Welcome New Subscribers!

Hi. I've been doing a little bit of marketing work today. Even for this, my WendEmail blog. I love sharing a few tidbits every now and again to keep connected with my friends and family in the USA. I also realise that some of the people here in OZ are interested in what I'm saying. Probably in case I say something about them....

Well, today I will.

Parties

We had a lovely party here at our place on Saturday. It was a celebration of our good friend Karen's birthday. About 20 of us drank and ate and talked and laughed and sang and were sung to for about 12 hours. 2:00-2:00. Our neighbours are saints. They have never complained about our parties.

Of course, once the deck goes in, and the parties become more frequent, the anonymous notes in our mailbox might start to come.

So, to Karen, we hope you had a happy, happy birthday party in your new found home down under. To Richie, thanks for bringing her here to us. To Kat, thanks for having such a cool bro. To Paulie, thanks for your iPod, your gee-tar, and your friendship. To Colm, thanks for coming after getting called into work on a Saturday. You arrived and everything lifted even more. To Ange and Dee, thanks for cheering the Swannies to victory while the rest of us huddled around the heaters outside. To Benny-boy, thanks for finally escaping the Welcome to join us and share in the festivities. To Jadie and Kanga, I so wish I had a camera to take a picture of you as you sat in the last rays of sunshine. To all of Karen's Aussie (and non-Aussie) friends - what a great day!

Thanksgiving

The fourth Thursday of November is always the date for the great American holiday, Thanksgiving. This is our favourite American holiday and this year, we've decided to make it one to remember. We've invited the US to come to us. My mom, dad, brother, and cousins, Pete and Ali will be joining us for a turkey dinner to remember.... I can't wait!

Music

On September first, we're going to put some tickets up for sale to a fabulous musical event on the Harbour. On Sunday, November 21st, my band, Little Big Horn ("LBH" with Ben, Mark, and Vince) will be joined by my dad "Uncle Buck" on sax for a three and a half hour harbour cruise with live music, dinner, sunset and a full moon. Wayne and Rosie will start off the musical festivities and then LBH will do a couple of rockin' sets to finish the night. Let us know if you want tickets. We would love for you to come.

Bed

And now, it's time for me to escape to bed. Copper has already gone in. Alan is snoozing north of the border at a work do. I've a big day tomorrow in my candle business: a leadership workshop that I'm really looking forward to.

Stay tuned for The New Deck Part 2 (see Part 1 here). It hasn't been written yet, because it hasn't happened yet, but the before shots are coming....

Copper Whopper the Poser

Hi. My friend Vicki has been pestering me for a good photo of my dog. She is his groomer and don't you think her salon would look fantastic if it were wallpapered with images of this beautiful boy? Of course it would!?!

Actually, I've been thinking about contacting an animal agency to see if Copper would be a good candidate for a commercial. He attracts attention wherever he goes. It's his size more than anything. He is very tall and his mane of hair gives him more presence than he really has.

If we could get him in pictures, or a commercial, then perhaps he could earn some money to pay us back for his vet bills. :) And even better, we could cover his grooming bills and keep his hair long forever.

I can dream, can't I?

Anyhoo, if you click on the image here, you'll be redirected to a small album of full size pictures. So, Vicky, there you go. Take your pick! I hope you like 'em. :) WLC.

The New Deck (Part 1)

Image from GoogleMaps

Today the local council inspector came to look at our property. But that's not the beginning of the story.

We started this process about 5 months ago. On April 21st, I met with our architect for the first time. Then I researched a few other firms and we selected the first one (figures). On May 25th I introduced architect Mat and his sidekick architect Alex (FYI - a chick) to Alan. That's really when the project started... May 25, 2010.

Our vision is to create a backyard and deck that expands our living space, makes us want to be out there all the time, and provides lots of room and comfort for the hordes of guests we love to entertain (that's you).

What's that mean?

