A reader recently emailed me because they lost their family dog and wanted me to pass on the word in cases someone may have seen him...

If you have been in the Southwest part of town or live there, please keep an eye for this little guy.

I am sure the Villa family would be forever grateful. I hope they find him. I can't imagine my life without my dogs....:

here's the info:

Missing since 1/24/09

Red doxie/weenie dog in the area of Pin Oak Park Blvd & White Ln.

He is missed very much.

Please help us find him.

He was wearing a black collar with ID name, phone and address.

If you have any luck, please call 661-203-0129

or post any comments here!

Thank you!

One of my very good friends emailed me to see if I knew anyone who would be willing to rescue this dog who is in need of a home.

some of her comments were:

GREAT dog rescued from death row  at the pound. This girl is a lab/rott mix.  She is SO SWEET!  She is boarded at Steirns Vet Hosp and the people there have fallen in love with her.   I wish we had a place for her.

Anyone looking for a house-broken, obedient, well-mannered beauty? let me know and I will pass on the word..

I am learning that dogs have weigh issues, too. We recently took our German Shepherds in for a check up and shots. Well, vet tells us that our youngest is underweight and her mother is obese. Now, how am I going to explain this to them? Maybe it was better that they don't know.... (I was a bit surprised by the news although I kinda knew Tanka was gaining weight but didn't realize she was considered obese!)

So I think we're going to increase meals with the little young, in hopes she picks up weight and with Tanka... well, it probably my fault for not taking her on runs like we used to.... She got her name because when she was a pup, she was just a tank... she used to beat her sisters and brothers to the punch and nurse longer on her mama.

But as she got older, her name didn't quite fit here. She in shape and she was a pretty good looking k-9... now though, the weight has crept us and I think many of us have been there... we get a little too comfy and we stop exercising or we fall into the middle-of-the-night sweet snacks... the list goes on...

So my goal for this year is to help her get back in shape. She'll help me too though... after having a baby, I need to exercise more to get back to my old self completely....

I am just happy that she doesn't have to look at any magazines that show "these great-looking canines" and wonder "why can't that be ME?"

Every year in the fall, my friends and I would get together and create a collage of things we wanted to accomplish within 5 years or a year.

It was nice to put things in perspective, anything from re-doing your bathroom to becoming more organized.

I really enjoyed that gathering but it's been awhile since we have done that.

Now comes, life's list -- things you want to accomplish before you check out, so to speak. Mi amiga just finished putting hers together.

Life's lists are becoming popular these days. Lots of people are doing them so I figure maybe this can be a new way for me to outline my priorities for the rest of my life.

Here's my life's list -- though I think I'll be revising it from time to time as I check things off and maybe add new ones.

1. Run a half marathon, followed by a full marathon.
I love to run, especially hills and trails. Not crazy about flat roads, but I will do it, if there is not a hill in sight. There's this Nike Marathon in the Bay Area. It raises money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. My 8-year-old Godson, Jeremiah, is a Leukemia survivor so I want to do something to recognize him. Plus, there's something about running, relaxing and solitude. It's my time. Plus, if I can log in 12-16 miles a week, then what else can I accomplish?

2. Do the Mud Run
As you can see, physical fitness is one important item to me. But this is more out of sheer craziness. I have friends and a jarhead of a spouse who does it. Every year, I tell myself I am going to do it. I haven't yet. It's not the running that scares me. The obstacles, the obstacles! But I gotta do it. Otherwise, I'll be spending the rest of my  life wondering, what if?

3. Further my education
College was a wonderful, unforgettable time in my life. Earning my degrees were special milestones in my life. And I need to continue. Of course, I need to do that as I manage work and family life. So the bigger task is managing school with my full-time career and family life. But, hey, I am driven. I mean, MBA Olivia or Ph.D Olivia sound really nice together. It will take time but I got to dedicate myself to it!

4. Improve my home
I love my home. It was built in the 1950s and has a large lot. Older homes have such characters. There is something about older casas that can take my breath away. Maybe it's all the hidden or untold history that the walls have seen. I don't want to lose that beauty. I do want to add some more square footage for an extra bedroom and an extra entertainment room. I don't want a new home to do this. It can be accomplished in my home. Plus, I need to build a pool. My boys love to swim!

5. Story-telling family history
Family is a priority in my life. Besides work, it's my family. I just need to make sure that I am constantly sharing past stories of my family so my boys know their history. They only  met one great-grandparent so they need to be reminded of their roots.

6. Take my boys to Washington, DC when they are older
I think it's important to connect history through real-life's experiences and what better way to teach my boys about our constitution, Supreme Court, Arlington National Cemetery than to take them there. I want to do it when they are in their pre-teens or teen years so they can have a better understanding of it all.

7. Write a Chica Lit book
I am a big fan of the word so it makes sense to have this desire to want to write a book. I would love to write a funny or heart-wrenching piece on some Latino experience, maybe it's about Latina chicas on a new venture or maybe it's about one particular Hispanic family and their own challenges and special moments. Or maybe it's just a book of Chicana poetry -- another favorite item for me. It's on my list to do!

8. Visit the Pyramids
I learned so much about my family's heritage and ancestors through my Chicano history classes in college. Again, in hand with the family trip to DC, I want to visit the pyramids and imagine what life was life for the Aztecs and other indigenous people in the motherland of my great-grandparents. It's more of a personal journey to learn of my family's history.

Well, that's all I can think of right now... What's on your life's list? Got any tips for me?