Life as an art form

Make Like a Groundhog

2012-01-29T22:27:00.000-06:00

This morning was the annual Groundhog Race at Hunt Midwest Subtropolis in North KC. It's an office park in underground caves, which nature keeps at a constant 55 degrees—so it's guaranteed to be a good run, regardless of what the weather may be doing outside. (Two years ago was icy & snowy; today was 35 degrees, on its way to 50!)
I met Lexie off I-35 and Johnson drive early, and we carpooled up to the site, which made the day a lot more fun! In the caves, we met up with a bunch of the Hallmark crew: Tom & Bess, Aaron, Brett & Mary, Danielle, David Eaton, and more! (Which was good, because I never saw any of the other 13 Meetup folks.)

me, Brett & Danielle

An hour before the race, the caves were still fairly empty...

But with a max of 3500 runners, they fill up quickly!

I ran a not-very-fast-but-still-respectable 28:30, pacing 8:30/mile. Considering that my last week has been focused on snowboarding rather than running, and that I've generally fallen off the wagon the last few weeks, I'll take it. (But this was 2:30 slower than my time in 2010... ouch! At least I have a goal to strive for...)

And between the 5k & 10k races, TONS of people milling around!

Danielle, Lexie & me, post-race

Off to the Races

2012-01-29T22:07:00.000-06:00

2011 has been a good year; I've been running as much as I can work into my schedule, and the dogs are almost always at my side. According to the awesome iPod Nano that Mom gave me for my 2010 birthday, I had run 169 miles by the end of 2011 (and I started using Nike+ in February, so that's 11 months' worth).

None of the miles have come close to my personal bests (as fast at 6'34"!), as I'm trying to overcome the hip injuries I sustained in summer 2010—and so far, successfully avoiding surgery, with little pain! My ankle, however, which I injured approximately 25 years ago, is another story. But I'm thrilled that I have *finally* been diagnosed—which only took THREE specialists! And the orthopedic surgeon feels sure that removing a ganglion cyst from deep in my ankle joint will do the trick. (Unless tendon or ligament damage is discovered while they're in there—stitching those up would make the recovery in the 18-week range. Ugh.)
So I'm excited to go under the knife this Wednesday morning. If this works, I can do more running, more yoga, more swimming... all of the stuff that bothers my ankle when I overdo it. Here's hoping I'll have a speedy recovery—and be even speedier afterward!

Updated post for "Monsters of Rap"

2012-01-29T21:28:00.000-06:00

Added photos and video clips from the concert back in August, featuring Lil' Wayne, Rick Ross, Lloyd, Keri Hilson, & Far East Movement.

Gone Shredding

2012-01-25T10:17:00.002-06:00

Just returned to work from my madcap four days on the mountains! Had left this sketch on my chair... And now that my skills are 10x what they were five days ago, the drawing is more accurate than when I initially drew it! ;)

POWDER DAY!!!

2012-01-24T09:53:00.002-06:00

The sign on the bus says it all!!! Last day at Breck looks to be a great one!

Photos from Breck & Vail

2012-01-23T21:42:00.002-06:00

This "remix" was made by EpicMix from my professional photos taken on-mountain yesterday & today. Yesterday at Breck was a mixed bag of TONS of fresh powder (12"+ overnight), snowing all day, some sun, high winds, and blowing snow to near whiteout conditions at the end of the day. Quite an experience. Today in Vail was the PERFECT bluebird day, with tons of fresh, groomed powder, bright sun & super-blue skies all day long.

You're spoiling me, Colorado. But oh, how I like it!

Happy Year of the Dragon!

2012-01-23T06:15:00.004-06:00

Powder Day!!!

2012-01-22T09:08:00.002-06:00

Day 1 on the mountain was awesome, and today (day 2) we woke up to TEN INCHES of fresh powder! Off to carve like crazy!!!

Make like an Ibex at Ibex

2012-01-15T22:06:00.002-06:00

I spent over three hours this afternoon cultivating "trembling hand syndrome" with 33 members of the Adventure Club. A bunch of us had never tried rock climbing before, so we all took a belay class at Ibex Climbing Gym in Blue Springs to learn how not to die, paired up, and then set off climbing the walls. I buddied up with a guy named Kelly—who had climbed years before—so I figured I was in good hands. (At least one of us knew what the heck we were doing!!!)
The belay class was good... check your buckles, learn to tie a figure 8 knot, hitch up for climbing, tie a safety knot. The belayer takes the safety device and has to constantly pull the rope taught as the climber goes, taking up all the slack so they won't have a large drop if they slip off the wall. Getting my hands in the right places at the right time and pulling the rope the right way seemed daunting at first. (I wasn't 100% sure how bad an accident I could cause if I had my right hand over my left, rather than the other way around as it should be. Yikes!) This was the only time I had butterflies... Turns out this equipment is pretty safe even for dummies. Once I got comfortable with that, I never looked back.

the partner

the challenge

I started on some easier walls, and pretty much scampered up like a squirrel. (All were approximately 30' high, but the routes for each rope were rated by difficulty.) Fortunately, I don't have any trouble with heights as long as I feel safe and secure with the equipment. So we kept moving around to successively harder climbs, with widely spaced or rounded, slippery barnacles (I don't have any idea what those things are really called!), and sheer angles.

Kelly's having all the fun...

...while I'm belaying.

Go Stella!

Note to self: don't wear light pants; dark harness gives you an outliney, cartoony butt shape! LOL

After taking turns a bunch of times climbing & belaying, we went upstairs to try free climbing on the shorter (12-15'?) walls. That was fun, too: it was nice to have everyone climbing at once, with no one having to hold a rope. The scariest part of the whole day for me was dropping to the thick blue mats after reaching the top. It crossed my mind that if I landed wrong, this could really jack up my impending snowboarding trip...

Those short climbs were surprisingly hot & sweaty. It was a much better workout than I was expecting, which was nice. To "rest", we went back downstairs to scale the tall walls...

Yep, that's me: hanging there & trying to find a place to grab onto so I can keep going up.

At this point we were about 3 hours into climbing, and though my mind could have gone all night, my fingers were saying, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?!" I tried the same 5.8 wall twice at the end, and got just a yard from the top before my fingers completely gave out (while pulling all my weight toward the wall on an angle that came out toward me), and I reluctantly gave the "get me outta here" signal. Honestly, that was the hardest part of the whole day: admitting that I was too tired to get to the top on that last run. I'm gunning for that one next time!!!