• Knock down the garage (see my car in front of the existing garage)
• Knock down the shed (aka "the spider house" - see building in back right corner of the yard)
• Knock down the old outdoor dunny (a small room with a toilet in it) and laundry room (connected to the dunny) - see small building jutting off the back of the house
• Fill in the window in the living room (the window would open into the new garage, which would be unsightly, no?)
• Build a garage next to the house (on the driveway, between our front door and the back of the house)
• Build a deck (ooh la la)
• Build a new bathroom, laundry, and cooking space (with room for a beer fridge, of course)
• Open up the back of the house to the deck with big, beautiful bi-fold doors
• Landscape

So we had Mat and Alex draw up the plans and submit them to our council for approval. This IS rocket science. Don't think so? Well, just have a look at this approval process. We are on step 10 (or maybe 11) right now.

There is so much to do now. We had to wait for approval. Now that we've gotten an indication that it will be approved, we can get a structural engineer involved, design the deck in detail and get builders to bid on the job. We want to start construction next month.

So this is Part 1. I'll be taking heaps of before, during, and after photos. Stay tuned.

And make your reservations for Casa de Curley. 2011 is sure to be a sell out!

A Video G'day!

Hi. If the video doesn't show, here's the link. Enjoy! WLC.

Winter Solstice

Hi. I've been thinking about a blog posting for a few days now, so I guess it's about time to make it happen.

Yesterday, a group of us decided that the day was too perfect to go inside. So we ate breakfast outdoors at one of our favourite cafes (Crumb in Concord) and then we set up the tables and chairs in our backyard. We also got out the outdoor heater because we knew that once that glorious sun sunk behind out house that it would start to be really cold. We were right.

But before the sun left us, we were warm and happy. Margaritas were filled and refilled by Alan. Water spacers (which we call "wedgies") were consumed by everyone. Ange volunteered to go to the store to get us some nibbles (and she outdid herself). Copper played happily with AJ. And we found a ladybug. She was enjoying the beautiful day, too. This isn't a picture of her - we were relatively camera free - this is one I found on the net. The resemblance is uncanny . :)

A winter solstice here means that Arizona is HOT, HOT, HOT. You can send the sun back our way now, folks.... We'll take it from here. Sit tight because you only have 4 more months of triple digit temps. I love Sydney!

FYI, our trip to Vietnam was fantastic. We went for free thanks to my PartyLite career. Once again, PartyLite selected a destination that Alan and I would likely have overlooked. We stayed in Da Nang on the east coast of Vietnam; pretty much in the middle of the country when scanning it from North to South. The resort was spectacular. We visited the nearby ancient village of Hoi An a few times to get some historical perspective, to see the traditional vendors and tradespeople, and to do our part to stimulate the Vietnamese economy. Most of the time we spent relaxing in the pool, on the beach, or at a dining table of some sort. It was a hard five days, but we struggled through it.

I've been playing my guitar quite a bit for the last few weeks. Got myself a few gigs and made some things happen. I actually have my friend Joanne to thank for getting things moving again. She wanted some live music at her 40th and Little Big Horn (LBH) was happy to oblige. Well, the pub liked it and asked if I could put together a duo for a few Saturday nights. So Wen and Bendy dusted off the mothballs and played a great gig earlier this month. This Saturday I will play with Paulie which will be heaps of fun. Then two more Wen and Bendy gigs in July. And now LBH has another booking in August. It's starting to happen again - Ben might even say I'm on a roll. :) Thanks, Jo!

Well, writing this might be a stalling tactic. I'm going to sign off and get to it. There's lots to do today. I hope you in the north are enjoying the summer solstice as much as we in the south are enjoying our winter one. Once again, the incredibleness, and the reliability of the universe amazes me. Let the days get longer!

Ta ta for now. Love, WLC.

Vietnam, Ularu, Victoria, Shanghai, etc...

Travel. One of Alan's favourite things to do. One of mine, too. In fact, travel is one of the big reasons that I wanted to move back to Australia. With four weeks of paid vacation instead of two to three, I knew we could do more travelling if we lived here. And boy have we!

The list in the title is a partial list of the places we are planning to visit in 2010 and 2011. We will likely take a week off at Christmas time to visit the beach. Oh, and we've already been to Colorado to skiesta. How about a photo or two of that? OK - here!

