Where were we this week? Tahoe Meadows

 

Tahoe Meadows is a piece of Heaven on earth, less than 30 minutes from Reno (or from Incline Village - depending on which direction you're driving). The preserve has a parking lot at its south end and roadside access on the north end. Be cautious as Mt. Rose Highway (SR 431) is busy. In winter four-wheel drive with snow-tires or chained vehicles may be required.

 

The parking lot can be tricky to see from the road but watch for the USFS sign near a set of rusty gates. The parking lot does have a bathroom, but the north access does not. There are no other services, so be sure to allow for snacks & water – and rapid weather changes. Leashed dogs are welcome in all areas.

San Jose Sharks and Celebrini

 How about Macklin Celebrini? What an amazing player. The kid has crazy skills and a great career 9provided he stays healthy). This year, San Jose has the number two draft pick. Let's hope Mike Greer grabs us a guy to compliment Celebrini. The play-offs drought for the Sharks needs to end!

Below is a link to SJ Sharks site with an interview with Macklin:

Celebrini 'open to every possibility' for next contract with Sharks | San Jose Sharks

Go Sharks!!!

and, because they are in the Stanley Cup Finals, and I do live in Nevada, Good luck to the Las vegas Golden Knights.

Hello to my adopted dog, Sharkie!

 

Welcome Sharkie to my little family. He was adopted from the local Humane Society a week ago. Poor guy is looking a little rough due to surgery (stitches come out this next week).  He made it past the three days of decompression from the shelter. Now, we'll work on the acclimation to the household and getting him to leave the cat (Dexter) alone. 

Baby steps. He's bonding to me and is learning his name. I think he will be a great dog once he learns the ropes, and some manners.

A little piece of coolness in Reno: Mayberry Park

 A place that seems out of the City is Mayberry Park. This beautiful escape is minutes from downtown Reno. Washoe County describes Mayberry as:

 “This river park is a beautiful day-use facility with various individual picnic sites, a group picnic area (non-reservable), a paved bike path, hiking trails and Truckee River fishing access. Bird watching, hiking, bike riding, river tubing and picnicking are popular activities. Handicap-accessible, this park is located just four miles west of Reno, at the end of Woodland Avenue.”

 

Walking Davis Creek Regional Park

 

This week’s hiking spot is Davis Creek Regional Park in Washoe Valley, south of Reno. It took me roughly 20 minutes and there is a paved parking lot.  Some of the trails were closed due to fire restoration. Check out status on the Washoe County Parks Site for updates. Directions and a directory of other parks are also on this site.

 Washoecounty.gov/parks

Getting outside - where was I this week?

 In an effort to become healthier, and to not mope around the house, I started walking at various local parks around Washoe County.  With the help of the WC Parks guide, maps, and my own knowledge, I've found quite a few places where a person by themself can safely stroll. It's not enough to just wander, I like to bird watch and carry my binoculars and a camera with me. I will be posting about specific places in the blog. Today is a trip to the wilderness area off I80 near Patrick.

Goodbye to my furry BFF, Coco

 

I lost my BFF, Coco, to aggressive cancer on Monday (day after Mother’s Day).  Last week she had no visible, palpable chest mass but she woke up Sunday with a huge one. I thought she had a fever episode on Saturday. Sadly, it had to be the effects of the cancer raring its ugly face. I imagine those tumors had been growing for a while. Typical for animals, Coco hid her pain until she couldn’t.

Coco on May 10, 2025

The Great 8 - Alex Ovechkin's run to pass Gretzky's all-time goals scored

 Alex is only FIVE goals away. He has 890, while Wayne finished with 894. This will be a milestone that will not be broken for many years, if ever. Even if you are not a hockey fan, one can't help but appreciate what Ovechkin has done. 

Stay tuned to the NHL website for updates!

By the way - Ovi is a nice guy. I met him when I still lived in Las Vegas during the Awards celebration. He was gracious and gave me an autograph.

