Dog Park Pictures

Two drawbacks to having a dog

1. Putting your hand in your coat pocket only to discover that you forgot to throw away the baggie of poo.
2. Toweling off after a shower and suddenly there's a cold, wet nose on your naked bum.

Hibernation Mode

Argh! I'm so cold. My day starts with a 45 minute walk with Sash and today the wind chill was 15 degrees. I felt like I was in St. Louis again. I was walking her in snow flurries! I feel my body saying, "Don't do anything. Just curl up in bed and read. Eat fatty & sugary foods." Well, I'm not eating fatty, sugary foods, if only by virtue that there aren't any in the house, but I've managed to walk Sash twice today, take the car to the dealership to look at a factory recall and to read about 100 pages while lounging on the sofa wearing 2 layers and covered up with the blanket. I feel a little guilty, but I'll be so busy starting next week that I think it's okay to lounge around some this week. At least I get SOME exercise.

Is is Spring, yet?

I've Foud It!

My new favorite television station. It's called Ovation and it's what A&E & Bravo used to be before they went so mainstream.

Each night features a different art form.

Tonight is dance. First up was TAP DOGS and now the Joffrey Ballet is performing to the music of Prince. Talk about hot!

Tomorrow night is about writers; the next is about illustrators and so on.

I guess you can only get it with a satellite service...at least in this area, but if you can find it, I would highly recommend you check it out.



http://www.ovationtv.com/

The Adventures of Connie & Sash

Good Lord! When that dog gets a scent and gets away, there's no telling how long it will take to get her back!

Today I was a the dog park by the river. Sash and I had been there for a good 45 minutes and she had been romping around with other dogs. She likes to go to the gate when people (and dogs) are arriving and leaving. The system, or so I thought, is fail safe. You see, there's an ante-pen where you take the leash off your dog and then the main pen where they all run. Both have gates. A pet owner should open one gate, go through, and make sure that the first gate is closed before opening the the second gate. Well, as I found out, the fail safe only works, IF you close the gates. There was a person there with her dog and her daughter. She certainly wasn't paying attention and seemed to care less about her dog or really want to have anything to do with anyone there. As she was leaving, she got her dog and daughter into the ante-pen, leaving the gate to the main pen open. As soon as she opened the 2nd gate, Sash, being the crafty dog she is, took advantage of the situation and made a break for it. I'm pretty pissed off at the other lady...she didn't even seem horrified that she's let my dog out. I was appalled.

But I didn't have time for that. I had to get my dog to come to me....FAT Chance. She was free and had a scent. I was scared to death that she'd get away and I'd never get her back. All sorts of scenarios ran through my head: She gets tangled up and I can't find her, she gets completely away and is hit by a car in a strange neighborhood, how am I supposed to tell the Humane Society that I lost her and to look out for her? Things like that.

I followed her on the trail onto some private property that led to god knows where. Sometimes she would pause long enough for me to catch up with her and then she'd take off again. I wasn't running (I don't run) after her, that would only increase the chances that she would keep running.

When the brush got so bad that I wouldn't be able to follow, I was heartbroken. She was nowhere in sight, I couldn't hear her at all and it was FREAKIN' COLD! I had just decided to head back and wait for her at least until it got dark when BOOM! Here she comes bounding out of the tall brush just like the last scene of HOMEWARD BOUND. Happy to see me and looking like she was laughing.

I was so relieved. We walked the half-mile back to the park. I let her run around in there for a couple of more minutes--until she discovered she could jump the fence into the ante-pen--then I decided it was time to leave.

Tomorrow we work on "come".

I don't give a BLEEP

Okay, who are the censors and why would they bleep out the word "damn" when the word "dam" was uttered at least 15 times before the statement "I don't give a damn."? I found it very strange.

Let me clarify. I was watching Orangutan Island and a commercial came on were celebrities were talking about beavers building dams; how industrious they are, how they build dams overnight, how we should send them to Iraq to help rebuild. The final statement was referring to the beavers' attitude: "I'm going to build this dam and I don't give a BLEEP. It's just a word, for goodness' sake! It's a word that has been uttered on TV a bajillion times. Why bleep it and who decides that that particular Damn gets the ax? I just don't get it.

Meet Sash

I made up my mind today. After careful consideration, I realized that one of the things that I loved about Carmen was that she was a Cat in a Dog Suit. She didn't require too much attention, she was aloof, she was very sweet, but not what I would call "Friendly". She was one that I could leave alone for 12 hours and she'd be okay with that (I didn't do that often) and I need a dog that will be the same way, but without Carmen's negative traits (I never trusted her around children or people whom she wasn't used to).

