Giving Thanks

I am thankful for (in no particular order):

My family
My dad calling me every day just to chat
My love of reading
My job
That I love my job
Having the Hubster in my life
Lily
Caleb
Sophie
Max
Hobbes
Tinker
Cassie
Socs
The shelters that rescued them and let us take them home
Max the bird
My camera that let's me capture those special moments in my life
A roof over our heads
A cabin by the lake
Warm food on the table
Heat in my home
Gas in my car
A car that runs well
The chance to go to Florida
The opportunity to meet Tink
All the Homebloy bloggers out there
The friends I have made from blogging
The Simpsons for always making me laugh
Our friends
Our health
Our happiness
Our contentment

WWC at Castillo de San Marcos

Today's pictures and yesterday's picture of the day were taken at Castillo de San Marcos in Saint Augustine Florida.

This picture would have been a PERFECT canon firing shot but it is blurry so it is FLAWED

Flag that flies at the entranceEntrance guard

Walls of the Castillo are very cool

We had fun wandering around the monument grounds and even took some time to relax on the wall that runs along the water. We read our books in the sun with the water lapping at our feet. It was fabulous. The picture below I took when I looked up from our little spot and thought what a cool image it was. The monument is right behind and to the right of this tree. But looking at it from our perspective made it look like this tree was in an endless grassy field.

Monday Mania

Reason to love living in Minnesota #4:

The other morning I let the dogs out. One of them started barking so I leaned out to tell them to be quiet. The wind blew and my freshly showered wet hair froze to the door frame. Only in Minnesota can your head actually get stuck to your house!

Ok, so some of you might see that as a reason not to live in MN but personally, I find it kinda funny and kinda cool.

Naughty Monkey of the day:

Newt Photo of the day:

Puppy Talk for the day:

Hubster brought in a pile of towels and linens he had forgotten in his truck from back when he closed up the cabin. He threw them on the floor in the living room intending to wash them when i was done with my laundry. Sophie and Lily informed us otherwise and turned the pile into their own little puppy beds.

Newt on Entertainment:

I am watching a movie called YPF (Young People F'ing) I'll let you know how it was tomorrow.

Random Newt:

I have had a cold for over a week now. Which is getting a tad annoying. I got so desperate that I bought a tub of vic's vapo rub. I forgot how much I love that stuff. I haven't used it since I was a kid. But man does it work. It helped to calm my cough and made it easier to breathe. I'm not sure why I filed it away as a childhood remedy. But from now on there will always be some in the house ready for use the next time a cold starts to come on.

Damn Itunes

I got sucked into the stupid ITunes void this morning. I only wanted one song. But then I browsed. And found 20. And then, to make matters worse I sampled a bunch of songs in the top download list. And I liked a singers voice. So I checked him out. And I liked his whole album.

New Music pick: Gavin Rossdale (from the band Bush)

So 30 bucks later I am still waiting for all the downloading to finish.

Sigh.................

My Ipod is my greatest friend and my pocket books worse enemy.

Actually, all told I haven't been too naughty.

I have had my Ipod for several years now and I have downloaded less than 100 songs. Not including the U2 collection my Ipod came with.

I have over 2000 songs on my Ipod. You would think that would be enough.

But obviously it's not.

But then again, everyone needs Katy Perry's "I kissed a girl" on their Ipod.

Did I tell you I saw her at the Viper Room in LA? She was fantastic.

What have you downloaded lately? Dare I say it..........I'm always up for wonderful new music.

Friday Fantasy

Let's see,



A long weekend curled up on the couch under a big fluffy blanket with a good book



Taking a little time out for some hot lov'n with the hubby



A cup of hot cocoa



A puppy snoring in my lap



Some kind of yummy hot dish cooking in the oven



Do you say casserole or hot dish? Or something else?



Back to fantasy...............



A new years eve spent with all the bloggers I love



How cool of a party would that be?



I think we would all see it through a camera lens though



it would be a very interesting WWC that next week



Especially the one with Jay dancing in his boxers on the table



Just seeing if you are paying attention



But I digress.



What's your fantasy?

Thursday Newt

Reason to love living in Minnesota #3:
The little towns that pop up on the lakes during winter. All the ice fishing huts erected on the lakes start to look like small villages.

Naughty Monkey of the day:




















Newt Photo of the day:
Looking up outside a church in downtown St. Augustine

Puppy Talk for the day:

Lily slept curled up in my lap last night for several hours. She usually doesn't stay that long. And if I stopped petting her she would look up at me sleepily, with eyes half closed, and stare at me till I started petting her again. Then the head would drop back down and the snoring would commence.

