All cleaned up (no bow!)

Fur, teeth and claws

I can't do anything about the teeth but my pup looks like an little, old Ewok with a buttload of fur. Foreel. See?

We purchased clippers and claw cutters (or whatever the contraption is called.) Her claws are too long and the fur on her face needs to be trimmed. As well as her rear end.
But I don't want her to have a baboon-butt so it will just be a trim and not a shave. (This ensures no traces of "eliminination" stay on its owner. Ick.) Anyway, we tried to trim her fur and, after some denial, we realized we made absolutely no impact. The thought of us trying to trim her claws is just too scary right now because if you cut them too short, so I'm told, it really really hurts. I don't need that kind of guilt. I've decided that Piko will be groomed by a professional because I'm chicken. So we're going this Saturday to get my girl cleaned up. And no, there will be no bows. NO bows.

As for me, three of my coworkers were/are sick. Two of them powered through and just came to work under the weather. The third colleague pretty much said, "F-that, I'm sick" which is kind of how I feel right now. I'm not congested but I have a sore throat, my temples and the back of my head hurt. I downed a few Emergen-C packets but I didn't drink as much as I have before (when I know people around me are sick I usually drink two packets 3x a day) and guess what? Half ass doesn't work! So I may be going home mid-day. I've already made appointments with clients this morning and would hate to cancel.

Remember when you were in school and you stayed home sick? Better yet, remember when you were in college and you would stay in bed if you didn't feel good? That's one of the things I miss. Sans midterms, papers and basically any studying, of course.

Got my vote on

Last year, I was hoppin' mad at myself because I didn't realize that I would be out of state during the elections.
This year, I was READY. But I guess I still can't beat stupidity:
* Ah-nold Schwarzenegger will be governor for a second term
* No on the cigarette tax
* No on oil tax and alternative energy incentives
Sweet mary mother of pearl. What the hell?! What's next - being allowed to marry our first cousins?
But on the upside:
* No on the abortion waiting period and parental notification
(I don't pretend to be politically savvy - why does this keep popping up? Wasn't it voted out last year?)
So while I'm not ecstatic, I'm happy that ONE issue I feel strongly about was voted down. Again. And just to stick it to the man (not mine but the other), let's all make a donation to Planned Parenthood and support this organization for all the good they do in our communities. Planned Parenthood doesn't just make sure every woman has the right to choose and exercise her options. It also provides low cost medical care to everyone. Yes, PP helped me out when I had NO medical coverage when I was a poor student and when I worked at a sweatshop television station.
OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox and putting it away.

Sister is brilliant!

The Man and I are going to have a dinner and a movie date night this Friday. We will see Borat.
We haven't gone on date night for a very, very, very long time. We usually watch TV and then go to sleep.
I'm hoping my parents will puppysit so that Piko will get to keep her schedule on falling asleep at 9:00pm and waking up at 5:00am which happens to be my mom's schedule when she works. And, 'lo and behold, AL's working on Saturday. Whoohooo!!
I hear Borat is freakin' hilarous. I am very excited to have a date night.

I should probably make sure my parents can watch her.

I used to have a kitchen ...

