Part 2 of The Seal Whisperers, be sure to read part 1 here. Note this is The Seal Whisperer…there is no s, there was no Deanna. Just me, braving it on my own…

Meet Buenaventura, rescue number 2. After finding him, I put a call in to the other rescue unit (you know…protocol) I am sure they were extremely relieved to see me there, I’m sure. You never know when Slacker-the-sand-slinger might show up again!

However, I was a bit disappointed to see it was someone different assisting me with this rescue. I explained to them the pup was probably about 4 months old (he was bigger than Ace V.) and aside from exhaustion, was perfectly healthy. Listen and learn. They are weaned at about 6 weeks old, mom just leaves them to fend on their own.

Because they have not yet learned to hunt, they lose up to 1/2 their weight and become weak. They beach themselves to rest and then return to the water. I told them that is exactly what Buenaventura was doing.

I suggested We put up more CAUTION tape, and I assured them I would check on him a few times an hour. Not that that would necessarily be necessary…considering it was a male and it was still early afternoon.
B. Ventura slept well into the early evening. As the tide started coming up, he began to stir. Deanna had returned home from work and the other rescue lady showed up just about that time as well. It was decision time for the little fella. Is he rested enough to make his way back into the ocean like Ace V. did the day before? Will he simply move to higher ground to continue his slumber? Obvi, we would like to cheer him on, scream and yell, and coach him, as he finds his way back into the water. We would like to celebrate with a high five, a fist bump and a few tears, making our way home with a spring in our step and a smile on our face.
No, he wasn’t having it. As he yawned and wiggled around….B. Ventura made his way to higher grounds.

I checked on him as the sun came up only to find a small seal path that led directly to the water.  I took down the stakes and CAUTION tape…I felt the tears well up in my in my eyes as I made my way back to the house. Although we weren’t there to witness it, I am confident he did just fine on his own and our rescue was a success. I continued my walk with a smile on face and a spring in my walk…it felt good, really good…to be The Seal Whisperer!

Going home soon? It’s inevitable…at some point. My mini-vaca is now 3 weeks+ and I’m thinking my cats might be getting hungry. They have 9 lives anyways, right? Actually 1 of them only has about 2 left. Oh, don’t get your panties bunched up and start calling P.E.T.A., they are being well cared for…but I do miss them!

I needed this get away, I really did. It has been absolutely nothing short of perfect! Lots of food, drink, belly laughs so hard it hurts, walking, talking, reflecting, relaxing, some tears and…adventure! I shared about my first day here (on the beach..for 3+ weeks. Don’t hate) in Angels In Flight, with out a doubt one of the best days of my life!
A few days later, while walking on the beach we see this

We’re all, “Hey, look at that cute puppy swimming!”

As Fido made his way out of the water, it was clear, it wasn’t
a puppy and it was in need of attention.

Without thinking twice, we spring into action…

…both of us. Because that’s how we roll.

He lay on the sand barely breathing, unable to move even the smallest of his whiskers. As the water washes over him, we scream and yell, coaching him to safer grounds. As you see in the pictures, we were the only 2 on the beach that morning…his fate lie in our hands. Screaming wasn’t working so well and by the size of those teeth, mouth to mouth was out of the question…not that it didn’t cross our minds.

We finally managed to get a hold of a rescue. Don’t get me wrong, despite our quick thinking and rescue skills, we had never rescued a seal before…mostly just people. We were told it would be “a while,” are you kidding me? After calling in 17 different voices, with 17 different names and stories, we were asked to explain the seal. Kinda big…but not real big. Dark, flippers, whiskers, oh yeah…and big teeth. “How is his breathing” they ask. Ummm…in and out? “He sounds like he’s fine, just resting.” Is that how they knew it was a male…because it was so damn tired?? “We will be there as soon as we can.” O.k., we’ll be the girls in the red bathing suits…

