4 jersey walls, 3 scrapes to my leg and hands and 10 miles later, I completed the Army 10 Miler.
It was a rough start as races go. I didn't get to the race as early as I had hoped and was rushing to get to the start on time, hence the jersey wall climbing. I noticed a girl looking at my hand as we waited for the gun at the starting line and realized my hand was bleeding. Pretty sure the skin I was missing was probably back on the last jersey wall. Finally we were moving and my thoughts went to other things then the stinging sensation on my finger and shin. At the beginning of every race I do the same thing. I look around and size up the competition. I know I'm not the fastest runner but there's still a competitive side in me. A few miles into a race I usually find someone that I'm running next to or behind and I check out their form, compare our paces and of course, see what type of sneakers they're wearing. Today I found myself in back of a girl who wore shirt that read, "Steel Horse". Miles later I lost her but still found myself looking for her, "Where's Iron Horse, or was it Iron Fist? Where did the Iron Curtain go?"
As you can guess by the name the race had a military theme. I saw many soldiers who served both past and present. One of the many noteworthy characteristics about the military is their sense of "we". They always have each other's backs and look out for one another. Along the way I was motivated by genuine acts of teamwork and support. Lots of people cheering on in the crowds flanking the street which comprised of proud spouses and children holding posters for their loved one that was running. But the most motivating people were the people I was running next to.
I wasn't able to stick to the training plan I created and ended up doing my longest run at only 8 miles. I would worry about how to get through the last two on race day. How did I do it? I willed myself. I started visualizing the word BELIEVE. And yes, it worked. There were times when I thought I felt a cramp coming on but I just stuck to my mantra of "believe". I also found myself changing the lyrics to the song, "I could really use a wish right now" to "I could really use a downhill now", that helped too. Around mile 4 I saw a man on the side of the road. He was sitting down and changing his prosthetic leg, both of them. He had a team of people surrounding him that we're helping him and cheering him on. I saw several other wounded warriors out on the 10 mile stretch. Some of them running with one prosthetic, some of them had two. All of them were running fast, a lot of them faster than me, but all of them were out there giving this race their all. None of them were complaining about a cramp, threatening to stop. My inspiration had been found.
It's amazing what the human mind can do. When you focus on something, will yourself to keep pushing and visualize successfully completing a goal it can really happen. And when that doesn't work, take a look around to see how other people are accomplishing their goals. Cramps, a rough start or a skinned shin are both minor and fleeting. I'm fortunate to be able to run races. I think it's sad that a lot of people who are inactive don't realize the natural gifts and talents their functioning bodies afford them. Whatever your activity is, be it walking, running or biking, it's important to do it with purpose and to push yourself. If you don't ever push your body once in a while you'll never really know what your capable of physically. Be thankful for your body and treat it well, you only get one.
I dedicate this blog to the men and women in our military who ran this race today, to those who are serving in a war and couldn't be here to run and to those we have lost in the war that were never given the opportunity.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
My Life as a Seinfeld Episode
One of the first jobs I had was working in retail. I've worked in all kinds of stores; shoe, jewelry and clothing. I remember one Christmas season when I was working at the clothing store and running late. I had a tendency of always running late, sometimes really late. My hair was as big as my attitude and I thought I had everything figured out like most of us in our early 20's. As I pulled into the mall parking lot like a bat out of hell, going way too fast and frantically looking for a spot, a guy backed out of a spot in front of me. I had to slam on my brakes because I was going so fast and narrowly avoided side swiping the car. Like any 20 something who was at fault but couldn't admit it, I did what came naturally, I got pissed at the guy who pulled out in front of me. I waved my fist in the air and flagged him with one dramatic middle finger while mouthing words I would never say in front of a priest. The guy, who was most likely equally startled at the sight of my black Ford Tempo racing towards him and the sight of me inside with all my big hair raging around me, looked frightened for a moment, but then he returned my fistful of anger with his own. I locked eyes with the guy and remembered his face. He pulled forward, I drove around him and ran inside to work. The situation wrapped up as quick as it had started, at least it did in my mind.
About a week later, I was back at work for a day shift on a Saturday. My boss was looking forward to her lunch break because she was meeting family and they were going to do some Christmas shopping. I was behind the counter checking out a customer. As I finished putting her item in the bag I looked up and saw someone standing off to the side of the cash wrap but didn't take a good look at them. As my customer left my boss walked up and said, "OK, I'm going to head to lunch now, my dad's here" and she looked in the direction behind me. I turned around and low and behold there's the man from the parking lot incident! My boss made the introduction, "Dad, I want you to meet my coworker, Marianne." My face must have turned a million shades of crimson. He looked me in the eye, those same eyes that I had looked into a week prior,(and flipped a massive bird to), and said, "Oh, we met last week in the parking lot, I'm Tanya's father."
I had some explaining and apologizing to do that afternoon when my boss returned from lunch.
The world is a small, small place. And just when you think it's big, it gets even smaller.
This past winter I started taking boot camp or as I like to call it, booty camp. I took the class with my friend twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. We realized right away that there was a clique of sorts in booty camp. This clique consisted of the die hard boot campers who had been taking the class for years, unlike my friend and I. The instructor called the members of the clique by their first names which meant he knew them well. He would ask them to do stuff like set up equipment, put weights away, etc. I was kind of happy the instructor didn't know my name after seeing the chores he would make them do.
The clique had a group of girls that consisted of a few really butchy looking girls and a few really bitchy looking girls. As for the latter, there was a duo of a brunette and a blonde. The blonde was just not nice. She always had this look on her face that kind of said, "all of you guys could be standing here on fire and I could have a bucket of water in my hands and I wouldn't help you." She was the kind of girl who would take two mats for herself when the instructor would specifically say, "We ran out of mats, is anyone using two?" And she would sit there with her big ass on two mats and never make any attempt to give one to someone who would end up using their towel instead. (I know this b/c I witnessed her first hand depositing two mats back on the rack at the end of class; trust me she wasn't picking up someone else's to be a good Samaritan either.)
During our boot camp class there would be times when we would have to pass a weight or a bar to the next person in class. Most people would do it with some type of exchange like, "thanks!" and "no problem!" or "you're welcome!". Not her. She would shove her big arm out and extend the weight towards you as if to say, "You better grab this bitch because I'm about to let go, and if it hits the floor, it sure ain't my fault!" The brunette was just her sidekick. I never actually heard her say anything mean or act rude towards anyone. She was guilty by association.
A few weeks ago I had a doctor appointment with my primary care physician. I never actually see the doctor, I just go to the physician's assistant. After getting the blood work portion done I was told to sit in the waiting room because Amanda was running behind schedule. As I cleaned out my Gmail inbox I heard a voice call my name. I stood up, grabbed my purse and started walking toward the door. As I made eye contact with the person holding the door and my chart, I had to do a double take. Was I seeing things because I hadn't eaten in 12 hours? Or was the girl that I was walking towards the brunette from the booty camp clique? I took a few more steps, squinted and realized it was her. One of the booty camp bitches was my PA? How did this happen? I've been going to my doctor for years and have never seen her in here before.
Apparently, I had though. She did my last appointment in 2010 turns out. Somehow the connection was never made at the gym. Maybe it was the lack of a white jacket and stethoscope?
I followed her back to the exam room and took a seat. She didn't recognize me, or did she? We exchanged the normal hellos and she started in with the routine questions. It was somewhere between asking if I was taking any new medications and if I had any surgeries in the past year where I just erupted and said, "You go to the WSC around the corner on the Connecticut, right?" She was like, "I thought you looked really familiar. You're in my boot camp class." We chatted about the class, the instructor and how we were looking to do something different over the summer to change things up. I quickly realized, this girl is not a bitch, in fact, she's actually really nice.
