Anticipation

What do you do when your heart hurts in anticipation of what you dread the most? This is KanLoo, he is only 7 but he is already graying, his snout is covered with white hairs. 

How time flies and you let the seconds turn into minutes and the minutes into hours...without paying attention to the reality of time flying away. But one day there is the moment when you realize that you are losing the time you have left with the ones you love.
KanLoo is my little man and is getting old, and as much as I want to spend all my time with him, there is life and responsibilities, and all that are making my heart so heavy, not enjoying the present and dreading the future. One day he will be gone leaving a huge hole in my heart...

Happy Birthday Phoenix!

Gosh! I had been so busy with other stuff, every time I was driving driving around or waiting for an appointment, I thought of writing this blog on your birthday, then the day came and went I was not able to get to it. 
So here you are in this picture with a dry porcupine blow fish in your mouth, you looked so adorable...and Victor was chasing after you so you will drop the fish!
For a Pharaoh, you do pretty good, though he did have to chase you we finally lure you with a treat and you gave up your yummy dried fish to us for the 2nd time (yes, this picture is of the 2nd fish you found in the beach!) 
You are growing to be a happy and sweet dog. You are very friendly with all animals! You are friends with the donkey from across the street (@ Victor's apartment in Puerto Vallarta), you are always sniffing the cats at the corner, and you always want to play with other dogs. You are also very quiet and relax at home, much like Nazca was, unlike KanLoo that needs attention and entertainment during the day, and he absolutely complains when I am working at the computer! So you sit there while Victor works, sleeping, chewing on a piece of coconut or a toy or once in a while, you want some attention and bring a toy to Vic. Then at night, when is time for bed, you go to bed waiting for Vic and when he takes too  long you start barking softly, more a talk than a bark, calling him to bed. That is so cute!
You guys play in bed, with the sheets. Vic just discovered the other day that the sheets you guys have now are see-thru, so when he throws the sheet in top of your head, you can see him thru the sheets! He discovered that when he was going to grab you and you grab his hand instead!
Overall you are a great puppy, and very handsome dog and a happy family member!
Happy belated birthday my sweet boy! May we enjoy you many many many years more!

Nazca

This is Nazca. Today a year ago he died bitten by a black widow. I feel sorrow, my heart hurts, the pain is squeezing all there is in my heart.
I didn't even say goodbye to him the morning he died, as I was running late to work...
Since, my life has changed a lot, I wish I can say living my life to the fullest is more important than appointments and work, but it definitely has changed. I make sure I cuddle my puppy a lot, I make sure I dedicate a little bit more time to him, we are lure coursing now, and I also spend sometime cuddling Phoenix when I was in Vallarta.
Every second you do not show your love ones that you love them, is a second wasted...

When dogs go over the rainbow bridge

Today I am writing honoring a friend. On friday she had to put one of her dogs to sleep, she was attacked by her other dog and didn't quite make it. I do not know all the details, all I know is how she feels right now.
Losing a dog is hard. And really there is nothing you can say, other than it is not easy, and that you understand how hard it is. Non-dog owners may never understand how can a dog put such a big hole in your heart, and why you are crying for a dog! But it is because they have never had the blessing of infinite love dogs give you everyday of their existence, a pure love like no other, not even of that of a son or daughter! Kids, even being blood of your blood they will grow and form their own opinions that may be opposite to yours, they will grow and live their own life. Kids just grow, they become teenagers and they hate you, they become independent adults and they are too busy with their own life and have no time for you.
Dogs know they are there to love you and cherish you and be your companions, their heart is so big and their love is endless!
So it is a sad day, it will be a few sad days, as my friend is grieving her loss, and Victor and I are getting closer to the year of losing Nazca.
And so, I write copy rainbow bridge poem here:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....  Author unknown...

Phoenix and the mosquitoes

Last week sunday, Phoenix had a bad reaction to mosquito bites. They bit him in the nose and eye, and his face was really swollen and getting more swollen by the second. Victor called the vet and he open just for them. He gave Phoenix a couple of shots to help with the allergic reaction. He has been having bad reaction to the mosquito bites in Puerto Vallarta, every time he gets bitten, his bites get really swollen and he obviously gets really itchy.
I have to say, the mosquitos in Puerto Vallarta are vicious!

Pup!!!

Phoenix just came back from a 5 minute walk, he peed and pooped...so his new nickname is:
Perfect peeper pooper pup! or P4!

Phoenix is growing so fast!

This big dog is Phoenix! He is 7 months now, and growing like the wind!
I have not been writing too regularly, as many changes were happening in our lives!
In May I took the severance package Nike offer and I left them! That was the plan any way and all I was waiting for was my Bonus! So though now I do not have a job, it was really great!
So after coordinating the move for a month, finally they packed me up end of June and by end of July my stuff arrived in Los Gatos, CA, where we live now. Unfortunately, Victor and Phoenix had to stay in Mexico to finish some design stuff! So is KanLoo and Pat for a few months exploring the Bay Area.
My niece Nicole and nephew JOsh came to visit us to Puerto Vallarta for a week, while there I was continuing with my marathon training, as I do have an entry to run the San Francisco Woman's Marathon in October this year. Well, 2 days after we were there I screwed my knee bad! Intense pain that made me stop my running. Back in Guadalajara I went to the emergency orthopedic clinic and the doctor diagnose an impingement in my fat pad (Hoffa's disease), so I got anti-imflamatories and rest for 10 days, after which I tried running and the pain was right back! So went to the one of the drs I was recommended by my running friends, and he said I had a patella that was too high and was damaging my femur. And of course he needed to do arthroscopic surgery to leave me as new!
So now you have me back in Guadalajara, Mx, with my knee that was operated 17 days ago! I use crutches and depend on everyone, even for a glass of water!
In the meantime KanLoo is in a dog boarding resort: http://www.greenacresk9resort.com/Our%20Program.html
I have been in touch with them and KL is having a good time, playing with other dogs, running around being chased by the slower dogs...being his normal puppy playful self!
And Phoenix is in with me and Victor and he has been going almost everyday to Pet-expert, the veterinary clinic and day care service we have used for all 3 of our dogs while in Mexico. He stays there around 4 hours and then comes home very tired. It is best this way as I can not go to the park with them!
So this is where we are now, I will give you more details in the next few days!