20th Annual Doggy Dash!

Hi friends!

I was given the opportunity to write a guest post for WagWorkWine.com about the Sacramento SPCA Doggy Dash! It’s a local, fun, female focused, dog-friendly blogosphere…what’s not to love?!

It was a little tricky, writing from my ‘voice’ while also using this as a promotional piece for work. Part of my job at the shelter is to help coordinate the annual Doggy Dash, coming up on June 8. If you live in Sacramento AND you have a dog you just have to be there!

 

Raise your hand if you’re a dog parent and the phrase, “Can I bring my dog?” is used so often you’re almost embarrassed to admit it?

Anyone??
Never fear! Doggy Dash is here!

The largest, dog-friendly event of its kind is giving all of us dog-moms a chance to relax. Spend a Saturday with your friends AND your dog, without the guilt of being that girl or even worse, deciding not to go because you’d rather hang out with your pup. (It’s ok. We’ve all been there.)

Your dog called and wants to WALK. STAY. PLAY.
at the 20th Annual Doggy Dash!

Walk

You have to walk your dog anyway, why not do it to help raise money for homeless animals? It’s pretty tough to say “no” to a morning stroll around William Land Park. Sign up for the $25 registration fee, rock your Doggy Dash T-shirt and be a part of a massive movement to end pet over-population in our community.

Thumbs Up: You get exercise (2k or 5k walk) and get to show off how well behaved and *cough* cute your dog is compared to everyone else’s.

Paws Up: For a friendly, adventure-loving dog, this event is totally up their alley. The walk is just enough exercise to feel the burn, but neither of you will be too tired for the fun afterwards! And yes, there are plenty of water bowl stations and dog pools around the course.

Stay

Now that the hard part is over, you get to hang out for FREE! That’s right. FREE. We love this word.

The walk ends at the start of the festival, so you’re set. Stroll around the vendor village and meet with 150+ vendors that are there for one thing only: Your dog!

Thumbs Up: There’s shopping too!? Best. Festival. Ever. Where else would you buy your dog his umpteenth new, handcrafted collar? (Because as we all know, collars are seasonal after all.) And ladies…Target is coming! Like…TARGET, Target. And *fingers crossed* the cute little dog they call “Bullseye.” This is history making people! Your future children will appreciate this story one day I promise. Don’t feel like shopping? *gasp* There will be food trucks, music and shade for you to relax and gossip catch up with friends.

Paws Up: SO MANY DOGS TO MEET!!! Pups love walking the festival with their people because there are countless goodies waiting for them around every corner. Dog bakeries, dog stores, dog crafts, you name it. And if your pup is too pooped from the walk, find a spot in the grass to people watch.

Play

Ok so we’ve walked, eaten, shopped…now what?

Play time of course! The best part of the Doggy Dash is signing your dog up for a contest that only your dog would let you get away with. Best kiss? Best costume? (And pug-lovers, don’t you dare miss the Pug Races!)

Thumbs Up: For $5 you can enter your dog and cheer him into first place! Plus, every dollar raised goes back to the shelter which is awesome, because $5 for sheer embarrassment enjoyment is pretty much an awesome return on investment. And if your dog isn’t too keen on winning gold, there are agility groups coming to show off the best of the best. Your pup won’t mind, he’ll enjoy sitting in your lap while you watch.

Paws Up: Most dogs love attention, so the roaring of the crowd will only give them the boost of confidence they need to win! And hey, if your dog is more of the “I’m here for the food” kind of festival-goer, that’s OK too. (We know how you feel.)

You tell him that you’re proud he made it out to Doggy Dash; that he helped raise money and awareness for shelter animals that couldn’t be there; and that he lapped everyone who sat on the couch that day and missed out on the fun.

See YOU at the Doggy Dash!

June 8
William Land Park
Park at the Sacramento City College and walk across the street to the walk and festival,
Located at the corner of Sutterville Road and Freeport Blvd
$25 to register before June 3 ($30 between June 3 and June 8)
Includes a Doggy Dash T-shirt for you or your dog.

SIGN UP HERE!!

Heart beats, high-heels and rednecks

How’s that for a title?

Guys, I’m kinda bummed out.

