A bedtime story

Mommas, please tell us a bedtime story. Tell us about your trip.

Well little doggies, we drove 1,581 miles in 10 days. We were in three states, Nevada, Arizona and California.

We traveled Route 66 from Williams, Arizona to Barstow, California.

We walked barefooted in the sand dunes of Death Valley National Park.

And we wore our down vests, mittens and boots at the Grand Canyon National Park.

We visited a ghost town in Arizona—Gold Mine—a little town filled with old trucks and cars and an abandoned mine shaft.

And Rhyolite, Nevada, a prosperous town at the turn of the century.

Another greyt day

Our youngest daughter Holly and her fiancé had Christmas dinner at their house. It was wonderful, we had a blast.


The ceremonial opening of the gifts. Holly is shooting her red garter off into space????


Megan demonstrating the obvious with her Route 66 shot glass.


Autzen wondering what happened to all of her usual presents.


Just your typical really good dogs. Emma loved her time with her cousin Autz.


Joey shocked me by demonstrating his carving skills.


Megan and Holly


Holly and Autzen. Don't know how exactly how I captured this shot.


Megan and the attack of the doggies.


Joey's mom Mary and his sister Amanda.


Many, many thanks Joey and Holly for a wonderful day. Loved the card, it was perfect. The Coke is right at home. But next time, please scratch off the lottery tickets until you get a big winner. We'll take that one. :o)))))

Love ya much, the moms.

I am the luckiest person alive

I have two beautiful daughters, both grown up with lives of their own. They probably both need a beatin' now and then, but they drive faster cars than I do.


I live with one of the most amazing women I know. Not that I wouldn't like to knock her up the side of the head now and then, but I'm sure if I thought long and hard I could think of at least once she probably felt the same.


And then, my life is surrounded by the best doggies in the world. Doggies that question authority, but eventually remember who's boss.


Doggies that give me attitude with a smile.


Doggies that make me laugh every day.


Doggies that look at me with shear adoration first thing in the morning and remind that it's gonna be a greyt day.


And doggies that love me no matter what and remind me at the end of the day, that yes, it was greyt day.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Good-bye Mr. Pasha

Our Mr. Pasha joined us 13 months ago, just before the winter storms hit. At 12 1/2 years, he was a most beautiful dog, so loving, so gentle. We had no idea how lucky we were to have him join us in the garden.


Mr. Pasha came in the house and quickly learned where to nestle, and more importantly how to snag a prime cushion before someone else got it.


In typical greyhound fashion, he accepted his new digs quickly and loved life in the garden.


Before long, he was telling all of the other greyhounds how it should be and how it was going to be.


More than anything, he loved roaming around on the acre. He took care of business right away and spent the rest of the time taking in all of the smells.


He got along with everyone, but he really love the girls. In fact, he lived for the girls.


I can still see him running along the fence with all of the other dogs. We'd hold our breath for fear he might get hurt, but he loved racing with them and life for a greyhound is all about quality.

His time with us was way to short and we will miss him more than he will ever know. He truly was one of the best dogs ever.

Pasha aka Valley Shylock • April 26, 1996 - December 20, 2009

Houston, we have a problem

Momma T is in the kitchen. She never cooks. Not ever.


Ya, I heard something like, "blankety blank, didn't have to have my glasses on last time I tried to use the blender and the Cuisinart". Then I heard something about grandma being a dump cook. Doesn't everyone know how much 2 boxes, 1 can and a carton equals? Aren't they all standard sizes?


Yup, keeping a low profile here. Think McDonalds might be in the future for the office potluck.

It's My Birthday

Yeppers, it's me, Flocko Doggo and it's my birthday.

I'd like all of my birthday presents delivered by noon please.


Overall, it has been one GREYT year! I got to take a fabulous hike to Three Pools. Although, it was so cold that if I still had the family jewels, they would have frozen right off!


And then, there was the time I went to tulip fields. That really was more of a chick kinda thing to do. I tried really hard to strut my manliness. No froo froo for me.


And everynight without fail, I'm out there playing Flocko Ball. I've finally gotten the other mother trained to follow me with the super duper Costco flashlight in the dark.

I hardly think it is my fault that the days got short. If they want me to play in the daylight, then I suggest they come home from work earlier.


So yes, today, tomorrow, yesterday, the next day and everyday in between is all about me. Flocko!

Happy 6th birthday to me.

Happy Winter Solstice

As of 9:47 am, December 21, 2009, the days start getting longer. Woo Hoo!

There's no place like home, there's no place like home

Camp Lisa was great, vacation was awesome.

But, there is no place better than home.

Southwest Road Trip • Day 10

I will end our trip with a toast to the best vacation, ever.

We arrived back in Vegas and will be homeward bound tomorrow, comfortably nestled with the all of the doggies tomorrow night.

Southwest Road Trip • Day 9

Sunrise at Zabriski Point was just as spectacular as I wanted it to be. Arriving in the pure darkness, we watched for 1.5 hours as the sun made it's way over the point. Wow.

After a speedy but awesome breakfast at Furnace Creek Ranch, we rode on over to Rhyolite, Nevada. A ghost town.

In 1906, it was quite the booming mining town.

We then spent the next hour or so scrambling up the sand dunes outside of Stovepipe Wells.

According to Karen, we were just going out a little ways. But she kept going and going and going.

Daylight continued to burn way to quickly, but the mountains over the valley were incredible. Next stop, sunset.

Sunset at Dante's View was amazing. The 13 mile drive up a winding road with a 15% grade at the end was worth it.

And ladies at FMC West, as much as we hate to admit it, vacation is almost over. Square pants sponge boss will soon be on her way back. Just a fair warning.

And so, we watched the sun come up and the sun go down in Death Valley. This has been the best trip ever. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this possible for us.

The next leg of our journey will not be a mystery. We will head out for Las Vegas tomorrow so that we can catch the plane home on Thursday.