Stunt Dog Experience with Alex

Last Sunday, November 13th I took Alex to see The Stunt Dog Experience at our local Bankhead theatre. After crossing the street between the parking garage and the theatre we stopped to visit Livermore's iconic statue stationed directly in front of a corner ice cream shop. The sculpture is a charming portrayal of a boy sharing his ice cream with a dog. The title of the art sculpture is Sunday with Jessie. Alex patted the top of the dog's head. Many a hand must have done the same. The paint is wearing off in the stroking spot.

As we were about to enter theatre for the matinee show I had Alex pause by the poster advertising with The Stunt Dog Experience.

Once inside the theatre lobby was an area featuring a local adoption agency. Alex made friends with a little chihuahua. Every dog in the show had been rescued from a local shelter or pound. Several were narrowly adopted just the day before scheduled euthanasia.

I encouraged Alex to leave the dog he was petting to enter the theatre telling him there would be many more dogs inside. He needed convincing because I think his philosophy is a that a dog is like a bird – one in the hand in worth more than several in another room. But he and I did eventually head toward our seats. There were banners hanging on the stage.

I took my requisite event selfie of the two of us once we were settled in our seats.

Our seats were in Row L, not quite front row seats, but they were on aisle and the way seats were angled we had a great view. Being farther back was actually an advantage. We could see the full travel of the Frisbees as they were flung from one side of the stage to the other and high in the air, And when there were time trials where the dogs negotiated a slalom, a hoop, a tunnel and a ball catch, we could capture it all with little head movement. Alex laughed a lot, especially when the dogs barked and he clapped with glee at their antics.

After the show some of the canine stars gathered in the lobby for a meet and greet. One of the livelier performers was a part cattle dog mix, a high energy breed. The emcee of the show described him as part clown, part athlete, and part ADD. Alex petted him but we were told the dog was not a lover.

Alex had to go to another cream colored performer to get some doggie kisses.

Although it had been quite sunny when we arrived, the sky had opened up and it was pouring rain as we made our way outdoors back to the car. There was several inches of water building up within the gutters outside the garage.

I had not brought umbrellas but Alex was undaunted and squealed "wet...Wet...WET" as we scurried to the car. Well, "scurried" until our timing was off and we just missed the pedestrian crosswalk light. We had to stand in the pouring rain until it S-L-O-W-L-Y changed back to "walk". The picture does indeed reveal that Alex got wet!

Once home, Alex tried on his new stunt dog T-shirt. Efforts to get him to look at me and smile were fruitless.

Alex preferred to look down and admire his new shirt.

The stunt dogs from the show have fame all their own. From 1999-2000 they performed for every half time show for the San Francisco 49ers home games at Candlestick Park. They have been on television shows such as Late Night with Dave Letterman, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Good Morning America, and the Tonight Show. The founder and emcee of experience is Chris Perondi who is a firm believer and proponent of adopting dogs from rescues and shelters. Check out the web site http://www.stuntdogshow.com/ and scroll down watch the feature video on Youtube. It is an excellent showing of what Alex and I enjoyed so much. There are a few facts about the show in the next photo. The Stunt Dog Experience is two 30-35 minute segments with a 15-20 minute intermission in between. Be sure to take the family when the touring show is near you. 

As I write this post on Thanksgiving Day, the National Dog Show is playing on the TV in the background. How ironic. These focus-bred canines are quite a contrast to the lovable, lively, eclectic mutts from the stunt show. I am learning a lot about the pedigreed pooches. Did you know that the long ears of basset hounds sweep along the ground as they sniff to help funnel the scent to their nose? Terriers have long tails and are white so that when they relentlessly pursue their quarry down a ground tunnel, the owner can see them and haul them back by their tail. I guess mutts, unlike pedigree breeds, were meant to entertain.

Half Moon Bay Birthday Trip

Yesterday was Frank's 68th birthday. I refrained from buying him yet another book. Our book shelves are overflowing and we have stacks around the house. I opted out of purchasing him another tool. He has specific ones that need replacing and only he knows those details. I suggested instead that we take a day trip to enjoy each other's company and see some interesting sights. We went to Half Moon Bay, a small coastal village with a quaint downtown area and state beaches, about sixty miles west-southwest of us on the Pacific coast. Going there mid-morning was a little over an hour's drive. Upon arrival we stopped at its visitor center to get our bearings and looked at this map on the wall.

We spent most of our time during our visit mainly in the downtown central area of the map. We drove a few blocks west on Main Street, parked, and strolled the area.