Angela and I both earned the PartyLite 2010 Incentive Trip to Vietnam. We sold our normal amount of candles and sponsored our normal amount of new consultants and as a result they are sending us on a fully paid vacation (with Ben and Alan, too!). I tell you, sales jobs are the best in the world - they pay you to do your job and bribe (oops - incentivise) you to keep doing it. Very cool. We go there in late May.

In 2011, Alan and I will go on four adventures: Ularu/Darwin/Alice Springs in one, a road trip through Victoria for another, wherever PartyLite takes us for doing our job, and then a big one to see Douglas in Shanghai.

In 2012, we are going on another big trip with Ben, Ange, Michael, SHAK, DWLJR, Douglas, Tex, Pam, Elora, Alice, Ben, Debbie, Brian, Nora, Miles, Ali, Pete, Nicole, Brad, and Kel. We'll let you know where and when soon. Then if you want to join us - just let us know.

So, Where the bloody hell are you?

Did Americans get to see that tourism ad campaign? I think it only went to the UK. It was pulled because of the word "bloody." Silly poms. It is a few years old now. It did create a PR stir, so perhaps it did its job. But then the GFC come crashing down and our Aussie dollar got stronger. People have stayed away. I'm sure the Aussie tourism could use a stimulus.

So I thought I'd mention the wall of fame. Congratulations to (in no particular order) Ali, Pete, SHAK, DWLJR, Douglas, Heather, Walker, Cindy, Beans, Jen, John M, Doug F, Tex, Cyd, and Johnny G! You all deserve a big pat on the back and huge kudos for coming out to visit us. Some of you multiple times. You lucky buggers!

Which means the rest of you are on the wall of shame. Our US photos of you are fading. We might not even remember your names any more. Sad really. You know, this is our 10th year in OZ, so we're getting older and becoming more forgetful. You'd better send us an email every now and then to remind us who you are and how we know you. :)

I'm kidding... sort of.

I'm deadly serious about the open invitation to come to Australia.Our home in Sydney has a spare bedroom, with a comfy bed (just ask those on the wall of fame), and a place to hang your clothes. We live pretty close to the city and you can get around on a ferry, bus, train, or taxi to almost everywhere you'll want to go.

So that's what I thought I'd write about this time. Copper says hi. He'd like to meet you, too!

Thanks for the Cuddles

Photo by Jo Baxter.

On Saturday, we said good-bye to Mogy. My last words to him were to go play with Pro. Alan was holding his head. I was standing in front of him looking straight into his eyes. It was sad. It was a relief.

We knew he was going, so we had time to prepare, to say our good-byes, to love him. Many people called. His local fan base came to visit, pet, and love him. Some wrote - likely with wet eyes. Here are a few of the kind words that were read to him.

Esther

Dear Mogy,

Thank you for letting me be your companion for a little while. It will make me sad to say goodbye but I know you are going to a good place. We won't ever forget you here in this place because you have touched our hearts and will live on always in our memories. You have been very lucky to have had the best owners in Wendy and Alan, but I don't need to tell you that. Copper will also miss you but his journey has only begun here so he will have lots more to learn, see and do ... you have guided him well to this point. Wendy and Alan will be the saddest to see you leave but the time has come to say goodbye and farewell. Rest in peace my good friend.

Sally-Heath

As Mogy’s Grandmama I am sad but know that this is right. Mogy is a wonderful hugger and he is truly by choice a non retriever, He spent years trying to see the trees falling in the forest with his wild leaps to stand upright from a sound sleep. He is gentle and is truly Pro’s dog (his firm belief when he had Pro near him) I will cry I always do for my dogs, there are an intricate part of our family. Hugs to Wendy and Alan. Love you Grandpuppy. Your Grandmama.

