One of our favorite studio segments involves cute animals looking for homes. Our quick adopt-a-pet segments have helped furry friends find new families.

On another note – this cat video is hilarious! The tortured musings of spoiled pets, on YouTube.
Enjoy.

Our TGIF goals for Santa Cruz:

• Loco moco and drinks at the Reef and Pono Hawaiian Grill
• Pick up wine club shipment at Boony Doon
• Hike near the ocean

It was a tasty, beautiful ending to my work week.

It felt like we escaped the daily grind during this beach hike at Wilder Ranch.

This is my entry for the Weekly Photo Challenge: Escape.

We tinkered with experiments, tested theories and sipped sparkling wine at the museum’s new home on the Embarcadero.

This my entry for the Photo Sunday challenge: Motion.

We tempted him and our cousin Alexis with a beautiful hike that led to a fantastic cabin, tucked away on Mt. Tam.

At the last minute, I convinced them to try out the hike starting in downtown Mill Valley, at the foot of the Dipsea Steps. A car nap revived me after my graveyard shift.

What could go wrong?

We survived the steep climb up 688 steps. We gawked at gorgeous mountain mansions along the rugged Dipsea Trail. An hour later, we arrived at the Tourist Club.

Everyone agreed that the destination was worth sore legs and lack of oxygen.

Also – I suspect everyone would have been happy with the flatter, 30-minute hike into the Tourist Club.

The Dipsea Steps are the “warm-up” lap to one of the oldest foot races in the country. Runners passed us as we crawled up three flights.

The path to the Tourist Club led off the Dispsea Trail and onto the Sun Trail. You could see the Pacific on the horizon.

Seating at the Tourist Club is first come, first serve. Club members have full access to the cabin, along with reserved seating.

Guests borrowed board games. Some bought German draft beer. I like the dried sausage.

Many folks pack their own goodies for a picnic. I picked up a corned beef sandwich on Rosemary focaccia bread from the Mill Valley Market.

We started on our 2+ mile hike back to our cars after Scott won Trivia Pursuit.

“March!”

The golf event canceled my Saturday morning show. So, I had a rare Friday night out with friends.

We had sweet box seats at the Cow Palace for the SF Bulls game against Alaska. We had a great view of the ice and I had a blast catching up with friends.

A damn shame the Bulls lost last night.

Now, I stumbled on this genius rendition thanks to the viral video blog on CBS News.

This video put a smile on my face in the newsroom.

“Thank you for calling Pet Camp, where pets do what pets love,” said one of the camp workers when I booked her stay over the phone. I love that line.

I also love all the Daisy photos posted on their camper cameo site.

(From Pet Camp)

(From Pet Camp)
I’m tickled that she’s playing with other dogs. It looks like she had a blast!

The smells of braised meat in the oven made Daisy a little crazy.

Before dinner, we wandered around San Francisco.

I enjoyed the Golden Gate Outlook by Battery Boutelle. We had a fantastic view of the bridge. It’s easier to find parking here in comparison to the lookout area on the Marin side of the bridge. We spotted runners on a trail that winds under the bridge. My hubby and I want to check that out someday.

I returned to a Serious Eats recipe for the main course: Lamb shanks braised with mustard and mint.

I also fried meat and veggie lumpia. I had leftover rolls frozen from our Winter cookout. They still tasted quite good for Easter.

Mark chopped up mint, shallots and garlic. He also cooked asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper.

The butcher at Whole Foods asked me I wanted him to break the lamb shank bones. I said “Yes.” At dinner, we discovered that broken bones allowed us to suck out the succulent marrow. Awesome!

Overall, it was a lovely meal with family.

I sat behind a woman who brought her dog to church. The short-haired pooch wore a red jacket. He stayed quiet during Mass.

I sat next to a couple with a little boy. I spotted an extra hymnal near them. They said it was fine for me to use it.

The little boy had more ideas for me.

He had big brown eyes and plumb pale cheeks, rosy from the cold. He waddled up to me and offered up a guide with the new mass parts. I smiled and said no thank you.

Then he offered me his palm branch. I smiled and said no thank you.

After his dad distracted him by folding a palm branch into a cross, the boy was back at my side. This time, he offered up his palm cross. I held it for a bit and then gave it back to him and said thank you.

During the second reading, the boy had a new gift. His mom’s adorable Coach wallet. He also held out her Capital One card and placed it in my lap. I looked at his Dad and said no thank you.

After the choir sang “Holy, Holy,” the little boy threw up in our pew.