Beach Day!

Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL day and we could not keep ourselves from spending at least part of it outside! It was the first time that Dad and I brought our dogs to the beach, so it was a learning experience. Harley loved lounging in the sand, but was skittish around the waves and water. As a matter of fact, she tried to get as far from the water as possible! It was funny, but I was a bit disappointed because I had images of my silly dog splashing around in the waves. Oh well.


Joy relished baking in the sun (I managed to get burned even with SPF 50 sunscreen and sitting under an umbrella) and playing with the puppies. Harley is willing to get as much attention as possible.

Roscoe, on the other hand, LOVED the water! He splashed around, swam and tried to chase the shells and rocks rolling in the tide. Roscoe also wore himself ragged chasing after the shadows of sea gulls and airplanes. It was adorable!

Crafter's Block

I've been in my new apartment for two months, and I am almost completely unpacked. Almost.

I have hardly touched my craft room. My craft library is unpacked and organized on the bookcases and I set up the craft table, but it is covered with various boxes, supplies and things that haven't found a home yet. The twelve 56-gallon plastic tote boxes are stacked against my bedroom wall along with piles of quilt batting. There is a tower of cardboard boxes with more craft supplies leaning precariously in one corner. Other random items are piled around or stuffed in corners.

I try to justify this by saying that I've been REALLY busy since I moved in and just haven't had time. I've convinced myself "Even if the craft room was unpacked, I don't have time to craft anyway so why make it a priority?"

Dad spent Sunday night and, as we sat at the dining room table eating dinner, I saw my sad little craft area over his shoulder. And that's exactly how I felt looking at it: sad. Crafting, or creating, is so deeply a part of who I am that it made me sad to realize that I've neglected it. I want to be able to spend a few hours a week working on a project, even if it's only a half hour a night. I want to walk past a somewhat-orderly project and feel the joy and anticipation of working on it again instead of feeling anxious and unfulfilled looking at the fabric refugees lurking in piles.

Time certainly has been an issue, but I don't think it is the biggest roadblock. I think I'm afraid of starting a new project because it will be the first time I won't have Mom as a resource. I won't be able to call her up and ask questions or send her pictures of the finished project. It's ironic, really: continuing to create is a way that I can honor her memory, but it's the memories of all the projects we've shared that is blocking me from creating. I miss her more everyday but am still hesitant to return to the activities that will make me feel closer to her.

So I decided to make my craft room a priority. Even though I was tired to the bone yesterday, I organized the plastic totes and started finding a home for all the flotsam on the craft table. If I can just get my supplies unpacked and the room set up, I won't have that hurdle preventing me from getting to work. I have several projects in mind and am going to make a list of things I want to make this year. For starters, Dad just became a great-grandpa again, so there is a baby blanket needing to be made.

One very busy Saturday

Saturday, April 18, 2009

1:14 AM - Wake up to the cell phone ringing. Panic with the expectation that no good news comes at 1:14 AM. Get very frustrated when the called ID shows Ian's number but no one is on the line. Go back to sleep.

6:48 AM - Finally drag myself out of bed.

6:52 AM - Convince Harley that she must go potty in the backyard. Feel very guilty when she looks disappointed that we aren't taking our morning walk.

7:12 AM - Inhale an egg and cheese sandwich and hope I have enough time to digest before I start the 5K.

7:32 AM - Answer the phone. Find out that the 1:14 AM call was Pumpkin stepping on Ian's phone. Curse the furry devil and thank my lucky stars that Harley is so sweet.

7:42 AM - Head out the door to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!

8:18 AM - Start the race!

8:54 AM - Cross the finish line in 36 minutes and 8 seconds! If I remember correctly, that's almost 10 minutes better than the Penguin Run/Walk in October!

After the race I did some grocery shopping and picked up a few essentials at Target. Then I walked over to Forsyth Park for the Earth Day Celebration. There were a bunch of interesting booths and vendors. I enjoyed a very yummy cherry Italian ice and picked up some informational brochures (neighbor gardens, kayaking, emergency response training).

A walking recycle bin. Savannah just recently began curbside recycling within the city limits (yippie!). Now we're working to extend the program to the rural areas.

I'm not quite sure if "Mr. Nas T Butts" is supposed to discourage people from smoking or just from throwing their butts on the ground... There was also a walking toilet, I think to encourage folks to check for leaky faucets...

