*sigh* long absence

So My Human has been duly chastised for not making regular updates this month. Not as if I can type - had she given me hands, that might be another story... but until then, I rely on her to enter in my thoughts. So she is grounded. Bad Human.

Anyway, December has been fun and busy. There have been parties and decorating, crafting, working and various other things that have kept us hopping. I am ready to celebrate my first holiday season.

I already got a couple gifts from Jen - my own suitcase and photo album! I am styling now!!

I also got to help Dano celebrate his birthday - though he did get a bit edgy when he thought I was diggin into his cake before he did. Happy birthday, Dano. ;)

Elf. Gnome. Good combo

all the links below are different elf dances from the Office Depot/JibJab site... I am not always one to pimp the corporate machine, but this is one of the most fun campaigns evah. I am so glad they brought it back this year. :)

wheresemong

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

wheresemong

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

wheresemong

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Absence make the heart grow fonder...

It has been a busy few weeks. Since I last sat down to share my adventures, there have been many things going on.

I'll just go into it a little bit, then My Human will share photos so I can give more information.

First, My Human and I traveled to San Diego to participate in the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk. It was a really cool experience. My Human had some issues with blisters, but overall, the event was a challenge, a success and something to remember. There were 5500 walkers and the event raised $11 million for breast cancer research.

Next came Thanksgiving. I helped cook - ok, I more helped eat - but I tried. Only so much I can do with no arms.

There was a trip to the spa, a visit to the Mulholland fountain, a ride in the HeadBlade Lotus (thanks, Todd!) and then decorating for Christmas.

So much activity!!!

Thanks for your patience, sorry it has been so long.

Protests, lemons and packing

My Human decided to give me a lesson on the freedoms of this country and explained how we have the right to protest and make our voices heard. She took me to downtown Los Angeles to the No on H8 rally, protesting California Prop 8. The crowd was friendly and all just wanted one thing - the right to marry one another. I was sad about how much hate the supporters of Prop 8 spewed. There were not many there, but the ones that were made me sad about how hatefilled and judgemental they were.

At the rally, My Human met up with an old friend of hers from high school that she had not seen in 20 years. Then we met a friend of his and we all stayed together during the rally. They were both great guys and I hope I get to see them again soon.

I think this says it all.

On the way to the car, My Human noticed that the city seal was easy to get to...since it is in the middle of Spring Street in front of City Hall, you normally don't see it...or you can - but there are lots of cars driving over it.. so she put me and our houseguest from New Brunswick (Isabelle) down to get a photo.

After the rally, My Human popped over to Sweet Smiling Home to take a look at what they had during their "Open to the public" event. Ellen met us there and I got to pose with Buddha. My Human loves that place.


Monday night was another fun evening. Our friend, Stacia, has a dwarf meyer lemon tree and the first lemon was finally ready! Stacia invited us up and made the bestest lemon martinis. She even had a little glass for me and let ME pick the lemon!!! :D

We toasted to friendship and fresh citrus.


Now onto the main event for this week. My Human is participating in the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk this weekend. I helped her get all her gear together. She is taking me along so I can experience it with her. She has raised close to $4000 for this event and will be walking a total of 60 miles. She is going to be tiiiiiiired.. but I will try to keep her amused along the way. I can't wait to meet all the people there!

Jack the Cat tried to play with me some... he is not happy to see she is heading out of town again. He made nice while My Human was watching, but I know he is thinking of me as a play toy...

Wish us luck and happy feet this weekend!!!

Pizza, The Grove and Canyon Gourmet!

This week was pretty exciting. My Human brought home some new roommates for us - two "fancy" goldfish. I am still trying to figure out why they are here, but My Human says it is peaceful to watch them swim around. Jack the Cat keeps trying to figure out how to get in the tank with them. So far he has been unsuccessful.

Not sure what My Human is going to call them yet...right now they are just "The Fish."

I spent most of the week at work with My Human, they were busy on a couple photo shoots, though there seems to always be time to clown around. Here Lew is clowning around with some of the wardrobe while I was hiding in the pockets.



This weekend was the 5th Annual Pizza Party at the studio of Bruce and Jennifer James. Everyone brings pizza toppings and there is a competition. This contest is fierce and My Human was determined to win this year. She made a tequila lime chicken pizza with red peppers and caramelized onions...served with a shot of tequila to bribe the judges with. Sadly, it did not work - she received an honorable mention, but not the coveted Pizza Paddle. Next year, she swears...next year.
Here I am with her presentation area - Patron, salt, limes and a space for the pizza. This is the pizza right as it came out of the oven. She said I could not have any until the judges had all come over. I did not tell her that I snuck a piece of chicken. Tasty.

