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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Where has Terra Toby Been?

My last post ended with a note: Back next week after a short break. In hindsight I probably should have taken out the adjective.

Buddy Dive Resort, Bonaire, Dutch Antilles


Caribbean Sunset


Giant Anemone


We were going on a scuba vacation, and I feel uncomfortable about announcing plans to travel. Hey thieves, empty house coming right up. But I really did mean to pick up reading blogs and writing my own this week.

Like the song says, life is what happens while you're making other plans.

We came back from vacation and had to unpack and get the house clean, buy groceries, mow, and complete all the other little tasks involved in restoring ordinary daily life. Well, if I'm honest, there was a bit of napping too. Good thing too, as it turns out.

Monday morning Ted left for a business trip. On Tuesday I picked up our 3 year old grandson for a solo visit while his little sister had surgery. (She's doing fine and yesterday we learned that the lump was benign.) Fun? Of course! Every day was full of surprises, sweet moments, and all the joys grandmothers are always blabbing about. We were off and running by 5:30 most days, and the little guy didn't stop moving until 7:30 P.M. For an old retired lady who feels no guilt about sleeping till 8, afternoon siestas, and whiling away the day with a book, it was a revelation to discover that keeping up with a toddler is like taking a 14 hour aerobics class. Every day.






By 7:30 the TV remote and a fork was all the activity I could manage. In all sincerity, I don't know how my daughter keeps up with two. I don't know how I ever did, once upon a time.

Today he went home to his family. So, I'll be back to blogging as usual now. 

But if you don't see a new post for a few days, it's because I'm sacked out on the couch.



Thursday, April 3, 2014

Happy Birthday, Jane Goodall




Happy 80th Birthday, Dr. Jane Goodall
(sign her birthday card)

Credit: Why Not Girl!
Even as a young girl, she organized a nature club for her friends.
Photo Credit: Hugo Van Lawick
For decades, she courageously observed chimps in their natural African habitat, being the first to show that they were not vegetarians and that they used tools. 
Photo Credit: Ron Henggleler
She founded "Roots and Shoots", an organization that supports youth conservation initiatives and has impacted 150,000 young people in 130 countries.

Awareness Helps Ⓥ AnimalsEarthHealth
She has fearlessly advocated for animals her entire life.
Photo Credit: Stuart Clarke
And she has never despaired of the ability of people to positively change our world.
Photo Credit: The Jane Goodall Institute

"It is easy to be overwhelmed by feelings of

hopelessness as we look around the world. We

are losing species at a terrible rate, the balance of

 nature is disturbed, and we are destroying our

beautiful planet. We have fear about water

supplies, where future energy will come from

– and most recently the developed world has been

 mired in an economic crisis. But in spite of all

this I do have hope. And my hope is based on

four factors.

Click here to see Dr. Goodall's four reasons.


You can watch a 3-minute biography here (unfortunately no embed code is provided):

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Let The Camping Begin!

In the midst of this never-ending winter, we snuck in a camping weekend at Medoc Mountain State Park. I felt like we pulled a fast one on Mother Nature. She must have been busy elsewhere, causing floods or droughts or some other nastiness. For a change we had sunshine and blue skies.



 I've written before about the beauty of this park in North Carolina, and how we only visit in early spring and late fall because of a certain insect overpopulating the woods. Honestly I thought this time we'd be safe from the ticks, due to the many below-freezing nights we've had. But we still saw a few of the loathsome things. Fortunately I had applied Toby's topical prevention in advance. We didn't let the bugs deter us.

We arrived Friday afternoon and quickly set up our forest green tent. I spread the vinyl tablecloth over the scarred picnic table, unfolded the camp chairs by the fire pit, and filled Toby's water dish. Ted unloaded the cooler and bought wood from the camp host while Toby and I gathered a nice stack of kindling. With hours of daylight left, there was plenty of time for a hike. It felt great to get out on the trail after sitting in the car. 

It was chilly once the sun went down. Toby slept all night, nose curled under his tail. At seven he was ready to start the day, which he announced by pushing his nose under the sleeping bag and snuffling excitedly all around my head. I buried myself deeper, hoping Ted would get up and take him out (and make the all-important coffee). Which he did. Morning people. What would we do without them?

