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An Honor to be Nominated

Everybody says that when they’re giving their acceptance speech, like it’s a requirement.  But when I found out that Pitlandia nominated us for The Beautiful Blogger and One Lovely Blog awards, honestly?  I thought she was kidding.  We read blogs that get awards, we don’t write them.  Seriously, I have been blogging here and there since 2004, people.  Admittedly, I’m a lurker and haven’t made much of an attempt to lure readers and I do have some posts that I am especially proud of, but really I am completely floored and beyond honored to be nominated.

So the rules are there ain’t no rules…ok that was a little Grease channeling, I couldn’t help myself.  Ok so the requirements are:
Copy the awards logos and place it in your post. 
Thank the person who nominated you and link back to them in your post.  (Thank you, thank you, thank you Pitlandia)  We are new fans/readers of theirs and I think Ray has a bit of a crush on Athena.  Go check them out right now.
Nominate other bloggers you admire.
Contact your chosen bloggers and let them know.
One extra requirement for the One Lovely Blog award is to share seven things about yourself.

So, here are six things about me and one about Ray.

1.  I love to shop.  I am happy shopping for nearly anything.  I can occupy myself in a hardware store, at the mall, at a kiosk if you sell it, I want to shop it.  I love to shop and I’m pretty darn good at it.  I can find a deal blindfolded.

2.  I like busting stereotypes.  I drive a four door, four wheel drive pickup truck (named Fernando, pronounced Fer-nahn-do) …usually I’m wearing 4″ heels and a dress and I’m the only female in the office who plays fantasy football.  Yeah, I can wield a mean sledgehammer in heels, too.

3.  I know everything there is to know about the shrimping business.  Ok, that’s a lie, but I do like a good movie quote or reference sprinkled in the conversation.

4.  I will give you the shirt off my back or the last dollar in my wallet if I thought you needed it, but I hate asking for help myself and I have little patience for people who seem to not be able to do simple things for themselves.

5.  I once won the Poise and Appearance award in a pageant.

6.  I used to say that even though I love cats, I probably wouldn’t want to live with one.  I now have three.  After our chow chow passed away, I said I didn’t want another dog.  Then I wanted to foster a black elderbull.  I ended up adopting a mostly white puppy.

7.  Ray still squats like a girl when he pees. 

Ok, enough about me, on to those bloggers whom I truly admire.  Here is the hard part:  Most of the bloggers I follow are quite well established and a nomination from me might feel a tad presumptuous, but here goes nothin’.  I would like to add that everyone that Pitlandia nominated would be on my list as well but that would just be too copy catty.

First and foremost would be The One in Heels.  I have followed this chick from blog to blog since her kid was well, a kid.  He is now an adult and I am still an avid follower.  I can’t gush enough about her.  She is real but not raw and incredibly up on the latest…everything.  She would be at the top of my list of bloggers I’d  like to meet because she, like me, seems to be nice but not that nice.  After all, not everyone can be Claree.

Honestly, I don’t know exactly why, but I’m slightly obsessed with Pittieful Love.  I actually started reading them after Knox passed and those posts nearly did me in.  But the whole “ready to take a chance on love again” with Chocko who is just too stinkin’ cute as well as …just a great read and from what I can tell, a great person.  I also am in love with Baltimore, so its just bonus points that they live there.

Which brings me to Peace, Love and Fostering.  This girl woman is basically the same age as my daughter.  She writes with a maturity that comes from an understanding of just where she is in her life and already she has fostered some amazing dogs, including Baxter whom I have LOVED since I first laid eyes on him.

Birdy Flies Home doesn’t update very often, but if you have an afternoon to yourself, start at the beginning…with a box of tissues.  Birdy, if you don’t know was to be a fospice care dog through BAD RAP, but was adopted.  This blog is the story of Birdy.

Finally, there is another blogger whom I follow that I would nominate but not link to out of respect to his privacy.  You know who you are.


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What’s in a Name?

