Well, she did it.  Cocoa graduated puppy class with flying colors.  She can sit, stay, leave it, down, off, walk by cats, shake, and do “push ups.”  She met some new friends in class and it was a fun eight weeks.

Here’s the happy grad. 

Since we live on acreage with a half-acre pond, ducks call our home their home.  This year, a mother duck decided to make her nest in our front planter.  It’s been interesting to see her do this.  I know nothing about Mallards, so if anyone can help me figure out her thought-process, I’d love to know what’s going on.

This is here, behind my wilting winter cabbage.  She showed up last Wednesday, laid one egg, then disappeared with the father.  The next morning, she was back.  Laid two more egg, stuck around about an hour, then disappeared.  Saturday, she laid two more, so now five.  She covered them up with a lot of dirt, but disappeared the rest of the day. 

She’s only sitting on the eggs about two hours a day.  We’re having a cold spell in the mornings in the 30s.  This doesn’t seem condusive to hatching ducklings to me.  I thought a bird sat on her nest most of the time.  This Mallard takes off after about 11:00am and I don’t see her until the next morning around 9:00am.  If these ducklings do hatch, it’ll be pretty cool.  I have a front row view from my office window.

I mailed my completed 24th manuscript to my editor today.  How many ways are there to celebrate?

I had a glass of wine and vacuumed the house.  I’d say it was a real wild party.

I also have reason to celebrate.  A while ago, I bemoaned the fact I was desperate to be able to hook my bra the “normal” way.  But because of my rotator cuff surgery, it was a no go.  I am happy to report . . .

. . . however, I have a long way to go.  My mobility over my head is at 143 degrees and I fought for those last three.  I think the standard measurement for everyone is 200 dgrees.  In any case, I’ll take what progress I’ve made and will continue on.  I go to physical therapy at BSU and, through the big gym windows, I watch the football players practice on the field.  I can think of worse things to do while getting better.

The name of the book I just finished is ALL THAT MATTERS and it will be out November 2008.  I hope you’ll watch for it.  Thanks!

Every so often, mostly when I’m procrastinating writing, I peruse the Ada County website arrest mugshots.  Sadly, I have found people I know on those lists.  Once, the VP of my daughter’s high school for DUI.  Also, several school kids my daughters’ knew who have kind of run-amuck.  People that I’ve had relationships with, as well as a former girlfriend’s daughter, has shown up, too.  It’s rather interesting to view the photos of those arrested for DUI . . . the bloodshot eyes are a pretty dead giveaway that someone had more than “two beers.” 

Aside from the local arrest pages, I’ve viewed the famous people mugshot photos on the web.  Some are frightening.  The Nick Nolte one.  Oy.  When I lived in L.A., he once wandered into a Denny’s in Calabasas wearing his pajamas during the breakfast hour.  Bummer.  I always liked him as an actor–Rich Man/Poor Man.  And my all time fav, Canary Row.

I’m nearing the end of my book, I only have one chapter left to write.  After that, I plan on reading some novels and not just arrest records.

I guess the Cocoa Puff can’t be trusted home alone to roam the house.  When asked–Molly the Beagle, said she wasn’t the Yorkie’s keeper.

Oh what fun it is to pick up an entire roll of shredded toilet paper.  When I asked Cocoa about it–she pleaded the fifth.

What in the, Ah say, what in the Sam Hill’s going on here?!  I woke up to THIS nightmare in my yard this morning. 

I wish I could report a dramatic weigh loss yesterday, but no.  You’d think after walking 100 miles at Disneyland , I would have shed a million pounds.  Maybe ’cause when I was walking I was eating fudge with Kayla.  I didn’t get the chance to walk on my treadmill last week.  My deadline is hanging over my head this week so I don’t have much extra time.  No excuse . . . but I can’t see putting in an hour walking when I can use that time to write 5 pages.  We did walk the doggies last night for two miles so that should be good for something.  Anyway, I’m maintaining at 9 pounds lost–which is better, I guess, than reporting a gain.

My daughters were born two years apart, to the day, 19 and 21 years ago.  Having been born in California, they had a love for Disneyland at an early age.  Unfortunately, we moved to Boise when they were three and five.  But that hasn’t stopped us from visiting the happiest place on earth at least once a year. 

This was them at ages five and three, our last trip to Disney before we moved.  Whitney had already been to Disney three times by this time, and this was Kayla’s second trip.  Neither have ever shown fear at a single ride.  Both begged to go on everything.  It was a huge day when Kayla could go on Indiana Jones.  She loved it.

I think it’s funny how Whitney, two years older, was taller as a kid, and now Kayla towers over her by four inches.  This was taken last week when we went to Walt’s magical park for the fifth straight year of doing a mother-daughter trek.  For the first time, in like our twenty-fifth visit, we finally stayed at the Disneyland Hotel.  Well worth it.

Each year, we turn geeky and dress alike.  This year we picked some pink Tink shirts and some white Minnie’s.

A couple of times, people called us triplets.  LOL.  We didn’t care.  And I think it’s cool that my daughters are okay with their Momma and them being matching.  We walk around all holding hands.  It was nice to pal with my girls. 

Stef’s Favorites in Disneyland – Indiana Jones, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain

Whitney’s Favorites in Disneyland – Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain

Kayla’s Favorites in Disneyland – Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain

Stef’s Favorites in Calfornia Adventureland – Tower of Terror, California Screamin’, Soaring over California

Whitney’s Favorites in California Adventureland - Soarin’ Over California, Tower of Terror, California Screamin’

Kayla’s Favorites in California Adventureland – Tower of Terror, California Screamin’, Soarin’ over California

The only bummer this time around was, my oldest daughter got strep throat on the trip.  But we managed to forge ahead, and thankfully, she made it through the last day.  But coming home, she was really, really, really sick. 

Also a nice bonus was being able to visit my parents.  They still live in Cali and we met them for lunch.  Good times!  Hopefully we can do it again next year.