After a pot of coffee and cereal (us) and kibble (Toby), we packed lunch. I filled a water bladder for us and two smaller ones for Toby to carry in his backpack along with his foldable bowl. Ted had planned a 9 mile hike, taking us on all of the park's trails but two. As the sun rose it got steadily warmer...and then actually hot by lunchtime. 


For much of the day we hike along the Little Fishing River. I was hoping to see river otters but we had to settle for a water snake (not a poisonous one). The little rapids in the river were roaring, glittering in the sun. Very few people were out on the trails. Toby rarely had to be leashed.



Watching a dog enjoying himself, tail up, eyes bright, big grin with tongue hanging out, is a great way to spend a day. He took a nice deep sleep when the hike was done, under the picnic table in the shade, as he loves to do. Ted and I drank our beer and watched the sun go down over the trees. On Sunday we got another hike in before barely beating the rain home. 



My consolation, now that it's cold with more snow on the way, is that weekends like this will start happening more and more as we roll into summer.



 Let the camping season of 2014 begin!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Man Of The Forest

Who can resist orangutans? 
Image Source: World Wildlife Fund
Orangutans are only found on Sumatra and Borneo. Their name means 'man of the forest' in Malay, and a close look at their faces shows why. 

Next week at my docent training at the Virginia Zoo we will meet the Director, who will speak with us about the conservation, breeding, and collection policies at the zoo. I've been thinking of questions to ask him. 

(More on a more thoughtful day about the docent training and the zoo, but so far it's been great).

Both of the orangutans at our zoo, Schnitz and Pepper, are Sumatran/Bornean hybrids, which means they are ineligible for AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) captive breeding. Since Bornean orangutans are endangered and Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered, I'd like to know more about how the orangutans were acquired. The Virginia Zoo website says both are zoo-born, and,

"Schnitz, a male orangutan, and Pepper, a female, were actually playmates when very young, but spent some time apart at separate zoos before being reunited in 1995. They have been together since and came to the Virginia Zoo together in 2011."
Schnitz in his favorite corner at the Virginia Zoo. Copyright Terra Toby.

Schnitz and Pepper. Copyright Terra Toby.

Pepper gives a thumbs-up. No, actually putting something tasty daintily between her lips. Copyright Terra Toby.

 A surprising number of the animals in the collection were the result of confiscations from the illegal wildlife trade. That is the fourth largest criminal activity in the world, right after human trafficking, according to World Wildlife Fund.
Stop Wildlife Crime. It's Dead Serious.

If you want more supercute pics of orangutans and basic facts about them, click here

Joining today's Thoughtless Thursday blog hop hosted by Ruckus the Eskie and Owned By A Husky.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Thoughtless Thursday: 2 Grateful 4 SAD

Do you get SAD? As in Seasonal Affective Disorder? I get clobbered every winter. I thought I had it beat this year when the New Year rolled in without the winter blahs rolling in first. 

But. Then came the Polar Vortex, and winter is lingering like a dog's toot at a holiday party.  SAD has been seeping in with the cold draft under the door. But over the years I've learned to count my blessings for the comforts and strategies that combat SAD.

Thanks, Chocolate
Preferably dark. Hot cocoa works too. Seriously, there are studies. You can look it up on the internet. 

Thanks, Gas Fireplaces
Warm and beautiful on the grayest of days. This is especially effective if you have a window view from the couch. Just bask in the warmth as you literally laugh in the face of Old Man Winter.

Thank you, Dog That Must Be Walked
Ever heard that if you feel depressed you need to get up and get out no matter how impossible it seems? Dog owners with the blues have an infallible enforcer of compliance with that prescription. Nothing like a whiny, stir-crazy dog alternately pleading and eyeing me with contempt to get me off the couch and into my long underwear. Before you know it I'm laughing at the ugliest snow princess ever to grace a suburban yard. 
Need proof? 
Exhibit A

Thank you,  Fiction Writers
They take us out of our heads and into someone else's for a while. The best of them remind me that my problems are rather silly compared to the insurmountable crises their characters overcome.