Well, not that I cooked much. But still. I used to have a kitchen. Now I have a puppy play area which happens to have a fridge and a sink.
Yes, those are real baby gates. Which, by the way, the more expensive one on the left is great because it swings open. I am concerned, though, about the expanding and retracting feature and how you can't lock it into place. All I could keep thinking was, "Tiny fingers could get smashed! Tiny PAWS could get smashed!" But it's very handy. Anyhow ...
A friend who owns a puppy asked me how life has been for me/us. What's funny is before I had Piko, I probably wouldn't have thought to ask that question to a couple. I mean, I know it's serious business to have a pet, believe me. This is why I haven't had one in nearly seven years. I knew I couldn't handle or wanted the responsibility! But, even knowing all of this, I have to say it's so much different having a dog as an adult in comparison to when I was a kid. (And believe me, I keep thinking, "My poor childhood dog!")
I'm not going to lie. It has been taxing on The Man and me. We don't necessarily fight about her but our nerves are shot from lack of sleep, extensive cleaning and constant supervision of a furry little body. There is very little down time anymore! I didn't notice it until today, and The Man also pointed out, that we aren't as affectionate or even talkative because it's all about her. But there are upsides, too. Even though The Man wanted a big ol' Doberman (I will repeat, I just don't see me cuddling up to a Doberman,) he has really taken to Piko. He has a hard time disciplining her and he will stay in an uncomfortable position just because she fell asleep on his lap. He's also been kind to me and my needs. Knowing how uncleanliness gets to me, he researched extensively and bought us a top-of-the-line SteamVac so we could thoroughly clean Piko's messes. Over and over again. He's also the best at detecting an "elimination" in progress. I'd say he has a 80% success ratio in getting Piko to the peepee pad before she leaks or pops a fatty. (Hey, you think that's gross, try SMELLING it and, all the while, praising her for getting it on the pad!) He's also the one who installed the baby gates and a doggie door that we will be introducing to her soon.
Despite the lack of sleep, adult conversation and social life, I really am glad we have Piko. She really IS great practice for a real one. I know, a puppy isn't the same but what a remarkable simulation ;) Oh, and as mentioned, I have start a Dogster.com page for her so there will be a healthy outlet for my obsession with taking pictures of Piko without subjecting all you lovely people.

The reason why I went to bed at 8:00pm on a Friday night

A Friday night!
Being in a four year relationship, I am no stranger to staying home and making Friday a Blockbuster/ Must See TV night. But to go to bed at 8:00pm?! Clearly, waking up at 12:00am and 3:00am finally caught up with me.

As you can see, Piko isn't much bigger than my slipper and, while I'm not ittybitty, my feet are on the small side. Thus, Piko is quite tiny. But she sure dishes it out! I won't gross you out and take a picture of her "elimination" (that's what the book calls her booboo and pee) but her #2 elimination has gotten much bigger from when she first came home. And stinkier. Boy, is it stinky.
Today, she got her first hair cut. Because the Fu Man cut wasn't working for us anymore. Not only was it not aesthetically pleasing but, when she would drink water, she would have enough water on her chin to soak her kennel blanket. So here is the now three-month-old Piko:

The Man fluffed her up to prove that Piko can have a straight-haired afro. Like her Mama Lu.

You're probably thinking, "Doesn't she have anything, anything else to write about?" No, I don't. I take care of Piko, go to work, take care of Piko and sleep. I would love to have something else to write about but I don't. So I continue to type about my puppy.

Completely smitten

Piko now weights four lbs, 10 ounces. She survived her first vet appointment and her first thermometer up her private-puppy-part.

She is named Piko for two reasons. One, she is half Pekingese so her name sounds like Pee-koh. The reason why her name is spelled P-i-k-o is because she had an umbilical cord repair and has a small scar. "Piko" means navel or belly button in Hawaiian. So there you have it - Piko.

I am SUPER tired. She and I have been getting up at midnight, 3am and then 5am. I'm hoping to eliminate midnight tonight. We shall see.

Although I am not going to write much in this entry, I've filled it with pictures of Piko. Here are some pictures that will give you a better perspective of her size and personality:

With her snazzy Target reindeer.

Ready to kick the reindeer's butt.

Piko displaying her determination to take the "Alpha Dog" title from her Daddy.

Introducing a new member of the family

Not since Big Martha, has someone commanded so much space in my home. I introduce to you the most littlest kick ass dog on the block, weighing in at a whoppin' four pounds:

PIKO (Pee-koh)

She probably went wee shortly after taking this picture.

Since her arrival home, she's had two accidents, four successful wees on the pee pad, and made a small poo on our first neighborhood walk (being responsible dog owners, Jon2 dutifully took out the plastic bag and picked it right up.) And like a baby, it was green. I just thought you'd like to know.

We are tired. We have watched her every single moment so we can predict when our little one has to wee so we can haul ass to the pee pad. And the reason why she is kick ass? She went by herself to the pee pad by the end of the day. Unfortunately, my cousin tell me that she will probably forget.

I will be the one to wake up every two hours to get her from her crate/kennel to the peepee pad in the hopes that sooner or later (and I'm rooting for sooner) she will be able to hold in through the night.

Piko, like many A-list celebrities, can only take so much of the camera before she will have no more from the paparazzi.

