Mutual Suffering
I have friends. Lots and lots of friends. Not going through the best time of my life, and my friends are there for me. They call me, they check on me. They buy me cards and write encouraging messages that sometimes makes me cry. They take me out and keep me annoyingly busy for the homebody that I am. They are wonderful, wonderful friends. They will listen and sympathize on my bad days when it seems the tears just won't stop. They laugh with me on the good days--but don't assume that "finally she's done." They happily volunteer to do bodily harm to the person who is the source of all this pain. They are there.
But there is something to be said for mutual suffering. Misery doesn't just love company, it needs company. I had dinner tonight with a mutual sufferer. Her story is just like mine (I know that I complained about this in a previous blog, but this is a different day). Tonight I was able to talk to someone and know that they understood me because they are right there with me. It is not that I want only miserable people around me, but aometimes, I feel guilty being around happy people. I hate feeling that I am sometimes dragging them down into my depths. And I don't want to be that person. I don't need miserable company 24/7. That would be horrible, but to be around those that also suffer and share in their pain is a connection that, may I say it, is sacred.
Beware, I am about to get preachy here. Through this time I have been reading a lot in the book of Psalms. Just last night I read "My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite." YES, that is me. Or how about this one from 2 nights ago "I cried out, 'I'm slipping!' and your unfailing love, O Lord, supports me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer." David's words and the psalms that he wrote appeal to me as well. I have held onto misery and have needed its company through this: "As for this friend of mine, he betrayed me; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as cream, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion but underneath are daggers!" It is hard when your best friend has turned against you and all he has to offer is self-pitying.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wow, Did You See This?
I am all about weather. Storms absolutely fascinate me. I know that it is not the safest pasttime, but when a storm comes through, I love to just sit by the window or stand behind the storm door and just watch the storm. It is not just the lightening that amazes me, even though the lightening is the best. I like the wind and the rain and the sheer volume of white noise that a storm creates. Good stuff.
I am all about weather. Storms absolutely fascinate me. I know that it is not the safest pasttime, but when a storm comes through, I love to just sit by the window or stand behind the storm door and just watch the storm. It is not just the lightening that amazes me, even though the lightening is the best. I like the wind and the rain and the sheer volume of white noise that a storm creates. Good stuff.
Amazing Home Remedies
A friend sent these to me and I had to share them. There are times in life that you feel you just can't smile, this is one of those. Anything that will lift your spirit during those times is amazing and this is one of those. Thank you Gayla-girl--good luck in your next adventure. (Oh and these are not serious, so no one try them at home and then leave me hateful comments--not sweet.)
1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and presto, the blockage will be almost instantly removed.
2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.
3. You can avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat just by using the sink.
4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use an egg timer.
5. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you will be afraid to cough.
7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will forget all about the toothache.
8. Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:
In life, you only need two tools - WD-40 and Duct Tape.
If it doesn't move but should, use the WD-40.
If it should not move and does, use the duct tape.
9. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
10. Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.
Thought for the Day: SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES ..... THEY ARE NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING ... BUT THEY STILL BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN YOU PUSH THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.
Hope that you had as much enjoyment as I did. I laughed so hard--and the windows are open so I am sure that my neighbors are unsure of my sanity.
A friend sent these to me and I had to share them. There are times in life that you feel you just can't smile, this is one of those. Anything that will lift your spirit during those times is amazing and this is one of those. Thank you Gayla-girl--good luck in your next adventure. (Oh and these are not serious, so no one try them at home and then leave me hateful comments--not sweet.)
1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and presto, the blockage will be almost instantly removed.
2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.
3. You can avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat just by using the sink.
4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use an egg timer.
5. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you will be afraid to cough.
7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will forget all about the toothache.
8. Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:
In life, you only need two tools - WD-40 and Duct Tape.
If it doesn't move but should, use the WD-40.
If it should not move and does, use the duct tape.
9. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
10. Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.
