Parched

When do you stop calling a marsh a marsh?

 How long does the "wet" need not be a part of the wetland equation? 

 This is the Main Marsh at Coyote Hills RP in Fremont. The last photos I have of it with water in it at this end were taken in Feb of 2013.

   

A little closer. So sad. And a bit frightening.

   

I’m not generally a doom and gloom kinda gal, but thing just sort of suck for California right now. 

They really suck if you are a collie-type forced to pose in from of a big rock. 

 

I was surprised to hear that San Jose residents reduced water usage by 14% this year. We haven’t had mandatory reductions until just recently. Stupid if you ask me, but you didn’t. They merely asked for 20% at the beginning of the year. Since we are such creatures of habit and most people ignore requests that would mean changing something I was happily shocked by that number. Very glad that people are starting to take this seriously. You can see that people have been reducing their lawn watering. People are trying to do just enough to keep them from dying. My neighbors’ son washed his pick up yesterday. In a genius move, he parked it up on the front lawn so all run off would go to the lawn instead of down the driveway and into the street. Double duty that water!

Kate is voting for no more dog baths. She really wants to do her part. 

New pocket toy

I have not had a regular ol' point and shoot in years. Trouble is that when I travel, unless it is a dog trip, I rarely take a camera. Too bulky, too heavy, not worth the risk or loss or damage or theft. I really hate cell phone pics. They are ugly and useless unless you are simply gathering info like photographing course maps or licence plates you may need to pass on to the police. :)

I have a few upcoming jaunts that warranted (ahem) a new "little guy."

I settled on the Fujifilm X20. It is not the newest rendition of this line, but it was half the cost of the newer version. If you get into spending 4 digits it kinda defeats the purpose, right?

It is very strange holding a camera this small. The footprint of my phone is larger and it makes me feel like I have big man hands. I do not.

Looks like the pic quality is pretty good, too. Neither dog wanted to pose much. Evening sun a bit strong today. She's not moody, just squinty.

I highly doubt it will replace either "big guy" at this point, but it will be fun to put it through its paces. I think it will work out smashingly for toursity shots.

It's Peanut Butter Belly Time!

Miss Kate is a little gimpy for some unknown reason, so no ball this morning. Didn't want to risk a hike, either. She seems better today, but still a bit...tweaky...when she turns tight. I love her, but I am not carrying her ass back to the car from who knows where.

So as a little entertainment, admittedly mostly for me, we had a little peanut butter this afternoon.

Such a conflict for them. So excited to be getting something. Who doesn't love some peanut butter? But, then, just so annoyed for getting them into this mess.

They do love it. Keep coming back for more. Look so pissed while eating it!

Why do I let you do this to me?

It also creates the world's worst family photos

Or, the best, I suppose, depending on your point of view. :)

In non-dog news, we did not feel the earthquake at all. It was at 330 this morning. I am doing nothing but sleeping at that hour, so even if it was felt as far south as San Jose, it certainly wasn't by me! Or the dogs.

It has been all that has been on the TV and the radio today. Things like this perfectly showcase why I hate the news. I can't believe these people get paid for this crap. They were showing a bird bath tipped over. Yup. Bird bath. Not even the whole thing, just the unstable top part that you can knock over yourself by just tapping it with the lawn mower.

"Oh. my. word. Look at this damage, Steve."

Are you jackasses serious? Gas leaks, fire, people injured, I think even fire-related deaths, water mains broken and these tools are talking about a bird bath? Wow. Very hard-hitting, guys.

They were also very "concerned" about the status of the various rail systems in the Bay Area. Because people need to go to work? No. The effects on commerce? No. Productivity? No. People who use them as a primary mode of transportation? Nope.

HOW WILL THE PEOPLE GET THE 49'ERS GAME TODAY??

I hate you, news.

And in funnier Crappy Media News. There was an article on Yahoo this morning about the Suge Knight shooting. I don't know if Yahoo just doesn't use editors or they have the worlds worst, but one sentence in the article was:

"The pre-VMAs party, which was hosted by R&B singer Chris Brown, was filled with celebrities, including Young Jeezy, Lil' Twist, The Game, E.J. Johnson, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, Richard Simmons, and Tyson Beckford."

It has since been corrected to read "Russell Simmons." However, how entertaining would it be to have Suge Knight and Richard Simmons at the same party?!

HAHA!  

As I suspected

They had a good day. Ha.

They were tired, but not overly so in a been-stressed-all-day way, so that's good.

Kate was actually stiff. I don't think I have ever seen her like that. She did, quite literally, not stop moving all day yesterday. As no spring chicken, to be expected. I am a little concerned about her being over-excited. I know a lot of people think "crazy" is normal, or fun, or a sign that the dog is having the best time, or just a breed characteristic, but I am not of that train of thought. Being unstable of mind is not good. Particularly not good in a group of dogs. Kate can make other dogs want to tell her to knock it off. I am hoping that it is just first-timer syndrome and that she will settle into a route there, too. I do like that they crated her a few times to let her chill when they thought she was nearing threshold. We'll see.

Webcams

I confess, not very productive today. However, very glad to see them having a good time. I was a little worried. Mostly about Bella being pouty. Sometimes it is hard being the center of the universe. Doesn't seem to be a prob, though.

The usual ball time line up. Bella with ball, Kate on deck

"Hey, someone throw my donut!" 

I predict sleepy bitches this eve!

Hola

How are you?

We are fine.

Blog slacking again, I know. Sometimes one just has a life that doesn’t involve typing and cameras. So much change happening. I hate change. It’s very inefficient. Work is sucking up a lot of energy. Just how it goes some times.

Things with the girls are all normal and boring on a day to day basis. They play ball, go for walks and hikes, eat, sleep. Who needs pictures of that?

They, too, have some change to deal with. The daycare/boarding place that they have been going to for nine years is suddenly not doing boarding. They don’t exactly need daycare, but they go to keep up the familiarity with the place and people that they board with. So, new place. They started today. I have been peeking in on them when I have time. Bella is as Bella does. No surprises there. Kate? I am shocked at how much barking she is doing! Shocked, I tell you! Every time I have looked in, there is Kate…and her big gaping maw! Kate. My good quiet dog. The one who reacts to nothing. I think there are a few things going on. First, the old daycare had outside areas. As not to annoy the shit out of the neighbors, they tried to keep the dogs as quiet as they could. Not like library quiet, they are dogs, but no standing around barking for no reason, either. Two, just general excitement of a new environment. Three, toys. Old place did not have toys all over the place. Putting Kate in a room with a bunch of balls on the floor has apparently caused the self-control part of her brain to explode. All morning: pick up ball, drop ball, bark, watch it roll, pick it up again, bark, stare at it for a while, follow other dog that picked it, bark at them. Lather, rinse, repeat. She seems to be having a hell if a time. Doesn't looked stressed. Happy and loose. Just loud.

I suspect a slight coma this evening.