It's A Good Thing

I was an early Martha Stewart fan. Pre-orange jumpsuit Martha. If you asked my college roommates, they would tell you I worshiped her. I memorized every page of Martha Stewart Living. I saved every issue. I bought her fabulous Weddings editions, even when I didn't have a wedding to plan. I forced my friends to try just about every crafty idea published each month. I made everything from wreaths to cookies. When Martha went to prison, my girlfriends sent me sympathy cards, and I knitted a version of the poncho she created while incarcerated.

I mentioned before that I come from a crafty family. Knitting is my thing. I think it's in my genes as my grandmother could create anything and one of my aunts is a master knitter (yes, there is such a thing). For as long as I have been knitting, I've wanted to make a greyhound. There are plenty of crochet patterns for life-sized and toy greyhounds. I've even bid on a finished one at an auction. However, I really wanted to find a pattern to knit one of my own.

I Hate Toast sent me a pattern for a knitted mini-greyhound and totally renewed my knitting mo-jo. I created this little bugger from the HotDiggerdy Dog pattern in just three nights of knitting and one long evening of seaming. It was the perfect compliment to my Winter Olympics viewing.

The funny thing is, while I was knitting the girls could have cared less about the knitted mini-me creation. But once he was all stuffed and seamed together, I had to watch them like a hawk or else this little guy would have been shaken and disassembled in about one minute. My girls are very careful with their toys. Only a couple in their stash lack squeakers (all due to visiting dogs), and they have never disemboweled a stuffy. But for some reason, this little guy has their number, and I've caught Roxy and Seka prancing around with him in their mouths getting ready to move in for the kill.

I need a name for him, and I think I will take junior with me on vacation to remind me of my girls.  It's a good thing.

P.S. Seka has demanded a black version so that she will be represented as well.

Viva La Greyhound!

Yep, I've neglected the blog once again. Life has gotten in the way and I've not made time for my online baby. Maybe I can make it up to the "Interworld" by sharing this website promoting dog and cat world domination

Obey the Purebreed has so much fun stuff that you will find yourself browsing through breeds you don't even like. And this site is more than just cool, propaganda-inspired artwork. The writing is great on each breed page:

"The Greyhounds might at times appear lazy, but the Department of Homeland Security has reason to believe that they are simply storing energy, so that when the time comes, they will be ready to launch their world domination plot. 

When the Greyhounds take over the world, will you be spared as one of 'the lucky ones?'"



So do yourself a favor, head over to Obey the Purebreed and prepare for the inevitable with some awesome SWAG.

Working Girl

In every business there are two kinds of employees: those who work to live and those who live to work. One isn't better than the other and they both have their own set of complex issues, but the motivation that keeps them coming in every day is different.

Last night at agility practice we were discussing whether Roxy actually liked to do this or not. It's hard to tell with her. There are some days where she is focused, on point and excited to try anything and everything you throw at her. Then there are others where she is very distant, uninterested and it is obvious that she would rather be anywhere than practicing with me.

Sometimes it is a bit disheartening when you train with shelties. They are desperate to run the course, barking the entire time out of total ecstasy. Then you have Roxy who quietly performs what is asked of her (well, most of the time) and then when she is bored she runs to the side and lays down. No amount of hot dogs, chicken or affection will get her engaged again. Her work whistle has gone off for the day and she has punched out.

She's never going to be the dog that barks the entire course. I don't think she will ever beg to go out and play on the agility equipment. It just isn't in her nature. But I'm not sure that means she dislikes being out there with me and learning new things.  Roxy isn't one to get riled up, throwing a toy in the air or playing tug. But I'm not sure that means she's unhappy with her agility experience, after all she hasn't taken off and run back to her crate refusing to come out like she did when we attempted lure coursing several times.

I guess Roxy is like most employees. Some days she lives to work, while other days she works to live. I just hope I'm not pushing her to do anything she dislikes or doesn't enjoy. I guess only time will tell and she'll either be fired due to her poor work ethic or she'll be promoted thanks to her positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond.

Going Gray

My grandmother colored her hair until the day she passed away. A true believer of feminine upkeep, she went every week to the beauty shop to have her hair set. She slept in a hairnet until throughout the week to protect the curls. She wore a rain cap to keep from getting the smallest bit of moisture in her hair - be it rain or the bath water. Monthly she had her beautition put color on her hair, transforming her grays to a warm chocolate brown. In fact, I never saw a gray peek through.

I guess some of this has rubbed off on me as I panic a bit when I see a gray in the mirror. I used to pull them out, but then I realized that I'll be bald before I get them all. I seem to get more every day. So, now I color. Right now I prefer a hint of red in my hair instead of my natural mousy brown.