It's not as charming as the labyrinth on Block Island, but it was still heartening to see this children's labyrinth on the lawn. On my way home I stopped by Brighter Day to pick up some Quorn for lunch this week. Yum!

No busy day would be complete without some relaxing time spent in the garden. It's not much to look at (yet) but this little patch will hopefully fill out as the weather warms. Most of the various items that create the border were unearthed while I was turning over the soil: I found whole glass bottles, metal pipes, iron stakes, bricks and stones and lots of broken glass. I planted two types of tomatoes (sweet 100 cherry hybrids and some type of larger, sandwich sized ones), red peppers, green squash, basil, parsley, and chives. Behind the garden, close to the fence, I planted 5 different types of sunflowers in the hopes of having a wall of flowers to attract butterflies and humming birds.

Inside the fence I planted Gladiolus and Caladium bulbs in these awesome Mexican pots that I got for $5 each from Well Traveled Imports. Because the back yard is in shade most of the day, there is very little ground cover. I am trying to transplant a bunch of the ivy from the side of the house to the ground around my pots. This will hopefully prevent the soil from turning to mud every time it rains. Like most gardening adventures, I'll have to wait and see!

All About Harley!

As the title promises, this post is all about my totally awesome dog, Harley!

It's been just under a month since I adopted her, and I couldn't be happier! It's so nice to have her great me at the door, excited just to see me. It's like having a cool roommate that doesn't leave dirty dishes lying around.


Over Easter weekend we took a drive down to visit Dad before he left for vacation. Harley LOVED running and playing in the backyard...
but was somewhat less excited about getting a bath on the patio! The shampoo I made used natural dish soap, apple cider vinegar, glycerin and water and worked wonderfully. She got squeaky clean and there was absolutely NO wet dog smell.


The homemade dry shampoo was not nearly as impressive, however. It took almost 15 minutes of brushing to get it all out of her fur and didn't really make a noticeable improvement to her coat. In a pinch, it would probably help with funky odors, but I think I'll stick to regular brushing and occasional wet baths.

The weather has been so beautiful lately that I've been reading in the park after work instead of sitting in my comfy-chair. It's a great chance to be outside and get some fresh air and sunshine.

Harley tends to get bored and want to play while I'm reading. When I tried to explain that I was reading for work, she gave me a raspberry...then proceeded to lay on my book.

Success at the dog park! I took Harley to Beasley Dog Park on Sunday and she had a wonderful time! She got along great with all the dogs and didn't act aggressive at all! It felt so good to see her running and playing with other dogs and relieved a lot of my anxiety about her behavior in Forsyth. I'm going to make it a point to take her to the dog park a few times a week so she can socialize. Hopefully she will get to the point where she can meet and greet new dogs on the leash without being defensive.

Busy Busy

This will come as no surprise to anyone that has known me for more than two days: I have a very busy life! But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

This weekend is going to be jam packed with fun and exciting things to do. After work tonight I think I'm going to take Harley for her first visit to a dog park. I'm a little nervous: after a rough encounter with an over-excited American Bulldog she has been exhibiting a bit of aggression towards other dogs in Forsyth. When she first encounters other dogs her size or larger, she seems to get defensive and try to show dominance. But once she has sniffed and been sniffed, she calms right down. My hope is that she will feel less threatened in an environment where the dogs are able to sort out their hierarchy and play in a more natural way. Keep your fingers crossed!

Tomorrow morning is my first Georgia 5K: the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I will admit that my training has been pretty slack since I got Harley. I haven't been jogging as much because I tend to enjoy walking with her. I think, though, that this is really a good thing. My knees don't ache as much and I realized that I don't have to push myself, I can just enjoy the process. The three miles a day that I walk with Harley is much more rewarding than the 3 miles I was jogging. I will try to do my best during the race, but I don't have to prove anything to anyone. That's a nice feeling.

After the Race will be the Earth Day celebration in Forsyth Park. It looks like it will be very interesting and I can't wait to check it out. I'm debating whether to bring Harley, as I'm sure there will be lots of people and other dogs. She still gets a bit skittish sometimes and I'd rather not put her in a situation where she's going to feel overwhelmed, for her sake and my own (that is one of the toughest things about adopting a dog: not knowing their history). I also hope to stop by the farmer's market to pick up my veggies for the week.