Then my mind started racing as I thought about what the rest of the exam entailed. She's going to see me, like almost naked. I wasn't sure how I felt about booty camp cliquester knowing what I look like without a top on. But then I rationalized, she can see me without a top on in the locker room just as easily, if not easier. She's a professional and this is a doctor's office so I just needed to relax and get through this general physical. I admit that laying there on the table as she did the EKG and I was completely exposed on the top didn't really make me comfortable. She told me some funny stories about our booty camp instructor so that helped pass the time. Before I knew it I was walking out the door and heading back to work. All the while thinking, this is definitely going in the blog.
The lesson I learned here in both of these stories is that the world is very small. You never know if that guy who delivers your FedEx packages at work may turn out to be your friend's new boyfriend. The person on the elevator could be a VP from corporate that you never met before and that person you flipped a bird to could be your boss's father. Everyone is someone. The other lesson learned it that it never pays to judge people by the company they keep. It's a lot harder to do than it sounds and clearly I was guilty of doing it. Sometimes our friends act like douche bags and we can't control their behavior. But that doesn't mean we should be labeled or blamed for their actions.
I'm passing this lesson on because I think it's worth repeating and publicizing and I hope it prevents someone from making the same mistake. The older we get the wiser we get.
"Life isn't about learning to climb the hill in front of us, it's about learning to navigate the entire mountain range" -Mw
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Learning to Share the Facebook Way
Thanks to Facebook (FB) we are able to connect to people on a virtual level anytime, anywhere. We can share photos, useless details about our day, a great sale at our favorite store or an impromptu happy hour at a local bar. All of this posting and status updating has lots of benefits, but it also has a downside. The fine line between "over sharing" and "connecting" has become so smudged that I sometimes find myself reading an update and thinking, "I really didn't need to know that." Everyone's "privacy settings" on their level of discretion are different. I am not a big status update person. The details of my existence are shared with the people that need to know and who want to know; this doesn't include the 400+ friends I have on FB. The great thing about any social networking site is that we are able to express ourselves how we feel comfortable. Some people are really comfortable expressing themselves and with that I have come up with my biggest pet peeves on FB status updates. Some of you are going to get angry when you read this, but this is my opinion and only my opinion. If you're offended then we can agree to disagree.
FB Status Pet Peeves
1) Photos of feet. I know what you're thinking, you were on vacation and wanted everyone to know you were on vacation but you were by yourself and didn't want to ask someone to take a photo of you, tried several times unsuccessfully to take your own picture and finally gave up and took a photo of your feet as proof. I have never met anyone whose feet were better looking than their face. I would rather see an off centered, close up of one eyeball than see a picture of your feet. Seriously, enough of the feet.
2) Photos of food. I'm not sure when this trend started or why, but what's up with photos of food? Photos of wine are good, especially if you're drinking alone. That way people know they should come find you so you're not drinking alone anymore. Trust me, no one wants to see photos of my food. For lunch you would see a spinach salad with tuna fish and carrots and craisins. You also don't want me to describe it in detail followed by the word, "yummy!" The word yummy is best used on people under the age of 9. Once you hit the double digits you gotta stop using that word. So unless you're getting personally served by Mike Isabella at Graffiato or you're on the Today show cooking with Giada, posting photos of your food is like white noise to me.
3) Photos of car thermometers. If you and I live in the same city, I'm fully aware of how hot outside it is on any given day. Thanks to national weather forecasts, I also know how hot it is in any other part of the country. You taking a photo of the temp your car is reading is not providing anyone with useful information. And if you're dumb enough to take it while driving you're just being ignorant. Do you really want to be that person who rear ended someone b/c you were taking a photo of the temperature on your dashboard?
4) Photos of cuts, scrapes, bruises or bug bites. If it's a sunburn and you have a big hand mark on your back, that's funny. But I don't need to see anything else. Sorry that you fell and scraped your knee. Grab a band-aid, put some neosporin on it and ask your BFF to kiss it, but don't photograph it.
5) The details of your sickness. If you're sick in the hospital I want to know. I'll be thinking of you and praying for you. If you're home with the common cold, the flu or your hungover, you can just leave it at that, "Sparky isn't feeling well today, drank too much at Circa last night." When you tell me more than that and use words like vomit, mucous or (my least favorite), diarrhea, you make me feel sick, too. Don't over share when you're sick, less is more.
6) Any photo taken while you're driving a car. See #3; enough said.
7) Posts telling me I need to re post your status if I love my dog, my sister or Jesus. My sisters and my family know I love them because I tell them. My mom and dad are not on FB so I have to tell them the "old fashioned" way and actually tell them. Jesus knows I love him because I go to mass. Last time I checked Jesus wasn't on FB either.
8) Political Rants and Bashing. Again, everyone has an opinion. If you want to post something that endorses your candidate go for it. The problem I have is when other people attack the person posting and start bashing that person's beliefs. Write whatever you want on your wall and as your status, but telling someone that they're "crazy" or an "idiot" for supporting someone that you don't agree with is overly aggressive. I think all of us have friends that do this and any use of the trigger words Democrat or Republican can send them into orbit about whatever subject is being discussed. These people need to join a meet up group or start a debate team; leave my FB wall out of it and take your soap box elsewhere.
9) Constantly Checking In. I get it, you're out at a bar and you want your posse to know where to find you. But the gym? Whole Foods? Getting your oil changed? I mean what's next, checking in for a bikini wax? That's great your 2000 miles are up and you need an oil change. If a family of raccoons was discovered under the hood by all means, take photos and share it. But if it's just your routine oil change keep that between you and the guy at Jiffy Lube.
Disclaimer: The context of this post is not directed to anyone in particular and should not be seen as a personal attack in any way. This is my two cents, and only that. Post whatever you want and use your FB page as you wish. But when I start over sharing and doing anything mentioned above, please let me know immediately.
The FB may be responsible for decreased productivity in the workplace, decreased attendance at high school reunions, it can also take credit for increasing friendships, socializing and spreading good news and humor. And, I think anything that increases the amount we laugh during the day is definitely a good thing.
"Life isn't about learning to climb the hill in front of us, it's about learning to navigate the entire mountain range" -Mw
FB Status Pet Peeves
1) Photos of feet. I know what you're thinking, you were on vacation and wanted everyone to know you were on vacation but you were by yourself and didn't want to ask someone to take a photo of you, tried several times unsuccessfully to take your own picture and finally gave up and took a photo of your feet as proof. I have never met anyone whose feet were better looking than their face. I would rather see an off centered, close up of one eyeball than see a picture of your feet. Seriously, enough of the feet.
2) Photos of food. I'm not sure when this trend started or why, but what's up with photos of food? Photos of wine are good, especially if you're drinking alone. That way people know they should come find you so you're not drinking alone anymore. Trust me, no one wants to see photos of my food. For lunch you would see a spinach salad with tuna fish and carrots and craisins. You also don't want me to describe it in detail followed by the word, "yummy!" The word yummy is best used on people under the age of 9. Once you hit the double digits you gotta stop using that word. So unless you're getting personally served by Mike Isabella at Graffiato or you're on the Today show cooking with Giada, posting photos of your food is like white noise to me.
3) Photos of car thermometers. If you and I live in the same city, I'm fully aware of how hot outside it is on any given day. Thanks to national weather forecasts, I also know how hot it is in any other part of the country. You taking a photo of the temp your car is reading is not providing anyone with useful information. And if you're dumb enough to take it while driving you're just being ignorant. Do you really want to be that person who rear ended someone b/c you were taking a photo of the temperature on your dashboard?
4) Photos of cuts, scrapes, bruises or bug bites. If it's a sunburn and you have a big hand mark on your back, that's funny. But I don't need to see anything else. Sorry that you fell and scraped your knee. Grab a band-aid, put some neosporin on it and ask your BFF to kiss it, but don't photograph it.