Funny Pets

2012-01-15T10:15:00.000-06:00

Taken while lying on the couch, reading the paper and listening to CBS Sunday Morning...

‎"He's right behind me again, isn't he?"

‎"Oh god... now there are TWO of them!"

Sunset Sushi

2012-01-14T22:28:00.000-06:00

Brett called to say he was driving to Clinton Lake to look for owls, and I was finally feeling better tonight, so he picked up me & the Shibas (with Sam in the front seat) and we headed out in time for sunset. Sunset was very pretty, but we saw no owls.

Great sushi at Wa almost made up for the owl-lessness:

Tres amigos, yellow dragon, Wa roll

Best. Art. Ever.

2012-01-13T22:46:00.000-06:00

My bestest buddy, Kelly, is working on an awesome tribute to the furry friends in my life (including the recently departed). It's not quite complete, but I'm already frame-shopping. (((LOVE)))

Holiday Treats for All!

2012-01-13T21:46:00.001-06:00

Best thing about Madel going to Japan? The presents she brings back!!!

The Gyp approves.

Kitchen Dog treats... like little maki sushi, with seaweed!

Plenty of interest...

Tay never met a treat-spewing dog toy he didn't like!

Locked and loaded...

Fire away! When you pull the lever, treats shoot 8-10' away!

Sweet Felted Shibas

2012-01-13T21:15:00.000-06:00

The other present from Madel was a kit to make two lil' wool-felted Shiba Inu cell phone straps! It goes so well with the kit Patty brought back for me last year. So thankful that I learned how to felt this fall... can't wait to make these guys!

Before & After

2012-01-12T18:12:00.002-06:00

This is me with my sad Blackberry Curve.
(Why yes, that IS tape holding the trackball in!)

And this is me with the iPhone 4s I received today... YAY!!!
(Now if I only knew how to use it... Stay tuned!)

But there is a downside...

iPhone 4s Photo

2012-01-12T17:34:00.005-06:00

Gyp approves of the new iPhone!

Not sure how to work the camera yet... so far I'm getting a bunch of blurry shots... yet, already better than my old Blackberry! And now for the Instagram version. I love you, iPhone...

All smiles here!

2012-01-11T21:31:00.002-06:00

We're having our first real snow of the season. Hoping that Denver is getting some fresh pow too! Just picked up my freshly-tuned snowboard yesterday (ground/filled/waxed) and can't wait to use it!!!

Adorable snowman faces!

2012-01-09T13:56:00.002-06:00

Anne's son, Will, whipped up these cookies for Amy's first day. They are nearly as charming as Will himself! :)

I still draw occasionally

2012-01-09T10:49:00.002-06:00

Too occasionally. Hoping to amp up the art in 2012. Be more creative & inspired, have more fun, experiment, draw up a storm! A good resolution for the new year, no?

Starting today. I quickly sketched up this welcome note for a brand-new team member. (I was so excited about her coming in today that I could hardly sleep last night!)

LOLwls

2012-01-08T20:35:00.002-06:00

Some funnies courtesy of icanhascheezburger...

Who you callin' turkey?

2012-01-08T15:46:00.000-06:00

The turkey vulture was especially proud and showy, changing poses frequently. Much more charming than you might expect a vulture to be!

Her beak curves up like a huge, menacing smile

"Hey, kid—you want some candy?"

A Great, Great Blue Heron

2012-01-08T12:23:00.000-06:00

After stalking the snowy owl by the boat ramp for a while, Joni instructed me how to effectively approach a great blue heron at the end of the dock. These guys are quite shy if approached too quickly. We were able to get some decent shots before he swiftly flew across the water:

At Last, the Owl!

2012-01-08T10:28:00.000-06:00

Okay, it wasn't the super-mega-closeup I was hoping for, but the female over at the boat launch in Little Platte Park was much closer than the other owls were... I wished I'd had a camera with more than 20x zoom, but was surprised that my photos turned out better than I expected: she's more than a little white blob! HOORAY!!!

The marina and boat ramp

Joni spots the owl

YAWWWW~N!

Suddenly she becomes more alert, puffs up, then starts preening:

bars on the owl, bars on the water

Snowy Owl, is that You?

2012-01-08T10:07:00.000-06:00

A secret no longer...

Every few years (I just learned), snowy owls descend from the Arctic tundra in search of food, as lemmings become scarce. Joni alerted me that the owls had been spotted in our area, and we spent most of this weekend tracking them down. Ah, the thrill of the hunt! (Don't worry, we were hunting with our cameras.)

While we weren't lucky enough to see them up close, we did see two of them on Saturday, and all three of them today. I took a few photos of what mostly look like white blobs, but having seen the incredible birds through binoculars and high-powered scopes (Swarovski, no less!), at least the photos will help me remember the experience. I'm very grateful to Joni for spending her whole weekend with me, chasing these guys around Smithville. (And Brett says they've been spotted at Clinton Lake, too... ROAD TRIP!!!)
The females appear darker due to the more plentiful black bars on their feathers, and the males are snowy-white. The owls have the utmost patience, sitting for hours in the same spot, calmly spinning their head from side to side, and sleepily opening their eyes and yawning occasionally.
This was the scene Saturday at dusk, on the dam, with a male perched on the sign:

That's him on the sign. Trust me.

And this was the same location on Sunday morning, with a juvenile sitting among the rocks. There was a male on the larger rocks headed towards the dam, too:

That's his little white head popping up in the center. I swear.

See the next post for the main event... we got a tip that the female was over at the boat launch in Little Platte Park...

And then there's this beauty...

2012-01-07T20:59:00.022-06:00

This lil' lady deserves her own post... barn owls look pretty strange at first, but the longer I watched her, the more captivated I became. Absolutely gorgeous—almost too stunning to be real! I was lucky that she was perched near a window, and the natural light shone through her golden and white feathers and gave her a ghostly glow. Too bad about the drink cup, emergency panel, etc... but not too bad nonetheless! She was quite animated and struck some great poses for me. Lucky me!

In this species, males are more white overall, and females are more golden. Barn owls look a bit strange at first, but the longer I observed her, the more captivated I became. Truly a work of art on wings!

Heeeeeere's... Asher!

2012-01-07T20:59:00.020-06:00

This was actually surprisingly suave for a puppy...

