West Coast Family Reunion

Home again and finally recovered. Back to work, back to a clean house, back to the bay area after five days away. I will try to sum up our experiences.

Went up to Donner Lake to see the Brixie's in nature. The trip was put together by Peter, and he rented a cabin on the shore. They didn't allow dogs and we prefer the camping, so he reserved a site at Donner Memorial State Park.

There was a total of three campsites involved. One for the first night, one for the next four nights, and another one for the final weekend. The last one was to another campground up the road. This picture was taken down the road from where we stayed by my nephew Michael. It captures the flavor of the reunion. Note the boat and the car. Everybody came together and played on the water while staying overnight at a house or in a tent. During the day, Buffy and Shasta hung out on the back deck, in view of the lake and the beautiful pier.

Some nights we made dinner, as the cabin had a grill and full kitchen. Other nights we went into Truckee or ate a local spot, Martha's Kitchen which allowed dogs on the patio. We also ate at Zano's, where they had Chicago style pizza and were able to seat our party of 12 without too long of a wait. Unfortunately there was no room on the patio, so Wayne took Buffy back to town to the Burger Me joint where he got great service, and Buffy sat proudly outside waiting for him while he ordered. (We had eaten lunch there, so she was familiar with the protocol.)

We visited the local farmers market and bought some corn, veggies, artisan olive oil, great garlic and some Indian craft items. (Gourds with seeds and drawing on them, and a cool Oaxacan animals for our collection.) I was admiring a beautiful hand beeded bag/necklace with an intricate pattern worked into it. I wanted to buy it, but knowing it wasn't really practical, hesitated at spending $50. Wayne had said I could get it, but I thought it was too extravagant. Later, after my mom pooped out and was resting on a bench while I was finishing shopping, my dad gave me the money and told me to go buy it.

Later I went on a short nature hike with Buffy, my dog, and took pix of each different wildflower that I spotted along the trail. Wayne and my dad took off and explored the community on the south side of the lake in the car.



We rented paddle boards for my niece and nephew to try out. Mackenzie gave me a ride on hers. We had a blast. So we went back the next day for more. Since the mosquito's were very bad at dusk and even bothered us at night, and the campground scene was not the best, so we decided to head home Friday night instead of Saturday.

Our last night was Friday, we planned a BBQ to celebrate the arrival of John and Rose. They had to work and could not get off the full week. We watched their kids for them from Wednesday through Friday, so they could enjoy some camping as well.

I made a salad from scratch and bought a bunch of salads, and customized them. We had fresh salmon, all types of sausages and rolls, olives, homemade pickles and brownies or pie for desert. It was getting later and later, and my brother John still hadn't arrived, so we sadly decided to leave without seeing him and Rose. Next time! They live in Stockton, so it isn't too far. Maybe I'll get invited to the twins birthday...

We made it home with no traffic until 37 at the Infineon racetrack. An event had just finished, so it took a bit longer than normal for the last 15 miles. When we got home, Buffy got the biggest smile on her face when we put her crate into our bedroom. I took a shower and crawled into my bed, still itching. Wayne had a drink and looked over the accumulated newspapers. No mail, so luckily our neighbors must have put it aside. All my plants looked pretty much alive.

I posted my pix to facebook already, now I just have to write my thank you to my parents, for paying for most everything on the trip and to my brother Peter for organizing it.

A Wandering Dog story

I told Buffy a fib today, but she got back at me. I had a vet appt for her rabies and parvo shots, but I asked her if she wanted to come to work with me. Then I drove right to the vets. And carried her in, of course. Then we went back to work.

She stayed and walked around all day, cowering under everyone's desk. Teresa's, Roberts,Andrea's and even the new people in Customer Service. The front door was open and the gate. I guess I shouldn't have believed Robert when he said she would be fine in Customer Service. She preferred staying in there than under my desk since I was concentrating on my work and ignoring her. It was pretty warm inside, but lovely outside.

They have a floor fan in C.S. that blows right under Robert's desk. (He thinks she just likes him, but I notice she sits so she can get the breeze.)

Anyway, I checked on her about two or three times, and each time she came out when I called her. So the last time I checked, she didn't come out of C.S. It was around 4:30, right before the customer service employees leave. She wasn't in there. She had run off again.

I went right to my office to get her leash and headed over to the bus depot next to our warehouse. That's where she went the last two times she wandered off. There was some nice smelly mud mixed with diesel fuel and oil residue that she likes to roll around in. Who knows what else might have been in there?

This time I walked right in and went to the spot, calling out to her, but no answer. I saw some employees outside and asked them if they had seen a smallish dog, but they hadn't. So I kept calling her, went out in front of the place and called, looked around, crossed the street, calling, looked back in the bus parking area, didn't see her anywhere. I thought I might have her her tags clicking, but she didn't come out when I called and I didn't hear her moving. So then I kept walking around the block, calling her name loudly. Nothing moving, no dog.

I was getting a bit worried, wondering where she would have gone to. Then when I rounded the corner on 7th street, I spotted her standing casually in front of the driveway next to the bus depot, at the edge of our building. When I approached her, I tried to act happy and not mad. I offered treats and threw some at her. She would not approach me. When I tried to walk toward her, she ran into the street.

Robert came out and asked where she had been, I told him the bus depot. He couldn't believe how she was acting. So then he said, want to go for a ride? She jumped in his car and settled into the front seat. Then he rolled down the window and I poped on her leash.

Then she was tied to the file cabinet next to my desk, and I told her to lay down in her bed. When she started to pull it over, I tied her to the flat files. After about 25 minutes when she stopped whining I untied her. She kept trying to get in the corner and sit on the computer wires. Finally I finished work and went home.

Berry read me the riot act and suggested that from now on, I tie her up on a long leash so she cannot leave. We'll see about that. She is staying home by herself for now.