Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... In New Jersey. Driving with a friend up to MA to get.... A PUPPY! A DOBERMAN PUPPY! Kettle Cove Boston Strong, call name Aja. Ten weeks old. Ahh...puppy breath!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... So...apparently a sprained thumb/hand takes more than 2 weeks to heal. And unwrapping it and then picking up something heavy with an unhealed sprained thumb/hand it really, really painful.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... "What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence." -Samuel Johnson

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Sleepy pill starting to kick in. I may or may not get the munchies. But I'm yawning so much I may not stay awake long enough to find out. Off to sleepy I go. Well maybe a wee bit of pintrest first. Good night!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... In one of my running groups a woman named Melissa ran her first half marathon yesterday. If you've ever run a race you know how incredibly wonderful that feeling is, like conquering a mountain. She came home and was killed by her partner. Please support laws and programs that help domestic violence victims get help and get to safety. Damn it.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... What I did on my second birthday, by Timber First I nose bopped Soft Lady awake EXTRA EARLY! She had to put on her fake floof....poor humans all nekkid, and do you know what? They actually shave off the little floof they have. I swear, I saw them! Poor humans.... Anyway, then we went outside for the First Patrolling Of The Yard and you know what? THERE WAS FROST! Soft Lady muttered something about also not feeding them after midnight, but my feets touched that frost and BLAMO! I got the Chilly Willy Zoomies! WHEEEEEEEEE! Now, always stretch and do your morning doga...Downward Dog...Upward Dog....And then ZOOMIES! Raced around the yard, reset the perimeter, and accidentally crashed into Soft Lady who recovered well and didn't even fall! Although she did hop around holding her knee and mumbling but I didn't pay attention because ZOOMIES! Oh, and back inside I managed a perfect combination of moves: a Tervie Headstand directly into a Floofernutter (that's when you belly up to show floof and, well, you know) AND the Tervie Drape & Blanket. Soft Lady was cold so I figured she needed some extra floof :) And that's the start of my BIRTHDAY! Later I get to carve a pumpkin and eat treats and stuff, but now is time for First Nap and Pirate Dreams. Happy Birthday to my Pirate Clan, and if course the Pirate Queen Kathy, and special nose kisses to my mum, Rhian....

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Happy birthday Pirate Pups! I'm pretty sure you're all legal for grog and a wee bit of plunder...enjoy your day of tasty treats and pillaging mayhem!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... I waddled, I ate, now I'm tired and hungry. Need more food, then first nap.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... The Teen: "If you get dressed and go for a waddle with me we can stop for lunch on the way back. My treat." Bribing me to run with food. The kid is alright!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... The best breakdown of the GOP's antics, from my friend Kalen: "So.... let me see if I understand this correctly... I don't think pizza is good for our society and is the worst thing since... oh I don't know the holocaust. I voice my uneducated opinion as loud as I can because FUCK pizza. No one listens to me. I intentionally stop all traffic in my local community, because a new pizza place is scheduled to open there, so that the people see how bad pizza really is. I should point out once again FUCK pizza. The new pizza place opens up in town anyways. Damn it were you people not listening I said FUCK pizza. Now that the place is open, and seems to be serving pizza, they aren't serving it fast enough for me. DAMN IT I SAID THIS WAS GONNA BE BAD AND NOW LOOK AT YOU. Screwing up our lives with your pizza.... WHERE IS THE PIZZA I ORDERED 15 minutes ago? We should fire everyone who works there, when I order pizza it should be here when I want it to be here."

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... "The stupid is like an ocean: it comes in waves, and it can kill you." - Brian Pineda

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... An I actually hungry? Or is it my insom-nom-nomia?

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... I need to not be still awake. But knowing that really doesn't help. In fact, knowing I need to sleep makes sleep less likely, yet how do I not know I need to sleep? I could try not remembering I've got something to do? Pretend I've got all morning to sleep in? It's hard to placebo yourself.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Pirate Terv Handbook, by Timber. Chapter 3, Signature Moves The Tervie Headstand. When you jam your forehead into your human and SLOWLY plop on top of them. The Tervie Kidney Punch. When you need to get your human's attention so you jump up and place your paws on their back. With some authority. The Tervie Silly Grin. Guaranteed to make your human immediately give you cuddles. The Pirate Plunder. Quickly sneaking and grabbing an item beloved by your human (socks and shoes especially) so as to have a game of chase AND get a treat for giving it back. The Pirate Pillage. Sneaking to the counter-top, bathroom, or anywhere else there is something tasty (kitty kibbles are yummy) and having yourself a snack. Bonus points of it is a people food. The Paper Shredder. Bills make humans sad, so it is up to us to grab that paper and shred it into itty bitty bits. All over the floor. Picking it up is good exercise for the humans, so really it's a win-win. Bonus: fiber when consumed helps keep you regular. The Tervie Lean. Self-explanatory. The Snout Jab. Applied to belly, the aforementioned kidneys, arms, legs, and buttocks of humans. When the Kidney Punch fails or your need is urgent. The Herding Nibble. To help humans move faster.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Okay, couch is prepped, cozy blanket ready, sleepy dogs properly positioned...IT'S NAP TIME!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... A 2.5 miles run/walk/limp/crawl :) Felt good to be out there again! Melanie kicked my butt though...time for a nap!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Also... It's almost 4 am, WHY AM I NOT SLEEP! Stupid brain doing the thinking.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... The problem with touch screens: A twitchy cat tail can and will change a page or close/open an app. An ear can forever lose your place in a book. And a face rub...you don't even want to know about face rubs....

