Tree Dragging and Other Fun Weekend Games

So ... we finished splitting and stacking the wood for burning this year. Of course, the spot out back where we pile the green wood to season was empty, so DH had the urge to fill it. He took down three trees this weekend. He has his eye on two more in our backyard, and my SIL has three or four she wants taken down at her house.

I try to remind him that, although HE may have time off on the weekends, I don't. So, my days were filled with humping wood and branches, my evenings and morning with computer work.

Still, it was a gorgeous weekend. I did fit a little time off in -- went to the dog park both Saturday and Sunday. One of my favorite pastimes is watching dogs interact with one another. It's incredible how the bad energy from one dog affects an entire group.

We were there alone with Dakota at first, then a lady came with two big dogs: a red boxer mix and what looked like a boxer/mastiff or boxer/pit bull in tan. The second, tan dog was a foster-to-potential-adopt they'd only had for a week, so they weren't sure how he'd behave, though they'd had no trouble with his interaction with other dogs up to this time.

The first dog was clearly alpha. He wasn't mean, just dominant. He made sure Dakota understood (she did!) then went around on his merry way. The second, tan dog was still young (just under a year) and only wanted to play, play, play. He had a great energy and he and Dakota had a blast.

Then came a lady with a black lab mix who was VERY submissive, but also nervous. Still, all four were getting along fine once the lab realized no one was going to eat her.

Then came trouble. An English Sheepdog who was still young (just a year) and felt as though he should be alpha dog. He came in excited, barking and basically telling everyone how it was. The first thing he did was find the little, nervous lab and start barking at it non-stop, constantly in its face. The lab tried to go away, tried hiding under the table, behind people's legs, whatever, but the dog wouldn't leave it alone. When it started showing teeth, though, it was time to intercede (and yeah, I kinda get involved in other people's dogs).

The first red boxer, though, had had enough. And when the sheepdog decided to assert himself to the tan dog (in the red dog's "pack") the real fun began. No real fight, but some very aggressive posturing. Over and over. The owners of the boxer put him on-leash (as they should have), but it took having the sheepdog leave before things settled.

I suspect this happens in groups of people, too, only we don't have the uninhibited responses that dogs do. We understand we can't just get in a person's face and say "I don't like you." and follow them around, shoving them until they understand their place.

I prefer dogs.

And now, I'm out of time already. Hope you all had great weekends! Tomorrow, a NaNoWriMo discussion.

=================

You Are Reflective

You are very analytical, and you rarely panic. You know that nothing is as big of a crisis as it first seems. You like all of your stuff to be in its place. It drives you crazy to be disorganized. Sometimes your strong sense of responsibility leads to frustration. You take too much on. You are very introverted, and you prefer to blend in whenever possible.

The Card Test

HAHAHAHA... yeah, mostly. Not a big "blender" but othewise, right on.

Spring?

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You

So, we went to agility last night without Dakota. It was very strange ... and I felt a bit lost since it was DD running the other dog last night. I sat for two hours with little to do. Tonight we help with beginning agility, and once again have to leave the dog behind. Poor puppy.

A funny though: the lady bringing the dog DD was running brought her own dog in as well, funniest looking thing I've ever seen. I asked what he was and she told me to guess. I said, "Lab / Corgi." because he probably weighed 25 lbs, was the color of a yellow lab with a big head and had the shortest legs.

She said, "Nope. Pit Bull / Dachshund."

I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one... that took some serious determination (and I really, really hope the the Pit Bull was the mama).

Spring is definitely on its way here -- we're having ADD weather: it's warm, it's cold, it rains, it snows. Yesterday we had it all in one day. Started out clear and warm (for us ... in the 40s), then the wind kicked in, brought in a cold front that included a pretty decent snow squall. Today it's freezing, with highs expected in the teens, but this weekend they're saying it'll be almost 50.

:::shakes head:::

The "joys" of the northeast.

I am planning my garden though. I want to have more room this year, and was thinking about expanding my garden -- but opted not to. Digging anywhere here is a massive undertaking... they don't call it the Granite State for nothing. Instead, I've decided that I'm going to use my annual flower beds and plant pretty veggies. So far I've gotten suggestions for decorative kale (which is also edible), rainbow Swiss chard, eggplant, scarlet runner beans, and banana peppers. I need stuff that won't take up TOO much room, but still looks nice and we can eat it. Anyone have more ideas?

=========================

You Should Have a Pink Laptop

You are disciplined and organized. You know what you want, and you know how to go after it. You are very prudent. You think carefully before you act. You're a big believer in sleeping on decisions. Because you are quiet and sweet, others tend to underestimate your abilities. You are strong and a force to be reckoned with. You are one of the most determined people around.

What Color Laptop Should You Own?

Except for this: Because you are quiet and sweet..." it's pretty close to right. I've been called a lot of things, but quiet and sweet aren't two of them.

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Smart Dogs and Weird Dreams

Poisons and medicine are oftentimes the same substance given with different intents. ~Peter Mere Latham

I dreamed last night that I was running my daughter in agility. There were hurdles and obstacles all around a room, only the hurdles were too high and she kept knocking them over.

Freud would probably have a field day with me.

Tonight is agility night, and we have to go because DD promised to run another woman's dog while she was on vacation. This means I have to leave my dog behind and go to agility without her. I already feel terrible and don't even want to think about the look on her face when we shut the door and drive off without her. It's almost as if we're committing doggie adultery.

Speaking of Dakota, she's on antibiotics and hates the pills. They're pretty small, so I've tried hiding them in bits of food, but last time she had pills she bit into one in the middle of a chunk of meat and now suspects anything I give her. So the last two days, I've just been sticking them down her throat and using a liquid syringe to give her a little water to make her swallow.

The result of that? As soon as I open the cupboard with the pills, she hides. Never mind that I have her food (she gets the pills at her meals), never mind I bought her roast beef, never mind any of that. The cupboard opens, she leaves.

There are days I hate smart dogs.

So, now I'm going to have to remember to get her pills out in the middle of the day... just leave it sitting out somewhere an hour or so before her meals. Though I'm a little afraid she's just going to eventually stop eating.

I had a friend whose dog wouldn't take pills for anything, until her mom accidentally dropped one on the floor and the dog pounced and swallowed before she could pick it up. From the moment on, her mom would pretend to be making some meal at the counter and then "accidentally" drop her meds on the floor. Worked every time.