Big news - fluffy package

OK. Jon-Jon and I have been talking about this for a while. I didn't want to share with you guys yet because we wanted to make sure we were serious. We know that this is a big decision - big responsibility and big money! So we've started some preliminary research on finding the perfect puppy for us -

We weren't ready to get a puppy for quite some time, even though we've been wanting one. For goodness sake! When are we ever home? But Jon2 is going to have three weeks off very soon. This will give us (OK - HIM!) time to acclimate the puppy to its new surroundings. What about never being home? Well, The Man will most likely have a trailer at his next job site and he is allowed to bring a dog to work,. So puppy will most likely go with him nearly every day to work. I hear it is quite possible for me to bring a tiny dog to work, too but I kind of doubt that. I have, however, a friend close by who said that as long as my dog is not possessed, she will take care of it once a week and she works within five minutes of my work place.

My heart is set on a Maltese. From the research we've done online, this breed is the most compatible with our ideal puppy traits. But we've come across two problems. The first is that we do not know Maltese breeders in our area. We've looked them up but we don't know them from a bucket of paint. The second is that the one breeder that was referred to us by a coworker wants $1,700 for her puppies. I won't even tell you why that's a problem for us.
I'm not sure where that leaves us. If any of you know of a good breeder or know someone that knows someone, please help a sister out. We are very loving couple who would give a puppy a very nice home. And if not a Maltese, a reputable place we can buy/adopt a small dog, pure or mixed*? Open to most small dogs except a chihuahua. Or any other dog that may pee if you look at it funny. I cannot stand nervous dogs.
*If you're wondering why a small dog, it's because small dog=small poop. I can't deal with big poop.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

10/26/06: (Please read my last comment.) And here I go, already breaking my promise! This was taken by the seller. She is MUCH cuter in person/doggie. (I took a picture of her with my phone and I've discovered the gal just isn't photogenic! It's OK, though. She's cute - she looks very much like a lhasa apso puppy.) Oh, and we have a name. I'll introduce you when I post a picture that WE take a picture of her. Maybe she will learn to flirt with the camera by then ;)

What the F*CK is happening to my show?!?!

Isaiah Washington -- A Terror on the Set?
Posted Oct 22nd 2006 3:00AM by TMZ Staff

Isaiah Washington got into it big time with Patrick Dempsey on the set of 'Grey's Anatomy.' Now TMZ has learned that Washington has had other on-set blowups.

A simmering feud between the two actors bubbled over last week, when Washington reportedly got in Dempsey's face, said some "disgusting things," then allegedly pushed "McDreamy" against a wall and choked him. We're told the incident was so intense it shut down production for a short time.

Now TMZ has learned of two other incidents that make Washington sound like "Dr. McNightmare." In the year 2000, Washington was shooting the TV show "Soul Food" for Showtime in Toronto. Washington and an actress, who played his wife, were shooting a scene in which Isaiah was supposed to give the woman a superficial kiss. We're told to the horror of everyone, Washington grabbed the woman and planted a "forceful, aggressive kiss."
The actress became irate, which then infuriated Washington who began screaming at her. At that point the director stepped in to correct Washington, and the actor went off on him. Executive Producer Tracey Edmonds then took over and Washington went off on her.

In 1997 there was yet another incident on the set of the TV show "High Incident." Washington was a guest star on the show, but we're told the gig ended abruptly after the actor had a physical altercation with a crew member. We're told it was serious enough that police were called.

As for the "Grey's Anatomy" melee, there are reports that Washington taunted Dempsey by saying, "I'm not your little faggot like [name redacted]," referring to a fellow cast member. Yesterday, "Grey's" cast member T.R. Knight revealed to PEOPLE magazine that he's gay, possibly prompted by public revelation of Washington's outburst.

People, learn how to act right! Especially when you are on a hit show! NO ONE is too good to get fired.

Creature of habit - the news

I like surprises. I dislike monotony. I like challenges and overcoming them. I'm up for trying almost anything once (the exception would be me going splat. And by that, I mean bungee jumping. F-that. But that's not my point.) I'm a fun-lovin' gal.

But sometimes, sometimes, I do not like change.

