I Love California Reason #464

So, we whine entirely too much about living here. Oh poooor me, rent is expensive...I got here 40 years after the hippy movement....it's soooo sunny here.

I know, we're ridiculous.

Now that our time here is nearing a close (somewhere in 2010,) I thought it fitting to buck up and be grateful for the lovely things this state has to offer. Most of all it's the lack of snow we love.
We do like it here a lot. It's just that we have what I like to call geographical ADD...we're too focused on what's next.

Today, my attempt and being grateful in the now:

10. San Francisco. We don't visit you often enough, but when we do, you rock our world. We love your Golden Gate, your bay views, and even your crappy weather-because it makes us feel at home!

9. Stanford & MIIS. Thanks for those degrees, finished and pending. How lucky we are to get a world class education from such fine institutions.

8. Protesters. Whatever you're protesting. You give me the California of 40 years ago I longed to see.

7. Stanford Mall. Pratik may not agree, but it's so lovely to live near such a fine establishment. A mall on campus-what a concept!

6. Grocery stores. How you spoil me with your always fresh local produce all year round, reusable bags and free-range and cage free selections. I know, Whole Foods is nation-wide and I love it. But I also love Mollie Stones and Country Sun-especially for their organic gift selection. You've made me a more green and conscious shopper.

5. The housing market. I know, it's a strange one. But knowing what's out here will make me so much for grateful for whatever four walls are in our future...even if they do say "Frigidaire" on the side.

4. Palo Alto. From those grocery stores to my workplace, you've taught me the importance of the word "local."

3. Parking Lots. I love your warnings. "Did you remember your reusable bag?" Where else but California would you find a warning that exhaust fumes are known to the state of California to cause cancer!

2. Dog friendly establishments! I can take Molly everywhere, even to Nordstrom's. That's the way it should be! It's children that should be restricted in public :)

1. Weather, I love you weather. I will enjoy you here no matter what, no complaints, rain or shine. I will enjoy you while I can, before we inevitably move back to snow and ice. For now, victory over the snow bunnies is MINE! We know not what wind chill is anymore...this week's high will be 76 degrees. Eat your hearts out!

Gay Marriage

I've had a lot on my mind lately with the recent election. I was extremely satisfied with our choice of president (more on that later) and extremely happy to see that other freedoms and choices were passed on ballots across the country. I was, however, extremely dismayed at the voter's acceptance of California proposition 8, about banning gay marriage, and to see rights stripped away from fellow human beings. It took this long to for us to propose California proposition 2 that requires farmers to provide enough room to farm animals to turn around. What a level have we stooped to as a nation - we are voting on a piece of paper in 2008 on whether or not animals and humans should be treated humanely!

If you are not as infuriated as I am about this situation, let me explain my background a bit more. Most of you know that I was born in a small town for which there is a special place in my heart. I am incredibly lucky that I can, in fact, always go the the home of my childhood again. Small town America has its charms for sure, however, it's easy to grow up sheltered when your town is lacking in much diversity. Having been born disabled, I learned first hand what it's like to be different. How lucky I was to have friends in my childhood who loved me and accepted me for who I am, especially when most of my peers still hadn't taken the opportunity to learn to accept other people's differences. Let me be clear -- being gay is not a "disability", but being disabled or being gay has sometimes ostracized people like us from their own communities as if it is a Scarlet letter we bear. It is not that we grew up with racist monsters on every corner of our small town. We had plenty of people who loved and accepted us for our differences and had parents, friends and teachers who never put us down but built us up. But when you are called names like "gimpy" or "faggot" by people whom you know so well because your town is so small, it really pours salt in the wound.

When one of my friends came to me in high school and told me that he was different, I cried. I didn't cry because I was embarrassed or ashamed of him or his sexuality. I cried because I knew how much he would have to struggle in high school. I thought growing up and becoming adults would change a lot of this. I thought moving out into the "big bright world" beyond our town would change this. In this election, I have learned that time doesn't change anything and that large cities can be equally cruel. Cruel people in this "big bright world" think that taking away the rights of gay men and women can be decided with a vote.