Newt on Entertainment:

Hubster and I watched Bladerunner last night. For a while the only version you could get was the "director's cut" which we didn't like. But now they have a DVD out that has the original theatrical release, the original international release, and the directors cut. Personally we loved the Harrison Ford voice overs.

Random Newt:

I listen to a lot of classical music. I am amazed at how many times Bugs Bunny cartoons run around in my head while I listen.

Wait..........What?............

The holidays are coming!

Holy crap!

The holidays are coming!

Where did the year go?

Anyone know?

Reason to love living in Minnesota #2:

Mama Maria's - best Italian food in the world. Ok, so it's in Wisconsin, but it's right across the river. It still counts. We got engaged there. We go there every year for our anniversary. And when Mom and Dad come to town they make that one of the must stop at places.

Naughty Monkey of the Day:

Newt Photo of the Day:

Puppy Talk for the Day:

We have to give our kitty Socs wet food. So every morning after I get his bowl ready I call in Caleb to lick the spoon clean. (He's our skinniest dog) This morning I turned around to call him into the kitchen and he was already standing right behind me waiting for his treat.

Newt on Entertainment:

I just started a new book. It's actually the 5th or 6th book in the Simon R. Green Deathstalker series. I love this author. His books are like putting on comfortable clothes.

I also got my co-worker hooked on Eureka. He and I were out in Dallas together to kick off training so each evening we sat down with a cold bottle of Shiner and watched an episode.

Random Newt:

This summer and fall I have had what I called my Daily Trifecta. First, in the morning while driving around an on-ramp there were these three Canada Geese always nibbling on grass. Their feathers would often reflect the colors of the rising sun and it was just a serene and beautiful scene. Secondly I would also see a turkey that I affectionately named Benny nibbling food by the side of the freeway. There are actually several wild turkeys that hang out together in that area but Benny had a broken feather that stuck out at the top of his back. So my buddy Benny was easy to spot every morning. And lastly, on the way home we had Young Hippie Surfer Dude hanging out at the freeway on-ramp holding up a sign that said "End the War" He was out there every night without fail. Holding up his sign, smiling and waving to all the cars that passed by. Wearing bermuda shorts, long sun bleached blond hair and wrap around sun glasses he looked so out of place for the prim and proper neighborhood he chose to express his views in. I adored him.

Alas, now that it is winter time my three friends are no longer around. They have gone elsewhere for the cold season. But I appreciate how much they would make me smile each and every day.

WWC and Some New Newt

WWC - courtesy of vacation in Florida:

Sunset from the Public lighthouse

Sunset from the Private country club

Ok, well, after a long and painfully lonely hiatus from blogging I have decided to start a-newt. I mean, there will still be WWC and plenty of puppy talk. But I want to add a few newt things.

Like, since it's winter, how about reasons I love Minnesota. Trust me folks, for the next umpteen months I NEED reasons to love living here. Or at least remind myself why I live here.

Ok, so

Reason to Love Living in Minnesota #1:

When I go grocery shopping during fall, winter, and spring my ice cream won't melt before I get it home.

I know you love the shoe pics but I can't always get a shot of my daily shoe choice. So, I have decided to have a little day dream section to cover my non-shoe days. I call it the

Naughty Monkey of the day:

Newt Photo of the day:

And here is a picture from my vacation in Florida:

Puppy Talk for the day: This morning Lily fell asleep in my lap while I was having my coffee and reading. She had her little head resting on my chest and she was just snoring away.

Newt on Entertainment:

Finally watched Spiderman 3. Wow, was that a slow moving movie. Not bad, just painfully slow.

Reading a book I found while killing time at the airport. It's called "The City of Dreaming Books" by Walter Moers. How have I never heard of this guy before? He's brilliant!

Random Newt:

I received this as an email:

I rescued a human today

author unknown

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels.

I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage.

I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today.

Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past.

I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me.

I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.

Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe.

I would promise to always be by her side.

I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved.

At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

She's Back!

It's been awhile. A sad, sad, long while. I have been quite negligent in keeping up with the blogging world.

Part selfish, part crazy busy, part travel, vacation, and getting in the last moments of fall.

I hope all is well with your world.

I'll be catching up today.

I can't wait.

What have I been up to?

Work first and foremost.

We closed up our cabin last month.

That was a VERY sad day.

The most exciting news: well, I finally got to meet Tink And yes, she is as beautiful and amazing as she seems.

Even more so really in person. She's, well, she's Tink.

The pups are all doing well. They are happy and waggily tail'd as ever.

I have read lots of books. And enjoyed them all.

I've traveled to Florida and Dallas recently. And had fun in both places.

I learned that I can travel pretty easily with my BFF.

We didn't kill each other, no hair pulling, bruising or cat fights.

That's good right?

Ok, I'm off to catch up in the blog world.

Love to you all.