You know how Murphy does a lot of this…

And this…

And basically anything that allows him to run around off-leash…”young and wild a free“?

Well, he’s been having a little issue with exercise lately.
*Which, side note, is really uncanny because so am I. Between the two of us we are two un-exercising, lazy, lazy bums.

Although it’s not his fault. He still wants to run at full speed and feel the burn, but after running his little heart out for even just a few minutes, he takes on the stumbling of a drunkard and loses his balance. It’s happening more and more, so I’ve stopped exercising him all together. Turns out he has an abnormally slow heart beat and may one day require some heart tests. Before shelling out the $500- $1000 I’m going to keep him on exercise restriction and try to increase his walks instead. For now he seems OK- I just have to figure out what his eight-year-old little body can handle.

But GEEZ Murph. What’s with the slow heart beat?

I know that I’m like…kind of the center of your universe…but you have to LIVE man. You have to keep going when I leave the room!

Things have been random lately. As you can see read.

Walker’s been dabbling with a little of this…

My question is…Walk a Mile in WHO’s Shoes? Who wears a size 14 in heels! I want to meet him her!

[Really cool event though, benefiting WEAVE].
And I, meanwhile, find myself so proud…

Meanwhile…the city of Sacramento has officially taken a turn for the worst. We’ve been voted #8 in the Top 10 Most Redneck Cities. The Forbes study is based on gun/ammo stores, Walmart locations, Nascar tracks and poor HS graduation numbers. HOW IS THIS OK PEOPLE!? And how is two of the seven cities I’ve lived in on the list!?

Oh well….it could be worse. At least we’re not earthworms!

5 in 4

FRIENDS! Boy do I have a new diet plan for you!!

What’s fast, free and easy to spell?
That’s right….

the F-L-U!!!

Just puke your guts out, swear you’ll never eat again, think you’re on the upswing only to find that your little bug has instead migrated south….if you know what I mean.

TMI much? I know, forgive me.

Although I will tell you that 5 lbs in 4 days is a pretty insane return on investment. Think about it…

In other news, I’m officially on the upswing, which is just in time  because I have a very celebratory weekend ahead of me. Friday night we’re celebrating the roomies’ bday with a “B- themed” bar crawl. I’ll of course be a Beauty Queen. What do you mean you didn’t guess that first? What else would I be? Hmmph.

On Saturday, two of my favorite people are celebrating their recent engagement. They also broke the news that they are moving to Washington DC in a matter of weeks (wahhhh) so this little party will be somewhat of a yay/nay partay. Wahhh is right.

In the world of Murphy, because let’s not forget the main man. He was bored out of his mind during our time napping and pity-partying at home. He makes a terrible nurse and insists on background music. Think squeaking Wubba …catch my drift?

And because I’m not quite sure how to end this…here are a few photos that make me SMILE

Murph and I at a work event representing the SPCA.

My new niece, BAILEY!

My latest artwork
Also known as drinking wine while at a Wieland family dinner.
6-year-olds might know coloring, but I know entertainment!

 

Lately…

Hey, hey party people! Are there still readers out there? I heard someone whistle.
(yesssss)

Murphy would like to remind you that it’s National Pet Day! On the heels of National Sibling Day which made me quasi-sad because I am sans siblings (explains a lot, I know)…now THIS is something I can celebrate! Go Murph. You party animal you.

So it’s been awhile, what have I been up to lately?

Last weekend I tagged along (YES I was invited) to watch the boyfriend and friend play disc golf out in the wild, wild west. We’re talking wide open spaces- and me with two dogs who immediately took off in different directions and I spent three-hours trying to herd cats wrangle them.  

They had a ball and I did not go into an anaphylactic shock, so it was an overall success. I can’t understand why the trees, grass and pollen are trying to kill me. Don’t they know my boyfriend works in environmental science!? Rude.

Murphy of course took every ounce of the 1 hour car ride to soak up my beautiful face. Gotta give it to the kid, he has good taste.

As for this weekend, the boyfriend has left me for a boys camping trip in the backwoods with limited cell reception. They are off to do boy-type things; I did not ask for details and probably won’t. This is unchartered territory for the lady-kind and I’d like to keep it that way. I made him promise that he wouldn’t “go off and find some hunny in the woods” and he promised he wouldn’t. He told me the fact that I have all of my teeth are really attractive to him. Such a sweetie.