How is is that the federal equal opportunity law protects against discrimination based on race, religion, disability, gender, national origin, and everything else but leaves it for the states to decide if it's OK to discriminate on sexual orientation? (http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeo/overview_practices.html) How can a proposition based largely on Christian values be forced onto the rest of the country that is built on the the Bill of Rights which clearly guarantees the freedom of religion FOR ALL PEOPLE? (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html) Can it be really true that the cruel people supporting proposition 8 think that freedom of religion means the freedom to choose your sect of Christianity? But I guess they must believe that it's OK to be a bigot if they write it into their state's constitution and use the scripture to support their claims -- never mind how many revisions, omissions and/or translations your state's constitution or the scriptures have been through.

I guess for such Christians, the "Golden Rule: treat others how you would like to be treated" isn't a part of Christianity anymore. What Would Jesus Do? Using the scripture or the Constitution (in this case, of the state of California) to strip others of their freedom to be who they are and choose their own religion is not being a good Christian. I'm so sick of standing by and letting people pretend that it is. I can't imagine one day meeting my maker and telling him/her/it that I thought it was OK to enforce my beliefs on others and treat certain people at a lower standard.

For some of these people the family values are most important and it's a question of the welfare of their children. "But it will be enforced in schools!", they say. Not only did the California Superintendent of Education publicly denounce that myth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIL7PUl24hE), imagine what are they teaching their children about treating others. What would they do or expect others to do if their children happen to be gay! Would they turn a blind eye to the discrimination their child will face? When people made fun of me, Peter didn't just stand by and let them. He stood up for me and never once cared about his own reputation. I have never known true friendship like I have with people like him. I refuse to sit on the sidelines and let people take away his freedoms and prevent him from building a loving family. Fifty years ago, it would not have been legal for Pratik and I to be married in some states. If it weren't for Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple who fought the state of Virginia to be together, it would be still illegal. I think everyone needs to read this statement issued by Mrs. Loving right before her death: http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pdfs/mildred_loving-statement.pdf

Some of these people argue that gays will still have the same civil rights as others. I heard (on Mandarin radio here in California) statements like "well, we're not saying they can't live together! They can still have a civil union!" If it's not a big deal, maybe EVERYONE should only have a civil union. If I had known this would happen, I'm not sure I could've gotten married in this state. I'm not sure I could've brought myself to get married. Peter was in the MIDDLE of training for a touring Broadway show and had it written into his contract that he could leave in order to attend my wedding. He wouldn't miss that day for ANYTHING, even the biggest opportunity of his life. What a fool I feel like that I couldn't even defend his rights after how much he celebrated mine.

If you think this has nothing to do with me, a straight woman, you're wrong. It has EVERYTHING to do with me. Because that type of ignorance is a plague that spreads like wildfire, and it's only a matter of time before I see my rights as a disabled woman stripped if this continues. Or my right to marry my husband, who is not a U.S. citizen. Or the freedom to practice whatever religion we like in our own home. It has everything to do with me, because I know what it's like to be treated like I am a plague on society. That I'm not worth anyone's time or that I am an afterthought because I'm different.


If you feel it's wrong to treat ME differently, then I hope you think twice about how you treat the gay community..

Pratik's Paper Published in JACS!!

Pratik has hit an important milestone in his career at Stanford--his first paper was published! Pratik is a second author on a paper that was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS.) This is one of the top journals for a chemist to get his/her work published in, so this is a great accomplishment for him as well as his fellow authors.

This is a summary of the paper in Pratik's own words. (Mind you, I can't even understand the title and my eyes glaze over when I get an in depth explanation. This is Pratik's version of a layman's definition...):

"In order to understand why complicated biological proteins are capable of doing reactions quickly and efficiently, we build artificial models that are amenable to study by a variety of tools that we have developed. We can use that knowledge to improve the design of the catalysts used in industry or design drugs to treat diseases that result from improper functioning of these proteins. In this particular work, we have prepared a compound that acts as a model for the enzyme galactose oxidase involved in metabolism of a type of sugar called galactose. We identified the structural features of the compound responsible for its interesting properties and ability to react in a manner similar to the enzyme."