Back in the Spring at the Mega Match I purchased the Wisdom Panel DNA kit for Ray because even though he is and always will be my “Pit Bow” as I call him, I was curious as to what kind of Pit Bull type dog he really is.  On one hand, it might really seem like a “no brainer” since fetus Ray was rescued with his pregnant mama and her brother. I was afforded a luxury not every adopter gets but even Sparkles and Kane who are litter mates look like totally different kinds of dogs.



Kane

 (By the way, I loved Kane’s sweet big-head face the moment I saw it.)  Even Sparkles who Ray looks so much like, is waaaay smaller than he is.  At her adoption day, she weighed just under 40 lbs and the picture below shows a comparison of Sparkles and Ray but he was only about 6 months old in this picture.



Sparkles on top, baby Ray on the bottom.

 So, what the heck makes up a  Ray-Ray?  Sugar and spice and everything nice?  Snips and snails and puppy dog tails? 

These are bad pictures because I am too inept to do this correctly, but one side is 100% American Bulldog and the other side is Boxer mixed with mystery meat.  I’m guessing that the mystery portion has APBT in there since Wisdom Panel doesn’t screen for it, but I found it interesting that the next closest matches are no more than 9% and look!  There’s the terrier…looks just like him, doesn’t it? 

So when is your Pit Bull not a Pit Bull?  It doesn’t matter, we see what we see and we feel what we feel and Ray is my Pit Bull.

Pssst!  Have you followed us on Facebook yet?

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Eye of the Beholder

From Kindergarten through at least the 8th grade, I was the only Asian (half-Asian) in my entire school.  Not just in my class but in the entire school since my sister is younger and we never were in the same school at the same time.  I’m from a small town of only about ten thousand or so and to use a term I learned much later in life, “there wasn’t much color” there.  Not to say it was all one color save for me, but the other minority was represented with at least more than one which makes for some interesting school days.  I acquired a nice little nickname, Chinatown, which morphed into the even more wonderful, Chineetown.  Like probably every child, I hated being “different” and of course blamed my mother for not being white and for not speaking English clearly enough, never mind all that she went through to get where she was.  Once I got older I blamed her for not making me Korean enough, since we can’t speak Korean at all other than possibly counting to ten.  People see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear, though.

When I was in college and working at the front desk in my dorm my senior year, a lady who was visiting someone stopped and asked me if I was Korean and did I know so-and-so who was also Korean…at a university of nearly twenty thousand…and wasn’t I just so cute, because I still had an accent!

Later in life, I’ve not dealt with being too Korean or not Korean enough because there is always something else out there.  I recall my first husband and myself being followed through a department store as we wheeled our daughter in her stroller.  We were clean, well dressed, educated (ok you can’t see that), why were we being followed?  Oh yes, he was black and unfortunately he was used to it, although at first I didn’t even know what was going on. 

Being different or being not of the mainstream, I don’t mean to compare life experiences of racial prejudice with dog ownership but I do find similarities.  People ask me if Ray is a fighter.  “When is your dog’s next fight?”  People have asked me, upon entering my yard if he will eat them. People think its a joke, that it is ok to say things like that because they’re just kidding. Why are you being so sensitive?

Then there are those who go out of their way to be accepting that they really are unwittingly adding fuel to the fire.  I’m constantly asked what kind of dog Ray is and try to always respond with “Pit bull type” though sometimes it is just “Pit Bull” that comes out of my mouth.  Naturally we get a variety of reactions and comments and one was, ” Oh, we just prefer to call them Terriers.”

I understand the good intentions behind that, but really it doesn’t help.  I hate that there is the feeling or sentiment that Pit Bull is something dirty that should be swept under the rug like a secret.  I feel badly that people are forced to list their dog as something it’s not at the Vet’s office for fear of BSL.  I’m proud of my boy, not because he is a symbol but because he is my loving “little” puppy.  I’m proud of myself because I’ve learned to be comfortable in my own skin (usually) and surround myself with great people. 

Just for kicks, I had Ray’s DNA done so when you look at Ray, what do you see?  A Pit Bull?  A Pit Mix?  A Terrier? A monster? 

What do you think the results were?