Joni caught a still shot of the goofball in action:

To which we say:

The most captivating owl of the bunch

2012-01-07T20:51:00.017-06:00

Meet the Eurasian eagle owl. He's large, he's in charge, and he has 1,001 different expressions... Most of which look charmingly disapproving. It's the look that says, "Don't even think about messing with me."
Owls are remarkably patient, and when Joni and I started photographing this guy we began to feel foolish... after over a minute, no motion. The joke's on us: we were photographing a taxidermy specimen, right?! Then suddenly, his head turned, which surprised us. We had ourselves convinced that he must be stuffed.

These are how I KNOW that Archimedes in Disney's "The Sword and the Stone" was modeled after a Eurasian eagle owl:

Despite the vigorous shake, his legs are perfectly still & in focus. Amazing strength and steadiness in those talons! I'd hate to be his prey!

"Good day, sir." (Pause) "I said GOOD DAY, SIR!"

Actually, Disney is famous for bringing live animals into the studios for the animators to observe and draw from life, to make their characters more authentic. Like this classic image of Frank Thomas with a deer:

The cutest raptor of all

2012-01-07T20:20:00.000-06:00

American kestrel: kind of like a cockatiel.

A deadly, deadly cockatiel.

Her:

Him:

In Rapture Over Raptors

2012-01-07T19:37:00.003-06:00

Here are a few shots I took at the "Eagle Days" event up in Smithville, held at the Paradise Pointe Golf Course. Although these were taken indoors, they turned out surprisingly well. What an opportunity—to appreciate these incredible creatures right up close!

Mississippi Kite:

Spectacled owl:

"Hmph."

"Why, I NEVER!

Golden eagle:

Eastern screech owl:

Broad-winged hawk:

Bald eagle:

Snowy Owls

2012-01-06T21:59:00.008-06:00

My friend Joni saw snowy owls yesterday... In MISSOURI! I wanted to play hooky & go with her, but I chickened out. (Which is unfortunate, because owls love chickens!) She said, "I don't even know if I'll see them." But I just knew she would. And she did! Lucky girl. Coincidentally, tonight I flipped over last year's Charley Harper calendar to find... SNOWY OWLS!

A quick Google image search turned up some other great owl & raptor images like the ones below, as well as this other fun site with many others. Owls are, and have been, in vogue and as an artist and designer, it's easy to see why.

Paper Source plush owl

Plaza Lights

2012-01-06T19:21:00.003-06:00

A pretty night on the Plaza, and I planned to walk and shop after getting my hair cut tonight. Little did I know, all the shops were closed by 7 pm Friday! If retail is suffering, don't blame me. My cute new haircut & I were trying to help.

Sweet Treat

2012-01-06T15:02:00.002-06:00

Walked over to Crown Center for lunch, & they still have the huge (real!) gingerbread village on display. It hasn't felt much like Christmas this year, with no tree, no family, and few presents (Santa delivered them to Ohio!), but this made me smile.

Eyes in my closet

2012-01-05T22:32:00.002-06:00

This pretty well scared the *h* out of me when I opened the closet doors to put my shoes away! Well, hello, Gyppy!

There must be a secret

2012-01-05T04:54:00.002-06:00

There must be a secret cat law that says all vomiting must occur in the 4 o'clock hour... Two mornings in a row. (And little do I know it, but tomorrow will make three.) Sigh.

If it pleases the queen...

2012-01-02T19:00:00.009-06:00

Allyson just told me that she bought her kitty, Lacey, a new fleece (dog) bed for Christmas, and Lacey has hardly stepped out of it ever since. I was beaming when I read it: so sweet! And it reminded me of something similar that my cats have done:

In Atom's last few months, he got really bold about stealing the dogs' beds, and I frequently spotted him curled up into a tiny ball in the middle of their big beds, with the dogs nervously shuffling around, afraid to disturb him to reclaim their spot. It made me so happy for him to take charge.

Similarly, recently Gypsy has said "screw your rules" and is now spending the majority of her time lounging on the dining room table, where the cats had never been allowed before. I willingly gave in, in an attempt to coax her to eat, and now her bowls are right in the middle. Who cares... as long as the queen is pleased! :)

A Hike to Kick off 2012

2012-01-01T23:27:00.004-06:00

It's official: my dogs are spoiled. I mean, even more than usual. Today we took our third hike with Joni in a week's time: first Shawnee Mission Park with Renee, then Weston Bend State Park with Susan, and now Clinton Lake State Park with Sara & Sean! Although today felt cold compared to yesterday's 65 degree temps, the sun made it feel more than the 45 actual degrees, and the wind felt refreshingly cool. And although the KC area received rain & hail last night, the trails out west were mercifully dry. Overall, a gorgeous New Year's Day. It was nice to see the ol' George Latham trail again.

Today we answered the question, "How many people & canines
can you stuff into a 17-year-old Blazer?" (5 of each)

Turns out 5 adults & 5 canines fit! Although tight it was actually comfortable... until Taylor started farting. (I think the look on my face says it all... I'm fading!!!)

Hi Kippy!

I think he likes me.

Alan and Sean talking about... oh hell, I dunno. My mind was foggy with Taylor gassing us out in the backseat!

Aki climbed right up onto Sara's lap (and ended up sleeping on her for half the drive)!

Random teepee! For the record, we did not peepee in the teepee.

Cute shot of Sara, Sean, Kip, Asher & Wager

Family photo: Alan, Joni, Kip, Wager & Asher

Latham, Lathan... Hey, if George doesn't mind, who am I to correct them?

Posing on the rock wall

Turns out I don't have Joni's gift for getting so many people & animals to pose all at once!

Mr. Tay looking good in the winter sun... love that red undercoat!

Mr. Tay wanted to get into that water SO badly, it was difficult to get him to hold still!

Aki & Tay

Joni & Asher

Joni, Asher & Alan

The Shibas were too excited to see what's ahead, and crowding poor Joni on the trail...

Pretty sunset, leaving long tree shadows

The sun looks star-shaped through those trees!

Joni, Alan & the pups heading back to the car

"Mom, it's past dinnertime. Can we head home already, please?"

Border pile in the back... so cute!

Found a few riders on my pack when I got home. Better on that than on the dogs!