We can't put the whole paper on the web due to copyright issues, but you can ask for an email copy from Pratik if you're really interested.

I may not understand it, but I'm really proud of him and of all the hard work he's put in. A second paper is also in the pipeline (another second author) and a first author paper should also be coming out within a few months. He's really moving along and there has been talk with his boss of defining his final thesis. Thus, he's on track to graduate on time, probably in 2010.

Congrats to Pratik and the other authors who worked hard to make this publication a reality!!

Molly wants YOU! to Barack the vote.

This past weekend was our dachshund club's Halloween party. There were a ton of dogs there sporting great costumes. I'm proud to say that our Molly won third place for her "lipstick on a pig" costume. Check out these photos of the party.



Molly really hopes that you turn out to the polls tomorrow and BARACK the vote! She's been a very vocal supporter here at home. Here are photos of Molly modeling her political views!



Please click here if you would like to see our photos in non-slideshow view. Here's hoping for a better tomorrow!

The Madonna Concert

My coworker, Linda, and I went to the Madonna concert in Oakland last night (November 1st.)  I've been to many concerts, but none that tempted me to follow the rest of the tour!  It was A-mazing!!  First of all, the visuals were insane.  Costumes, lights, video, color, and a CAR onstage.  Second, the remixes of her old songs were amazing.  She invited the entire audience to sing "Like a Virgin" with her a capella, and stepped it up by playing her old tunes with fiddlers and electric guitar.  Some other old tunes I remember off of the top of my head--"La Isla Bonita," "Human Nature," "Get Into the Groove," "Ray of Light," and "Music."  It was a great mix of new and old, especially the new tunes from the "Hard Candy" album.

Here are some videos from You Tube of my favorite moments.  Hamutsun Serve, a Japanese band her website describes as dance animation and music, were featured throughout the evening but this is the most fantastic number of the evening.  Ascending to the stage in kimonos with clips of the Eurythmics' "Here Comes the Rain Again" and deafening sounds of thunder and raindrops, these boys moved around the stage by barely moving their feet.  You'll see it toward the end of the first clip.  
This second video clip is when they ended the dance and the cylindrical video screen with the rain drops/butterflies revealed Madonna on the inside of the cylindar on a piano that ascended to the stage. Dressed in a hooded cape, she began to sing her new tune "Even the Devil Wouldn't Recognize You."



This also ties as a favorite moment--her new song "Miles Away." On the screen was a video of maps, passport stamps, and people from all over the globe. It really touched my weary travelin' heart!!! This video's quality is much better, even if the video screens aren't the focal point (the images made the song make total sense.)



But the best part of all was her very vocal support for Senator Obama, as well as overthrowing the anti-same-sex marriage proposition that was put on the California ballot. That had the entire stadium cheering wildly. Given that I had just voted (we can vote early in California) that morning for Senator Obama, this just topped off the entire day!



If I keep talking about this, I'll be on the next flight to take my mother to the November 18th show. I wish! I'll be on a high until her next tour. Usually I'm satisfied seeing someone once or twice in concert...this left me wanting more!!

Hindu Temple of Minnesota

Pratik and I are in Minneapolis at his parents' home for Diwali, the "Festival of Lights." On Sunday we went to the new Hindu temple in Maple Grove--it's amazing! Often times temples in America are set up in any space they can find, so they don't have the luxury of making the outside look as grand as they do in India. This new temple is on the outskirts of the Cities and is HUGE! So huge that inside there is a temple (within the temple!) for each god or goddess, and each has a roof which resembles a temple in India. (Pratik's dad explained this to me in great detail...I'll try to do my best to explain it.) For example, in the center there is a temple dedicated to Vishnu and the roof is designed to look like the Vishnu temple in India. Bearing in mind these intricacies are all under one roof, you can imagine the massive size of this building. The outside is equally detailed, though they are still putting the finishing touches on it. It was an amazing experience to share with the family. These photos are from the temple's website (you can find more info by clicking here). This is one of the most amazing houses of worship I've seen, and to think it is in our beloved Twin Cities.