The first store we went in on Main Street was called The Paper Crane. The subtitle on the door reads Cards, Gifts, Letterpress.

It was actually a bit nostalgic for Frank. In the rear of the store were two presses with platens. His dad had those very same type of presses in the basement of his childhood home. He wondered what had happened to them and I learned he had even explored their availability on eBay.

The store actually still did printing - not the digital kind - hands on printing with ink and presses and metal blocks to form letter and number images. 

They had a huge selection of fonts along with composing sticks to do the typesetting.

Along one wall of another store was a huge ocean mural. The surfer is nearly life size. Compare Frank and him.

Another building had a stunning mosaic. Can you see the pumpkin? Look closely and you might spot the raccoon, too.

Perhaps the camouflaged masked critter is easier to pick out in this closeup.

We stopped for lunch at the Moonside Bakery and Cafe. In front was a metal sculpture that I assume doubled as a rack for parking bikes.

We shared a huge chicken sandwich, mmm. Then, since it is an award winning bakery and it was his birthday, Frank had a luscious pumpkin pie tart.

After finishing our tour down one side of Main Street we crossed to explore the opposite side. Look at this pretty house at the intersection where we crossed.

Some stores were clustered in groups and shared enclosed outdoor patio areas. Frank is relaxing in this one.

Color abounded in the area. I loved this two-tone purple bench next to the bright orange pumpkins. Alas, I am not Peter Pan and my shadow stuck with me for this photo in front of the Half Moon Bay Inn. Frank and I both thought we might like to come back and stay a night here sometime so we could spend longer than just half a day looking around and have the  opportunity to visit the beach area as well. We were aware that although it only took us an hour to get to Half Moon Bay earlier in the day, commuter traffic driving home could easily double that travel time. Once we were home I checked the HMB Inn website and the decor looked inviting and prices were not unreasonable. So next time... maybe...

We browsed a furniture store called Cottage Industries that carried impressive hand crafted furniture. In keeping with my collection of unusual signage, I offer this one that was posted at the entrance. Why is the arrow pointing up if it is a cellar? We did visit that cellar. Chip and Joanna Gaines from the HGTV show Fixer Upper would have approved of the decorative pieces there. Nice stuff in this store...

The hostess at the Visitor Bureau had told us to check out the Half Moon Bay Feed and Fuel Company, that it was fun. Well, I will admit that the screaming coral hue of the exterior paint was quite striking.

The arch shaped sign over the front door was also beckoning - at least perhaps to Frank.

But the true advertising intent of the sign was made apparent once we entered the store. There were indeed many, many, chicks.

One of the T-shirts they were selling had some well rounded words of advice from a pumpkin, courtesy of http://shop.yourtruenature.com/ - 2013. Check out this fun site. It has pithy advice from several other sources of nature – tree, wolf, etc.

* Be well rounded * Get plenty of sunshine * Give thanks for life's bounty *
* Have a thick skin * Keep growing * Be outstanding in your field *

*  Don't go to seed *

When it was time to head home, we did drive past the beach briefly, knowing we would have to come back another time to get out of the car and do justice to the scenic walking trail. This sign caught our attention as we made our way out of town and back toward the freeway. I barely caught it in the cell phone view finder as we drove past. I must admit, I have never seen a sign like that before. It is further proof we were near the beach!

Once on the freeway we saw this exit that came before where we would get off. I asked Frank if he knew what Pulgas was. He did not, so I looked it up on my smart phone. Alameda de las Pulgas translates from Spanish to English as Grove of the Fleas. Yuk! How did this come about? 

I looked up the origins of the name and found this archive web site that stated

This Rancho received the name “Las Pulgas” from an incident which happened October 27, 1769 when the Portola Expedition camped near the ocean shore and the mouth of Purisima Creek. Camp was made on the south bank but some soldiers thought they would try sleeping in the deserted village of Indian tule huts on the north bank. Even one night’s occupancy was too long, and they fled, crying, “las pulgas,” the fleas. “Las Pulgas” was the name applied to the village, for its identification, in the notes of Constanso, the Army Engineer with the Expedition.

The drive home took longer because of the traffic but Frank and I easily passed the time listening and singing to the Beach Boys. It was a nice change from Disney's It's Small World that we have to play when Alex is in the car with us. Does this playlist bring back memories?