Joni spoiled me again by cooking up a great New Year's feast to help us warm up when we returned. While the five dogs snoozed around our feet (my Shibas took about 3 seconds to make themselves at home!), we had pork roast with black-eyed peas (for good luck!), cheesy potato casserole, carrot soufflé, and fresh cornbread. And more of her yummy dessert, with blueberries this time! I feel like a real member of the Godsy household, and am so grateful for the fun time spent with their family for Christmas, New Year's, and in-between!

Rude Awakening

2012-01-01T09:28:00.003-06:00

"Feed me now, or I'll get the belt."

I'm taking it as a good sign that The Gyp is now waking me up to demand her breakfast! She ate almost a full ONE AND A HALF CANS of food today, plus a little dry food. This is huge news, and I couldn't be happier! (I did stack the deck by crushing up freeze-dried salmon and sprinkling it on top of her canned food, but all's fair in love & bribing your pets.

Happy 2012 & Much Luck in the New Year!

2012-01-01T00:28:00.000-06:00

"More toys!" "More hikes!" "More Filet-O-Fish Sammiches!"

Here's to more of whatever you like in 2012! :)

Ginny gave me an XL fortune cookie just to make sure.

NYE 2011

2011-12-31T23:08:00.001-06:00

Today has been productive, but not fun, per se. I've been on the phone with my cable company debating options, then online much of the day researching how to ditch cable TV altogether. Apple TV, Roku, or just hook my laptop up to the TV? Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, or all of the above? Too many choices. But I'd love to toast saving over $100/month in 2012!

Here's to 2012... which has already started in New York City. I have fun plans for tomorrow to kick the new year off right...

Happy Birthday + Merry Christmas to Me!

2011-12-31T21:55:00.002-06:00

The board that I ordered just arrived, and though these low-light pictures clearly don't do it justice, I am SO. FREAKING. EXCITED. It's even nicer than I remembered! I can't wait to not ride it!!!

Random Adorable Photos

2011-12-31T21:13:00.004-06:00

Gypsy on New Year's Eve, feeling spunky and claiming the dining room table as hers

She has claimed the adjacent stools as well

Aki curled up with me on the couch

So relaxed, her tail uncurled!

Taylor looking coy

Right after a bath... the second in just three days!

Despite my pleas, Gyp refused to eat the entire Filet-O'-Fish that I got just for her

All-out food assault: I literally tried everything* to get her eating again!
(*dry food, more dry food, canned food, chicken baby food, turkey baby food,
real rotisserie chicken, real turkey breast, dry food soaked in water,
Three Dog Bakery freeze-dried salmon treats,
dry food soaked in homemade chicken stock, tuna fish, shrimp, sirloin steak, pork,
McDonald's Filet-O'-Fish, and Sara Lee additive-free chicken lunch meat.)

Modeling this year's awesome red Nite Ize collars from Kelley & Eric,
and last year's white LEDs from Madeline
(we ran 3.5 miles in the dark tonight to try them out!)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good nap!

Happy Birthday, Lil' Attie!

2011-12-31T12:06:00.002-06:00

My lil' guy would have turned 13 years old today, had his life not been cut short by kidney disease. Gypsy and I still miss him and think about him every day. Her health took a turn for the worse right after we lost her friend, and I don't believe it's pure coincidence. I'm just starting to feel like I've nursed her back to a new normalcy, after nine days of attentive care.
And the dogs? Well, dogs are dogs. They're a little clueless about everything but dinnertime.
We miss you, buddy! Hope there's an endless supply of salmon treats and mice to chase, wherever you are!

Guess what I'm playing...

2011-12-30T20:18:00.003-06:00

Hint: it has triumphant Taiko drums:

Watermelon-seed-spitting contests:

And stacks of Shiba Inu snatching helicopters:

And, oh yeah, it's so loud it sends all the pets scattering.
たいこの達人 (Taiko Drum Master)!

Great Horned Owl

2011-12-29T22:10:00.000-06:00

I was following Joni on the way home from the hike, and she unexpectedly pulled over, telling me that she thought she had seen a owl on the side of the road. So we turned back and pulled safely over to the side of Highway 45, got out and crossed the street. From a distance I could see the telltale "horns" sticking up from the dead grasses. The owl flopped around, flailing its wings clumsily and tried to escape. The poor thing. As Joni noted, its wing bent the wrong direction—a serious, compound fracture. I took these photos from my lousy Blackberry-cam, which struggles in low light:

And Joni got this one with her camera:

The owl glared at us as we stood there and marveled at its stunning, barred feathers, fuzzy "horns" and clear, brilliant eyes. It blinked slowly and softly, and I couldn't get over how much it looked like a cat—it really reminded me of Atom! Its talons were surprisingly large for the size of the bird, and looked fuzzy. Joni said these guys are called "the tiger of the sky" due to their ferocity. It was quieter now; perhaps because it realized we weren't there to eat it. The larger question was, were we there to rescue it?

We debated for a few minutes. We'd have to safely catch it and get it into Joni's dog crate, keep it alive overnight, then deliver it to OWL (Operation Wildlife) tomorrow. Would it even make it that long? One eye now opened wider than the other, and the owl's life seemed to be draining away.

Ultimately it was Joni's realization that convinced us to leave it where it was, so that nature could take its course. It would probably be eaten by a coyote. But the alternative—due to the severely broken wing—would be a life in captivity, at best. And that didn't seem to suit this noble, beautiful, and thoroughly wild creature. It wasn't an easy decision, given the extent to which both Joni and I are animal lovers. But it was the right one.

I followed her home, and we both independently enjoyed the quiet contemplation of the harsh reality of nature, accompanied by a strikingly gorgeous sunset.

Another 3 Chicks + 7 Canines Hike!

2011-12-29T20:35:00.000-06:00

This afternoon, I met up with Joni and her friend, Susan, at Weston Bend State Park for a hike with Wager, Kip, Asher, Louie, Sanda, and of course, Aki and Taylor. I forgot my camera (the horror!) so I was restricted to the use of my Blackberry. Still, I managed to get a couple of fun shots of our gang:

the pack spreading out on the trail

the pups fall in line

everyone begs Susan for a post-hike refreshment

The following photos are Joni Johnson-Godsy's:

Believe it or not, the Shibas are hidden at the center of the crowd; first in line!

Wager (aka Pawsome) and me

Wager strikes a pose; everyone else ignores the camera in favor of treats

SUSHI! SUSHI! SUSHI!