See -- dumb dogs rock.

====================

You Are Silver

You are down to earth and unpretentious. You don't feel like you need to show off, and you're very secure with your place in the world. You are understated and elegant. You carry yourself with poise, and you're more known for what you don't do than what you do. You can fit in anywhere from a country western bar to a black tie gala. You are adaptable and adventurous. You are blind to social class and background. You see people as who they are ... not as where they came from or how much money they have.

Are You Silver or Gold?

Not sure about the elegant part, but the rest is pretty right on.

Dakota = Good Dog!

If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around. ~Will Rogers

So .... things in the house are slowly getting back to normal. I'm completely exhausted but don't have time to rest -- I have a dozen things I wasn't able to do last evening because of our canine company, and ditto this morning.

This is Patience.



Understand: I like her. I really do. She's funny and sweet and she and Dakota are BFFs. But I never realized how much I require my dogs to behave until she visited.

She clearly has a completely different set of rules at her house. She counter surfs (I got down a loaf of bread this morning and then next thing I know -- she's got both paws ON the counter next to me!), she figures she can go anywhere (don't try telling her she can't get on a piece of furniture -- we have couches the pets can get on and one they can't, and even my CAT knows which is which) and do anything. She refuses to sit, lie down, stay or even come on command. She knows what they mean, but will only do them when she feels like it. She and I had a few battles-of-wills last night. I won, but only after much time and determination.

She wouldn't settle down to sleep, which I actually expected. She was "sleeping" with DD and Dakota was with me. DH ended up working most of the night, so was in the living room and got to watch the parade of people and dogs. Every 90 minutes, she wanted to go out. So: bed at 9, up at 10:30, up at midnight and so on. Every noise she heard, she barked. And, at 5:30 she was up for good.

We fed both dogs (separately, as Patience has some food aggression issues) and then walked them in the dark, in the cold, to try to get some wiggles out and let my poor DH sleep (he'd finally gone to bed around 3:30 a.m.).

At 7 a.m., we got dressed and ready to go to the dog park. At 7:15 a.m., as I was outside warming up the car, Patience pooped in three spots on my spare bed and all over the spare bedroom... there were 7-8 piles.

I nearly hit the roof. We'd been taking her out practically every hour ALL FREAKING NIGHT. I told DD to take her out to the car while I cleaned up. My DH, bless his heart, shampooed the carpet for me. My "dry clean only" bed comforter is in the wash (on delicate, cold, low spin) as we speak and I hope it doesn't get wrecked.

The utter chaos made me truly appreciate Dakota, though. Dakota who hasn't pottied in the house since the first week we had her, who sits, stays, comes on command. Who doesn't counter surf, steal food (even when it's down at her level), chase the cat or bark at every noise.

I expected some of that. But it nearly killed me.

Still, I was glad to help my friend. And I'd probably do it again -- but I might stock up on doggie downers. LOL...

========================

You Are a Kindle

You are a true lover of books and a hardcore reader. You love to get lost in what you're reading. Even though you like spending time online, you know that it can distract you from what you should be doing. You are rather serious and down to earth. You don't give into frivolous notions. If you will truly use a gadget, you'll buy it - but you don't buy anything just because it's the latest and greatest.

Are You An iPad or a Kindle?

Yep -- though I prefer to be called a Nook.

=====================

The Day After Thanksgiving

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French

Had a remarkably decent day yesterday, but was pretty much forbidden to hop on the computer, so didn't get to visit anyones blogs. :-(

Hit the dog park early since Dakota was going to have to spend the afternoon alone. I was shocked at how many people were there! It was a Lab fest, too, so Dakota and her friend, Patience stuck out quite a bit. Even my friend's new puppy, Envy (a pit/lab mix who looks mostly lab except her square head) blended.

They had a pretty good time, too, though Patience is really struggling with having to share anything with her new housemate and it's lead to a few pretty teeth-involved tussles. Envy doesn't start anything, but she won't put up with being attacked (like Dakota does ... she just rolls over and gives up). My friend is worried she won't be able to keep Envy if this keeps up.

Thanksgiving afternoon at the in-laws went by pretty well, too, but that may have been because I was so exhausted I spent a good part of it sitting in a chair staring off into la-la land! LOL...

This morning, it's icing out. Happy Black Friday shopping to the folks here in New Hampshire. I'm SO glad I don't do that craziness... I'm a sucker for a bargain, but there are somethings (like my sanity and safety) that just aren't worth it. Plus I'm not that big into electronics, etc., and those are usually the biggies.

Today will be an inside, hang around the house day. However, since DH is home and doesn't have projects (deer butchering commences on Saturday) I don't expect to have a lot of computer time. But, YAY, next week we go back to routine ... at least until Christmas.

Hope you all had a fabulous day yesterday. I'll do my best go come visit later!

====================

You Are Kermit

Like everything else in your life, you take Thanksgiving pretty seriously. It's a time for reflection and gratitude. You also like to just sit back and observe the party. You love Thanksgiving, but having a huge amount of people around can be a bit overwhelming. As long as you're allowed some privacy and independence, you'll have a good Turkey Day.

What Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Are You?

Yep... that's about right.

=======================

Just Rambling...

I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying. ~George Bird Evans, Troubles with Bird Dogs

So ... DD got a custom order request for necklace/earring sets for Christmas gifts, and has been working diligently on them. The first necklace ended up being too small (put the "choke" into choker) so had to be taken apart. The first earrings were too big (the person wanted "dainty" on that particular set).

She spilled her box of beads once. Spilled her nearly microscopic crimp beads. Spent hours working and only ended up with one set that made it through Q. A. (that's me *G*).

She's learning what it means to work for a living. I think that's good. I'll post pictures of the set once we have natural light to work with (it looks better than flash).

We ran by the dog park for a few minutes yesterday. It's gotten to the point now that whenever we drive anywhere in the area, Dakota starts to pace and whine and fuss. So, when I have the time to stop, I take her.

Yesterday, there were three unaltered, male large breed dogs there. A gorgeous harlequin Great Dane, a half grown (but still big as a house) Neapolitan mastiff, and a good sized Golden Retriever.

