Merry Christmas!!

My close friends and family know that I start thinking about my Christmas card in January. (ok well maybe not that early but March? Bless my friend Jami who does my cards because by the time Nov./Dec. comes around she is tired of talking about it. Jami...hope you know how much I appreciate your help. You are so talented at what you do and this years card shows that!)
I love sending out Christmas cards and have so much fun encorporating the dogs. Until the day I am blessed with a husband and children of my own, those dogs are my family! To some it might be silly but I hope when everyone gets my card, they smile. This year I think I did just that! Years ago I thought of using the words, Wishing you Love Laughter and Licks. Anyone who has met Bogey, knows he is a licker, so everytime we take our Christmas pictures, there is always atleast 1 where he is licking my face. Unfortunately those have always been VERY unattractive pictures of me! Not ones I wanted to share with 140 people! This year, naturally there were some pictures with him doing what he does best and it wasn't terrible of me. So I got to use my words!!
I had photos taken with Sara Nice from slice of nice photography. She is a photographer who mainly photographs pets so she was very patient and knew just how to get the dogs attention and and get them both to look at the camera at the same time! I am pleased with a lot of the pictures she took and will definitely use her again. I would recommend her to everyone!
Believe it or not, I already have some ideas for next year! This year will be hard to top though so I better keep my thinking cap on!

GHG Christmas

Last night the "Grayhawk Girls" (Meghan, Mitzi, Noelani,Toni, Singne and I) went over to Mitzi's for our little Christmas get together and to celebrate the Nov./Dec. birthdays of Toni and Noe. As usual we had a lot of fun and laughed a lot. Mitzi made a yummy dinner and even got out her nice china!! This year for a gift exchange we did a white elephant and brought things from our houses. It was so fun and I think we might have started a new tradition! Then as tradition has it now, we watched the 2009 video. I made the girls a video in 2007 of pictures of us from the year as a gift and surprise. Well now it is no surprise and it is just an expected thing. :) This year we watched all three, 2007, 2008 and then the new one this year from 2009. So fun to look at all the fun we have had over the years! I am blessed to have such good friends! Looking forward to more fun in 2010!!

Ho Ho Ho

Pictures with Santa in LAS VEGAS....enough said!

Run,Jog,Walk & Crawl

Saturday Mitzi and I drove to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon. We were signed up for last years race and Mitzi had an injury so we were able to have our entries transferred into this years race. We hit the road early Saturday morning and arrived in Vegas around 12:30. We hit the expo to pick up our race packets and then hit the rodeo expo next door. (The Las Vegas rodeo was in town and it was HUGE...lots of cowboys and country music playing everywhere. (I have decided I need to "get me a cowboy" but that is another story) We had an early dinner and went early to bed so we were well rested for the race.
The race started at 6:15 and it was COLD!!! Glad at the last minute I decided to throw in a long sleeved shirt or I would have been freezing. The race itself was cool. Fireworks at the starting line, lots of people and fun to run up and down the strip. (you don't realize how long the strip is though until you run from end to end and back!) I felt good up until mile 6 or so. At mile 8 I could really feel my blisters getting bad and by mile 10 I wish someone would put me out of my misery! I am so frustrated with these darn blisters!!! I don't understand why my feet get them ALL over. Seems noone can figure it out. After trying 5 different brands of shoes, different sizes, numerous types of socks, blister stickers, blister powder, duc tape, body glide, etc. I have given up! So this was my last race. I wish I had ended on a high note but after 5, 1/2 marathons and 3, full marathons I am hanging up the running shoes!
For so long I have had this desire to be a good runner and run a race and be able to finish and be happy with my time. That desire is now gone and I am happy with what I have accomplished and am onto something else. My mind is thinking triathlon?? Not as much running and I love swimming and biking and I think the change of pace would be nice. We'll see...for now I am just going to continue doing kick boxing at the gym and if I run it will be 3 miles on the treadmill and no more!

MIZZOU RAH

I am happy to say that I have not broken the streak! Since graduating in '99, I have made it back to a Missouri football game every year!! This year was no different and I made it back to Columbia for a football game. Although the original plan was that I fly in for the Iowa State game which was Saturday the 21st, my plans had to change due to flight issues. I ended up going for the Baylor vs. Missouri game, on Saturday the 7th!
I flew into St. Louis and had a great time getting to spend time with Linda, Steve and little Jack! Saturday we met Julie and Renee and drove to Columbia for a fun day! Always fun to be back there and of course making stops at Shakespeare's, Tiger Spirit and Trops!!! We opted to drive back to St. Louis after dinner and not spend the night in Columbia. Sunday was beuatiful weather considering it was Nov. so people were out enjoying the sunshine in many ways. We did the same by taking Jack to the zoo! It was so fun and I really love the St. Louis zoo. Then to the airport I went to fly home. Already thinking about when I can go back for another visit!!

