The Great Thanksgiving Exit of 08!

I couldn't wait to leave. Already nursing a cold, already stressed to the max, wanting my own bed, longing for my own space. Yes I was in New Jersey for Thanksgiving. 25 hours to be exact. 25 hours too long!

Yes I'm thankful for my family. Yes they mean the world to me, but they also drive me CRAZY! I won't sit here diving into all the issues that put me over the edge, just know they are there. They exist, and I'll be addressing them with my shrink should I ever return to therapy.

So It's black friday, and I just returned to the home of the Rents, after going out for breakfast, and demanding to be brought back prior to any shopping. I opted to take a long nap, in a finally quiet house. A much needed rest from all things Thanksgiving, and all the idiosyncrasies that make me a little extra loony when I'm around the fam. Just as I felt myself slipping into a deep sleep they were back, and LOUDLY invading my peace! They were chatting at ridiculously high decibels, rustling shopping bags carrying all sorts of crap. The dogs started to bark, and my dreams of afternoon zzz's were suddenly shattered!

I leapt off the couch, and announced I would be heading back to the city as soon as I could get my things together. This took all of three seconds. I'm a lite packer, and all I really had with me was a change of clothes, my assorted homeopathic cold treatments, a tin of sucrets, and a bottle of good old nyquil! I put Elliott's harness and leash on, and darted to the garage where my rental car was parked. Mom followed me out, probably to get a few last minute nags in. I chucked my stuff in the back seat. Opened the front door for El. He hopped in the shotgun seat. I said bye to mom, thanked her for everything. She hit the garage door opener, and I proceeded to back out. Before I could take a sigh of relief that this visit was over... BOOM! A loud, oh so loud, incredibly earth shaking BOOM!

I put the car in park, and froze for a second. Mom, my sister in law, and my brother consecutively ran outside. They asked what happened. I told them I just smashed my side view mirror into mom's SUV! They said are you ok? Is Elliott ok? I answered "yes, we are fine. I just feel like shit, and I want to go home!"

My brother picked up the crippled, and cracked up mirror, wrapped it in newspaper and handed it to me. I grabbed it, took a second to feel as though this was some sort of metaphor for my life, then rolled up my window, put the car in reverse, and finally managed an uninterrupted journey back to NYC.

Boy do I know how to make an EXIT! I'm chalking this one up to a TOFURKEY coma, and lingering effects of nyquil. Happy Holidays!

Ramblings, A Rake, and other Randomness

I adore the slight chill in the air today.

I despise how lazy I'm feeling at this exact moment.

I'm looking for inspiration.

I'm hiding from reality.

I feel like rambling, don't try to stop me!

Damn I'm Tired. Nope, not just from the exhausting work week, but from my saturday morning! All because I "Manned" a rake for a tiny bit . I don't think I've touched one of those things since I was wee little tyke. I was never much for yard work, and now I live in the city, so what the heck was I doing with a rake?

Well today was 'annual rake day' at the dog run.

A time to re-distribute all of the pebbles in the park. As nature takes it's toll, the pebbles seem to bunch up in corners leaving huge patches of dirty ground in all the popular play areas, and mounds of pebble piles along the fringes. This makes for dogs exiting the run oh so dirty, and if it rains... yeah MUD CENTRAL! When the pebbles are levelled felicitously, all is right in the world! Or as right as they could possibly be in the crazy little world that is the dog run! So all the regulars took turns doing a little raking... even me. I made an attempt at the "i'm jewish, we don't know from raking excuse" Didn't go over too well! Then, the jewish guilt kicked in, and I pitched in. I think my help may have actually done more harm than good, but hey I tried! Don't I deserve an "A" for effort? Maybe a gold star?

Now I flit to other randomness... I can't get enough of Annie Lennox lately.