Hope that you are all having a Happy Diwali wherever you are!

Temples within the temple.

Shri Shiva

How disheartening...

I just found out something that has crushed my spirits a little...

As of May 1, 2007, China no longer allows prospective parents with a physical disability to apply to adopt a Chinese child. I found this in an old New York Times article and by searching the State Department's website (which is a wealth of info on countries and their guidelines...)

While, of course, I will try anyway, I still find their reasoning appalling. Because they're getting too many applications from prospective families? That's the lamest excuse I've heard to be discriminatory since Adam and Steve. I believe that my extensive knowledge of China and its culture should give me an advantage over ANY prospective parent. I sincerely hope they implement this policy on a case-by-case basis!

And if not, I'll just adopt from Taiwan! I am sure they would be happy to have an alumna of one of their universities give one of their needy kids a home...

There are so many children in the world that need a home. Pratik and I also plan to adopt from India, as it is very hard for foreigners to adopt there. They give Indian nationals the advantage, thus since Pratik is a national we feel we have to use that advantage to help a child in need in India.

I have had my heart set on China for as long as I can remember. It just makes SENSE given my background...I know we'd be happy to have a child from anywhere. I know there are plenty of children that need us, but I feel in my heart that I could give a child from China (or Taiwan) a home that an average American couldn't. Not with monetary things, but with a true understanding of where that child comes from. The ability to help that child preserve his/her mother tongue. (How ironic the word mother tongue seems in the case of an adopted child.)

Regardless, I just had to share my sad news with you all. First, I am not sure I can have children of my own at all. I learn to be OK with this possibility because I am so set on adopting. Then I have to learn this...

In any case, let this be a little reminder to all of us how much discrimination can hurt a person!

Thanks for listening to me preach from the soapbox again. Here is hoping that our little family comes together smoothly in the future!

(P.S. The guidelines also stipulate that we have to be 30, which I'm cool with. So don't get excited yet.)

Happy Birthday, Molly!

We had a small gathering today since it is Molly's official birthday. The big party will be in September after our vacation.
We went to the Five Paw Bakery in Los Altos-what a cute store! They have dog birthday cakes (which we'll get for the big party) and other pastries for pups. They also had a ton of toys and gifts. We got her some cheddar moons, puppy pizza, a peanut butter bone and a strawberry star, as well as a new toy and shirt (but the shirt's too small!)

Here is Molly opening her new toy all by herself. She's very good at unwrapping.



And Molly eating her strawberry star in her too small tshirt.



At least her "Birthday Girl" bandana fits!





We promise to have human stories in our blog soon!! :)

We've gone to the dogs....

We had another K9 filled weekend. Our friends were out of town, so we took care of their poodles, Lola and Kiko. Molly had a great time with them! Check out their playtime:

Carmel-by-the-Sea Wiener Roast

Long time, no talk! We've been having a great and busy summer!

Today we went to Carmel-by-the-Sea with our Dachshund Club for a wiener roast on the beach. It was completely worth the 1.5 hour drive, sunburn, and weekend traffic on the way home. Molly seemed to have a lot of fun, and even though there were literally hundreds of doxies and their human companions there, it was really relaxing-Pratik even got to sneak in a nap.

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile even made an appearance. One of the Wienermobile drivers was from Minnetonka, MN-and to make the world even smaller she went to Pratik's high school. (They didn't know each other.)

There was every type of dachshund there-smooth coat, long hair, wirehaired-even something called "wild boar," which we have photos of. Many were dressed to the nines-baseball caps, dresses, Hawaiian shirts--it's good to know we're not the only dog crazy people out there.

We had a fantastic view of the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course & Resort from where we sat.

We have hundreds of photos posted: click here to see them!


And enjoy this photo of us at the Wienermobile!

San Francisco Olympic Torch Relay

One of my new year's resolutions was to stop complaining about living in California and start enjoying it while I've got the chance. I thought that the Olympic Torch Relay event would lift my spirits and help me keep good on that resolution.