I bought all the ingredients I need to make a dry dog shampoo. All I need now is a bristle brush to get the stuff out of Harley's fur. If I am able to pick up a brush, Harley will be getting a dry bath this week (I do have photos from the wet bath at Dad's, but haven't downloaded them yet).

Following up on a previous post, I am planning on attending the Celtic Mass at the Parish of St. Paul the Apostle on Sunday night. I'm still not sure that church is where I will find the peace and comfort that I'm looking for, but I figure it's as good a place as any to start. My friend, Eric, and I had a really awesome conversation about religion, beliefs, church, ritual and faith. He made an excellent point: go through the motions even if you're not "feeling" it and it's a pretty good bet you'll start feeling it again. I think this holds true in a lot of situations in life: If you don't feel like going for a walk, get up and go anyway and you'll feel better by the time you get home; If you don't feel like you're in touch with a friend or loved one, reach out and get in touch. It's a better use of the old yuppie phrase "Fake it till you make it."

Oh, I'm also going to try to plant some basil and parsley seeds. I say "try" because, really, I have a lot on my plate already!

No act of kindness is too small.

A very dear friend of mine, Julie, works for Catholic Digest. This very dear friend has the enviable job of, among many other things, traveling to really cool places (Africa, Greece and Jordan, to list a few) and talking to famous people about Catholic-related topics. I just read her interview with Anna Paquin regarding the movie "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler," which you can find here, if you are so inclined.

The reason I mention this article is that I absolutely LOVE the tag line "No act of kindness is too small." I fear that we are subconsciously taught to believe that we, as individuals or groups of a minority, are too insignificant to bring about change. There is such a widespread feeling of apathy regarding larger social issues, and even in our personal lives. There are so many people who think "I will never rise above (insert situation here)" or "What does it matter if I shop at Wal-Mart? One customer can't make a difference." Beliefs are becoming as disposable as napkins or diapers.

On the other hand, I do know several wonderful people who share my struggle in caring so widely and trying to narrow our scope of concern. I, for one, am often overwhelmed by the number of petitions to sign and requests for donations of time and/or money that come daily from various organizations and movements. This is, in part, because I actively search out issues of concern and subscribe to news releases pertaining to various topics about which I feel strongly. I get into this backlog of concern because I so strongly believe that one person CAN make a difference and I demand of myself the level of action that I would like to see in others.

Another quote that stuck with me from years ago is that "No one raindrop believes it causes the flood." There is so much that one person really can do, even with just small changes or actions. If every person believed in the power of their own actions, then monumental, evolutionary changes could occur. The story of Irena Sendler is a stunning example of this.

One little side note: I made it in the paper!

Guilty Confession

I have a secret. I'm not proud of it. It's not something I ever thought I would have to admit. But I can't keep this inside any longer...

I'm addicted to NCIS.

You might wonder how someone who hasn't had cable in almost 10 years is able to get addicted to a television show. Well, I blame my Dad and sister. They have Dad's DVR set to record the show any time it is aired. And it airs like 6 times a days so there are dozens of recorded episodes to watch!

And it's not at all the kind of show that I thought I would like. It's sort of like CSI (which I don't like), but everything deals in some way with the Navy (which I have no particular interest in except as far as John signed up for dive school). It's not so spectacularly written that I can't figure out half way through what is going to happen at the end. I don't really like the bloody crime scene type shows, and I'm not a fan of violence, so why on earth to I eagerly anticipate visiting my Dad and spending hours watching past episodes?? How did I let show references sneak into my vocabulary?

Part of dealing with an addiction is telling the whole truth, so here goes: when I was traveling to NYC for work on a regular basis and stayed over in hotels, I watched the TNT marathons of "Law and Order" (Criminal Intent, SVU, it didn't matter); Ian briefly had me hooked on "Smallville"; Joy and I made weekly date nights to watch the entire series of "Sex and the City" on DVD. So maybe it's an addiction by default: if Dad and Joy had been watching the History Channel series on The Black Plague I would have gotten hooked on that instead. Eventually this addiction will run it's course, and I'll probably get hooked on something else down the road. But there's the truth of it, I'm a social TV series addict. I know it's a bit hinky, but at the moment I'm craving a Gibbs and Abby fix.