Thought for the Day: SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES ..... THEY ARE NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING ... BUT THEY STILL BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN YOU PUSH THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.
Hope that you had as much enjoyment as I did. I laughed so hard--and the windows are open so I am sure that my neighbors are unsure of my sanity.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Mother's Day
I have to say, this Mother's Day has not been as bad as ones in the past. For the past 3-4 years, my Mother's Day celebrations have been getting progressively more depressing. Fertility issues can do that to a person, but this year, not so bad and I was surprised. I guess when not actively pursuing a baby, Mother's Day can actually be about my mother, and not in the pursuit of motherhood.
I am currently in motherhood limbo and for now, that's okay. Hope that you had a good mother's day regardless of the motherhood status that you find yourself in.
I have to say, this Mother's Day has not been as bad as ones in the past. For the past 3-4 years, my Mother's Day celebrations have been getting progressively more depressing. Fertility issues can do that to a person, but this year, not so bad and I was surprised. I guess when not actively pursuing a baby, Mother's Day can actually be about my mother, and not in the pursuit of motherhood.
I am currently in motherhood limbo and for now, that's okay. Hope that you had a good mother's day regardless of the motherhood status that you find yourself in.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Flower Month
I am on what I would consider the most interesting committee ever to be formed in a church. I am on the Flower committee. I have been asked to sit for committees before and have sometimes said no and sometimes said yes, but never really liked the idea of committees or the bureaucracy of committees. At work I am on the Scanned Records Committee--this decides what old records should be scanned into the new system for access from the computer. At other churches I have served on a Children's choir committee and a hospitality committee and I believe that there was some missions committee somewhere along the way.
This committee is right up my alley, though. I don't have to make important decisions, there are no reports to be made to the concregation, and most fun of all--I get to be creative. So this month is my flower month. I have a Flower Month buddy. We both work to create the arrangements in the sanctuary for the month of May. I was on the committee last year, but something about the second year, with some experience under my belt feels good. I can't wait.
April showers, brings May ...
I am on what I would consider the most interesting committee ever to be formed in a church. I am on the Flower committee. I have been asked to sit for committees before and have sometimes said no and sometimes said yes, but never really liked the idea of committees or the bureaucracy of committees. At work I am on the Scanned Records Committee--this decides what old records should be scanned into the new system for access from the computer. At other churches I have served on a Children's choir committee and a hospitality committee and I believe that there was some missions committee somewhere along the way.
This committee is right up my alley, though. I don't have to make important decisions, there are no reports to be made to the concregation, and most fun of all--I get to be creative. So this month is my flower month. I have a Flower Month buddy. We both work to create the arrangements in the sanctuary for the month of May. I was on the committee last year, but something about the second year, with some experience under my belt feels good. I can't wait.
April showers, brings May ...
Monday, April 23, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Re-Read of 2007
There are certain books that are so good to me that I re-read them annually, or at least every other year. Not to sound too much like You've Got Mail, but Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin is on that list. My first P&P exposure was actually through the A&E Mini series with Jennifer Echols and Colin Firth (still an enduring crush). Then I read the book. From there I have read and re-read all the completed Jane Austin books. I am on my third copy of P&P as the other two were falling apart from so many readings.
For my current Re-Read, I am preparing for a book I have waited, on edge, for a year. Harry Potter, Book 7. I wanted to start my re-read of book 1-6 and take my time savoring the books and the unfolding plot, but I have yet again, gotten caught up in a fever. I started less than a week ago and I am already halfway through book 3. I have pre-ordered from Book 7 Amazon.com and hope that 7/21/07 gets here before I have to re-read Books 1-6 more than once. I will confess, I was so excited about this pre-order until a friend told me that she did this with Book 6 and they lost her order--she got it 3 weeks later. Now I am nervous. I really want this book on the day that it comes out.