Thanks, Friends and Family, Part I
They don't realize the magic. As my daughter says when thanked, "Of course"! But those daily contacts, real or virtual, are life-giving. On a gloomy day, getting a few "likes" on a Facebook link makes me feel like appreciated. Whether it's skyping with a grandchild, getting texted a photo of the snow from an adult daughter's back porch, holding hands at the movies with my spouse, or hearing about a friend's vacation, it lifts my spirits. Depression corrodes self-worth. It may be self-centered, but this is a time when I need to be reminded that others care.

Thanks, Friends and Family, Part II
The other side of that coin is doing things for others. "Like" their photo on Facebook, send them an e-card, do one of your spouse's usual chores, bring home a surprise bottle of wine, fix a special dessert…whatever it is that you do for a family member or friend, it just plain feels good. A little bit of 'pay it forward' for a total stranger works too. Tiny stuff - like letting someone in front of me in traffic - is enough to improve my day.

Not a complete list, is it? Do you get SAD? If so, what do you do that lifts your spirits while waiting for Spring?

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

When Uplifting Isn't Enough

 I love wildlife. I love wildlife so much, I gave my pet-niche-only blog a complete reboot, summed up in the new tag line, "loving life, inside [pets] and out [wildlife].

So why did it feel like such a chore today to sit down and type a post? 

This question dominated my thoughts as Toby and I took another (freezing) walk. It bothered me at my doctor appointment and when I stared, overwhelmed, at my blog reading list, emails, and Facebook news feed. 

From recent emails:
-Idaho wants to kill 450 wolves!
-Protect endangered Florida panthers!
-Protect polar bears from oil drilling!
-Say no to Keystone XL!

My Facebook news feed has sad stuff about the orcas at Sea World, black-footed ferrets, migratory songbirds…oh my. 

While thinking of ordering a cool new book, The Sixth Extinction, a small voice in my head said, "Are you sure you want to know more about that than you already do?". 

It's no different on the domestic animal side of the house. Pets needing adoption to dogfighting to factory farming, there's a constant drumbeat of suffering. Man, it can be a real downer to care about animals. Like the song says, love hurts.



Wouldn't it be better if we stopped talking about all this misery? Couldn't we tell only the positive, uplifting, stories? Is that the direction my blog should take?

 Some people do a HUGE thing that shakes an issue like an earthquake, that gets shared 4 zillion times on social media, makes Google News, and goes viral on YouTube.


Meanwhile millions of us are doing tiny things, acts that no one will ever know about, that can be fit into busy lives; actions that won't bust the budget, cause a family argument, or land us in jail. Google News won't be headlining your $25 donation or your signature on that petition. You won't be on the front page of the paper throwing a can into a recycling bin or bringing a reusable water bottle to the gym. 

Big and small, all these actions, in the aggregate, have a positive effect. They have something else in common too.

Each action begins with someone who knows about a problem and does something about it. In the fifty years since Rachel Carson, the environment and our treatment of animals  has improved because heroes spoke out loudly about ugliness that no one wanted to see.

No. My blog can't be only about the day-brighteners. Sometimes an issue needs thousands of big bright lights shining on it so it can't  hide on dark fringes of society's awareness. And on some days, one of those lights can be mine.


Thursday, January 30, 2014

Thoughtless Thursday: Not Everyone Hates The Snow

Okay, most of our dogs love snow even though we may not.
But what are polar bears at zoos in North America doing?
Reviews are mixed. Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo is among those that kept their polar bears inside. Without the extra fat they'd put on eating blubber in the wild, zookeepers say it's just too cold for them.

But in Denver, Winnipeg and Toronto, the polar bears are perhaps happier than anyone about the snow!
 Photo courtesy Denver Zoo/Facebook



(MELISSA TAIT / WINNIPEG FREE PRE)

From Toronto,  here's a baby polar bear seeing snow for the first time:

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Isn't It A Rule?

RE: 
http://www.weather.com/news/snow-leaves-atlanta-schools-struggling-respond-20140128


I thought it was a rule.
In a blizzard you cancel school.
Ice, on roads frozen,
Means buses ain't runnin'.
The school district looks like a fool.
AP PHOTO/BRANDEN CAMP

We're glad all the students are warm.
Teachers: KUDOS! You kept them from harm.
But bureaucrats: if snow's a scarcity - 
err on acting with alacrity!
The forecast ain't always a false alarm.

