a99kitten's Musings

Went on a great hike this morning! Took the buds out early but it was already too warm for them so I went on the long, uphill hike alone (Storm thanks me.)

Saw a few runners sprint past me. Saw them at 3 different spots on the hike but all 3 were young (late teens), shirtless, SKINNY, and wearing those teeny runner shorts I thought went out in the 70s for me. And all I could think as they ran past me was “Run Forrest Run!” But besides them, and a gazillion chipmunks, birds and butterflies, no one else. A very peaceful hike. Plenty of time to think….which brings me to the question that got stuck in my head…a question I’m sure I’m not the only one to ask. I’m sure it’s been addressed somewhere but I haven’t read it.

Why at the end of the “revised” Return of the Jedi does Anakin appear young, and not old like he used to and like Obi Wan? I mean, can you just choose your apparition age? Bonus if so. But then why would Ob-Wan stay Alec instead of Ewan? So that’s not it.

It’s obviously not as simple as your apparition age is as you were when you died because we saw older, crusty Darth die.

It can’t be because that was when Anakin was last a member of the non-dark side (it’s always the dark side but never the light side..) and a “true” Jedi because really he did pretty questionable stuff back when he was a teenager with the whole ‘slaughter all the Tusken Raiders who took your Mom and lie to the Jedi Council about Padme’ business. And he technically reverted back to good when he shafted Palpatine to save Luke. I believe this is what the general consensus is but let’s face it – Anakin was a lying punk already in AOTC.

So then is it because the Jedi ARE actually a bit more judgey-judgerson than we know and they didn’t want a burnt, grown over with scars, pizza-face Anakin in their blissful nether-universe? I hope not…I think we all need to believe that they are truly good both inside and out….

But as a side note, I do actually like the change GL made to the end of ROTJ (NOT Ep VI to me) with the various cities celebrating. Just need to work out this Anakin business… :)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100623/ap_on_bi_ge/whaling

“South Korea acknowledged that it wants the right to hunt whales and may apply to the commission for a quota.”

I would like to the right to hunt South Koreans. And Japanese. And Norway. Oh, and Iceland. Sending in my application for a quota right now…

Now that’s damn funny :)

For the past couple months I have been eating small, pre-packaged salads that are between 260-310 calories for lunch. I don’t snack. Never have been much of a snacker. I generally make healthy dinners and only splurge when I go out to eat which isn’t often because I don’t want the extra calories. And I like easy lunches anyway.

It’s bikini season. I get it. It’s fine and I don’t hate it when I feel it is MY choice. I like to be thin. And feel thin. But if I feel someone thinks I’m fat, or needs to lose weight…well…you can exit the f*&%^*&# door pal. I do not need you.

Today I offered husband one of my salads as he was starving and didn’t have time to get lunch. I had an extra salad and I was being nice. He ate it.

We got home around 8:30 or so tonight and I started dinner as soon as we got home and I proceeded to do the million things I have to do. As I’m doing them, husband says “I like it when you get home earlier than I do and….” I stop and look at him, waiting for him to finish the sentence I know is stuck hanging there. He realizes his mistake and finishes “…then we get to eat earlier and hang out and watch TV or something.” I smile and say “don’t you mean I get home earlier and have dinner ready and waiting for you when you get home?” Umm…well…yeah…that is GREAT! he says. Fantasy punch one.

Dinner is almost ready. Husband says I am so starving. Those tiny salads aren’t enough food. I say welcome to my and Stormy’s world (Storm is always hungry!) He says well, it’s different for you. You shouldn’t be hungry. Again…stop what I’m doing…why is that I ask. Well…you are smaller than I am. And a girl. Yes to both of those I say but do you think that 300 calories is enough food for ANYONE to last all day long and not be starving well past dinner time??

Well…I don’t know he says. Fantasy punch 2.

He is so &^%#^@&@*@)@)frackin’ lucky I have some form of self control and haven’t smacked him in the head with a frying pan yet….

Maybe I’m too sensitive…but really? Now I am sitting here while I have another SVT episode/heart racing. I am definitely starting to see a stress correlation….