The thing that cracked me up, though, was that they pretty much ignored Dakota (the only female in the bunch, albeit spayed) and the two largest dogs decided on making the Golden their ... ahem... girlfriend.

If I had been the owner of the golden, I would have stepped in because he was really being picked on. They weren't aggressive, but the two dogs were so big that the golden simply could NOT get away.

Oh well. I'm just glad they left Dakota alone.

The funny thing was, though, that she's gotten used to having a bath when we get home from the dog park on Saturday. THOSE days, she ends up rolling around in the urine-soaked sand (sounds yummy, huh?) and there's no way she gets to live in the house again until she's thoroughly bathed. We get home, she goes in the tub, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

Now she associates bath with dog park so even on the days she doesn't roll around (like yesterday) when we get home, she walks in the house and puts herself in the tub. And waits. And she will NOT get out unless we wash her off in some way. I've started rinsing her feet off...

She HATES baths. But she knows her duty. Good puppy. :-)

As a side note, I watched a show on PBS the other day, Nova: Dogs Decoded, which was very interesting to me. I recommend dog owners give it a watch if they can.

=========================

You Are Easygoing and Forgiving

Your sense of humor is goofy and silly. You try to never hurt people with your jokes. You are the type of person who does well with math, writing, and other academic subjects. You are a good student. You have fun when you're doing something new. You crave novelty and different experiences. You are the type of person who completes projects easily. You like to do one thing at a time.

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Oracle

Hmmm..... 75/25 I think.

======================

Fun At Agility

The nose of the bulldog has been slanted backwards so that he can breathe without letting go. ~ Winston Churchill

Bulldogs are adorable, with faces like toads that have been sat on. ~ Colette

Had an interesting time helping at beginning agility last night. We have a new group of dogs (none that are dog aggressive, thankfully!) that are great, and we have one intermediate dog who's there to work on his see saw -- he's a Bull Mastiff (for those of you who don't know what that is, Mastiffs are one of the giant breeds, and pretty much the heaviest breed of dog, averaging about 125 lbs -- though some males are larger). This dog has trust issues with people and he had a bad experience on the see saw one, so has been refusing to put even one paw on it.

Last night the instructor was having me work with him while she ran the class. Though I have no fear of dogs, I have a healthy respect for the breeds who can eat me. So things got a little interesting when he started getting stressed. Thankfully, I know how to read the signs ... and when he froze and tensed and wouldn't take a treat from me any more, I backed up. From that point on, though, any time I got close, he'd growl. He really didn't like me anymore -- associated me with the scary see saw, I think, so that left it all up to the owner to work with him and she's not a big lady.

Later, as I was working with the other dogs in the class, my job was to block the chute opening so the dogs couldn't come out and could ONLY continue down the chute to their owner. One little guy (a shih tzu) popped out of the opening and I grabbed him to stop him from running off... he didn't like that at all and growled ferociously.

His bad luck to do it after I'd been working with a mastiff -- after being growled at by a dog nearly my own size, a ten pound ball of fluff wasn't really that scary.

Anyway, it was the first time I'd had issues with any of the dogs. It made DD a little nervous, though. But if she really intends to work with dogs, she needs to see that there are some who aren't going to be super friendly. That's the kind of animal folks are going to need a trainer for most of all.

I'll say it again, though: there are no bad dogs (or bad breeds) only bad owners. Puppies aren't born aggressive or mean, they're made that way. Some breeds have a tendency to be more dominant than others, some are typically more shy -- both attributes can lead to aggression if not handled correctly.

People have a tendency to not investigate breeds thoroughly before getting a dog. "It's so cute!" isn't a reason to get a puppy.

=======================

You Are Blue

You are detail oriented and focused. You enjoy keeping your life in order. You are a perfectionist, and you tend to take your time with tasks. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. It's hard for you to deal with dramatic, flippant, and silly people. You value maturity. You are a good listener and you expect others to be the same. You expect to be taken seriously.

What Color Is Your Personality?

Yep.

==========================

Monday Again

Family is just accident.... They don't mean to get on your nerves. They don't even mean to be your family, they just are. ~Marsha Norman

Crazy busy weekend. And it rained most of it -- finally cleared (sort of) Sunday afternoon, which was fortuitous because we were having a family get-together for my MIL's birthday and if we'd had to stay inside with all those kids? Oy vey.

Dakota is having tummy troubles AGAIN. I have never had a dog with so many digestive issues. It's making me crazy. She had me up half the night needing to go out, and I really tried to not get cranky but MAN am I tired. Today, I'll be taking a stool sample into the vet to see if she has giardia AGAIN. And maybe this time they'll agree to vaccinate her if she does. Cuz, I'm telling you, this is getting old.

We started helping at a new agility class last week. And, as always, there was a bit of drama. One of the dogs, a pit bull, has some dog aggression issues (and before anyone thinks, "Oh.. well.. a pit bull..." -- remember: aggression isn't breed specific and bad dogs aren't born, they're made). Interestingly enough, when they walked in, Dakota was off leash running around while we set up, and in her way (her way being, "All dogs love me.") ran right up to him, licking his face and trying to get him to play. And he didn't react to that in a negative way at ALL.

He's a sweetie toward people, too. And I have to admit to having a soft spot toward pit bulls because they're terrifically misunderstood creatures.

But...

After the entire class was there, we were talking and introducing dogs and whatnot, and one lady lost the leash of her schnoodle (schnauzer / poodle cross). And he trotted right over to the pit who was being kept a little apart from everyone, and stuck his nose in a .. hmm... private spot, and ... **sigh**... yes, he got attacked.

The scariest sound in the world has to be that scream a dog makes when it's scared. Thing is -- the pit bull didn't grab anything but fur. I was the closest, so I grabbed for the schnoodles leash and pulled him away. The schnoodle didn't have a mark on him and, amazingly enough, he bounced right back like it had never happened.

In any case, the instructor separated the dogs to work with them: pit bull, shy german shepherd and a beagle for me (I think she knows I love the big dogs!). She and DD took the little dogs: a dachschund, the schnoodle and a papillion (who is NEVER quiet ... yao, yap, yap... I thought I'd lose my mind).

We're having a grand time.