Things happen, we all know it's so.
Hindsight is perfect, we know.
But when it's your call
And you completely drop the ball
It's kids who are stranded in the snow.

19 Action News WOIO 




Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Marine Mammals Don't Belong in Captivity! Be the Change For Animals

"There are many opportunities in which enormous suffering by animals can be reduced at a small cost to humans."
Stephen Pinker
The Better Angels of  our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

"Since the tragic death of Dawn Brancheau Tilikum has been kept isolated in a concrete tank far too small for his size. Does SeaWorld really provide him with the proper care he requires? The only purpose Tilikum serves SeaWorld today is as a living reproduction machine. This is no life for any animal, especially not for such an intelligent and social one. Let Tilikum go!"
Jessica Wysser

Photo Credit: Voice of the Blue

When my daughters were toddlers we were lucky enough to live in Bermuda for four months. Among the many fun things we found to do was attending the dolphin show at a little marine park. I didn't give it much thought; it was just something entertaining for me and the kids.

When they were bigger we lived in San Diego. We went to SeaWorld a couple of times, and were awestruck by the Shamu show. The sea lion show was hilarious. The animals performed flawlessly. We were told that the tricks they did were based on natural behaviors and that all the animals enjoyed performing. I believed this, in spite of all my education in biology. (Or maybe because of it; in the 70's we were taught that animals were incapable of feeling the way humans do - 'don't be anthropomorphic!')

Click here to see a youtube video exposing other myths about marine mammals in captivity.

Last fall we had a long layover in Atlanta, and took the opportunity to visit the fabulous aquarium there. It was more incredible than I imagined. Long after our visit however I was haunted by watching the beluga whales swimming in endless circles in their cement swimming pool. One of them had scraped itself raw by ritually rubbing against the same spot on the viewing glass as it went around, and around, and around again, probably hundreds of times a day.

It didn't seem right for the 'canaries of the sea' to be imprisoned that way.

Two weeks ago, I watched a documentary called "Blackfish". I'd never heard of it. I was stunned by the callous mistreatment of the orcas and the greed of Sea World in exploiting them AND their human trainers.

Click here to watch the trailer for Blackfish. You can find Blackfish on Netflix streaming.

While researching for this post I discovered a review of the book Death at Sea World  on the blog Voice For The Blue. Here is an excerpt from the review:

With the upcoming release of the new documentary Blackfish, I decided to finally read Death at Sea World. Simply put, it is an inspiring, heartbreaking, thriller, that provides significant insight into the lives of Killer Whales in captivity. Kirby takes you through a gripping investigation that is hard to put down. The book in the end, is an eye opener to Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity.

The Humane Society of the United States has this to say about marine mammals in captivity:

"Life for captive whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals 
is nothing like a life in the ocean. It is almost impossible to maintain a family group in captivity, a tragedy for whales and dolphins. When you see marine mammals in tanks or pools, consider what they have lost in order to entertain us."

Orcas are highly intelligent and social. Scans of orca brains have revealed that they have an additional structure in the limbic area that humans lack. The limbic area is physiologically the seat of the emotions. Neurologists have concluded that the social bonds and communication between orca families (pods) is on a level we can only imagine. In the wild, orcas stay with their mothers for their entire lives.

The orcas used in shows are taken as babies (cheaper to transport). Literally, they are kidnapped from their families as calves. Blackfish shows the heartbreaking grief of the captive mother orcas when SeaWorld takes their babies away.

Orcas use language. We can't understand it of course, but marine scientists have concluded that some whale species have names! Upon greeting another whale, they repeat this sequence of sounds (their name) precisely. Dolphins are now known to call their friend's name when they are separated (click here for more). By the way, anatomically orcas are the largest dolphin species.

It's appalling to think of these sentient animals being held in swimming pools in what amounts to solitary confinement. Perhaps worse is when they are held together and don't get along - a bullied whale can't get away.

