about the 4th of July when we started to see her in neighborhood. She quickly was adopted (i.e. fed by the neighborhood kids). I was in early elementary school and kept my distance, she was big and scary. However, my brother really wanted a dog. My parents told him if I liked her and was no long afraid of her we could have her since all of the other neighbors who were interested in dogs had one already and my parents didn’t want to see her end up in a shelter. So my brother put a burger in my hand and sent me to the dog that would become Winter. It was love from there on. Winter and my brother always had a special bond; I loved Winter, and Winter loved me but she and my brother were very connected. Winter taught me the loyalty that dogs give to their human companions. My parents put an ad in the paper about a found dog and her owner’s came by to drop off her papers for my parents. Winter heard their car, jumped our backyard fence and chased after their Jeep. Here she was loyal to a group of people who clearly were physically abusive and probably also neglected her. Based on what I heard from the vet, she was most likely thrown against a brick wall and had scars on her legs from repeatedly hitting the wall. The thought still makes me sick. She eventually made her way back to our home after not being able to catch the Jeep and she was ours from then on. She was loyal and loving, the great thing about dogs is they seem to forget. At least Winter did, she forgot that her last experience with people was not so positive and she put her heart and soul into our family. She trusted us almost immediately and guarded over us. She was quite the watch dog! We had a neighbor who used to bully my brother and me when we were younger. Winter would be behind the fence outraged that her “brother” and “sister” were being tormented. One day the boy leaned across the fence and taunted Winter after he had been picking on us all day. Winter bite him. The boy’s parents said their son deserved it so we got to keep Winter.
Unfortunately Winter got sick and my brother and I had to decide whether to keep her alive in pain or put her to sleep. She developed a spinal infection and couldn’t even get up to go potty. My dad was away, it was raining, I was in 5th grade. My brother and I got Winter onto a skateboard with a blanket as a sling and somehow got her into the car. We decided that day that Winter’s quality of life was more important than her quantity of life. And so we said good-bye to her. Winter’s life taught us compassion and how valuable health, happiness, and life is.
Espresso:
When I entered 6th grade my brother had left for college and my parents told me I could have another dog. We went to the Humane Society and were looking at all of the dogs. My heart immediately went out to this brown mix that was sitting in the back of his cage shivering with fear, afraid to meet people. I wanted to reach out to him and comfort him but along came a black lab mix, dopey in every way; he was 9 months old and still very awkward in his body. He would continue to be dopey throughout his long life. He was visiting with another family, saw us and came to meet me. Poor dog didn’t know what he was about to get himself into. The family looking at him decided that we could have him; they weren’t interested in a dog that went to other people and was not interested in them. So Espresso entered our life.
There is so much to say about Espresso, while Winter was extremely special to me, Espresso gave me my extreme love of dogs. We were connected in the way that Ed and Winter were connected. He was the sweetest, dumbest, most beautiful animal. In his prime he used to run so gracefully, he was part lab, part Irish Setter, and part cocker spaniel. He was a black blur in the yard and when the sun hit him right he had shimmers of red in his fur. He could play fetch until my arm fell off, fielded softballs I hit off of my tee and had an extreme love for his ropey. Not only was he a beautiful animal he had a heart bigger than his body. He taught me the unconditional love of a dog and further enforced the loyalty that Winter only started to plant in me. When I had a tough time in high school Espresso’s fur caught the tears. He cozied up next to me and let me cry into his beautiful mane, then licked the tears, picked up his ropey and was ready to play. In a way he was telling me to not dwell on unhappiness to move on and live life. Espresso lived life and loved every minute of it. I graduated high school and went to college in Indiana. My time with Espresso got limited but every time I came home it was like I never left, his love for me didn’t diminish because I wasn’t there, in fact it seemed to grow stronger with the distance. After college, I moved to the Bay Area, Espresso was still alive and as goofy as ever and with his ropey in his mouth he greeted me with wagging tail every time I went home ready for a quick game of fetch. However, time was catching up with his body. When his hearing and sight began to go, he still knew my touch. He would pick up his ropey and be ready to go even though he couldn’t see or hear, he didn’t care. As he aged more he began to lose control of his hind legs but that didn’t stop him. Espresso also taught me persistence. As his hind legs got weaker his front began to grow stronger and he used his front legs and chest to move around. Here you saw this big beautiful black lab mix hopping down the street because that’s all he could get his hind legs to do. It was beautiful and pathetic at the same time. Espresso welcomed Marc and Homer into my life with the same gusto he had for his ropey, treats, and everything for that matter.
