Fallish Around Here

It's cool and clear today. The sunshine spreads for miles and the winds have died down (it was SO WINDY on Friday). In other words, FALL has arrived in NorCal. My favorite things about the FALL are the cooler days so IF I want to go outside or go for a walk, it is cool enough for me to do so as much as I want. In Summer, my excursions are minutes long at best. Can't be too careful with flat-faces in hot weather.

So you all know huMOM #2 went to Apple Valley on Thursday. She came back the same day - well, evening, but had to go straight to work! I saw her only briefly that evening before we headed to night-night.

Saturday was a pretty fun day. Mommy #2 had a friend over to help make LEMON CURD. Well, actually it was more Mommy teaching her how to make it. They talked A LOT and giggled A LOT. The kitchen smelled so wonderful with lemons, too. I helped by making sure I was RIGHT BY THEIR feet while they were cooking. I was careful I did not trip anyone with a hot pan in their hand, though. That was all afternoon and then Mommy and I sat in the couch watching movies the rest of the evening.

Sunday was FUN DAY. We got up early and went to breakfast with Mommy #1! How special is that? We went to Panera and it was a nice enough morning to sit outside and eat. That is why I got to go! We were outside. After breakfast, we walked around the shopping center which included a visit to PetsMart. I like that place. The cashiers give me TREATS.

Then we drove to Mommy #1's apartment on campus and GUESS WHAT!!!!! I got to spend the NIGHT with her! Yes! I really did and I liked it so much. I loves loves loves spending time with Mommy #1.

Mommy DID LEAVE ME for a while in the evening (I stayed with her roomie - but mostly I slept) so she could attend the SAN JOSE SHARKS game. It was the first home game following the return of Patrick Marleau to teal. The whole town was buzzing with excitement over this one and both of my mommys said it was one of the BEST games they'd ever gone to. It was helped a lot by them winning the game.

My Mommys are in this photo of Patrick Marleau. They were
at the glass for warm-ups

Mommy and I cuddled a little while before heading to bed and this morning Mommy #2 arrived to pick me up. I am ready to snooze now because I am so exhausted from all the todoing this weekend.

Happy Monday everypuggy.

I Need Some New Photos and Other Thoughts

The LADY is slacking off. I demand more new photos of ME and here we are recycling them over and over. It has been almost ONE FULL WEEK since the camera was pointed my way. That will NOT do.

So Let's see what's new. Molly is all better. She gets her stitches out next week. She is all HAPPY and stuff, though, which you can tell in the spring in her step. She has a smile on her face almost all the time. She had so many stones in her little bladder that she just did not feel too well most of the time. And, I remind you, that was almost a full HALF POUND of stones she had taken out. No one was the wiser about those awful stones because her weight never even fluctuated. That was a surprise we could do without.

Mommy #1 is gone back to university. She and Mommy #2 spend all day last Friday packing all of her stuff into Pugsley (the car) and taking it over to her suite. Her suite is more like an apartment than a dorm, BTW. I couldn't go because there wasn't really any room for me in the car (even Mommy's lap was full); but also they determined I might be a distraction. NEVER!

I am kind of sad without Mommy #1 around. Yes, I am lucky because I have Mommy #2 and I do adore her. BUT it isn't the same and all summer I was so happy to have 2 Mommys to cuddle between.

Sun's in my eyes!

Baseball season is winding down. Mommy #2 and Aunt T on Sunday went to the last Oakland As home game for the season. They had fun but the team LOST and that was quite sad. I theorize they lost because they were sad the regular season is coming to an end. This Sunday is the SF Giants' last home game of the season. That will be even SADDER because it is the last home game for Bochy. We sure have enjoyed his time with the club. No one can compare to what he brought to the club. I know I will miss him.

Vlasic and his FurBabies

But you know what baseball season ending means? YES Hockey returns!!! Mommy #1, Aunt T and Cousin C went to a player meet and autograph event last night. They got signatures of ALL (but one) of my favorite players. I am MOST excited about Captain Couture. He is one of my fave players. Then I also really love M.E. Vlasic because it is a well known fact that he LOVES his DOGS!!!. He does a lot for the PETS of Silicon Valley.

AND HAPPY TONGUE OUT TUESDAY

Mom + Work = Lonely Pug

Woe is ME

I am beginning to think my Mommy #2 might be a work-a-HOLIC! I mean, she already works 2 jobs, and it just SEEMS she doesn't because her main job is cybercommuting and not at an office. It isn't true, though. She sits in that office ALL DAY working on bookkeeping, e-filing, reports, and so on. And there is no room in there for me to sit on her lap or otherwise involve myself. It just does not happen.

Then the NHL All Star game comes to San Jose CALIFORNIA and what does that woman do? She decides to get involved and WORK for the NHL AMBASSADOR crew. This is the crew that does stuff like greet people to the events, direct them around the venue, run the skills and other games, put together gift bags, and so on. The little things that are hopefully appreciated by attendees.

This is a corner of her uniform. She got a baseball
cap, long sleeve polo shirt and a golf vest all with
this logo

It also meant she was GONE from home all of those days with no real time to cuddle. And on the weekend, it turned into ALL DAY.

I know I shouldn't complain. I got a lot of attention from everyone home but especially from Cousin B and his fiance F. I liked them A LOT and they said I reminded them of their furbaby. Not sure HOW they mean since their furbaby is a pitbull. Playful and gentle - that might be what they were referring to. I am sure we are not talking about a lapdog. But they petted me and skritched behind my ear. It was love.

