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Corgi on BART

Dogs are allowed on BART during non-rush hour times if they are “in a bag.”

When we went to go pick up the corvette two weeks ago, Linus got bundled up in my LL Bean tote bag and off we went.

He was very good in the bag. He just hung out all mellow like a good boy. Not too squirmy.
Going to get the train:

Where are we going? (We are going to visit “the man who gives you cheese,” Linus)

He ‘aint heavy, he’s my corgi.

Linus’ Scary Ride

Because I own the World’s Most Unreliable Car, we awesomely received a AAA Membership for my Christmas present from my parents.

Yesterday, we got the chance to use it because the car overheated in SOMA when I was picking E up on his lunchbreak to go run an errand.  The coolant was overflowing and leaking everywhere.

The AAA towing people were… okay, however they REFUSED to let Linus go in the cab of the tow truck!  So he was in for a scary ride, all by himself, in the Jeep on the back of a flatbed truck.

Tow Truck Doggie

$650 (and five days of waiting in the shop for the new part to come in) later, we will have a new coolant fan and cooling fan module. I’d say “hopefully this is the last of it” for a while, however we already have some other repairs waiting in the wings- a new CV boot and the transmission pan leaking both also need to be fixed. Oh, the joys of car ownership!! I miss living in NYC and not owning a car.

Despite having a scary ride, Linus survived. He does enjoy going to the car mechanic because they give him dog biscuits. So he wasn’t *too* traumatized. I was the only one traumatized because they initially told me it was “probably a headgasket” which would basically mean the car was totaled. Fortunately, it ended up not being that… however we should still probably think about getting a new car at this point anyways. For all the cash we dump into this one we could just be making a car payment and at least have something reliable.

In the meantime, Linus is coming with me on BART to visit my Aunt and Uncle, who are very kindly lending me their spare car (a corvette! how funny!… and how nervewracking… I am going to be one cautious driver in that thing) to get to and fro work in the intermin while Jeep is being fixed.

Merry Christmas from CJ, Earl, Linus & Lucy

Hope you have a Wonderful Holiday!
All our love,
Santa Ceej,

Reindeer Dog,

Reindeer corgi

Reindeer corgi


Elf Lucy,

and Santa Nerd

and a bonus shot of Santa Woof

(Too much fun tonight with props!)

Why is It

that “plan life” often sneaks its way onto my daily to do lists?

i must feel perpetually wayward! :-/

True Love:

someone who not only brings you sleepytime tea when it gets near bedtime, but sweetens delivery with unprompted kisses to the forehead.

:) :) :)

Auxiliary to my schmoopy mood, a few from this evening’s soundtrack:
just adore the vibe of this song, the lead singer has such a smooth voice:

also this bygone classic from the ye olde high school era (i fell in love with TMBG listening to them on loop during hs ski team bus trips up to ski mount southington)

both solid tunes for padding around the apartment barefoot while torturing dancing with the cat. not that, erm, anything like that ever goes on around here.


Great Morning for a Run on the Beach

That’s right, baby.  We’re back!

After being down and out with a pulled hip, Linus is officially back up and at ‘em and able to come jogging.  Which means….. WE GET TO GO RUNNING AGAIN ON THE BEACH!!!

Did you know running on the beach ranks up there as one of my Top Ten favorite activities in life?!  I adore:

  • getting my feet wet
  • the smell of the salt air
  • the feeling of sand between the toes
  • the fresh breezes
  • being reminded of summers spent as a lifeguard in Niantic, CT

Linus also mad about it, though his reasons veer more towards:

  • chasing seagulls and snowy plover [an aside- if you are in a "snowy plover protection area" is it jerky of you to let your dog chase the snowy plover?]
  • barking at the waves
  • befriending other dogs
  • rolling in dead smelly things
  • investigating interesting smells

This morning after dropping a very tired Earl off at work (who had stayed up almost all night working), Linus and I headed to Ocean Beach for a jog-a-roo.  We’re taking it slow and are easing back into running together.  We just did a 40 minute shuffling out-and-back, probably around 3ish miles.

It was one of those runs where universe forces align to make everything just perfect.  The sun was shining, there were soft ocean breezes, the beach was practically deserted, the sand was that perfect consistency for barefoot running- not too much give so you slide around with every step, but soft enough to feel good on yer toes.