5) The details of your sickness. If you're sick in the hospital I want to know. I'll be thinking of you and praying for you. If you're home with the common cold, the flu or your hungover, you can just leave it at that, "Sparky isn't feeling well today, drank too much at Circa last night." When you tell me more than that and use words like vomit, mucous or (my least favorite), diarrhea, you make me feel sick, too. Don't over share when you're sick, less is more.
6) Any photo taken while you're driving a car. See #3; enough said.
7) Posts telling me I need to re post your status if I love my dog, my sister or Jesus. My sisters and my family know I love them because I tell them. My mom and dad are not on FB so I have to tell them the "old fashioned" way and actually tell them. Jesus knows I love him because I go to mass. Last time I checked Jesus wasn't on FB either.
8) Political Rants and Bashing. Again, everyone has an opinion. If you want to post something that endorses your candidate go for it. The problem I have is when other people attack the person posting and start bashing that person's beliefs. Write whatever you want on your wall and as your status, but telling someone that they're "crazy" or an "idiot" for supporting someone that you don't agree with is overly aggressive. I think all of us have friends that do this and any use of the trigger words Democrat or Republican can send them into orbit about whatever subject is being discussed. These people need to join a meet up group or start a debate team; leave my FB wall out of it and take your soap box elsewhere.
9) Constantly Checking In. I get it, you're out at a bar and you want your posse to know where to find you. But the gym? Whole Foods? Getting your oil changed? I mean what's next, checking in for a bikini wax? That's great your 2000 miles are up and you need an oil change. If a family of raccoons was discovered under the hood by all means, take photos and share it. But if it's just your routine oil change keep that between you and the guy at Jiffy Lube.
Disclaimer: The context of this post is not directed to anyone in particular and should not be seen as a personal attack in any way. This is my two cents, and only that. Post whatever you want and use your FB page as you wish. But when I start over sharing and doing anything mentioned above, please let me know immediately.
The FB may be responsible for decreased productivity in the workplace, decreased attendance at high school reunions, it can also take credit for increasing friendships, socializing and spreading good news and humor. And, I think anything that increases the amount we laugh during the day is definitely a good thing.
"Life isn't about learning to climb the hill in front of us, it's about learning to navigate the entire mountain range" -Mw
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
No Survey, Profile or Witty Email Required
I disagree with the statement that as we get older our "list of must haves" in a mate gets smaller because we are settling. I believe that the list gets tapered down because we realize what is important. The list becomes leaner because all of the fat has been cut out. I don't think you should have to fill out a lengthy question and answer survey in order to summarize what you're looking for in a partner. If you could ask for any three qualities in a person, what would they be?
These are mine...
1. Kill the Spiders.
Translation: Helping me face my fears.
Anyone who knows me is aware of my hatred of spiders. I rarely use the word "hate", in fact to me it's one of the worst words you can ever use. (This coming from someone who has a mouth of a truck driver and while at work the other day exclaimed, "Mother F*cker!" when my favorite pen died mid-sentence. When my co-worker asked, "Did you just say, Mother F*cker?" I said, "Yes, I did. I'm sorry if it offended you." He responded, "No, it didn't offend me but what happened?" I responded, "My favorite pen died. I'm left handed and it's hard to find pens that don't smudge. That was the only pen that I have here at work that didn't smudge, so it's a pretty big freaking deal!" He laughed and walked away. I'm pretty sure he thinks I have turrets.)
No, I don't think all spiders should die. Only the ones that ones that come into contact with me. The other day while walking out for my morning run I nearly walked smack dab into the middle of a web with a huge spider sitting right in the middle. I screamed and most likely woke up my neighbors. The spider ran away and with a couple of "kung fu" chops I was able to knock down the web and run for my life all the while splaying my hands back and forth as if I was putting out an invisible fire.
I realize I need someone to kill the spiders in my life for me. Maybe they can show me that they're not so scary after all. They can help me over come my fear and in turn make me a stronger person.
2. Put the fitted sheet on the bed.
Translation: Being a teammate with the everyday minutia that makes up life.
I dread changing sheets. Not so much the taking off part, but the putting them back on. I've tried all the tricks: do opposite corners, lift up the mattress corner, shove your knee into the mattress, etc. Because of this, putting the fitted sheet on the mattress has become the domestic chore I despise the most. I would rather clean my entire bathroom with a single paper towel and a tooth brush than have to struggle with a mattress corner. The tugging, pulling, breaking my nails and wrenching my back is a weekly wrestling match and I'm never the winner.
Some people say they wish they had someone that cleaned or cooked or did laundry. What all of that boils down to is having a teammate. Each person has the tasks they don't enjoy doing but when you have someone to help you out with the daily grind it makes life a lot easier.
3. Hold the sign for me at the finish line.
Translation: Support me no matter which race I'm running and what place I'm in.
Nothing compares to finishing a race and having someone there to cheer you on, either holding a sign or holding a water bottle or holding you upright. Everyone needs support and encouragement. Whether we are leading the pack and finishing in the top ten or bringing up the rear and finishing dead last. The support of someone who truly believes in you, even at times when you're doubting yourself, is the best feeling in the world.
The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
-G.K. Chesterton
Someone Like You
-Van Morrison
I've been searching a long time
For someone exactly like you
I've been travelling all around the world
Waiting for you to come through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. Someone exactly
Like you.
I've been travellin' a hard road
Lookin' for someone exactly like you
I've been carryin' my heavy load
Waiting for the light to come
Shining through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. Someone exactly
Like you.
I've been doin' some soul searching
To find out where you're at
I've been up and down the highway
In all kinds of foreign lands
Someone like you... etc.
I've been all around the world
Marching to the beat of a different
Drum.
But just lately I have
Realized
The best is yet to come.
These are mine...
1. Kill the Spiders.
Translation: Helping me face my fears.
Anyone who knows me is aware of my hatred of spiders. I rarely use the word "hate", in fact to me it's one of the worst words you can ever use. (This coming from someone who has a mouth of a truck driver and while at work the other day exclaimed, "Mother F*cker!" when my favorite pen died mid-sentence. When my co-worker asked, "Did you just say, Mother F*cker?" I said, "Yes, I did. I'm sorry if it offended you." He responded, "No, it didn't offend me but what happened?" I responded, "My favorite pen died. I'm left handed and it's hard to find pens that don't smudge. That was the only pen that I have here at work that didn't smudge, so it's a pretty big freaking deal!" He laughed and walked away. I'm pretty sure he thinks I have turrets.)
No, I don't think all spiders should die. Only the ones that ones that come into contact with me. The other day while walking out for my morning run I nearly walked smack dab into the middle of a web with a huge spider sitting right in the middle. I screamed and most likely woke up my neighbors. The spider ran away and with a couple of "kung fu" chops I was able to knock down the web and run for my life all the while splaying my hands back and forth as if I was putting out an invisible fire.
I realize I need someone to kill the spiders in my life for me. Maybe they can show me that they're not so scary after all. They can help me over come my fear and in turn make me a stronger person.
2. Put the fitted sheet on the bed.
Translation: Being a teammate with the everyday minutia that makes up life.
I dread changing sheets. Not so much the taking off part, but the putting them back on. I've tried all the tricks: do opposite corners, lift up the mattress corner, shove your knee into the mattress, etc. Because of this, putting the fitted sheet on the mattress has become the domestic chore I despise the most. I would rather clean my entire bathroom with a single paper towel and a tooth brush than have to struggle with a mattress corner. The tugging, pulling, breaking my nails and wrenching my back is a weekly wrestling match and I'm never the winner.
Some people say they wish they had someone that cleaned or cooked or did laundry. What all of that boils down to is having a teammate. Each person has the tasks they don't enjoy doing but when you have someone to help you out with the daily grind it makes life a lot easier.
3. Hold the sign for me at the finish line.
Translation: Support me no matter which race I'm running and what place I'm in.