I have caught whiff of a rumor that I know is more than a rumor. Details to come when I know I won't get canned for writing said details.
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10.21.06 - My boss, the one who hired me, the one who convinced me this was a smart career change, the one who has basically been my mentor, the one who - when I compare to other managers - is by far the most fun, caring yet still successful, the one who I genuinely like as a boss, is being promoted and moving to another team.
If you've ever wondered if it's possible to be pissed at and happy for a person at the same time ... it is very possible.

Refreshed, rejuvenated and I have pictures!

I love the ocean. Even I wonder why since I'm not exactly a water baby - I'm not a strong swimmer or participate in any water activities like surfing. But I love, love the ocean. I like to go to the beach when I'm upset, sad or happy. Something about the way the water stretches all the way to the horizon, that I can't even see where the ocean touches land again, the sunlight dancing on the water, the waves crashing or just lapping against the sand. All of this makes me feel better. It's like free therapy. For real.

Anyway, about my trip. It was great. Of course, there was the main reason why we went to Hawaii. Look at my friend's beautiful wedding!

Absolutely gorgeous, right? They really had the most amazing backdrop. You can't tell but it was hotter than all-get-out. For whatever reason, there is very little breeze where The Kahala is located. No ocean breeze=sweating in uncomfortable places. But it was beautiful!

Since it was The Man's first time on Oahu, I wanted to take him to all the places I enjoyed on previous visits. Unfortunately, he could only take two days off of work. Well, one day for arrival, one day for departure, and one day for the wedding left only one day for him to explore (I took five days off and arrived on a Sunday so, um, I was good to go. I make no apologies!!) So we tried to fit in as much as possible.

(Day of wedding) What's a trip to Oahu without squeezing in a hike up Diamond Head first thing in the morning?

Day after the wedding: On our way to the Polynesian Cultural Center, we went to Kualoa Beach Park. (I think Lost tapes around this area.)
Helpful tip: Don't assume places open the standard 9:00am or 10:00am. The freakin' PCC doesn't open until 12:00pm! (Oh, and a very helpful tip: Don't try to visit the PCC on a Sunday. The Mormons are diligent about getting their church on so the PCC is closed on Sunday. Did you know that Brigham Young University runs the Polynesian Cultural Center? That explains the "no alcohol" at their luau. That's OK. It's a damn good luau. I digress.)
So we killed some time and explored La'ie:

La'ie Point

It was finally noon and time to go to the PCC! We took a tour with a bunch of other peeps (but I think we were the only brown ones. I'm just sayin'.) I like the PCC. It's not cheap but part of our admittance fees went towards student scholarships to BYU. I'm a sucker for poor college students, being a former one myself. Anyway, our tour guide was "Cousin Lety." (FYI: The tour guides are all called "Cousins" and each tour group is a "family.") Cousin Lety sounds like a she would be a cute tiny, maybe even Filipino, woman. Well, our Cousin Lety was a six foot plus, solid Samoan dude. Very nice but bubbly, he wasn't. The Man and I dug him. He toured us around the PCC and took us to the seven islands. At the end, Cousin Lety said he saved the best for last. Our tour ended in Samoa. Like most of the tour, I had to pee. Again. When I came back from the bathroom, The Man told me to sit in front instead of finding our normal relief in the shade. WTF? It was hot! Well, Cousin Lety had asked The Man point blank to volunteer for the show. The Man didn't know what to say. Except yes.
If you know The Man at all, you know he is a very shy feller! Damn straight I was going to sit in the front and take pictures!

"Hey there, sexy!"

The Man later told me that he had a couple of minutes to learn how to start a fire before they were called up onto the stage. Right before they went on, they told him he had to go authentic and take of his shirt. Sweeeeeeet.

Once our tour was done, it was nearly sunset and The Man and I agreed to skip the luau. Instead, we went to an awesome, and I mean awesome, shrimp shack in Kahuku. Unfortunately, no pics. Sure, it looked like a Roach Coach but the town is known for their mobile shrimp shacks. And The Man and I dined on TO-DIE-FOR garlic butter shrimp. Bomb ass shellfish. What a great way to end the day.

The next morning and our last day, we walked to the Royal Hawaiian ...