HOV Photo Cards

I just wanted to share Bogey and Jesse's Hospice of the Valley cards that I made. I have been volunteering with HOV with Jesse for almost 2 years now and with Bogey for almost a year. We really enjoy it and I can't say enough how rewarding it is. I see first hand the effect a dog has on someone. People light up when I walk in with one of the dogs. Patients who are not very verbal speak more when they are visiting with the dogs. It is great to see. I made these cards because another volunteer who has become a friend, gave me the website where she made them for her dog Baer. It is nice to be able to leave a picture of the dogs with the patient when we leave and they can have it in their room. So far it has been a big hit.

33?

Wednesday night some of my friends and I went out to celebrate (a little early but trying to find a night that works for all 6 of us can be hard) my 33rd birthday! As always we had a lot of fun! We went to Chelsea's Kitchen. It was good food with great friends!

Special Olympics State Tournament

Kenny, Elizabeth, Al and I


Saturday I volunteered at the Special Olympics State Golf Tournament at Vistal Golf Course near South Mountain. It was a great event that was extremely well run! I went out as a score keeper with a group that played in the "unified flight". There were different flights...Some of the athletes played 18 holes and played their own ball. Others only played 9 holes or less and also played their own ball. In the unified flight the athletes had a partner and they played alternate shot. I score kept for a team that were father and daughter, one group that were brothers and one that was just a player and a volunteer. The day was very inspiring for me and I am so glad I was able to be a part of it!
Each particpant got a medal. In each group that played, a gold, silver and bronze medal was awarded! The athletes loved it! Already looking forward to next year when for the first time it will be a 2 day event rather than just 1!

Out of Africa but In Arizona

Last Saturday my friend Carrie and I drove up North to go to the Out of Africa wildlife park. Neither one of us had ever been and now that the weather has cooled off, we thought it would be fun. We both loved it! For those of you living in AZ, with or without kids, if you haven't been you should put it on your list of places to go. They had all sorts of animals and there was a "safari" ride where the animals came right up to the bus and you could feed them. My favorite was the Tiger Splash where some of the park workers swam with the tigers in the pool.

We got to see Boom Boom the rhino. We were told that Boom Boom used to live in NY and when the park he lived at closed, he was sold to a farm in Texas where people can pay to go hunt big game animals. In other words...he was going to die! The founder of Ecko clothing agreed to buy him and Out of Africa agreed to build an enclosure for him to live out his life! Now he has it made!

It was a fun day and I am glad we went!

Blessing of the Animals

Last Sunday my mom and I took Jesse, Bogey and Casey to church with us for the Blessing of the Animals! October 4th is Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. In many Catholic and Episcopalian churches they do the blessing of the animals in coordination with this day to honor God's creatures. St. Francis is known as the patron Saint of animals. All of the pets received a blessing from Father Reed. It is cute, kids bring hamsters in cages and birds and rabbits and there are lots of cats and dogs too! This is definitely a must attend event for me each year!! Now I can rest assured the dogs are blessed for another year. :)

Special Olympics, Special Opportunity

I have had the wonderful opportunity to help with the special olympics golf clinics at Rolling Hills in Tempe. The clinis are on Wednesday evenings and have been going on through the month of August & September. These clinics are to get the athletes prepared for the state tournament that is October 17th. I have volunteered to help on the 17th as well and will be walking 9 holes with a group as a score keeper. I am really looking forward to the event! I know it will be even more fun and rewarding than the clinics have been. I have gotten to know some of the olympians and they are just neat people with great personailities! I leave each week counting my blessings and with a new life lesson! These athletes have taught me more than I could ever teach them!

Rick is on the right, he is one of my favorites! He is always so happy!

Wedding Bells

Last night was the big day, Singne and Mike got married and are now Mr. and Mrs. Dunne! Singne was a gorgeous bride! The wedding was beautiful from start to finish and everything was really first class! I know as her friends we all had a great time sharing in her big day! We all wish Singne years of marital bliss and happines!!
Mitzi, Noelani, Me and Toni
The announcement of the bride and groom!
First dance
The Grayhawk Girls, Meghan (matron of honor), Noelani, Mitzi, Singne, Toni and I
Sending the bride and groom on their way!

celebrating Singne's remaining single days

Meghan, Singne, Mitzi and I
Last night we met at Grayhawk for drinks and to listen to some live music to help Singne celebrate her remaining single days and upcoming wedding! It was a lot of fun and nice to be able to hang out with the bride to be. She will be a beautiful bride and we are all looking forward to she and Mike getting married on Saturday! As a married woman she'll have to get permission to go out with the girls now! :)

