Dee & Mark
Dee & Mark
Doggies, and Hamsters, and Cats, oh my!
About Dee & Mark
My husband and I enjoy travel and hosting travelers. We've worked in corporations (mechanical and electrical engineering, business strategy), schools (classroom teacher, robotics program manager), hands-on science museums (founder, astronomy program manager), and had small businesses (publications production, educational curriculum development, ...
My husband and I enjoy travel and hosting travelers. We've worked in corporations (mechanical and electrical engineering, business strategy), schools (classroom teacher, robotics program manager), hands-on science museums (founder, astronomy program manager), and had small businesses (publications production, educational curriculum development, bicycle industry product (Ridekick Power Trailer - see video.) We are motivated self-starters and interested in business progress and success.
We've been married 37+ years, and enjoy outdoor adventure and cultural exchange. Our travels have taken us to Cambodia on a service learning trip to help with English language learning; bicycling in Italy, UK, Germany, Spain (Camino de Santiago); road trips in Italy, Germany, France, Norway, US, Australia, New Zealand, and additional countries in Europe. For work, we've become familiar with China, UK, Japan, and Switzerland. In addition to getting out into the world, we've hosted visitors from various states in the US, Japan, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany. One of our greatest delights is reconnecting with fellow travelers we met "in passing" on our journeys, establishing a deeper connection.
As high school exchange student to Italy, I speak some Italian, and have had an opportunity to visit many parts of Italy, always using my host family in Isernia as a home base.
We enjoy board and card games, reading, learning (online, books, documentaries, lectures) bicycling, hiking, theater, music performances, sewing (Dee), woodwork (Mark), and travel.
Why we want to house sit
We are at a time in our lives when we are physically active and interested in learning more about our country and world. As cat owners (and former dog owners), we understand the need for in-home/familiarity care for the pets. A key impetus is to spend time near our family in the South Bay Area in Northern California, but we're also interested in exploring other areas. We have found that extended stays in an area give us the opportunity to get to know and feel like we've lived in a place. That deeper understanding appeals to us.
Our experience
We've been caring for homes and pets, our own or those of family or friends, for decades.
One memorable house/pet sitting situation happened when our friends were on their 6-week honeymoon. It was in the days of expensive long distance phone calls, and before the Internet. And, as honeymoons go, they were pretty much out of reach and out of contact. The cat hadn't meowed to come in all day. I sat in the dark on the back patio and called his name. I heard him, but it was faint. Over the next hour, I searched with a flashlight and finally found him tucked between the hot tub and the surrounding structure. When I lifted him out, I could hear that he was in pain, and see that his leg was limp. We decided to take him to the vet hospital, and learned that his leg was broken. It would need surgery and subsequent casting. Without the ability to ask our friends how they wanted us to proceed, we approved the surgery. Then we put a ransom note on their front door so when they returned home, they'd know that we had their cat and that they could come and get him. Yes, they were quite surprised to find a cat hobbling with a cast. And, yes, they were glad we had made the decisions we did. At the time of the incident, the cat was about 3 years old, and he lived to a ripe age of 17 years.
Then there was the time we took care of a rabbit in the winter in Colorado. The temps dipped below 20 degrees, so the water had a tendency to freeze in the bowl. This led us to serve that bunny "soup" or "tea" (simply warm water) so it would last a little longer for her to have access to water. Other than the ice in her bowl, she was indifferent about the cold!
Our household has enjoyed a variety of fish, several hamsters and guinea pigs, a few cats, and a couple dogs. Each captured our hearts and/or imagination when they were with us, and left a tremendous void when they left us. One of the greatest gifts the dogs gave us was the impetus to take a walk everyday, no matter the weather or mood.
One of our more recent house sitting experiences was in Northern California, where we tended a professor's home while he was overseas on a 2-year research assignment. In exchange for the use of his attached studio apartment, we completed repair and maintenance on the house and property. It was a fantastic win-win for all of us!
In our travel to Italy last fall, the water heater was malfunctioning. Mark is clever when it comes to electrical and electronic systems, and was able to solve the problem, then work with the home owner to make the repair permanent. Mark doesn't speak Italian, but he definitely knows the language of mechanical and electrical engineering!
External references (1)
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Scilla - House / Pet sitting Reference
19 February 2019
Hello :)
Mark and Dee have been friends of mine for many years and they are wonderful people. They are both friendly, responsible, trustworthy, caring, and capable individuals. They love people and animals and are a wonderful addition to the Trustedhousesitter community. They have taken care of...Hello :)
Mark and Dee have been friends of mine for many years and they are wonderful people. They are both friendly, responsible, trustworthy, caring, and capable individuals. They love people and animals and are a wonderful addition to the Trustedhousesitter community. They have taken care of my dog on many a weekend and my dog always returned happy, healthy, well loved, and well exercised. I would trust them with my pets, my house, anything. You cannot go wrong with Mark and Dee as your trustedhousesitter. :)- Organised
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- Reliable
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- Self-sufficient
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- Tidy
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- Pet care
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About Dee & Mark
My husband and I enjoy travel and hosting travelers. We've worked in corporations (mechanical and electrical engineering, business strategy), schools (classroom teacher, robotics program manager), hands-on science museums (founder, astronomy program manager), and had small businesses (publications production, educational curriculum development, bicycle industry product (Ridekick Power Trailer - see video.) We are motivated self-starters and interested in business progress and success.
