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 – Our Little Rebel

Posted: November 20, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Life With LuLu | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

This picture of LuLu was taken a couple of weeks ago, but for the purpose of this blog I needed to give you an idea of what LuLu; the innocent one, looks like.

This is NOT what she looked like at 3:AM this morning when barking up a storm requiring us to let her out for a tinkle.  She is cute though, right? Well, right now she sits in the living room in the “four flat tires’ look she resembles in the adjacent photo.

Yesterday afternoon was a whirlwind of events here in the house.  We came home to let LuLu out, give her some comfort, some food and an attempt at an explanation that we would be home “right away”.  What we meant by that was, we don’t know how long it’s going to drive to Oakland, pick up Taylor at the airport and get home, and by the way it’s raining.  “We’ll be right back!” Like a hurricane – the three of us headed out the door.

So the winter has arrived here in Northern California, but not without our little bundle of joy in the backseat comfortably resting on her little sister’s lap all the way home.  Nothing changes.  We have a full house for the week. LuLu gets to meet her new sister, and Logan gets to share her bed … nothing in that mix speaks to getting up at 3:AM.

The conversation on our wet and extremely slow traffic ridden ride to Oakland was all about LuLu and how she was going to handle being at home on her own (in her kennel) unexpectedly.  The good thing is the kennel is her home, her security blanket and as affirmed by the folks at the veterinarian hospital – the kennel is in fact HER HOME and where she finds comfort.  So we all agreed she’d be asleep in no time and the tail would be wagging when we walked in.

Did I mention how hurried we were to get on the road to pick up our eldest?  The airport in Oakland appeared to be a better choice than San Francisco.  On paper anyway, but the traffic into Oakland at rush hour is ridiculous.  You can have it.

We arrived home a little after 8:PM.  Logan and Taylor rushed into the house to greet her and we hear Logan say “where is she?” as she peers into her kennel.  Taylor responds “she’s right behind you!” … and there LuLu sat, in her bed OUTSIDE OF HER KENNEL! What? No opposing thumbs and she figured out how to get out of her kennel? Well it turns out we left in such a hurry the latches on Lu’s kennel were not set and Lu simply stepped on out and settled into her bedding.  A quick look around the house shows no wet issues on the flooring anywhere.

I guess waking up at 3:AM was her way of saying “you really want to leave me home again?” … Ok LuLu we hear you loud and clear.

Today is her one month anniversary here in our home and she has a grooming reservation at Fit N’ Furry in a couple of hours.  We figure every month is almost a must for her as it is for us.  The house is starting to smell a little like D-O-G.

Welcome home Taylor. Say hello to your other sister!!

Life With Lulu – Taylor’s Return Home!!

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

Although there’s been no response to the want ad – both LuLu and I awoke at the same time this morning.  My cell phone alarm plays a Doors song “Break on Through“.  I am going to need to revisit those lyrics later to search for any parallels.

Thanksgiving is truly my favorite of all the holidays, and this year with Taylor’s decision to come west to spend her college break with her fam damily will make this year all that much more festive.

Lulu and Taylor have never met.  T is scheduled to arrive in Oakland around 7:PM this evening, so a big day for all of us.  T’s recent big news was her promotion on The Daily Gamecock to Assistant News Editor beginning next semester.  Writers write!

So it’s now a few moments before 5:30.  LuLu has had her breakfast, her medicine, she’s been outside (thrice) and is now playing with her bed like a frisbee, visited her water bowl a number of times and now assumes the position of the ever watchful bulldog and wonders what in the world this man does in front of that screen with his black coffee.

That’s the update at this hour.  Taylor coming home!! LuLu and Taylor to become friends and Logan … yes Logan gets to share her bed with her older sister because Mom and Dad have just not gotten off the snide to purchase a bed/futon/pullout sofa etc. for our eldest’s room.

We’ve been busy!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.  Am off to the rain locker here in a few minutes while LuLu contemplates the living room carpet, or her bed … the decisions we have to make, right?

Peace