Life of Dave

Life of Dave

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Kitchen Reno b4 & After

Here's the latest kitchen photo update just after the Caesarstone countertops were installed today.





















Compare with the night we took possession of the house way back on Nov. 11, 2002. That was even before I had a digital camera!

Check out the funky 80's range!
















I'd say that's a pretty dramatic "Before" and "After".

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Sammy and Ozzy

I’ve been looking at this photo repeatedly ever since I took it, so I thought it was high time I shared it. It’s already posted on the Metro Vancouver Cocker Spaniel Meet-up Group site, but it needs more exposure. It’s just such a happy photo. It always makes me smile.


Sammy and Ozzy are half-siblings. They are 2 years apart in age and share either the same father of mother; I can’t remember which. The pair is owned by a couple with a small baby. At the ‘All Cocker Christmas Meet-up’ last Saturday Colleen told me they have matching sweaters for all 5 family members: Mom, Dad, baby and two Spaniels. Wouldn’t that make a great Christmas card!

I draw the line at dressing up dogs, but sweaters are OK in my book during cold winter weather, especially after a visit to the dog groomer. Shelby’s going to need a sweater on Saturday after her visit to Happy Tails. She’s long overdue for a trim.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Kitchen reno update

It's been a while since I posted an update photo of the new kitchen. It's coming along nicely. Countertops got measured and templated yesterday. They will be installed next Tuesday, then the backsplash tile can be applied.

Christmas is coming and it looks like it will be 95% finished so we can use it.




Saturday, December 5, 2009

Metro Vancouver Cocker Spaniel Meet-up Group

I recently accepted the position of leader/organizer of a local Cocker Spaniel Meet-up Group in Vancouver, BC.

http://www.meetup.com/cockerspaniel-107/

Sue, the originator of the group, stepped down due to more than a full plate of activities requiring her attention, not the least of which is caring for her father-in-law who is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. He lives with them.

Until 2 years ago I had never even heard of Meet-up Groups. I can’t remember how I found out about them; technology changes unbelievably quickly these days. Some things I don’t even have time to participate in before something else takes its place.

Case in point, Facebook. I was never really interested in it in the first place (I think I’m too old and cranky for it), but now Twitter has shown up. And to tell you the truth, I’m not interested in it either. Oh, and don’t forget about Texting. Don’t get me started. I’m just proud of myself that I figured out how to input names and numbers into my cellphone address book (pat on the back).

An email recently was sent to all members of the Vancouver Cocker Spaniel Meet-up Group that it would shut down in two weeks if a new organizer didn’t step up to the plate. I gave it some thought for about a week. My decision is based on my devotion to my dog, Shelby.

She was really the inspiration for me taking up the internet search for a group of dog owners. Our last dear Spaniel (also coincidentally named Shelby) passed away almost 2 years ago, and we found out about our current Shelby shortly thereafter. She was 1-1/2 years old and needed a new home. We drove to Vancouver, WA to get her.

Long story short, I wanted to socialize her with other dogs and figured a group of same breed dogs would be fun. And it has been!

When I learned that the Cocker Spaniel Meet-up Group might end, I just couldn’t let that happen. So now I’m the Organizer.

We just had our first Meet-up under my direction, and I’m happy to report it was a success. Eight Spaniels brought their people to Angus Park (aka Fraser River Park) in Vancouver, BC. They all got along famously and the weather was sunny. A bit cold, but a big improvement from the month of November when it seemed the rain would never end. Last Saturday would have been a wash-out.

Like they say, timing is everything.



Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Update regarding "Soggy News"

Success! My Courier newspaper was tossed onto my front steps, under the roof overhang this morning, as requested.

The squeaky wheel got the grease, so to speak.

The next test, of course, will be delivery during the rain. This morning was cold and clear.