Every now and then I look at my girls and study their faces, looking for traces of their age. I mean, they're not spring chickens any longer. At 6.5 and 5.5 they are, like me, approaching middle age. In the two short years we've had Roxy she has grayed considerably. Her once dark chocolate face is much lighter and I expect it to get even more so.

2008:

      
2010:

Seka on the other hand, must have really great genes. She has very few grays on her face. Compared to other black dogs her age at greyhound gatherings, Seka could pass for 3 years old! Her muzzle is the same as it was when we brought her home five years ago.

2005:

 

2010:

But I guess we all show our age in our own way. I noticed after the girls' quarterly bath that Seka was getting a hint of salt and pepper to her coat. It just happened to be on her bum. That's right... she has about 8 gray hairs on her back end near the base of her tail. That's not very distinguished. I guess we'll have to get the black magic marker out after all.

Wicked Awesome Pics

In 2008 the people of the commonwealth of MA decided that dog racing was cruel and voted to ban the practice. No matter how you feel about dog racing, the problem with the outcome of this vote was no one really thought through what would happen to these dogs once the tracks closed in 2010. I've been impressed with all of the publicity that the track closings in WI, MA and AZ have attracted recently and the great job Twitters, Bloggers and other greyhound groups have done banning together to try and get these dogs out of the now defunct racing kennels and into final homes. I also love the fact that they point out that many of the animal activists that were once picketing and lobbying for the closures are no longer there to help with the actual "saving" of the animals.

I firmly believe that we all give to a cause in our own way. I discovered Lisa Prince-Fishler of Printz Photography through a posted link on Twitter. She donated her time and talents to capture the journey of a group of volunteers taking a group of greyhounds from the now closed Raynham/Taunton track to their adoption group. To say this series of photos are amazing is an understatement. For those of us who have participated in hauls, washed those pups, removed hundreds of ticks, watched as they relax as the fleas fall off for the first time in forever, and finally discover the comfort of a soft bed, Lisa really captured this transition in a greyhound's life and the people who take the time to make it happen for them. Thank you, Lisa.

Faux Pas

It has happened to all of us. You make a visit to the ladies room to freshen up. Plump up your lips with your new hot lipstick. Make sure you don't have any left over dinner stuck between your teeth. Re-fluff your hair. Maybe apply a little perfume in a few key areas. You've checked and rechecked yourself before you make your way out of the powder room fortress back to whatever or whoever is waiting for you.

Half way back to where ever you might be going you catch someone whisper and glance your way. It only builds your confidence. Yes, you look good tonight! You see another person give you a second glance. Whoo hoo! After a third person steals a look, paranoia begins to stir.

Is everything zipped? Check.

Did you tuck your skirt into your pantyhose? No - whew.

And then it hits you. A sudden glance behind you reveals the the truth. It's not the way your rear looks in those hot new $150 jeans that everyone is whispering about. It's the toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your knock-off Manolos.

Roxy thinks us humans have it easy. At least when toilet paper gets stuck to us, it's usually on our feet. Not on our face.

Dog To Dos

I'm the kind of girl who likes to break rules. OK, not really but I like to pretend that I am. If you ask me knowing that I'll just break them is a good excuse for not making New Year's resolutions. I mean, I know I could always eat better, exercise more, lose weight - the usual suspects - but I could make those commitments anytime of the year and I never do, so what's the point of doing that on January 1.

This year I am starting a new tradition. I have compiled a list of to dos for 2010 as far as my girls are concerned. I thought I'd post them here so the universe would have a record of it. So in no particular order:

Attend Sandy Paws: everyone I've talked to tells me the greyhound shopping there is fabulous. I think my debit card is aching as I type this.

Attend an Agility Workshop: there is so much to learn and you can learn something new from each handler you talk with. I'll take any suggestions from all you agility pros out there... Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Run at an Agility Trial: this may not be with Roxy. This may not even be during competition. It could be during a practice match. I would just love to have Roxy (and myself) confident enough to perform in public.

Find a Great Place to Take the Girls to Run: yes, we have a huge back yard, but I'd like to find a fun place to take them to run on a regular basis, especially since Seka is back to her OCD ways about her ball.

Go Back to Mountain Hounds and Beach Bound Hounds: we loved these events and hope that Trina and Kristen meet us there too!

Teach Seka to Sit: yep. This is a big goal. But if Samson the hippo can open his mouth on cue, Seka can put her bum on the floor.

Check back with me in a few months and we'll see how far I've come in accomplishing any of these off our 2010 to do list. It's fun to plan fun things. But unlike traditional New Year's resolutions, the follow through should be just as fun.