A Movie Rant

I watched the movie 50/50 tonight and it angered me to no avail. The movie was well done and the premise was realistic. I enjoyed watching the film. The reason I got mad was because I couldn't stand the stupid girlfriend of the cancer patient. She wouldn't go in with the patient to his chemo appointments and used stupid excuses. I think one of the saddest things about cancer is having to go through it alone. We never let my mom go to her appointments by herself. Sitting in a sterile environment with a tube attached to your arm for several hours is no fun. The machine attached to the tube makes periodic beeps and random sounds and the patient lays back in a maroon chair with a cloth dividing her from the other patients. It's lonely and morbid. Nobody should go through the physical and mental pain of cancer. Who would ever let a loved one go through that alone? 

I will never forget the feeling I would get when I walked towards the building where my mom was to receive chemo. My hands would go numb and my legs felt like jelly. Every single part of me wanted to run the other way. I hated the hospital and was afraid I would pass out. I acted nonchalantly as I watched my mom getting pumped full of chemicals. I tried to smile or act like everything was great. I even looked through the old magazines mindlessly. When it was all over, I waited until I was far enough away to begin crying. Sometimes I sobbed so hard I felt like I was going to vomit. I wasn't even the patient! Cancer ravages everyone.

My mom survived. The guy in the movie survived. A lot of people don't survive. If you want to see something that runs the gamut of emotional ups and downs of cancer then see this movie. Great acting and even funny moments. 

February Serenity

It was a great day. The sun was shining and it was gorgeous outside. Here are some photos that can help better describe the peace that I felt!

Yucky

Being a vegetarian and having to serve raw meat to my dogs is not easy! I have take the meat out of the packaging and then make sure to fully cut up and mash up the meat. It feels gooey and gross and I have to ignore what I am doing. Simba and Buddha still go nuts for the food and can hardly contain themselves when I put it out for them. There are still many weeks left in this experiment so only time will tell if this is permanent.

On another RANDOM note...strangers tend to be kinder to other strangers when they see that they have a dog. When I am alone and I say hello to a stranger I don't always get a hello back. In fact, some people just look away or act as though it is odd for me to speak to them. When I am with my boys it is a different story. People become more approachable (unless they are scared of dogs) and there are more smiles. I wonder why that is?

Raw Food Update

The boys absolutely love the raw food. For the first time ever Simba woke me up making whining noises. He usually wakes me up by scratching on doors or biting on the bed post. I did not respond to any of those things today but the whining began and he took me straight to the kitchen. I'm not sure if it is because he was starving or because he just couldn't wait any longer for his food. I sliced the food into small cubes, put their Brewers Yeast on top with a dash of this seaweed formula that helps combat plaque and bad breath. They were ready to go! Simba savored each bite of his food. He truly tasted each bite. Buddha INHALED his food. I had to slow him down but they licked their bowls clean.

I heard another good side effect of the raw food diet is that their stool is much smaller. Today I noticed that this was the case! How pleasant! Anyway, so far so good. It's an expensive alternative to their already expensive kibble but we shall see if there is a big enough difference to permanently convert.

Raw Food Diet

Buddha had a lot of issues with food for the longest time. He had so many sensitivities and we tried so many types of food in order to end the diarrhea. We finally made our way to a holistic dog store and tried a brand of food called "Great Life". This product boasts a natural, organic and raw food approach but in a kibble form. It provides all the nutrients a dog needs but with the benefit of high quality ingredients. It's a pricey meal but well worth it. For many months now both Simba and Buddha have been eating "Great Life". Not only has Buddha's stomach settled but he does not inhale his food anymore! That was a huge concern before but he seems to be a nicely well rounded boy! Simba has always had the strongest stomach of the two and he has enjoyed eating "Great Life" but we did notice that he started eating poop and wood chips. The concern now is whether or not Simba is deprived of something essential and that is why his body craves poop and wood chips. 

This morning we began a raw food diet. It's very pricey. I have many concerns about the raw food movement because not a lot of research has been done to see if it is fully effective. Dogs no longer live in the wild and I think that their stomachs have probably evolved for such domestication as well. The scare of bad bacteria and anemia are some of the reasons that I am not exactly sure if this diet will work for the boys. I'm giving it one month and I will report any changes to their coats, digestive health and overall demeanor. 

Hopefully Buddha's stomach stays happy and Simba stops eating poop!

Buddha Bear

I totally enjoy dressing the dogs up, playing games with them and putting random objects on their heads! Buddha didn't seem to care that he had flower petals on his hair. He was extremely tired from the dog park and just wanted to sleep. I couldn't let him have his way! I am trying to train them both to balance treats on their snouts but that is not as easy as I thought it would be...

That's SHOCKING!