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Dear fellow Pirate Minions... Halp! I cannot seem to find a pirate-proof gate to keep a certain Timber apart from the kitty kibble! I have hooks and latches and he managed to squeeze himself UNDERNEATH and pry it open enough to get in! I need help to....HEY GET OFF OF ME.... Ahem. Timber here. Please ignore Soft Lady's ranting, she isn't feeling well and seems to be suffering from delusions. Of course I am innocent of all charges. The only reason she found me in the bathroom with the kibble was because a CAT had eaten it so fast he started choking, and I broke in to help. Instead of thanks I get The Look. Unfair! Please go about your business, nothing to see here... Yours, Timber

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Eating nachos and cheeses. I may or may not have taken a sleeping pill. I may or may not have had a wonderful and deep political discussion with Timber. He says (during a hypothetical discussion which may or may not have happen) every puppy should have kibble, and a collar with a name and address. It's hard to argue with that. He is a bit upset that, after going through all the trouble of placing a poo in the EXACT SPECIAL SPOT I come along and keep it for myself. He says it messes up the dog-shui. He said if the poo was so important he deserved a cut of the action. He could skip the middle Soft Lady. I've decided that certain treats are "good poo" tests so he feel like he's getting paid. Don't know how long that will ask! I'm waiting for the "get sleepy" part, but until then I'll keep taking to Timber. Andy questions for him?

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Great Neptune's salty nipples, I just realized I AM HOME UNATTENDED! MUAHAHAHA!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... This I hate: when I stay awake I'm exhausted but as soon as I try to sleep I'm wide awake. Bah.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Mine baby is out signing up for selective service and getting his passport. All by himself! Because when you turn 18 you're an adult and stuff and don't need a parent for such things. YAY! I mean...*sniff sniff* (No, I'm pretty full of YAY! He's an awesome and amazing young man and on days when he isn't driving me mad I'm very proud of him. Actually, I'm pretty proud that he can drive me mad. Sarcasm is a gift and a skill, and The Teen wields it well for one so young.)

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... "The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently." -Friedrich Nietzsche

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Today in Why Darlene Is Not A Ballerina.... I tripped taking off my pants and sprained my thumb and wrist. Left hand, luckily. So I have one working hand and one flipper. (And Brian, don't you dare tell the other ballerina story!)

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... I just had a horrible realization: I may not have insomnia, I may just like staying up all night. It's quiet. No one bothers me. I can read without interruption. Even the dogs are asleep...

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Things I've Been Doing, by Timber ...not playing outside. I do not like the wet grass on my paws or the soggy tennis balls. Pffft. Instead I am practicing Extreme Cat Chasing. It really should be an event... ...grooming George Cat. His ears need cleaning, and I found a spot that makes his little cat leg twitch! Soft Lady giggles... ...protecting the house from the evil ChubacabraYetiRabbit that comes into the yard. Sometimes I have to wake up Soft Lady at 2am so I can go and mark over where the evil has been. I am very brave! ...getting ready for Big Man to leave. Soft Lady is staying here with me, she says it's too hot in Saudi for me, plus Pirates don't do well in cargo--I might decide to plunder! But without Big Man around I get to have Soft Lady ALL TO MYSELF!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Well, Steve has accepted an offer with Saudi Aramco! He will be moving to Saudi, but I'll be staying here. (If I went you'd all be hearing news stories about some heretical American woman starting riots and protests!) Plus, I could never subject my animals to such an arduous journey, and Timber would never fit under the seat. And I don't think pirates do well in cargo! :) We are very excited! This gives us an excuse for trips overseas, and we are thinking of doing Thanksgiving next year in Paris... Not a bad plan :)

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Yay! Got my flu and tdap jabs, so I am all sorts of protected! And safer to be around :)

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... I think I need chocolate.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Grumpy. Raining and cold, so my hips are aching something fierce. Makes me grumpy. I have shelves of books I don't want to read, food I don't want to eat, a closet of clothes I don't want to wear. Grumpy. Prescription? Take two dogs and cuddle until morning :) It's a good plan!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... "No, no, you're not thinking, you're just being logical." -Niels Bohr

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Ow! Reading cramp in my shoulder! Three books today. And two were book four and five in a series, which has me itching to read one, two, and three again. Sustenance needed. This is a workout.

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Conversation with The Teen: Me: and while you're at the grocery store pick up some enchilada sauce, it will be in the Spanish foods aisle. The Teen: really? I figured it would be with Italian food... Sarcasm, it's generational :)

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... I took a nap. Actually, I took a sleep, because almost 5 hours is not a nap. So I might be here for awhile!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Sciatica really acting up today. Gets on my nerve...

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... "The corporate grip on opinion in the United States is one of the wonders of the Western world. No First World country has ever managed to eliminate so entirely from its media all objectivity --much less dissent." -Gore Vidal,

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... It's dark in the house, quiet. Everyone has settled down and a stillness slides across the rooms.... TIME FOR KITTY FIGHT CLUB! In this corner we have Manji, marmalade, and his missing tail just make him more ornery.... In that corner we have the elegant Lord Stanley, in his usual tuxedo... ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE!

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... Went for a trail ride. First time in over a year! It felt good to be back in the saddle. Not so good now that I'm off :)

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... "A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It is a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity." -Jimmy Carter