2011-12-28T23:03:00.000-06:00

Renee invited Joni and me to see "War Horse" with her and Joe tonight, and we met at Sushi House for dinner first. We were lucky to get one of the private rooms with the sliding doors, so we could laugh as hard as we wanted without disturbing the rest of the dining room. We put away teriyaki salmon, rare steak with yuzu, and several different delicious rolls. Oishii!

We had some extra time, so we walked over to Picasso Aquatics to scare the fish with our fish breath. It's like a mini aquarium over there!
After marveling over the fish, we walked back over to see the horse movie. It was good; I liked the battle scenes the best. The horse part was less realistic and had Spielberg's characteristic sentimentality, which didn't detract from the experience, but it did make it feel more like a movie for kids. And fortunately, we're all big kids. Thanks, guys!

招き猫「MANEKI NEKO!」

2011-12-28T20:31:00.002-06:00

My dear Gypsy has begun to eat again after a week of feeling puny and dropping significant weight. I was so afraid I was going to lose her suddenly! But she seems to be back to her spunky self, though I'm still having to put out fresh food all the time to entice her, rotate different foods frequently, and monitor how much she's eating. Here's a cute video where she demonstrates how lucky she is (with the added cuteness of her crocheted doppelgänger!)

Love this sign at Eggtc.

2011-12-28T09:45:00.002-06:00

Only Me...

2011-12-28T01:45:00.032-06:00

So here's a problem: got home from a late movie with Joni, Renee and Joe. As Joni and I were talking, I let the dogs out. We chatted for a bit, and then I went to bring the dogs in so I could go to bed (it was 12:40 am by that point). I went to the back door, and Taylor was eagerly waiting to come in. No Aki. Hmmm....

I called several times, and it was silent outside, with no sign of her. I stepped onto the deck and looked around, calling. No Aki. "I bet she's caught another wild animal," I thought.

Since the floodlights only illuminate the north side of my yard, I went into the house to get a flashlight and a warmer coat. Back to the yard. As I approached the south side, I heard a faint rustling. I was frankly creeped out, so I went back in the house and made Taylor come out with me. If there was a person or wild animal out there, I'd be able to tell from his reaction. He showed no fear, but acted a little nervous, like he anticipated that someone was going to get in trouble. He was right.

As I scanned the fence line with the flashlight, I found a small hole dug under the fence... and suddenly an Aki face appeared, from THE OTHER SIDE of the fence! She tried frantically to fit back through, but given the angle of the hole and the pitch, she couldn't. She was trapped in the neighbors' yard. How was I going to get her out???

All the neighbors' lights were off... it was after 1:00 am, and they were fast asleep. I went into the front yard and confirmed that the gate on their privacy fence was locked. What to do? Aki wasn't wearing her collar and ID since she just had a bath. She was naked. She was bound to be cold; her coat is thin and the temperature was dropping quickly. She couldn't spend the night out there alone. Should I throw a blanket over the fence? If she had to spend the night outside, I was fairly sure the neighbors would recognize her as mine when they woke up and found her. But their big dog, Sammy, was vicious with other dogs, and if they let Sammy out without seeing Aki, it could be very bad news. What to do??
I could hear Aki frantically running up & down the fence line, trying to find a way back. Would she dig another hole through which she could return? Ultimately I resigned myself to leave her out there. I couldn't wake up the neighbors at 1:00 am! Aki was going to learn a very tough lesson. I came inside, walked upstairs, changed into my PJs and went to bed.
As I was lying awake in bed feeling guilty that my baby was possibly freezing to death outside, it struck me that I wasn't sure that the neighbors' privacy fence went all the way around their yard. I threw my coat over my PJs and went back out front with the flashlight, quietly jogging down the sidewalk and into the neighbors' driveway. Sure enough, it was a chain link on the other side of their house, & the gate was unlocked!
I had to get Aki's attention without waking anyone, since their bedroom was now directly over me. I didn't want them to mistake me for a prowler and call the police! I whispered as loudly as I could. "Aki? AH-KIII!" I had to call several times before she oriented herself and realized where I was.
Aki was promptly collected, the gate closed, and I carried her back into the house. She was appropriately scolded for being a troublemaker, then hugged & snuggled because I was so happy to get her back without incident.
I sometimes think I exist just to provide comic relief to others...

My horoscope made me do it

2011-12-26T20:35:00.004-06:00

The Radiant 2010 by Salomon

Today's horoscope says, "Treat yourself to something you want that you didn't get." And I'm sure it meant to say somethingS, so I bought myself an electric-yellow snowboarding coat so I can be easily spotted on the slopes, and an equally-awesome new animal-themed board. (I feel slightly less guilty since they were both heavily-discounted, and will be happily enjoyed.)

Now, if I were completely out of control, I also would have purchased the following two awesomely-designed boards. (Lord, please grant me the strength to resist...) It is a really, REALLY bad idea for artists to become snowboarders... these things are real works of art!

b
Bataleon Violenza 2012 (maybe it will go on sale in 2013?)

The Coda 2012 by Arbor shows off gorgeous bamboo with a Japanese motif

3 Chicks + 7 Canines

2011-12-26T19:11:00.001-06:00

Renee invited Joni and me (and our associated canines) for a hike at Shawnee Mission Park this afternoon. Great fun was had by all, which included: Renee, Rosie & Boo; Joni, Wager, Kip & Asher; myself, Aki & Taylor. 45 degrees is great for a late December day, but it's a little cold for swimming! Didn't stop the dogs!!! (Other than Aki, who clearly must be the smartest of the bunch.)

This is what a very happy Shiba looks like!

Bordermobile

Shibamobile

Muttmobile

No Leftovers Leftover

2011-12-26T18:54:00.001-06:00

I've just polished off the last of my leftovers from all the cooking I've done over the last few days, plus my birthday Thai leftovers. And I'm feeling very much in "vacation mode" and not so much in "cooking mode." Hurry, someone take me out to eat!!!

Joni's Holiday Photos

2011-12-26T12:45:00.000-06:00

Here are a few more from Joni's side of the lens... Asher really isn't that big, but he sure looks HUGE when I hold him!!!

Santa-Wager

Spoiled by Santa

2011-12-26T11:15:00.000-06:00

Aki's favorite wiffle ball has seen better days, so on Christmas Eve I sneaked out to Dick's Sporting Goods for some replacements. I didn't intend for the dogs to have them all at once, but the bag tore open and suddenly the living room was full of them. Tay liked it. I think they're maybe a touch spoiled.

