A Random Sampling of Gunter's Day

Sick Day Fun

I was sick on Wednesday, so Gunter and I decided to take to our bed early in the evening to read and relax. Of course, as soon as we were in bed, Gunter had different plans.



(A note to Kel, you should watch this with the sound on. Gunter makes some fun sounds.)

Gunter Watches Cirque du Soleil

Gunter Gets a Gold Star for Behavior

Exhibit A:




Because the German dislikes dog hair in the bedroom, Gunter is banned even from entering. He takes his banishment quite well, but he still likes to get a good view of the action (as I speak I can hear him lingering in the hallway, snuffling, and waiting for me to get out of bed.), so he sits right in the door way. We don't even have to tell him, he stops and sits there all by himself. A for outstanding!

Gunter's Heroic Battle with a Feather

I couldn't resist.

Weekend Adventure

This weekend, like most weekends, was spent driving all over California in pursuit of doing something other than being in the town we live in. We were unusually successful. After dinner with some friends Friday night, we left Saturday morning (late and in a hurried, unplanned fashion...also par for the course). After running back to the house to grab the leash for Gunter, we were on our way. We ended up camping at Pismo Beach. Which was, unbeknownst to us, the site of a atv rally. It was like camping on the highway. A highway that was packed with people drinking bud outside of their RVs. It wasn't the most peaceful night. We couldn't even hear the ocean over the fire crackers.

As you can see from my expression, I was feeling a little bit rough. I swear I didn't sleep a wink. I was so damp and uncomfortable.
Gunter was very concerned about my wellbeing, as you can tell.


A view of the road.


Gunter loved every minute of it.



But before the night devolved into a damp and loud debacle we had a wonderful time walking around the pier eating candied apples and then we had dinner at this little place called the Old Vienna. They were having an Oktoberfest event so we drank a beer out of a huge (huge!) mug and we ate schnitzel and pretzels with mustard and had a good time. After our (my) sleepless night we went to the cutest little cafe called the Honeymoon Cafe. It was all Hawaiian and laid back with Jack Johnson on the radio and pancakes and bacon being grilled outside on a big stone grill . I discovered my new favortite caffiene drink...a chai latte with a shot of espresso! Try it.

We then meandered up the coast, stopping in little towns for more candied apples and saltwater taffy.


And stopped to see the elephant seals. But it wasn't the right time of year to see the huge males fighting, we are going back in January. This time we only saw the juveniles, who were still pretty impressively big.


Then we had lunch at this cute little place.



After lunch and the elephant seals we drove up the coast stopping for picture opportunities.



The German Physicist.


All and all, it was a good time, except for the sleepless night. I slept like a rock sunday night.

Pug Snuggle Season Has Begun

It's finally really fall here...if any place that has palm trees can really have a fall. But since we live near the pacific ocean, sometimes in the morning the sky is gray and overcast and the air is a little chilly. It does actually get cold here, but not until later in the year. I love cold weather and I love the leaves all over the ground, and I love the fact that my pug becomes a super snuggle-bug during the winter months.

For the last month or so I have been trying to get some love from Gunter, but he inevitably pulls away and prances out to the yard to lay in the sunshine. But! Today it was cold and he was forced to take shelter on my stomach for his mid-morning nap. I even managed to pull a blanket over us! Yay! Pug snuggle season has begun!

My constant companion and new old sketches

I have a lovely counter table in the spare room that serves as my desk. It really is wonderful and I love it. (Seeing that, I should probably spend more time at it, drawing and looking for a job.) The best part about the desk is that there is space underneath for my guardian gargoyle, Gunter (pictured below).

He's a fierce little tiger-striped piglet-pug. Best dog ever.

So here are some sketches from one of my China sketch books.















These last three are from a larger format sketch book and are more recent than those above.