There was quite a big crowd this year - everyone there vying for the prize and bragging rights - or they are just there to eat a lot of pizza. Some are there for both.

The prep table.

My human talked with Brantlea and Alistair - a really cool couple that did not mind posing for a picture.
Sunday, My Human met back up with Lorraine and we were onto another adventure in LA. This time we started at The Grove. We saw all sorts of decorations going up and I asked what it was for - she then explained Christmas and the holiday season. She promised that she and Lorraine would come back and we can have our picture taken with Santa!! I am so excited!!!

Santa is coming!!
My Human and Lorraine let me peek in the windows and play in the giant gumdrops. This holiday things sounds FUN!!

The next part of our adventure took us out toward the ocean and onto Topanga. Along the way, we drove past the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Then we drove up Pacific Coast Highway (PCH to the locals) and past the Getty Villa. My Human and Lorraine said we could visit there also.

Our destination was a shop in Topanga a friend of Lorraine's opened. It is a lovely little shop called the Canyon Gourmet. Tory is the owner and she was really impressive with how much she knew about the cheeses and other items she stocks.

The front window is all festive and decorated for fall. She let me ride the chicken for a bit, then asked me to get off of it when I tried to get it to start jumping over the gourds.


She stocks yummy condiments, sauces and gourmet ingredients and puts together festive baskets.

mmmm olive oil and sea salt.

The inside of the shop. Check it out if you are in the area. They are bringing in wines soon.

OBAMA WINS!!!

Let's hear it for a term starting off with hope for a better future and the first candidate in a long while that so may have been excited about... LA County alone had a record 82% voter turnout... 82 freakin percent of registered voters.. that is HUGE.

Now to keep up the interest over the next 4 years. Take part in your political system, apathy doesn't get anything done - only action get things done.

Now - democrats.. you have control of the house, senate and administrative branch... don't f*$# it up.

Emong out - I got me some champagne to drink... My Human is making an exception to the "No Gnome Drinking" rule.

We voted!!!

GO VOTE

Today is the day. Months of talking heads, ads, mailers, campaign posters and SNL skits have brought us here, to Nov. 4th.

My Human dragged me out of bed early this morning to get in line at her polling place...there was a bit of a line, but she was there early enough to be in and out of the whole thing in about an hour.

GO VOTE

If you don't vote, you have absolutely no right to bitch for the next 4 years - no matter what the outcome.

The gnome has spoken.

Busy week!

**NOTE** you can now download Flat Emong to take with you on your adventures. Send in the photos and the story and My Human may post it here. Got to my homepage for the files.

This week was working. My Human's boss was shooting for a "fast food chain" and I got to see what it was like on a food shoot. One of the stylists, Shellie Anderson, let me pose with her and told me I was cute. I like her.
Then Stephanie agreed to take me on an adventure to the Hand Prop Room since I had been stuck in My Human's purse all week and I was getting bored. It was interesting and kinda scary. I really need to get arms and legs one of these days.

First she introduced me to one of my ancestors. He was kinda mean looking and looked like he wanted to kick my ass.

Then she let me check out some funky dolls.

Tried to feed me to some sort of dinosaur...

Let me sing karaoke (almost got us kicked out.. I can't sing for sheot.)
Then she puts me next to some dead head... not like Grateful Dead but DEAD as in CSI dead. At least she did not put me in her mouth.
Then we played in the perfume bottles...and in the birdcage.. where she stuffed me then started to walk off like she was gonna leave me there. She LOOKS all nice and innocent... but she is a troublemaker. Seriously.


When we got back to the studio, I met Andrea. She works at the studio and is also an awesome photographer.

One of the clients, Peggy, also decided to pose with me. She is cool even when she makes funny faces...

Thursday night, My Human took me to dinner at her friend Helen's house. (not to be confused with Auntie Helen.) She made corned beef with potatoes and carrots and we all had a fun time being silly. Of course, no night is complete without me getting to check out all the sites. First, the chandelier.

Then the Shrine. This area has no real explanation other then a random collection of religious icons from all over the world. First, I met Buddha and Ganesh.
Then Buddy Christ and the Maneki Neko cat who was waving for good luck.

Then I met another giant gnome and saw Moses's Sermon on the Meat (it is best not to ask, just smile and nod politely....)

Finally it was time for dinner and FE made another appearance in his full-color photographic glory (Thanks, Lew for taking the portrait.)

My Human spent a quiet weekend at home. Sunday we awoke to the sound of rain - which is a very rare thing in LA... so we had to go on the patio and get photos!