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Slumber Party

One day my kitty was checking out my blanket and he mentioned to me in his whiney little voice that my big furry blanket should be his but it’s ok, because he sleeps with Mommy every night and I don’t!  He said that sometimes all three of the kitties sleep with Mommy and Daddy and that they can do that whenever they want. 
“Well,” I said to him, “I get to sleep with my monkey and I get night-night treats, so I am a lucky boy, too.”  But that got me wondering if I was missing out on something?  Why was my whiney kitty acting so smug?  I decided to lay around and ponder this fact.

I decided that maybe I was missing out, and I was going to talk to Mommy about this sitch-u-ashun.  After all, I’m a very good napping buddy.
But just as Iwas about to tell her about this, she said that since Daddy is out of town and it was a weekend night, we were going to have a slumber party!  I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I felt very happy!

Turns out that it means we got a big pile of fluffy blankets and pillows and went night-night together…without kitties!

The next morning Mommy said it was a good thing she didn’t have to get up early for work because I am a “bed hog.”  I think that means that we slept really good because I was so comfy.

And even though Mommy was there, I still had my other best friend with me.
‘Cuz you gotta stick with your buddies.

Darn it, Mom, you said I could post this entry! ~Ray-Ray.

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Everydog*

I’ve been volunteering with a local rescue for about a year now and have loved every minute of it.  In the past year, I’ve transported dogs, helped rescue dogs off of a chain, helped a dog give birth, adopted and said goodbye as some of my favorites have found their forever home.  I’ve gotten to know some dogs more than others and have cheered nearly every adoption and only shed a tear or two for a few who have especially touched me in some way.
 Still, there was something missing.  This rescue is foster based, and at this time that is the one thing I’m not able to do, so most of my interactions come from adoption events or transport services.  If I could bring my dog to work with me things might be different, because sometimes you just need to hug a dog or play with a kitty, so I began volunteering at our local SPCA.  I figured that they were located close enough to my office that I could spend a lunch hour or two each week relaxing in the company of a furry little friend under the guise of helping them while in all actuality, reaping the benefits that come with cuddling a pet.  Orientation was in two parts so after part one, I was able to ‘socialize with cats’ and I spent a good portion of a lunch hour on the floor of a kitty room getting and giving some soft purr-y love.
Part two allowed us to interact with the dogs and there was a special boy whom I met at both orientations and I was eager to go back and really interact with him on my first “dog day.”  Its funny how a dog (or any animal, really) can grab your heartstrings and how it varies from person to person as to who that special furry pal may be.  A fellow volunteer nudged me and pointed at a dog, “That’s my dog.  I’m going to adopt that one.” 
“Hmmm, cute dog, nothing special,” I thought.  He or she was the kind of dog I might not have given a second glance at if I weren’t here to generally socialize with the dogs.
In the kennel next to “her dog” was the special someone who had me at first glance.  Truth be told, “special boy” is not usually someone who would grab my attention… except he did.  He was just a medium sized dog, medium hair, medium build but with a deep chest and funny white paws that were too big for his body. (As a further testament to how perception skews what we actually see, he is listed as a large dog with long hair.) There was nothing exceptional… but his eyes.  Ah, those soulful cinnamon eyes peering at me over the chew toy he hopefully offered me, they had me at hello.
I was sure this guy received a lot of attention from volunteers and I just wanted to spend hours and days with him, so I made myself a deal:  I would spend some time with the least attended dog(s) and then reward myself by spending some time with this guy.  I upheld my end of the bargain and walked two dogs before turning my attention to him and though I enjoyed myself with all three, this guy was just special.     
I entered his kennel and was greeted not by jumps and frenzy but by a quiet, happy appreciation for my company.  I got him leashed up and he walked so well out to the play yard with the same toy in his mouth that I could just feel myself melting even more.  Unlike his kennel neighbors, he did not pull or strain, but walked with me to the play area and stood waiting for the next cue.  We checked out some of the toys, but he seemed content to sit near me and let me pet him and I was happy to oblige.  I found a spot on the ground and he climbed onto my lap where we snuggled for awhile and he let me hug him while a tear or two blazed a hot trail through my make-up.
He got up and sniffed around a bit, examining the toy offering in the yard while I dug in my bag for a tissue then turned those cinnamon eyes on me as if to ascertain that the tears were not the result of anything he might have done.  Once I had a slight grip on my sudden emotions, I returned to a spot on the ground near him and he rolled over for some belly rubs.  The ease and comfort of our time together once again choked me up and I feared that further interactions with him might turn me into a blubbering mess.  I’ve even engaged in an internal debate as to whether I should stay away until he is adopted and just try to network him from afar.  Could I stand to be away?  Could I stand not to come?  Could I carve out the time to come every day? Time was getting tight and I knew he was reluctant to return to the kennel, yet he did so with no trouble and accepted more hugs as I turned to leave. 
I don’t know why some dogs grab your heart so quickly while others don’t. I don’t know why I had to stop writing this so many times and why I finally finished it with that hot tightness in my throat and waves of tears welling in my eyes and an emotion-soaked tissue in my fist.  I’ve visited with this fellow several times since that first week.  I’m less emotional but no less happy to see him.  He is not my heart dog but I am in his corner rooting for him and hoping that his heart person finds him.  What I do know is that the love of your life may be waiting for you at your local shelter or at your local rescue.  I’m not going to post a heart-wrenching photo of a dog languishing in a kennel, or the sad eyes begging for a home.  I honestly believe that to guilt a person into adopting a dog (or cat) is a recipe for failure.  Adopt because you are looking to add to your family.  Adopt because a certain dog caught your eye.  Adopt because you want an older/younger dog. Just give them a chance.  Adopt.

