Happy Friday!

Friday, February 10th, 2012
Central Park East/Home - 7:15am/7:35am

Good morning!  I know you may all get sick of these "sunrise over East Manhattan" pictures - but they just never get old to me!  So pretty!  Sofie woke me up early this morning.  At 5:45am she began gnawing at her crate bars and digging around in her bed.  I tried to ignore her, but after about 10 minutes of this she began to make these soft little yips and whines.  Still tried to ignore her, but by that point figured I only had 15 minutes to sleep anyway so I may as well get up.  Brian let her out of her crate and she immediately jumped up on the bed and started licking my face.  She was full of energy and ready to go.  By that point I basically was, too. 

It was a sublime walk this morning.  Very quiet- not many people out despite the nice clear sky - maybe because it's a little cold this morning?  It was the perfect day I thought - a nice cold wintry temperature, no wind, and a clear sky to watch the sunrise in.  I didn't meet anyone else until I reached the backside of the walk - that's where I met Sofie's friend Logan (the flat-coated retriever).  We chatted for awhile before heading off in our own direction.  Then I met Sergio - the fat blenheim cavalier, with his lady Julia.  All in all, a great morning. 

Happy Friday!!

Good morning, Thursday

Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Central Park East - 7:05am

Good morning!  There was a beautiful dusting of snow today, but only in the Park.  When I woke up (just popped up this morning - no wistful pancake dreams pulling me back to bed), I jumped out and looked out the window because it was supposed to have snowed.  I knew I'd still have to go in to work, but it's still exciting when it's snowed over night anyway.  So I walked to the Park and when I got there, I noticed the dusting - but ONLY in the Park!  Just another reason why it's so magical. 

Sofie was very disobedient this morning.  She wouldn't come to me and she was jumping up on people left and right.  I thought she'd gotten a little better about this since I've worked on it with her, but this morning it looked like she has learned nothing.  Nobody really minds, but I don't like it.  When it's muddy and rainy, people are a little different about her jumping up and then it's a bother.  Plus, in my opinion it's just a bit obnoxious to have this little, frantic, wiggling body scratching at your thighs pleading for you to give them a treat. 

The one woman is a particular problem.  She doesn't mind the jumping up - at all.  She also has a hound dog named Sophie and so when she calls "SOFIE!" my Sofie goes running over and harasses the shit out this woman until she gets a treat.  Then it's all confusion because when I call "Sofie!" her Sophie comes running to me. 

Anyway, I have a busy day today so I must not go on forever. 

Have a wonderful day!

Pancake dreams...

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Good morning!  I forgot to take a picture this morning.  Probably because I was so sleepy and groggy when I woke up I forgot to bring my camera along with me.  Seriously...I was really sleepy this morning.  When my alarm went off I was dreaming that I started a specialty pancake shop that sold only...really special pancakes.  Like red velvet pancakes, pancakes with pecans, whole wheat pancakes - all different kinds.  I'd even spell people's names with them.  So, right when I woke up my cousin Christopher came in with his friends and ordered every different kind of pancake we had.  I was a bit perturbed to be wakened from this lovely pancake-heaven dream to go walk around in the cold but decided to drag my lazy bones out of bed anyway.  I was seriously groggy and out of it. 

When I got to the Park, Sofie ran all around the field above the Convervatory pond at top speed barking and playing with this pit bull mix named Mary that we see sometimes when we are there very early.  She also played with a miniature shnauzer named Niko for the entire walk around the back side of the Great Lawn.  This made the walk much longer than it usually is, but I didn't mind because it gave me a bit of a chance to wake up and get my act together. 

Things I've learned for today: 1.   I think if science doesn't work I could start a pancake store that may be solely kept in business by my cousins - presuming it was close enough to where he and his friends lived.  2.  not all pit bull mixes are bad  3.  I want pancakes...really bad.

Have a great day!

I'm back

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Central Park East - 7:25am

Good morning!  Sorry about yesterday - I spent the weekend Dad visited being sick so I didn't walk Sofie or go to work yesterday.  Today I'm back at it, however, and happy to be so.  Some poor little tree just bloomed!  I hope it is not sorely mistaken for this grave error!  Well - Sofie just threw a little disgruntled growl up my way meaning - "stop banging away on that keyboard and give me some breakfast, lady!"

Have a wonderful day!

Happy Friday!!

Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Central Park East - 7:20am

Good morning!  I swear it felt colder than the 30oF it says it is.  Every part of me was cold on that walk.  We saw all our regular dog friends - the pretty girl with the 2 pointers, the man that always gives Sofie a biscuit with his black poodle Isaac, Logan - the flat coated retriever whom Sofie LOVES and whom always tries to pull my gloves off,  Lily - the apricot miniature poodle, other Lily - the gray and stately Afghan hound that can't be bothered to listen to her owner in the slightest, Will - the rottweiler, and...to my surprise, Nicholas and Pineapple.  I haven't seen Nicholas or Pineapple in weeks now - and I was starting to enjoy it.  Unfortunately he spotted us from across the conservatory pond today and took off.  His owner screamed and yelled his name over and over but to no avail.  He had to change his course and walk the whole way round the pond so he could retrieve that little bastard of a dog.

^I swear it feels colder than this. 

Happy Friday and have a great day!  I can't wait to see my Dad tomorrow!

Thursday, January 2, 2012
Central Park East - 7:25am

Good morning!  Sofie and I walk past this tree every day and I just love it.  You can't really tell too much from the photo, but there are 4 crevices that line the length of the trunk.  It's just charming.  It was another beautiful morning in the Park today.  Blue skies and warm-ish weather.  Is it getting to be spring already?  If so, I'm totally ok with that.  We haven't had a spring in years.  Normally it just goes from frigid cold to ungodly hot with a contribution of nasty, cold rain during the months of April and May.  Spring, I'd be happy to have you stay. 

Have a wonderful day!

Just one of those days...

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Central Park East - 6:55am

Good morning.  Every little part of this morning has consisted of me trying to find some excuse to go back to bed.  Seriously, it's just one of those days.  When my alarm went off at 6:15, I thought, "No, it can't be time - please tell me this is some cruel joke played by the alarm clock fairy to turn my alarm back several hours."  I lied there for a few minutes and contemplated going back to sleep and just being late to lab today. 
"I'm always the first one in this lab anyway so it doesn't really matter for keeping up appearances sake."
"No - just get your lazy bones out of bed." 
It's about then that those little sayings repeated to me by Dad, that have provoked my many neuroses begin to creep into my head.  Things like - "If it's worth doing - it's worth doing well," and "The early bird gets the worm!" and "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man (woman) healthy, wealthy, and wise." 

Then I feel guilty and get up.  My head and jaw feel like I've been grinding my teeth all night.  (I probably was).  I walk in to the living room to get my coat and shoes.  I stare down at Sofie - maybe just for today I'll go back to bed.  "No - just put her harness her and start the coffee."  "Fine!!"

I go outside feeling like I'm going to fall down all the stairs on the way out.  Can it be?  It's RAINING!...  HARD!  This is the perfect excuse to walk her around the block then go back in to sleep some more!  So I walk around the block.  But the problem is - by then I'm pretty wet already and definitely woken up more so I figure I might as well just go to the damn park and get it over with. 

Why?  because of the picture above.  I love my dog and I want her to have a happy dog life.  When we get to the Park, she goes running this way and that pouncing into the bushes to chase the sparrows.  Of course I knew what the right thing to do was all along.  Now she's curled up snoring, and wet, and stinking on my lap as I write this.  I suppose the day is all downhilll from here! 

Have a wonderful day!