Nothing compares to finishing a race and having someone there to cheer you on, either holding a sign or holding a water bottle or holding you upright. Everyone needs support and encouragement. Whether we are leading the pack and finishing in the top ten or bringing up the rear and finishing dead last. The support of someone who truly believes in you, even at times when you're doubting yourself, is the best feeling in the world.
The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
-G.K. Chesterton
Someone Like You
-Van Morrison
I've been searching a long time
For someone exactly like you
I've been travelling all around the world
Waiting for you to come through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. Someone exactly
Like you.
I've been travellin' a hard road
Lookin' for someone exactly like you
I've been carryin' my heavy load
Waiting for the light to come
Shining through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. Someone exactly
Like you.
I've been doin' some soul searching
To find out where you're at
I've been up and down the highway
In all kinds of foreign lands
Someone like you... etc.
I've been all around the world
Marching to the beat of a different
Drum.
But just lately I have
Realized
The best is yet to come.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
How Much is that Doggy in the......in Front of the Cat Aquarium?
Sticky.
Hot.
Humid.
And we had only been standing outside for 15 minutes.
It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and my sister Gaby and I had just arrived at PetSmart. We were going to be spending the next few hours volunteering at the Lucky Dog Animal Rescue Adoption Event that was being held in the parking lot. I knew it was going to be a difficult undertaking. I remembered volunteering with my friend Laurin in Boston about 5 years ago. She helped out at an animal shelter by taking the dogs on walks. I joined her one afternoon. I had never been at a pound or rescue shelter before and didn't think twice about what I was walking into that day. I grew up with dogs and loved being around them. Any shape or size, it didn't matter. I never had a decision in the selection process of the pets we had as a child. My father either knew someone or knew of a place that was breeding and he would go out and bring home a puppy. They were always a surprise, even to my mother, and they were always a spoiled a member of the family.
So when I walked in with Laurin to the shelter I had no idea the emotional tornado that was about to hit me. To this day I cannot watch an ASPCA commercial with a Sarah McLachlan song playing in the background because it makes me think of this experience. It wasn't the smell of the shelter, it wasn't the sounds of the shelter, it was what I saw. Cages and cages of dogs flanking a single aisle that seemed to go on for infinity. I looked at each of them. Their little faces spoke to me and they all shared the same message:
"Please take me home. I promise I won't make you mad like my last owner and I only want to make you happy. I will greet you everyday at the door with a wagging tail. I'll be your biggest cheerleader when you're in need of support and the best pillow you could ask for when you need a good cry. Just please don't make me spend another night in this place. If you take me home I will love you unconditionally, forever."
I may not be "the dog whisperer" but I definitely felt something that day. My eyes filled up with tears and I had to go outside. I was able to walk the dogs and help out because Laurin agreed to bring the dogs out to me so I didn't have to go back inside. One of the things I gained that day was a sense of awareness about the animal population problem. Its magnitude was something I had never really observed first hand.
Fast forward to this past Sunday. I tried telling myself to not look too closely at the dogs. I was there to volunteer and to help these dogs get a home, I can do this. We checked in and had a quick orientation on how to handle the dogs. Our job was to hold on to the dog's leash and answer any questions a perspective owner may have about the dog's breed, age, background, etc. I noticed lots and lots of volunteers arriving. The woman from Lucky Dog informed us that there would be close to 60 dogs at the event that day. That was a lot more than I had anticipated.
We lined up and were assigned to a dog. While I waited I observed the vehicles pulling up to the curb and unloading the dogs. Each vehicle was as unique as its occupants. Sedans, mini-vans, SUV's, each one filled with three or four dogs. I saw mixes of what appeared to be Chihuahuas, Beagles, Labs, Collies, Pit Bulls, Mutts, they just kept coming and coming and that's when it happened. My eyes landed on a very senior Golden Retriever, he was really old. There was so much white hair around his sweet face and he kind of walked with a gimp.
And then I lost it.
Tears filled my eyes and I felt all the muscles in my face tense up as I tried to prevent what was bound to happen. The advantage to being out in the hot sun was that no one knew if I was crying or sweating behind my sunglasses. After a few pinches to the back of my arm to get it together I stopped crying. It was hard and I couldn't look at that golden again. My sister Donna has a Golden Retriever named Sarge. I think about how sweet of a dog he is and how much he loves his family and everyone he meets. I tell him how handsome he is every time I visit him and his tail sways back and forth as if to say, "Oh, thank you, thank you very much. Please keep petting me!" I can't imagine seeing Sarge at an adoption event. This old Golden Retriever shouldn't have been at PetSmart that afternoon. He should have been sitting on a front porch somewhere enjoying a belly rub at the foot of his owner. Watching him pulverized my heart into a million pieces.
Before long it was my turn and I was matched up with my partner for the afternoon, Arnold.
Arnold was between 6 - 8 years old but I imagine he was much older judging by his difficulty getting around that day. He was a beagle and the other most noteworthy characteristic was that he was super duper lazy. I made a vow to myself that I was going to try my hardest to get this dog out of "the system". He was a cute dog, big clear eyes, small to medium build and he had a warm personality. The repeat volunteers all greeted him by name when they saw me walk over with him. This wasn't his first "rodeo" apparently.
We stood out front of PetSmart with the other volunteers and their dogs under a small tent since it was hot. I knew that Arnold was warm and preferred the shade but we needed to be out front on the sidewalk if we were going to have any hope of someone seeing us and taking Arnold home. We alternated between the shade of the tent, the sidewalk and going in to the store. Arnold found a water bowl under the tent and laid down right next to it. Trying to get him to leave it was not an easy chore. I had to tug and tug on his leashes quickly realizing why he was handed to me with two instead of one. I felt bad making him sit on the sidewalk but it was my job to market this little guy and I wanted to do it right. I watched as families with small children and single adults came up to the area and looked around. The Lab was a big hit and so were the two sets of puppies. Children love puppies. Arnold wasn't a puppy though. The white fur on his face gave that away. Sadly, most people weren't interested in an older dog.
I can understand why the lure of a puppy is more appealing than an adult dog. You get to watch them grow up, train them and you have more time with them. But an adult dog has perks, too. They're housebroken, they've already gone through the destructive puppy stage and they're a lot more mellow. No one was looking at the older dogs though. I thought about my sister Marilyn and all of the Shelties she had adopted over the years. She had rescued dogs and wasn't an "ageist" about the selection process. The dogs she has adopted are some of the luckiest dogs in the world as she provides them with the best care possible and a very loving home. I know she would agree with me when I say that they have added a lot of love to her life.
In the midst of our "marketing campaign" Arnold started making this strange noise. Just as someone came up to look at the Lab. I thought positioning ourselves next to the lab would help so I hung out by her for a while. But when Arnold started making this "reverse sneeze" as I would later learn about, everyone looked the other way. "What is he doing? Is he OK? Does he do that a lot?" I thought to myself, Arnold, not the time to be reverse sneezing. We decided to go into the store.
As we turned the corner by the puppy training area of PetSmart I suddenly felt a tug on the leash. Arnold had decided to head a different direction and something had caught his attention. Along the wall of the store was the kitten and cat aquarium. They were stacked on floor, i.e. eye level with Arnold. He became instantly fixated on the first container holding two kittens. The kittens were confused and intrigued at the same time. They fearlessly approached the glass and batted at Arnold. Arnold didn't bark or growl, instead for the first time I heard a "swish swish swish" sound coming from his tail as it merrily conducted a symphony of bliss. He was happy and content; it made me smile to watch him. So content that he laid down on the floor and continued to stare at the felines for a good 20 minutes.
Not wanting to miss out on a potential adoption I decided it was best to go back outside. Only Arnold had another idea. He knew what was out there. It was hot, it was crowded and I think deep down he knew no one had been looking at him. Maybe that's why he stared his reverse sneezing in the first place? I finally coaxed him, (or rather pulled incessantly), away from the cats and we headed for the door. Almost on cue, like he knew where we were heading, Arnold stopped, lifted his leg and relieved himself on the corner of a display. A girl who was also volunteering walked by, "Wow, he really had to go!" Arnold gave me a look as if to say, "don't know why you need to take me outside now, we can stay in here if you want, how about we head back over to those kittens?"