I read the Vanity Fair article about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton today. Wow. I always knew they had this grand, and yet scandalous, love affair in the 60s and got married and divorced twice and it was all very dramatic and yet romantic at the same time. Very real life Catherine and Healthcliff. It also made me want to rent their old movies! And buy the new book coming out about them. Funnily, I got Cleopatra from Netflix last week right before this magazine arrived, It’s like I cosmically knew ;)

But this article had some of the love letters from Richard to Elizabeth. Very passionate. Very “I cannot live without you”. They definitely seemed very much in love with other. Even when they could no longer be together, those feelings didn’t stop. Their affair started so full of passion and yet also full of scandal. Full of romance and extravagance but also turbulence. They did stay married for 10 years and then got remarried for a short time. So it wasn’t like they flamed out quickly and it was all about lust. It sure seems they stayed in love with one another forever. Kind of hard to follow that if you were one of their other lovers/spouses.

Of course, it seems so romantic to those on the outside reading about it because we didn’t have to live with the alcoholism, fighting, jealousy, etc. We get to read about the good without really feeling the bad.

Richard Burton always came across to me (in the few movie roles I have seen him in which is the only way I know anything about him besides the “Liz and Dick” stories”) as the tough as nails, hard-ass, carousing Welsh guy. And I think he was exactly this. I liked him immediately when I found out he played King Arthur on stage and I listed to the soundtrack over and over. Wonderful voice for that role. But his soft spot was definitely for her. And reading a few of the letters he wrote her, the love he felt for her was amazing.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/06/liz-and-dick-the-ultimate-celebrity-couple.html

This link isn’t the article. If you have access to Vanity Fair and like old Hollywood stories (or tortured romance), I say read it :)

My one peeve, is the cover of Vanity Fair compares (in a way) them to “Brangelina”. Yuck. Frankly, IMO, that’s insulting to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. I like Brad Pitt, and they are both OK actors and I enjoy at least most of the films I have seen with them but they are so no way on the same level. Not in talent or pure coolness. But again, my opinion. And I really could care less about their love affair. And I simply can *not* imagine Brad writing…

“Prometheus was punished by the gods forever and is still suffering in all of us for inventing fire and stealing it from the gods. I am forever punished by the gods for being given the fire and trying to put it out. The fire, of course, is you.”

Yeah…that is swoon-worthy. And he had a lot of them. Plus he had exquisite taste in sparklies :)

Yesterday was my first official day of summer – first trip to Donner Lake with the huskies! This is where I take them every morning we are here from now until it’s cold again :)

We go pretty early once it’s really summer/warm (typically 6-6:30ish) but it’s not quite that warm yet so the mornings are still pretty chilly. We park outside of and walk through Donner State Park and smell all the campers making their bacon – yum! I think Angelus and Storm would be perfectly happy to make friends with them and skip the hike :)

Then we get to a trail that starts right before the Emigrant Trail (a long bike trail) that takes us up through trees and rocks and plenty of forest. I need to keep them in as much shade as possible once spring/summer hits so I always look for shady hikes and this is kind of a perfect one. I keep looking for bears as there are plenty of bear sightings in Donner Park but I have yet to see one there. You’d think they’d come out with the bacon smell!! But better for them that they don’t.

It’s a gradient uphill and then a fast down, rocky downhill. The boys will lag and sniff and pee on everything in sight on the uphill but then when we get to the rocky, dusty (aka slippery) descent it’s all about who can beat who down the hill – forgetting they are attached to Mom through the leashes. Thanks guuuuuuuuuys! But they haven’t taken me out yet. I kinda think this is the plan – Mom falls and oops – all the cookies fall out of her pocket too! They took me out once before years ago. Much bigger, steeper hill and they just start charging down it. And I know as I lay there saying “OW! you little rat bastards!” I saw a glint of a hehehehe in Angelus’ eyes..I know I did! Goobers…

Anyway, so once we finish the downhill here we end up at the lake. They both immediately wade in up to their bellies and cool off and drink the water. The lake is so awesome for this as they can’t drink the ocean water when they cool down at the beach at home. Then we walk back on the flat trail along along the lake where they go in and cool off anytime. And it’s mostly shady so it’s a great summertime walk for them.

