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
anxiety
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
Our New Family Member: Teddy the “Sharpusky”
When we lost Henry, I knew I couldn't replace him, but I really missed having a little buddy by my side. If I did get another pup he would be small like Henry, because that's what I was accustomed to, and it was more practical. But the universe had something else in store for me.…Read more Our New Family Member: Teddy the “Sharpusky”
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
Keeping it Simple with Lucky Sean O’Sloth
I feel lucky every time someone orders one of my sloths on Etsy. When a friend suggested I put some of my holiday ornaments on Etsy in December, I never expected people to buy them, especially since there are already a gazillion super cute items there. I've been giving my ornaments away for more than 10 years, and hadn't considered selling them,…Read more Keeping it Simple with Lucky Sean O’Sloth
Distractions from Depression During the Holidays – Do They Work?
It may seem odd that I'm writing about my holiday "blues" this late in the game, but for me, Christmas day is the darkest. It brings inexplicable depression and despair, so I call it D-Day. All the hoopla in the weeks preceding Christmas doesn't bother me at all. In fact, that's when I have fun getting my holiday…Read more Distractions from Depression During the Holidays – Do They Work?
Sewing Stitches vs Surgery Stitches
This morning at 7 am, as I sat in the Radiology department of the hospital, all prepped for surgery to remove my port, I found myself rehearsing what I was going to say to the surgeon. "Look, it's not terribly red anymore, and it doesn't hurt. Can we skip the surgery?" These were not the…Read more Sewing Stitches vs Surgery Stitches
Dionne’s Demise – Stress?
On the day before Thanksgiving I found one of my beloved box turtles lifeless in the middle of the aquarium. In 2008, I adopted three eastern box turtles from a friend at the zoo, whose children had "outgrown" them. My friend had hatched these three turtles eight years earlier as a way of teaching her…Read more Dionne’s Demise – Stress?
Dogged Hope 