I was worried. Things were not looking good. An older dog? Reverse sneezes? And now throw in bladder control issues?
I wish I could say this story ends with an older couple who were recent empty nesters looking to fill a void in their life, lay eyes on Arnold and it was a match made in heaven. But that didn't happen. Instead the adoption event ended and I brought Arnold back up for check out. The woman at the table had to look up who was taking Arnold and told me that he was going with Kathleen. While waiting for Kathleen I overheard the woman speaking to the handler behind me. Her dog required medication. "Hold on a second, Victoria! Doug needs his medicine!" I thought about what a meticulous process this must be for the shelter to keep track of every dog's medication and needs. That's a lot of work and lot of detail to remember. Thankfully, Arnold didn't require medication.
Kathleen approached and I walked Arnold to her car. As she packed up the other two dogs she was transporting Arnold took a spot under the car in the shade. The poor guy was so hot. You could tell he just wanted to sit down and stick his head out the window. I hope he was able to do that. I said good bye to him quickly and with minimal eye contact. Not because I mean, but because there was no other way.
My hope is that Arnold finds a home soon. That he inherits a wonderful family who will take care of him the rest of his days. I hope he can get into a routine that doesn't involve a weekly stop at a PetSmart in hopes to find a home, but rather a trip to PetSmart for a new toy or a chance to watch the kittens again. My wish is that he finds his soul mate who will be the perfect owner, who will take care of him, let him sit on the sofa and watch animal planet and take him on short walks, very short walks. Every dog has its day, I hope Arnold's comes soon.
To learn more about Lucky Dog Animal Rescue please go to:
http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/
You can also "Like" them on Facebook.
Not able to adopt? You can volunteer in many ways by fostering, providing transportation or being a dog handler at an adoption event. Organizations like this depend on volunteers who are willing to give up a few hours of their week to help out. You will not regret one minute of the time you volunteer, promise.
And last but not least, please spay or neuter your pets and urge others to do the same. The world has too many good animals already and not enough good homes.
Please share my blog with anyone who is a dog lover.
"People are motivated by many things....money, love, time, fame, success. A dog is only motivated by love."
Hot.
Humid.
And we had only been standing outside for 15 minutes.
It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and my sister Gaby and I had just arrived at PetSmart. We were going to be spending the next few hours volunteering at the Lucky Dog Animal Rescue Adoption Event that was being held in the parking lot. I knew it was going to be a difficult undertaking. I remembered volunteering with my friend Laurin in Boston about 5 years ago. She helped out at an animal shelter by taking the dogs on walks. I joined her one afternoon. I had never been at a pound or rescue shelter before and didn't think twice about what I was walking into that day. I grew up with dogs and loved being around them. Any shape or size, it didn't matter. I never had a decision in the selection process of the pets we had as a child. My father either knew someone or knew of a place that was breeding and he would go out and bring home a puppy. They were always a surprise, even to my mother, and they were always a spoiled a member of the family.
So when I walked in with Laurin to the shelter I had no idea the emotional tornado that was about to hit me. To this day I cannot watch an ASPCA commercial with a Sarah McLachlan song playing in the background because it makes me think of this experience. It wasn't the smell of the shelter, it wasn't the sounds of the shelter, it was what I saw. Cages and cages of dogs flanking a single aisle that seemed to go on for infinity. I looked at each of them. Their little faces spoke to me and they all shared the same message:
"Please take me home. I promise I won't make you mad like my last owner and I only want to make you happy. I will greet you everyday at the door with a wagging tail. I'll be your biggest cheerleader when you're in need of support and the best pillow you could ask for when you need a good cry. Just please don't make me spend another night in this place. If you take me home I will love you unconditionally, forever."
I may not be "the dog whisperer" but I definitely felt something that day. My eyes filled up with tears and I had to go outside. I was able to walk the dogs and help out because Laurin agreed to bring the dogs out to me so I didn't have to go back inside. One of the things I gained that day was a sense of awareness about the animal population problem. Its magnitude was something I had never really observed first hand.
Fast forward to this past Sunday. I tried telling myself to not look too closely at the dogs. I was there to volunteer and to help these dogs get a home, I can do this. We checked in and had a quick orientation on how to handle the dogs. Our job was to hold on to the dog's leash and answer any questions a perspective owner may have about the dog's breed, age, background, etc. I noticed lots and lots of volunteers arriving. The woman from Lucky Dog informed us that there would be close to 60 dogs at the event that day. That was a lot more than I had anticipated.
We lined up and were assigned to a dog. While I waited I observed the vehicles pulling up to the curb and unloading the dogs. Each vehicle was as unique as its occupants. Sedans, mini-vans, SUV's, each one filled with three or four dogs. I saw mixes of what appeared to be Chihuahuas, Beagles, Labs, Collies, Pit Bulls, Mutts, they just kept coming and coming and that's when it happened. My eyes landed on a very senior Golden Retriever, he was really old. There was so much white hair around his sweet face and he kind of walked with a gimp.
And then I lost it.
Tears filled my eyes and I felt all the muscles in my face tense up as I tried to prevent what was bound to happen. The advantage to being out in the hot sun was that no one knew if I was crying or sweating behind my sunglasses. After a few pinches to the back of my arm to get it together I stopped crying. It was hard and I couldn't look at that golden again. My sister Donna has a Golden Retriever named Sarge. I think about how sweet of a dog he is and how much he loves his family and everyone he meets. I tell him how handsome he is every time I visit him and his tail sways back and forth as if to say, "Oh, thank you, thank you very much. Please keep petting me!" I can't imagine seeing Sarge at an adoption event. This old Golden Retriever shouldn't have been at PetSmart that afternoon. He should have been sitting on a front porch somewhere enjoying a belly rub at the foot of his owner. Watching him pulverized my heart into a million pieces.
Before long it was my turn and I was matched up with my partner for the afternoon, Arnold.
Arnold was between 6 - 8 years old but I imagine he was much older judging by his difficulty getting around that day. He was a beagle and the other most noteworthy characteristic was that he was super duper lazy. I made a vow to myself that I was going to try my hardest to get this dog out of "the system". He was a cute dog, big clear eyes, small to medium build and he had a warm personality. The repeat volunteers all greeted him by name when they saw me walk over with him. This wasn't his first "rodeo" apparently.
We stood out front of PetSmart with the other volunteers and their dogs under a small tent since it was hot. I knew that Arnold was warm and preferred the shade but we needed to be out front on the sidewalk if we were going to have any hope of someone seeing us and taking Arnold home. We alternated between the shade of the tent, the sidewalk and going in to the store. Arnold found a water bowl under the tent and laid down right next to it. Trying to get him to leave it was not an easy chore. I had to tug and tug on his leashes quickly realizing why he was handed to me with two instead of one. I felt bad making him sit on the sidewalk but it was my job to market this little guy and I wanted to do it right. I watched as families with small children and single adults came up to the area and looked around. The Lab was a big hit and so were the two sets of puppies. Children love puppies. Arnold wasn't a puppy though. The white fur on his face gave that away. Sadly, most people weren't interested in an older dog.
I can understand why the lure of a puppy is more appealing than an adult dog. You get to watch them grow up, train them and you have more time with them. But an adult dog has perks, too. They're housebroken, they've already gone through the destructive puppy stage and they're a lot more mellow. No one was looking at the older dogs though. I thought about my sister Marilyn and all of the Shelties she had adopted over the years. She had rescued dogs and wasn't an "ageist" about the selection process. The dogs she has adopted are some of the luckiest dogs in the world as she provides them with the best care possible and a very loving home. I know she would agree with me when I say that they have added a lot of love to her life.