Be the Change for these animals. Watch Blackfish. Sign the petition to Free Tilly and end the practice of keeping marine mammals in captivity. Take the pledge to never buy a ticket to a dolphin show or swim with dolphins in captivity. 
Photo Credit: www.earthintransition.org

Blog the Change

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Wordy Wednesday: New Year, New Blog

This week Training Toby added its 45th follower, so it's unnerving to announce that as of February 1, Training Toby will become Terra Toby!

I'm so excited because Terra Toby will include all of the fun Toby content, plus Pinterest and Facebook.  I'll be able to blog about wildlife and conservation too. As the tag line will say, the blog is about
celebrating this wild life on Earth!

Followers, please don't wait to visit Terra Toby. You can see it as a work-in-progress right now - and start following today. You can watch the blog grow into my vision for it without missing a single post. 
Why change Training Toby to Terra Toby?

Toby has resigned his Therapy Dog gig.
Toby's shyness had progressed by September to the point where on our last day at the hospital, he was cowering behind my legs as another visitor reached for his head. I started Training Toby to document our journey through therapy dog training and service. On that last day I realized, "Toby, you are not Bert. You are not Snoopy. You are not Goose or Sugar. You are Toby, and you aren't having any fun at all. That must change." And so Training Toby must change now too.

I don't have time for 2 blogs.
Sometimes I can't even keep up with 1 blog the way I'd like to! But I feel pulled to blog about some of the wildlife and ocean issues I'm so passionate about. For example, the photos of the birth of an adorable new monk seal in Hawaii last week went on Pinterest but didn't seem suitable for a Toby-only blog. Now I can appropriately bring cool events like that front and center and share them with my blog friends.

I want to keep stretching and challenging myself as a blogger.
I want to do some blog redesign and incorporate more social media, as well as add some new pages to my blog. 

Other bloggers have inspired me to 'go for it'.
Retro Rover, formerly Urban Hounds, made launching a broader blog look amazing. Pawsitively Pets has an incredible Pinterest page. Sugar the Golden Retriever has this beautiful Facebook page. Sew Many Ways has thousands 0f followers. I know it will be weeks of challenging fun to acquire a tenth of their skill and appeal, but that's what makes this an adventure!

I've loved Training Toby and always will. I love the design, which my beautiful daughter Lauren did for me. I love each and every one of you, my friends and followers. I'm humbled that you took the time to visit me and Toby. I look forward to seeing you on our new blog, Terra Toby!


Wordy Wednesday: New Year, New Blog

This week Training Toby added its 45th follower, so it's unnerving to announce that soon, Training Toby will become Terra Toby!

I'm so excited because Terra Toby will include all of the fun Toby content, plus Pinterest and Facebook.  I'll be able to blog about wildlife and conservation too. As the tag line will say, the blog is about
celebrating this wild life on Earth!

Don't wait to visit Terra Toby. You can see it as a work-in-progress - and start following today. You can watch the blog grow into my vision for it without missing a single post. 
Why change Training Toby to Terra Toby?

Toby has resigned his Therapy Dog gig.
Toby's shyness had progressed by September to the point where on our last day at the hospital, he was cowering behind my legs as another visitor reached for his head. I started Training Toby to document our journey through therapy dog training and service. On that last day I realized, "Toby, you are not Bert. You are not Snoopy. You are not Goose or Sugar. You are Toby, and you aren't having any fun at all. That must change." And so Training Toby must change now too.

I don't have time for 2 blogs.
Sometimes I can't even keep up with 1 blog the way I'd like to! But I feel pulled to blog about some of the wildlife and ocean issues I'm so passionate about. For example, the photos of the birth of an adorable new monk seal in Hawaii last week went on Pinterest but didn't seem suitable for a Toby-only blog. Now I can appropriately bring cool events like that front and center and share them with my blog friends.

I want to keep stretching and challenging myself as a blogger.
I want to do some blog redesign and incorporate more social media, as well as add some new pages to my blog. 

Other bloggers have inspired me to 'go for it'.
Retro Rover, formerly Urban Hounds, made launching a broader blog look amazing. Pawsitively Pets has an incredible Pinterest page. Sugar the Golden Retriever has this beautiful Facebook page. Sew Many Ways has over 1000 followers. I know it will be weeks of challenging fun to acquire a tenth of their skill and appeal, but that's what makes this an adventure!