Another fun thing about this walk as the entire walk back along the lake is full of chipmunks and squirrels who LOVE to taunt the huskies. It’s like they know they are on leash. Now, some dogs have no prey instinct (pretty much talking right at you labs and goldens) and probably do not care about chasing critters (they want the ball – the huskies do not understand this.) And some dogs do have prey instincts. A very strong one. Huskies are like this. Do all huskies? Supposedly not. But my boys – oh man. If something small is running from them – Go! Chase! Get it! And it is amazing watching the instant pack/hunting mentality kick in with them both. It’s quite an organized effort. Storm circled one way around a tree/rock formation and blocked the squirrel from running onto a rock so he leapt in the air onto the tree and Angelus leapt in the air after him trying to get him. Had that little guy’s tail been a bit longer – Angelus would be flossing his teeth with squirrel hair. I need a head cam to record this stuff :)

But seeing their eyes when they chase is a funny thing. They get intent! And wide-eyed. The prey instinct is a very strong one in them so I always have to be sure they cannot get anything. I don’t want them catching anything. They are not hunting for food to survive so they do not need to catch anything (they disagree strongly.) But huskies are actually one of the few breeds that still have DNA from wolves so hunting is a natural feeling (Storm hunts for sandwiches at work every day!) National Geographic did some big dog DNA study years ago where they took DNA from all of the AKC breeds and there were 4 or 5 breeds that still have DNA traceable to Canis Lupus. I mean – look at them. Of course they do. So the DNA and traits are not just trained out of them. Had an idiot try and tell me it can be. I asked how. She said with training and discipline. I said you mean beating and fear/aggression training? She said well – if that’s what’s needed. I responded that she should never be allowed to have a dog and walked away. Hate people like that.

But this hike/walk is great in the early mornings because it’s still too early for most picnicers (except for the 4th of July weekend when people are there at 6am staking out their spots) and the campers are just waking up so my entire trail is pretty empty. I’ll see maybe 1 or 2 people the entire way. Love it. Peaceful.

And yes, just a few steps away is where some of the Donner Party ended up. There is a museum there with some of the things they found at the site (tools, clothing and such) plus it has history on what was occurring around here at the time – gold and silver mining, railroad building, town expansion, indian tribes, etc. It’s actually really interesting. I took my MIL on a visit a couple years ago and it was pretty cool. If you are ever out there on a visit (or live here and have never been), I suggest checking it out. One of the sad things was that their whole debacle could have been avoided if they would have just stayed on target and not tried a shortcut proposed by someone. Clearly this wagon train was directed by a man who thought a shortcut sounded like a great idea and didn’t simply follow directions. Bad idea.

And no – they did not all eat each other. That is actually unfounded and the legend kinda took on its own life. Might a small amount of cannibalism occurred as they were dying out and stuck in the harsh winter? Sure. No one can actually say for sure. But it wasn’t all zombieland out there.

The thing I find most incredible is that these people left pretty secure lives on the East Coast to put their families and belongings in carts and walk across the entire country to a “new land” that was pretty undiscovered, in order to start new lives with only the potential for something greater driving them. Amazing. People were frackin’ tough and resilient back then. People today can’t live 1 hour without their cell phone, or drive thru fast food, cable TV. You just don’t see that spirit or tenacity in people. We’ve gotten soft. That’s not a good thing. Don’t misunderstand – I LOVE creature comforts. But I think too many people today expect things instead of working for things.

But then on the other hand, I can now wander through that same area with the huskies and enjoy the beauty for what it is and not worry about starving or freezing to death. We think that’s kinda of a good thing :)

Started reading my new Vanity Fair tonight (the one with the gorgeous Liz Taylor on the cover) and got to their monthly poll. This one is titled “Admitting Our Mistakes” although I don’t see most of the questions really about that.

It’s funny. I’ve always considered the majority of Vanity Fair readers to be very liberal and comfortable/well-off/just plain wealthy. I am not liberal, at all, but I do love all of the great pictures, fun articles about old/monied scandal and even the gorgeous ads of all sorts of fun stuff to buy :) Years and years ago, I started subscribing solely because of Dominick Dunne’s monthly column. And did think I might cancel once he passed away. But I’ve kept it so far since I did cancel all the rest of my magazines except for Sports Illustrated and Vogue (yeah…a bit of weird mix but that’s me :) )

Anyway, example of questions: “If you could live in a movie for one day, whose life would you want?” Overwhelming winner – Indiana Jones. Caught my attention! :) (sigh…) The other choices in order: Ferris Bueller, Carrie Bradshaw, Don Corleone, Gordon Gekko, Ilsa Lund (Casablanca) and Lara Croft (Tomb Raider). I’m sure a psyche major would have a field day with those answers :)

Other questions:
2. “Do You think it is sometimes justified for the C.I.A. to resort to assassination, or it is never justified.” The majority is sometimes justified. I wouldn’t have guessed that from this crowd (have you ever read the Letters to the Editor?? Fn tree-huggers)

3. Apparently the University of North Dakota retired their mascot, the Fighting Sioux, on the grounds it gives offense to Native Americans. What should happen to other references (Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves)?

