The Place I Want to Get Back To

A beautiful poem shared with me by a beautiful friend, Lauren Wyeth.

The Place I Want to Get Back To

is where

in the pinewoods

in the moments between

the darkness

and first light

two deer

came walking down the hill

and when they saw me

they said to each other, okay,

this one is okay,

let's see who she is

and why she is sitting

on the ground, like that,

so quiet, as if

asleep, or in a dream,

but, anyway, harmless;

and so they come

on their slender legs

and gazed upon me

not unlike the way

I go out to the dunes and look

and look and look

into the faces of the flowers;

and then one of them leaned forward

and nuzzled my hand, and what can my life

bring me that could exceed

that brief moment?

For twenty years

I have gone every day to the same woods,

not waiting, exactly, just lingering.

Such gifts, bestowed,

can't be repeated.

If you want to talk about this

come to visit. I live in the house

near the corner, which I have named

Gratitude.

~ Mary Oliver ~

Anthony is six yrs old today.

RIP Daisy

Yesterday, 7/15/09, we lost one of our beloved Scottish Terrier, Daisy (full name: Please Don't Eat the Daisies). We loved her very much and she was one of the happiest dogs you would come across. She was always up for giving kisses, having Anthony use her as a pillow, and just to brighten up your day when you are feeling a little low.

We adopted Daisy in Texas almost 15 years ago from Jerry's Pet Store at some mall in Ft. Worth, Texas. We saw her in the window and went to go to see her. We just happened to be looking for a playmate for Lizzie our first Scotty. The clerk took her out, her name was Mauvis back then, and let us play with her. We fell in love instantly and did not care that she did not have papers, we knew she was the right fit for our small family of 2 cats and 1 dog. So, I negotiated her price and we took her home.

On the way home, she was so skittish that she rode on the back of Ross' neck the whole way, kinda like a doggy scarf. It was adorable. She and Lizzie got along fairly quickly and the rest is history. We have so many fond memories of Daisy, from the long car drives from Texas to California, to her first plane ride, to riding on peddle boats on the lake, to just cuddling up on the couch. She also loved to play catch, was often found sleeping with one of her stuffed animals, she loved to give kisses, loved to roll around in either horse or cow poop, and always had a smile on her face. I will miss so many things about her. Dogs definitely love you unconditionally, and Daisy most definitely did.

Last week we had taken her to the vet for checkup because she was breathing funny and the doctor said that she had water in her lungs from pneumonia and she thinks maybe heart disease. Ross brought Lizzie in this week because of her eyes and again told him that another doctor had looked at Daisy's x-rays from last week and he also concurred that the enlarge heart was heart disease. They prescribed her some medication but I guess it did not work. Daisy did have a big heart (not in the same way the doctors said)...and it showed. I wish we (I) had done more. I should have done more. I regret not doing more. But...I just sat back thinking that it will all work out okay and that she would just get over it and get better. Frankly, I was more concerned about Lizzie dying sooner than Daisy.

I remember looking at her as I left the house yesterday and she just kinda gave me a look of I will miss you (or maybe it was do something)...so before leaving I looked back to her and said Goodbye Daisy, I love you. Didn't realize it was the last time I would say that. Ross found her dead, looked like she was sleeping peacefully, when we came home from work last night. He stopped me at the door and told me to take Anthony upstairs, so I did. As Anthony watched TV upstairs, we called to local animal hospitals to find a way to cremate and discard of her body. Ross said she felt very cold already and he wanted to say goodbye, but knew it was no longer her. She was really loved and she will be missed.

We told Anthony what had happened in the best way we could. He cried for about 15 minutes cuddling up to us and saying how Daisy will not be with us anymore and how much he wants her there. He will miss his playmate and sometimes pillow. We all will.

So...RIP Daisy, you have left an impact here on earth and we will miss you but never forget about you.

-Percy

Top Photo by Gloria Plunkett and Middle Photo by Ross Beardsley

Yummy to my Tummy...The Burger Bus

If you live in the Santa Barbara area, don't walk run after The Burger Bus. I had the incredible opportunity to eat there today and had the totally scrumptious CB&J (Cheeseburger and Jelly). They have 5 locations that they service in the SB/Goleta area, each day in a different location. For their locations, please visit their Website.

The Burger Bus features products from local companies such as:
















I'm telling you this is my new favorite burger joint. Check out the schedule of locations and try it out.

-Percy

Photos from The Burger Bus

New Guilty Pleasure

I watched the pilot of the show Glee last night on Fox and I have to say that I think this is going to be my new favorite show...my new guilty pleasure.

Glee is a mix between the original Fame TV show meets High School Musical. The characters all seem really interesting and I think it's going to make for good TV. I hope they don't cheese it up too much.

The premise is a high school music teacher torn between doing what he loves and making more money to support his wife and the lifestyle she thinks they should have. Than there's the other teacher who is secretly in love with the music teacher. The football stud turned Glee Club geek, after the music teacher basically fabricated a story to get him to sing in the group and finally you have your Glee Club geeks who are just a great group of of folks with awesome voices. I can't wait for the season to start. If you missed the pilot, you can watch it in full here.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

-Percy

Photo from Fox