So here is Sash. She is in my house, I haven't heard a peep out of her and she's upstairs now in here crate of her own volition. Well, I just checked. She's not IN the crate; she's NEAR the crate (That's where she'll sleep and I'll keep her there when I'm gone). I think it will take some time for us to bond, but I have a few days this week, so we can get on a schedule of waking up and feeding and walking. I'm really glad to have her and while it will be an adjustment for both of us, I know that I have the perfect dog for me.

NC STAGE

Hans Meyer








Just wanted to screw with your Automatic Google Search, Hans. Happy New Year!

Giving myself a break

I've been obsessing over the dog thing all day. I've managed to write a blog post and fill 4 pages in my journal over it (and it's a BIG journal) and I've come to the realization that I had unrealistic expectations about how today was going to go. It hit me pretty squarely: I spent 10 hours looking for a dress, for goodness sake, what makes me think that I can find a good pet in two hours? How silly is that? So I will continue on my dog search and be content in the knowledge that I will find the right dog for me when it's the right time.

Sometimes I sound like a grown-up....scary.

Today's the day I get a dog

...or at least I thought so. It was not the case, though. I decided that I'm ready to get a dog and, since I have some down time this week, today would be the perfect day to go to the shelter and come home with a new companion.

I woke up excited an a little nervous at the prospect. I found Carmen's old dishes and discovered that I still had 6 months of her heart worm/flea/tick medicine. I set up the dishes--they're the kind that sit off of the floor so that it's easier for the dog to eat. And I cleaned out the back of my car in anticipation of the new dog riding back there.

Off I went to the Animal Shelter. I had looked at a bunch of these dogs online and was anticipating meeting them in person. Surely one of these sweet dogs would be perfect for me.

I met Sash first. She is a reserved greyhound mix. She's so reserved, though, that she hardly paid any attention to me. Not a very excited dog whatsoever. I mean I would like a dog who at least seemed happy to see me...she is very sweet, though and good with people and other dogs. I just wasn't excited about her. And she wasn't excited about me.

Next was a black lab (by the way, I'm looking at adult and young dogs, I don't want a puppy)who was just under 2 years old...WAY too much dog for me. Really excited and would be perfect for someone with a fenced yard and 3 kids.

There were a couple of other dogs; Gregor, a hound mix who had the right amount of playfulness and independence that would work well for me, and Cane. Cane is an absolutely beautiful Pit Bull Terrier who, while he's still young, responds very well to commands and his training. He would be a great dog to take on hikes and to play fetch with. But am I really the person who would play fetch every day? I'm not sure.

Believe it or not, it has been an extremely emotional day for me. I thought I was coming home with a new pet, but in the process of finding the right one, I found that I may not be ready for a new dog just yet. I'm aware of the responsibility of owning a dog. I'm rescuing a dog from the pound and, therefore, if it is not a good fit, I would feel very guilty about returning the dog if I needed to.

Am I ready to replace Carmen? I didn't realize it at until today that Carmen was the first dog that was truly mine. My responsibility, my friend and companion that got me through some tough times. The idea of having another dog in my house that's not Carmen is upsetting. And, the good lord willing, I will outlive this next dog. Can I face the prospect of having another pet die or be put to sleep? I understand now why my dad would get so upset when I brought a pet home when I was a kid...he couldn't stand the idea of having a pet die. It would make him so angry. I don't think I'm like my dad in that way, but I do understand it now.

So I don't have a new dog today. I've gone to the pet store to price crates and I've gone to the library to get a couple of books on dog behavior. I'm scared, really. I'm making a commitment and taking on a responsibility that I take very seriously. My last pet relationship lasted 4 years longer than my marriage did. That should tell you something.

Holiday Pics

Aunt C & Ella Bella


Family Portrait
My Three Brothers, my sister & me



Boy! You can tell we're related!

Winter Solstice

My Mom's Christmas Cactus was in full bloom this week; its pink blossoms a reminder of the Spring to come.

Happy Solstice!

Aunt Connie's Cyber Cafe

Since my house is the only one with wireless internet, at the holidays, my dining room table becomes the local cyber cafe.

That's my 15 year old nephew, Dylan & my 33 year old nephew-in-law Will.

I'm a Shopping Queen!

Remember the money my brother gave me to buy new clothes? Well, I have spent a total of 12 hours shopping for these new clothes. Last week I spent 7 hours on Friday looking for the perfect black dress. I didn't find one that day after trying on at least 30 dresses. By the time I left the mall I was delirious and hungry. I couldn't make a decision to save my life. This one was too dressy, this one was not dressy enough. I'm not IN LOVE with it. I found one that I loved, but they didn't have it in my size and told me it didn't come in my size! It's a sad thing when you lose 2 sizes and the perfect dress doesn't even come in the second most common size in the US. I finally gave up (something I should have done 3 hours earlier) and went home.