And Another Thing...

2011-12-25T23:06:00.000-06:00

....that makes me insanely happy: when the people who have adopted my foster dogs give me updates! I really look forward to fostering again someday, once the craziness of my own life has subsided.
Here is Raven, my most recent foster, and the Montgomery's. I ran into them at Shawnee Mission Park weeks ago, and was so thrilled to see how happy they were. I bet this photo made their Christmas card:

LOVE this pic of Marissa & Raven!!!

And here are Swifty and Scooter (Scooter is the lil' black and tan puppy I fostered this spring). David works at Hallmark, and I last saw him & his girls at Hallmark. Since Taylor was with me, it was a black & tan doppelgänger reunion! Clearly David loves Scooter as much as I did, and her sister Swifty does too!

Renee and her family adopted Rosie & Boo from The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City and they have been our hiking and camping buddies. Proof that perfect dogs can come from anywhere... all they need is the right family to love them.

Christmas with the Godsy's

2011-12-25T22:20:00.003-06:00

Joni and Alan generously invited me over to their home today for Christmas dinner with Alan's family. And four Border Collies. And a weenie. (Can you imagine if I had smuggled the Shibas in there? Hello, chaos! But the five dogs were well-behaved and had a blast.)

Joni was my second supervisor at Hallmark, nearly 14 years ago, when I was still painting in season kids' cards. We hit it off due to our love of animals, the outdoors, and artwork, and sometimes I think we might actually be related...

I brought the Santa hat & reindeer antlers that I picked up for the Hallmark photo shoot, and they were a big hit with the Borders. Joni and I both whipped out our cameras to catch the fun...

Kayla rocked the antlers like she was born with 'em!

Lil' Asher finally acquiesced to wearing the hat. Good boy!

Happy Mr. Wager is 12 years old, but handsome as ever!

Little Snoopy is tuckered out! (Look at his cute back legs!)

Aww, the guys look tuckered out too. Chili coma! :)

Joni made delicious homemade chipotle chili, cheddar-jalapeno-cornbread muffins, and green bean casserole. All was so good... and especially the cream cheesy-cherry dessert. Yum! Everything was perfect: a fun, low-key, food-filled, laugh-filled, pet-filled holiday afternoon with bright sunlight streaming in the windows. They welcomed me as if I were family. Proof that even when things don't go as planned (Christmas in Ohio), good surprises await. Thanks, Joni!

The More, The Merrier!

2011-12-25T22:11:00.008-06:00

A few more photos that I forgot to download the first time around!

Sun's setting... better get ready to guide Santa's sleigh!

Captive audience

Who's wearing that hat? NOT ME!!!

Best Gift Ever: A Glimmer of Hope

2011-12-25T08:08:00.004-06:00

Miss Gyp ate almost a full can of tuna today. And a few small bites of the pork I cooked for dinner last night, a dollop of chicken baby food, and a handful of Three Dog Bakery's salmon treats. It's not the best food for her kidney disease, and it's not enough to sustain her, but it's progress, & I'll take whatever I can get. She has been spoiled all her life and I'll take that to whatever level is necessary to keep her happy and as healthy as possible. I can't begin to describe the joy I have from watching her eat. It really is the little things, isn't it? A good reminder to enjoy every moment. Hoping she'll be purring on my lap for a long, long time.
I also appreciate the excellent care and attention from Dr. Rad, my vet at Red Bridge Animal Clinic. He has been calling me every day to check in on Gyp. This week he gave me his cell phone number so I could call him over the holiday if I had questions, and he even called this afternoon. It makes me feel SO good to know that her doc cares about her as much as I do.

Since I didn't get to see my family this birthday/holiday, I only received a few (wonderful) gifts that had been shipped directly to me. And although I appreciate everything, there really is no better gift this year than the gift of time with my pets and my friends. I had at least seven generous invitations for Christmas Day dinner, and more for Christmas Eve. Kelly & I went to Hot Basil for birthday Thai food on the 23rd. We went all-out—soft spring rolls, egg rolls, crab rangoon, tiger cry steak, pad Thai, and Thai fried rice—and I'm still enjoying the leftovers!.
Michele treated me to lunch at North with Hazel and Jasper yesterday. Hazel was drawing for me, and Jasper treated me like a human jungle gym (which I love). I'm reminded of the time he asked his parents, "Is Jen a kid or a grown-up?" That's some good ambiguity!

Jasper & Hazel helped me blow out my birthday candle...

And were happy to help me eat my treat: butterscotch sweet creme with sea salt!

Renee contacted me today to invite me, the Shibas; Joni, Wager, Kip & Asher; and Brett and Sam to go hiking at Shawnee Mission Park tomorrow afternoon. All of it adds up to me being very grateful for my Kansas City "family."
Hallmark's brand campaign this year, "Life is a special occasion," inspires me to treasure the little moments and appreciate the good in life. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Sugarplums? No.

2011-12-25T07:51:00.003-06:00

The Shibas were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of squirrels danced in their heads... Murderous visions of naughty squirrels! Zzz... Merry Christmas!!!

Joy to the Gyp

2011-12-24T17:32:00.001-06:00

Maneki neko to all, and to all a good night!!!

Long Story Short.

2011-12-23T12:30:00.000-06:00

Vet called this morning to say that Gyp has cancer. (And that's on top of kidney disease and subcutaneous emphysema.) I'm not going to put her through exploratory surgery, more tests, chemo, or anything else. Just trying to get her to eat. Happy friggin' birthday.

Santa's Little Helper

2011-12-23T11:25:00.000-06:00

"I'll help you put the groceries away... In my belly!"

Happy Birthday to me from...

2011-12-23T08:29:00.003-06:00

My favorite rap stars!

Kittylove

2011-12-22T20:58:00.002-06:00

For more than three weeks I've spent the evenings sitting in the family room with Gyp snoozing on my lap, and I've often slept on the couch rather than disturb her. So sweet.