I had planned to cook up a ham steak and make sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows as a birthday dinner but it was kind of late. We looked at each other and I offered that I did have TV dinners in the freezer... Frank quickly said "Great, let's do that". So we skipped the fancy meal, but Frank did get a piece of brownie with ice cream along with a candle to blow out. I think the day's excursion, made on a lark, worked out well - better than a book or tool - and Frank agreed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK!

Ponder Post: I Won!

What a nice uplifting surprise I got today. While on an afternoon walk with Frank, my cell phone rings and it is Alden Lane Nursery calling to tell me I had won $200 total in gift cards. I drove right over to pick up the prize.

How did this happen you ask? Last Friday, Frank and I had made our annual circuit of stores in local downtown Livermore that participate in a Holiday Open House Passport event. At each store you are invited to purchase one item of your choice at 25% off. If you collect a stamp from all eight participating merchants, your name is put in a drawing for $200 in gift certificates. It was my name that got pulled out! Now I get to go back to every one of those stores and spend my $25 at each. That will not be hard. I am familiar with and like each of these shops. Although not required to get a stamp, I bought something in all but two stores of the eight stores, each fun to browse and every one to my taste. Here is a smattering of photos of the unique shops.

In Between Stitches is my local quilt shop. I can always find something in there I just have to have!

Next to In Between Stitches are two home decor stores, Main Street Designs and Proctor's. They each carry a small selection of costume type artsy jewelry, also.

Also along Main Street is Divine Boutique and Outside In. The first is for clothes. I enjoy the inside decor even though on our holiday passport this is one store in which I did not buy something. I did try something on, but I passed on purchasing it.

Outside In carries home and garden decor. They have delightfully whimsical novelties and they are adjacent to my quilt shop so I browse there often. Friday was a look-but-not-buy day here.

Coolykatz Toys is one block away from Main Street. Last Friday we made several purchases in that store. Notable purchases here in past Christmases with the holiday passport 25% off have been a rocking locomotive and a rocking firetruck both carved out of wood, Now I am positive I will make good use of the $25 gift certificate in here!

Our next-to-last stop was the Main Street Christmas Store. It is a bit early, but never the less, we got to immerse ourselves in the season for a brief time. They had some lovely Christmas picture books here.

Alden Lane Nursery is not only a pleasant place to be but the last weekend of September every year they host a quilt show. It had been our final shop to visit where we dropped off our filled out passport Friday and where I returned to pick up that exciting $200 prize today.

I love Livermore!

Ponder Post: Etta and Otto and Russell and James

Why did I pick this book to read? The topic was about an 83-year old women who sets out to walk 3,232 km eastward from rural Canada to see the ocean. It is an impulsive, gutsy move that piqued my curiosity. Also, having just returned from Montreal, I thought I would continue my Canadian immersion. I found out about Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper (2015) from my daughter-in-law who had recently completed it as one of her book club's selections. I asked her if she liked it and was bemused by her response. "Yes, I did like it. It's a very quick read, so even if you don't like it, you won't spend much time not liking it. But I think you'll like it." (C.C. 10/19/16)

So the burning question is: "Did I like it?" My initial knee jerk response was, "Hell, No."

Upon further pondering I waffled toward the very wishy-washy opinion, "It depends."  But my daughter-in-law was right. I did not spend a lot of time "not liking" it.

I try not to read the reviews on books before I write my post. What I say really should be what I think and not be swayed by what others have voiced. But I had so many questions after finishing this book I could not just chalk it up as a turkey. Texting my daughter-in-law I learned that most of those very same questions had been raised in her bookclub discussions. Still avoiding reading reviews I sought out a reading group guide by the publisher Simon and Schuster. I was drawn in reading the discussion topics. I asked myself this, "Can a book that is this thought-provoking really be that bad?"

Etta and Otto and Russel and James had war, gore, hardship, injury, poverty, dementia, aging, maiming, and illiteracy in the novel although they were addressed in a very vague and non-graphic way. Alongside these negative topics was the quiet strength of love, fidelity, family bonds, determination, and acceptance but these traits were also subliminally conveyed between the lines of text. The book was written with quotes absent for spoken words; hand-penned letters were often the vehicle for tempered thoughts of the main characters. This punctuation style contributed to an almost stream of consciousness technique that is often used to convey a mood but is commonly very blurred on facts. I prefer something crisper and cleaner but I really do need to give Emma Hooper credit for being able to convey all the positives and negatives I listed above with such a watercolor (think Monet) narrative form rather than a crisp ink-pen (think Wysocki) grammatically edited text.