There are certain books that are so good to me that I re-read them annually, or at least every other year. Not to sound too much like You've Got Mail, but Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin is on that list. My first P&P exposure was actually through the A&E Mini series with Jennifer Echols and Colin Firth (still an enduring crush). Then I read the book. From there I have read and re-read all the completed Jane Austin books. I am on my third copy of P&P as the other two were falling apart from so many readings.
For my current Re-Read, I am preparing for a book I have waited, on edge, for a year. Harry Potter, Book 7. I wanted to start my re-read of book 1-6 and take my time savoring the books and the unfolding plot, but I have yet again, gotten caught up in a fever. I started less than a week ago and I am already halfway through book 3. I have pre-ordered from Book 7 Amazon.com and hope that 7/21/07 gets here before I have to re-read Books 1-6 more than once. I will confess, I was so excited about this pre-order until a friend told me that she did this with Book 6 and they lost her order--she got it 3 weeks later. Now I am nervous. I really want this book on the day that it comes out.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
3, maybe 4 things to say
1. First session in my private practice went well today. I am well on my way to being private practice counselor extradinare. (Can you tell that I really like saying "private practice?")
2. I leave for vacation in Colorado tomorrow. Yeah, a little bit of much needed relaxation. Not to mention getting to see my niece who just turned one year old.
3. I have dogs fighting under my feet for my attention. Fighting, playing, what's the difference?
4. Teachers arrested in Sumner County--That is a little too close to home. I have been in all of these schools and have met some of these teachers. What were they thinking?
1. First session in my private practice went well today. I am well on my way to being private practice counselor extradinare. (Can you tell that I really like saying "private practice?")
2. I leave for vacation in Colorado tomorrow. Yeah, a little bit of much needed relaxation. Not to mention getting to see my niece who just turned one year old.
3. I have dogs fighting under my feet for my attention. Fighting, playing, what's the difference?
4. Teachers arrested in Sumner County--That is a little too close to home. I have been in all of these schools and have met some of these teachers. What were they thinking?
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Private Practice
That is right, I said private practice. Well, it is just part-time private practice, but I see my first client in my private practice tomorrow. I am so excited. For those that read this--I am keeping my school-based job (insurance, money, etc. all make it necessary to stick with the day job). But I have had it officially cleared through said job to pursue this opportunity. This is an unbelievably empowering step for me.
Private Practice--it just feels so good to write it, to say it, to shout it from the mountains. Which is where I will be next week, the Colorado mountains. I will be admiring my beautiful niece that just turned one and relaxing as much as possible.
That is right, I said private practice. Well, it is just part-time private practice, but I see my first client in my private practice tomorrow. I am so excited. For those that read this--I am keeping my school-based job (insurance, money, etc. all make it necessary to stick with the day job). But I have had it officially cleared through said job to pursue this opportunity. This is an unbelievably empowering step for me.
Private Practice--it just feels so good to write it, to say it, to shout it from the mountains. Which is where I will be next week, the Colorado mountains. I will be admiring my beautiful niece that just turned one and relaxing as much as possible.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
The Drama of the Eye Wash Cup My Dad is a huge fan of the eye wash cup. Has used one for years. It is a great contraption that seals around your eye and washes out dirt. You would mix up a salt water solution that tasted like tears, put your eye to the cup, lean back and blink a few times to let the water you know, wash out your eye.
Here is where the drama comes in. My dad's eye wash cup that probably dates back to B.C. (my parents way of saying Before Children--oh, and that would be 32 years). As I was saying--his eye wash cup got knocked off the counter and got a chip in it. Hopefully, you recognize that something used to wash gunk out of your eye should never have broken glass anywhere around it or in it. So he threw out his eye wash cup and put it on the grocery list. Surely, Wal-mart carries this handy, dandy and very useful item, the eye wash cup. WRONG. And so the search began. Not at Wal-mart, not at Walgreens, can't be found at CVS and no sign of one at Eckerds. So, he went to the internet. Surely the internet would not let him down. You can find anything on the internet these days. Ebay, yes, Ebay did have a few eye wash cups up for grabs. Only these were antiques and in all sorts of fancy colors and a little on the pricey side of things. My Dad didn't want fancy colors and wasn't even too sold on the idea of an antique eye wash cup. After all, who knows what kind of shared eye diseases could come from that, not to mention the possiblity of small chips in this old glass.
