it's a jungle out there

Lately I've been noticing our little friends from the animal kingdom a lot more....or maybe they have been noticing me. Seems like every job I work on I find some little creature stopping by to check out my handiwork. And I'm not talking about your run of the mill dogs and cats here. I've managed to catch a few of these critters on camera.

I was less than a foot away from stepping on this gopher snake before I saw him blocking my pathway

This baby rattlesnake was inches away from my hand as picked up some decking

I'm always keeping an eye out for hawks...they are among my most favorite animals. And I like to think they are keeping an eye out for me too. I just wish they'd keep a better eye out for the gophers in our yard.

I found this guy staring at me from our back patio when I woke up one morning.

I caught this lizard listening to my radio, and then I caught him by the tail...

Another baby rattlesnake that I nearly stepped on...I had to put him in a bucket to make sure he stayed out of my way.

This little bugger was inches away from my face when I found him.
I don't mind if you pray for me, just don't scare the crap out me like that.

And then there's this bicho raro I found hiding behind a cabinet. I don't even know what it is but I'm pretty sure its an alien.

P.S. No animals were hurt in the creation of this post (the alien doesn't count)

marriage makes me hungry

There is a common phenomenon out there that was shared with us by a few well-meaning friends when we were engaged: with marriage comes weight gain.

A recent conversation we had while putting away our groceries this week got me thinking more about this:

S: (while shoving frozen pizza and ice cream into the freezer) "I haven't eaten this unhealthy in a long time."
K: "I haven't ever eaten this healthy." (I would like to think he is eating more veggies now than in his recent bachelor years)

One could choose to interpret this conversation in multiple ways. I'm choosing to interpret it as another shining example of our magnificent ability to compromise and meet in the middle, even when we aren't thinking about it.

bottom line (no pun intended) - I've joined a bootcamp exercise class that meets twice a week, in a nice park near my work. I love the feeling one gets after an intense workout. There's nothing like it, and it keeps me coming back for more.

geography lesson

so I just noticed a big difference in the two posts below: one we are in beach gear, the other wrapped up in a scarf and jacket, freezing cold at the game. And eating that ice cream had nothing to do with it.
The pictures were only taken about two weeks apart. We'd been worrying lately that somehow San Diego had missed the memo on the whole global warming thing. Hopefully though, its been looking like San Diego has woken up and realized that, yes indeed, it is part of sunny Southern California. Good thing, I was about to ask for a refund on this "sunshine tax" I've been paying.....

life's a beach

We got a chance to visit my Aunt & Uncle and cousins who were vacationing in Newport Beach for the weekend. It was great to soak up some sun, relax, and catch up with family. We rented beach cruiser bikes and rode along the boardwalk then took a ferry over to Balboa Island to ride some more. Its something I've wanted to do here in San Diego for forever. I guess you have to get out of town and into vacation mode to get it done!

me & my cousins enjoying some quality beach time (you may have to put on sunglasses to shield your eyes from the glare of my white legs)

whoever said you never forget how to ride a bike must not have seen me wobbling all over the place. We had such a blast though!

All in all, it was a great, much needed get-away. And of course now no trip to Orange County is complete without a trip to Cafe Rio

Meanwhile back on the homefront the garden is growing and I am waging a losing battle against the growing gopher problem in our yard. Do you think I could convince some Navy Seals that getting rid of my gophers is a matter of national security?