It was a good hour and a half and we were still waiting. We kept onlookers at bay, forbidding them to get too close. An elderly couple who had been watching the rescue us from their window came out to offer a hand. We decided to go change, and grab a piece of toast while they stood guard for awhile. We returned shortly to find the rescuers had arrived. They explained the pup was about 3 months old and aside from exhaustion, was perfectly healthy. Listen and learn. They are weaned at about 6 weeks old, mom just leaves them to fend on their own. Because they have not yet learned to hunt, they lose up to 1/2 their weight (Seriously? I don’t know how to hunt…what the hell?) and become weak. They beach themselves to rest and then return to the water. That is exactly what “Ace Ventura” was doing

The rescue lady (oh, and uh-hum, myself) made a circle out of about 6 signs explaining the situation, advising lookie loo’s to keep their distance and let the baby (male) sleep. It was fascinating to some, some could really careless and others were complete and utter idiots. One in particular. We will call him Slacker (…as his shirt read). Slacker decides to cross “the barrier” …because he could. As he approached Ace, the rescue lady asked him to “please stay away from the seal and let him sleep.” “I don’t have to.” he says. “No, you don’t…but I’m asking you to.” Know what he did? He kicked sand in her face. This is where I went from being a lifeguard, to wonder woman…or something. Yeah. Ever lose control, like in a bad way? Slacker crosses the circle, kicks sand on my new best friend and he is now heading towards the poor, defenseless, exhausted baby. Heidi, A.K.A. lifeguard, A.K.A. wonder woman, A.K.A…or something decides to stop him. Obviously reasoning wasn’t working out so well, time to pull the psycho card…because, clearly that would be the right thing to do.

Deanna captures this last shot of me before she runs…far and fast. Hell, I was afraid of me. Slacker and I, Heidi, A.K.A. lifeguard, A.K.A. wonder woman, A.K.A…or something went into a face to face screaming match, (the right thing to do, I remind you) as he continues to kick sand, I hold my ground standing between him and the seal…wondering if my obituary will read, ‘she died a hero, saving a poor, defenseless, exhausted, baby.’ I could hear the rescuer (the real one) and my friends telling me to back off, but it was too late. Not to toot my own horn, but after what seemed like forever, he eventually turned and walked away. toot-toot I look around to see a small crowd had gathered, someone informed me they had called 911 back and told them never mind, it was over. 911? I stood there a bit mortified at what had just taken place, apologizing for my behavior. Know what the rescue lady said to me? “Sometimes that’s what it takes, you fought for his safety.” My humiliation began to fade as I felt a sense of pride come over me.

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We She, (the rescuer) (my new best friend) decided it would be best to create a new barrier around the lil’ soul with CAUTION tape, and so we did.  I continued to check on him about every 30 minutes throughout the day. Without further interruption, Ace V. was able to rest for a good 8 hours, restoring his energy and strength. As the sun began to set, he opened his eyes and lifted his head. With Deanna and I cheering him on, we scream and yell, coaching him, as he finds his way back into water. We celebrate with a high five, a fist bump and a few tears. Our efforts had made a difference and despite Slacker and his feeble attempts, our rescue was a success.

We make our way home with a spring in our step and a smile on our face. We are hero’s amongst the locals, we are the seal whisperers, and little did we know…our journey has just begun….

Read more here
and here!

These past few weeks have been so emotionally, physically and mentally draining. Within 7 days, my mom lost her sister, my dad his brother. As much as I love them both, I was so close to my aunt and it had all become too overwhelming. I decided I needed to get away and take a mini vaca. What could be better than spending time at my best friend’s house on the beach?

Anybody that knows me well, knows I LOVE dolphins! I love just sitting, anticipating a dorsal fin or two to surface and am very seldom disappointed. This time was different, it was like nothing I have ever seen…and I think my aunt came back as a dolphin! LOL. They put on the most spectacular, hour long show for me, it was almost bizarre.
(click on picture for larger view)








As they were leaving, they dove down and splashed their tail fins as if they were waving good-bye. I have never witnessed anything like it..it gave me a sense of peace.

Like I had always done, I picked up the phone to call my aunt and share my excitement..then I realized, she already knew! Love you Aunt Bobbie XOXO!!