THE GR8 CHASE | NHL.com

Media (traditional and non-traditional) keeps calling people they disagree with names, especially the “ism” names. Reporters ask people what they mean when they insult another by saying he/she is a socialist, fascist, etc. Most are unable to define fascist, socialist, communist, or capitalist.

Seriously – if you are going to call another person a name, at least be able to explain WHAT the insult means. Know history (the War of 1812 was NOT between the US and Canada as one Congressperson recently spouted). If you want to protest, be able to articulate the reason for the march, and what the ultimate goal is.

Looking for a good book.

 

Is anyone else having trouble finding new books to read? 

I try out books at library and when I find an author I like, I purchase books. I loved Boyd Morrison’s “The Lawless Land” which takes place during the time of the Black Death in England. The period is one of my favorites. Another one I fell in love with was “Starter Villian” by John Scalzi. His talking cats and dolphins are so insanely intriguing, I had to re-read the novel and get my own copy.

It seems like I don’t finish as many books as I check out. I do enjoy Nancy Atherton’s “Aunt Dimity” mysteries and just started “Come Shell or Highwater” by Molly Macrae.

My art

 Spending some of my free time on painting. Here are some new pieces, and some oldies.

Tropical Island

 My new book in the Thaelia's World universe, "Soul of Steel and Fire" will be available on January 31rst. You can pre-order it as an ebook, paperback, or hard cover.

It is the story of Sir Aumery of Faucione, the hard-knocking knight we first met in "On the Trail of Yesterday's Rose".

I hope you like it. You can pick up any of the previous books via my author website on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/author/dianasprain

Soul of Steel and Fire cover

You're retired. Now what?

 What do you do when it is time to say goodbye to working? How do you make that choice? 

it wasn't easy for me. Health issues were the primary reason. If it was truly my choice, I'd continue working until I was 67, but the powers that be said otherwise.

So, now what?

Welcome Reno Rodeo 2024 Participants and Fans

 Hello, It's June and time for the annual Reno Rodeo. 

We love the grandeur of this event. Rugge cowboys & cowgirls, amazing clowns, fun acts, athletic rodeo stock, the carnival, and the shopping!

If you are looking for someplace to go, before the daily festivities begin, why not check out some fun stores? In downtown Reno, at First Street and North Virginia, is "Uncle Junkee". This is an antique mall. Dealers carry anything from video games, Breyer models, belt buckles, goofy clothing, art, collectibles, and crafted items.

At Plumb and South Virginia, at the Reno Public Market, is the Junkee Clothing Exchange (there is also a section of antique & collectibles). 

At Kietzke and Virginia, look for Toys N More. This is an independent toy store with a wonderful choice of toys. Most of their offerings are non-electronic (action figures, animals, puzzles, games, etc.).

Thanks for coming to Reno!

Don't tell me what to drive.

 

The Biden Administration wants me to give up my gas-guzzler. The environmentalists want me to use public transportation. Are you kidding me?

Here’s why I will not relegate my old-fashioned fuel vehicle for an electronic battery-powered vehicle (or use the transportation system).

 

Reclassifying Public Safety Dispatchers as First Responders

Public Safety Telecommunicators, also known as 911 Dispatchers job classification, needs to be updated. Again, legislation has been put before Congress to change our status from clerical to first responder. 

Why should we (as a group) care? 

Our jobs are important. We were part of the few groups who come to work every day, no matter what is going on. If we mess up, people can die. 

 APCO sent out the following email yesterday:

Pick a song - what are your favorites?

Variety is the spice of life, right? So, I challenge you to follow my lead. Pick 20 your favorite first run albums and 20 "best-of" compilations. It is not easy, and I had to pick and choose which ones to include. There were too many left off. Below are my choices. First, the list of albums. It is a mix of rock and new age.

