From Red-Eye To Puppy Love - Part Deux

All I have to say about red-eye flights is that - well, they definitely suck in general and they suck the life right of you.  This is especially true when upon arrival to Logan airport, I was still facing an hour-plus commute to NH and yet another dogsitting adventure.  Ok, have I piled enough on - absolutely.  This being a yes-woman can be exhausting to say the least.  My only saving grace.....they have a doggy door and they sleep when they are not outside frolicking about. 

Ah, sleep, that was the one thing I did very well this past weekend.  Upon arrival on Saturday in Amherst, I settled on the not-so comfy sofa sectional in the basement and fell asleep for not 2 not 3 not 4 but 5 hours.  Waking up in a daze, I checked on the puppies and left them food and fell asleep again for another 8 hours.  I don't know if I was even able to register what timezone I was in.  I gave up until Sunday morning when I stretched and felt like a woman reborn. 

Now it is Sunday evening and I am finishing up the Sunday of laundry and cleaning the kitchen, watching Brothers & Sisters when I should be in bed.  Yeah, right.  Since when have I been able to go to bed at a reasonable hour on a Sunday - ah, never! 

Onto yet another glorious work week - can't hardly wait!

Adventure in LA - Hello & Good-bye

Greetings from LA! 

Wish I was here for pleasure but I have gotten some pleasure in hanging out with great colleagues, shooting the sh*t and having sprinkles cupcakes.  Yes, I am all about food.and of course patron silver - my bestest friend ever.  And I successfully avoided the seagulls that were abundant at this event.

We are having an event at the Hyatt Century Plaza and star sightings have been had - unfortunately not by me but at least we can say that the following stars have been scene:

Now that we are on the final day of the event, I am so unbelievable happy and ready to go home and crawl into bed and sleep all weekend long.  And this time, I will be snuggling with new pups in NH for the week.  And they have a doggie door so no walking or scooping up poop.  YEAH!    So hello and good-bye LA and hopefully next time there will be more star sightings in person and will be for pleasure and not work

Adventures in Dog/Housesitting - Part II (Child versus Adult-Proof)

When the words "child-proof" comes to mind, I used to just think about medicine bottles and the need to lift weights to open them. Flashforward to this past week and I realized that child-proof in 2010 has taken a whole new meaning.

No, I do not have kids yet but I am housesitting/dogsitting for a family of almost 2 year old twins.  And let me just tell you, their house is like a fortress when it comes to childproofing - especially when it comes to the kitchen - cabinets and all.   Here's the running list:

• Wednesday - Elisa fights child-proof cabinets and the dishwasher and.....WINS! After a wonderful home-cooked meal, I cleaned the counters and opened the dishwasher to find it full with ready to be cleaned dishes.  Oh well, I thought, might as well wash them, right?  Ok, two problems - 
1. The dishwashing liquid is locked up in the cabinet - you guessed it child-proof locks that require a two phased approach to get them open.  So when the family called to check-in on the pups, I asked - what's the magic "open sesame" password to get it open.  Got it open - YEAH!!!
2. This excitement was short-lived when I realized that the dishwasher also had a child-proof lock on it.  You guessed it, I pressed every button imaginable to start and it wouldn't start.  I was like, "Really, people"  am I being punked already in a home, where are those cameras anyway???  I walked away, watched a show and then with a clearer mind, I went back to face the dishwasher.  It was like "Kitchen High Noon."  Except, I won.  I found the unlock button and voila the dishwashing began and I went to bed feeling very accomplished.

• Saturday - Elisa enters the battle of the child-proof stove and......LOSES but only half way.  So after a day of beauty, I come back to Melrose ready to cook dinner for a couple of friends who live in the area.  On the menu was Caribbean Chicken with Rice Pilaf and salad.  They were bringing the drinks and dessert.  I had decided to make home-made pita chips - a mixture of regular, garlic and asiago cheese chips.  I got them all ready on the cookie sheets and was on my way to heat up the oven when.....you guessed it,  it had a lock.  The lights kept flashing at me every time I tried to heat it up - "Stove Loc On" It might as well as said, "Ha ha ha Elisa, you are F*CKED!"  I called my friends but they were out.  I even tried to look up the code on the internet.  To no avail.  So, due to the time, I looked around and then the hallelujah chorus started as the sun (ok, it was raining so I imagined it the sun) lit up the toaster oven.  YEAH!!!!!  Pita chips were had by all and thank god the rest of the menu only needed stove top cooking :)   My friends did try to rescue me but it was after the pita chips were done and I was walking the dogs.   Hey, at least they tried right?

So, what has this all taught me?  Well, the good news is that these child-proof codes and cabinet locks are in existence.  Imagine our parents when we as babies would get into things - I shiver at the thought.  The not so good news is that now as I an single adult woman, can't figure these damn things out and has to send frequent S.O.S. messages to get the job done.  I wonder what it will be like when I do have kids - I am thinking remote clicker locks :)   

Adventures In Dogsitting - Part 1

Hello there!  It has been a while - too long.  Work life balance is getting back in check - especially this week while I am dogsitting in Melrose for two of the cutest wheaten terriers you have ever seen.  They love to walk, love to eat and love to snuggle.   While the Dowd family is away, Elisa will play as much as possible with them.  I mean....look at them:

Stella is on the right and Beans is on the left and this is how they greet me every morning with a shake and a smile.  Then after jumping around for at least 10 minutes, they decide, ok, I am pooped:

So far, I have been dogsitting since Tuesday evening and it has been an adventure.  Let's see what I have learned so far:

• The Walking & The Business:  No this is not a Jersey Shore nickname for the pups - its about, you know, doing their business during the walks.  I do love to walk the dogs around the neighborhood but sometimes I wish they could do their business on command.  Especially in the morning before having to leave for work.  Like you can say - are you ready? And they do it on command.  Yeah, that's like saying you can have twin babies on a schedule.  My girlfriend who has twin boys said that was going to happen for her - five years later she is still working on that one.  But at least they are doing their business and I don't have to worry about accidents, right?
• Sleeping & Snuggling:  Evenings are my favorite time of the day with them.  They are so cuddly soft (yes like the Teddy Bear in the commercial) and all they want to do is lay on the couch near by to keep me company.  Now at night, Beans sleeps at the foot of my bed while Stella, the younger pup has decided to keep me company by sleeping by me on top of the comforter.  This was not an issue until last night at midnight after the lights were out and I was just about to fall asleep when Stella stood up suddenly and....well, let's just say I heard a sound that was not welcome.  Yes, you guessed it, she had a little vomiting accident on the corner of the comforter - GRROOOSSSSS!  She has been relegated to the living room for now on the very comfortable couch which is currently sleeping on as we speak with her sister, Beans.

Now, the weather has held off so far this week, but tomorrow this all changes with a rainy weekend with no end in sight.  But don't you worry, Beans and Stella will be walking in style and more adventures of chasing birds, walking in the mud and singing in the rain will be had:

Beans in an Isaac Mizrahi Puppy Coat - ha!