In the midst of our "marketing campaign" Arnold started making this strange noise. Just as someone came up to look at the Lab. I thought positioning ourselves next to the lab would help so I hung out by her for a while. But when Arnold started making this "reverse sneeze" as I would later learn about, everyone looked the other way. "What is he doing? Is he OK? Does he do that a lot?" I thought to myself, Arnold, not the time to be reverse sneezing. We decided to go into the store.
As we turned the corner by the puppy training area of PetSmart I suddenly felt a tug on the leash. Arnold had decided to head a different direction and something had caught his attention. Along the wall of the store was the kitten and cat aquarium. They were stacked on floor, i.e. eye level with Arnold. He became instantly fixated on the first container holding two kittens. The kittens were confused and intrigued at the same time. They fearlessly approached the glass and batted at Arnold. Arnold didn't bark or growl, instead for the first time I heard a "swish swish swish" sound coming from his tail as it merrily conducted a symphony of bliss. He was happy and content; it made me smile to watch him. So content that he laid down on the floor and continued to stare at the felines for a good 20 minutes.
Not wanting to miss out on a potential adoption I decided it was best to go back outside. Only Arnold had another idea. He knew what was out there. It was hot, it was crowded and I think deep down he knew no one had been looking at him. Maybe that's why he stared his reverse sneezing in the first place? I finally coaxed him, (or rather pulled incessantly), away from the cats and we headed for the door. Almost on cue, like he knew where we were heading, Arnold stopped, lifted his leg and relieved himself on the corner of a display. A girl who was also volunteering walked by, "Wow, he really had to go!" Arnold gave me a look as if to say, "don't know why you need to take me outside now, we can stay in here if you want, how about we head back over to those kittens?"
I was worried. Things were not looking good. An older dog? Reverse sneezes? And now throw in bladder control issues?
I wish I could say this story ends with an older couple who were recent empty nesters looking to fill a void in their life, lay eyes on Arnold and it was a match made in heaven. But that didn't happen. Instead the adoption event ended and I brought Arnold back up for check out. The woman at the table had to look up who was taking Arnold and told me that he was going with Kathleen. While waiting for Kathleen I overheard the woman speaking to the handler behind me. Her dog required medication. "Hold on a second, Victoria! Doug needs his medicine!" I thought about what a meticulous process this must be for the shelter to keep track of every dog's medication and needs. That's a lot of work and lot of detail to remember. Thankfully, Arnold didn't require medication.
Kathleen approached and I walked Arnold to her car. As she packed up the other two dogs she was transporting Arnold took a spot under the car in the shade. The poor guy was so hot. You could tell he just wanted to sit down and stick his head out the window. I hope he was able to do that. I said good bye to him quickly and with minimal eye contact. Not because I mean, but because there was no other way.
My hope is that Arnold finds a home soon. That he inherits a wonderful family who will take care of him the rest of his days. I hope he can get into a routine that doesn't involve a weekly stop at a PetSmart in hopes to find a home, but rather a trip to PetSmart for a new toy or a chance to watch the kittens again. My wish is that he finds his soul mate who will be the perfect owner, who will take care of him, let him sit on the sofa and watch animal planet and take him on short walks, very short walks. Every dog has its day, I hope Arnold's comes soon.
To learn more about Lucky Dog Animal Rescue please go to:
http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/
You can also "Like" them on Facebook.
Not able to adopt? You can volunteer in many ways by fostering, providing transportation or being a dog handler at an adoption event. Organizations like this depend on volunteers who are willing to give up a few hours of their week to help out. You will not regret one minute of the time you volunteer, promise.
And last but not least, please spay or neuter your pets and urge others to do the same. The world has too many good animals already and not enough good homes.
Please share my blog with anyone who is a dog lover.
"People are motivated by many things....money, love, time, fame, success. A dog is only motivated by love."
Monday, March 28, 2011
Growin' Up in the 70's Ain't So Bad in Retrospect
Every morning while I get ready for work I watch/listen to the Today Show. I've done this for years. Sometimes I hear part of a story and try to find a way to continue getting ready while standing in the living room without a mirror in front of me. The results have been disastrous at times: hair getting sucked up into my blow dryer, mascara all over my face and lipstick that clearly went outside the "lines". Today I was drawn into the story about the Abercrombie & Fitch padded bikini for young girls. For those of you who may have missed it:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/42303863#42303863
This story made me think about a lot of things. If you're reading this and think it doesn't impact you b/c you don't have children of your own, you're wrong. Social problems are everyone's problem to deal with b/c we're all in this together. Does our society really condone a 7 year old wearing a padded bikini top? My first thought was picturing what a conversation would be like with my Mom if I were to ask for a padded bikini top. Seeing that I had to wait until the 6th grade to get my ears pierced, I'm pretty sure the answer would have been No. I've seen the pictures of my sister and I in our bathing suits. Sure a little padding at the top would have helped things out, but we were kids. Isn't that one phase of life where you can run around and not worry about being sexy? As you can see below, my top was very baggy. Padding would have solved that problem, but who was looking at me anyway?
My second thought was wondering what I would say to my 7 year old daughter if she asked for a padded bikini top. Grant it I don't have to worry about that, but if put in that situation how would I respond? Is it ok for a young girl to wear padding in her bikini? Though I don't think there would be a direct correlation between future promiscuity or prostitution or even losing their virginity at a younger age, I do think we are sending a big message in a little package.
Everyone knows why women pad their bras. We learn at young age that having large boobs is what is considered attractive and the ideal. I remember when I was going through puberty and wondering, "when is it gonna happen to me?" (Good thing I started focusing on something else or I would still be sitting in Cayuga, NY waiting.) It didn't happen for me and I didn't have a padded bikini top to help me through it either. I remember being teased in high school for being as "flat as a board". Sure it hurt my feelings because I wasn't like the other girls in my class who had boobs, but I realized something. I didn't want them because I wanted them , I wanted them because I thought it was going to give me something in return, be it acceptance, attention or a boyfriend. When it came down to it I was content with the shape I was given. I think that's a lesson all young girls need to realize. There is no right or wrong shape; we're all different and that is not only normal, but beautiful.
My answer to my daughter would definitely be No. But to make her feel better I would then remind her that if she ends up looking like me there will be plenty of opportunities in the future for padding. Lots and lots of opportunities.
My last thought was about how different it was growing up in the 70's. Life seemed a lot simpler. I didn't have a cell phone, a Facebook page or an email address. Everyone I needed to get in touch with was within walking or biking distance. I didn't text. I rode my bike. Wardrobe decisions were not decisions, but yes or no answers. Clothes were colorful and comfortable not attention getting. I watched shows like Three's Company, The Brady Bunch and on Fridays I watched the Dukes of Hazzard with my brother Rich. There was no Jersey Shore or Bravo or America's Next Top Model.
I read in a greeting card at a friend's wedding shower over the weekend that the average bride makes 175 decisions. How many does the average parent make over the lifetime of a child? I don't know how parents keep up with all of it. So many decisions, so many things to worry about...at what age should we let them have a Facebook page...a cell phone...a laptop...and now... when are they allowed to wear a padded bikini top?
Where does it end and most importantly, what's next? Parents of today I applaud you. You have the biggest responsibility in the world and there's no manual or crash course to teach you. I smile when thinking about the decisions my Mom had to make when dressing me for school: "What color animal barrettes are you going to put in my hair?" I'm happy to know she was spared having to contemplate to pad or not to pad.
