By nature I'm an optimist and I believe we'll get through the current crisis. However that belief gets shattered on a daily basis and I start to panic. This usually happens when I'm tired or accidentally hear a news report. I've learned that if I don't listen to any news, not even NPR, I don't…Read more My Dogged Hope in these scary times
panic attacks
Rough Times for My Dog Goldie
On Sunday afternoon Goldie and I were taking our usual walk on the campus of Occidental College, enjoying the warm, sunny weather, when she stopped to poop. She assumed her normal crouch position then suddenly started screaming with an intensity I’d never heard from her before. At first, I thought one of her dew claws…Read more Rough Times for My Dog Goldie
The Gold(ie) Standard
The Gold(ie) Standard My husband and I have been lucky with the stray and rescue dogs who have joined our pack in the past 20+ years. They all came with their own personal mystery baggage, which manifested as behavior problems, but none were so awful that we had to un-adopt or relinquish them. In…Read more The Gold(ie) Standard
My Failed Attempt at Dodging Grief
I thought I was doing a good job of processing my grief after losing my friend and service dog. Henry, who passed away on Easter Sunday. I was wrong. By adopting Teddy, the Chihuahua/Sharpei/Cocker/Cattle Dog/Shep mix less than 3 weeks after Henry died, I only postponed the necessary grieving. Teddy came bounding into our…Read more My Failed Attempt at Dodging Grief
Henry
My heart is breaking. On Saturday morning when Henry woke up and tried to walk to Don and me, to give us his usual morning smooches, his movement was uneven and jerky. He favored his front right leg as he hobbled to me. After licking my hands and letting me scratch his head, he…Read more Henry
A Sudden Change in Plans
Last Thursday I went to my volunteer job at the hospital, but I never made it home. Two months ago I had a surgery to remove a 7 year old central line catheter from the right side of my chest that had gotten clotted. Shortly thereafter I had a second surgery to have a new…Read more A Sudden Change in Plans
“Pins and needles” and yarn and felt. My favorite anti-anxiety “meds.”
With all the excitement from my book coming out, I should be dancing little jigs and feeling content, right? Don't get me wrong, I'm ultra grateful for all the positive feedback from my kind readers, and I do feel a sense of accomplishment, but my brain chemistry has two settings: 1) totally elated - "manicky,"…Read more “Pins and needles” and yarn and felt. My favorite anti-anxiety “meds.”
Dogged Hope 