We've been married 37+ years, and enjoy outdoor adventure and cultural exchange. Our travels have taken us to Cambodia on a service learning trip to help with English language learning; bicycling in Italy, UK, Germany, Spain (Camino de Santiago); road trips in Italy, Germany, France, Norway, US, Australia, New Zealand, and additional countries in Europe. For work, we've become familiar with China, UK, J......
My husband and I enjoy travel and hosting travelers. We've worked in corporations (mechanical and electrical engineering, business strategy), schools (classroom teacher, robotics program manager), hands-on science museums (founder, astronomy program manager), and had small businesses (publications production, educational curriculum development, bicycle industry product (Ridekick Power Trailer - see video.) We are motivated self-starters and interested in business progress and success.
We've been married 37+ years, and enjoy outdoor adventure and cultural exchange. Our travels have taken us to Cambodia on a service learning trip to help with English language learning; bicycling in Italy, UK, Germany, Spain (Camino de Santiago); road trips in Italy, Germany, France, Norway, US, Australia, New Zealand, and additional countries in Europe. For work, we've become familiar with China, UK, Japan, and Switzerland. In addition to getting out into the world, we've hosted visitors from various states in the US, Japan, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany. One of our greatest delights is reconnecting with fellow travelers we met "in passing" on our journeys, establishing a deeper connection.
As high school exchange student to Italy, I speak some Italian, and have had an opportunity to visit many parts of Italy, always using my host family in Isernia as a home base.
We enjoy board and card games, reading, learning (online, books, documentaries, lectures) bicycling, hiking, theater, music performances, sewing (Dee), woodwork (Mark), and travel.
Why we want to house sit
We are at a time in our lives when we are physically active and interested in learning more about our country and world. As cat owners (and former dog owners), we understand the need for in-home/familiarity care for the pets. A key impetus is to spend time near our family in the South Bay Area in Northern California, but we're also interested in exploring other areas. We have found that extended stays in an area give us the opportunity to get to know and feel like we've lived in a place. That deeper understanding appeals to us.
Our experience
We've been caring for homes and pets, our own or those of family or friends, for decades.
One memorable house/pet sitting situation happened when our friends were on their 6-week honeymoon. It was in the days of expensive long distance phone calls, and before the Internet. And, as honeymoons go, they were pretty much out of reach and out of contact. The cat hadn't meowed to come in all day. I sat in the dark on the back patio and called his name. I heard him, but it was faint. Over the next hour, I searched with a flashlight and finally found him tucked between the hot tub and the surrounding structure. When I lifted him out, I could hear that he was in pain, and see that his leg was limp. We decided to take him to the vet hospital, and learned that his leg was broken. It would need surgery and subsequent casting. Without the ability to ask our friends how they wanted us to proceed, we approved the surgery. Then we put a ransom note on their front door so when they returned home, they'd know that we had their cat and that they could come and get him. Yes, they were quite surprised to find a cat hobbling with a cast. And, yes, they were glad we had made the decisions we did. At the time of the incident, the cat was about 3 years old, and he lived to a ripe age of 17 years.
Then there was the time we took care of a rabbit in the winter in Colorado. The temps dipped below 20 degrees, so the water had a tendency to freeze in the bowl. This led us to serve that bunny "soup" or "tea" (simply warm water) so it would last a little longer for her to have access to water. Other than the ice in her bowl, she was indifferent about the cold!
Our household has enjoyed a variety of fish, several hamsters and guinea pigs, a few cats, and a couple dogs. Each captured our hearts and/or imagination when they were with us, and left a tremendous void when they left us. One of the greatest gifts the dogs gave us was the impetus to take a walk everyday, no matter the weather or mood.
One of our more recent house sitting experiences was in Northern California, where we tended a professor's home while he was overseas on a 2-year research assignment. In exchange for the use of his attached studio apartment, we completed repair and maintenance on the house and property. It was a fantastic win-win for all of us!
In our travel to Italy last fall, the water heater was malfunctioning. Mark is clever when it comes to electrical and electronic systems, and was able to solve the problem, then work with the home owner to make the repair permanent. Mark doesn't speak Italian, but he definitely knows the language of mechanical and electrical engineering!
Verifications
Verification level
Basic level
Email Address, Phone Number, External references (1)
Animal Care Experience
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Dogs
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Cats
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Fish
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Small pet
Availability
Preferred Countries
Profile Details
Age
Occupation
Travelling as a
Previous house sitting experience
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