==========================

You Are a Açaí Berry

On the one hand, you tend to be very controversial. People are always talking about you and trying to figure you out. On the other hand, you are quite wholesome and humble. You don't know what all of the fuss is about. You are unsettled in your life. You're not sure what you want yet, and you're a bit of a searcher. If there's one thing you know, it's that you crave adventure and travels. You want to see as much of the world as you can.

What Type of Berry Are You?

Um... not really...

===================

Four Letters... Starts With "S"

When snow falls, nature listens. ~Antoinette van Kleeff

I woke up this morning and what did I see?

SNOW.

I flipped on the light to take the dog out and there was white stuff falling from the sky. It appears to be over now, but I was utterly horrified... not that I should be. It's pretty standard for March weather.

One year, I was feeling brave and planted the Friday prior to Memorial Day (the "rule" here is don't plant your tender crops/flowers until Memorial Day). The weather forecast was mild and I just didn't want to wait any more.

I can even remember what year it was, because the first of the new Star Wars movies had been released. The Saturday following my planting, DH and I went to the early showing (about 9:30 a.m.), enjoyed the movie and then stepped outside to find... SNOW.

I panicked.

"We have to get home NOW. I have tomatoes and peppers in the garden!!!"

We hurried home, picked up the baby from the neighbor's and I ran to the garden, which was covered in about 1/2" of snow. I started throwing anything I could over stuff, even tipped my wheelbarrow over three of the pepper plants.

The next morning, I checked them. And everything above ground had died. The plants actually recovered, because the ground didn't freeze, but I lost a lot of time waiting for them to basically start over.

And I swore to never plant before Memorial Day again, no matter WHAT the weather forecast said.

I'm feeling brave this year, planning on my mini-greenhouses, assuming the weather will stay mild (like it did last year -- we had our last frost the first week of May last year). But I wonder if I'm jinxing myself...

=====================

The beginning agility class went pretty well last night. No dog fights! YAY! And the Great Dane's dad wasn't there, just the mom... and I think the dog was far better behaved. I wonder if all that extra testosterone was getting him riled?

The instructor also addressed the issue and made it clear that she expected owners to correct their dogs when they behaved in a way that wasn't acceptable, and for the most part we had a peaceful night.

I was exhausted again, but no headache.

======================

You Are Consistent

Of all the types, you are the most disciplined and the most ethical. You have high ideals. You thrive when you are able to be an advocate for causes that you believe in. Some people may say that you are a bit stubborn and inflexible, but you're more tolerant than they realize. You do your best to live a principled and just life - which can make you a bit tense and critical at times.

The Scribble Circle Test

ROFL.. that's actually pretty close. I chose the kind of scribble I usually do when I'm on the phone with someone and .... bored.

=====================

Dogged

If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat. ~Author Unknown

It's been raining and/or ugly for two day, which in and of itself isn't necessarily a bad thing. But when you have a young dog who is a bundle of energy and you can't expend some of that energy? Then things get a little crazy.

One day, she can deal with, but we hit day two yesterday (not really raining, but gale force winds and COLD, so we couldn't walk) and I knew I had to do something. So we piled the dog into the car and headed out to her favorite places.

We started with Agway, where we got grass fertilizer and she got lots of love and dog bones (and where I argued with the head helper about whether you catch and drown rodents, or catch and release -- she was telling our shared FedEx guy how to deal with a rat in his woodpile. I got a bit... *ahem*... vehement, but no blows were exchanged).

Next, we opted to take the time to go way the heck out of our way and hit Petco. Now, it used to be that the Petco employees spoiled Dakota rotten. It used to be they walked around with a bag of treats hooked to their pants so they could treat and pet all the dogs. She loved going there. But the last couple of times, things haven't been as much fun for her. In fact, the last time, she went through the check out line, sat pretty and waited for the treat they ALWAYS give her (and I even said something about her waiting for her treat) and they guy looked at her and then turned back, took my money and helped the next person, totally ignoring the dog.

Could YOU ignore this face?



Yesterday we saw no fewer than four employees who passed close enough to pat the dog, one even had to step out of our way to avoid her, and not one (NOT ONE) even acknowledged her presence, let alone patted her.

Worse, the three people there who had dogs wanted nothing to do with letting their dogs interact with her. One even seemed as though they though Dakota was going to eat their little shitz tsu (as if... please) and would yank the dog violently away whenever we were in view. Sadly, THEIR dog seemed very interested in playing.

I left without buying anything, even though I will typically get something for the dog when we go... treats, a chewy, a toy.

But DD and I were so angry by the time we left, we were spitting nails. Maybe a stupid thing to get upset about, but it's like taking your kid to a party and having them treated like a pariah.

I emailed Petco when I got home. And, I most likely won't be back to their store -- that's the third time in a row we haven't had a good experience.

==================

I talked to the lady whose Border Collie was attacked last week. He was so sad... slithered into agility class and then wrapped himself around my legs and just shook. I told her I was sorry about butting in with her dog, and she said, "NO. Don't be. I just froze." So, phew. It's all good.

We spent agility class trying to get him to be a little less cowed. He wanted to stay hiding under the chairs -- the room has a bad memory for him, and he was fine outside of it, but not in. Poor thing.

We also discussed the Great Dane with the instructor -- my complaint was that they never correct the dog, and the Border Collie's mom was frustrated that they didn't seem to be taking responsibility for their dog's bad behavior. They never even went to her to apologize that night last week.

The thing is, he's not a bad-tempered dog. Most Great Danes are just HUGE pussycats, and he's no exception. His problem is two-fold: he's not altered and he's not being told what is proper behavior.

The Border Collie's mom is on vacation the next two Thursdays, so won't be in the beginning class. Hopefully things will settle down by the time she's back.

====================

Did some writing on the sequel to "Kitchen Matches" yesterday (tentatively entitled "Now and Forever"). I've been struggling because it's not as funny on paper as it is in my head and every word I write has been an ordeal. But I decided to just push on through and then submit the first chapter to my writing group (who are going to think I'm schizophrenic, because I keep submitting things from different WIPs!) and see what they think. If they think it's dry as dirt, I'll go from there. Sometimes I think we can't judge our own work very well.

======================

I just realized I forgot to plant my seeds yesterday!! OH NO. That's first on my agenda this morning. Oh happy days, gardening season has begun.

