Dolce+Groomer=Disaster....

So, although these are precious photos of Dolce, and a lovely photo of my mother! ~ here's how the groomer experience went: I went to pick him up, he ran right past me...out the door...and onto the street towards oncoming traffic. Its an absolute miracle that he was not hit. It was frightening, but also a classic Dolce move because my mother wasn't there and he is always looking for her! This time it almost got him killed. I ran after him which of course only made him run faster. He stopped in the street and I grabbed him. He is home. He is safe. And he is doing some thinking about his actions. What I learned: leash him before he comes out of the grooming room. Precious baby. He is so sweet. He loves my mom (more then me and I have come to accept that) Who can blame him? She's a fabulous lady!

My first weekend in Portland (in nearly a month) without any type of work commitment....and I let loose! I didn't want to be home. We had sun and warmth and I was on a mission to enjoy. Dolce and I did lots of walking in our neighborhood Pearl District. Most of the restaurants I mention are located in the Pearl. Its a great walking district...lots to do and lots to see. I purchased two fun new books from Powell Books. They have a great online store - check it out. I believe they are the largest used and new bookstore anywhere. A trip to Sephora was included as was a cosmo and appetizers from Bluehour. We were out and about all weekend, but the highlight, watching the Yankees come from behind to beat the Dodgers on Sunday evening. I've even included a photo of my four favorite Yankees....Happy Monday!

A day in DC....

The air in DC is thick with power and politics and so much history. My first stop was the National Museum of African Art/Smithsonian Museum. African history and art has always fascinated me - the details of the masks, the statues and the beautiful woven baskets. This is a culture that takes such pride in their work. That evening was spent at the Nationals baseball game, which means I get to check another stadium off my list (the goal is to see a game at every stadium) It was a beautiful DC evening with fantastic seats and a surprise visit from our President. Speaking of our President, I stopped by his house the next day. This was a very fast trip for me as most of the time was spent at a conference, which only left 1.5 days for touring. I also stopped by the National Museum of Natural History and the American History Museum. At these two Smithsonian Museums, I had the pleasure of seeing dresses worn by the First Ladies, artifacts from President Abraham Lincoln, Archie Bunker's chair, Dorothy's ruby slippers, Carrie Bradshaw's laptop and the Hope Diamond - quite a mix! I loved my visit and would have enjoyed a few more days, however, it was time to return to Dolce, my ever-loving poodle, who always seems to forget who I am when I return from a trip. Luckily, my next trip is just for one day....a turn-around to Seattle in July. The Yankees are coming!

Venice, Bellini's and Ernest Heminway....

In my earlier post, I mentioned Bellini's and I do love them. If you are interested, click here to read a very short history of the Bellini. I think this drink has a very interesting history....and you can taste it with every sip. Enjoy!

A Taste of Summer....

Well, they said if we were patient enough it would happen. And it did. The blue skies came to Portland. A gorgeous weekend of warmth and sun. Dolce and I, along with some lovely other people, ventured to lunch on Saturday. Those who know me, know that I am not much of a foodie, therefore, when I rave about a meal, it really was good! I started my meal with the most delicious Bellini. If you've never had a Bellini, you must try one - especially in the summer. Next to having a Bellini at Cipriani's New York, this was the best one yet. For lunch, the starter was a delicious crab cake. The entree was English Pea Risotto with marscapone and parmigiano-reggiano. Bliss. Here's a photo of this delicious work of art....I would have taken a photo of the gorgeous Bellini, however, the glass was quickly half-empty, and I'm a gal who always sees the glass as half- full.

What If.....

