Women against Sarah Palin

This is a blog started by two young women.  A friend sent it to me and I am forwarding it on to all of you.  Please read the blog, add your comments if so inspired and forward to the women you know.  http://womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com 

Schnauzers & a Shihtzu

My dogs are really funny.  Yesterday I got out the agility equipment and some really yummy training treats.  Finnegan immediately jumped over and through repeatedly without a problem.  But once I brought out the treats, he followed my hand as it went around the equipment!  One time Tom sat with Finn at one end of the equipment and I  was directly at the other.  We wanted to see what he would do.  When I called him, he ran as fast as he could around the equipment to get to me.  He is so cute!

Georgie, who is 13 years old with some residual vestibular symptoms and very mild hip arthritis on one side, demanded to go over the jump bar and get her treat.  That girl will do anything for a treat.  I placed the bar at the lowest setting (only an inch or so off the ground) and she immediately ran and jumped over it.   She isn't really jumping, she's just running with a little hop, a lot less than going up the stairs into the house, and I'll only let her do it a couple of times.  But she is very proud of it!  It's wonderful to watch her.  She is so beautifully stacked and has a proper show gait.  When she completes her task, she stands in all her glory showing everyone how beautiful she is.  She makes us laugh, but you can't laugh at her directly.  She really pouts because that is not respectful.

Molly has her repertoire of tricks which she will perform at the hint of a treat.  Finn has watched her twirling and mimics her.  Winston on the other hand SITS!  That's his only trick.  No matter what I try to show him, he backs away and sits.  I've asked the other dogs to explain it to him, but they just push him aside and start doing their tricks!!!  

One of the things I get Winston to do is wear out Finnegan.  When I get home from work, I open the back door and tell Winston to Get Him!  The boys rush outside and Winston chases Finn around the yard, both of them going as fast as they can.  Winston comes back to me and I tell him repeatedly to go get him.  Finnegan doesn't like to fetch, but he'll carry a toy in his mouth and Winston tries to get it.  They continue this until I think they've worked off some steam.   The girls get their hugs while all of this is going on.  Male dogs are so rambunctious.  When I just had Annie and Georgie, they never chased each other.  They ran right next to each other.  

Meanwhile the parrots are in the background shouting out commands.  "Georgie, wanna go outside?", "Finnegan, come here", "Molly be quiet", "Shush Winston".... coming home is not relaxing at our house, but it does make you laugh.  Fortunately, it doesn't take too long for everyone to settle down.

Petition

The highway where Andrew's accident occurred has a serious design flaw.  I've seen it. There is a movement by Andrew's mom, the homeowners association and the PTSA campaigning to change the road.   The ramp leads from the northbound Route 29 lanes to westbound Interstate 70, and requires drivers to cross over the southbound lanes of Route 29.  In other words, to enter the road after only a yield sign you must enter onto the fast lane of oncoming traffic.  There have been multiple petition signing events, and multiple newspaper articles.  Please consider signing the petition.

Http://www.petitiononline.com/safert29/ 

Nancy, Andrew's stepmom

Loss and moving on

I just watched a John Edwards Crossing Over Show (which I've only seen a couple of times years ago).  There was a whole episode on families losing their sons.  One was a 20 year old who died in a motorcycle crash.  The other was a son who died of leukemia.  The messages John Edwards had from both of the sons was that they wanted the families to find a balance to return to their lives.  The 20 yr old wanted his father to know that he took responsibility for the accident, the motorcycle wasn't the problem, even though the father felt guilty that he shouldn't have let him have the motorcycle.  The father rides a motorcycle and feels that his son's spirit rides with him now. This is so what Tom is going through.  The families felt like a weight was being lifted from their shoulders.  How to give that kind of message to Tom, a skeptic when it comes to any "psychic" kind of stuff.  

John Edwards also showed some of his own home videos of his family celebrations of Christmas.  When John's grandma died, he stopped celebrating with the family.  He was acknowledging the pain that one feels, but also wanted to give the message that we need to celebrate ourselves, that even though that person is not there, some essence of them will be there with us.  It's something I've been wondering about.  Lauren is coming home for Christmas.  I've been bewildered about how to handle it.  We'll find a way.  Our grandson Robert will bring joy and celebration.

