So much for dedicating more time to the Apple in 2012. Funny how fast I fail at any type of resolution.

You know it’s bad when your biggest supporter leaves a comment, “UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!” Sorry, Danica.

Starting my own business has proven to be challenging, exhilarating, nerve-wracking and rewarding all at the same time. I wrote on a pet sitting site the other day that the hours I’m putting in right now are more than I worked in both of my previous jobs. I’m going 100 miles per hour, seven days a week, but I am kind of loving it.

If I’m not out consulting with a new client, or visiting an old one, I’m on the computer trying to balance the business and all our social media profiles. I have a bookmark checklist of sites I go to every day to either update information or to fine tune it. Check Rascals, Inc. out here, here, here and here. I started blogging about pet news on the site, so even if you’re not in the area, you can still visit Rascals, Inc. for cute and fuzzy pet photos and stories. Not to mention the profiles I’ve created on sites like Sittercity.com and Care.com where I reply to requests for pet sitting gigs. It’s like a reverse Craigslist.

Almost every day someone recommends a site to me to sign up on (DogVacay.com and TaskRabbit.com, to name a couple). I love discovering more networks because the more people that see Rascals, Inc. the better. And now that I have stickers on my car (pictures to come, promise), I’m hoping more and more people are checking us out.

“So, when can I retire?” asks MaineMan.

I keep telling him not to get too carried away,  but I appreciate his enthusiasm.

Apart from hyper-focusing on Rascals, Inc. and expanding my client list, MaineMan and I have had many adventures so far this year. Below are some of the highlights:

MaineMan’s parents stayed with us for two weeks and spoiled us with dinners and fun activities. We rang in the New Year at Disney, escaped to Catalina for the day, drove up to Mammoth where we skied and ate our way through town (and Yosemite).

The week they left a close friend from Virginia Swimming days came out with her boyfriend and we enjoyed a couple of fun meals together before lighting up the dance floor and party at Drai’s of the W Hotel in Hollywood. We all felt like big ballers that night.

We celebrated MaineMan’s birthday up at Leo Carillo. He knew we were going camping for two nights, but he had no idea we were camping with a few of our closest friends. The surprise camping weekend was a hit, and despite eight hours of rain one night after we hit the tents, we were able to enjoy a couple of beach walks and S’mores.

The week after my friend BYOWino came for a week. We enjoyed the beach, a hike in Malibu, walks with Agnes and yet another Disney adventure.

My friend from ABC News, SirDatesALot, now of the Associated Press, had a night to kill so we took him to A Frame and Waterloo and City. Lucky for us we live across the street from two hip/essential L.A. dining spots.

CalGal is in Southern California for a couple of weeks and we got a great hike in up at Rustic Canyon. If you haven’t been it’s a beautiful hike, just look out for rattlesnakes.

We had a weekend here to relax (GO GIANTS!) and then we headed up to Carmel to visit my mom and to attend the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. We bumped into Tiger Woods, Bill Murray, Josh Duhamel, Phil Mickelson, Tony Romo, Ray Romano, George Lopez and Andy Garcia, to name a few. I got my mom a high-five from Duhamel and a signature from Chris O’Donnell. In the photo below Murray is second from the left in a 3D camouflage suit. It was a wonderful trip, and my only complaint is it was too short and we left Tucker up there to stay with his real mom for a month.

This weekend we are heading to Calico for Civil War Days.

“Civil War in California?” My mom asked.

“Yup! I guess so, should be interesting,” I said.

More pix to come. And hopefully more posting here.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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