======================

You Are Chocolate Chip Cookies

You are all American and down to earth. You tend to stick to the classics ... you can't go wrong with them. You have an eye for quality, and you are probably an accomplished baker. And you never skimp on real butter and eggs. Your friends can always count on you to be consistent and loyal. You are true to the end. You are sweet because you take time to do things right. You are thoughtful in all of your actions.

What Bake Sale Favorite Are You?

Hmmm... mostly right.

=================

Drama, Drama, Drama

Apology is a lovely perfume; it can transform the clumsiest moment into a gracious gift. ~Margaret Lee Runbeck

I'm tired this morning. Helping at the agility class wore me out physically and emotionally and gave me a raging headache. We have twelve dogs in there, all beginners, and most are doing fabulously.

The best thing I saw was this Golden Retriever with confidence problems -- who was so scared she wouldn't even do the most basic jump -- come out of her shell a bit last night. Her owners were so patient, and just took her to each obstacle and sat with her for a few minutes, didn't make her DO anything for the first 20 mins of class or so, just showed her that they weren't going to hurt her. And then they worked her on the jumps only for a while until she was taking them like a pro. So, with her confidence back up a bit, they tried her on the harder stuff ... and she did great. I was so thrilled!

The worst thing was watching the other helper's dog get attacked. He's the sweetest Border Collie and he was tied on his leash (as is Dakota during class) near where she's helping. Last night, a Great Dane came out of the tunnel off-leash and just ... attacked. Of course, the Border Collie couldn't get away, being tied up.

I was across the room and all I heard was growling and yelping. I looked up and saw the poor dog screaming under this HUGE Great Dane, and the owner of the GD was trying to get control (this dog probably weighs 120 lbs) and not getting it and the helper was standing in one place, hands on her face, clearly trying not to panic. The instructor was spotting a dog on the dog walk and couldn't leave without endangering THAT dog.

I was horrified, so I took some action that I probably didn't have the right or authority to do and I need to apologize to the other helper for taking over with her dog. But I ran over just as the Great Dane was pulled off and then took the other dog over by where I had Dakota. He wasn't hurt (probably will have some bruises, but no blood), but he was terrified. So I put a chair there for him to go under and moved DD's obstacle away so the other dogs wouldn't have a reason to get near him or Dakota.

I probably should have let his owner handle it, shouldn't have dog-napped her dog -- but it was knee jerk: a dog I liked very much was getting mauled by a dog who's shown many times to have some serious alpha-dog tendencies and is too much dog for his owners to handle.

Still, when I see her on Wednesday, I'll apologize.

====================

You Are the Cheshire Cat

You are strangely illusive and provocative. You tend to stir up trouble and then disappear quickly. You sure know how to push other people's buttons, but it's difficult for anyone to push yours. You are mysterious and crafty. You tend to be lurking in the background, and you show up at the most unexpected times. You are purposely vague and baffling. Trying to figure you out will just drive people crazy!

What Alice in Wonderland Character Are You?

LOL... don't know about that, but I like how it sounds.

============================

A Day Off and a Funny

In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him. ~Dereke Bruce

Taking a break today, but I leave you with this (which you may have seen, but it makes me laugh every time I read it ... because it's SO TRUE):

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!


Excerpts from a Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity...

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

=======================

You Are a Thunderstorm

You are a bit temperamental and unpredictable. You have a lot of pent up energy. You don't strike often, but when you do it can be deadly. You can be extremely destructive. People find you to be amazing and awesome. You can be a bit scary at times, but that just adds to your appeal. You tend to get other people excited whenever you're riled up. You aren't usually the only storm in town.

What Kind of Storm Are You?

Um... okay. I actually DID have someone tell me I was scary yesterday, lol... hmmm...

=======================

Brain Dead

"It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.” — J. W. Goethe


see more dog and puppy pictures

Spent the bulk of yesterday migrating one of the LASR reviewer groups onto Google Groups. Oy. Copying the database, making a note of anniversary dates so that I can give kudos and gifts to the folks who stick it out with us, inviting the members ... it was crazy, to say the least. And today I need to to the other two groups!

I did find the time to get my hair cut again... This time it's a LOT shorter than last time. I didn't want it *quite* this short, but I think it will work better curly at this length. We'll see the next time I wash it. For now, I had the stylist straighten it again. DD has her hair cut, too, and lots of curls put in. She looks so cute! Lately she's been wearing her hair in a headband and putting on the lip gloss she got at Christmas which has just a hint of color in it, and she looks so grown-up. Makes me want to fold her up and put her away somewhere!

RE: Dogs attacking Dakota. For some reason, this happens a lot -- she must have a vibe. The schnauzer at the end of the road (that is a nasty-tempered little dog anyway) dislikes Dakota fiercely and has nipped her on several occasions. I am happy to say that Dakota stood up for herself the last time, not biting, but growling and barking at him, something I've never seen her do. Granted she was hiding behind my legs at the time, but even so, it was a proud moment.

We have a miniature Australian Shepherd in class who likes to "herd" Dakota, and since Dakota loves to run, it's a perfect fit. However, there is another dog in there (a rescue that looks like a Golden Retriever, Husky, German Shepherd mix) who has a problem with excited dogs, so whenever the herding/running starts, she has to break it up. Poor Dakota always ends up on the floor, on her back in a bit of a daze, while the other two more alpha dogs take each other on.

And she was bitten by the Weimaraner on our street when she was a puppy -- he actually grabbed her by the skin on her back and tossed her.

What amazes me about all of this is that Dakota never thinks any dog is going to hurt her. She's not dog shy AT ALL, and even with dogs that have attacked her before (except the shar pei I mentioned yesterday -- he makes her uneasy), she's not in the least bit worried about running right back up to them. It's the oddest thing.

It's supposed to snow today. Oh. Joy.

I hear the orange crops are freezing in Florida. :-(

And now, I'm off to work on migrating group number two and fixing all the problems with group number one -- we're still missing about half our members! All fun, all the time.

===================

You Are Crayons

You've always had a creative, artistic streak - even when you were a kid. You were the type of child who could spend hours with a box of crayons or markers. Even now as an adult, colors and design matter to you. You are probably very fashionable and stylish. Maybe you even dabble in the arts from time to time. You certainly still have the talent.

What Childhood Toy Are You?

You are probably very fashionable and stylish ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...no.