Overwhelming vote was to keep them. Only 12% said retire. That truly did surprise me because tree-huggers are also ridiculously, over-the-top, make-me-gag PC…

3. When you hear the name Robert M Gates, what profession comes to mind?” Computer pioneer was the clear winner. Umm…not Bill Gates people…and hello – aren’t you limousine liberals always all pissy about the Defense Secretary, no matter who it is?

There are a lot of questions so I won’t bore you with more. But I will say some of the answers surprised me. I personally believe (since I personally know people like this) that people will sometimes say things, or agree with things, to not cause controversy in the crowd they are in. But anonymously, the answers might be different. Especially when you live in an area like the SF Bay Area like I do where the dirty hippies run rampant. I am not like this. At all. In any way. My friends either love me or hate me for this reason :)

So I did find these answers (well, some of them) interesting. And points to the truism that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Or not everything is black and white. Or just because you are a staunch conservative doesn’t mean you hate the environment and, in fact, prefer it and the fluffy over most, if not all, people and all of their BS. Oh wait…that might just apply to me :)

Had another fun trip to Maverick’s with the huskies this AM. I slept in so we didn’t get out of the house until 7am. But we were still the only ones out there except the illegal clam-diggers (hate them.) I assumed since it was so hot yesterday, and supposed to be today as well, that more people would be out early. Guess not.

Once we got out to the point, a couple people came out with dogs on leashes. No one that Angelus looked particularly interested in playing with. We did find some fun tide pools for them to soak in and sniff for stuff in. It was super low tide, even lower than yesterday, so tons of tide pools and beach to investigate.

Once we made it back to the other beach, more dogs were starting to arrive – yay! Some dogs from yesterday and some new ones. We thought the chocolate lab puppy, Cocoa, (she LOVED Angelus) was there but as we got closer it turned out to be a different puppy – her name was Kona. She immediately started following the huskies around. Puppies seem to love Angelus. :)

Angelus played and ran and tried to steal balls and lined up for treats from other Moms :) Stormy had to stay on leash (combo of boo-boo still healing from his surgery and he gets a bit more agro when there are a lot of dogs around – he does better with 1 or 2.) He really wouldn’t leave my side if he was off leash anyway so he doesn’t seem to mind.

Once it seemed that Angelus was done and tired we started heading back down the beach to go to the car. There is this big set of rocks that, at low tide, you can walk around from/to another beach and we started going that way. All of a sudden you hear this thunder and from around the rock come 4 greyhounds running full speed. It was SO cool looking. They tore past us and Angelus took off after them. He must have flipped some kind of Hyperdrive switch because he caught up to them going SO fast. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him run that fast in his life. It was very impressive. I mean, huskies run and all but these are greyhounds running top speed. True, in the sand but still. Fast dogs. I wish I had it on video. I was quite proud of my running husky :)

They all came to a stop when they reached the other group of dogs (that we just left) and much wrestling and running (after a cool dip in the water) occurred again.

Then a female Malamute showed up. So, so, sweet. Her name was Faron and she is 5. She was bigger than Angelus. Her Mom didn’t let her off-leash. Northern breeds are runners/roamers – I only recently started letting Angelus off-leash when we are at the beach. And only then when we are at “safe” beaches – far, far away from roads or any traffic. Now that he is 9 he listens to me more ;) And doesn’t feel the intense urge to roam. Having said that, he would take off to chase any type of critter. Northern breeds require leashes. It’s not a training issue. Anyway, this malamute was awesome. Her Mom would let her wade into the water up to her belly and the Mom just walked right in with her. She came prepared with surf booties so she could take her dog into the water. She knew her buddy needed the cool water too. What a good mom :) Faron started howling and talking so the boys responded. All the people on the beach were laughing and saying how awesome that is :) Husky (or Malamute) talking is the best. I cannot handle much barking (which they don’t do) but LOVE the howling and talking. Although it does scare some people. They think it’s aggressive. Those are dumb people.