In November 2007, my oldest son was diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, when we found out it had gone in to remission, it was cause for celebration. It was an unbelievable feeling, one that I never wanted to end, ever. I decided I wanted to get a small tattoo to remind me daily of his courage, his strength and his determination. To remind me how blessed I am, to remind me never to take life for granted.
Now, I already have 2 tattoos, neither of which my kids were thrilled about. I had gotten the talk after each one, “Do you know they’re permanent? What if you change your mind in a year, or 2 years or 10 years?” (I know!?) So although this sounded like a great idea to me, I just wasn’t sure it was the best idea. I wasn’t in a great big hurry to bring it up, I really hadn’t even figured out what I wanted to get yet.

.

Obviously, great minds think alike! A month or so later, I receive this picture in a text message…from my son.
Obviously, he got the talk, “Do you know it’s permanent? What if you change your mind in a year, or 2 years or 10 years?”

.

I laughed and I cried, I loved it! Truth be told, he could have tattooed BARTHOLOMEW in neon letters across his face and I would love it.
He’s here. He’s healthy. He’s happy.
Again, I am reminded how blessed I am.
Score! This tattoo conversation just got a whole lot easier!

A few days later I talked to him about what I wanted to do, explaining I still had no idea what I wanted to get. He suggested an Orchid. While doing research and trying to make his own decision, he learned that Orchids represent the type of cancer he had. I loved the idea and my decision was made. When I told my mom, she not only thought it was a great idea…she wanted one too! (Huh? But you’re my mom…you can’t get a tattoo….do you know it’s permanent…what if…)

A few days ago we went and got our Orchids, to remind us daily of his courage, his strength and his determination. To remind us how blessed we are, to remind us never to take life for granted.

No worries, I’m totally a pro at this now!

Maybe not so much…

…do you know how tender the top of you foot is?

(F.Y.I.) Pretty darn tender…

…but I’m not complaining, I’m celebrating!

My mom chose to put hers on her ankle. (I better get permission before I post pics. of her funny faces!)

♥ My nieces Chelsea and Joey ♥

I love this picture…but I’m not too sure if I love the way the page turned out. I’m going to see if it grows on me whilst waiting for my mo-jo to return. It’s on an extended vacation!

What started out as just taking a few pictures of the beautiful sunset this Halloween night, transpired into something much bigger. These may very well be, the only pictures of their kind to exist. Watch carefully…
*click on image for a larger view

After enlarging these on my computer, I was in complete disbelief! (you would be too) Suddenly, it all started to make sense to me. The image I captured was probably non other than one of the Henne Boys. Was this another ploy in search of fame? A desperate attempt to gain the media’s attention? Maybe. There is no knowing, however, WITCH one it was…only that it was, The Ba-room Boy.

My baby turned 23 this week and this Mama’s a hot mess! Really. Clearly, this can only mean one thing, I am no longer a Spring Chicken. It wasn’t that long ago, in fact it seems like yesterday I celebrated my 26th Birthday (yep, I have a kid that age too) with my son’s at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach.  Where. Did. All. The. Years. Go?

I guess it’s time to put my big girl panties on and accept I’m old as dirt my age. I need to learn to embrace each and every gray hair, wrinkle, pound, hot flash, memory lapse, wrinkle, hot flash, memory la…. It is just a number anyways, right? Right?
As for my birthday boy, may you have a wonderful year and many, many more to follow. And dude…enjoy your youth because in a few years, you too will be wondering- Where. Did. All. The. Years. Go?
I love you!!!

Focus. That’s what I need to do. I have been such an inconsistent blogger/poster/website maintainer/sharer/etc… lately! I need to work on that…and a bunch of other things as well! I have been adding new quotes, I love quotes and there’s days I can just lose myself in them. I’m so deep, huh?

Here’s a few pictures I took over the weekend. I tried to be cute but the jokes on me, I screwed up and left a line out…the moon up above, or is it the stars up above? Anyways work with me here…this is my version! For what it’s worth, here’s my attempt:
again, just click on the pic. for a larger view!

Let me tell you about~