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Dogs and Cats

Women and cats do as they please, and men and dogs had best learn to live with it. - unknown


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The relationship between my cat (Breeann) and my dog (Dakota) is both laugh-out-loud funny and a little sad.

Dakota just wants to be friends and she tries SO hard to prove to the cat that she's a great critter to hang out with. Last night (and I wish I'd had my camera next to me) the cat was lying on the rug by the wood stove (pretty much where she spends all day, every day in the winter) and Dakota came slithering over. She laid as flat as she could on her belly and extended her nose until it just barely touched part of Breeann. And then she stopped moving, except for her tail, which wagged and wagged and wagged.

The cat wanted nothing of it. She gave Dakota the most disdainful look, and when the look didn't warn the dog off, she gave a good swat to Dakota's nose. Dakota didn't even flinch. She rolled onto her side, pushed her nose closer and wagged some more.

The cat finally gave up and stalked away, tail in the air. And now, in retrospect, I wonder if being friends was what Dakota really wanted, because as soon as the cat moved, the dog curled up on the rug in front of the wood stove!

She may be smarter than we give her credit for. It was a bloodless coup.

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You Are Falling

Sometimes things in your life feel completely out of control. You get overwhelmed. Like everyone else you have a fear of failure... just like falling in a nightmare. You may need more balance in your life. Take time to take care of yourself. And learn to go with the flow a little bit more. Falling can feel exciting if you let it!

What Nightmare Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

Actually, most of my bad dreams involve being chased by something scary. I wonder what that means?

======================

Excitment at Agility

Most pets display so many humanlike traits and emotions it's easy to forget they're not gifted with the English language and then get snubbed when we talk to them and they don't say anything back. ~Stephenie Geist

I believe in animal rights, and high among them is the right to the gentle stroke of a human hand. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

We had an exciting night in agility last night. There is a little Yorkie in there who was brutally attacked by three huskies when he was a puppy (actually, they treated him like a toy grabbing him and tossing him around -- but from his POV? Definitely an attack). Since then, he is VERY aggressive with big dogs. His owner is frustrated by it, and wants to do something for him, because it's clear he's not happy (he's always so uneasy if there are big dogs around). He's the sweetest dog I've ever met when it comes to people -- most Yorkies can get a little snippy if they're put out or annoyed, but he doesn't. Still, it's just not safe for him to have this problem.

Case in point, last night.

He was on the course, off leash, when a class participant came in late. She runs a border collie who is a sweetie BUT is also very alpha and doesn't put up with any crap. The Yorkie looked over and saw her come in an next thing I know... a blur passes in front of me and he attacks the border collie! I couldn't believe that none of the people near there tried to break it up. The BC's owner pulled her to her hind legs so she couldn't hurt the yorkie (cuz she wasn't putting up with his crap and was going for him as viciously as he was her) and the instructor ran over and yanked the yorkie off. He was fighting to get away and she gave him what for ... when he finally calmed down, he was so ashamed.

Poor thing -- it's just a complete knee-jerk reaction for him, and it's going to get him killed.

So, I talked to his owner about helping him. Dakota is so completely beta dog and so utterly laid back. He's actually attacked her a couple of times and she just moves away and looks at him like, "What? I just wanted to play." But she doesn't take it personally, she's not afraid of him and whatnot. So I offered to get together regularly and start desensitizing him around big dogs. Thing is, and the owner realizes this, too: she can NOT hold his leash when this is going on, because she anticipates his behavior -- she's tense and worried, and I really think that passes to the dog.

Her sister has a little Yorkie, too, and is very calm, so we'll probably work together instead. We'll see... nothing will happen until after the first, but this poor little critter really needs to get his doggie head on straight, because otherwise he is a sweetheart.

===============

Got my Christmas cards out (mostly) yesterday. Finally. I'm usually the person who sends them out the day after Thanksgiving, so this was really upsetting me.

To be honest, I'm just ready for Christmas to be over now.

================

You Like the Holidays

You definitely have a good time during the holidays, but you aren't obsessed with them or anything. You shop for a few presents and participate in a few traditions... but that's it! You may be accused of being a grinch, but you're simply not a fanatic about holiday traditions - especially commercial ones. You get into the spirit of the season by being kind, compassionate, and not clogging up the stores!

How Much Do You Love the Holidays?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

So so...

===============

This and That

Dreaming is an act of pure imagination, attesting in all men a creative power, which if it were available in waking, would make every man a Dante or Shakespeare. ~H.F. Hedge

I'm in a rambling mood, so beware :-)

DH asked me to wake him up this morning to go out hunting if it wasn't windy (the leftovers from Ida are hitting us today). At 2 a.m., the dog had to potty (*sigh* She hasn't had to do that in a long time), so I took her out (and noticed it was already windy) and then curled up on the couch because I'm a light sleeper and DH ... well... he can really saw the ZZZ's so getting back to sleep would have been tough.

Anyway, at 4 a.m., my alarm went off (startling the cat who was drooling on my pillow -- guess SHE isn't a light sleeper) and I looked out the window and saw the trees swaying, so rolled over and went back to sleep.

Only -- here's the thing. There is no window I can see out of from the couch, and it's too dark at 4 a.m. to see anything anyway. At 4:45, I stretched and thought, "Boy I'm glad it was windy so I could doze off again and I wonder if it still is." then rolled over to look and realized I couldn't see out -- and had DREAMED the whole other thing! LOL... I jumped up and stuck my head outside and almost had it blown off, so it was still windy, but wow. Vivid dream.

===============

Maria Zannini got the book thong DD made especially for her. DD tried to match it to the banner ad Maria has at the top of her blog for her book, "Touch the Fire".

It sounds like it was well loved, and my DD was thrilled she appreciated it. BTW, if you want a custom made book thong or earrings or bracelets, email DD and put in your order (she's at distinctivelydd AT gmail DOT com). We've had several custom order requests already, and she enjoys the challenge of making them.

Speaking of Distinctively DD, she has her first bracelet/earring set up. Once we get bracelets down pat, we'll be moving on to necklaces. And then maybe some fancier earrings.

==================
Allie posted this on her blog yesterday and I think it's something that should be shared:



I recently posted about losing Georgia, the pit bull mix in our agility class. She was an amazing dog. Some of the best, gentlest dogs I've know were Rotties. The most amazing dog I ever knew was a German Shepherd named Jenny that one of my SIL's owned. People have ideas about dog breeds because of the media -- I've only been bitten once in my life, and it was by a chihuahua (and it was a bad bite). Instead of punishing a particular breed, we need to start punishing the people who make the dogs the way they are.

