Goodbye, 2017

Whew, that crap of a year is over. Goodbye, 2017!

okay, so it wasn't all bad. Highlights in pictures:

I helped organized the St. Louis Women's March. It was an incredible learning experience, and so amazing to see how many people turned out for this, and for marches across the world. It also pushed me into more direct activism in my community, and for that I am thankful! #ResitTrump #ResistRacism #Resist!

I adopted a new cat! Anya is a beautiful and sweet calico. She has yet to realize she is food secure, so no man's plate is safe while she is on the loose, but she is a sweetheart when she's not hunting.

My first trip to the beach. Me and 4 fabulous friends visited Puerto Rico. A trip of many firsts - first real beach vacation, first time paddle boarding, and first trip the a rain forest. It was wonderful.  Sadly, a few months later the catastrophic Hurricane Maria hit.  Half of Puerto Rico is still without power.

Fun times at the farm with the family. Cooper was in heaven :)

Hiking! This fall was unmatched for it's beautiful colors. It was gorgeous.

few things

Few things make my dog happier than a new collar.

yellow dog project

People with friendly outgoing, dogs often don't understand that some dogs shouldn't be approached.  Take my pup, for instance: when a dog approaches us while we are on a walk, Cooper often barks ferociously and lunges towards the dog. The vet says he is trying to protect me, but it's hard to explain that to the dog-owner glaring at me and my dog. Incidentally, it's also hard to explain to Cooper that his protection against the neighbor's Yorkie is not necessary.  This can also be surprising to people who know my dog: he is very sweet and submissive to people, kids, and babies & even has some dog friends. But, he on a walk, he needs space.

I recently learned of this organization - the Yellow Dog Project-  and how they are getting the word out that it should not be assumed that all dogs love to be approached by other dogs and/or people, and I think that is fantastic! If you see a dog with a yellow ribbon on him/his leash, then please do not approach this dog, at least not with out permission. This can help make all dogs & people much safer, but it only works with awareness, so spread the word!

puppy play date

Cooper is sometimes uneasy around other dogs (which is usually displayed on walks when he's attached to me; the vet says he's protecting me), but he enjoys other pups off-leash. Unfortunately, he hasn't had much opportunity to play with other dogs, so when he does, he is often that kid on the playground that doesn't know any of the schoolyard rules.  I'm trying to fix this, and since my sis-in-law has a new puppy, it seems this is the perfect time to try socializing Cooper a bit more.  So... puppy play date!

My sis-in-law actually brought 2 pups - Connie (hers) and DeMaris (foster pup) for Cooper's 2nd play date with them.. Although Cooper spent a lot of time ignoring the pups, he did interact with them more than he did during play date #1, and he let them play with his toys. All in all, it was a great morning!

 Cooper supervises DeMaris chewing on the bone

 Connie & Cooper check each other out

running around, chasing each other (happily)

my Lulu

I love this picture of Lucy.

chairs about town

My cat, Lucy, sitting anywhere but in one of the 300 chairs in this room.

In other news, I will be out of town this weekend, so while my posting will be suspended, hopefully I'll snap some cool photos. I'll post when I get back.

yeah, i'll keep him

This is photographic evidence of one of the rare instances in which Cooper is worn out.

beat the heat

It's been so hot in St. Louis lately, so I thought Cooper could use some time at a lake. He loves to swim. I just wish the lakes around my house were as inviting to me as they are to my dog.

adventures in leash training

So Cooper is a really well behaved dog. He knows several commands, such as "leave it, stay, come and off." He can also play fetch. What he cannot do is walk on a leash. This is problematic because he is extremely strong. So today we started leash training. I used the "180 technique."

The 180 Technique goes like this: you walk with your dog, if he pulls on the leash, you turn around an walk the other direction. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat...

It took us over an hour to go approximately 2 blocks, but he is improving. Sadly, whenever I praise him for doing a good job, he gets excited and starts to run, and in turn pulls on the leash (oy!). It was frustrating, but Cooper began to get the hang of it by the end of the walk. Tomorrow I'm going to play fetch with him prior to the walk, so he is already a little tuckered out when we start.

I got a dog!

Today I adopted a dog. He is a lab/golden retriever mix, but is all black. He is 14 months old, and is already really well trained & a gentle, sweet dog. He and Lucy got along instantly(bonus!). :) YAY! His birthday is October 26, 2008, and I'm hoping his name will soon be Cooper (his previous owners called him "Man-doggie.")

lucy!

just lovely

I've always been the sort of person who has not understood the appeal of a having certain pets. These include: bunnies (sorry, fishfrog and nell), hamsters/gerbils/guinea pigs, ferrets, hedgehogs, or birds. They eat, sleep, and live where the poo and they are boring; it's never seemed like much a life for them or for me. My roommate has two birds, and for the last two months they have done little to change my mind about the merit of having such pets. Sure, they're pretty, but they don't DO ANYTHING!

Well, all that has changed because these birds do do something. They sing. Beautifully. Sometimes I feel like I am out in the wilderness on a hike or camping trip with Panda, Fishfrog, and Nell. It is wonderful, just delightful. I am a bird convert. A convert, I tell ya!

lucy and the dogs

Lucy and I have moved into our new digs, and all in all we like it. But...Lucy met the dogs today, and let me tell ya, it did not go over well. Sounds of hissing and growling could be heard throughout the land, and much blood was shed. Well, only my blood, but still. The problem was simple: the puppy is huge and wanted to play with Lucy. Lucy was completely freaked out. She did well once we were both on the couch and I could shoo away the dogs, so I am hoping she grows to deal with them as it is much nicer for me to enjoy the amenities of the main floor without worrying that I am neglecting my kitty upstairs.

The picture of the mountain goat is just for your enjoyment; there are no mountain goats in my house.

Sleep. Beautiful sleep.

My cat, though I love her, is a great big pig and she has done the unthinkable - distrubed my precious Saturday morning snooze time. Today, I was once again woken by her insessent meows and headbutts as she insisted that I get up and feed her. Nevermind that she'd only been given her nightly feeding 7 hours earlier! Panda used to give her her morning feedings, but this week started barracading her door so Lucy cannot get in in the morning. Lucy is in for rude awakening becuase I am thinking of doing the same thing. After a week of being woken up early, I have been reduced to a walking zombie. This cannot continue! She's not a baby - she's a cat!

Lucy and her box

Lucy was not happy that Panda and I were gone all weekend. Her voice is all but gone. Poor Lucy. Poor neighbors who had to listen to her ululating.