Full Day? - That's an UnderStatement

Going into month Number #2 since hubby left to continue his military career - I took it up a notch with my Pug Art. I began with this YingYang Pillow

But then I had to set that aside because Abby, Max and Shady needed to go potty.

HOLD ON GUYS - let me spread out Pug-in-a-Basket first on the couch so his paws could dry better

Then I let em out.........they are so patient

OFF THEY GOOOOOOOOOOOO

Check out the paws on this potbelly pug. Nope - don't need to rotate this pic. The little rascal is drying upside down.

Oh dear.........more pot bellies on their back.

Max is done and in he goes!!!

Abby is done and in she goes!!!

Shady has been done and she awaits to escort me to............

the pantry for their goody snack.

All that is left to do on my Palaksi Pug are the eyes - I sewed on the last tiny bead on its tail last night.

On the road again to pick up my kiddies at the volleyball game in Andersen.

Ever seen a wall of jungle????

I had only 50% attention from my passenger. He had his iPod earphone on the other ear.

Turned in my 4Runner for service and I had to drive a Toyota Highlander. This model didn't have the radio control buttons on the steering wheel. Yep, it was an inconvenience to reach over to the radio to change the channel.

Tammy with a Sit Pug Sit pillow.

My home was bustling with activity. Dinner, grand kids, teens and with all that going on, I was determined to get started on another

PALAKSI PUG

I love painting. It's faster than sewing beads onto the piece I've designed to give it Pazazzzz. Even when I paint and there is a lot of activity going on around me, I always think about wonderful things that went on before this moment. Like.....

Participating in this game with the sales team at work. We got into a line and using our impeccable communication skills, we had to put ourselves in ascending order, by our age. It was great to be shoved to the back because someone was older than I. I always thought me and my colleague here (who is also somehow my cousin) were the same age. But she is slightly ahead of me........slightly (wink wink)

Painting is Peaceful even with a lot of noise

It is indeed a compliment that the dinner I cooked is literally licked clean off the plate. This is my grandson Xavier

See that soccer ball in the air? It has shattered a window and a picture frame. But then you sacrifice material things because your child loves a sport. And you just take the window and picture frame and get it fixed.

I'm still learning how to use my camera.

Focus

Focusing

Zoom

Zoom

Okay - So this was my average Monday my dear Blog Buddies. Until next time I share with you this pic of using the zoom lense outside far far away. Can you see the pug beneath the taro leaves?

PUG HUGS,

Karen, The Pug Artist from Guam

Aware of Surroundings

The other day as I prepared to leave for work, I realized that my pets do know my schedule...........literally. They act nothing like when I come home from work.

As you can see in the background in this pic, they are lounging without a care in the world that I'm set out to make a living that pays for their comfortable home. The best vet care. The best dog food and treats in the market. The best fur care products on the shelf. The best master in the world.

Yep - this is their farewall demeanor. Such doom and gloom as Karen heads out the door.

At least Shady gave me a good-bye one eyed glance.

As much as I want to take a pic of how they greet me when I come home - I'm afraid to drop my camera because there are three of them all over me.

And off to work I go. This is my breakfast. Hot oatmeal sprinkled with trail mix. Yummy.

Everyday after work, I am stuck in this. Traffic. Man, I could only imagine how this will be when the military build up actually happens.

Being an election year - these waves during traffic time is absolutely annoying. Sadly, when these candidates get elected into office, we never see them again.

The misery of traffic and getting home to my fam bam and my pets is always wonderful. Oh, my blog title is about Aware of Surroundings. Well, when we are not concious of our surroundings, Shady uses it to her advantage...........ALWAYS. This is a pic of her getting into the powdered donuts. Yep - she ate the whole box.

Yesterday I wask tasked to attend the funeral of Mr. Kuo Ming Yu. I was amidst the grueling work of running a department and I had to pull away and get to the funeral. I have never attended a Chinese funeral before and I wish I had at least read up on the cultural aspect of paying respect - but I didn't. It was an experience though. As I entered the funeral home I was greeted by a receptionist; I signed the guest book and was given these gifts.

A hostess dressed in Buddhist attire greeted me and showed me to another receptionist who greeted me and then showed me to another hostess in Buddhist attire who placed the yellow ribbon on me. She escorted me down the aisle and I came upon a beautifully set table that had bowls of food, insense, flowers. I had to bow to the table which was in front of the coffin (the room was full of Chinese people............watching). The Buddhist then guided me to pinch a bowl of crushed insense, bring it to my forehead, and then sprinkle it into the black bowl. I then had to bow again at the table, turn to my right and bow to the people, turn to my left and bow to the people. Then the Buddhist left me. I had no idea on what to do next??? So I stood there for a minute, said a prayer, and then walked away.

Then it was back to work. And work I did. My receptionist team completed a course called "The WOW in Service" and I proudly presented them their certificate. What a sharp team.

Although I don't have time to photograph the stages of these little rascals, I did make the time to finish them. From the PUG IT PILE these were created from a pair of slacks. Aren't they cute?

Ending this blog today I leave you with this pic of my son who placed 2nd place in the marsmanship shooting competition against another high school. I'm so proud of him.

PUG HUGS,

Karen, The Pug Artist from Guam

FALLEN SOLDIER

While in Saipan this past Monday I learned through my BlackBerry that a soldier from Guam died in Afghanistan. I read more on this breaking news and I was saddened that Jaysine Petree, age 19 was the soldier. A young female adult who joined the Army after graduating from high school in 2009. As I set out on my daily journey on the road I noticed flags on Guam were being flown at half staff as the island mourns.

McDonalds

Century Plaza

Atkins Kroll (My place of work)

Superior Court of Guam

I noticed, though, on base the flags were flying at full staff:

At the school

And at the hospital.

I wonder why?

Despite my wondering I carried on with my day taking Kin to his appointment and then here is something that my daughter usually does and that is wait at the bus stop after school to pick up the teens. I had the pleasure of doing this as I took the rest of the day off from work.

Funny thing is that when I don't plan what to do because of an unforseen early off time - I get into the goofing off. Instead of a warm meal let's eat a sandwich for dinner. Instead of doing the normal Thursday chores.............let's watch a movie. And so I did, "Letters from Juliet." I never sit around watching television in the late afternoon. NEVER.

So that's it for now my Blog Buddies. Until the next time I blog, I leave you with this pic I just had to take of Kin goofing off with freezing his wet shirt.

PUG HUGS,

Karen, the Pug Artist From Guam