Life With LuLu – Where’s the Hangover?

Posted: December 26, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Life With LuLu | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lo & Lu! Christmas 2010

LuLu and I walked the river bank this morning without any issues other than her own stubbornness. (did you know that word is spelled with two nn’s?) Lu is most definitely a house dog, one that will, and does take great pleasure in camping out in front of the door completely sprawled out in full-snore mode.  When the leash, complete with a jingling Christmas ornament is pulled down and placed in front of her, entire support or show of enthusiasm is totally underwhelming, but … with some patience, a quick sniff from Lu’s tremendously large snout turns even the mundane into a possible adventure.

One wish this morning was to have a camera to capture the fog coming off the river and under the overpass creating an almost Vermont-in-the-woods look to this picturesque setting here in sleepy little Petaluma.  I haven’t owned a camera in nearly twenty years so I just add that picture to the thousands of undeveloped photos stored in the random access memory of my balding hat rack.  To have LuLu along for the walk was the highlight of the day.

Speaking of the highlight of the day … let’s talk about the post excitement associated with the Christmas holiday.  Bonnie and I stocked up on beer and wine as we normally do, yet this year the only company we had in Chez Cheney was LuLu herself.   Oddly neither of us imbibed at all and waking up without the fog associated with holiday parties of years gone by it may indicate a path heading in the right direction.  Perhaps the beer is being saved for the PATS/Bills game later today? Of course if the PATS win they become the AFC Champions (again) … I know, I know … that’s even a stretch for me.  I know, it’s not like it’s going to go bad, right?

Plans today? Football.  Well – those are my plans.

Remember there are three girls in this house, and something tells me (a very educated guess is about to follow) that the NFL schedule is not a part of theirs.

Details (as always to follow).

LuLu sends her love.

Peace,

Papa

Life With LuLu – MERRY CHRISTMAS YO!

Posted: December 25, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Life With LuLu | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Tradition continues ...

We have a tradition in our home and it was honored in full regalia last night.  One of the gifts we share with each other is our traditional Christmas Eve dinner.  For years while living in Charleston we took on that sleepy little town each year at Christmas Even at a place called Anson’s.  The fun part was we knew there would always be available parking, and the streets were ours.  Our routine since we started this tradition in 1998 was to have a cocktail or two at Henry’s and then walk on up the hill to Anson’s.  It was always a great time with each other.  Getting dressed up, knowing Santa was overhead somewhere and the entire town to ourselves! Yes – this was a great idea which is why we are still going strong a dozen years later.  Making the reservation is half the fun, and this year was no different.  The last two Christmas’ of course have been here in Northern California, and although we’ve left Anson’s and Henry’s in the rear view mirror the tradition continues. Last year we spent the entire Christmas weekend downtown at The W in San Francisco and as much as we’d love to make that an annual tradition, and oh man would that be sweet – we thought perhaps we’d keep things local this year and take in the warmth and the exquisite cuisine at the Central Market here in Petaluma. Good choice, great 8:PM reservation, dinner was unbelievable and having everyone at the dinner table is truly a gift Santa would not be capable of providing.  This is something we do each and every year – we love doing it and everything from top to bottom was as if they (The Central Market staff) opened just for us.

So where does LuLu fit in here this morning? She fits in just fine – we came home from dinner and she was all a big bundle of bulldog waiting to be loved.  She lies in her new bed this morning unaware of the mayhem that is about to ensue here in the living room.  Even before the gifts are opened I can honestly say the best gift of all this year was from the folks at Northern California Bulldog Rescue for allowing us to adopt our little LuLu!!  Thank you.

Logan and I are up waiting for Bonnie and Taylor, and I just put on a pot of coffee that should arouse Bonnie’s senses enough to get her down here by the tree … as for Taylor … this year’s tradition would not have been 100 percent without her beautiful face at the table last night. It’s good to have you home Taylor … but for crying out loud … it’s Christmas morning and WE’RE WAITING!!!