... and ate breakfast. Then we took one last dip in the ocean. A few hours later, we were on a plane going home. And that concludes Lulu's trip to Hawaii! OK, there was a lot more but (1) I'm a little drunk now and (2) I'm lucky if I've kept you captivated this far. Just know that I had a great time and I'm glad that The Man had a nice first trip to Oahu.Where there's smoke, there's fire, right? Um, no. But The Man was the closest! If you look closely, the dude next to him used a lighter. Cheater! Like his shirt? Courtesy of the Lulu:)No judging, it was humid. The Kahala

I don't expect you to do this ... but it would be nice!

Another survey (thanks, Sister!) until I'm able to post my Hawaii pictures :)
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Staffing Manager
Q. What color are the socks you're wearing?
A. none.
Q. What are you listening to right now?
A. The TV, we we're watching 24
Q. What was the last thing that you ate?
A: granola bars and yogurt
Q. Can you drive a stick shift?
A. no
Q. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
A. perwinkle
Q. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
A. Marisa
Q. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
A. I looooove her!
Q. How old are you today?
A. 27
Q. Favorite drink?
A. Rum and Cherry Diet Coke
Q. Have you ever dyed your hair?
A. Yes.
Q. Pets?
A. None
Q. Favorite food?
A. Dad's lumpia. And spaghetti. And fried chicken. And fried banana. My daddy can cook!
Q. What was the last movie you watched?
A. Little Miss Sunshine
Q. Favorite day of the year?
A. Christmas!
Q. What do you do to vent anger?
A. rant and rave
Q. What was your favorite toy as a child?
A. My cabbage patch doll, Windy.
Q. What is your favorite: fall or spring?
A. Fall (Winter wasn't a choice. Haters)
Q. Hugs or kisses?
A. Hugs
Q. Cherries or Blueberries?
A. Blueberries. In muffins
Q. Do you want your friends to email you back?
A. Yes. I'm very sensitive
Q. Who is most likely to respond?
A. Not a damn one. It's too long
Q. Who is least likely to respond?
A. Everybody
Q. Living arrangements?
A. In sin
Q. When was the last time you cried?
A. the car ride home
Q. What is on the floor of your closet?
A. a bunch of crap like bags
Q. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to?
A. Sister
Q. What did you do last night?
A. Watch Grey's Anatomy
Q. Favorite smells?
A. baking smells, The Man's cologne, apple & cinnamon
Q. What inspires you?
A. Good deeds and people
Q. What are you afraid of?
A. Failure
Q. Favorite dog breed?
A. Maltese for now
Q. Number of keys on your key ring?
A. 3
Q. How many years at your current job?
A. less than 1
Q. How many states have you lived in?
A. 1
Q. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery
A. Nope
Q. What is your favorite hobby?
A. Knitting & Yoga (if I could attend my favorite yoga class which I can't b/c of my work schedule!) Oh, and Hula because I've been reinspired by my trip to Hawaii!

Almost there ...

I can almost smell the ocean air. I swear to you, I'm not bragging. I have earned this vacation. And if I could, I would pack each and every one of you with me in my carry-on! It would be just one big party.

One day, my lovely peeps, one day. Except not in my carry-on. That would just be weird.

9/30/06: Bye everybody, see you online in about a week! Aloha!!! PS: It's 7:35pm and I still haven't packed. Procastinators of the world - unite!!!

Four more days until ...

HAPPY BIRFDAY, SISSER!!

(Lucky for both of us, I have no soft copies of our childhood pictures!)

Demondoll's birthday is today. She is my best friend. When I was little, she was the "fun one" in the family. Unlike most older sisters, she took me almost everywhere she went. She was maternal way before she had a baby. Of course, I have to tell you about just how feisty my sister is to celebrate the day of her birth.

When I was five or six, I was the smallest kid in my class. I might as well have worn a "Kick Me" sign on my back. The second smallest girl, of course, felt the need to pick on me. More than twenty years later, I still remember her name. It was Valerie.

