Still mid-30s

Happy birthday to me! September 22nd came and went and I finally became 36. A weird number, but I've been telling myself I am 36 all year (you kind of round up when you're born in an even year like 1970).

My father-in-law, Ron, is back from Alaska and set up in the living room with his laptop, right next to where Steve sits with his laptop. Ron sprung for a subcompact digital camera for me for use in my new job of acquisition/relocation agent with Lane and Associates. I've been lugging around our full-size Olympus digital for all the photos I take during my field research (mostly of mobile homes right now...). It's a treat to have something small I can carry in my purse/bag.

As you can see, Sprite has made herself right at home in this new, warm lap. She took to Ron right away. This is one of the first pictures taken with my new camera (thanks, Steve!).

We threw a big dinner party on the 21st for James and Maria, in town and headed for a cruise to Alaska at the end of the week, and also my friend Tracy, who had her birthday the day before mine. It's fun to have so many Virgo friends - September is such a special month for us all, and we treat ourselves to night's out and good food. I had to enjoy this year in particular, since I am starting Weight Watchers Online on October 1st, along with some friends. A built-in support network! I lost 5 pounds when I took all my clothes off...

Last Hurrah Picnic

We went to our 4th and final Italian greyhound rescue fundraising picnic, hosted in Port Orchard today. We enjoyed a ferry ride across the Sound - and Sophia even got to see her first mommy, a first mate on the ferry between Fauntleory/Vashon/Southworth. Sophia didn't seem to remember her, but Sophia has met so many people since coming to live with us, it doesn't surprise me. She was just as friendly with her as she is with everyone else. And Sophia's first moomy was happy to see her, too, and was impressed with how calm and adult she is.

Our picnic was a nice size group (as in, not too big), and we had a great time getting to know our dog friends better. The food was great, and so was the shopping! You can enjoy our photos at http://itgreyhound.meetup.com/145/photos/

I've not abandoned you, dear reader

Wendy and Sophia at Alki Beach.

It's been a busy couple of weeks, but not with anything so major to blog about. We went to a resort in Moses Lake over Labor Day weekend and roasted our buns off (it was around 95 degrees). We had another friend and her family camp along with us, a first for their sons age 3.5 and 6.5. They had fun in the pool and riding their bikes around. We visited another friend and her family who has property on the lake and got to go for a ride in their boat, and all the kids played together and had fun, and they grilled up some burgers and we sat around at sunset eating and visiting. Steve and I learned to play bocce ball and are considering getting a set for our own yard.

Last weekend was Bark in the Park, in conjunction with PAWSwalk 2006, at Magnuson Park. I organized an IGGY Ambassadors meetup for 12:30, time enough for visiting the booths, and SOphia competed in the Cover Dog contest for CityDog Magazine (can you believe she didn't win?), and we also tried out the agility course. I'll have to think about doing that with her down the road, I suspect she might be good at it - if she decides to be. We had about 20 people and their iggies turn out for some fun. You can always visit the group's Photo pages at http://itgreyhound.meetup.com/145/photos/ to get a taste of what my life with my dog is like.

So speaking of, I was working at home this morning and Steve and I took a break at midday to take the bikes and Sophia down to the bike path at Alki Beach. We pedaled 4 miles (had lunch in the middle of that), and Sophia was blister-free. (She got a blister after only 2 miles in Moses Lake, perhaps it was because the pavement was warm). We don't go very fast, I am still testing to see what her stamina is, and also trying to get her feet used to covering that much ground. Once I have a dog carrier for my bike http://www.hunterk9.com/site/870877/product/511 (requested for my birthday...) then we will be able to go farther (and faster - going slow drives Steve mad) and can get out to Burke-Gilman trail.

I am signing up for Weight Watchers Online with some friends and we are starting on October 1st. If you'd like to join in, let me know!

Fall is coming!