07/09/03
Hello Ladies,
I just wanted to give you both an update on my adventures with Sierra.  What can I say?  I just adore her.  She starts obedience training this evening with a trainer who is a friend of her previous owners.  In fact, this trainer knows Sierra from an annual sledding event, so she is looking forward to working with her.   Sierra is very hot at the moment...no surprise.  She is presently downstairs in the basement with a large fan on her.   I take her to a large fenced in dog park, where she sees all of her friends every morning.  She is very well socialized and is wonderful with all of the dogs at the dog park, even females and little dogs.    When we arrive each morning, the other dog owners say, "Look, here comes that sweetie, Sierra."  She plays there for about an hour to two hours, then she comes home to the basement where she waits for our late evening walk.  She will hardly go out in the backyard right now because of the heat.   I thought my living situation was great, but another situation has presented itself that is even better.  Sierra and I will be moving two blocks up the street, where my rent will be the same, the house is the same size, and she will have a 1yr. old male malamute playmate, and a much bigger backyard.  The male malamute's name is River, and those two are already the best of friends.  River's owner, Melyssa and I take them on walks, to the dog park, etc.  River and Sierra look so much alike that when they curl up together in the back of my truck it is hard to tell where one begins and the other ends.    I tried to get her to sleep in my bedroom, but it was too hot for her.  So for the first week I slept in the basement with her.  I've also taken her down to the beach to my family's home.  She LOVES the ocean, and would play in it all day if she could.  I'm having some pictures taken this week of her and I.  I will send them for the "Happy Tails" website when I have some. 
Thanks again for all of your help.
A Happy Dog Owner.

07/29/03
Here are some pictures of me and Sierra for the Happy Tails website.  Thank you again for helping to make WAMAL possible.  Without it, I wouldn't have found my sweet companion.

09/06/03
Some of you I haven't spoken to in awhile.  I thought I would drop you all an email.   Things are going well here.   I've been on break for the past week, and have another week to go.  I've been getting some good tracking in, and I’m heading out to go camping in a few days.   Last week, I tracked a deer into a deer lay.  After I was done, I gobbled up some blackberries, and then proceeded to the Sandy River where I finished it off by watching a dance of Blue Herons gliding above the water.  Lovely....
It has been hot here, and much like Sierra, I would prefer to remain in the basement.   To attempt to coax her out of the basement is an amusing display.   She is pretty much out of it, not moving from the fan blowing on her.   Come dusk, however, she is all energy, and ready to go.  I will hook her up to my bicycle sometimes and I will bike with her until I see those sweet eyes look a little tired (this takes quite awhile though :-}
She and I also have a group of friends that we meet at the dog park five days a week.   This group is a five person group that jokingly calls ourselves, "The Gabriel Park Sled Team."  We're a group of Northern Breed owners that are age 27-68.  We bring food, bawdy jokes, and lots of weird stories.  We sit there and watch our Malamutes and Huskies run until they drop.   Most nights, one of the guys, Bob, gets me laughing so hard that I walk out with a sore stomach.     He apparently has a disdain for pomeranians and isn't afraid to think of the nastiest jokes about them possible  :-}
I hope everyone is doing well and having a great summer...........

07/07/04
Just thought I would drop you a little note, wishing everyone a great summer.  School is going well.  I graduate Sept. 3rd.  Yipppeeee....technically I can't start practicing until November (when I get my license).  I will be practicing in Beaverton at a lovely clinic, which I am excited to be a part of.  There are two other N.D.'s there.  A husband and wife team that are so funny.  I think we'll all get along great.
I will be doing teacher training soon to teach Yoga and Water Aerobics.  I started doing water aerobics when I noticed how it improved my sense of balance with dance and my posture.  I love the water and I enjoy exercising, so its a good fit for me.  I have my high school reunion coming up, which should be fun, and I'm finishing my research paper for school.  Also, I'm excited at a few guest teaching opportunities that have come my way at P.C.C.  Erik and I are going on a cruise in the fall down to Mexico.  A cruise hasn't really been my thing in the past. This is all new for me. 
Typically my "vacations" have consisted of sitting in cow-dung infested 3rd class trains through India's deserts, or getting eaten alive by huge mosquitos in some jungle.  I'll admit, I'm kind of excited to have a vacation where I'm not roughing it all the time, and where I can just sit and do nothing.  I know it sounds lazy, but I'm into being pampered for a week.  Also, I think its funny that my  "vacations" end up in hot parts of the world, when there is nothing I would rather do than take a trip to Iceland, Norway, or Alaska (funny).
I couldn't help but send this picture of Sierra.  It cracks me up.  Her doggy day-care took it over the holiday.  She looks as if it is her epiphany moment in front of the camera.  The one she's been waiting for.......(smile).
I apologize for the mass email, but know that you are all in my heart.....

02/11/05
I can't believe in June it will be two years since I picked Sierra up in Maple Valley.  She is such a joy in my life, and I just adore her.
She is doing great, and I thought I would just send some updated photos to WAMAL to let you folks know that she's doing very well.  The two emails I'm sending are a little outdated in text, but the pictures of Sierra (or "boo-boo" when she's being extra cute) are great.  The one attached to this email I find particularly funny.  The picture was taken at her doggy daycare for the fourth of July, and the photographer laughingly said that Sierra loved the camera, and having all eyes on her.  She really hammed it up!
The other email I'll send has pictures of me, my boyfriend, Erik, and his Siberian named Kobi.  It took some adjustment (Kobi is 8, and has been an only dog all his life), but things are fine with both of them.  At home, they just act like the other isn't there, but at the dog park they seem to "rediscover" one another, and have a wonderful time playing tag together.
I think WAMAL is a great organization, and it inspires me to someday want to have more resources so that I can adopt another mal., or even foster.