Doug Jr

Mogy, I suspect I'll never encounter any being who can react to the undetectable so instantaneously and with such intensity. Thank you for that, and for the love you brought into our family. We wish you all the best. Love, Grandaddy Buck

Ben

I have very fond memories of the Mogestar when he was just a little boy in Hampden road…. He was so cute and he just grew into a lovely dog. I will miss our walks …I will miss him jumping up out of nowhere.... I will miss his greeting moans.... I will miss him being too scared to cross over a metal grate.... I will miss his 110 decibel slurps at the water bowl. I will visit before we all have to say goodbye. He did have a great life though.... 2 great brothers and a wonderful mum and dad. Ben.

Russell

We’re very sad that you had to make the decision about Mogy’s appointment on Saturday. We’d all prefer our mates to live forever. However, that is not the way of things – at least, not here, anyway.

Nobody in his/her right mind would stand by and watch a friend in terminal pain, with no ability to continue on life’s path without a great deal of debility, without intervention. We support your decision from a position of experience with our own feline mates. It’s very hard but, in the circumstances, it’s best.

It’s a pity that what we are permitted to afford our friends in the animal kingdom, we are not permitted to apply to our own brothers and sisters in the human race, and we consider that to be shameful.

We will remember Mogy as the powerful and playful boy that he is, and in the same vein as Pro. If it’s true what the scripture (or some other Christian manifesto) states that all imperfections are removed when you go to heaven, then look out up there when these two get together!

God bless Mogy, Copper, all the animals on earth and the both of you. Lots of love, Dad and Lorraine.

Heather

Mogy was the first dog I nicked named Cuddle-Bug...I met him about 9 years ago when he was just a pup growing into his legs and I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. No matter what he was doing, he never refused to cuddle with me, even if I was interrupting nap time, one of his favorite activities. I never minded his beautiful strands of fur he covered me with because I got to take a little piece of him with me wherever I went. I saw the happily destuffed leather furniture abandoned in the basement of the Chiswick house never realizing the power of puppy destruction (which later prepared me for Arty through his puppy stages). Even though it's been years since I last saw him, I can't help but smile whenever something or someone brings up Mogy. I'll always remember His love and the twinkle in his eyes ...Lots of Hugs and Kisses to my Cuddle-Bug

Sometimes it strikes me as strange that we bring this life force into our home, feed it, walk it, train it, talk to it, play with it, fall in love with it....  You can estimate how much having that life force in my life means to me by knowing that no matter how much I mourn him, no matter how many tears I cry, no matter what ache I have in my heart now... I'll go through it again. Because the life force sitting next to me now makes me feel happy, content, at home, comfortable, needed, connected, not alone, proud, and loved. And I know he's happy, at home, comfortable, needed, connected, not alone, proud, and loved, too.

And he's got a little bit of Mogy's spirit in him. I think it's in the cuddles....

Mogy Update

(The image is a picture of a picture on the wall at the Lazy Dog bar in Boulder, Colorado. We couldn't get over the visual similarity to Pro and Mogy. They were watching us!)

Yesterday, after 5 nights at the vet for observation and pain management, Mogy is home. He is undergoing a two week test with painkiller pills and cortazone pills to see if we can improve his walking. The xrays revealed that his hind quarters have been affected by his deteriorating hip dysplasia (in playing with Copper, his femur moved further out of the socket and has now (very likely) impacted/touched his sciatic nerve), and he also has some problems with his lower spine that are causing other issues.

Our hope is that the drug treatment will enable him to be a happy and content house dog. One who can walk over to say hi, who can walk outside to do his business, and one who can cuddle with us when we need cuddles. That is probably the best case scenario.

In two weeks, we will assess the treatment’s success. If he cannot do at least the things I’ve mentioned above, we will need to make the hard call. But for the next two weeks, he is here by my side and happy.

He, of course, still loves cuddles and pets. Alan and I are giving him lots of those. I've invited Mogy's Australian friends to come see him while he's here.

FYI - Copper is being a pretty good little brother. He seems to be aware of the need for Mogy to just lie there. He was in the same boat in September.

So here I am sitting at my computer, in my newly remodeled office, with a sleeping dog next to me.

I love him. :)

She's baaaackkk!