Birthday Eve

2011-12-22T20:50:00.001-06:00

My awesome staff surprised me with a ton of treats this morning! They were all waiting in my office to surprise me as I walked in from the vet's office. After having received poor news about Gypsy, making me realize that I was going to have to cancel my plane ticket to stay home & care for her, eat the $180 airline fee, and worse--disappoint my family, and spend my birthday and Christmas alone. So, of course, as they joyously wished me a Happy Birthday, I did the only natural thing: I burst into tears. And not just little tears, more like rolling-down-the-cheeks, choking, racking my body tears. Hey, I'd held it together all morning, and it was all I could handle.
Later I was able to compose myself & thank everyone, and of course I really did appreciate it, I just wish it could have been under entirely happy circumstances. The best I can hope for is Bittersweet Birthday this year.

Dear Lord, please give me a friggin' BREAK!

2011-12-21T22:37:00.000-06:00

Gypsy seemed to be improving since her teeth were extracted last Friday morning. Little by little, she has started eating again, to my relief. And then about 30 minutes ago, while she was contentedly snoozing and purring on my lap, I noticed something very strange. As I rubbed her neck, it felt like her skin was loose, with air beneath it. It felt crinkly like a paper bag, and I can literally hear it crinkling. I've never heard of anything like it, so I called my vet to leave a message, letting them know I plan to stop by first thing in the morning.
As I continued rubbing her (and she continued to purr... she didn't seem upset or in pain), I began to worry that this might be something more serious, and called the emergency vet. I knew they'd be reluctant to discuss her condition over the phone, and I had to talk them into letting me speak with a vet tech. Finally, the receptionist acquiesced, and I spoke with Julie.
Julie said it sounded strange, and the only thing she'd heard of like it would be subcutaneous emphysema, in which the trachea is torn during a procedure, allowing air to leak under the skin. She didn't think this was likely since it has been nearly a week since the extraction, but after we hung up, I got more suspicious. I think Julie might have been exactly right!
So now I'm here trying to make a decision: since Gypsy is acting normal, do I try to hold out 'til tomorrow morning? Or rush her to the e-vet now? I'm banking on the former, mostly because I have little left in the bank from the 3 trips to the e-vet I've already made this year, for other pets. If she seems in pain or starts struggling in any way, I'll be in the car in a heartbeat. But I'm holding out hope for the time being...

A combo that's weird...

2011-12-21T19:47:00.001-06:00

Weirdly delicious, that is! Asian pork with sweet & spicy roasted apple & mango, meet Britten's fontina & parsley mushrooms!

Maneki Neko!

2011-12-21T08:19:00.002-06:00

The tiny Gyppy clone has arrived, and we both love it!!! Thanks to Megan of nekonook and heykittykitty! Aaaand... check it out: Gyppy's famous!

Where's Sherlock Holmes when you need him?

2011-12-19T18:45:00.006-06:00

Q: What's this?

A: Not a scene you want to come home to.

Very curious about how my short little Taylor managed to get all the way up on my countertop and pull down a full plate of mint-chocolate-chocolate chip cookies & a piece of Mary Ann's Texas sheet cake that was way back against the wall. (But I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since I myself scaled a 10-12' wall in the Ruckus.) This boy's back legs are like coiled springs.
Hitting this height is a new low for him... And this is the THIRD dish he has broken recently in his gluttonous pursuits. This was my favorite sushi-serving platter, so I put the dogs right outside & am leaving them out (yes, in the pouring rain!) to prevent me from breaking THEM into little pieces...
This little incident has unequivocally proven that chocolate is both a stimulant and an aphrodisiac for dogs. Because Taylor has been a total spaz all night, howling, whining, pouncing, throwing toys, and then following Aki around, humping her until she gets pissed off and roars & snaps at him, then once she settles... coming back for another round. It was a LONG night! And Taylor woke me up periodically, getting into things and chewing them up.

I swear to Dog that IF I ever have children, they will NOT be eating any sugar, because my nerves can't handle any more than a hopped-up Shiba Inu. He is a TERROR!!!

Catching Up...

2011-12-19T08:07:00.004-06:00

That's me on the far left, Brett on the right. Not to scale.

I finally uploaded the videos of snowboarding in Lake Tahoe... photos coming soon (I hope)!

Dinner Experiment

2011-12-18T20:50:00.002-06:00

Some of dishes that Britten concocted last night inspired me to come up with my own version tonight, so I stopped at Trader Joe's this afternoon to procure the ingredients. Roasted pork cutlets with sweet & spicy chili sauce and matchstick Granny Smith apple & mango (this would make a great wrap with Romaine lettuce too); fresh tofu with ginger-soy gyoza dressing, and purple potato latkes with spicy peanut sauce. For dessert, Mary Ann's homemade Texas sheet cake. Kinda fun to play without a playbook and cross your fingers, and everything was soooo good... I'll make this one again for sure!
Reminds me of a quote I read this week that I love, from one of my favorite chefs, who just happens to be local. And a genius: "Expectations are the death of pure experience." — Jonathan Justus

Temptation, thy name is Flatlanders

2011-12-18T17:41:00.002-06:00

Dropped off my board to get a full tune-up, with the Swix F4 wax Brett recommended. (FYI, Brett, if this stuff is too fast & I break my neck, I'm breaking yours too, buddy!) And while I was waiting for the guys to give me an ETA, I was talking to Lindsey (who remembered my NAME—and I haven't seen her since at least March or April! Surprisingly, the guy in the back remembered me from when I came in to buy my boots & bindings. Talk about customer service!), and she recommended some small ski resorts, Chestnut in Illinois, and Sundown in Iowa. And she's holding a coat for me that I think will please my ski buddies... it's BRIGHT yellow-green. And it's on super sale. And I don't really need it, but I WANT it.... darn you, Flatlanders!!! Why must you be awesome???

Dogs 101

2011-12-18T09:46:00.003-06:00

We just returned from our Sunday morning run (almost 4 miles), and Dogs 101 just so happens to be showing a special on best breeds for active lifestyles. As you can see, Aki is completely enthralled by the story on the Shiba Inu! And rightfully so: my dogs have run over 160 miles with me since February this year. Small but mighty, these guys are awesome athletes, and I'm thrilled that they were one of just a few breeds mentioned. (We get the funniest looks from drivers as we run by like a miniature sled team, with Tay out in front, dragging me, dragging Aki!)

A Very Britten Christmas

2011-12-17T23:47:00.001-06:00

Britten's annual birthday/Christmas party was tonight, and she outdid herself by whipping up about 1000 different incredible homemade appetizers on the spot. My favorites may have been the bacon-wrapped baked potatoes with spicy peanut sauce...