As an aside, a breed that is the most well loved family pet is also a breed with one of the highest rates of reported dog bites (albeit not fatal bites): The Golden Retriever. So don't judge a book (or in this case, a dog) by it's cover. Breed specific legislation is wrong.

==========================

I'm slowly beginning to write again, but not on my NaNo book -- because I can't seem to brainstorm a really good, juicy conflict for my H/H. OTOH, I did think of a really great conflict for my H/H in "A Jewel for Geoff" so that was exciting. AND, I found some pretty hot pix of a good-looking blond guy to replace my folically challenged Geoff in my mind, so I'm hoping that will help me find him more attractive. I have to be able to fall in love with my heroes, or I can't feel like the heroine can. Yanno?

I wonder if it's legit to add together the writing I do on "A Jewel for Geoff" to the writing I already did for "Drive Me Crazy" and total them for a win on NaNoWriMo?

Probably not. *sigh*

==========================

You Should Have Curly Hair

You are cheerful, outgoing, and downright bouncy. People find you to be very personable and real. You are confident in your own skin, and you don't feel like you have to fake anything. You are very independent and unique. You wouldn't like to look like every other person on the street. People find that you're honest, and it's easy to trust you. Others expect you to be honest in all facets of your life.

Should You Have Straight Hair or Curly Hair?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Well... that's convenient, since I HAVE curly hair. Except -- check this out! I got my hair cut and flat-ironed on Weds. What do you think?



I like it :-) ... or I should say, I likeD it -- cuz it's curly again.

Okay, time to get back to work. Have a great Saturday.

============================

This and That

Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself. ~Hubert de Givenchy, Vogue, July 1985

I was looking for a change, so I started parting my hair on the opposite side.

I know... I'm a rebel.

Seriously, though -- those of you with absurdly thick hair will understand: fixing my hair the same way all the time made my head hurt to the point where I couldn't stand it. That pain is the reason I keep getting it all whacked off -- braids, pony tails, even just pulling a little bit of the sides back -- it all hurts. But, I can't stand to have my hair tickling my face. Drives. Me. Nuts.

My hair is as resistant to change as I am though, so I had to pin and spray the pogees out of it to keep it in place the first day. And, I have to admit, it really felt funny. The wind on my part... I kept thinking something was wrong: I shouldn't FEEL the breeze there. The way I auto-flip my hair was in the wrong direction. Funny how we get so used to something, isn't it?

I'm on day three of my new part, and my hair and I are getting used to it. Still, I'm rather tired of having to mess with it at all, and dream of chopping it off again. DH is resistant to this ("Short hair looks like a man."), but it's my head, so I'll make the final decision.

In the meantime, I'll have fun with my new look.

=========================

Dakota is doing incredibly well in agility. I don't have pictures because the instructor doesn't want the flash to distract the dogs, and I completely understand. Last night, we learned the teeter-totter (or see-saw, which is what I chose to call it... you have to name the obstacles so the dog knows where to go). I thought this obstacle would be the one Dd refused to do. It's noisy, it's scary and IT MOVES!! She didn't love it, but she did it -- and she did it without help the last time. I was so proud. She really enjoys doing the agility and is becoming quite the star of the beginner class. She's one of the few who does the course off leash, and gets it *mostly* right.

The only problem we have right now is that there is one dog in the class who is dog aggressive. The owner is using the class to help socialize the dog AND to build a stronger bond between owner/dog. They keep her on leash the entire time (except when she runs through the tunnel or chute), and the instructor is always near, but it makes us all very nervous. It doesn't help that the dog is a pit bull. I try not to be biased against breeds as I firmly believe that it's HOW a dog is raised not WHAT a dog is. In fact, neither pit bulls nor rottweilers are in the top three breeds of reported dog bites (interestingly, Golder Retrievers ARE, so throw those preconceived notions right out the window).

Still, the fact is, while I don't believe that pit bulls (or rotties, whom I adore) are more aggressive than other breeds, the simple fact is this: if a pit bull attacks you or your dog, you're more likely to get seriously hurt than if a ... oh, cocker spaniel or Australian shepherd does.

So, it makes me uneasy.

And, last night, we compounded the fun by adding an unsocialized German Shepherd to the mix. She wasn't exactly dog aggressive, but she wasn't being friendly, either. And Dakota developed a fascination with her. The two times Dd stopped listening to me and took off, she went right to that dog.

Dumb Dd.

Anyway, for the most part (except the one time the pit jumped through the tire facing us and lunged with a menacing growl and was stopped about 18 inches from us...leaving my heart firmly planted in my throat) fun was had by all.

==========================

You Are Kate

You've done a bad things in your life, even though they were justified. And since you keep your past to yourself, people see you as very mysterious. You're independent. You do what you have to in order to survive. You are quick witted, and you have a variety of useful skills. You're quite resourceful. Although you're a loner, you form strong romantic bonds quickly. Deep down, you're very loving - though you are still scared of being burned by someone.

Who Are You on LOST?

Some yes, some no... and since I don't watch "LOST", I have no idea who Kate is, or whether I'm like her... Now, if there was a "Eureka" quiz...

==============================

Follow The Bouncing Ball..

... Inside my head.

Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again? ~Winnie the Pooh

This morning, when I woke at 4:14 a.m., I gave myself permission to go back to sleep. Sundays are the one day I don't have to upload pages to LASR, so are really the only day I CAN sleep in. Ever. That's why I'm running late today.

====================

For some reason, I recalled how my friend's mom used to get her stubborn dog to take pills. I think I was thinking about Amy's dog, Indy, being on anti-anxiety meds (and I have no idea why THAT popped into my brain -- my brain is a scary place). My friend's mom, Joan, couldn't stuff a pill into the dog's mouth. It would NOT take them no matter what. But, it did tend to gobble anything she dropped on the floor. So, while she was chopping something for a meal, she'd "accidentally" push the pill (and a bit of whatever food) onto the floor. "WHOOPS!" and the dog scarfed them all down before Joan could pick them up. Ha.