How was the problem solved? He finally found a dealer that sold them wholesale. He bought a case of 15 in order to get one. So, everyone in the family got one. My mom and my dad now have their own eye wash cup--no sharing please. I got one, of course. I believe my brother and his wife will each get one--maybe even one for my neice (yes, the one year old). I am sure that my aunt and cousins are also on the list. And the rest, well they will go into storage just in case the current eye wash cup meets the same untimely end.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
It Has Turned Out to be a Good Day
This doesn't always happen you know, bad start to the day turning around to be a good day, but today was one of those days (it actually wasn't a bad start, just a mediocre start). Last night before bed I thought about turning on the heat (after all the temperature was dropping). Thinking about the heat and getting the heat going are two different things. I have discovered that I am actually kind-of miserly--I don't want to spend the money to heat my house in the middle of April, it just seems counter-intuiative. So I grabbed myself an extra blanket and went to bed. I woke up freezing this morning. And I was not the only mammel in the house that was craving heat. Miriam (Austrailian Cattle Dog), Dodger (Some sort of Terrier Mix pup), AND Moses (the cat that usually shuns cuddling when the dogs are even in the house) are all laying around/on me. I had Miriam on my right, by my hip. Dodger was on my left in his usual spot (my armpit). Moses thought the best place for him was on my chest, stretched across my neck. Did I mention that I have allergies? Cat hair by my face, not so good. Normally, this would bother me, but I was happy for the warmth. I did not want to move from my little nest, but the animals sensed that I was stirring. Moses was first--he stood up and promptly went to stand on my bladder. Dodger began to lick my ear. Miriam, getting jealous that Dodger was getting attention decides to lunge at him--right over my belly. "I'm up," I yell.
Then comes a promise to fullfill--I was to go to water aerobics with my mother. Not too much of a big deal--I like water aerobics. Did I mention that this is Senior Swim water aerobics--my mother being one of the young whipper, snappers of the group? So, I stood out like a sore thumb, being only 30 and the only one without a swim dress.
So how did my mediocre day turn around? I found some beautiful sounding windchimes. That's right, windchimes. They are melodious. I am easily pleased--at least today.
This doesn't always happen you know, bad start to the day turning around to be a good day, but today was one of those days (it actually wasn't a bad start, just a mediocre start). Last night before bed I thought about turning on the heat (after all the temperature was dropping). Thinking about the heat and getting the heat going are two different things. I have discovered that I am actually kind-of miserly--I don't want to spend the money to heat my house in the middle of April, it just seems counter-intuiative. So I grabbed myself an extra blanket and went to bed. I woke up freezing this morning. And I was not the only mammel in the house that was craving heat. Miriam (Austrailian Cattle Dog), Dodger (Some sort of Terrier Mix pup), AND Moses (the cat that usually shuns cuddling when the dogs are even in the house) are all laying around/on me. I had Miriam on my right, by my hip. Dodger was on my left in his usual spot (my armpit). Moses thought the best place for him was on my chest, stretched across my neck. Did I mention that I have allergies? Cat hair by my face, not so good. Normally, this would bother me, but I was happy for the warmth. I did not want to move from my little nest, but the animals sensed that I was stirring. Moses was first--he stood up and promptly went to stand on my bladder. Dodger began to lick my ear. Miriam, getting jealous that Dodger was getting attention decides to lunge at him--right over my belly. "I'm up," I yell.
Then comes a promise to fullfill--I was to go to water aerobics with my mother. Not too much of a big deal--I like water aerobics. Did I mention that this is Senior Swim water aerobics--my mother being one of the young whipper, snappers of the group? So, I stood out like a sore thumb, being only 30 and the only one without a swim dress.
