Pandora Elizabeth Holtzman

 I adopted Pandi in February 2016, when she was five years old. Elli had died, and I really wanted another tiny dog. I missed Elli.

I went to a couple of dog rescue organizations, and it seemed like scheme. You paid $100 to apply, another $100 for a home visit (which we would fail, due to the pool) and then $100 to go over your other pet's medical records. I left crying both times.

Then I went to the SPCA in El Dorado Park, and it was just an application with a flat fee of $155, since the dog I chose was a senior. I saw the dog online and made an appointment to visit with her. I went back to look at a dog this time, and now they have the business model described above. 

They had named her Lizzy because she came in on the day when all new arrivals had names that began with the letter L. That's where the Elizabeth comes in.

She seemed indifferent to me, but she was adorable, so I picked her up the next day after her spaying.

After Doc retired, Pandi was with him every day. He used to take her over to visit his parents on Wednesday when the housekeeper came over. 

She was the model for the Trump meme "They're Eating the Dogs, They're Eating the Cats". People exchanged photos of their own pets being cooked.

After I retired, I was also with Pandi every day. She slept in my bed until the last couple of months, which was a sign to me. She was 15 years old at that point.

When I was working, I took a couple of trips every year. Pandi always tried to stowaway.

Pandi inspected all purchases coming into the house and all gifts leaving the house.

                                                             

She had a cyst on her head that I popped many times, and one day it finally went away. You can see it near her ear in this picture.

She had periods where she was very fat. I got her at 9.75 pounds and she got up to 13 pounds. She had to have grain free food or all the hair on her back half fell out.

She did really well for a lot of years, and knew Kenni, Vinni, Pandi, and Jacki. She had a very rough summer of 2024, where it seemed like every week, she had another illness. I thought she would die many times - Gi tract, eye abscess, face abscess. She did really well after the second abscess.

She started to slow down and look really old. This was 2 weeks before she died.

She was featured on my TikTok and was the recipient of the first piece of swag I got, the Donut Dreamer from Buddy's Pets. I am glad that I have her as an AI character and she can still have adventures.

She had a stroke one night and I thought that she would be dead in the morning. We already had a burial site in the yard picked out. But she seemed fine the next day. About a week later, she had a huge stroke and never regained consciousness. She died on St Patrick's day, 2026. I was in New York, so Doc placed her to rest. 

I imagine that my most beloved dog ever, Delila, came down from heaven to get Pandi when she died. 

Then Delila and Bella the black lab, took Pandi through the pearly gates.

She is now in heaven with all the other dogs and people that passed before her.

Goodbye my darling sweetheart. We miss you.

Rusti Pelican Holtzman

 This post will be just a conglomeration of things that have happened since I got back from New York. And one VERY big announcement! 

I had an Ipsy bag waiting for me. Inside, from top to bottom:

1) Auracle Dieux Reviving Eye Gel

2) Mudmasky French Kiss Lip Balm

3) Dermovia Rice Sake Enzyme Exfoliating Jelly

4) Sonage Botanica Souffle Creme

5) The Ordinary Multi-Active Delivery Essence

The Duty Free Stores at JFK Airport were closing, so I got this Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin Caring Matte Foundation for $11. It's normally $83.

On March 24th, we took Win to Costco. I wore Nine West knit slacks with a sweater that I got at the Army. My shoes are Clarks and I got them brand new at Goodwill.

On March 26th, I stopped by the human Society for one special reason. My sweetheart Pandi died on March 17th. I will make a special tribute post for her when I'm not as sad. But on a brighter note, I met Rusti!

He is a chihuahua/papillon mix. I was calling him a Chipillon, but then I read that they have actually been bred and marketed as Chions.  He weighs 7.2 pounds. Obviously, I fell in love. 

I paid my $250 and picked him up after he was neutered on March 27th. You can see the IV spots on his legs.

Here he is, making himself at home. He gets along very well with Jacki and Vinni.

You will see a lot more of Rusti!

I got my Birchbox on March 29th. Inside:

1) Grande Lash Treatment Mascara

2) Take Back Control Oil-Controlling Mud Mask

3) Magnitone Wipe Out Makeup Remover Wipes

4) Keihl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleanising MAsque

5) Wander Beauty All-Inclusive Shampoo and Body wash - I love this stuff for my face.