Child of the 70's:
Child of today:
"Life isn't about learning to climb the hill in front of us, it's about learning to navigate the entire mountain range" -Mw
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/42303863#42303863
This story made me think about a lot of things. If you're reading this and think it doesn't impact you b/c you don't have children of your own, you're wrong. Social problems are everyone's problem to deal with b/c we're all in this together. Does our society really condone a 7 year old wearing a padded bikini top? My first thought was picturing what a conversation would be like with my Mom if I were to ask for a padded bikini top. Seeing that I had to wait until the 6th grade to get my ears pierced, I'm pretty sure the answer would have been No. I've seen the pictures of my sister and I in our bathing suits. Sure a little padding at the top would have helped things out, but we were kids. Isn't that one phase of life where you can run around and not worry about being sexy? As you can see below, my top was very baggy. Padding would have solved that problem, but who was looking at me anyway?
My second thought was wondering what I would say to my 7 year old daughter if she asked for a padded bikini top. Grant it I don't have to worry about that, but if put in that situation how would I respond? Is it ok for a young girl to wear padding in her bikini? Though I don't think there would be a direct correlation between future promiscuity or prostitution or even losing their virginity at a younger age, I do think we are sending a big message in a little package.
Everyone knows why women pad their bras. We learn at young age that having large boobs is what is considered attractive and the ideal. I remember when I was going through puberty and wondering, "when is it gonna happen to me?" (Good thing I started focusing on something else or I would still be sitting in Cayuga, NY waiting.) It didn't happen for me and I didn't have a padded bikini top to help me through it either. I remember being teased in high school for being as "flat as a board". Sure it hurt my feelings because I wasn't like the other girls in my class who had boobs, but I realized something. I didn't want them because I wanted them , I wanted them because I thought it was going to give me something in return, be it acceptance, attention or a boyfriend. When it came down to it I was content with the shape I was given. I think that's a lesson all young girls need to realize. There is no right or wrong shape; we're all different and that is not only normal, but beautiful.
My answer to my daughter would definitely be No. But to make her feel better I would then remind her that if she ends up looking like me there will be plenty of opportunities in the future for padding. Lots and lots of opportunities.
My last thought was about how different it was growing up in the 70's. Life seemed a lot simpler. I didn't have a cell phone, a Facebook page or an email address. Everyone I needed to get in touch with was within walking or biking distance. I didn't text. I rode my bike. Wardrobe decisions were not decisions, but yes or no answers. Clothes were colorful and comfortable not attention getting. I watched shows like Three's Company, The Brady Bunch and on Fridays I watched the Dukes of Hazzard with my brother Rich. There was no Jersey Shore or Bravo or America's Next Top Model.
I read in a greeting card at a friend's wedding shower over the weekend that the average bride makes 175 decisions. How many does the average parent make over the lifetime of a child? I don't know how parents keep up with all of it. So many decisions, so many things to worry about...at what age should we let them have a Facebook page...a cell phone...a laptop...and now... when are they allowed to wear a padded bikini top?
Where does it end and most importantly, what's next? Parents of today I applaud you. You have the biggest responsibility in the world and there's no manual or crash course to teach you. I smile when thinking about the decisions my Mom had to make when dressing me for school: "What color animal barrettes are you going to put in my hair?" I'm happy to know she was spared having to contemplate to pad or not to pad.
Child of the 70's:
Child of today:
"Life isn't about learning to climb the hill in front of us, it's about learning to navigate the entire mountain range" -Mw
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Fist Pumping Outside of Jersey: No Tan or Bump It Required
A collection of rants and raves that finally traveled from paper to laptop....
I'm inspired to write by the experiences I have and the people I encounter. Sometimes I wish my brain was attached to a keyboard that would automatically write, edit, (ok I don't ever edit), and post the stories that run through my head on a daily basis. Sadly, most of them never make it to my blog but I'm trying to be better at posting. The collection of items below were recently discovered as I went through the pages of my notebook and saw some words I scribbled down last December when on the bus. (Note: I don't like taking the bus.) The ironic part is that yesterday I found myself on the bus again, remembered the notes I wrote down and simultaneously overheard additional material for another post. (Interesting how things like that work out, maybe I need to ride the bus more often?)
This is my version of a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down". But to make it a little more hip, I'm going to call it "Fist Pumps", (the stuff I give kudos to), and "Eye Rolls", (the stuff that literally makes me roll my eyes or squint in disbelief).
Fist Pump!
The Spin Pin. I own every type of hair accessory out there, seriously. (Have you seen the rat's nest of hair I have?) If I see a commercial where a girl uses a product that makes her hair look shiny, controlled or pulled back in an elegant manner, I'm all over it. I have a drawer in my bathroom dedicated to the gadgets I've tried: headbands of every material, clips of every size, combs, barrettes, elastics, ornamentation for buns, ponytails, braids, you name it. I still have a banana clip in the drawer somewhere. I saw a commercial for the Spin Pin. What's this? A corkscrew like device that will allow me to whip my hair back in an elegant twist? Well, it sure looks elegant so I need to have it! Off to CVS I went with bonus card in hand to obtain the newest solution to my quest for awesome hair. 20 minutes later I was back in my bathroom and trying it out. Guess what? That thing works! I love it! One twist and careful insertion into my poof of hair and I have instant updo! Bravo Spin Pin! You will stay near the front of the drawer from now on!
Eye Roll!
Holiday Commercials from Kay Jewelers and Folgers.
Every year like clockwork these novelties come out and I despise them both. Let's get something straight, the old Folgers commercial where the son comes home in time for Christmas is good, but this newest spin-off where the girl answers the door and says, "Sister!" is horrendous. I don't know anyone who is that "googley-eyed" over their brother. As for the Kay's commercials, I don't even know where to begin. Grown women getting scared over thunderstorms? Now if it was a spider I would understand, but a thunderstorm? And you're going to turn and hide in his arms?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltA50HKyM14
This one is much better and had me laughing my head off:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK5LXnjPf_Y&feature=related
Fist Pump!
Amazing teachers. In 2009 I wrote a blog that compared surviving another year to "everyone making it on the bus" when you were a child going on a school field trip. When taking the bus one day last December I had a moment of deja vu as I watched two adults and 8 kids get on the bus. It was a young woman and a young man, 4 little girls and 4 little boys. They all piled on in one big moving cloud of down jackets, snow boots and mittens. I could hear the adults giving instructions on how to navigate the bus, to get on quickly, to sit not stand and to be polite. All of the kids said hello to the bus driver which made him very happy. The adults directed the kids to their seats and then spread out on either end of the bunch. The children sat there with curious eyes and long stares out the windows. Not one of them yelled, moved or picked on the child next to them. They were the most well behaved kids I had ever seen on any form of public transportation. After a few stops, I leaned forward and asked the woman, "Are these all of your kids?" She laughed and said no that she was their pre-school teacher. I told her how impressed I was with the children's behavior and that I give her a lot of credit for being a teacher. She looked at me with a big smile and said, "Thank you very much, it means a lot to hear that from a total stranger."
I give a fist pump to all of the teachers out there. They have one of the hardest and most thankless jobs in the world. I've had a lot of wonderful teachers in my life. Each of them taught me something that helped me to develop into the person I am today.
Eye Roll!
Pre-Occupied Parents. Here's a thought: If you're walking over a bridge and you're in the middle and your child who just learned to walk is at the end of the bridge, and that bridge just happens to be on CT Ave, one of DC's busiest roads, and your child is standing precariously close to the guard rail as traffic goes whizzing by.....YOU MIGHT JUST BE WALKING TOO FAR BEHIND YOUR CHILD. Put down the cell phone Mommy, stop texting and focus on your child b/c they're about to get run over.
I have no patience for parents who are not focused on their kids when out in public. Who do you think is going to watch them for you? The lion statues at the end of the bridge?
Fist Pump!
Dancing with the Stars. If you didn't know, it's my all time favorite show. I LOVE it! Like any reality show it's addicting. They have a cast with plenty of eye candy and three saucy judges that keep you on the edge of your seat when they critique. It's the best part of Mondays and Tuesdays and it starts up again TOMORROW. Why do I like this show? For one simple reason, it makes me happy and I smile from ear to ear when I watch it. Dancing is a beautiful art form and I admire anyone who possesses this skill. Watching the professionals dance is incredible and watching the amateurs improve over the course of the season is amazing.
