It all started here !!

Well let’s start with a little information of us. In 2004 I lost my best friend to cancer. She was my little four legged angel. A large breed she was , shed like the dickens , yet still a part of our family. My in laws owned a little Schnauzer girl named Misty. She is where it starts.

As a mother of two who had recently left the nest I felt myself falling into empty nest syndrome. So it was was either more two legged children for me to care for or a four legged child to fill the void. So as you could guess a four legged child it was.

So I agreed to a Schnauzer like his moms. Since nothing could replace my friend, It was just a dog right? I could never have been more wrong. Nothing could have prepared me for the instant gratification that this little breed could provide. So I bring home my 8 wk old baby and Kaylie is her name. She is a black and silver little fur ball who instantly thrones herself with her all about me attitude. Who knew a 6 lb puppy could broadcast such personality. To this day she is the princess. I realized she needed a friend to play with when I was at work. So off the breeder I go to find my little sweetheart a playmate.

Now we have two. A little white boy named ( Keach ) to add to our family. Most would stop there right. We’ll anyone who has ever owned a Schnauzer would agree, they are addictive. I discovered Liver ( the chocolate ) colored Schnauzer. “Oh honey please!!” I pleaded. And off to Washington I go to retrieve the newest member of our Schnauzer Pack. Sweet Hershey bar!. My sweet chocolate boy

My husband suddenly realized I was addicted. I am not sure which gave it away. The fact that we had to upgrade to a king size bed or that he lost the top drawer in his dresser to Schnauzer sweaters and pajamas. Not sure which.

Needless to say, we discovered that breeding was the way to go for me and him. I get my baby fix and he doesn’t have to keep anymore. Sounds rational right?

I am on it!! So if I am gonna do this I need one more female. Hee! Hee! Hee! . So we contact Chris in Wa and discuss color possibilities. My husband decides on white, and its off to Washington again to pick up our newest baby (Mia Mae ) . While we are there. A little salt and pepper girl now named ( Ashley Rae ) wrapped my heart around her little nubbin. So we come home with two with the intention of rehoming one when we figure out which personality fits our home. Yeah Right!! Now we are five. So now you know the history of how we became Mountain View Schnauzers. And how the small breed themselves are the true driving point of our operation. And that we are truly dedicated to the well being of these babies. Our babies!! You will not find rehoming of our girls as they mature into non producing girls they are ours to stay.

I have discovered there is even more gratification in the achievement of adding happiness to others lives than just being surrounded by the babies myself.

So as you view the surrounding pictures on this page, I hope you see the quality and effort we put into each and every Mountain View baby. I do this because it brings me happiness! And a smile is often contagious.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Another early morning departure. "Yuck" this time even earlier than the one before. I have I all worked out. Pick up mom at 5:30. Be at the airport by 6:15. Leaves enough time for a side of scrambled eggs from McDonalds and a coffee.
Yep!! that was how it was planned anyway !!!!!