Las Vegas PGA Show

Monday I flew out to Las Vegas with Jane, The President/Owner of the company for the Las Vegas PGA Show. This was my first time going to the PGA show even though I have been a PGA member for 6 years! I have never been on the merchandise side of the business so have really never had a need to go. It was a fun change of pace and exciting new opportunity. I had a great time with Jane and enjoyed getting to know her better. I was able to meet some of my accounts and it was certainly nice to put a face with a name and the voice I hear on the phone. From what I have been told, this show pales in comparison to the PGA show in January in Orlando. With that being said, this was a great practice run!!

Wedding Shower

Saturday afternoon was a nice day celebrating Singne's upcoming wedding. (September 26th :) ) Meghan hosted the shower at her house and just like all events that she hosts did a beautiful job with every detail being perfect. It was nice to celebrate with good friends and we are all looking forward to her big day! She will be a beautiful bride and she and Mike will no doubt be very happy together for a long time!

Birthday Bash at Blanco

Friday night the "Grayhawk Girls" went out to celebrate Singne's Birthday. We went to Blanco for dinner. It turned out to be quite an event getting to the dinner and actually getting inside. On our way there, you could see a storm was rolling in and there was some lightning in the air. Then all of a sudden it was a HUGE down pour with tons of wind. We sat in the car for 15 minutes wondering how we would get inside. Finally we decided to make a run for it. By the time we got inside, we looked like we had just gotten out of the shower! So we bellied up to the bar for a drink! It ended up being a fun night with lots of laughs like always!

Golf Getaways

The last two weekends the dogs and I ventured up to Pinetop to get out of the heat and play some golf with my parents. My mom has just started playing again after taking about 15 years off so it is fun for her to join my dad and I now when we play. She is actually doing really well too which is fun to see. Last weekend I didn't play so well and so I was looking forward to redeeming myself this weekend. Unfortunately I didn't play that much better. (A little better but not much) I played well on the backside and I must say, it gives me the "itch" to get out and play more. I am looking forward to the weather cooling off and playing more this Fall!
My mom and dad after playing golf Saturday Aug.. 8th
My mom and I on #18 playing golf Aug. 15th

Animals+Golf = Perfect New Job

As many of you know it has been a tough 6-8 months! For someone who doesn't deal with change very well, I have had a lot of change! I finally see some good things starting to happen. I started a new job July 6th. I am a regional account manager for Daphne's Headcovers. For those of you who are not in the golf business you can look at our website www.daphnesheadcovers.com. Those of you who are golfers...I know you have seen daphnes in golf shops and pro shops around. We make the tiger that tigers woods carries and lots of other animals. As my friend Jenny said, it is a perfect job for me, two of my favorite things...golf and animals!
The company is a small family owned company that has been in business for 25 years! The owners are great people who bring their golden retriever, Aspen, into the office everyday and Mango the cat lives here at the office. Mango and I have a love/hate relationship...she is awfully cute but due to my allergies to cats, I admire her from a far. :) The atmosphere at work is nice and relaxed at the same time, busy and productive.
It has certainly been an adjustment learning new things and meeting new co-workers etc. I think this job though will give me some valuable experience and will be good for me both professionally and personally! All in all though, I am happy and think it is the start of something good.

Camp Terese #2

This week I have been dog sitting again! They have three dogs, Hogan is a 14 year old lab, Kracker is a 2 year old Golden and Spangle is a 2 year old Bichon/Poodle. They have been a lot of fun and have kept me busy! One day I came over to find an eaten stuffed animal with the stuffing everywhere. Hogan who is not only 14, but also has cancer and has a hard time getting up, got in the pantry while I was at work. (And I thought he had a hard time getting up and layed there all day...guess not when food is involved) He had a bag of hamburger buns, some cheetos, a box of dog biscuits!! He must have been in heaven! They come home today so my duties are over but it has been another fun week dog sitting! Good thing I love dogs because they have kept me on my toes!

Pinetop Paradise

Last Friday after work I ran home got the dogs and hit the road to go up North to Pinetop. With the weather in Phoenix hovering around 115, going to Pinetop is more and more appealing! I got there Friday night and pretty much went to bed. Saturday I was able to sleep in, watch the British Open, go to the Country Club for lunch and then the plan was to play golf with my parents. The weather had other plans and it rained so the golf plans were cancelled. I ended up running some errands with my mom and we stopped to get a few movies. Nothing better than watching movies with it raining outside. We watched two movies, Flash of Genius and Gran Torino. They were both great movies! Sunday I got up and my mom and I took the dogs for a long walk, we were gone and hour and 15 minutes! The dogs were pooped! We then watched the final round of the British Open. ( So sad Tom Watson didn't win :( ) I then packed up and hit the road to come home. I really wish I could have stayed for the whole week. Even though it isn't cold, high 80's sure is better than 115! I hope to go back up in the next few weekends!