Finally I gave in and looked at the reviews on Amazon. Those fours stars are an average but customer reviewers either loved it or panned it. Even those who panned it though, could not help asking questions and digging deeper. It's high rating in Magical Realism tells you a bit about the writing style.

So, bottom line, would I recommend reading this book? It depends on what you want to get out of your reading. 

• Is it to get a good discussion group and topic going? By all means this is the book for you. 
• Is it thought-provocation and puzzling you are after? This choice is a good contender. 
• Is it light entertainment? I would not recommend this book. I like something with a happier tone. 

Etta and Otto and Russel and James is not among my first choices for a good read but I cannot call it a waste of time either. If forced into a one parameter metric I would give it three stars. Perhaps I have sparked your interest. Remember, "... even if you don't like it, you won't spend much time not liking it..."

Montreal: the Homestretch

Friday, October 14th
Friday was to be our last full day in Montreal before traveling home so we were going to take it easy, get a late start, and not spend too much time away from home base. The first mundane task of the day though was that John was going to drive me to a local Walmart to get cough syrup for Frank who was fighting an uphill battle against whatever bug he had. John and I stepped outside the front door, mildly surprised to see the windshield of his car frosted over.

Since he and Sue had driven up from the Boston area, I figured their car must be equipped with snow removal tools, and asked for one. John got out a scraper and was beginning to clear the ⅛" layer of frost. I said, " You must be pretty good at this. You probably do it every day in those Boston winters". John quipped back "Nah, I park the car in the garage".

I asked for a second tool and said cheerily, "Let me help. I don't mind." Then I added, just a tad smugly, "I rarely get the opportunity in California." Once the windshield was defrosted, John was still gracious enough to shuttle me to the drug store.

I got the cough syrup for Frank and we returned. We entered the northeast-facing front door of the house, passing the mudroom area on our right. Our collection of shoes was evidence we had gotten quite comfortable there.

Also in the mudroom immediately to our right, was our array of jackets and over-shirts, hung neatly, awaiting our next excursion. For Frank and me that would be when we left for the airport the next day. John & Sue and Joe & Margaret would make one more trip, without us, to visit a canal museum

Immediately to the left upon entry was a glass enclosed staircase, supporting the open concept philosophy of renovations these days that tries to knock down all barriers to the passage of light. Watch any design show. This staircase was quite unique though. It took each of us a couple days to remember where to enter to go which direction. I fought the instinctive reflex to stop abruptly each time I walked past that square hole in the floor ahead of me. The staircase also had no railings. I was glad I was not going to be the one cleaning all those handprints off the glass walls from folks climbing up and down those steps using the glass panels for security and balance. On the other hand, it is probably safest to keep the glass dirty and smudged.

Straight ahead, the view upon entering the home was a spacious kitchen in the west corner with an open concept layout. See those two highly styled modern faucets at the main sink and the sink in the island? Each of us experienced a lingering learning curve regarding the idiosyncrasies of those faucets. Mainly by trial and error, we gradually decreased the frequency with which we drenched the counters and dampened our clothes. We repeatedly learned our lesson the wet way. Our spirits, though, were not dampened. Each error evoked a startled reaction followed by a peal of laughter.

Looking toward the kitchen from the south corner showed a seating area that looked southwest out onto a patio and backyard.

The yard was inviting – small but modestly and nicely landscaped.

The dining table and six bright orange chairs in the south corner was great for meals and puzzles and games. In this photo is also a better view of that open concept stairwell first encountered in the entry way.

The artwork in the dining area had been hand painted by our hostess. The area was also a place conducive to reading.

Next to the dining area, in the east corner, was a television viewing area. The artwork there was not to my taste. The scale filled the expansive wall space, but then again, Sumo wrestlers are big enough to fill just about any area. Other than a common theme of BIG, I did not see how the paintings complemented each other – not in color, not in subject matter, not in emotions evoked. At least when facing the television I did not see the thong partitioned butt hanging above my head. Actually, as we sat on the futon/couch, Frank's head was underneath the left wrestler, not mine. I sat under the guy on the right doing the plié with arms outstretched as if to give a big hug. No thank you!

Since Frank did not feel well, he and I stayed home resting, reading, and watching a couple movies on Netflix while John & Sue and Joe & Margaret set off to visit a canal museum back in the Notre Dame Basilica region of old Montreal. Good fortune smiled on Frank and me because both movies we selected to watch were engaging and enjoyable - what are the odds, right? We watched the 2016 movie In-Lawfully Yours and the 2009 movie The Rebound.