After some more playing, with Storm even playing with a little black dog named Gree and another female boxer, we decided to head back. On our way, around that same set of rocks, comes this little black and white dog who essentially looks like a mini husky** (which is not a real breed other than maybe some whack job trying to breed/make one) mixed with Pomeranian. I have read about these dogs. They are called Klee Kai. It’s a newer breed. I’m not a fan of making new “designer” breeds or of breeding larger dogs with smaller ones just so you can have mini versions. Not a fan at all. But that’s my own personal opinion.

This little doggie was very cute and sweet and a tough little guy. He thought he belonged with Angelus and Storm and started following us. His Dad had to chase him down and get him from his new found pack :)

We met up with a few more labs, a standard poodle and a few other dogs. It definitely seemed that the boys were pooped and ready to go home. Got to the car, gave them water and toweled them off. Put Storm in the car and then went to lift Angelus into the car when he backed up and looked at me like “what? I thought we were just getting water and dropping the kid off. I want to hang out more!” Dude I say. You’ve been playing like a puppy for 2 hours. Your brother wants to go home and it’s getting warmer out. He begrudgingly let me pick him up and put him in the car with a definite look of “hrmph”.

What a 9-year old puppy he is :) A another good morning was definitely had by all.

**Wikipedia’s entry on Miniature huskies: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_Siberian_Husky

This whole things annoys the hell out of me because there is no actual real breed as a miniature husky. I might rant about this subject later :) but this line cracked me up when I read it because, while true, Storm protests STRONGLY on a daily basis against this “fact” as pure fiction meant to starve hungry huskies! : “Obesity must be guarded against as well, as the dogs were originally bred to subsist on smaller quantities of food than dogs of a similar size.”

Bought some fresh white peaches today. I love peaches and white peaches are even better than yellow ones when this perfectly ripe. And this is not only because I love Bellinis :)

I love peach flavored stuff too. The peach flavor gummi bears, gummi rings or jelly beans are YUM! Peach Snapple Iced tea! YUM! And they all remind me of the peach-flavored Jell-O that I used to love as a kid. That smell/taste always reminds me of being a kid in the warm summer. I remember after school, I’d go to my parents’ office and sometimes wander around the neighborhood, the local shopping centers, go play Pac-Man at the local sub shop (highest of the high scores thank you very much.) Thinking back, my parents truly trusted me to never get in trouble and wander off by myself for hours every day. I never did get in trouble so there you go.

I remember I’d go to after school programs for the Student Council (Secretary), sports (gymnastics and track) and baton (yes, I twirled a mean baton) and then on the way back from school to their office, I would walk through quiet neighborhoods. One of my friends would stop at this old guy’s house and he would give treats to the neighborhood kids. Like peach-flavored Jell-O. We would hang out there for like 30 minutes or something and then be on our way. It was boys and girls, mostly around my age-ish (10-12).

Thinking back about it I never felt unsafe or creeped out. He was a nice old guy. We always hung outside on his porch and he was nice. Maybe he had grand kids our age? Or lost someone special our age? Or maybe just a little lonely and a lot nice? Who knows. I don’t actually remember if I ever mentioned to my parents that I did this. But it seems odd that I did and they never checked it out? Especially my Dad. So I must not have. Since I never felt weird, I probably didn’t as it was just part of my day.

The sad thing is if my little brother had told me this when he was little, or if I had a kid and they did this, I would FREAK out. You can’t trust people! Who is this creep! He must be a weirdo pedophile!!! Sad that these are the first things that would enter my mind. But I know they are. Unless I personally knew the guy very well, these are absolutely the thoughts I would have. And I would never let a kid do this. And I find this sad. And depressing. Because there was not a single thing wrong with it. But I wouldn’t be stupid or naive enough to not think it these days.

Maybe when I grew up, my heart did die…meh…who cares?

Today is sucking. Actually…this month is sucking. But that’s no excuse not to look as cute as hell. These arrived for me today:

I am wearing Rock & Republic jeans with brown, pink and white Rs on the pockets with a pink tank and chocolate brown ruffled cardigan from J Crew. All of these colors are displayed on these new shoes. So I did what any girl would do…kicked off the chocolate brown suede Michael Kors 4.5″ heels I was wearing and put these babies right on.

The day can attempt to suck the life out of me but never the cuteness. I’m betting Carrie Bradshaw would approve… :)