Houston, TX and Gem's 12th birthday

Gem's birthday falls on January 5th which is a time of year when we need a pick me up after all the company for the holidays leaves and decorations get put away.  So, I had a spa day for her a couple of days prior to her actual birthday so she'd be ready for any party, photo shoot or pickup game of chase.

The kitchen gets turned into the spa center, bathing her in the sink, blow drying on the kitchen floor and then the actual clipping on the counter (it's just the right height), and then the "fine-tuning" of trimming between paw pads, getting rid of matts and stray hair and shaping, gets done in my lap. 

She's turning 12 this year and I can't believe how quick the time has gone by.   

 My Girl

Then this week too finally brought out the sun for a bit after a couple weeks of gray clouds and rain.  It reminded me of a line from a song, "I ain't seen the sun shine in 3 (more like 16) damn days."   Check it out:   http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/kidrock/picture.html.  But mainly this week was one of getting back to work and long days where it's dark when you leave and come home so I've only known if the sun was out if I saw it from an office window.

And it's the traditional time of year for resolutions, reflections and re-dos.  I do have a few goals I hope to accomplish this year some bigger, some smaller, some harder or needing more discipline, but all in all potentially good transitions.  I'll toast to that.  Cheers!