I've loved Training Toby and always will. I love the design, which my beautiful daughter Lauren did for me. I love each and every one of you, my friends and followers. I'm humbled that you took the time to visit me and Toby. I look forward to seeing you on our new blog, Terra Toby!


Monday, January 13, 2014

Monday Mischief: Violated My Probation: Back to the Crate

It wasn't my fault.

Toby at the keyboard to explain the recent events leading up to my re-incarceration:
It's the vet's fault.
It happened like this.
First, SHE made cookies, lots and lots of cookies. Did I get to taste test them? No siree, not even ONE cookie came my way. Most of them went into the pantry but she put 16 of them into a little hand- painted apothecary jar on the counter (yes, SHE had done the tole painting on the wooden lid and I admit, it was pretty cute). Being the patient pup that I am, I waited until they went out for dinner the next evening. As the headlights receded down the driveway I gently used my soft Golden retriever jaws to lower the jar to the floor, prodded out the lid, and one by one I feasted on chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies. Yum! Lemme just say she could teach those Milk Bone people a thing or two. Sadly the painted lid was not so tasty. I barely gnawed it at all. Truly.

I would never have done this if the Vet had not weighed me and told my people that I have (gasp) love handles. I don't know why something with the word 'love' in it means I have to live a ravenous life. But that is the unfair treatment I've gotten ever since.

Workers came and banged on the outside of our house for 2 weeks and almost drove me nuts. I couldn't go out in the yard unless I was leashed because they had the gates open all day. I barked at them every day but they trespassed anyway. Sometimes HE even invited them inside! Finally they left. The people stepped outside to look at whatever mischief those workers had done. They left the pantry door just slightly ajar…well. Basically they were inviting me to help myself to the greenies, right? Actually, two whole unopened bags of greenies, since they'd just been to the commissary… My poop was green for 3 days! That's what you call a FIESTA!

For some reason they weren't as happy as me when they came back inside

Two nights ago HE brought out his new telescope after dinner and went out back to set it up. Soon he was hollering for HER to hurry and get a jacket to come and see Jupiter and its moons, whatever that is. I pretended to snooze while she left the unwashed 9x13 pan on the counter. Yowzer did it make a noise when it hit the tile floor! They both came running but I was already in the other room;  I know better than to walk on all that broken glass!

SHE said a very RUDE thing then. "I hope the noise scared the s**t out of him!" she told HIM. Why would she hope such a terrible thing? 

The crate came back into the kitchen and now every time they leave me alone in the house I have to go into it. I look as pathetic as possible but the parole board isn't going to meet for awhile I guess. 

The Vet is who belongs in a crate! If she hadn't sentenced me to life on short rations NONE of this would have happened, right? Right? 

What's the matter with love handles anyway?

Poor Toby. He does accuse us of cruel and unusual punishment these days. We want him to be healthy for a long time. Too bad we can't explain it to him; it's hard enough to diet when you do understand what's going on! That said, there's naughty and then there's NAUGHTY, and he had graduated to the latter. So the crate will have to stay.

Monday Mischief: Violated My Probation: Back to the Crate

It wasn't my fault.

Toby at the keyboard to explain the recent events leading up to my re-incarceration:
It's the vet's fault.
It happened like this.
First, SHE made cookies, lots and lots of cookies. Did I get to taste test them? No siree, not even ONE cookie came my way. Most of them went into the pantry but she put 16 of them into a little hand- painted apothecary jar on the counter (yes, SHE had done the tole painting on the wooden lid and I admit, it was pretty cute). Being the patient pup that I am, I waited until they went out for dinner the next evening. As the headlights receded down the driveway I gently used my soft Golden retriever jaws to lower the jar to the floor, prodded out the lid, and one by one I feasted on chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies. Yum! Lemme just say she could teach those Milk Bone people a thing or two. Sadly the painted lid was not so tasty. I barely gnawed it at all. Truly.