Simba has had a obsession with eating poop, wood chips and dirt. I have tried everything I know to deter him but it has gotten to the point that he has resisted every tactic. I have used so many different types of water bottles to spray him in the face each time he was bad but he would stop for a moment and then back at the bad behavior. He has reached a point where he seeks out dog poop of any kind. It's not like I can put medication in every dogs poop so as to deter him from eating it! Then one day he had eaten so much stuff at the dog park that when we got home he could not stop gagging. He ended up throwing up all over the place. There was so much vomit that I couldn't believe he had ingested THAT much stuff! A friend mentioned that he could get very ill by eating all that junk and so I knew that I needed to take drastic measures. I purchased a training collar otherwise known as a shock collar. I did a lot of research before I purchased it and I felt so guilty once I put in the order. I don't like the thought of shocking my dog. It makes me feel sad and wicked. So before I used the collar on Simba, I decided to feel the shock first hand. I was apprehensive about it but I put the collar on my leg and went through four levels without feeling anything. At the fifth level there was a big change. It didn't hurt but it did shock me. I let out a little scream because I wasn't expecting it and Simba came running to see if I was OK. I quickly hid the collar and pretended all was well. So at least I know now that it won't hurt him but it will certainly surprise him.

The first time I used the collar on Simba I spent most of my time using the negative tones when he would approach poop.Then I had to use the shock and he yelped and jumped up in the air. I wanted to cry! Needless to say he was extremely depressed and confused. He did not want to play or go near me. I hate that I have had to resort to this but am hopeful that because he is a smart dog he will learn quickly that he is not supposed to eat all that stuff. I would prefer never to use this device again!

Dogs Are Honest

After a long day of work, it is a relief to go home to two happy dogs. They don't lie to me and they are always ready to be there for me. All day I speak with clients and lawyers who readily and quite easily lie to my face (or to my ear if I am on the phone). I don't particularly like the full on lying tactics that involve crying or desperate pleas. Clients do it because they are trying to get a discount, need to get out of a hopeless situation, cannot accept their fate or simply because they want to trick the system. Lawyers do it so that they can make an extra buck off the client, the system, the random dude down the street or the woman with the really nice car who can clearly afford to pay more for legal services. Dishonesty is all around. I think we all just learn to be dishonest with ourselves and with others because it's not easy to face reality. Then there are those who chose to be passive aggressive. This is the absolute WORSE thing a person can do! As if lying is not enough, wrap the lie up in pretty paper and disguise it as gold when it is actually garbage. If you have a problem you should just say it out loud and stop smiling and demeaning the other person. Liars suck but being passive aggressive is just downright nasty.

Elitist Dog Clubs

Is the Westminster Kennel Club show the equivalent to womyn's beauty pageants? OOPS did I say beauty? I meant to say TALENT. Dogs from far and wide converged in New York this past weekend to partake in a show of purebred dogs. These dogs are separated into various categories and judged by their gait, demeanor and appearance. I have never actually sat through an entire show because it bores me but this most recent event got my attention because the Westminster Kennel Club decided to drop Pedigree because they wanted to focus on purebred dogs as opposed to dogs who are mixed breed. Pedigree has had commercials showing support for rescue dogs and mixed breed dogs and apparently their standards were not quite high enough for this elite club. Although this show is meant for pure bred dogs it's disheartening to see how unimportant these rescue dogs are to the Kennel Club and since they have been around for well over a hundred years; you would think that they would have evolved by now.

I compare this show to the modern day beauty pageant because women of some shapes and same size are paraded on a stage in evening gowns and swim wear while people clap for them. What are the judges looking for? The walk must be elegant and graceful and the smile must appear genuine. Heaven forbid a lock of hair falls out of place and there better not be an ounce of fat on that body! The dogs are groomed for this business and so are these young women.

Dogs Against Romney

I cannot suppress my outrage and dismay at the fact that so little has been said about Mitt Romney's family vacation, which left his dog strapped to the roof of his car for twelve hours! I suppose it's easy for some people to disregard the notion that an animal can FEEL. I'm not going to get into the vegetarian argument because that is not the point here. Instead, I would like to note that dogs do experience emotions. Dogs feel fear, anxiety, happiness and sadness. Many dogs go through trauma and have difficulty rehabilitating afterwards. My dogs have gone through severe separation anxiety and have actually hurt themselves! It breaks my heart and I have done whatever I possibly could to make sure that they are comfortable when I am not at home.

Would you blame Mitt Romney's Irish Setter if he turned out to be skittish after the calamity that he went through for TWELVE HOURS? Who does that? It's repulsive and downright barbaric. There are also claims that upon stopping the vehicle, Romney hosed the dog off because he was so scared he had soiled himself. Don't forget: Romney's LUGGAGE was INSIDE the vehicle the WHOLE TIME!

This happened in 1983 but the point is that Romney saw nothing wrong with his actions AND he clearly didn't care about the animal cruelty laws in Massachusetts. He was living in Massachusetts in 1983 and he should have paid particular attention to MGL c.272 77.