So how did my mediocre day turn around? I found some beautiful sounding windchimes. That's right, windchimes. They are melodious. I am easily pleased--at least today.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Spring Break
This is the great time of year called Spring. I love Summer too, but Spring (aside from Winter and Fall) is my favorite. I understand what you are thinking, when it comes to seasons, I am a little wishy-washy. I will admit, I like them all. They each have some wonder about them, something great. What I like most of all about Spring is discoving the flowers that keep popping up everywhere. Just last week I was visiting a friend and her dogwood trees looked completely bare. This week I went back and they were in full bloom (she has about 20-25 trees that line her driveway). It was beautiful.
It is not just discoving flowers that come back year after year, it has to do with unexpected growth too. When I moved into the house two years ago the yard had not been well cared for. (Neither had the house for that matter). So, last summer I discover that I had a Peony bush. It came up, but never bloomed. Well, it came up again this year, but my expectations were low. Two days ago, I noticed a bloom--it is so beautiful. Spring truly is the best season (that is until Summer gets here).
This is the great time of year called Spring. I love Summer too, but Spring (aside from Winter and Fall) is my favorite. I understand what you are thinking, when it comes to seasons, I am a little wishy-washy. I will admit, I like them all. They each have some wonder about them, something great. What I like most of all about Spring is discoving the flowers that keep popping up everywhere. Just last week I was visiting a friend and her dogwood trees looked completely bare. This week I went back and they were in full bloom (she has about 20-25 trees that line her driveway). It was beautiful.
It is not just discoving flowers that come back year after year, it has to do with unexpected growth too. When I moved into the house two years ago the yard had not been well cared for. (Neither had the house for that matter). So, last summer I discover that I had a Peony bush. It came up, but never bloomed. Well, it came up again this year, but my expectations were low. Two days ago, I noticed a bloom--it is so beautiful. Spring truly is the best season (that is until Summer gets here).
Yes, this is actually a picture from my yard. And I did nothing to nurture it, just cleared back the burmuta grass.
Have a Happy Spring.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Am I really just like everyone else?
I feel the need to ask this because I have always thought of myself as a truly unique person, an individual. No, I am not. And this has happened many times in my life, but more so in the recent days. I tell about something going on in my life--and someone has a story to at least match mine and usually will top my story. These days I hear a lot of "me too." I hate "me toos." It's like saying your current pain doesn't matter because I have also gone through or am going through this. My brain knows that this is not what they mean by "me too," but sometimes my brain short circuits. Is that really surprising? In times of high emotional crises, my brain goes a little haywire and instead of acting on thoughts from my brain, I act on feelings from my heart.
I am a listener. My career, my chosen profession is based on being a listener (you know, mental health therapist and all). So I sometimes have trouble cutting people off in the middle of their "me too" stories. I know (in my brain) that they are trying to reach out, to have a shared experience. After all that is a huge thing in life and something so powerful--a shared experience. Even if we weren't there at that exact moment, our brains still search for a similar example, something that helps us to wrap our thoughts around it and to understand better where that person is coming from. But I feel (in my heart) so frustrated and hurt that they just didn't let me talk. A "me too" has happened.
I am going through a divorce. And there are way too many "me toos" out there when it comes to this story. My husband doesn't love--really "me too." I never saw it coming--really "me too." My life is a cliche these days. I feel like it has boiled down to a simple "me too" story. The sad thing, I still love my husband very much. I still want to do what it takes to work it out, and I haven't gotten many "me toos" on this one.
I feel the need to ask this because I have always thought of myself as a truly unique person, an individual. No, I am not. And this has happened many times in my life, but more so in the recent days. I tell about something going on in my life--and someone has a story to at least match mine and usually will top my story. These days I hear a lot of "me too." I hate "me toos." It's like saying your current pain doesn't matter because I have also gone through or am going through this. My brain knows that this is not what they mean by "me too," but sometimes my brain short circuits. Is that really surprising? In times of high emotional crises, my brain goes a little haywire and instead of acting on thoughts from my brain, I act on feelings from my heart.