A big thank you to Michelle for stopping by with her homemade Christmas cheer!  Very nice to have traditions, even better to have friends to share them with.

Cheers everyone.

Peace,

Papa

Life With LuLu – Sunday Snooze

Posted: December 19, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Life With LuLu | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ten points for Gryffindor!

Well we decided to brave the elements yesterday and head into the great city of San Francisco to take in some holiday shopping.  Well, half of us did anyway.  Bonnie and Taylor headed to Bloomingdale’s, while Logan and I took in a movie in the same mall.  We went to see “The Fighter” starring Mark Wahlberg (say hello to your mother for me) and Christian Bale.  OUTSTANDING MOVIE!

LuLu of course remained home and though we worried about her being in the house the entire day – our worries quickly dissipated remembering she’s an english bulldog which means she’s catching up on her beauty sleep and when we arrived home that’s exactly what we found.  Our lovable LuLu rolled up and no worse for wear.  Quick food exchange, opened the back door and all was well again with all of us.

The two girls found places of their own to head off into after we arrived home.  Each heading to friends homes leaving Bonnie and I home alone on a Saturday night … no issues there!!  We settled in for a little television and I stayed up waiting for the girls to come home.  By the way … Jeff Bridges was the host of SNL last night – I taped it, but I fear it to be a lousy show as this has been the direction SNL has been sliding into recently.  Once I pour the first cup of the day, I’ll relax with the taped version this morning before any NFL games come through that magic box.

It’s another rainy day here in Northern California and there’s little end in sight.  LuLu rests comfortably on her new bed while the other Cheney girls do the same in their own respective locations.

Coffee is on … c’mon over.

Peace

GO PATS!!

Paul

Life With LuLu – A Trimmed Tree(t)

Posted: December 18, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Life With LuLu | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seriously Santa ... I have everything I need!

So we purchased a wonderful six-foot noble last night and it took about an hour from door to door, including a Starbucks pit stop on the way home.  The girls decorated it wonderfully and LuLu regularly inspects the lower lying branches and areas where she may be able to squeeze in to go behind the tree. NOT A GOOD IDEA.

The girls snapped multiple photos of her as the evening progressed which are all available on either Taylor’s, Logan’s and yes, LuLu’s facebook page.

The great thing about having a Christmas tree in the house is lighting it during the day.  Already there are gifts underneath and it does not seem to have invaded LuLu’s space at all.  So far … so good.

She has a scheduled pampering today at Fit N’ Furry, and the Weather channel says it would be good idea to stay at home today, but I think we’re probably destined for a trip into the city (SF).  Tomorrow’s blog will provide the details.

It’s still very wet outside and today’s forecast predicts a 100% chance of precipitation today, 90% tomorrow and the same for Monday.  Yes winter has arrived.

No issues for Lu though – she peeked her head out the front door this morning and quickly turned around and headed back to the living room.  Smart dog.

We’ll see who’s smarter by the end of the day.  Of course, there’s still only seven days remaining to fill Santa’s sleigh.  Yes, a week from today – let the madness begin!!  Nice thing this year, no Barbie doll houses for a guy with a number of drinks already in him to put together!! 🙂

Time to shower … so we can get Lu ready for her pampering.

Hope your day goes well.

 

Papa

Life With LuLu – Dear Santa Claus

Posted: December 17, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Life With LuLu | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Awesome in EVERY way.