I would never have done this if the Vet had not weighed me and told my people that I have (gasp) love handles. I don't know why something with the word 'love' in it means I have to live a ravenous life. But that is the unfair treatment I've gotten ever since.

Workers came and banged on the outside of our house for 2 weeks and almost drove me nuts. I couldn't go out in the yard unless I was leashed because they had the gates open all day. I barked at them every day but they trespassed anyway. Sometimes HE even invited them inside! Finally they left. The people stepped outside to look at whatever mischief those workers had done. They left the pantry door just slightly ajar…well. Basically they were inviting me to help myself to the greenies, right? Actually, two whole unopened bags of greenies, since they'd just been to the commissary… My poop was green for 3 days! That's what you call a FIESTA!

For some reason they weren't as happy as me when they came back inside

Two nights ago HE brought out his new telescope after dinner and went out back to set it up. Soon he was hollering for HER to hurry and get a jacket to come and see Jupiter and its moons, whatever that is. I pretended to snooze while she left the unwashed 9x13 pan on the counter. Yowzer did it make a noise when it hit the tile floor! They both came running but I was already in the other room;  I know better than to walk on all that broken glass!

SHE said a very RUDE thing then. "I hope the noise scared the s**t out of him!" she told HIM. Why would she hope such a terrible thing? 

The crate came back into the kitchen and now every time they leave me alone in the house I have to go into it. I look as pathetic as possible but the parole board isn't going to meet for awhile I guess. 

The Vet is who belongs in a crate! If she hadn't sentenced me to life on short rations NONE of this would have happened, right? Right? 

What's the matter with love handles anyway?

Poor Toby. He does accuse us of cruel and unusual punishment these days. We want him to be healthy for a long time. Too bad we can't explain it to him; it's hard enough to diet when you do understand what's going on! That said, there's naughty and then there's NAUGHTY, and he had graduated to the latter. So the crate will have to stay.

Friday, January 10, 2014

See Beautiful: Smells Can Be Beautiful Too!

Smell is our most primitive sense. Marcel Proust is probably the most famous example of memory being triggered by an odor. He flashed back to his childhood upon smelling a madeleine (cookie), and ended up writing War and Peace as a result. Maybe it's a plus for most of us that cookie smells merely cause us to smile and head for the pantry.

We humans value smelling pleasant. This week I got a very nice present from Lydia at See Beautiful and Rosalyn at Sugar the Golden Retriever (visit them on the blog hop!).  They sent me Mimosa Soap from See Beautiful, and it does smell heavenly. 

I said it smells heavenly, Toby, not edible.
Speaking of edible, you probably knew that smell is crucial for our brains to process taste. One of my former colleagues did a great lab in her Anatomy and Physiology class. She provided several strongly flavored items, like minty gum and vanilla. She had her students hold their noses (blindfolded) and try to guess what they were tasting. Most of the time they were baffled, and she made her point. Next time you enjoy a beautiful treat thank your nose.

Consider that a dog's sense of smell is 14,000 times better than ours.
 Explains a lot.

It's not just food that seems more beautiful with a nice smell. I get a Yankee Candle jar that smells like a Christmas tree and burn it every day while our artificial tree is up. It was part of the deal I made with my husband to convince him to go with a tree made in China. I'm not alone: from Yankee Candle's own financial report


Retail sales were $176.0 million for the first six months of 

fiscal 2013, an increase of $13.2 million or 8.1% over the prior

 year period

Perfumes are big business too. Reportedly, a bottle of Chanel #5, 

based on tuberose and jasmine, is sold every 30 seconds. And who 

can help being disappointed by roses and other flowers that have 

no smell?


It's not just food and plants that smell nice. Think of babies and 

little puppies. Think of your significant other's scent. Actually, a 

common phenomenon when loved ones are separated is to hang on

 to an unwashed shirt or pillowcase for the comforting smell. 

When Kasey died I kept his brush, which hadn't been cleaned and

 was full of fur. For months I could pull it from the closet and 

soothe my grief with a sniff. To me, Kasey smelled beautiful. 

It works both ways too. A common tip for preventing separation

 anxiety is to put a nice stinky undershirt into the dog's crate.

I hope your sights and smells will be Beautiful today.
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