In the world of fitness I’ve been doing anything that doesn’t involve running. Shamrock burnt me out and though I know I’ll get back into the love of running eventually, I’ve been enjoying other exercises. I’ve been dabbling with tennis, cardio-core home workouts (hidden cameras, eat your heart out) and a new (to me) thing called Heightened Yoga. Basically yoga meets Crossfit. It’s…interesting.

1. I don’t love yoga. But I like the idea of keeping things moving without falling asleep to “Sounds from the Far East.”

2.  The whole time you’re thinking, “hot damn, I probably look like a new born calf” and you kind of do.
You’re leg(s) are strapped in and you’re balancing with every ounce of muscle, most of which you didn’t realize you have. But people are supportive and no one is looking at you. Take your eyes off focus and you’re flat on your face. 

Let’s just say everyone else looks like this….

 

And whole time I’m thinking this…

Ya feel me?

 

Fun Facts Friday

There’s just something about Fridays that make people so darn happy. Is it the anticipation for 2 days off work? I sometimes look forward to the anticipation more than the actual reward. Funny, no?

*I’ll tell you in advance I have no idea where this blog post is headed. I just felt this sense of urgency to update you on my day.

> Walker and I are headed to Tahoe for a co-bachelor/bachelorette party! The couple is good friends of his and new friends of mine. It’ll be my first one and I’m curious to see how this all pans out. I’ve been to a handful of bachelorette parties, and I must say I’m looking forward to a cabin full of fun people who aren’t interested in strippers and penis whistles. Just hand me a mimosa on arrival and lead me to where the Scrabble is set up. Love me some cabin fever. Bring. It. #NanaInTraining

> On the heels of me curled up in sweats and badgering people into playing board games with me (clearly you’re excited to travel with me someday. I don’t blame you!) … I also have to play along with this being a themed party. Saturday night is a Mad Men theme which means that because I work in an animal shelter and wear jeans and kicks to work, I must resort to my secretary/librarian stash of clothing from the waaaay back of the closet.

If you hear of a random blonde wandering the streets of Tahoe, asking for people’s warm clothes and dressed like she just stepped out of a time machine, don’t panic. The meds will kick in. Her boyfriend is somewhere nearby.

> Remember how I told you Murphy hates weekends? Welp, this would be why. “She’s leaving agaaaain!?”
Poor Smerf has to spend the weekend at the big, bad, terrible grandparents house where he gets twice the lovin’ and off-leash walks by the river. Boo hoo. Poor guy can’t help how much he loves me (you would too, just try it!)

> In other random news, Murphy has an outie belly button. And YES dogs have belly buttons! Roomie and I weren’t quite sure, but according to Google (Greek for “everything we say is absolutely 100% fact”) they are born with umbilical cords and therefore have scars. Murphy would appreciate you don’t ask for a photo, he is a classy gentleman after all.

err…moving on

 

> Have a wonderful weekend and let’s try to spread the love a little, shall we?

Shamrock’n Recap

You know those comics where they ask you how you’re feeling? Do they have one for SORE?

The days following your first half-marathon are a blur. Luckily I thought ahead and took Monday off work so I could literally sit on the couch all day and relive the race- through the pain my body was punishing me with.

Totally 100% worth every ounce of pain because it was totally, 100% the coolest thing I’ve ever done.

I won’t bore you with the details but since I have blogged about training for this race I figured I should recap a little bit:

I was swimming with emotions at Sunday’s Shamrock’n Half-Marathon.  I’ve always been a “jogger” but once I crossed that finish line and knew I beat my time, I burst into tears and knew I was officially a “runner.”

Cheesy? Yep. Agreed.

But cheese is what’s on the menu so let’s just go run with it. Eh, eh!

Training for this was all kinds of crazy. Lots of running and trying to limit the crap food intake was good for me, especially since it kept me from worrying about vanity and staying in shape. It was just a natural product of pushing your limit.