It was December of 2005 and Marc and I went to San Diego for Hanukkah. Espresso’s 16th birthday was 2 weeks away. He looked old and gray but he was still the same sweet dog, ropey in mouth he greeted me with wagging tail, he pained himself by trying to get up. You could now see the pain in his eyes and the tiredness that his old body felt. He was also frustrated that his heart and mind wanted to be the younger, boisterous, energetic animal he once was, but his body couldn’t keep up any longer. That night he stopped eating, he would eat a treat to humor me but he wouldn’t eat meals. We spent a lot of time together that weekend because somehow I knew the time had come to say goodbye to my old friend. My dad later told me he didn’t eat for 4 days, a sure sign he was ready to leave this world. Espresso lived his life, he waited for one last visit with me to say goodbye to him and then he was ready to go. Two weeks before his 16th birthday my parents put Espresso down. He lived a long happy life. I was at work that day and the minute he went down I felt it in my heart. I know it sounds crazy but when he was at the vet being put down I felt an emptiness in my heart, I called my mom and she didn’t answer. I knew he was gone without anyone telling me. My parents sent Marc up to Walnut Creek that night to tell me and be there for me. Marc didn’t have to tell me. Espresso lived his quality of life; he lived about 4-5 years longer than his life expectancy. He lived everyday as a treat, he loved to play but he was also compassionate to feelings.
The only comfort I could find in losing my friend was the Dog's Prayer:
http://www.showdog-magazine.com/Poems/poem113.htm
R.I.P Espresso Schmaskarelie Wilensky, you will always be in my heart!
Eso loved to be in the house:
Eso also loved to sleep in a laundry basket, my mom had to buy a special one for him because he kept sleeping in the ones filled with clothes:
Eso and I, he never was very photogenic but we loved him anyway:
Dad and Eso on his last day:
Homer:
A year after I graduated college in 2002 I wanted a dog. Espresso was aging rapidly and was too big to move up to the Bay Area so I began searching dog adoption sites. On July 4, 2002 I found the cutest dog on the website. He was white, scruffy, and wearing a red bandana. So I drove down to Livermore to spend what would be a few hours with this sweet little dog. We hit it off immediately; he sat on my lap and was just as cute as could be. So I paid my $100 donation to the SPCA and Homer became mine. In fact the word shenanigans originated in our vocabulary because Homer used to get into shenanigans at night. I spent many of a night catching him trying to open up my closet door for a midnight shoe snack or climbing on the kitchen table. We owe shenanigans to Homer!
Vacation All I Ever Wanted…
Vacation, time to get away…Got to love the 80s! And lucky for all of you I typed the words to that song into this entry and you didn’t have to hear me actually sing it!
Marc and I were fortunate enough to both get new jobs. We both gave notice on the same day and were very fortunate to negotiate to get some time off. Our last day of work was June 22 so we have now been on vacation for almost 2 weeks, my how time flies! It’s been great. The first few days we worked on the house and put some wedding stuff away. The we went to Las Vegas for four days and stayed at Paris Hotel. What a great hotel! They gave us a free upgrade when we checked in so we had a very nice room overlooking the pool. The pool area was very nice. We spent most of our time there. It was sooo hot, like 110 so we basically sat by the pool and jumped into the pool every 20 minutes to cool off. We saw 2 shows, Mama Mia (my choice) and also Ka. We had a really great time. Unfortunately we didn’t venture too far from our hotel since it was so hot but it was a blast. We will definitely be back to Vegas, just not in the middle of the summer!
We got back late Friday night and woke up Saturday morning and headed down to Monterey for Jenny and Josh’s wedding. It was absolutely beautiful. The ceremony was at The Church in the Woods, it was a beautiful setting. Needless to say it was a church in the woods. The front of the church was all glass windows so the view for the guests was beautiful. Jenny looked fabulous and I got more teary eyed at their ceremony than my own. I think being married gives a different perspective at weddings than not being married. Before Marc and I got married I would go to weddings and I would think they were beautiful but I could never really identify with the emotions. I think now that we are married I can identify with all of the emotions of the day and it also made me look back on our wedding day and remember the best day of my life. Anyway, enough rambling.
After the ceremony the shuttles took us to Pebble Beach Country Club. I have never been to that area and I can’t even begin to express how beautiful it is. The reception was top notch. When we arrived they had a Champagne Hour, everyone was greeted with their choice of Champagne or Chardonnay and appetizers circulated the outdoor area. After Jenny and Josh arrived we toasted them and then a short time later they opened the doors to the reception hall and there was another hour of cocktails complete with some wine tasting. Jenny’s parents are wine critics and Jenny’s dad was so generous to take some bottles of wine out of his cellar so that the guests could taste different kinds of wine. After the cocktail hour was over we headed into the reception for a wonderful night of food and dancing. Dinner was outstanding, I had a salmon that was amazing and Marc had a fillet that was unbelievable. To top it off, Jenny’s dad matched different wines with each course of the meal. Salad was served with a Stag’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Salmon was served with a Chardonnay and the fillet was served with a Cab. It was delicious. Instead of a traditional wedding cake they had a tower of cupcakes. I have never met a cupcake I didn’t like! And it was so Jenny who is a fabulous baker and so creative!