Eye Roll!
Naked Lady Parts in the Steam Room. I know it's a steam room and nudity is expected. But when there is just two people in the steam room and you decide to take your towel off, lay down and spread your legs, please don't face me and spread your legs. A few weeks ago while in the steam room I had this happen to me. A woman walks in, goes to the other end of the room, takes off her towel and lays down. I had my eyes closed and didn't know what she was doing. The only reason I opened my eyes was because she started chanting, "ohms". I looked up to see who the hell was chanting in the steam room. Instead of seeing a face I saw a vajayjay b/c she was laying with her knees up and her legs spread. I know some people are comfortable being naked in front of other people, I'm just not comfortable with the close-ups.
Fist Pump!
Girlfriends who inspire me. There are too many people to name here individually but they know who they are and how important they are to me. They are sisters, nieces, girlfriends, moms, business owners, volunteers, problem solvers, artists, writers, athletes, foodies, running buddies, babysitters, dog lovers, entrepreneurs and self-starters. Inspiration comes in all forms. When you feel inspired you feel like you can conquer the world. It's a feeling like no other. I'm constantly finding inspiration from the people that surround me, the ideas they share and the goals they accomplish. If you are the company you keep, then I'm pretty cool company. Thank you to all of my family and friends who motivate, support and inspire me. The impact you have on my life is valuable and the time I get to spend with you is cherished.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM7-PYtXtJM
"Life isn't about climbing the hill in front of us, it's about learning to navigate the entire mountain range."
-Mw
I'm inspired to write by the experiences I have and the people I encounter. Sometimes I wish my brain was attached to a keyboard that would automatically write, edit, (ok I don't ever edit), and post the stories that run through my head on a daily basis. Sadly, most of them never make it to my blog but I'm trying to be better at posting. The collection of items below were recently discovered as I went through the pages of my notebook and saw some words I scribbled down last December when on the bus. (Note: I don't like taking the bus.) The ironic part is that yesterday I found myself on the bus again, remembered the notes I wrote down and simultaneously overheard additional material for another post. (Interesting how things like that work out, maybe I need to ride the bus more often?)
This is my version of a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down". But to make it a little more hip, I'm going to call it "Fist Pumps", (the stuff I give kudos to), and "Eye Rolls", (the stuff that literally makes me roll my eyes or squint in disbelief).
Fist Pump!
The Spin Pin. I own every type of hair accessory out there, seriously. (Have you seen the rat's nest of hair I have?) If I see a commercial where a girl uses a product that makes her hair look shiny, controlled or pulled back in an elegant manner, I'm all over it. I have a drawer in my bathroom dedicated to the gadgets I've tried: headbands of every material, clips of every size, combs, barrettes, elastics, ornamentation for buns, ponytails, braids, you name it. I still have a banana clip in the drawer somewhere. I saw a commercial for the Spin Pin. What's this? A corkscrew like device that will allow me to whip my hair back in an elegant twist? Well, it sure looks elegant so I need to have it! Off to CVS I went with bonus card in hand to obtain the newest solution to my quest for awesome hair. 20 minutes later I was back in my bathroom and trying it out. Guess what? That thing works! I love it! One twist and careful insertion into my poof of hair and I have instant updo! Bravo Spin Pin! You will stay near the front of the drawer from now on!
Eye Roll!
Holiday Commercials from Kay Jewelers and Folgers.
Every year like clockwork these novelties come out and I despise them both. Let's get something straight, the old Folgers commercial where the son comes home in time for Christmas is good, but this newest spin-off where the girl answers the door and says, "Sister!" is horrendous. I don't know anyone who is that "googley-eyed" over their brother. As for the Kay's commercials, I don't even know where to begin. Grown women getting scared over thunderstorms? Now if it was a spider I would understand, but a thunderstorm? And you're going to turn and hide in his arms?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltA50HKyM14
This one is much better and had me laughing my head off:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK5LXnjPf_Y&feature=related
Fist Pump!
Amazing teachers. In 2009 I wrote a blog that compared surviving another year to "everyone making it on the bus" when you were a child going on a school field trip. When taking the bus one day last December I had a moment of deja vu as I watched two adults and 8 kids get on the bus. It was a young woman and a young man, 4 little girls and 4 little boys. They all piled on in one big moving cloud of down jackets, snow boots and mittens. I could hear the adults giving instructions on how to navigate the bus, to get on quickly, to sit not stand and to be polite. All of the kids said hello to the bus driver which made him very happy. The adults directed the kids to their seats and then spread out on either end of the bunch. The children sat there with curious eyes and long stares out the windows. Not one of them yelled, moved or picked on the child next to them. They were the most well behaved kids I had ever seen on any form of public transportation. After a few stops, I leaned forward and asked the woman, "Are these all of your kids?" She laughed and said no that she was their pre-school teacher. I told her how impressed I was with the children's behavior and that I give her a lot of credit for being a teacher. She looked at me with a big smile and said, "Thank you very much, it means a lot to hear that from a total stranger."
I give a fist pump to all of the teachers out there. They have one of the hardest and most thankless jobs in the world. I've had a lot of wonderful teachers in my life. Each of them taught me something that helped me to develop into the person I am today.
Eye Roll!
Pre-Occupied Parents. Here's a thought: If you're walking over a bridge and you're in the middle and your child who just learned to walk is at the end of the bridge, and that bridge just happens to be on CT Ave, one of DC's busiest roads, and your child is standing precariously close to the guard rail as traffic goes whizzing by.....YOU MIGHT JUST BE WALKING TOO FAR BEHIND YOUR CHILD. Put down the cell phone Mommy, stop texting and focus on your child b/c they're about to get run over.
I have no patience for parents who are not focused on their kids when out in public. Who do you think is going to watch them for you? The lion statues at the end of the bridge?
Fist Pump!
Dancing with the Stars. If you didn't know, it's my all time favorite show. I LOVE it! Like any reality show it's addicting. They have a cast with plenty of eye candy and three saucy judges that keep you on the edge of your seat when they critique. It's the best part of Mondays and Tuesdays and it starts up again TOMORROW. Why do I like this show? For one simple reason, it makes me happy and I smile from ear to ear when I watch it. Dancing is a beautiful art form and I admire anyone who possesses this skill. Watching the professionals dance is incredible and watching the amateurs improve over the course of the season is amazing.
Eye Roll!
Naked Lady Parts in the Steam Room. I know it's a steam room and nudity is expected. But when there is just two people in the steam room and you decide to take your towel off, lay down and spread your legs, please don't face me and spread your legs. A few weeks ago while in the steam room I had this happen to me. A woman walks in, goes to the other end of the room, takes off her towel and lays down. I had my eyes closed and didn't know what she was doing. The only reason I opened my eyes was because she started chanting, "ohms". I looked up to see who the hell was chanting in the steam room. Instead of seeing a face I saw a vajayjay b/c she was laying with her knees up and her legs spread. I know some people are comfortable being naked in front of other people, I'm just not comfortable with the close-ups.
Fist Pump!
Girlfriends who inspire me. There are too many people to name here individually but they know who they are and how important they are to me. They are sisters, nieces, girlfriends, moms, business owners, volunteers, problem solvers, artists, writers, athletes, foodies, running buddies, babysitters, dog lovers, entrepreneurs and self-starters. Inspiration comes in all forms. When you feel inspired you feel like you can conquer the world. It's a feeling like no other. I'm constantly finding inspiration from the people that surround me, the ideas they share and the goals they accomplish. If you are the company you keep, then I'm pretty cool company. Thank you to all of my family and friends who motivate, support and inspire me. The impact you have on my life is valuable and the time I get to spend with you is cherished.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM7-PYtXtJM
"Life isn't about climbing the hill in front of us, it's about learning to navigate the entire mountain range."
-Mw
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