Hi. First things first, Mogy is going to be OK. He did not hurt his cruciate, he has soft tissue damage. He'll take anti-inflamatories and pain killers and he'll probably join Copper at the aqua-gym to work out the kinks. He's still limping a lot, but it's getting better everyday. He's the best!

Now to me. I had my first PartyLite show with our new catalogue last night. I absolutely love this host and she was really looking forward to the evening. It was a blast. We have great sales results and everyone had a good time. It was good to be back in the saddle.

While Alan, Rootsey, and I were hopping around in Colorado, I did it again: I bought a guitar. This one is an acoustic-electric Taylor 412ce. It's beautiful. I've been playing it daily since returning home. This does make seven (7) guitars in the house now, so I'm going to sell 4 of them: the silver Strat, the two L. Benito acoustics, and the acoustic-electric Takamine. I'll keep the Taylor, the old Takamine, and the red Strat.

I'm also going to sell my skis and boots. Next time we go skiing, I'm going to rent everything.

I'd like to outsource all of these sales efforts. It takes time and distracts me from what I should be doing: work and taxes.

My tax deadline has come and gone - I will start to incur penalties soon, so it is now a priority. I do wish Australia had a firm deadline like the US. It's too easy to just let dates slip by here and then you end up in this situation. I love deadlines.

What else? Alan and Rootsey are having a great time. They have exhausted Austin and are currently in San Antonio having lunch on the Riverwalk. 

It's Sunday to day and I'm going to drive down the coast to do a candle party this afternoon. My plan after that is to venture over to the Quarryman in Pyrmont and listen to Ben and Martin for awhile. Some live music to sing to.... ah bliss.

My next post will be opinionated, controversial, and funny, and will include pictures. Subscribe if you want to get it hot off the press. :) Later!

The Left Hind Leg

After two glorious weeks in Colorado, I took the long flight home. It took longer than usual because I had to get to the airport early for Alan and Rootsey. After 4.5 hours in DIA, I flew to LAX, waited for 5 hours, and then flew 14 hours to Sydney. At this point, I must say that V Australia is now my airline of choice for the trip across. They were wonderful. I filled out a survey card to tell them so.... Perhaps in another post, I'll tell you why.

The plane landed at 6:00 and I was out of the terminal by 7:15. As I travelled to the house in the taxi, I smiled at the prospect of walking both dogs. Copper would have improved in my absence, so I knew they could both make it to Abbotsford Point and back. A nice 5 kilometre walk in the beautiful summer weather (and not too hot).

But that was not to be.

It's now 11:00 in the morning. I've just gotten back from the vet. I left Mogy there to get some tests and X-rays. The initial diagnosis is that he has hurt (ripped, torn, or in some way damaged) his cruciate ligament in his (get this) left hind leg. (For those of you not seeing the synchronicity, that is the same leg that Copper damaged so much in his dance with a car last August.)

I'm exhausted from visits to the vet. I'm exhausted from life and death decisions for non-life threatening events. I'm exhausted from getting one almost to the point of normal only to now be thrust back into the other being significantly injured. We haven't even finished with Copper's physical therapy. We also need to have the last two screws removed from his ankle.

This blog is NOT just supposed to be about my damn dogs!!!! It's supposed to be about me. It's supposed to be more upbeat and happy - just like me.

But right now, I'm not happy. I'm miserable.

I'll have to write about the Colorado trip some other time....

Happy and Busy

I realise that my writing has been prolific on my business websites this year, but not so much here. (I also realise that I spell realise the Aussie way now without even thinking. Hmmmm.)

Today I created a subscriber form (see sidebar) for people to receive notifications about Wendy and Ben (Wen & Bendy) gigs. As a business person, I believe that it is the responsibility of the musicians to either hire a promoter or be promoters themselves - so this is my effort to replace what I used to have via Hotsource.

Now I just need to promote that I have the form. There's always something! :)

I'm about to go for a walk with Mogy, Ben and Ange. Copper is not up to the 7 kilometres yet. But he's getting better everyday.

I'll write more here, I promise. Hope all y'all are well. Love, WLC.