I was wrong.

I took off work (later made up the time) and convinced my husband that he should abandon his research for 3 hours and accompany me to the event. We took the Caltrain up into the city-it was only 3 blocks from the start of the rally. How lucky could we get? The train was FULL of Chinese people-I seriously felt like I was back in Beijing. I was living in Tianjin when they announced Beijing would be the host of the '08 games. How lucky that I was now in SF to experience the next piece of Olympics history.

When we got there, we were lucky enough to push to the front of the crowd and get me a seat on the curb. I couldn't believe my luck, this NEVER happens to me. (Having a husband who is willing to push people out of my way and let me lean on him is such a blessing.) I'm sitting on the ground, a wall of SFPD in front of me. They had on three foot beat sticks and eventually brought out the riot gear-shields and helmets. No joke. And it is at this point that I'm wondering if, as a handicapped person, I should not get myself into these situations. I'm also thinking I should have left the Coach bag at home. And I'm also thinking that if the 90 year old Chinese woman who flew in from Vancouver to see this would be OK on the curb, then I might be, too.

We had mostly supporters by us, but saw many protesters of course. (Tibet! Darfur!! Burma!!!) I made some friends with some of the supporters and of course wowed them with my Mandarin. I'm feeling pretty good at this point.

Then the clock starts ticking. People start calling people they know at different points of the run to see what they know. One person says his friend saw the torch being lit and then it disappeared. Even the police, who kept shifting like the changing of the guards, had NO CLUE what was going on. We had a torch runner by us-he had no clue what was going on either. We'd been there an hour at this point. I am sunburned. The guy next to us (who was quite a loud mouth about his support for sporting events in general and I was embarrassed to be standing next to as I didn't want to be associated with his chants of "can you find Tibet on a map?") had been standing there for four hours. And it is at this point, around 2:00, that everyone starts to disband.

On our way out we were interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle (and our quotes never printed) about if we thought what they did was worth it, and if we saw anything that could pose a threat to public safety. The answer to that would be no. In our area, everyone was stating their opinion in a calm matter. We saw it all-from signs that were confusing like "US out of China!" and some confusing signs about the CIA and China, so confusing that I don't remember it's message. We saw an ACLU on-sight observer. We saw people protesting for Tibet and Darfur. Most of us were there to support China. But nowhere did I see pushing, shoving, fighting, bickering, craziness or otherwise. (This isn't to say that this didn't happen in other parts of the city.) Everyone followed police orders in our area. So in my opinion, what they did was not worth it.

Mayor Gavin Newsom and police chief Heather Fong said that all along they've said they had the right to change the route if they felt it necessary. But what kind of a route was that? They ran it through a warehouse? The police didn't even have a clue what was going on and stood out there for hours in the blazing sun. More important, thousands of people were left disappointed. I don't understand why they bothered to hold an event at all if they were going to completely botch it from beginning to end. They put out the torch at a ceremony at the airport. What the heck is that?

When you think about San Francisco, you think about how progressive they are, and that protesting is basically a way of life. The birth place of the hippy. Liberal. I'm quite embarrassed that the torch's only stop in my country was marred by fear, poor planning and communication, and playing into the tantrums of people who want to ruin things for everyone. The people who posed a threat to public safety obviously aren't in tune with the Dalai Lama's message.

I do not stand behind what's going on in Tibet at all. However, I do not think that politics and the Olympics mix. These countries that are boycotting the opening ceremonies should try putting pressure on China in the real political arenas-and should have been doing so long before this. In addition, the Olympic Committee chose China for a reason, and it should be left at that.

Finally, we go to the games and participate with Iraq, North Korea, Iran and others on the axis of evil list. We participated in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin when Hitler was in power. This BBC article highlights the shady past of the torch itself. This isn't to say that these things were not met with political protest, or that it makes it alright for China to do what it's doing.

To me, it simply means that the Olympic arena is not a political one.

