Lungs for Mandy

Father’s Day, 3rd Sunday in June. The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died

Hello there

Yesterday I turned 30 years old — much older than the doctors anticipated years ago. I only feel 30 when I think about it, so I try not to think about it. Although when I woke up this morning, my back seemed to crack a little louder than normal.

I decided that to go to the Hollywood Bowl for the Jazz Festival. My friend Wanda had extra tickets so we went and had a blast. Our seats were wayyyyy up at the top so the stage was not too visible, but the music sounded great. I can not say who my favorite was. On the top of the list was a New Orleans band - every instrument you can think of playing on stage. The people that were sitting around us were so laid back and were there to party and enjoy the music.

Wanda passed the shirt I purchased around to all of our fellow jazz listeners and had them sign it-how fun! It was a nice way to spend my 30th. I guess I should read what a bunch of strangers wrote before I comment on them : )

We took the bus home and as always there were crazy homeless people riding. It really bothers me that people live on the street because in some cases they are crazy. It seems to me that there should be better options for people with mental illness. I just want to cry when I think of those that have so much compared to those who have so little. I feel fortunate that I have what I have like wonderful family and friends. I know if something were to happen to me, there is someone that I can count on and I hope that those people know they can count on me.

PEACE to everyone!

http://www.latimes.com/search/dispatcher.front?target=blendedsearch&Query=York+and+Draper

My friend July emailed it to me…it is so powerful! Thanks Julie

-Mandy

-Mandy

I woke up today with a MAJOR migrane, ended up staying in bed until 3 o’clock. Sosa pretty much laid by me all morning and afternoon. When I was finally able to open my eyes with out barfing I decided to take Sos to the Laurel Canyon Dog Park since he had been such a good “snuggle buddy” all day.

When we arrived there were very few dogs there which is unusual for this park. I always feel a bit worried at the park because I never know who Sosa will get along with or worse who he will not get along with. Since I did not see any Weimeraners I felt it was safe to let him free in the park. He is anti-Weimeraner!

I let him go free when we got through to gates. After he peed on every tree in sight he decided to go ahead and play with the other pooches.

Sosa is so much like me….

For instance when this little puppy kept bothering him by trying to lick his drool he just growled.

When a dog came up to him and he was not interested he just ignored them

When he got tired he decided to go chill out under a shade tree and watch his surroundings. ( I feel that I spend most of my life watching)

When I took him to the community water bowl, he stuck his nose up to it the same way I do when someone asks me if I want a drink of what they are having. He must be a germaphobic too.

When it was time to leave he just huffed and walked slowly toward the gate. He also decided he would linger for another ten minutes until I finally had to go and get him with his leash. I ALWAYS HUFF WHEN I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING !

When I got him back to the car, I realized he was really hot so I grabbed “his” bowl from the trunk and took him back to the community water area. He took one drink of the community water provided in his bowl and then decided to start playing again. He struck up a foursome with two older dogs and their little sister. The four of them had a great time-they played so long that I began talking to the pooches human. She was such a nice woman-come to find out she recieved her teaching credentials when she was 32, went back in order to work with special education kids and has been with them for 19 years. I takes a very special person to teach special education children—

Today’s lesson provided by Sosa:  Don’t rush because you may miss something.

The woman and I have a play date set up for the dogs next week. Sosa and I both made a new friend today.