I saw the film Letters to Juliet yesterday. Beautiful scenery, filmed in Verona, Siena and NYC, this film poses the question, what if? I've probably asked myself a million times that same question. Whether its about a man, a job, a new city or even the perfect dress. We've all been there, wondering....what if? This movie was posing the question, what if you could have a second chance at true love. Would you take that chance? Would you risk what you currently have to take a second chance on a true love? This was a beautiful story and for me, if the ending could be like that of the film, then yes, I think the risk is worth it! And I think sometimes we look at what we don't have, hence the what if question. We look at others and think, "why don't I have that?" Why didn't my life turn out that way?" We need to create our own paths, write our own stories and truly be happy with what we have. Life is short. Plain and simple. The movie sums it all in one statement: the greatest love story ever told...is your own. So true and so beautiful. How will your story be told?

The Smell of Rain.....

Its a rainy Sunday here in Portland (I know...rain...in Portland....shocking) and I am indoors today finishing up a project and trying to adhere to a deadline. We (and by that, I mean me) complain about the constant rain that we have here. After awhile, the rain and the cold does get old and oh so dreary. Especially since this is early June and I am dying to wear summer clothes and retire my winter clothes, at least for a few months. But, I noticed the rain had stopped, at least for a bit, so I popped my head outside for some fresh air. There is an incredible aroma of jasmine and the fragrance of someones fireplace mixed with the wonderful smell that comes after the rain leaves. The smell of rain is so soothing and that is always good for the soul! I wish I had the time: I would make my famous gorgonzola risotto, light a bunch of candles, crack the window open and enjoy a nice glass of red wine. But, instead I will be working at the computer and calling it an early night. But for those of you who don't have deadlines to meet....have a glass of wine or a cup of hot chocolate it will be a nice way to end the weekend. Here's hoping tomorrow brings sun for everyone....

Trying to work...

Happy Friday to all! Sometimes it's challenging to work from home. There are various distractions: my Blackberry, Facebook, Twitter, the beautiful view from my home office and of course, Dolce. As I try to multi-task - I find my 9 pound friend jumping on my lap and bouncing up and down on my seat, trying to hard to get my attention. Here's a photo of him in action.

La Dolce Vita

My sweet puppy Dolce...you've met him....his photo is on this page. Don't let that sweet face fool you! Here's a taste of what life is like with Dolce.

ME: I discovered over the weekend, that Dolce has a loose tooth. So, today I brought him to the vet. I just stopped in, without an appointment, just to ask a question. I wanted to find out if they could extract the tooth and clean his teeth all at the same time (why put the poor baby under anesthesia twice?)

VET: No problem - we can do that. If you can wait a few minutes, we can do his lab work now and then schedule the surgery for next week.

ME: Actually, I have meetings and I don't have time to wait...can you guys keep him for a bit (thinking I could have a few hours of peace and quiet and me time to get some work done)

VET: Of course...take your time....attend your conference calls and come back in two hours.

ME: Yes!! Time to enjoy my latte and have minimal distractions while working on a large project for work.

****Ten Minutes later, while sipping my latte at home....the phone rings (silly me answers)****

ME: Hello?

VET: Stephanie, um, we are going to need you to come pick up Dolce.

ME: Is he ok? Are you not able to draw blood?

VET: Oh, they drew the blood but he won't stop barking and he is making a howling sound and he is being disruptive. We need you to come pick him up.

ME: (not happy) Ok...when?

VET: Now.

ME: (Only 10 sips into my 20 oz latte) Well, I have a conference call, so it'll be a little while.

VET: is 10 minutes ok?

ME: Ah, no...I just dropped him off - they said to pick him up in 2 hours...its been 10 minutes.

VET: We need you to pick him up now...or as soon as possible.

Let's just say, its pretty bad when the vet calls and asks you to come pick up your dog, after only having him for 10 minutes, because his barking and "howling" is disruptive.

When I arrived, 55 minutes later, they rushed me into a room, and the vet tech comes in immediately with Dolce. Apparently, he didn't like being locked in a cage (neither would I), so the howling persisted while the staff attempted to have their weekly meeting. Except this time, they had a guest speaker. It was decided that if Dolce wasn't alone and had a lap to sit on, the howling stops. Dolce attended their staff meeting and I never got to finish my latte.

Welcome to my life with Dolce.