I am a listener. My career, my chosen profession is based on being a listener (you know, mental health therapist and all). So I sometimes have trouble cutting people off in the middle of their "me too" stories. I know (in my brain) that they are trying to reach out, to have a shared experience. After all that is a huge thing in life and something so powerful--a shared experience. Even if we weren't there at that exact moment, our brains still search for a similar example, something that helps us to wrap our thoughts around it and to understand better where that person is coming from. But I feel (in my heart) so frustrated and hurt that they just didn't let me talk. A "me too" has happened.
I am going through a divorce. And there are way too many "me toos" out there when it comes to this story. My husband doesn't love--really "me too." I never saw it coming--really "me too." My life is a cliche these days. I feel like it has boiled down to a simple "me too" story. The sad thing, I still love my husband very much. I still want to do what it takes to work it out, and I haven't gotten many "me toos" on this one.
Monday, March 19, 2007
School Days, She says with a Sigh
I have to say that working in an elementary and middle school there are many times when I look back at childhood and say, "Thank you Lord for my thirties." But I picked up one of my kids from gym class the other day and they were playing kickball. Do you remember kickball? Now I couldn't hit a ball with a bat to save my life, but there was something magical and wonderful about kickball. Kicking that ball as hard as I could then running with all fury and diligence around the bases. I realize now that a home-run in kickball wasn't such a big deal. But in gym class, in elementary school, if I got a home-run, I was on top of the world. So from kickball my mind wondered to other amazing elementary school games. Tag. Dodgeball. Even a little bit of square dancing. But my most favorite of all--the parachute.
We had names for the way we would do the parachute. The ripple--this is where you shake it as hard as you could. The mushroom--you would lift it high in the air and run to toward the center, then run back out before it came down over your head. And then you would walk in a circle, or all hide underneath it. A couple of years back (maybe three years ago now), I was on mission trip to Romania, working in the villages of the Roma (to say "gypsy" is a derogatory term). And they had a parachute and did the same things that I remember doing in gym class (that great time of day in elementary schoo). Kids are kids no matter where you go. And fun is fun, no matter what the language.
I have to say that working in an elementary and middle school there are many times when I look back at childhood and say, "Thank you Lord for my thirties." But I picked up one of my kids from gym class the other day and they were playing kickball. Do you remember kickball? Now I couldn't hit a ball with a bat to save my life, but there was something magical and wonderful about kickball. Kicking that ball as hard as I could then running with all fury and diligence around the bases. I realize now that a home-run in kickball wasn't such a big deal. But in gym class, in elementary school, if I got a home-run, I was on top of the world. So from kickball my mind wondered to other amazing elementary school games. Tag. Dodgeball. Even a little bit of square dancing. But my most favorite of all--the parachute.
We had names for the way we would do the parachute. The ripple--this is where you shake it as hard as you could. The mushroom--you would lift it high in the air and run to toward the center, then run back out before it came down over your head. And then you would walk in a circle, or all hide underneath it. A couple of years back (maybe three years ago now), I was on mission trip to Romania, working in the villages of the Roma (to say "gypsy" is a derogatory term). And they had a parachute and did the same things that I remember doing in gym class (that great time of day in elementary schoo). Kids are kids no matter where you go. And fun is fun, no matter what the language.
Boy, do I miss gym class. I go to the gym now and it is just not the same. Walking on a treadmill, riding a stationary bike. Not the same as kickball.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Blogs on Dogs
I have to talk about the challenge of trimming a dog's nails. I am finding that a trick that will work for one dog will not necessarily work for another dog. My older dog, Miriam (Australian Cattle Dog), will not like getting her nails trimmed, but she will tolerate it. I have her lay down on her side in front of me and hold her feet close to her body. This eliminates any jerking back and keeps me from clipping too far down. (Anyone who has ever made the painful, bloody mistake of cutting a dogs' nails too far down knows what I am talking about). I trim all on that side, have her flip over and do all on the other side. Miriam will then get a treat for ALL the nails.
