The Wonderful Thing About Dogs

Dogs are pure unconditional love! Here is a photo of my sweet canine friend, Izzy, a little terrier mix who was born in a shelter. Her poor mother was homeless and pregnant and I am thankful everyday she found her way to me.

I love this excerpt from a speech George Graham Vest made to the senate way back in 1855:

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in the encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. when all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens." ~ George Graham Vest, Speech in the Senate 1855

God bless all the poor homeless dogs out there in the world. God bless all the poor, neglected sweet souls out there who are stuggling to stay alive in this cold!

This post comes on the heals of my watching an animal planet episode that displayed one of the most horrific cases of human carelessness and neglect toward a sweet dog I've ever heard of. Thankfully, the episode had a happy ending with the dog finding refuge in a family that would love him forever!

Now go hug your dog! - and your cat! I love cats too!

Ann

Really, where does the time go?

I cannot believe I have not posted on this blog since October. I honestly do not know where the time goes and how it appears that other people have more hours in the day than I do! Anyway, after talking with Lisa at the Nerdy Renegade blog (Thank you Lisa for being such an inspiration to me), I thought I would try to keep my blog fresh and updated as much as possible.

Well, I guess some of the big news here is that I recently turned 50! I cannot believe I am actually just 3 years younger than my mother in law was when my husband and I got married! Now, I have to admit, that I thought my mother in law was a cute 53 year old and I never thought of her as old, but, still, she was 53, and now I am almost that age! I was thinking about turning 40 and what a wonderful birthday party my husband threw for me. Then I started thinking about what all I've been up to for the past decade and have come up with this list:

I have successfully raised two of the nicest kids in the entire world. I am so proud of both of them. My daughter is a college graduate, has a great job, and is a wonderful mommy, and my son is in school persuing his goals and I know great things await him!

I have worked in cosmetics, copier sales for two companies, advertising sales for two radio conglomorates, and one print publication, taught public speaking classes at a university, been an executive recruiter, and currently own my own business and work as a substitute teacher.

I went back to school and started off with a measly 13 credit hours to my name and graduated Cum Laude in a mere two and one half years.

I said goodbye to my beloved Molly dog after nearly 15 years of the most devoted friendship I have probably ever known.

I have rescued my cat, Monsieur Pierre DuBois from homelessness and he is now my dear feline friend.

I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of my little terrier, Izzy when my daughter FINALLY decided to give her to me. Izzy and I were always meant to be together! I knew this immediately when I took care of her for a week while Amy went camping. I BEGGED for her to let me have her; it took a year, but, she is now mine!

I became a grandmother to the dearest little boy in the entire universe! There is something truly special about a grandchild. When I look at him, I see my daughter, myself, and the future. I do hope this little angel has a wonderful life!

I said goodbye to my dad when Alzheimer's Disease took him. How sad it is to watch someone go from being someone with memories, a life, a strong will, to just a mere shell of a human being. Alzheimer's Disease is very cruel to those who suffer from it and those whose loved ones are afflicted with it.

Lost a dear, dear friend to a horrible disease.

I got my mother back from a terrible situation of elder exploitation. Thank goodness that runaway train was stopped when it was!

Our family has acquired two border collies, hands down, the smartest canine breed around. These dogs are amazing and can learn anything!

I learned to speak French somewhat fluently - Not really, but, I like to think I'm somewhat fluent. Oh merci!

I planted a vegetable garden for the first time! I did this last summer and had a blast cooking up things with food I created from just tiny seeds.

In the past decade have collected over 1,000 new books! This brings my personal library up to around 8,000! I do love books and it is a good thing we have plenty of bookshelves!

I talked on the phone to Jon Bon Jovi and even danced on stage with him!

I met Dr. Wayne Dyer and was his guest when he spoke in NYC on "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life." Thank you Dr. Dyer!

I visited NYC three times. It was always my dream to go there and I did it three times this decade.

I sold my homemade wares at a festival for the first time ever and actually made a little money. What a fun experience that I will do again and again!

I learned how to use the Internet.

I got a cell phone and ditched my old "car phone" from my real estate days. I wish I had that big thing at this very minute. I could probably sell it to someone collecting vintage cell phones. Those things will be valuable someday, just as is my grandmother's old heavy, heavy, heavy rotary phone made out of I think cement!

I have fallen in love with second hand shopping. This is something I never thought I would do, but, there are some real deals out there. I go to nearly every garage sale I see and I am amazed at the wonderful things I have found. Last summer, every Thursday and Friday I would load my mother and my grandson up and off we would go, for the whole day! You would never believe what I found! I also love shopping at thrift stores now. Oh how things do change!

I guess I've been busy over the past ten years. I guess that's where the time goes - living life. I am excited about the possibilities that await me in this next decade.

One thing that has changed over the years is that I know I appreciate people more, understand the fragility of life, and realize that if we want to do something or tell someone something we need to do it. Time waits for no one and just keeps ticking on by. If we want to do something, we can't wait until later, because, later may never come. We really and truly need to live life to the very fullest in the present moment.

Well, that's it for today. I am resigned to keep blogging. I do love reading other people's blogs - there are so many inspirational, creative, talented women out there blogging. It's really better than reading a magazine!

For now, Au Revoir!