 Blackmore’s Night: Fires at Midnight Ritchie Blackmore was formerly with Deep Purple) 

 Boston: Boston 

 Bruce Hornsby and the Range: The Way it Is (just love the piano) 

 BrunuVille: Fantastic Journey (I dare you not to tap your toes to Dance With Dragons) 

 Eagles: Hotel California (classic all the way) 

 Enya: Watermark (Enya started me on new age - the first and still amazing) 

 Foreigner: Feels Like the First Time 

 Alice Cooper: From the Inside (the album was crazy, and the songs dug deep) 

 Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (just WOW) 

 The Go-Gos: Beauty and the Beat (fun music from a great group - not just a girl s rock band) 

 Jimmy Buffett: Off to See the Lizard (my fav JB album and his best in my opinion) 

 Lesiem (wonderful instrumentals - powerful!) 

 Metallica: Metallica (San Jose Sharks favorite and they are hockey fans) Pink Floyd: The Wall (epic - movie just as good) 

 Styx: The Grand Illusion (I love "Castle Walls") 

 Loreena McKennitt: An Ancient Muse (Loreena has a way with music - she even performed for Queen Elizabeth). 

 Police: Synchronicity (it became a greatest hits) 

 REO Speedwagon: Hi Fidelity (great work - again, this could be a greatest hit choice) 

 Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue (ELO had a way with the electronic music - hard to pick a fav song on this one) 

Wicked Tinkers: Banger for Breakfast (Bagpipes!! BTW, Wallop the Cat is just the kitty's name) 

Hits Albums: 

 The Babys: Anthology 

 The Beach Boys: Made in the USA (surf's up for a CA girl) 

 The Beatles: Number 1’s (hard choice to pick a Beatles album) 

 Heart: The Essential Heart 

 B-52’s: Time Capsule (alternative rock at its best) 

 The Bangles: Greatest Hits (who didn't want to "Walk Like an Egyptian"?) 

 The Cars: Greatest Hits (again, try to pick one album...the Cars are legendary) 

 Eurythmics: Greatest Hits (Sing it, girl!)

 Billy Joel: Greatest Hits Vol 1-2 (Which of his multiple greatest hits to select. Tough choice) 

 Journey: Greatest Hits (Bay Area music at its best) 

 Kansas: The Best of Kansas (classic rock) 

 Loverboy: Loverboy Classics (gritty songs) 

 Steve Miller: Greatest Hits 1974-1978 (smooth and essential rock) 

 Marvin Gaye: Marvin Gaye’s Greatest Hits (for getting down, who else?) 

 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: greatest Hits (long live a legend) 

 The Pretenders: The Singles (alternative rock) 

 Queen: Greatest Hits (Freddie was the Champion!) 

 Jethro Tull: The Very Best of Jethro Tull (flute in a rock band never sounded so good) 

 Van Halen: The Best of (the music throughout the career - hard to pick just one song) 

 Paul McCartney & Wings: Wings Greatest (Mull of Kintyre is my favorite the rest are epic)

How to make Thoroughbred Racehorses Better

 

It is no secret I love horses, and Thoroughbred racing. I read magazines and watch racing shows. I have a nice collection of reference books about the sport. Over the years I have come to the same conclusion many breeding experts have: the Thoroughbred has peaked in its speed, endurance /soundness, and longevity in the sport.

Model horses: Hartland and Breyers

 

You are spending a day attending garage sales or browsing through antique stores and you come across a model horse. It reminds you of your childhood. Boys and girls collected and played with model horses of many brands but two of the more common ones were Hartland and Breyer-Reeves. WHat is the difference and how can you tell?

What is that doggie in the window?

 

I don’t consider myself a dog person or a cat person- I love both and have one of each. My dog is a Shar-Pei and there is no doubt when anyone sees her what breed she represents. In fact, my last three dogs have been Chinese Shar-Pei. Sadly, my favorite type of dog is becoming rare again.

horsecoat Shar-Pei

brushcoat Shar-Pei

bearcoat Shar-Pei