I was disapointed though that this didn't come visit while I was there....
The weeke before I came up, my parents were watching TV and my mom looked out the window and saw a bear crossing the fairway of the 8th hole. They got up and watched it walk over to our neighbors house and go in their garage. Before long, everyone was calling each other to tell them there was a bear. They don't shoot them with tranquilizer guns anymore unless they are aggressive. People were coming out in their cars to look at this beautiful animal. I was hoping she would make a 2nd appearance when I was up but no such luck!

Camp Terese

CLYDE&SCOUT
I have been dog sitting for my neighbors for over 4 weeks now and by the time they come home it will be 2 days shy of 5 weeks!!! Clyde and Scout are two big boxers and I have been watching them while Jen and Shawn are in Arkansas spending time with Jen's father. Clyde and Scout are definitely looking forward to their family coming home but I must say I have been spoiling them as much as I can. They get a walk in the morning and at night. (More than my own dogs get :( ) I give them a treat every morning and I have given them special doggie ice cream treats I make. (PB and Yogurt frozen in dixie cups) They love those as do Bogey and Jesse! I have taken them with me over to the Kostis house where I am also house sitting for the summer and let them run in their huge backyard and they have loved that! That makes them tired which is a good thing! So as much as they want their family back...Camp Terese has been fun for them! (I hope :))
CLYDE
SCOUT

4th of July

Fourth of July is really one of my favorite holidays and it always has been. I remember growing up and every 4th of July we would go down to the country club and swim and participate in all the fun games they had during the day and then have dinner and watch fireworks. One favorite memory was when they would put goldfish in the pool and you got to swim and catch them. I remember many fishing coming home that only lasted days! Guess chlorine isn't good for fish! :) Anyway, as an adult going to the club is still one of my favorite places to spend the holiday. My friend Carrie also grew up down at the country club and likewise, the club on the 4th is a favorite. So this year, we were both given the ok by mom and dad, to go down there for dinner and enjoy the fireworks. We debated on going to Tempe Town lake but we both agreed we didn't have patience for the parking and crowds! It was perfect, we enjoyed a nice dinner and a few beers and enjoyed a great fireworks show. I think the fireworks show was quite possibly the best I have seen! So fun and I am already looking forward to next year!

Singne & Single + Friends & Family = Awesome Weekend

This weekend was so much fun! My friend Singne is getting married in September and this weekend we had her bachelorette party in San Francisco. My friend Meghan is her maid of honor and she did a wonderful job with all the planning and super fun details. Friday night we all had to wear black and she gave us all pink scarfs to wear. We went to a place and enjoyed "Singtinis" to start the night off and then we went to three other bars and just partied the night away! We woke up Saturday and were picked up by a limo which then drove us to the Napa area for some tastings. As you can see from the pictures, Saturday we were instructed to wear jeans and white tops. Meghan made cute flower pins for us all to wear as well as cute flower flip flops! So fun!! (good work Meghan! :) ) Our stops included, Domain Chandon, Hill Family, Rombauer, Frank Family and Heitz Cellar. We then freshened up and went to dinner at a great place call Laiolas. Meghan had a friend invite us back to his place that is in the heart of the city on the 40th floor...so we went there after dinner. What an amazing view! After that it was back to the hotel to crash and head home the next morning!
It was such a fun weekend with amazing ladies and lots of laughs and good times! Congratulation to Singne as she celebrates her remaining single days! I am so glad I was able to be a part of her celebration!
All of us after our tasting at Domaine Chandon
All the girls with the "wine stained" surf board after lunch and a tasting at Hill Family Estates
All the girls after a tasting at Rombauer
Some pretty Vineyards out back of Heitz Cellar

Big 12 golf tournament

Yesterday I played in the big 12 alumni golf tournament at the Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix. It was a 7:30am shotgun and we were so lucky that we have had such mild weather so it wasn't unbearable. It was a scramble so it took around 5 hours to play but we had a good time. I play with the same guys every year and we always have fun. (One of the guys who plays, Blaise, was fraternity brothers with Brad Pitt at MU. :) ) Since I am not working at the golf course anymore, it was nice to be out there playing again and I actually didn't hit it too bad either. One of these years a Missouri team will win. It seems like it is always a Nebraska team that wins and this year it was Oklahoma. I say they cheat but oh well, maybe next year will be out year!