For my non-facebook user friends

Not to take away from my beloved Elmo, but I have adopted a new baby....Pug, that is....a few people have requested photos posted to my (ex) blog so that they can see him for themselves.

I miss Elmo like you wouldn't believe and still find myself choking back tears almost daily. I still can't believe he is not here anymore....and Rio, I know they are together, frolicking about, chasing squirrels like there is no tomorrow.....I love you Elmo & Rio!

Here is the newest member of my family....he definitely keeps me busy and is truly a joy! (except in the middle of the night)....very smart & eager to learn!

Cheers!

Tribute to Rio

Sherrie's dog, Rio, joined Elmo in heaven today. She went peacefully in Sherrie's arms. And at last she is not in pain, and happily romping around at the Rainbow Bridge.

Lola

Hello friends and family! Just want to introduce everyone to the new addition to our family....Some of you may remember her from Jerry and Cecille, Dutch Harborites......Well, unfortunately they were unable to spend much time with her due to their demanding work schedules, so they let Sherrie take her and give her to my other sister, Cathy....let me tell you, she is totally spoiled already. So, anyone who knows Jerry & Cecille, please let them know, she is in very good hands....I'm babysitting her today for a little while, so that she can bond with her Aunt Lauri.

Here are some photos of her. Her name is now Lola (thanks to me!!!)

(the first few pics show her on my windowsill looking for Cathy)

Pics for the "Cuzins"

Here are some photos taken last weekend, when Scott's sister, Bonnie was visiting from Minnesota....they are soooo out of order, but I feel the pressure from my "cuz" to post some pics...so here they are.... After visiting the Space Needle, Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum, Westlake Center, Kells, AND Pike's Place Market, we dined at Anthony's....'twas such a fun day, capped off with a delicious dinner!

View from Anthony's....spectacular!

Oh yeah, we also stopped at the Ballard Locks....the grounds there are amazing!

LOL Anthony's again....Bonnie was majorly impressed with the flowers! I can't blame her.

At the Locks, watching the bridge raise.

Pretty cool scuplture at the Locks....here are Bonnie and my gorgeous husband....great photo :)

At the Locks! (Does he look like he wants his pic taken? I don't think so....)

Fisherman's Terminal....the Ranger memorial and Captain Phil's brought some tears....

Speaks for itself :)

Bonnie, not quite ready for her photo to be taken...but my battery was dying, so......

Very emotional.......

Fountain at City Center, Seattle...that's Bonnie down there....looking really really small!

My wonderful husband, Scott and I at Pike's Place Market.....posing with a life-sized piggy bank...it holds approx. $8,000 in change, can't remember what charity it goes to....LOL although we did donate (damn, getting old sucks)!

My battery was dying and Bonnies card was full, so we took some select photos...this being one of them....

Bonnie and Scott......

We met Keri (formerly of Sure Fish, in Dutch Harbor, now living in Seattle) at Kell's Irish Pub for lunch near Pikes....

Bonnie at the "Market"

Bonnie and Yoda at the Science Fiction Museum....

Bonnie, Scott and the villian from "Terminator"...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle posing with Bonnie at SFM

This was one of the only pics of Bruce I saw at EMP....I thought of Jane when I took this....Hi Jane!!!!!

Scott at top of Space Needle...(I hadn't been to the top since I was a little girl)....Amazing views of the city...I actually took photos panoramic style, but not sure if it worked out like I wanted them to, so I spared my viewers that agony :)

Before we went to EMP, Bonnie showed me one of the t-shirts she had packed and it was of Johnny Cash flipping the bird at San Quentin....Same exact pic!

It just wouldn't be an "experience music project" without "The King".....this one's for you, Sherrie ;)

Tower of guitars....look how little the people are standing by it...it's incredible!

The EMP building is a bizarre conglomeration of architecture....here are Bonnie and Scott standing outside one of the many different shapes.

Now onto the anniversary party at the "Pugh estate" (parent's house)...Frank in the foreground, Bonnie smiling so cutely for the camera.

Left to right....George Morgan (back-seater for my dad, in the SR-71 spy plane), Brenda Brindley (formerly of Dutch Harbor, she ran West Construction Bunkhouse, worked for USAFV, was a dispatcher for the DPS in Unalaska, and now lives in Sequim, WA)....Scott opening gifts...and my adorable mother, Deanna.

My dad, Tom, George's wife, Jan and Scott's sister Bonnie (my big fat hair ALMOST blocking them out of the photo)

Okay, so what would YOU put on a cake if YOU were throwing a party for YOURSELVES?????

Paul Cooper, Deanna, Sharon, and Cathy Cooper on the deck....

Michelle, Carrie (captain of boat out of Seward, AK), sister Cathy....Mike and Karla...

Love the Seattle skyline (taken from ferry)

Cruise ship and Space Needle taken from ferry.

This is Niles, my neighbors 7 month old pug dog....he found a strawberry and carried it around for awhile before he ate the whole thing!!!

I need to add a footnote to this post...

To Bonnie; I totally enjoyed your visit...... You need to visit WAY MORE OFTEN.....I love you Sis

To Keri: Ditto what I said to Bonnie....both of you totally cheered me up, after losing my baby, Elmo AND turning 50 all in the same week, was brutal. Thanks for the fabulous weekend :)

Finally to Scott: I had the best dog in the world, I have amazing friends and a terrific family, but the best of all is: I am married to the best man on the planet!!! I love you ;)

Tribute to my beloved Elmo

My love of my life, Elmo passed away in my arms this morning. He went peacefully, thanks to the Winslow Animal Clinic here in Bainbridge Island, WA. It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make....I did it for him, his quality of life was not good, he had a tumor on his front leg, and while it could have been removed, the recovery time for a dog his age would have been long, and painful. He also had a large lump on his lymph node. There are tests that could have been performed, but I don't think he would have wanted to spend his last time on earth having blood drawn, surgery after surgery on various parts of his body. I held his face in my hands and told him how much I love him, and that I will see him again at the Rainbow Bridge....for those of you who are not familiar with The Rainbow Bridge, here it is......

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

I know in my heart that Elmo is waiting for me there...he is healthy and happy and probably chasing squirrels.

Rest in Peace my precious Elmo...and thanks for being my dog. I love you.