I've always enjoyed her, but now I think I'm obsessed. She's an artist seed heavily planted on many of my pandora channels, and while feeding my pandora fixation, I've been overdosing on Annie! Seriously, could she be any more talented?! Her voice gives me chills, her lyrics give me pause. Old tunes, new songs, Eurythmics hits... doesn't matter... I dig it all. She's simply amazing.

thanks for stopping by-

lg

me a bully?

"You may look like the troublemaker of the pack, but it turns out your tough guy mug is worse than its bite. You're really a softie, loyal to your friends and family and A-OK with meeting new pooches, but you prefer to do so with a high-five instead of a paw-shake. Proud of your great sense of humor, you've got a whole litter of jokes you draw from to keep the mood playful and the positive energy alive. A perfect afternoon for you involves a leisurely stroll with a pal, followed by a little downtime in an easy chair with a frosty can of brew and a remote control within easy fetching distance. You shed accusations of being lazy, knowing perfectly well that you're kenneling the energy you might need for... well... something."

description... dead on. too bad Elliott HATES bull dogs. hahaha

what breed are you?

Blog Gone to The Dogs

Elliott (My irresistible cocker spaniel) and I spent the entire day yesterday babysitting my friend's basenji, Tutank. Today is Elliott's 3rd birthday, so after a day gone to the dogs, and a day of celebrating a dog, this post is dedicated to dogs... unequivocally the GREATEST life form on this planet! Enjoy my photos of Elliott and Tutank.

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." ~Gilda Radner










"One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why." ~Author Unknown














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














"Agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." - George Eliot (1819-1880) English novelist

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andy Rooney

"My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am." ~Author Unknown












*** above photo taken by the tremendously talented photographer
Jen Rinaldi.

"All of the good things that have come to me have come through my dog." - A dog owner overheard in New York's Central Park











***Elliott as a baby!

Dogs truly are our best friends, I can't imagine my life without Elliott Igby. Happy 3rd Birthday Pup!
lg

BTW... For anyone who adores dogs, and especially those of us who spend countless hours at the dog run... I urge you to check out Michael Crouser's site for his new book "Dog Run". The images are absolutely, eminently BRILLIANT! Capturing our canine companions in a whole new way.

the me i was meant to be

I am so stupendously, and conclusively sick of my subterfuge!










At this exact moment I have such disdain toward myself for creating a ridiculous disparateness of a life.

I know I am speaking in such vague terms, but that's the best I can do right now. I'm dealing with a personal plague. So hard to expand. So difficult to explain. I do know what I need to do. I actually took an important step, albeit ever so teensy, but still a step. Even the slightest movement towards self improvement is progress right?

The jewish high holy days start tonight. I am certainly not the most religious person, and have recently been conflicted with a legion of issues about religion in general. That being said, I still plan to use this time for personal reflection, and try really hard to focus on the things that can make me a truer version of me. I don't know who I really am, but for the first time in a long time I think I may be closer to being him.

L'shana Tova.
lg

Damn right... if I was a superhero... this would SO be me!

Too much fun! My staff would die! DIE! DIE! DIE!

Click here to make your own! You know you want to!

Ah September!

I wish I could put yesterday in jar, and let it loose when ever I need it most. It wasn't like I did anything spectacular, in fact I pretty much did nothing. That's the beauty of it. The weather was flawless, the sun was shinning, and there was the most peaceful, cool breeze in the air. I was sitting on a park bench in the dog run and it hit me... September's here.

Yes this revelation was about 20 days overdue, but I've been so busy, being... well busy! I didn't give much attention to the change of season. I didn't have much of a summer. I barely took any time off. I guess subconsciously, I thought I needed no reason to recognize any sort of change. Stupid way to think, subconsciously or not! September is so meaningful, a month deserving celebration, and embracement. It's the season of fresh starts, and new beginnings. The true launch to the new year.

If you haven't taken a moment to greet September, stop what you're doing RIGHT now! Go outside. Close your eyes. Feel the cool breeze. Take a deep breath, and welcome the clean slate.