Live Like Andrew!

At Andrew's memorial, some of the kids had tshirts made up that said "Live Like Andrew".  Afterwards, everyone wanted one, so Allison who made the original set up a site to sell & distribute them.  The proceeds will go towards the scholarship fund set up in Andrew's honor.  Someone else made bumper stickers, and then wrist bands and lanyards!  What a remarkable group of friends Andrew has had!  We of course have some tshirts, and I bought a dozen bumper stickers for Andrew's friends here in California.  Tonight a group of them came over to claim them.  It felt so good to have that energy in the house again.  Sitting here typing I'm choked up about Andrew not being here with them.  But he really never wanted anyone to be sad, so I'm going to try to "live like Andrew" and keep my chin up!  We miss you Andrew, but you are always with us, sweetie.

Bram

My brother Gene has had a group of friends for over 20 years that he hung out with when he lived in Sacramento.  In the early days, they called themselves the Champagne Tasting Society.  I was an honorary member of it since I visited as often as possible although I lived in Silicon Valley at the time.  There was a group of the guys who went to Boys Night Out on Wednesday nights for as long as I can remember.  They usually went to a restaurant and told a lot of stories.  A wonderful group of friends ~ teachers, artists, some medical professionals and other professionals.  All very bright, funny, creative and really there for one another.  One couple is Kermit and Bram who have been together at least 30 years.  Last week Bram had a stroke, followed by a craniotomy for some arterial problems.  Then it was wait and see.  At first it looked like he was improving.  Over the weekend, he started going downhill until it was decided he had irreversible brain damage.  Bram and Kermit had always agreed that they wouldn't let each other live in that state.  

Bram will be missed by many.  He was a retired teacher, a marching band member, a steadfast partner and amazing friend.  When his memorial is held soon, people will come from all over the world.  He was a valuable and loved human who brought much to others.  I hope you and Andrew have met and are leading the drum corp up in heaven together!  We'll take care of Kermit.  Don't worry, he's not alone. 

At the beach

Tom had 4 days scheduled off, so I managed to get mine to line up with his.  We couldn't get a housesitter, so we packed up the 4 dogs and headed for the beach.  Tom road his motorcycle with sidecar to get some things worked on from the dealer where he bought it.  I drove the car with the two male dogs in crates in the way back, and the two females on beds in the back seat.  We made good time.  We're renting a small beach cottage at one of the biggest surfing areas, so there is a lot of foot traffic going by.  Since our house is all window on one side looking out on the back yard, this is the first time Finnegan has been able to look out at the street and he's loving it.  This morning we found a trail that parallels a pond and ends at the beach.  Lots of the locals use it to get to the beach ~ moms with their kids and dogs, elderly, other dog walkers.  Finn did really well when we met other dogs.  The other 3 are always easy.  They're all liking just doing something different.

This is the town we came to 2 summers ago with the kids.  Andrew had just finished his junior year.  We brought Adam so he'd have a buddy.  Lauren was with us, and her best friend Ronnie was staying not far at his grandparents house.  The boys took surfing lessons and loved it.  Tom took them at 6am when the lessons began and took photos of them.  Andrew used one of the photos for his Myspace avatar.  I think it's still there.  They went to the boardwalk, hung out at the beach & Ronnie's house, and played cards at night.  Adam won a ball for Andrew in some game ~ our little schnauzer Winston plays with it now.  I brought my dog Annie that time ~ she had just been hospitalized with her heart condition so I didn't want to leave her with the housesitter.  We all went out to dinner at a seafood restaurant, and the kids insisted on sitting out on the deck.  Of course the fog came in and we were all shivering.  Dinner got cold before we could finish it.  But we laughed and had such a good time.  We had a great vacation that year.  I'm so glad that we have those memories.   The next year we took a cruise to the Caribbean - this time with Andrew, Lauren, Ronnie, the kids cousin Matt and Tom's sister & her husband.  Andrew had just graduated from high school & would go off to college and that was part of his graduation present.  He always loved doing family events.  Even if it was dinner together.  It won't be the same without him, but we'll continue to do that and remember him, tell stories about him and just feel his presence.

This is our first get away since the funeral.  I'm glad we're here!