Getting a Jobby Job

As many of you know I am (impatiently) waiting to apply to government jobs. "Why wait?" you ask. That's because, like most places, I have to wait for a position to open before I can even apply. It makes sense, but it's hard to keep that in perspective when you're as impatient as I am. Plus most of these jobs are located on the east coast, 99.9% in Washington DC. I'm trying very hard to patiently wait over here in San Francisco because of two things: my husband and the interesting job I have now. (More on that later.) Plus, when will I ever get the chance to live in SF again? I keep myself on all government job listservs to watch for potential things opening up. Since Pratik only has 2.5 years left (who's counting?), me applying ASAP is a good idea seeing as it gives me a cushion for rejection time as well as a cushion for security clearance, etc. I didn't realize this was going to be such a lengthy process. (However, in times of economic hardship, let me reiterate that I'm grateful I have a job.) My ultimate goal is being a linguist for the government. Any branch, sector, bureau, division, department-all of them interest me.

NOW FOR THE GOOD PART. I'm going to take out my impatience with the method I always use: humor. Seeing as I'm on all these listservs, I thought that the lengthy process I took to sign myself up for all of them would filter out what I'm not qualified for, like checking the physically handicapped box or language skills. Nope...every morning, I get them all. Here are some of my favorites:

TSA Screener: Yup, that's exactly how I want to spend my expensive tuition dollars-becoming the lady at the airport that takes away your nail file and reminds you to remove all change from your pockets before entering the metal detector. At least I can say it in multiple languages.
Engineer: Mechanical, electrical, all kinds of engineers are wanted. However, I think my lack of an ENGINEERING degree would disqualify me from that.
Electrician (High Voltage): Same thing, pretty sure my lack of knowledge would disqualify me. I'm not sure where I checked the "engineering" and "electrician" boxes. Also I'm pretty sure I would never be allowed to work with high voltage items. Ever.
Secretary/Clerk/Administrative Specialist: No, no and no. I do enough paperwork and mind-numbing tasks for one absent-minded academic at home. I'm not doing that for an entire bureau. (And I get those a LOT. Previous people who held the post must have been onto something.)
Biologist: I took bio in college on a pass/fail basis. I passed. Barely. 'Nuff said.
Chemist: This is when I get mad at said husband. He can have his pick of the litter when he's done with school, he doesn't need to be taking my territory!
Nurse: Could someone tell me when I went to nursing school?
HR Specialist (Recruitment): So I can go and recruit myself for the job I really want.
Fingerprint ID Specialist: Might come in handy if I need to prove that Pratik did in fact move my stuff.

And finally, my favorite. Drum roll please:

Bomb Appraisal Officer: God bless the people who do that, but I'm pretty certain they don't want me on their squad. Plus, I'm pretty sure that the "physically disabled" box I checked would disqualify me from this position. I don't think I'd exactly "take cover" as quickly as the others!

A big shout out to the folks at CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA who have job announcements on these listservs practically daily. I don't know why I continue to hold my breath in hopes that when I open these emails, the dream job annoucement will be in it. Nope, it's just another one from Clarksburg. On the list of exciting places I thought my life would lead me, West Virginia was never on it.

Here's to hoping, wishing and praying some more...and knowing I'm too motivated to not succeed.

To Peter, My Best Friend

My heart overfloweth with pride for the success of my very best friend, Pete.

All through school, Peter was involved with music and the arts beginning with band and then color guard. It started out innocently enough with the french horn and band class. With color guard and dance, performing became an absolute obsession. We have informally diagnosed Pete with ADHD. He cannot sit still and must be drumming with his hands, twirling pens, or doing pirouettes as he talks to you. You can't call the boy not dedicated to his art!

Pete has always done what he loves, despite the frequent teasing through school. I always looked up to him because he simply didn't care too much for the opinions of others. I believe that is why we are friends. We supported each other through thick and thin. He pushed my wheelchair around Washington, DC on a field trip. When he found out I came home from Taiwan and was hospitalized with a foot infection, Pete came home from college to visit me and with his cousin (and my dear friend) heidi, snuck in pizza.