I tried this with Dodger, my little terrier cutie. He would have none of it. I couldn't even get him to lay down. The first trick I tried with him was successful--sort of. I would wait until he would fall asleep on the couch and then go after whatever nail was exposed. Dodger is smart--he started sleeping will all his paws under him. But I have found a new trick, hopefully this will continue to work with success. I actually got 4 of his nails trimmed tonight. I stand and hold him in my left arm, all four paws sticking straight out. Then with my right hand I trim one nail. After I am done with one nail and only one nail, I put him down clap my hands and say "Yeah Dodger, Good Boy." and then I give him a treat. Amazingly enough, he came back for more. So I did a 2nd nail--same way. When he had finished his Milkbone--he came back for more. So on and so on.
Dogs have such great and individual personality. It is amazing how they are so different. Trimming nails doesn't even scratch the surface. (Yes, Yes, I know--stupid pun).
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Amazing Grace--a review
I just saw the most heart touching story I have seen in a long time. It is about the abolition of the slave trade in England and the politics that went into this decision. It is historical and amazing. It is always so important to remember the suffing of others outside of ourselves. I have been going through my own personal tragedy and it meant something to be able to sit in a theater and be reminded yet again how insignificant my life is. This man gave the best years of his life fighting for a cause of such nobility--human freedom.
I had thought to sit down and write this beautiful review of the movie, but I'm finding my words and my eloquence fading. Just go see the movie--you will learn so much.
I just saw the most heart touching story I have seen in a long time. It is about the abolition of the slave trade in England and the politics that went into this decision. It is historical and amazing. It is always so important to remember the suffing of others outside of ourselves. I have been going through my own personal tragedy and it meant something to be able to sit in a theater and be reminded yet again how insignificant my life is. This man gave the best years of his life fighting for a cause of such nobility--human freedom.
I had thought to sit down and write this beautiful review of the movie, but I'm finding my words and my eloquence fading. Just go see the movie--you will learn so much.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Family Ties
I just recently bought the first season of
"Family Ties." As a kid I had a huge crush on Micheal J. Fox and always thought this show was hilarious. Still do apparently.
Here's the thought... I am having trouble thinking up any family sitcoms now that are not focused on the disfunction rather than the hilarity of an everyday, intact family. I am not saying that there are no good sitcoms out there. I am loving "The Class" and "My Name is Earl." "Rules of Engagement" is pretty funny too. Good, funny stuff. But no families. Do you remember "The Cosby Show," or how about "Growing Pains?" I miss the families.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The thieves, the thieves, the flithy little thieves. Where are they my Precious?
I just recieved a call from my creadit card complany. There have been some strange charges on my account--nearly $7000. I still have my credit card on me and I have been racking my brain to discover how my number has gotten out into the world. There are, of course two possiblities. 1. Someone I know. or 2. From the internet. Altough I can't rule out someone I know, I will say I recently attempted to buy a Cross-Stitch pattern off the internet and never got the pattern. I ordered it from www.salt-and-pepper.com. They seemed well established, but I give them my credit card number, I don't get the product I ordered, and I get massive amounts of charges.
I just recieved a call from my creadit card complany. There have been some strange charges on my account--nearly $7000. I still have my credit card on me and I have been racking my brain to discover how my number has gotten out into the world. There are, of course two possiblities. 1. Someone I know. or 2. From the internet. Altough I can't rule out someone I know, I will say I recently attempted to buy a Cross-Stitch pattern off the internet and never got the pattern. I ordered it from www.salt-and-pepper.com. They seemed well established, but I give them my credit card number, I don't get the product I ordered, and I get massive amounts of charges.
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