===================

My niece is engaged to marry a boy who is very unlovely on the outside (IMHO). But he showed her the only unconditional love she's ever known. The entire family is against their marriage, and I'm not certain it's the best relationship in the world (he's quite irresponsible), but maybe he'll grow up. In the meantime, the adore each other. He would lay down in front of a moving train to save her. There's something to be said for that. Still, it got me to thinking about the beautiful people we populate our romance novels with. Hmmm...

And that thought impelled me to click through on an article at the top of my gmail page entitled: Who Are The 50 Most Gorgeous Singers Of Our Time?. I have to say that I disagree with 90% of their choices, and am horrified that more country artists weren't chosen. They did select Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift ... But what about Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Faith Hill??

Clearly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

========================

One more day until my DH goes back to work. Praise God and all that's holy, even if it is only for three days.

========================

Yesterday, I was so overwhelmed with everything, I almost decided to quit it all. Judy will be relieved that Chris talked me down off the edge... and probably didn't even realize she did so.

=========================

I miss my mom. There ought to be a law that moms can only live a certain number of minutes away from their kids. Though, considering my mom's kids live all over the country, that could be tricky.

=========================

My NaNo book feels like a glorious waste of time. It's kind of fun to write, but I can't imagine anyone, anywhere publishing ever.

::shrugs::

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I'm still steamed that "One Love for Liv" comes out in print four days after Christmas. Y'all could wrap up an I.O.U. for your friends, and then get the book after! That's what I'm doing. **sigh**

It's like they thought, "How can we make marketing this novel even harder?"

=========================

My DH went to the Tractor Supply Store and bought me pink and gray snow boots yesterday! They're so cute and soft and nice... my Sorels that I've been using I got my first year in Colorado (1994), so they're a little worn out. Sometimes, he's very sweet. That doesn't mean I don't want him to go back to work, though.

*G*

=========================

Only got about 400 words on my NaNo book yesterday. Still haven't broken 10,000. Maybe today. Of course, the bathroom still needs cleaning.

=========================

The Castle Personality Test

You are scared of new experiences. It's hard for you to break outside of your comfort zone. You like to think that people are impressed by you. You know that you have a lot to offer. You are a very realistic person. You see the world as it is, flaws and all. Right now, you feel very trapped in your life. You often feel like there is no way out of your rut. Overall, your life is very peaceful - if not a little solitary. Much of what goes on goes on in your head. You feel like the fate of the future partially rests in your hands. You believe you need to help make the world a better place.

The Castle Personality Test

So...are y'all impressed with me? Apparently, I like to think so. The rest, though? Mostly true...

What Day Is It?

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

DH being off for five days has thrown me into a spin... and I'm still trying to recover.

DDs curriculum still isn't working, so I'm uninstalling and reinstalling and I hope that works. (FYI to Jen and Amy: It's AOP Switched-on-Schoolhouse).

I'm so far behind on LASR website stuff, it's not funny.

Haven't written in a week.

So... on that note, I leave you with my dog eating her ears:

Reviews and Unreasonable Fear

He who fears something gives it power over him. ~Moorish Proverb

Yay me! Another great review for "Kitchen Matches" -- this one is a five angel one from Fallen Angels Reviews, which says in part:

From the first few paragraphs I knew I would love this story from Marianne Arkins. She weaves humor and sexual tension with ease and had Cori and Micah heating up even after the (real) flames were doused.

And this reviewer isn't the first person to say this:

I’m hoping Ms. Arkins has plans for some of Cori’s brothers; I’d really love to visit this great family again.

So... hmmm.... better put on my thinking cap. But, it's a quandary. Do I write the sequel to "One Love For Liv" (Geoff's story), or a sequel to "Kitchen Matches" (probably Zach's story... he's just begging to be brought to his knees)?

And... let the nice words being said about this story be a lesson. "Kitchen Matches" was rejected more than once before I finally sold it. Persevere!

===============================

I think there are few things as sad as kids who are terrified of dogs. Cautious is okay... that's not a bad thing, because not all dogs are sweet (like my loopy but harmless one). But terror? We have a neighbor whose daughter is absolutely so fearful she can't function. Worse, her fear isn't just dogs... it's pretty much anything that moves. And it was passed on by her mother (also afraid of dogs) who got it from her mother (incapacitated with fear of dogs).

It's not justified... none of them were ever attacked or bitten. It just is. And it affects their ability to live. My neighbor would like to walk on a daily basis, but we (unfortunately) have some folks who are irresponsible dog owners and let their dogs roam around footloose and fancy free. These dogs aren't going to bite you, however. Annoying, yes. Vicious? Not in the least. But, unless I can walk with her, or her husband can, she stays locked in the house. As do her children.

I've seen this more than once when taking my dog to the park. I took Dakota once when was still a little fluffy puppy and there were a couple of kids who all but climbed their mothers when they saw her -- and it wasn't as though she was close.

Sad. Sad. Sad.

You don't have to love dogs, but that kind of fear is just sad. Although, fear of anything that is that incapacitating is probably not particularly healthy.

But that's a post for another day.

===========================

I rec'd a thank you note from an author for one of my reviewers the other day. And, perhaps I'm naive but I was surprised when her compliment included words to the effect of: it's clear that your reviewer actually read the entire book, and not just the first and last chapters like so many other reviewers do.

Really? Wow. After all, the reason we can't release as many reviews as I'd like is just the sheer amount of reading time involved. All of my reviewers read the stories from cover to virtual cover.

I'm still just ... shocked (?), flabbergasted (?), surprised (?) to even think that any other reviewers would do something like that. Do they? Really? I hope not.

On a side note, I've seen on more than one author loop that authors don't know if it's appropriate to send a thank you for a review. IMHO, it's absolutely appropriate -- with one little mention of a no-no: DON'T defend your story or attempt to explain something that the reviewer didn't like.

We don't mind when you tell us we've misspelled your heroine's name or your name... but if the reviewer didn't like something, she didn't like it. Remember, reviews are just one person's opinion.

=========================

You Are Pasta Puttanesca

Compared to most people, you have a sexy and wild personality. So it fits that you're like a pasta popularized by street walkers! You like food with interesting, contrasting, and spicy flavors. You live an exciting life - and you wouldn't ever go for anything bland.

What Pasta Dish Are You?

Did they just say I'm a hooker?? LOL....

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