Our table was super fun; we sat with a bunch of people that Marc used to work with at Intel; Shannon, Lindsay (whom I met at Jenny’s bachlorette party), and Julie and her husband. Another couple sat at the table, Marc went on a date with her before we met which is kind of funny. Everyone was super fun and nice! Jenny’s friends are awesome and I had met many of them at her bachlorette party and they continued to include me in the festivities like I was one of their group. They remind me a lot of my sorority friends and they have the same tight bond we have so it was so nice to see that type of friendship and also being included in it was awesome!
Sunday morning Josh’s family hosted a brunch at the Pebble Beach Country Club Beach House. It was absolutely beautiful, hidden on the golf course and right on the water. It was a beautiful day, no fog or clouds. Simply gorgeous! Then we took off for home and to get Homer. On the way home we stopped at the Gilroy Outlets where I scored an awesome deal on a Coach purse.
All in all it was a wonderful weekend and Jenny and Josh looked so happy and we wish them all the best in their life together.
Marc and I were fortunate enough to both get new jobs. We both gave notice on the same day and were very fortunate to negotiate to get some time off. Our last day of work was June 22 so we have now been on vacation for almost 2 weeks, my how time flies! It’s been great. The first few days we worked on the house and put some wedding stuff away. The we went to Las Vegas for four days and stayed at Paris Hotel. What a great hotel! They gave us a free upgrade when we checked in so we had a very nice room overlooking the pool. The pool area was very nice. We spent most of our time there. It was sooo hot, like 110 so we basically sat by the pool and jumped into the pool every 20 minutes to cool off. We saw 2 shows, Mama Mia (my choice) and also Ka. We had a really great time. Unfortunately we didn’t venture too far from our hotel since it was so hot but it was a blast. We will definitely be back to Vegas, just not in the middle of the summer!
Coke Blak is gooood!
Ready to go see Ka:
We got back late Friday night and woke up Saturday morning and headed down to Monterey for Jenny and Josh’s wedding. It was absolutely beautiful. The ceremony was at The Church in the Woods, it was a beautiful setting. Needless to say it was a church in the woods. The front of the church was all glass windows so the view for the guests was beautiful. Jenny looked fabulous and I got more teary eyed at their ceremony than my own. I think being married gives a different perspective at weddings than not being married. Before Marc and I got married I would go to weddings and I would think they were beautiful but I could never really identify with the emotions. I think now that we are married I can identify with all of the emotions of the day and it also made me look back on our wedding day and remember the best day of my life. Anyway, enough rambling.
After the ceremony the shuttles took us to Pebble Beach Country Club. I have never been to that area and I can’t even begin to express how beautiful it is. The reception was top notch. When we arrived they had a Champagne Hour, everyone was greeted with their choice of Champagne or Chardonnay and appetizers circulated the outdoor area. After Jenny and Josh arrived we toasted them and then a short time later they opened the doors to the reception hall and there was another hour of cocktails complete with some wine tasting. Jenny’s parents are wine critics and Jenny’s dad was so generous to take some bottles of wine out of his cellar so that the guests could taste different kinds of wine. After the cocktail hour was over we headed into the reception for a wonderful night of food and dancing. Dinner was outstanding, I had a salmon that was amazing and Marc had a fillet that was unbelievable. To top it off, Jenny’s dad matched different wines with each course of the meal. Salad was served with a Stag’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Salmon was served with a Chardonnay and the fillet was served with a Cab. It was delicious. Instead of a traditional wedding cake they had a tower of cupcakes. I have never met a cupcake I didn’t like! And it was so Jenny who is a fabulous baker and so creative!
Our table was super fun; we sat with a bunch of people that Marc used to work with at Intel; Shannon, Lindsay (whom I met at Jenny’s bachlorette party), and Julie and her husband. Another couple sat at the table, Marc went on a date with her before we met which is kind of funny. Everyone was super fun and nice! Jenny’s friends are awesome and I had met many of them at her bachlorette party and they continued to include me in the festivities like I was one of their group. They remind me a lot of my sorority friends and they have the same tight bond we have so it was so nice to see that type of friendship and also being included in it was awesome!
Sunday morning Josh’s family hosted a brunch at the Pebble Beach Country Club Beach House. It was absolutely beautiful, hidden on the golf course and right on the water. It was a beautiful day, no fog or clouds. Simply gorgeous! Then we took off for home and to get Homer. On the way home we stopped at the Gilroy Outlets where I scored an awesome deal on a Coach purse.
All in all it was a wonderful weekend and Jenny and Josh looked so happy and we wish them all the best in their life together.
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