A Bonitacasa Christmas

Again, this video is from last year (2007) but I barely got it off my folks' camcorder in September and now onto Youtube - it took over 2 hours to load 8 minutes onto Youtube - so slllooowww!

That said: this video is quite amusing. You see a typical day at my mom's house - a lot of people talking at once (there is a reason why I speak so loudly, ya'll - - it is just to be heard!!); kids playing and running around, animals running around, and my mom's ever-present knack of shooting the ground when using the camera.

If you can stick watching it though, it's pretty funny. Starting with my mom's opener: "It's Christmas 207," and brother Gabe corrects her, "2007, mom..." - priceless.

Then if you can look out the window you see Patrick's dog, Fred-the-Basset chasing me and the kids around randomly while my niece recounts Fred visiting her dog, Lucy.

Also note that when Aunty Elsa takes over the Big Wheel Green Machines that Santa brought the kids for Xmas - I always liked those things as a kid - I am out for blood - - when you see me crash, I really am in pain landing on my tailbone... and what is funny is that no one pays attention to me but skips my injured body face down on the concrete to pay attention to the escaped Chihuahua named "Weeny" that ran into our yard from the neighbors to play with Fred...

Total pandemonium - that is why we are a lively bunch in our family! :)

Ciara's 10th Bday!

 

P's daughter, Ciara, turned 10 on Friday. The lucky gal got to celebrate her birthday all weekend with a half-day at school on Friday with movies and fun with her school frends; a party at Coronado Bay on Saturday AND another party all day at her tio's house in Bonita today. Whew! That's a lot of soda and junk food - :P

 

These pictures are all from Sunday as I couldn't stay long in Coronado due to my work schedule. Besides I mostly wanted to play with the kids on the jungle gym and swing and help my niece, Ariela, show off her new gymnastics moves to Ciara.

 

The party today was straight out of Ciara's favorite show, "George Lopez Show" - I joked to Patrick. Today consisted of the Mexican side of the family from Ciara's mom, Linda. Complete with Jumpee for the kids, pinata, beer for the adults (I prefer a mixed cocktail or margarita myself), flan and spicy chicken wings (no, thanks, but P loves 'em!) and background boombox playing hip hop and latin oldies - it really was like the George Lopez show hehehe!

 

Patrick even brought Fred-the-Basset who is very social and loves hanging around people, begging for food, catching any crumbs, barking loudly to demand attention and, overall, getting in everyones business... A special weekend, on a special occasion for a special girl :) I couldn't ask for a more pleasant way to top off the special week I already had with her daddy..

My Blessings Overfloweth...

Click on Slideshow below!

Ciara10bday

Jordy and Fred: BFF

 

Merging two families can have its challenges. But Jordy-the-Cat and Fred-the-Basset are doing just fine.... :)

Freakin' Fred

This blog entryis for all those crazy dog-loving owners out there. I need help. My boyfriend, Patrick, thank God has returned safely back from spending the holidays in Ireland with his family. I was meanwhile dog sitting El-Fred AKA Fred-the-Love-Machine for 10 days. Now this is the not the first time my readers have heard me mention Fred. Fred is P's basset hound, you know: hush puppy? I gotta tell you: I love animals and I am good to them. And heaven knows, I am good to this hound. But he is so emotionally high-maintenance!

First of all he is King of the Roost (or P's home) and MINE when he comes to visit. He plops himself anywhere he likes, whines this pitiful plea to jump on beds and spoon, (oh and he has 2 big, comfy doggy beds of his own!!). When I first met Patrick, Fred was fatter. I used to fondly refer to him as "Fat Fred". ha ha ha. I started taking him out on daily walks (something P shame shame was not doing!!) Fred has, indeed, lost weight. But the walks are painful! First of all he is a hound. That means he has tracking and sniffing in his blood. Also, those little short legs of his means his head is right there basically at ground level. So, our walks are basically him with his wet nose to the ground sniffing everything. I mean.....EVERYTHING!! And this dog may be small but he weighs in at a solid 75 pounds. And he is strong and stubborn on that leash. So if he catches a scent that he needs to check out: I can huff and puff and pull but he is so strong he pulls ME to where he wants to go.

He also has a tiny, oh, shall we say itty bitty problem of NOT being potty-trained completely yet!!! And he is 3 and a half! Ciara, Patrick's daughter, defends him saying he is just a puppy. HECK NO, HE AIN'T!! That dog failed obedience school and Patrick and Ciara spoiled him rotten with kisses and love when he was this puppy with big, long ears and dark droopy eyes. Well, now he is big, and goes to the bathroom leaving BIG messes inside the house at times (ruining P's gorgeous hardwood floor). Patrick admits that Fred only seems to do it when he is rebelling against something. Sometimes he won't do it for days...then BAM! A week of it straight! And there is no excuse - he has a doggy door.

Ah.. Fred. Fred is nicknamed 'Love Machine" because this breed is not that common around these parts and he gets so much attention out in public for his cuteness - which he KNOWS he possesses. (P undoubtedly back when he was single picked this breed for the utter CHICK MAGNET that he is!!) GEEZ!!! This dog especially LOVES women! He trots right up to any strange lady and rolls over for her to pet his stomach. I mean, he has no shame - it's almost embarrassing! I told Patrick and he agrees that, although happy, that dog would go off with the prettiest 20-40 year -old woman in a snap and not look back!

So let's see. He is a chick magnet but he is great with kids. He gets tired fast on those little legs but he can get fat quickly and bitches if he doesn't get his walks from me. He follows me all around my house or P's house. He loves and licks Jordy-the-cat all over but he isn't potty trained. He let's himself get molested by this big black poodle at the dog park and ignores Patrick completely until he is ready to go home. He is a very vocal dog - he "talks" to me and P all the time. And we can tell when he is disgruntled with us by how he semi-growls, yips and grunts. I mean, he definitely has some beef with us and wants to let us know. Walks are all about him, I am just along for the ride. And lastly: did I mention - he has a problem with rolling in other dog's crap??? If it's there, he goes in for a shoulder dive - I have learned to look out for his diving posture after having to bathe him a couple times.

And where is his real owner all this time? Shoot. Patrick has let me take control of that dog. Heck. He is SO fascinated by his hound that he overlooks all the insanity. Sometimes I see P sitting on the couch just staring at Fred's antics or bitching, happy as can be. He adores his "Little Man" so much that I have NO doubt that I'd be sent packing if I didn't like Fred as much as I do or if Fred didn't accept me.

Shoot - give me my easy cat any day. Cats are independent. And small. And not loud. Or stinky. (sigh) :)

Does anyone else out there have a basset hound or other dog so crazy?? (Di - I know you got a 'horse', er Rottweiler you keep inside your house). I'd appreciate any suggestions or advice. Leave a comment so I don't feel all alone in the insanity that which is Fred.

click on Fred's slideshow!

Fred-the-Love-Machine