I learned how to make potato latkes and got to pitch in. Chocolate croissants, hot brie toasts, crab puffs, artichoke dip, fontina-stuffed mushrooms, mango salsa, homemade flour de sel caramels, sangria, wine, mead... I think I consumed at least 18,000 calories! She and Rich are great hosts and we had a blast. (Rich was in rare form, wearing his Santa hat and cracking me up with crazy cop stories.)

Maybe next time we'll try out her birthday gift from one of her students: yogarrific gingerbread cookies!

Actually, this baker's site where the cookie cutters can be purchased is very cool, too. Love this dog cake!

Nekonook

2011-12-17T14:46:00.000-06:00

Since I taught Gypsy to make the "maneki neko" gesture on command years ago, I've been enchanted by the Japanese symbol of luck-bringing. So when I ran across Megan's crochet work in her Etsy shop, Nekonook, I thought commissioning a custom kitty from her would be a great tribute to my dear friend. I don't have it yet, but it has just been completed & shipped, so I'm VERY excited to see it in person! it reminds me so much of Lil' Attie, too...

Happy to be Annoyed

2011-12-17T12:40:00.002-06:00

Paws off my pizza, lady!

I've never been so happy to have Gyp climbing over me to steal my food (in this case, Spin Pizza... With Italian sausage, Granny Smith apples and candied pecans. Not exactly what you'd expect a cat to beg for!)
She is doing a bit better this morning, after having to have two more teeth extracted yesterday. (Due to cavities and an abscess. She has very few teeth left at this point. The anesthetic hit her really hard; she was having trouble recovering from it, and even 24+ hours after the procedure is having some trouble getting around.

But for the first time in a week, she wanted to eat and actually ate a decent amount of chicken baby food, canned k/d, and some freshly-cooked turkey breast that my angel, Mary Ann, brought over today. She surprised me by showing up with a bunch of turkey that she bought just for Gypsy, and presents for all of us. Incredibly thoughtful and kind... she really made me count my blessings today!

Really enjoying the turkey!!!

Gypsy has been with me for 15 years & counting, and I'm sure hoping we'll get several more great years together! Honestly, when it comes to Christmas and my birthday, having her happy and healthy would be the best and most cherished gift I could ever ask for. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

— Jen & The Gyp

Snoozing after a good meal

Goooood Dogs

2011-12-15T22:43:00.002-06:00

Today's photo shoot went very well; I was very proud of how well my pups behaved (even staying put on some quite small, lightweight cardboard boxes covered in giftwrap). They performed like champs and hardly ever tried to escape the studio, despite being forced to wear tight red & green-striped sweaters, ridiculous Santa hats, beards, & reindeer antlers. They had plenty of small treats to entice them, but I couldn't help but let them share a cupcake tonight too. They've come a long way from the untrained, unsocialized brats that I adopted 3 & 4 years ago. And they've taught me a lot, too.

The cider with my dog on the label

2011-12-15T20:33:00.001-06:00

Random Hallmark Moments: Shibas in Crown Center

2011-12-15T11:30:00.003-06:00

The pups have their photo shoot today, & they've been sleeping in the car all morning. So I took them for a quick tour of Crown Center & showed them the Mayor's Christmas tree.

"This is going to require a lot of pee. Anybody got a bowl of water?"

Oh, finally, we get to go in the building!

So this is an elevator, eh? Like it. I can see a lot of squirrels from here.

As far as the photo shoot itself, let's just say that the theme was Christmas (appropriately), and all three of us were dressed in ridiculous attire and asked to ham it up. It's going to be awesome... Thanks, Danielle!

Public Service Announcement

2011-12-15T06:51:00.000-06:00

My friend Andy sent me this great list of things to watch out for around the holidays, to keep your pets safe. Add poinsettia to the list of plants... they're poisonous too!

Yin & Yang.

2011-12-14T18:13:00.002-06:00

Or Frick & Frack.

Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum.

Flotsam & Jetsam.

They're feigning exhaustion from lack of food in an attempt to get dinner served up, pronto. Dorks!

Or... are they enjoying the sublime combination of simultaneous snoozing & butt-sniffing?

Life as an art form

Make Like a Groundhog

Off to the Races

Updated post for "Monsters of Rap"

Gone Shredding

POWDER DAY!!!

Photos from Breck & Vail

Happy Year of the Dragon!

Powder Day!!!

Make like an Ibex at Ibex

Funny Pets

Sunset Sushi

Best. Art. Ever.

Holiday Treats for All!

Sweet Felted Shibas

Before & After

iPhone 4s Photo

All smiles here!

Adorable snowman faces!

I still draw occasionally

LOLwls

Who you callin' turkey?

A Great, Great Blue Heron

At Last, the Owl!

Snowy Owl, is that You?

And then there's this beauty...

Heeeeeere's... Asher!

The most captivating owl of the bunch

The cutest raptor of all

In Rapture Over Raptors

Snowy Owls

Plaza Lights

Sweet Treat

Eyes in my closet

There must be a secret

If it pleases the queen...

A Hike to Kick off 2012

Rude Awakening

Happy 2012 & Much Luck in the New Year!

NYE 2011

Happy Birthday + Merry Christmas to Me!

Random Adorable Photos

Happy Birthday, Lil' Attie!

Guess what I'm playing...

Great Horned Owl

Another 3 Chicks + 7 Canines Hike!

SUSHI! SUSHI! SUSHI!

招き猫 「MANEKI NEKO!」

Love this sign at Eggtc.

Only Me...

My horoscope made me do it

3 Chicks + 7 Canines

No Leftovers Leftover

Joni's Holiday Photos

Spoiled by Santa

And Another Thing...

Christmas with the Godsy's

The More, The Merrier!

Best Gift Ever: A Glimmer of Hope

Sugarplums? No.

Joy to the Gyp

Long Story Short.

Santa's Little Helper

Happy Birthday to me from...

Kittylove

Birthday Eve

Dear Lord, please give me a friggin' BREAK!

A combo that's weird...

Maneki Neko!

Where's Sherlock Holmes when you need him?

Catching Up...

Dinner Experiment

Temptation, thy name is Flatlanders

Dogs 101

A Very Britten Christmas

Nekonook

Happy to be Annoyed

Goooood Dogs

The cider with my dog on the label

Random Hallmark Moments: Shibas in Crown Center

招き猫「MANEKI NEKO!」