I was aiming for a 9 min/mile over the course of 13.1. We were booking it the entire time and stayed ahead of the pace group. I ended up keeping up with Walker until about mile 9 (his 6’4” frame and neon yellow shirt were like a beacon in a sea of people). My hips started acting up and I was getting shooting pains up and down my legs so I had to pull over, stretch and slow it down just a bit. Ended up clocking a 1:58:30 at an average 8:43/mile pace. I was SHOCKED. Seriously. Sub 2-hours?? Say whaaat?

Shield your eyes!

My roomie volunteered to hand out water along the course! Such a fun way to pass mile 11!

I’m sort of shocked that after all that training I’m in so much post-run pain BUT considering I pushed myself, I suppose it’s not a surprise.

The downside of Sunday was I had to miss out on the service my family held in Tahoe. They spread Logan’s ashes and said goodbye. I rocked his “Forever in our Hearts” bracelet and honored him with my running bib, but he was on my mind most of the time. Grief is a strange little bugger. Seems to settle in and get comfortable as soon as you open up space for it. The finish line was also home plate at the Rivercats Stadium. Logan loved baseball more than anything. Seemed really fitting wouldn’t you say? I thought so too…

And because this blog is supposed to be about Murphy…I have to add that he was very unhappy to have missed out on such an epic day. He is now punishing me by pulling hard on his leash, forcing me to walk faster than my current 95 year-old nana pace. We’re learning to compromise.

Monday Lover.

You know who loves Mondays?

Serious. He’s the only creature I know who hates weekends. Ok, this is partially due to the fact that he gets to go to work with me, but it stems from his inherent drive to constantly do something. Homeboy can’t stop moving.
At work we’re walking, interacting, playing fetch on our lunch break, “playing” with other dogs, and using his cuteness to coerce treats out of co-workers. There is just so much potential for fun to be had!

Home is a different story…

Running errands (bore), cleaning (snooze), training for the half-marathon which require very long runs that he can’t participate in (not. fair.)…not to mention leaving him at home to do human things like *gasp* go to dinner with friends.

But I really can’t pick on him too much. It is likely that I was a Border Collie in my past life, leaving me to think that this neurotic -can’t sit still to save my life -attitude can maybe pass as mildly charming? Maybe? One can hope.

Mini update on the Shamrock Training!
We’ve officially reached the two-week countdown and though my body resembles that of a 90 year-old woman, I think we’re good to go! We clocked 12 miles on Saturday and I’m still tired. So. Tired.
My goal for the 13.1 is around 2-hours. Fingers crossed.

March 17th at 10am will never taste so sweet.

And what have I learned in the process? Whoever said running is cheap is not a good runner.

$120 shoes, $40 Ace knee braces, $60 Compression socks, $40 foam roller and $1.40 EACH for GU (aka heaven in a little squeeze tube) and the result…? A very humbling and expensive PRICELESS experience.

Just hoping to get through this alive.
Happy start of the week to all of you! Any goals/wishes/ambitions for this week?

“My wish is that every day could be Monday.”

Jenner by the Sea

Disclaimer: It helps if you sing the title of this post, in your best lounge-lizard voice. Think “Jennnnner byyyy the Seeaaaaa”.

See? Totally helps.

You can’t visit this amazing little alcove and NOT have the best time ever. Seriously.  We stayed in the Wieland Family house in the town of Jenner, right outside of Bodega Bay. It’s relaxing, out of cell phone range, packed with homemade meals and the perfect place to spend 2 hours playing Gin Rummy.

It’s also the Ultimate Dog Weekend, so when you’re hell-bent on being the best dog parent ever (wink wink), it’s a pretty awesome 2 days away.

And the best part? We managed to get some sunshine AND exercise in! I didn’t get my 10 mile run in, because, well…. There is this thing that happens to me when I enter a different zip code. Its like, all inhibition and self-control go out the window. (Does this happen to anyone else!?) So there might have been a few adult beverages and an endless supply of homemade cookies and Doritos (whimper)…leaving me fat and happy, but in no shape to hit the pavement.

However! We did walk/explore many miles with the pups off leash. The view was amazing and the company was even better! We didn’t capture a group shot – but there were 5 of us and 3 dogs.