Pete may not have always had our support-we sometimes groaned at the thought of having to watch one more of his summer color guard videos. But still, he twirled, danced, and broke inanimate objects in his dance fever.

Peter spent last summer in Japan on a touring Broadway show entitled "BLAST!" I was so proud of my friend, taking his love for performing to Tokyo. It was the success I always knew Peter would attain. P.S. The show is Emmy and Tony award winning! He made it written in his contract that they would allow him time off to come to my wedding. A true blue friend through it all, he flew in, flew out and kept on performing. His schedule and pace exhaust me.

Last week, I got to see him perform the show myself in Detroit. After a backstage tour (in which we got to see the instruments and stage tricks up close) we took our seats. I began to read the program about what the show was about. And that's when the gravity of it all hit me.

Now when Peter said he was performing a Broadway show nation wide, I was not surprised. Pete is a born performer. What I did not know is that the heavens had opened up and sent THE perfect show for Peter to be performing in. This isn't just a show-this is a show with no plot. This is a show celebrating the art of drum & bugle corps...and COLOR GUARD. To say that Peter was in his element would be the understatement of the year. All of those years of dedication, all of those summers practicing on sweltering football fields culminated into this: a mega moment of glory for my best friend.

Pete was the center of everything-and not just because I know him and I sought him out with each change of stage. Pete is tall and his presence is commanding. His face lit up like a Christmas tree knowing that we, his friends and family, were there to watch him. In his ensemble, it seemed that he was always first in line onto the stage or right in the center of it all. It was obvious to me, his friend, that his height and talent were taken advantage of by choreographers. Aren't they smart?

If, at 26 years old, Peter is already encountering such a high point in his career, the sky is, indeed, the limit. I can hardly wait to see what's next for him and hope that when he's famous he doesn't forget little old me! Here's to you, Pete, for reminding us that everything in life is truly possible.

Molly goes to Grandma's

Last week was a week of firsts for our little Molly. Her first airplane ride, her first time out of the state (that we know of) and her first time seeing snow. It made for an interesting week!

Molly was very, very good on the plane. The vet gave us an herbal sedative, which I was skeptical about but very pleased with the results. She only panted for a bit, but soon laid down in her airplane crate nicely and relaxed for most of the flight. I was glad I could take her as a carry on!

The snow was a bit much for her...Molly did not want to pee-pee outside. She held it for over 24 hours before finally relieving herself while at the kennel Saturday (while I went to see Pete's play. More on that later.) Then, she proceeded to hold it for another 2 days before finally learning to go outside in the snow. But somehow, she still had 3 accidents in the house in the one room with shag carpeting. I am convinced she thought it was grass. We're just hoping and praying she'll learn quickly when we move back to the real winter weather!

We did have tons of fun however, and Grandma loved seeing her little Molly again. It was funny to watch her run at top speed through the house (she loved having all that room to roam) and sniff everything she could. She's so nosy-she has to check EVERYTHING out. Molly also met my grandparents, as well as my Aunt Beverly who has 3 dogs of her own (2 pits and a goldie.)

The highlight of the trip was meeting Dr. Phil...the pug/dachshund mix that is! Dr. Phil was rescued by my cousin's shelter in Elkton. He's quite adorable. While Molly and I visited at the shelter a woman came by to look at the available dogs and had her eye on Molly. Mom was quick to say no sale, lady! If you're in the Thumb area and are interested in adopting a pup, please check out the Thumb Animal Shelter. It's a fantastic resource in the area.

We had a great time at Grandma's house in Elkton and took lots of photos for your viewing pleasure, so check those out! They're in Molly's folder on my PicasaWeb photos, so click here and scroll down to check them out. Our time at home was much too short and we miss you all back home very much.

Our New Family Photo

Check out our new family photo, and these pictures of Molly with Santa. This was taken just before the holidays when we took Molly to see Santa at Pet Club. Half of the proceeds from our order went to the Furry Friends Rescue! As you can see, Molly wasn't into the Santa visit...it could be perhaps the hat and bell collar that Mommy made her wear. We hope you had a wonderful holiday season!