On March 30th, I didn't do anything special. I wore Maddy M leggings with this color block sweater, both from the Army. My shoes are Steve Madden and I have zebra socks on. 

The Sora app is being discontinued on the 26th, so I have started to use a new app for my Tiktok called Cantina. This is my profile picture. 

On March 31st, we went to the Farmer's Market. I wore old school Levi's bootcut jeans with a blouse from Temu. My belt is Banana Republic.

I wore a pink pearlized leather jacket from Baccini on top.

Rusti loves the Donut Dreamer dog bed. Thanks Buddy's Pets!

Nothing else happened until Easter on April 5th. We got Chinese food and went over to Win and Mimi's, along with Luke, Ashley and Preston.  I wore a dress by TopShop that I got dirt cheap at Nordstrom. I just wore it with black sandals and emerald jewelry.

I got the opportunity to buy Olympics tickets. The only ones that were $28 were for venues in places like Lincoln Nebraska. So I bought one ticket for the handball semifinals for $80, just so I can go to the Olympic village.

More Rusti worship!

I finally sold a suit on EBay and made $19.

I am taking Mimi to this event on May 2nd. I am volunteering every Friday morning with the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy. We plant seedlings, clear the paths, and install lights and cameras. Everyone is very nice and I enjoy learning about the birds.

Our local hawk, King Greystone, is definitely a red-shouldered hawk.

In Heron Harbor, where we go during our daily dog walks, a pair of Canada Geese have six goslings. One has since disappeared, which is not that unusual.

The fox sleeps.

On April 14th, I got dressed to go run errands while Doc took Win and Mimi to see their doctor. I wore a black satin blouse from Jaclyn Smith and equestrian printed pants from INC.

Rusti kicking it on the Johnathan Adler rug. He is a very smart dog and is completely house trained.

On Thursday, April 16th, I went to lunch with my friend Mary. I had Loco Moco at the Hawaiian Grill. I wore a dress from a store called Stein Mart that is now closed, Gucci shoes and assorted jewelry.

I got another Ipsy bag on April 16th. Inside, from top to bottom:

1) Cote Beauty Hydrating Hand and Body Lotion

2) Mischo Beauty Mini Eyeshadow Palette

3) Olaplex No 5 Leave-In Moisturize and Mend Leave-in Conditioner

4) Cheekbone Beauty Conquer Brow Gel in Clear - I needed this

5) Totemica Beauty Lip and Cheek Keychain

Sleepy Fox again in his foxhole - Rusti sleeps next to me.

On the 17th, we took Win to Costco. I wore a knit dress from Splendid, navy shoes from Liz Claiborne, new from Savers, and lapis jewelry from Temu.

he HBWC has a community cleanup event every third Saturday of the month. This one, on the 18th, had about 150 people show up. There were retired folks like me, a lot of students, and then just some conservation minded people. This is the area I cleared of weeds.

There are two paths. The one we cleared is the left fork.

Here is the right fork, and a sign explaining the environment.

The path leads to an observation deck. You can borrow binoculars.

After I got home, I gave Rusti his first bath. He had gotten smelly and his floofs were stuck together in spots. He behaved very well and smelled great.

On April 21st, I went out to lunch with my friend Lynn for my belated birthday. I wore my Vera Wang chiffon pleated skirt and my Ulla Johnson top, both from the Army. My belt is Carlisle and my shoes are from Temu.

On April 22nd, we went grocery shopping. I wore Levi's jeans, a Michael Kors sweater, and Blondo booties.

On April 24th, we drove around HB looking for sights to make TikTok videos. They are having a promotion, and if you #HuntingtonBeach, you can get $25 per post, limited to two posts. I did the Magnolia Marsh at the HB Wetlands, the Secret Garden in Central Park, and the goslings at Chris Carr Park.

On Saturday, April 25th, we had a neighborhood garage sale. I have managed to keep the level of shoes I have under control, since I usually wear shoes out quickly. My clothes are another story. So I have collected five boxes of stuff I wore to work, have duplicates of and am keeping the nicer version, and items that don't fit or require extensive ironing before I wear them.

My neighbor Alice gave me this picture she embroidered. I am going to hang it in my She-Shed. I will show you after it is hung.

My little love, helping me with my grief. Welcome to the family, Rusti Pelican Holtzman!!