Maybe it was a week but it felt like months. Every day I would come home and tell Sister how she would pick on me. Valerie turned my friends against me, said mean things to me and behind my back, took things from my desk and hid them, and once, had the nerve to push me. I remember when I came home and told Sister about that. I think after hearing story after story about Valerie, my Sister thought enough was enough. She gave me "tough love." Sister basically told me that I better stand up for myself. Yes, mom said she would punish me if I got into trouble. But so what? "You had better shove her back if she shoves you or I don't want to hear it anymore" Sister said. I didn't know what to think. I was five years old and my Sister was telling me to go again what Mommy said. After she gave me a-talkin'-to, Sister gave me a hug, told me that she loved me and she just doesn't want someone to keep being mean to her little sister.

I don't remember the details. But Sister told me that the next day, Valerie pushed me again. Keeping in mind my sister's advice, I pushed Valerie back. Hard. And she fell back. In a puddle. In her faux fur white coat. That's what she gets for wearing a tacky article of clothing. My teachers told my mom who scolded me when I got home. Again, I don't remember the details but I'm betting that my Sister gave me a big hug and either took me to the movies or bought me an accessory for my Barbie to let me know I done good.

Over twenty years later, Sister still gives pretty great advice. And she is a very very cool Sister. She is loving, sweet and wonderful. But she also knows when to whoop some ass.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SISTER!!!!

Crotchless panties or spa treatment?

I know, it depends on the gal. But I know my friend and she digs spa treatments more than lingerie. (I'm not knocking it, I'm just sayin'.) We are leaving for Oahu next week for her wedding and, as a bridesmaid, it's one of my duties to make sure she's relaxed. So off we went to Burke Williams!

Today I took her for an awesome pedicure -
"Foot Fantasy - We soak your hands and feet in a special blend of essential oils. Your feet and calves, hands and forearms are cleansed and exfoliated. Then, your tired muscles are gently but firmly massaged, again. Finally, your nails are trimmed, shaped and polished."

While this place doesn't give the best massages, they have plenty of space to lounge around - a quiet room with comfy recliners, a big jacuzzi, and an area that looks like a living room. It's closest thing I've seen in the Bay Area to the wonderful spas in Las Vegas.

We went to Burke Williams bright and early this morning. It was soooo nice. There weren't as many people around so it was very peaceful. In the Manicure/Pedicure Room, there were only three pedicure chairs in the room and, because it was early, my friend and I were the only one clients. What was different from most nail salons is that the pedicurists didn't talk to each other. They were quiet. And that was just wonderful. My friend and I relaxed in peace as our ladies loved our poor feet.

Anyhow, I don't remember her name but my woman was wonderful. (How very man-ish of me.) She gave an awesome foot massage - the kind that makes your feet tingle even after she's done with the massage. And my friend had a great pedicure, too! We were very happy gals when we left. My gift to her before she goes to Hawaii and gets hitched. I like these kind of gifts.

A tribute to this season's Dancing with the Stars

I admit that I don't take the time to watch this show. But I do know who the "celebrities" (rabbit ears fingers motion) are this season. Blogs aren't meant to have reruns but c'mon, this was an oldie but goodie:

HEY, is that SLATER?

I am so EXCITED!!!

The season premiere of Grey's Anatomy is tonight!!!
I love, love, LOVE this show.
With that said, it better not pull a "Desperate Housewives" and stink to high heaven in its the third season.

And know what else is really cool? Well, I took The Man to Monterey this past weekend for his birthday. It was freakin' expensive (and I mean, expensive) but he's worth it. The poor dude has been working 21 days straight. I think he was grateful for the little break. Also, knowing what a broke gal I am, he was truly appreciate of my efforts. So, being the cool guy he is, he surprised me a couple days later with this ..


Sweeeeeeeeeeeet.

Thank goodness it's almost Fall

Knitting* in 80+ degree weather is NOT cozy. It is hot and causes me to have sweaty hands. Ew.

But it was all worth it because ...

Here is a Summer purse:

(A gift for a lucky someone!)

And a scarf when it finally becomes cold. I love the Fall colors.

(It's only half way done. These freakin' reversible cables take for-ever.)

*This is what I do when The Man and I relax and watch 24. Which, by the way, I swear was written by someone who HATES women. The female characters are all helpless and make stupid decisions which annoys me. They make me yell at the TV and I actually wish them death so they are written off the show. My behavior is completely out of my control. The Man is used to my outbursts. Plus, he hates President Palmer's ex-wife. I hear, however, that in Season 2 the women are FIERCE. I am so excited.