In-Lawfully Yours had a Hallmark movie type feel to it, so great literature it was not, but it was a charming, predictable (though not sappy), feel-good romance none-the-less. Frank and I both liked it.

The Rebound was a little deeper. Its plot line follows a budding relationship between a guy in his twenties and an older more mature woman, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. He initially meets her in a women's self defense class she takes because of being divorced and recently relocated to New York City. He moves on to become a hired sitter for her two children and the relationship develops from there. It had some very funny scenes, some poignant scenes, and some downright sad scenes. I recommend it. It does make you think about the role that age difference plays in a relationship.

John & Sue and Joe & Margaret came back with some pastries to share. I liked the unique package design. The cardboard "box" with all the softly-rounded edges unwrapped by peeling back the first flap that was slit to fit over the handle. It sheltered a lemon meringue tart within its curved sides.

After one final evening of visiting and conversation we all retreated to our bedrooms on the upper second and third levels – all of us that is except Frank. Frank, for our final two nights, retired in a public area in the basement, that we had barely used. Frank slept down here so he could be propped vertical and so his violently coughing kept only him awake most of the night and not the rest of the household. I think maybe most of us did shoot a basket or two in the game seen in the background but that was about it. We had had a great visit and vacation but it was timely to be heading home to rest and reflect and, in Frank's case, to recover.

Saturday, October 15th
John & Sue left first in the morning since they were driving and wanted to be back to their home by 4:30 pm. We decided John had the longest arms so we all sat in that transparent stairwell and he took a selfie of the six of us.

Joe & Margaret and Frank & I had mid-afternoon flights and would be leaving late morning. Frank and I had our first experience using Uber, a real time, web based, taxi-type service. We shared a ride with Joe & Margaret. It was obvious I was a newbie at this. I stood outside watching for our driver to arrive. Margaret waited comfortably indoors and tracked its progress from the map displayed by the app on her iPhone. We rode together to YUL, Montreal's airport. Joe & Margaret had a direct flight from Montreal to Washington DC. We parted with Joe & Margaret at the ticket check-in counter since each couple had a different path passing through customs.

The itinerary for Frank and me took us from Montreal to Toronto to San Francisco; basically a 1 hour 20 min flight, 1 hour 20 min layover, and then a 6 hour flight. Frank and I had expected our customs process to be upon arrival at our destination airport but we were wrong. Customs for us was in Canada on both our outgoing and returning flights – in Montreal upon arrival and in Toronto upon departure. For our processing at Toronto Frank and passed this unique structure as we scurried along the circuitous second level path from one customs line to another. This different, leafy away to display the status board of arriving and departing flights caught my eye as worthy of a quick photo on our run (literally) to make our flight. Even with a 1 hour 20 min layover in Toronto, customs processing took long enough that we barely, just barely, boarded our flight to San Francisco before its departure time. Then we sat on the plane and waited about 45 minutes for our pilot and co-pilot who, ironically, had been delayed by... going through customs. 

Our flight to SFO had a few bumps but, other than its auspicious beginning, was relatively uneventful. We deplaned, waiting quite a long while to retrieve our luggage, long enough we were getting nervous about it being on the same flight as us. But it was and we began the remaining ground portion of our journey home, taking the shuttle bus to the parking garage, riding the elevator to the correct floor in the garage, walking to the correct aisle on that floor, and locating the car. I harkened back to the first cell phone  photo I had take for this trip. It was our parking garage location. Who can remember something like that for a week? Once in our car, we spiraled five floors down the end ramp to exit. Both of us admitted we were a bit car sick and nauseous from all that circular motion by the time we reached the bottom. It was raining that evening as Frank drove us home. We were tired and glad to be home.

Sunday, October 16th (and beyond)
I unpacked our suitcases and did laundry the very next day. As you can, see it took me three weeks to complete blogging about it all. The documentation process was hampered by Frank and me both being confirmed sick by doctors' visits and a delightful accompanying suite of medications. We are on the mend now though energy levels are taking their time getting back to normal. Here is a summary of our expeditions in brochure form to remind us where we went.

Here is the summary in ticket form to prove it really was us who went there.

At customs we collected stamps in our passports. Our only other souvenirs and proof that we'd "... been there, done that ..." were the grocery bag from the Metro grocery market where we food shopped and next to it the paper bag from when we bought muffins just before boarding for our Montreal to Toronto flight. We had nothing to declare at customs. Yay!

It wasn't Southwest Airlines - our usual carrier, but we still saved the complimentary bag of pretzels from Air Canada for Alex. Some travel traditions know no borders.