A Memorial to My Beloved Koshimi

Today is a sad day for us. Our beloved Koshimi has passed away this morning. About two years ago, I thought we were going to lose Shimi when he had some serious back and hip problems. He was given a major dose of meds to help him, but there were no guarantees on how long he would live. I cherished every day of the past 24 months, knowing that each additional day was a gift from God. Along the way we helped Shimi adjust to the aging process. Extra vitamins, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements too. He had good days and bad days. Some mornings he would wake up feeling stiff with creaky joints, so we would give him a baby aspirin. Other days he was raring to go and would happily walk and run along for exercise. He compensated for his bad hips and back legs by building strong muscles in his front legs, pulling himself along wherever he wanted to go. This dog was resilient and never gave up. He was the perfect family dog: loyal, loving and always happy. He lived a long, happy, healthy life. We always fed Shimi the highest quality natural/organic food and treats, which I believed helped him live as long as he did. When I returned home from work Thursday night I knew something wasn't quite right with Shimi. His head was crooked, his eyes darted back and forth and he had difficulty moving. For the past two nights I slept on the floor next to him, keeping him company. This morning when we awakened, Shimi's condition had not improved, yet his mood and spirits were bright and cheery. He smiled as he enjoyed a hearty breakfast, licking his lips after he finished eating. But we knew. When he was able to stand, he was wobbly, and would just walk in circles. I suspected he had suffered a little stroke, causing some neurological damage. He wanted to keep going, but his poor little body was just worn out. I loved Koshimi so much, but I would never let him suffer. Fortunately he was never in any pain. This morning we went to the vet's office, where he was thoroughly examined. The doctor concurred with our assessment, Shimi's body was worn out. The dreaded time had come. The vet staff were gentle, kind and so considerate- we had plenty of time to say goodbye. Even though I had spent the past two nights crying for my "son" I still wasn't ready. We were with him as he breathed his last breaths. We were the last things he saw, as he gently put his head down to sleep. It was a deeply moving moment that I will never forget. I just wrote this little Ode to Koshimi in his memory:

You made me smile everyday

You kept me going on my way

A welcome smile and wag of the tail

Greeting me home when I went for the mail.

.

With the toss of a ball, a rope or teddy

You loved to fetch, always at the ready

Your later years you settled in

With a watchful eye and a happy grin.

.

You had your routines, each day and night

And reminded me of them with all your might

We were best buds- through and through

Everyday that passes I will think of you.

Farewell dear Koshimi, I miss you so much already.

above: Early this morning, I put Shimi in this chair with his brother Owen so they could spend some time together.

above: Just a few minutes before we left for the vet's office. You can see how Shimi's head was crooked and one eye slightly closed.

above: I wanted these photos more for my own memories, but somehow sharing them is a coping mechanism for me.

above: Happier days: last year Koshimi and Owen together, best buds.

above: just a few months ago: the three amigos. Koshimi, Owen and Sheldon

above: This morning, my little Koshimi in the library- how I loved that face. Thank for you stopping by today. I have some business travel starting tomorrow, so there we be no Sunday Art Review this week. Hopefully my business trip will take my mind off things for a while. See you Monday.

-Rick Rockhill

He's Really Slowing Down...

I love this dog. Koshimi is my very very old Shiba Inu who has been showing his age more and more of late. Last night I was out at a business dinner and when I returned home, Koshimi was sitting in his favorite little bed looking like he had a stroke or something. His head is sort of cocked to one side a little. Maybe its just his stiff joints in the cool damp beach air. Hopefully when we get back to the desert today he will be better. But to be sure, I decided to sleep on the floor with him overnight, just curled up to be with him. I think even Sheldon and Owen understand their brother is getting close to his final days. As long as he seems happy, eats and drinks on his own, and shows a glimmer in his eye...This photo is from a few months ago when we drove up to Sonoma wine country, he enjoyed that road trip a lot (see photo below)

I'll keep you posted with his progress.
-Rick Rockhill

A Bit of Royal News

This is old news now, but if you don't regularly read world news and such, you may have missed the annual opening of British Parliament on December 3rd. Queen Elizabeth II opened Parliament for the 56th time in her reign, leading a ceremony with over 500 years of tradition and history. Admittedly I am a bit of an Anglophile and have always enjoyed all the pomp and circumstance, so this is stuff I enjoy sharing. The videos below are a little long, but I find them both interesting. If nothing else, its a nice diversion from all the nonsense in the news of late.

above left: The procession leading to the Palace of Westminster is quite extensive. Her Majesty arrives in the State Coach, drawn by four grey horses. Above right: The Queen reads the speech to the Lords and members of the House of Commons.

above: even in her advanced age, The Queen still looks great. Of course, all the diamonds do help. above right: The Queen's jewels, including the Imperial State Crown (which she wears to open Parliament), are priceless and are stored in a heavily guarded room in the Tower of London. Check out this (long but) interesting video about the opening of Parliament:

And here below is Queen Elizabeth delivering her speech to open Parliament. It's a bit of a yawn-fest, but check it out for a spell:

Well, I hope you weren't too bored by all this. I'll post The Queen's Christmas message on December 25th, so she'll make another appearance here again soon. Have a great Thursday.

-Rick Rockhill

La Jolla...that's "La- Hoy-uh"

One of the things I enjoy about living in Southern California is the proximity to so many different climates and types of topographies: desert, beaches, mountains, farmland, and wine country. In just a few hours drive you can have a complete change of scenery. Since I spend so much time at the beach house in San Diego, I often get to La Jolla, one of my favorite locations in Southern Cal. (La Jolla is pronounced "La Hoy-uh"). It is a stunning seaside community with beautiful homes, a charming village area, dramatic cliffs and spectacular beaches. This painting above left, by artist Bob Phillips is one of my favorites because it conveys La Jolla's casual beach side atmosphere. Recently I had lunch at a restaurant on the beach and took a few photos to share with you.

above: looking south, you can see a surfer walking along the beach.

above: the same beach, looking north

above: not an especially great photo, but I just liked the way the sun was reflecting on the water.

above: this was the restaurant where I had lunch. We sat at a table under these umbrellas for shade and enjoyed the sunny day at the beach. Maybe next time I'll take some photos of the more scenic areas of La Jolla. Hope your week is going well, and thanks for stopping by today.

-Rick Rockhill

Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade

Here in Palm Springs, it's not easy to get in the Christmas mood. We don't get snow on the desert floor, nor do we have cold temperatures typically associated with Christmas season. Instead we rely on other cues to get in the holiday spirit. The Annual Festival of Lights parade is one such event. It features over 100 floats and parade entries with thousands of strings of lights gliding down Palm Canyon Drive to cheering onlookers. The event attracts close to 100,000 spectators each year and includes locals and international tourists as well. The floats include everything from firetrucks, big rigs, mobile homes, tractors and vintage cars, and regular vehicles all decorated with fabulous festive lights. It also features horses, camels, dogs, marching bands, elected officials and celebrities too. I didn't have too many good photos of my own, so I "borrowed these" from the Desert Sun. I hope they get you in the Christmas mood!

above: True to our western desert heritage, a cowboy on a horse, with lights of course.

above: this neat truck carried Frosty the Snowman

above: I like this photo, with the horses and palm trees in the background.

above: What's a parade without a beauty queen? Here is Miss California

above: Santa makes his appearance

above: Vintage firetrucks line up

above: Even camels participated in this year's parade.

Yes, indeed Christmas is here. What does your community do to usher in the holiday season? Go ahead, leave a comment. Don't be a Scrooge!

-Rick Rockhill

The Holiday Festivities Begin

The holiday season is in full swing in Palm Springs. Holiday gatherings, parties and festivities of all kinds have started. The Palm Springs Savant is on the guest at all the exclusive events in town. The past Friday night I attended Christmas parties of several friends that were equally enjoyable. The first was held at the former estate of Christine Onassis, a marvelous home here in Palm Springs that can be rented for vacations or private events. The hosts of the party requested that guests bring canned goods for a local food pantry in lieu of host gifts, which I thought was a capital idea! The second party was at a private home in the Twin Palms estate of Palm Springs. It was an ultra glam holiday party, with a guest list that included actors, writers, producers, titans of the business, artists, moguls of the investment industry, and some members of famous Hollywood families who must remain unnamed for privacy reasons.

above: Palm Springs Holiday Kitsch: Fabulous white Christmas trees were adorned with black ornaments.

above: The pool was completely covered with plexi-glass, and provided a stunning surface that glowed in the evening. This surface of the pool was covered with guests when the party was in full swing.

above: Tables of fresh fruit, cheeses, holiday cookies and appetizers kept the guests happy.

above: amazingly, this was the only photo I took of people all night. One of the party co-hosts Jim poses here with one of the more colorful guests that evening. She was wearing a pair of shoes with unbelievable heels...

above: Guests were treated to party favors- purple silk bags filled with squares of chocolate. It was a delicious way to end the evening.

above: I did not miss an opportunity for a new martini photo. I'm sipping a Blue Raspberry martini, one of my favorites!. Thanks for stopping by today, hope you have a great week.

-Rick Rockhill

Sunday Art Review: C'est Cezanne!

In last week's Sunday Art Review, I featured the work of Marc Chagall after having been inspired by seeing one of his paintings at a gallery here in the Palm Springs area. I had a similar experience this past week where I had the opportunity to see a lesser known piece by French artist Paul Cezanne. Known as the father of modern art, his work has fetched the highest prices ever paid in art auctions. Acceptance and success did not come easy to Cezanne; his paintings were rejected by the official Paris Salon early in his career. A combination of perseverance and practice and yielded an impressive body of work which came to be well respected. He is known as a bridge from the post-impressionist period to the early 20th century art, inspiring greats such as Matisse and Picasso. Cezanne's style is very recognizable and intense at times. His work was the inspiration for this week's Sunday Art Review: C'est Cezanne!

above: Le Lac Bleu

above: Nature morte

above: Esta Que

above: Chateau Noir

above: Flowers and Pears

above: Mont Sainte Victoire

above: The Card Players

I hope you enjoyed today's Sunday Art Review featuring some of Paul Cezanne's work. Which did you like best? Go ahead, leave a comment, it's good for you.Thanks for stopping by today.

-Rick Rockhill

More Martini Madness

Martini Madness continues, as photos pour in from around the country- well, Indianapolis and San Diego anyway. Few can resist the temptation...the call of the refreshing and sophisticated cocktail that embodies "hip and cool". Pictured here is The Duchess of Windsor, reincarnated. Doesn't she look elegant and regal? Kind of like a Duchess I think. The next photo below is a gentleman at work who I refer to as "Toddington", the martini mate of The Duchess. Along with me, Toddington was one-third of the now defunct morning ritual "Tea Toddling Trio" at the office (the other third moved to Indianapolis). So now, it's just the "Two For Tea Party" every morning at work (me and Toddington).

above: Toddington, so sophisticated, so debonair. How fortunate he is to have The Duchess as his martini mate.

above: BenWu, the former "Tea Toddling Trio" member who defected when he moved away to be with his ever-lovely wife. We miss Ben at the office. He sends this photo to join in the fun.

Well Happy Friday to you! I have a fun-filled busy social calendar ahead of me this weekend, so stay tuned! What are your weekend plans? Is a festive martini on the cards???

-Rick Rockhill

Martini Madness Sweeps the Nation!

Imagine my surprise when my good Blogger friend Bee posted this photo on her blog sipping a delicious and refreshing martini! Bee was on another one of her wonderful cruises when this photo was taken. Martini Madness photos are all the rage in the blogosphere these days...(ok, not really, but humor me please). Martinis have been the cocktail of choice with legends like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and of course, James Bond. Here in Palm Springs of course, we sip martinis to keep cool, after all it's a dry heat in the desert! Thanks Bee, I'm so happy you joined in the fun.
The photo that started it all...

above: It was on our cruise through the Panama Canal, back in April 2007 when I was enjoying the Martini special each day in one of the ship's lounges. Our favorite bartender Jose made THE BEST martinis, and he snapped this photo of me sipping a Cosmo. It became my signature martini pose from that point on. Check out that fantastic ascot in this photo, it's one of my favorites.
Other Blogger friends have joined in the fun too...

above: Michelle, from the House of Lime blog posted this photo some time ago, and I never thanked her for joining in the fun. So who's next? Anyone else want to participate in Martini Madness? Post your photo on your blog and let me know!

-Rick Rockhill