I pull into moms driveway and see her frantic expression as she is letting the dogs out in her bath robe. Although I can't hear her, I see the "oh shoot" squint as she heads back in to hurry and dress. Thirty five min and a few chores later we are off. Mind you I have ten minutes to get to the airport to stay on schedule.
Oops! Forgot about that 3 year 55 mile an hour project on the freeway. Not gonna happen.
We make just in time to get through security and get downstairs and they start to board. So its on the plane we go ( no breakfast or coffee for me ). And those of you who know me well, know this is not a good thing!
So..... Its to early in the morning without food or drink and, well.... life just, well, sucks at the moment.
We arrive in Seattle and head for the kiosk for boarding passes for the Newark flight. We have 35 minutes till departure, leaving out of gate C11 and Starbucks and food are the other way. " Urrrr! "
"Just keep swimming" I say to myself. We get to the gate and GOOD NEWS! Everyone is checked in and we can proceed with early boarding. Yea!!!! ( Not ). And I had just realized there was a Starbucks just over there......... But on the plane we go........
So here we are seats 26 D and E. And I am not doubt the sardine in the middle. Oh well I have my movie player, Nintendo DS , a book and my IPOD. I am prepared I tell you. What happens next will encourage. Any non rev ( employee standby for those of you not airline lingo equipt ) to hide their badge. The gentleman next to me wants to have a lengthy conversation on our companies fuel hedging worthiness and the current costs. ( Ya ! I specialize in that department. NOT ). So I politely tell him I work in reservations. Well then, That didn't work. I get to hear the story of how his trip come about. Apparently he had a 1400.00 dollar credit that had to be used by the end of the month. ! BLAH ..... Blah ! Blah!........ Blah ! Blah........ Let's talk about change fees and time validity limits. " 0h boy ! Goody goody goody! I really want to talk about that... Uhhhhuuuuuh!!!! yea. So I endure the two hour directive of his opinion of fuel hedging, airline budgets and his overall bad luck. And so I top off the conversation with " Your scoring some great airline miles for this trip! " Knowing from the previous life story he was from Juneau . He nodded, I smiled, and I left it at that. A Northern Bites Breakfast skillet breakfast, for a bargain price of $5. Which I hate to say leaves a lot to be desired and another two and a half hours of peaceful. I Love Lucy blissful sardineship in seat 26 E, thank goodness for portable DVD players!! And we have arrived..... Not a moment to soon if you ask me. Because the extravagant bathroom facilities on the 737-900 series are starting to look appealing.
Ok so here is the plan. Jump off. Head for the kiosk, print a boarding pass, through security, hand the puppy off, and back. Since we are running on time I have exactly 35 min. I can do it.
Sounds good.....right? Only one little hiccup. There is no kiosk at the gate in Newark. Ok I can deal with that. I will just ask the gate agent to check me in. I pull out my little blackberry, ( since I didn't have my Didi friend organizer with me I have saved all confirmations as a memo). Efficiently I read off my confirmation and wait. He looks at me and the conversations goes as follows
AGENT ~ " oh I don't know ".
Me~ "Don't know what?"
AGENT~ " well you don't have an itinerary". And he points and shows me his screen. Yep!! The itinerary was cancelled. Why I don't know but it is no longer there.
Me~ " well can't you just put it back? "
AGENT~ " I don't know! Let me see. " He goes to the boarding gate and gets the agent working there. She comes over, shakes her head, and proceeds to put it back in. Great!!! She hands me our boarding passes and heads back for the gate. I'm only eighteen minutes into my thirty five. I can still make it. I collect the puppy from my mom. And start for the other side of security. As I'm leaving I hear. " Good evening ! I would like to offer pre boarding..........yadda yadda yadda. "Okay !!!!! " So I walk a little faster if ya know what I mean. I call the gal. Tell her I'm on my way and she says shell meet me at the baggage claim in front of our office. Easy enough. What she didn't tell me was it was at the complete opposite end of the baggage claim area. Again. I begin to walk a little faster. I look for her based on no description at all, because we apparently forgot to talk about that. In hopes she'll be the only one looking for a puppy and find me. Only a couple lost moments later and I'm found. Yea!!!!!! I think I literally handed off the puppy, said here's the health certificate and I'll call you. And I started for security. ". Then there was moms last words as I was leaving her at the gate. " Make sure you get a picture ! ". Crap!!!! Crap! crap!......... crap! So I turn around. Good thing I hadn't made it that far. CLICK. Got the picture and I'm off again.
Phew!!!! Made it through security. And now I. reeaallly have to peee! I have the gate in sight and of course its right next to TGI Fridays. I got close enough I could smell it anyways. MMMMmmmmm. I can dream !!!!!!
Almost everyone but mom and I are boarded. We intercept each other at the division line for boarding first class/mvp golds. And the general boarding line. There is no one in either line at this point. I glance at my boarding pass and. Wonderful. I have the same seat assignment as before. Well at least its warm and my butt fits the imprint already established from the previous 5 1/2 hours. And ooops !!! I tried to board from the wrong side of the divider. I received "simos". Mom saying " this side Stacey". And the gate agent " saying you need to board from the general boarding line! ". THERE WAS NOBODY THERE !!!! Seriously did it matter???????
I head down the jet way rolling my eyes. "Seriously ! " I thought. We make our way to our seats. And yep still there! Butt print intact. Awesome !!! They've closed the door and there is nobody in the window beside me. Right on!!! So I move over. Spread out, and feel a little less sardine like.
Up! Up! And away. We are on the move again. Too bad. I still haven't gotten to go pee, and food seems to be a thing of the past. DING. We have now cleared 10,000 feet and suitable airline electronic devices can be used at this time. But we are still climbing and the seat belt sign has not been turned off. "Damn it". I HAVE TO PEE !!!!!
I pull out the trusted DVD player I still have two more I LOVE LUCY episodes to watch.
Right on !!!!! The seat belt sign went off. And so am I. I don't care how small un luxurious the mile high sani hut is. I'm on it.......
Much better.......
Now for the food issue !!! Ok so my options are.
Everyday pack .. or a hamburger. Again for the bargain price of $5. Yea !!!
The attendant is here. And wouldn't you know it. They are out of the everyday pack. So looks like a " hard-eee " hamburger it is. Not too bad ... ifyou throw away the rocks on either side. and then we have a nice soft 50/50 blend of soy and beef to feast on. Oh well. Could be worse. Could have not even made it on the flight.....Right?
I eat what I can. And settle in to finish my LUCY. About ten minutes later I see a flashing low battery sign in the left upper corner. I tried to ignore it. But the sudden blackness of the screen let me know I was defeated.
Luck is on my side now. Only a couple minutes later a flight attendant comes by with a big smile and hands us a couple digi players. She said a couple of the first class passengers didn't want to use theirs. Well lucky us. So I watch... What happens in Vegas. Cute movie. And when I was done with that I still had time to watch the chipmunks. Good thing the battery power on theirs is better than mine.
A second beverage service. They collect the machines and wow we are in Seattle. I can't wait to walk around. I feel like I have been sitting on concrete for a week.
So we head for the food quart. Only to find that everything but the bar is closed. I WANT REAL FOOD PEOPLE !!!!!
Well we can order clam chowder from the bar. So we settle in for a bowl of chowder and call for reservations at the Doubletree. One confirmation later and its off to catch the shuttle. And I so want a shower. We check in and... collect our DOUBLETREE COOKIES. Those are so good!!!!
A quick flight in the morning. And its home sweet home. So we travelled 5600 miles in a day and a half and I'm a little closer to my imaginary MVP GOLD status.
Honey I'm Home!!!!!!
He collects me at the curb.
" Lets go to cracker Barrell, I'm starved !! "Stay tuned...... We might be headed to Reno
at 2/23/2009 06:35:00 PM