I didn’t bring my camera although snapped a few pics with my phone.  What a lovely morning! A few quick photos:



I found a sand dollar for Earl

I found a sand dollar for Earl



It’s Decorative Gourd Season, Mutherf*ckers!

So funny.

And seeing that it *is* decorative gourd season, and not only do I have a few decorative gourds around the house but also have pumpkins here to carve(!!!), we are having our friend Kathleen over for a fall-themed dinner, cider drAnks, and to carving pumpkins.

Le menu:

persimmon flowers, from Andrea’s blog, to start

goat-cheese mac and cheese in baked artichokes (i couldn’t decide if this recipe sounded ridiculously good or ridiculously hard)

and for dessert tiny pies baked in glasses I’m excited to make these tiny pies because I need to make a bunch of pie crust for Thanksgiving anyways, so I am just gonna make a bunch all at once today to have a head start.

So, dinner seems to be a tad ambitious, but… I think I can pull it off.  I’ve had some big hits and some HUGE misses in the kitchen this week.  Last night I made “eggs in the hole” for dinner, and they came out awesome.  I’d never even heard of “eggs in the hole” until I saw them on my friend Mike’s twitter.  What a great idea.

On the other side of the spectrum, last Saturday I made this crock-potty chicken casserole thing that was a big FAIL.  Earl ate it; I couldn’t even bring myself to finish my portion.  Reminiscent of a particularly bad stew.  Almost a … gross thick gelatin.   Particularly frustrating because it took about SIX HOURS to make!  *sigh*  Can’t win em all…

Here is to a fun, fall-themed night!  Will post some pics of our chow and pumpkin creations later.  I’m thinking of going with a gato-inspired design for my gourd.

Linus & His Blanket

While I’m laying around on the floor studying at night, Linus oftentimes takes this blanket out of the storage bin by HIMSELF and devotes about 15 minutes to forming it into the perfect “bed” next to me. He pushes, he smooshes, he paws and he claws. After diligently working, a suitable “dog bed” is formed.

This incredibly spoiled dog, mind you, who has his own $110 dog bed RIGHT THERE, however clearly prefers the snuggly, moldable qualities of the blanket.

Rather evocative of another Linus and his beloved blanket.

The Theme of the Day is Nachos.

I’m worn out. School, blah, work, blah, clinicals, blah errands…. I’ve made an executive decision to SKIP my long run for the week, scheduled for tomorrow am, and instead enjoy a lazy Sunday morning sleeping in with The Nerd. We shall then mosey on over to the farmers market, bop around procuring chow for the week. AND THEN….

dun dun dun

we will attending a party of which the theme, literally, is “NACHOS”

who has ever heard of a Nachos Party before? certainly not me, though their ideas are intriguing to me and i wish to subscribe to their newsletter.

anyone who goes to the lengths of creating a photochopped flying for their nacho party is my types of peoples.

you could say i am a tad excited. here is the party menu:

You Provide: Your beverage of choice

We Provide: Our pad in the hills above Redwood City with a deck overlooking the bay, tunes, ski movies, and NACHOS, NACHOS, NACHOS!

The attack of crispy, cheesy goodness includes…

Traditional Style: Corn chips with a cheese blend, all the usual toppings and home made carnitas.

Monterey Bay Style: Corn chips, pepper jack cheese, crab meat, and crispy deep fried calamari.

Greek Style: Pita chips, mozzarella and feta cheese, and grilled marinated lamb.

Of course a full compliment of fresh, home made salsas will be offered including fire roasted red, fire roasted green, guacamole, and a Greek pico de gallo with cucumber, tomato, and Turkish Urfa pepper.

Also available will be my special home made summer seasonal hot sauces including…

Cherry Bomb: Bing Cherry-Chipotle

Not So Peachy Keen: White Peach-Habanero-Cardamom

we are *so* there :P bring on the cheesy goodness!

Madras in October?

Erm, why not?

mad mad mad mad mad mad madras

mad mad mad mad mad mad madras


Besides… I’ll be in suburbia for the day. Helping the cause is that I still boast Connecticut license plates on my car and shall have the ever-faithful Queen’s Dog at my side, so I’m thinking I can pull em off.

These shorts actually belong to Earl. Making, of course, wearing them all the more fun. :P