Waggin' Good Times

A few photos & a video from Camp Waggin' Tails, which Rusty & I went to in Big Bear Lake last weekend. We had a blast!

Rusty hanging on the docks.

Big dogs splashing around in the lake.

A tired and cold Rusty.

Will wade for turkey treats!

Wheel In The Sky Keeps On Turnin'

What a great hamster
Who knew one could be a muse?
My sweet boy Ami

Ami came to live with me on February 14, 2006. He was the first hamster I ever had as a pet. I learned a lot from Ami and he inspired my creativity in ways I could never have predicted. My photography skills improved, I self-published my first book, Hamster Haiku, and I've made and sold various hamster related crafts. Ami made me happy with his simple, funny ways. And don't forget, he was a two-time hamster ball derby champion!



Ami died sometime in the early hours of September 21, 2008. He was simply old and his heart stopped. There appeared to be no trauma and no suffering. Lately, he had been sleeping more and slowing down, as is expected for an elderly hamster. I feel like I gave him a good life and he gave much more to me than he could ever know. His tiny paw prints definitely left a mark on my heart and I miss him terribly.



Actual hat. Not photoshopped!

Click here if you'd like to see more photos of Ami.

No Time For Naps

Felt Club. We will be there.

What a great opportunity for getting those holiday goodies!

Lifelong Learning('You Don't Have To Be A Man-Ho')

I am a student of life. I love to learn new things. With that in mind and in an attempt to catch up on this very neglected blog, I will share some new knowledge I have obtained over the past few weeks months.

(I originally intended to finish & post this over a month ago).

I learned:

• Waiting until the last minute to prepare things for Comic-Con not only costs me more money, but causes my stress to multiply to almost inexplicable levels. I really hope this is a lesson that sticks so I don't get myself into a frenzied mess again.
• Darlene, Paul, and Bully The Little Stuffed Bull are all just as nice in person as I thought they would be. It's so much fun to meet internet friends in person! A fun side note is that both Darlene and Bully went home with hamster friends I'd made.
  
• If the new Flight of the Conchords songs I've heard them perform in the recent live shows I've attended are any indication, we are in for some funny episodes of the new season of their tv show. I'll just say one thing-Jemaine=prostitute.
• Baby showers these days are fancy. Like wedding reception fancy. I survived going to two in one weekend recently and was really impressed by the posh table settings, fancy stemware, catered food, 5,000 homemade deserts, really cool favors (though I still love pink and white Jordan almonds). A-MAZING.
• Apparently, you can get real live Pikachus in Japan. Um yeah. I don't think these really exist, but I would still love to have one!
  
• I care far more about politics than the Olympic games. It doesn't mean I'm anti-American. But you can call me old and boring. I can handle it. I can also come up with a way to make fun of you too.
• Some people are as crazy in love with their pet pythons as I am with my hamster. So crazy in fact that I'd mistake them for buying an extra cute, extra expensive hammy as a pet. But no, when I naively pointed out how cute the rodent was, the guy purchasing it coldly informed me that he'd be feeding it to his massive reptile.
• In attempt to stay cool while hanging out in the yard this summer, Little Guy took to lying around in a hole under an outdoor table. I had no idea he was doing this until recently. For my "slow" dog, he's being pretty smart.
  

Little Guy, lying in a hole.

Word Of The Day

MORTIVATION: Incentive to change something that is mortifying.

Thanks to E, who coined the term based on a conversation we had.

Smile Big Smack Hamster

Oh how I'd love to actually see this! Look at the tiny arms!!!

It Was Cloudy In The Morning

We didn't make it to the beach until the last official day of Summer. Oh well. Here are a few photos from Westward Beach/Point Dume in Malibu: