Shelter Dogs

Today my friend came over with ice cream, salsa and People. It may see like a weird combination at first, but we were having enchiladas and chips. We needed salsa and dessert.

She brought the People on her own accord and reading a story inside of it broke my heart. It seems with job loss on the rise more and more families are having to let go of their pets. These families have cut back on cable, internet and phone service, but the lack of funds have prevented them from being able to keep a member of their family.

Reading the story broke my heart, I could never imagine giving up my pooch. I would eat less just to keep her, and at times when I was trying to figure out my budget and struggling each week to make myself become more responsible, I often did have smaller portions or eat things I didn't like to be able to afford her organic food. Why organic you might say? Well at 17lbs every ounce counts, and Chanel isn't able to keep her weight on with non-organic food. She literally loses up to 3 lbs, and when you are that small, it's very unhealthy and very scary.

The point of this blog is to encourage you to do something. If you are someone looking to add a member to your family, please look at the local shelter first. There are many well-trained loving pets who are dying for a home. And if you aren't in the position to take on a new member of your family but have some extra time on your hands, please look into donating that time to volunteering. Pets need to be played with, loved, and walked.

It's been said that only 5 minutes of petting a dog can lower your blood pressure. Isn't it almost unhealthy not to spend time with an animal?? Check out your local animal shelter for more details on volunteering your time.

Woof, Woof

A friend of mine recently started a dog-walking business in the Uptown area. If you have a four legged friend that could use some extra TLC during the work week be sure to check it out!! Her business is called Wagging Tails MN. Chanel uses her as a babysitter when I have to go someplace and she takes wonderful care of her. I would 100% completely satisfied recommend her to anyone in need of a dog walker or even pet sitter.

Old Dogs Could Learn Some New Tricks

People say I'm obsessed with Chanel. That's probably because they didn't raise a pup. Now I've had other dogs, and I've loved other dogs, but Chanel is the result of my hard work, money, sweat, tears, and sometimes blood. If she is a bad dog it's my fault and responsibility to teach her a new trick, or to curb that behavior. So yes, I do spend a lot of time thinking about her, loving her, and talking about her.

Last night I was sitting in my room and watching an episode of Nip/Tuck (great show btw). And Chanel was content just sitting right next to me and chewing her bone. The point? It takes very little to make a dog happy. Though they need food, water, and sometimes treats and toys, what they appreciate the most is love and affection.

Today I sat at work and read what AIG CEO had to say about their bonuses. And while it's clear that the blame should not be shifted completely to AIG, that the people they have contracts with should also be held accountable for accepting the funds when they know they came from a bailout (taxpayer money). I have to wonder, after a certain point, why do you need that much money?

In the letter, which btw, if you haven't read it the letter to the President and the lesser known 'white letter' the CEO tells the President two key things (well I'm sure he thinks otherwise, but here is what I took away from it). The first thing is that top AIG officials will only be paid $1 for the remainder of the year. And the second thing is that these bonuses are necessary to retain the best and the brightest.

The problem I have with the first point is that he believes that this shows restraint and control by AIG. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against top officials of companies making the big bucks. I do believe if they are making the company run, they should get compensated accordingly. And I believe a company is entitled to bonus out whomever they want, when it's their money. The problem is not that they are giving themselves large paychecks or bonuses, it's that it's being done with U.S. Citizens money. Money that could be going towards increasing the salaries of teachers, people who educated and mold our youth. But instead are going towards crooked businessmen.

Again, I understand that acquiring and keeping the biggest, brightest minds requires throwing some cash at them. However, I don't see how there couldn't have been an arrangement made that once the taxpayer money is paid back the bonuses will be paid out plus interest. Probably would have cost AIG more in terms of money, but less in terms of reputation.

My question to you is, would you trust your money with AIG? Even if they are worth billions of dollars it is obvious to me that their money management for day to day expenses, their liquid cash if you will, is at great risk. That if they are as flagrant with the government's money as they have shown us to be, what will they do when they aren't under the media's microscope?

And to be fair, it's not only AIG that is carelessly spending money on retreats and bonuses. Northern Trust spent $12 million dollars to have Sheryl Crow come and perform for their company to 'boost morale'.

Cutting back isn't easy for anyone, especially this shopaholic. However, we could all take a cue from Chanel and just be happy with the basic needs covered, a good bed, good food, and good company. Who needs private jets when you've got friends and family who love you?

Sittin' Pretty

Last night Chanel had a doggie play date. And a few weeks ago she met a never socialized dog. The dog last night was a black lab. The dog a few weeks ago was an Irish Wolfhound - Lab mix. Lately I've been thinking a lot about what shapes us as humans, and though it may sound silly, I think the same is true for dogs.

While Chanel has tons of flaws (and to be honest, I probably have three times as many) she is extremely good with other dogs and with people. I take no credit for that at all. We speak two different languages, she only learned how to behave as my dog for me, she learned how to behave around other dogs from, well, other dogs.

My Uncle John told me once, the goal is to have her meet 100 other dogs and 100 other humans in her first year, maybe year and a half. I wonder if we as humans, need to start thinking like this as well. If my dog needs to meet 100 different people and 100 different dogs per year, maybe I should reconsider what I need to do in order to grow as a person.

Lately I've been busy doing self-reflecting. While I am coming to value this in my daily life, I can't help but wonder, do I need to be more like Chanel? Should I be more willing to get out and meet other people? Maybe I should have to meet 200 different people and try 100 new things. I don't know if there is a quota, but I think the point my Uncle John was trying to make was, I alone was not enough to socialize her.

I hope you join me for the next year or 100 new experiences (whichever comes first) as I try and find a little self-growth by doing and not thinking.

Completely Undomestic

There are those women who are amazing at everything. I am not one of them. Unfortunately, my sister is. She can play multiple instruments, speak multiple languages, make amazing meals, is incredibly athletic and outdoorsy, can sew anything from her own outfits to my quilt. She's great at painting pictures, drawing, etc. She is basically perfect, and it's not really fair.

Today, the devil aka Chanel, ripped her toy to shreds. I decided to try and sew it up. Two ducks, two sewing jobs and twenty different finger pricks later. How can I barely fix this stupid dog toy without injuring myself? And the worst part, I'm not even doing it well.

So where do these women learn how to do everything? And have you noticed there are women who can do everything men can do and then some? Like I'm pretty sure my sister can rock climb as well as most men, serve a better dinner than most men, and can sew her own clothes better than most men (and women for that matter). How do you never hear of these men who can do it all? And even more importantly, are there men who can do it all like my sister? Or could it be that women might have evolved past men?

The Devil is Chanel

A little less than a year ago I decided to purchase a Cockapoo puppy. While I thought I had thoroughly thought through this decision, there was much that I had not accounted for.

While she might be the cutest thing in the world, she is very well the offspring of Lucifer himself. In the past year my experiences with her include:

- Vomiting and 'doing her business' every car trip

- Chewing through 3 phone chargers

- Chewing up one wireless mouse and one regular mouse

- Chewing apart my mattress

- Chewing up most of my luggage, purses, backpacks, and one pair of running shoes, countless pairs of flip flops

- Doing her business in the hall after she had already taken care of that literally 10 minutes beforehand

- Chewing my checkbook, bills, cards, wedding invitations, etc.

But, by far, the most excruciatingly embarrassing moment of my entire life as her owner came when we were outside on the balcony of our apartment. It's summer time and I'm talking on my cell phone with my mother and Chanel had to come with me. So there are people walking by with other dogs, and she's fine. And then some people come biking along and she goes mad, starts barking and growling and getting all worked up. A few minutes later some kids go running down the street and she's looking over them, wagging her tail, tongue out and panting & excited to see all the new people. Within seconds an old couple with canes start walking by, and because they walk so slowly they've seen my bi-polar dog go from sweet and innocent to crazy mad just a few minutes ago. Seeing the elder couple she goes biserk, barking like she's being murdered. It's awful and it's mortifying because this couple just looks at me thinking, control your damn dog! The worst, by far, was a few moments later when a women in a full burka walked by our balcony. Chanel was not having it. She let that person know she did not approve of her at all. After a little observation, the common factor in all three victims were that they had some sort of prop with them. A bike, a cane or a full on headcovering outfit that Chanel did not approve of. Because I am not elderly, I do not ride a bike, and I do not wear a Burka Chanel did not know what to think of these things and went hysterical.

And low and behold a few weeks later some Hesidic Jewish men came to our door with their hats and ringlets and Chanel barked so loudly you would have thought she was a big dog. Let me tell you, she really doesn't like props!!