Believe this or not, but I once traveled to a town in northern Alaska known as North Pole, AK.  It’s true.  Actually I had family up there and on occasion I would make the trip from the remote island I lived on and head way up the mainland to Fairbanks and then roll south into North Pole for a visit when I could.  Yes – North Pole, AK. Santa Claus village, reindeer, elves, and one tiny little watering hole with a pool table and dart board known as the Refinery Lounge. After a cursory review of the internet it appears the only bit of electronic information I can obtain on the Refinery Lounge is a comment section where customers, both current and former, decide the fate of the nation from barstools with keyboards … anyway, it was at the Refinery Lounge where we would spend brief periods of Alaskan winters watching the Aurora Borealis with a pool cue in our hand.  The northern lights are an amazing event and at this part of the globe they are commonplace.  Are there “southern” lights?  Yes – the Aurora Australis can be seen in Antarctica.  South enough?  I was fortunate enough to view them as well while traveling through the South Pole in the Summer and Autumn of 1984.  Aaah, the life of a wayward sailor …

That little town of North Pole packs in quite a bit of information, right?  Well – this of course is where Santa Claus’ mail gets delivered every holiday season, so I thought it only appropriate to share with you the letter our very own LuLu wrote to the big man himself.  Enjoy.

Dear Santa Claus,

As you know I live here in Northern California with the Cheney’s, and after watching the Charlie Brown Christmas show last night I had no idea I could actually write to you and let you know what it is I am looking for.

This letter is to let you know my kennel is plentiful in size and the blankets I lay upon are comfortable and warm.  The matching dog bowls I eat and drink from are also robust in size and very artistic.  The new bed I recently received … well, I am not going to bore you with the details.  Let’s just say I preferred the older one which is being recycled today (they think I don’t know but this old girl observes it all).

On your way by the house this year can you just give me a shout-out, a little “HO-HO-HO” … so I’ll know your safe in your travels to the many deserving little boys and girls on your list this year.

All my prayers have been answered this Christmas so THANK YOU.  The new warm house and family, overflowing with a strange combination of estrogen and ESPN is a delight.  I love it here and  I know you’re out there responsible for it all.

Please give all my best to the hard working staff at Northern California Bulldog Rescue for without their help there’s no telling where I’d be this year.

From Northern California … to … North Pole Alaska … THANK YOU!

 

Peace and have a safe journey …

 

Love,

LuLu

(Formerly known as Lady)

Life With LuLu – Stubborn and Adorable

Posted: December 12, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Life With LuLu | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

You’ve read the rabble about the new bed and you’ve read about how stubborn our wonderful new pet can be.  Good match in this household as we rarely, if ever, back down from a challenge.  After some discussion we’ve come to realize LuLu probably still loves her first bed for a couple of reasons, primarily because it was her FIRST bed with us.  Heck, for all we know – it could be her first bed period.  So who in the world are we to replace it?  I’m glad we retained the first bed, the one riddled with holes in it chewed by Ms. Lu herself.

We know what she’s doing and we’re OK with it.

Today, with a full plate of NFL games on the television, the girls found things to do outside of the house freeing me up to climb up into the attic to haul out the Christmas stuff we haven’t seen in a year.  Still no tree, but I have a porch to dress in lighted garland and with the girls, sans LuLu, out of the house, I can crank the receiver to an optimum volume and still work on the front porch.  Lu decided to power-nap during the Christmas decorations ON HER OLD BED, and I had no problems with it at all.  I prefer to work alone anyway, but having my big ole bully sitting next to me while I prettied up the house would have been a nice way to get things done.

Maybe next year!! 🙂

We just had Logan’s tree lighting – originally scheduled for 6:30.  She did a great job on the tree in her room, and something tells me there’ll be a gift or two under it come the morning of the twenty-fifth.

Think she's counting sheep?

When I came downstairs after the big event in Logan’s room I saw LuLu sleeping … and where was she doing it? On her new bed!!!

What will LuLu get from Santa?

In the world of the NFL … our boys in New England traveled to the windy city along the shores of Lake Michigan, in a snowstorm and just handed it to the Bears of Chicago.  The PATS are now 11-2 and there’s not a team in the NFL that want to deal with them … the better news of the day is the JETS lost to the fish from Miami … all good things come to those that wait.

Just ask LuLu.

Peace,

Papa