The next day I decided I would buy a skirt & top. Found a cute skirt (after trying on 6 dresses at Steinmart) and headed off to the mall (again) for a top. I'm back in the same department store, skirt in hand, with 3 tops that might work and the fitting room is in the area where I tried on dresses yesterday. "Oh, what the hell, I have a fresh eye today, let's look for another dress or two to try on." I grab a couple that look interesting and head for the dressing room.

First I try on the tops with the skirt I brought with me...meh...nothing to write home about. So I move on to the dresses...there was one in particular that I was saving for last because I really liked it and wanted it to fit and look good...a sweet little dress with a lace bodice and silk chiffon skirt...the other two were okay but the last one fit me like it was made for me. I couldn't believe it. I looked in the mirror and said, "I know I tried you on at least twice yesterday, why didn't I want you? You're perfect?" I can't describe how great I look in this dress and it's a grown-up dress that doesn't make me look like I'm 57. When there's an occasion to wear it, I'll be sure to post pictures. Now, why would I want a black dress that I have no reason to wear at the moment? Well, every woman should have a little black dress and should someone invite me to a fund raiser or a gala, I will be prepared....and did I mention that the dress was marked down from $115 to $57.50 AND an extra 30% was taken off at the register....the perfect dress for only 40 BUCKS! You know what that means, don't you? That I still have $60 to spend.

Flash forward to today. NY & Company is having a 50% off everything sale...another outfit for $40...The perfect white shirt and a great pair of gray pinstripe pants. I cleaned up!!!! And I look Awesome! Two classic outfits for under $100! My brother will be so proud. I'm wearing the pants and top to the family Christmas gathering on Saturday. He'll be able to see where half of his funds went.

Quote for today

You don’t have to earn or deserve love. You are love.


Rhonda Britten

Gone All Pear Shaped

So I was watching Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America the other day and he said something that made me fall off the chair laughing. In referring to the fact that the kitchen and staff had just fallen apart, he said it "had gone all pear-shaped."

All I could picture was this animated pear with skinny little legs and arms trying to re-arrange it's shape into something other than a pear....Lifting the rounded part, hoping that it will stay up, releasing it and it just falling back down into a pear shape. Lift.....Bloop.....Lift.....Bloop

(These are the times that I really wish I could draw so that I could illustrate the picture that phrase calls to mind.)

Well, at least Holley thought it was as funny as I did.

So I am going to start using the colloquialism as much as often...that and "This area is nice" in a weird French accent a la the dog in the Cannon camera commercial.

The Gods Work In Mysterious Ways

I had a lovely surprise today. Funds are really low for me this time of year and since I've lost all this weight, I really have nothing nice to wear. I have bought a couple of necessities and, unwillingly, put them on my credit card. Well, today, I'm sitting at my computer and there's knock on the door. In comes D and he gives me a hug and hands me some money to buy myself a new outfit for Christmas. It was completely out of the blue and such a sweet thing to do. He told me he was proud of the way I had worked to get my weight off and that he loved me. I am so touched and thankful for the reminders of how much I am loved.

Thanksgiving

I roasted my first turkey this year. Normally, I wouldn't do this, but my wacky dad said he couldn't get one pre-cooked so he brought one to me to roast. No problem. Except that it was a 20 pound bird!!!! I could barely lift it. My dad had trouble, too, but that was because he passed out while repairing the roof of the trailer and took a tumble. He bruised his ribs, shoulder and head. Stubborn old coot! 77 years old and on the roof of the trailer-house by himself! Well, we know where I get it from (may I remind you of the running of the lawnmower off of the hill last summer...oh and the jet-ski incident). But I will guarantee you that you won't find me repairing the roof of my trailer at 77. I'll find me a nice young man with 6-pack abs to do it for me. Hmmmmm.....where was I?

Oh, Thanksgiving. Everything turned out great. Then again, as long as there is meat on the table, most folks in my family are happy. And we had 20 lbs of Bird and 15 lbs of Pig. They were VERY happy. I made 2 lbs of asparagus thinking that I'd have a lot left over for myself. But, lo & behold! It disappeared almost as fast as the gravy! I thought I'd hear, "Aunt Connie always has weird food." But the kids are growing up and trying new things. It's about time. Considering they are in their late 20s and early 30s. It's a good thing I kept some back for myself. I will steam it up tomorrow to eat with my turkey soup.

So a good time was had by all and I am very thankful that we were together, healthy (Dad's healing up fine) and happy.

You Know You're a Bit of a Geek When...

You get really stoked about meeting Carl Kasell at the taping of Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me.

No, You Come On

Do you ever wonder what our pets are really thinking? This little Pom just makes me laugh out loud