I wish people would think twice before "owning" a pet. They are not things. They are living, breathing entities who need to be treated with decency. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's a rather dreary day and I've been yawning like mad but I am reminded that today is in fact Valentine's Day. No matter how we might feel about this day it is still nice to have an excuse to send a card or make a call to the ones we love. It's also an excuse for someone like me to be cheesy.

I am posting a few Valentine themed photos up that were taken with this holiday in mind. Enjoy! Live, laugh, LOVE!

3 Pound Yorkie

This 3 pound Yorkie needs a good home. He was with an owner who favored her other dog and cigarettes above all else. Miles is two years old and he loves to cuddle. All he really wants is love and kindness. Do you know of a good home for him? Contact me for more information!

Doggy AXE Commercial

Puppy bath time is never an easy feat. This time around we tried a different more soothing method. These dogs get the most relaxing atmosphere with a oatmeal and vanilla scented bath. Sadly, it seems that they don't appreciate any of this and will do anything to get away from the water. Due to the double coat, I have to make them sit while I blow dry them. That is another thing they hate! If I don't do it then they smell like stinky wet dog so chasing them around the house is FUN...

I decided to photograph them while in the tub and got a few great shots. Buddha looks truly depressed while Simba looks like he is stepped out of an AXE commercial.

United For A Cause

I mentioned before that the dog park crew lost their wonderful friend and den mother. She passed on New Years Eve but her memory lives on. I invited her to my wedding last year but she could not make it. Instead, she wrote a beautiful note to me and sent one of her crystal swans as a gift. I remember reading her card and opening the swan the night of the wedding. I was still hyper and couldn't get to sleep. Naturally, I walked onto the balcony and looked at the bustling city below, breathed in the August air and proceeded to look at all the lovely gifts. The swan's packaging was small and understated. I knew I had to open it first. She told me that I was as delicate and graceful as that swan and that it was her favorite piece out of her collection. I instantly loved the swan because I knew that it was a gift from her heart and it truly touched me. I was also flattered by her compliment and now I keep the swan in the bedroom and try to lock away all the inspirational things she ever said to me. Every time I am at the dog park I expect to see her and her dog sitting at the green picnic table. It's silly really but her absence is felt.

After she passed, the dog park morning crew decided that we would not allow such a magnificent woman to be forgotten. After weeks of deliberation, we decided that the best way to honor this woman would be to have a tree planted in her name at the park. So many people loved her and they opened up their wallets to make the tree a possibility. Today, we have reached our fundraising goal! Soon, we will witness the planting of the tree. We miss you Irene.

Day Three

It sucks not having time or energy to go to the gym. Even walking the dogs is not enough for a good workout. So I decided to order the "Brazilian Butt Lift" workout. It seemed ridiculous but also looked fun. I knew that I would not be able to stick with a workout that was boring or predictable. The day the package came, my significant other opened it and said "wait, are you sure this is not for me?" and began laughing. I looked at the package and there was a picture of a woman's butt on the cover. It certainly looked more like the cover of a porno than a workout DVD. The first day, the workout kicked my rear. No pun intended. I was sweating, breathing hard and cursing at the television. The silly movements were intense! Every once in a while I would look at the dogs and see that they were very confused by what I was doing. Buddha in particular could not stop staring at me. I think that he thought something was wrong with me so he kept trying to sit at my feet and I kept herding him away. Simba sat as close as possible and when the kicking began he tried to stand in the way of my feet. It was obnoxious! But I do wonder what my pups were thinking as they watched their mommy flailing around.

Day three has passed and my entire body aches. My abs feel as though they have been torn apart but I hear that that is a good thing. After day three there is one day of rest allotted and I sure can't wait to soak in a bathtub full of Epsom salt and lavender fragrances.

Calming an Anxious Pup

I hate to see anyone have a panic attack but when it's a dog it makes it even more distressing. I recognized that Simba hated when I left for work because his tail would go down and he would sulk in a corner. The next thing I knew was that he was terrified of the gate and the scat mat. He would start panting and tremors would run through his body. Simba is not the type to voluntarily cuddle but he would come over and wedge himself between me and the wall. Then he would try to act extra cute and rambunctious so that I would not leave. This happened every time I was getting ready for work and it always made me so sad. But what's a person to do? I have no choice but to work and although I love doggy daycare, I simply can't afford it everyday! For two dogs, it costs more than $800 a month!

I tried rescue remedy and other herbal anxiety supplements. These items did not seem to work. I even ordered that wall plugin that is supposed to produce pheromones that a pups' mom naturally gives off to soothe in times of anxiety. It also appears that meditation music does not work on my pups. I bought the Thundershirt for Buddha first and I liked that it seemed to calm him down. The shirt is supposed to be on very tight and somehow that constant pressure soothes the dog. Simba's shirt came in this past week and I have noticed that he does not have the same tremors and panting that he used to. I'm hoping that this is the cure but only time will tell.