But I was STILL lonely because neither Mommy #1 nor Mommy #2 were around to give me lots of hugs and snuggles.

Mommy was happy although very tired when it was all done. She had fun, saw some NHL stars (from afar), saw the fastest skater on the Women National Hockey team, Kendell Coyne Schofield, and interacted with ALL of the NHL Team Mascots as they wandered through the venue she was working. And she got to hit pucks re-discovering her hockey skills from a lifetime ago (she played field hockey on her league-leading high school team). So it was a really great job - she basically got paid for playing and socializing. What a deal.

At the end of the day, it was a great event for the NHL, the city of San Jose, and for all of the hockey fans who were able to attend. Here is a link to a recap of the weekend (this was a 4 day weekend, btw).
http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/25862644/the-best-worst-nhl-all-star-weekend-2019

I am glad that today things are back to normal. Maybe even better than normal because Mommy is gonna relax A LITTLE once she does the most important work. And you know what that means:

Mom, Me and the TV

It was pretty chilly here in SILICON VALLEY over the weekend. In fact, it was rainy all day Saturday and on Sunday morning, there was some snow on the higher peaks (Mt. Hamilton, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Umunhum), and patches scattered in the ring of mountains that make our valley. Not on our foothills, though, which is where I live. We had rain. We had cold. BUT we did NOT have SNOW.

It was a good weekend for staying in BUT we did not. There was a lot going on in and around the city: the March for Our Lives; the San Jose Sharks hockey game; the As vs Giants preseason game; and a carnival at my Cousin C's school. And rain or shine, they all HAPPENED. It was pretty cool to have a lot of options.

And on Sunday, the SUN made an appearance. It was such a welcome sight. It was not warm - not by any stretch - but it is amazing how much happier everypuggy seems when the sun comes out.

Spring finally makes herself known this week as there are no storms on the near horizon for us. A fitting way to celebrate Easter which celebrates the promise of Spring and the hope of new beginnings.

How do you celebrate Easter and Spring?

I'm going to the snow - go figure.

Love Me Some Hockey #SJBarracuda #PucksandPaws

I am pretty sure my long time followers know about my love for HOCKEY - specifically the San Jose Sharks. . . and more specifically JOE THORNTON. I cannot control myself. I get so into the game and when they score - well the cacophony in this house is unbelievable.

Joe (Jumbo) Thornton

So when Mommy asked if I wanted to go to a HOCKEY game, Pucks and Paws, I said SURE!!! What could be better than seeing JOE THORNTON live and in action. Well, wait! Mommy stopped me in mid-celebration. This is a San Jose BARRACUDA AHL game, not San Jose SHARKS NHL game. But sometimes SJ Sharks who are rehabbing will play on the 'Cuda for a while. But not Joe Thornton.

My disappointment was palpable but did not last for long. Mommy reminded me it is still hockey and still professional. It will be fun, she excitedly told me. Think about it. The game was not until November 26, post-Thanksgiving, so I had a fair about of time to mull it over and decide that she was RIGHT. Because when push comes to shove, I am a H-O-C-K-E-Y fan.

The day arrived and wouldn't you know it - it was pouring rain. And we had to wait in this really long line to be checked in. But it was okay. Mommy had the foresight to bring a towel and an umbrella which kept us from getting too too wet. Plus, the "DOG" entrance had a lot of cover and it was just the last part that forced us out into the rain. We waited what seemed like an eternity (it was 20 minutes) to get in but we did. Oh was I excited!!!!!

I am not sure Molly was excited. She was yappy all the way in which means she was anxious. Eventually, once we sat down, she was okay. I think she enjoyed it.

Anxious Molly

I am soooooo happy

Our seats were really good. You can't tell from this photo but we were only about 8-10 rows from the ice. We saw a lot of faces smashed into the paneling. The game moves so fast at ice level. Television does not convey the same sense of speed. It was so exciting!!! Mommy was right - I didn't need Joe Thornton to enjoy HOCKEY. (But he helps)

The giveaway for #PucksandPaws was a Bobblehead of the SJ Sharks defenseman Marc-Eduard Vlasic (Pickles) and his 3 dogs. He is a huge advocate for rescues. He was also there with his pups and that was extra exciting - I really did get to see a #SanJoseSharks player!!! And in the box sat former SJ Shark player now part of the coaching staff was Mike Ricci AND GM Doug Wilson. So much fun.

Rather late in the game we discovered that all the time we were sitting in front of THIS dog

His name is Bruce and he is One and a half years old. Isn't he a charmer? I think his pawrents were kinda new to the pug thing because real PUG PEOPLE immediately connect with other pug people. And they said nothing to us when we (blindly) sat down IN FRONT of them. There were a total of 4 pugs from the estimated 700 dogs in attendance. There were quite a few Frenchies as well. I saw many little dogs but A LOT of big big dogs. And they were vocal sometimes. I wasn't - other than the door bell (??? What were they thinking) at the very beginning of the game. ALL OF THE DOGS THOUGHT IT WAS REAL AND BARKED. It was so funny!

Eventually the 'Cuda came back from a 1-3 deficit to win the game 5-3. I really thought it was the most fun. ALMOST - and I said almost - as fun as Bark in the Park. Maybe as they have more and more of them the vendors will join. We love visiting the vendors and talking with vets at the Bark in the Park.

Molly is less sure about going to another game. This is how she "Watched" the action -

She only opened her eyes for the photo

Thank you San Jose Barracuda for a totally PAWSOME day. Please do a Pucks and Paws again. It was so FUN.

And the 'Cuda play pretty good hockey as well.