A Kid After My Own Heart

I could TOTALLY relate to this one, except for the part about being a boy.

Big thanks to George for allowing me to use it!

For more "Being Five," visit his blog by clicking the link in the left column. It's under the header "Other Sites and Blogs That Entertain Me."

Our Own Little Margaritaville

I love the beach. Always have. And I know that there are nicer beaches than South Padre, but (dang it!) it's the closest one I can visit, so I'll take it!

In the middle of all the pool construction, we took a long weekend from the normal chaos to drive down and enjoy some down-time. Ahhhhhhhhh! It's great living in Texas where you can still enjoy the weather in mid-October out on the beach. So many advantages: 1) it's off-season 2) so the prices are great and 3) there's hardly anyone around so 4) you practically have the beach to yourself to 5) enjoy the warm weather and 6) brave the Gulf of Mexico waters which are 7) slightly chilly when you first get in but not unbearable and you get used to the temperature quickly.

It just happened to be the weekend for Sandcastle Days which we've missed by a weekend or two in the past, so that was a neat little extra. We did have a bit of a hiccup with the rental property, but luckily it was quickly remedied before we even left the house.

Apparently, with all the hurricanes hitting the Gulf this summer, SPI has suffered some residual damage not only from the storms themselves, but things being washed down the coastline from Houston's Hurricane Ike. Many properties (condos, hotels, restaurants, shops, et al.) were closed down for repairs but the condo we've stayed in was unaffected. However, the property owner had rented it out for the summer to a woman who was waiting for her own property to be refurbished...and she was still renting it due to delays.

Sandy (the lady we rent from) had confirmed with her renter at the beginning of the week that said renter would NOT be using the condo the weekend we planned to be there. The DAY BEFORE we were to arrive, the renter changed her mind deciding that was the only weekend SHE could stay in the condo so Sandy was then left with the dilemma of finding someplace else for us and at such short notice.

It's a good thing Sandy lives and works (as a realtor) on the island because she used all her resources to find us a place to stay. It was upstairs from her own condo so we were familiar with the property, its owners were in the process of getting the carpeting updated so they allowed us to bring Bow (which was the plan all along), gave us a break n the normal rate, and it was about the same size so all five of us would have a place to sleep. Sold! We were just happy that we didn't have to cancel as we were ALL looking forward to it.

Anyway, here's another little slideshow to give you a peek at our own little Margaritaville...

MORE Concrete...and then some!

So watching them pour concrete became old hat...or so we thought. When it came time to do the "deck" around the pool, we were more curious about the stamping process. Hopefully these photos will give you an idea of how it's done.

Enjoy the show!

Outdoor Chef Needed!

Living in Texas you get used to all things grilled and/or BBQ'd. I could slip into a Bubba Gump-type recital of everything grill-worthy from vegetables to meats to well, even desserts, but you get the picture. Luckily enough we can enjoy that smoky outdoor flavor pretty much year-round; sometimes we might have to don a jacket, but isn't it worth it?

Well, here's the new outdoor kitchen taking shape...and visions of kebobs, steaks, veggies, and ....



































Now if only I
can wait long enough for it to be finished!

Get on the Floor!

These pictures show the patio transformation:


















































As well as the edges of the hot tub.

The Wall...

Here are a few photos showing the tiling and coping of our back porch and the hot tub. From what I've seen so far, I think it's going to look great...much better than the large concrete slab we had anyway!

All Dogs Go To Heaven

Before everyone freaks out...Bow is okay.

Nothing has happened to him.

This was in my inbox this morning and I just thought I'd share it...since it's between the dates we celebrate Bow's birthday (September 10th) and the anniversary of his adoption (October 31st...he thinks all the trick-or-treaters are there to commemorate his adoption into our family, I'm sure of it!). I just found out that October 11th is Dog Rules Day, too, so this post seems a perfect way to celebrate that.

I know I am behind on the pool updates and photos, but I hope to get those out today or over the weekend for sure. So until then, enjoy this life lesson...

Then....

Strongbow on his new bed

'Bow rolling around in the grass

Now...

Posing in the front yard and...
Still lovin' a good roll around in the grass.

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

• Live simply.
• Love generously.
• Care deeply.
• Speak kindly.
• Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
• Take naps.
• Stretch before rising.
• Run, romp, and play daily.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you're not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
• ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!