We aren’t the rule-following type so if that’s a problem you might want to keep scrolling down…

I’ve said this before, but Jenner is Murphy’s HAPPY PLACE. (As long as he can see me) this whole running off-leash with the breeze whipping in his face thing is the cat’s meow. For reals. And I really try to not be an overbearing dog mom. He’s a boy, super sure-footed and without fear but GEEZ I swear I can never have sons for fear of going into cardiac arrest at a very young age. AH. Kids.

Photo compliments of Rick Randall

Dog Mom Extraordinaire

Dog folk- when you make plans to meet up with someone, say for a Saturday walk, and decide to bring your dog, do you get EXCITED when they get to meet said dog? And I mean like, MEET him. Like hang out, have a chat, seen how funny he is?

My friend Carly and I planned a midtown walk on Saturday (hours after my 9 mile run which I’ll recap in a bit) and she got to meet the Murphster!

Like he needs a name tag!

I already know I’m a weirdo for saying “thank you” when people comment on how cute he is, but when you make plans with a friend and literally use the expression “Oh you’re going to love him!” does that cross boundaries? Visions of “Jeh-ree…you have to see the baybeeee!” come to mind.

So let’s talk training for a minute… I was telling all my FB friends (they’re real!) that running 9 miles isn’t so much the hard part. It’s the ‘trying not to act like a zombie all day’ that is tough. PLUS on such a big weekend- (Next year Niners!) I was pooped…all…weekend. Although I must say, the run went great! I was feeling pretty smooth until we stumbled onto the course and merged with runners in the JED Smith Ultra 50miler (ummm what!?) and felt slightly less cool, and yet, more sane? I just can’t imagine.

I’ve heard training can get addictive and I totally get it. Running for vanity is like “eh, I’ve got a boyfriend. He loves me. Pass the dip.” But when you’re $60+ dollars invested and you (ahem, blog about it) and people are asking how it’s going….you take on a new kind of responsibility. And even though this responsibility requires me to eat bananas (dislike. Takes me at least a half-hour to eat, unless of course it’s smoothie-erized) and carrots (No wonder they spend their whole lives under ground; Could they BE any more boring!?)

I’m realizing that food is fuel you fool. Get. It Together.

If Murphy Says So

Happy Middle-of-the-Week and Almost-Superbowl- Sunday!

Murphy is stoked.

Pssh, Not.

However, this little pup IS!

Emily rocked a Smith jersey on Good Day Sacramento yesterday. She is very sweet, looking for a nice, warm lap to curl up in (despite her size!) and is currently available for adoption at the Sacramento SPCA
http://www.sspca.org/adopt/meet-adoptable-pets/dogs/

Murphy doesn’t get stoked about much. Outside of things that involve him and I being together. And I mean this in the least conceited way possible. I never thought being a dog parent could be so humbling.  No WONDER man claimed them as “Man’s Best Friend” back in the day. I picture the very first generation of two-legged-fools bumbling around on a quest for friends. The birds wouldn’t stay still, the cheetahs were too fast and the elephants wouldn’t sit in your lap. Dogs are perfect and if I could have ten…well, I wouldn’t… I honestly can’t imagine having even two.

People are shocked when they find out I only have one dog. Cut me some slack people! Being a dog mom is serious business. And humbling, as I previously mentioned. Ever tried to walk two dogs at once? It’ll turn you into a bumbling idiot so fast your head will spin. Tack on two leashes, two poop bags and a yuppy blonde on a cell phone and you’ve got yourself a walking circus act.

They look so sweet don’t they? Don’t let them fool you!

Side note: If I ever have the chance to voice my opinion about East Sacramento- we have GOT to install more garbage bins. I feel bad putting my dogs’ daily devotional in your garbage can. I feel even worse when you peek out the window and see me sneaking onto your property.  Fail.

But one day I’ll get it together! I already warned Walker than I want to two dogs, (two kids), two chickens and want to foster two kittens until they are (ready to be cats) and find their permanent homes. We only have two hands for a reason people.
This is how I envision me wearing the eventual Big Girl Pants. Big house, lots of love and plenty of room to keep the Murphster away from the kids…the chickens…the kittens…and well, the other dog.

Hmmm.
I’ll have to get back to you on that one…