*Originally, the title of this post was that dog’s name.  There is no name and no picture because that is too limiting.  He or She is waiting for you and only you know the name.  Only you know what that dog looks like.

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October is ____ Month

I’m amazed at how many awareness type campaigns are going on this month.  I wonder what makes October so ideal for so many groups to raise awareness. September, in my mind, is the three day weekend month and if you’re from the same home town as I am, then it is Blueberry Festival time.  It is also the month we have Talk Like a Pirate day.  That’s pretty much the extent of my “awareness” in September. 

So, I’m sure you know that October 27  is Pit Bull Awareness Day and it is very important to us here, but we really feel that every day is Pit Bull Awareness Day.  In light of that, we will be focusing more on Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.  “Shelter” can encompass a lot and usually carries with it a negative connotation when you work with or volunteer with a Rescue.  My intention is to keep this positive and only relate my own experiences and observations while always inviting others to share their thoughts and feelings.

I’ve been volunteering for a few weeks now at our local SPCA office, mainly during the week.  I’ve found that in the midst of a bad day or in celebration of a very good day, it is therapeutic to be in the company of animals.  I’ve found that no matter how bad the day seems, when you walk into the kitty room and are greeted with furry faces eager to inspect the depths of your handbag or the comfort of your lap, all troubles melt away.

When I walk into the dog area, for a moment a hush falls over the room.  Though it is by no means silent, there is a noticeable hush.  A lull.  All eyes are on you as you walk past the kennels like girls lined up along the wall to dance with Fonzie.  Who will be selected?  Who gets to go outside and play or for a walk.  I stop at a door and reach for the leash that is in the basket.  All heck breaks loose! Everyone knows what this means and the lucky “winner” is excited while the unselected jump and bark at me, “No! Not him!   I want to go!  Pick me! Pick me!”

Maggie-adoptable through Smiling K9s*

There’s a system in place and we volunteers know who has been walked so far and who hasn’t so I always try to pick up where someone else has left off in the rotation.  Sometimes I walk a favorite just because I need to enjoy his company and once, I skipped over a young jumper as I wasn’t feeling up to the task.  My biggest revelation and most profound feeling of happiness has come while doing nothing.  Walks are great and I know the dogs enjoy it but when we go out to the yard, a few will chase some balls for a bit but every last one has sat on or near my lap for some snuggle time. These pups love themselves some human companionship and every last one will stop what their doing for a snuggle which I am happy to provide. 

The thought crosses my mind quite a lot…if I could bring Ray to work or if I worked from home would my volunteer time increase or decrease?  I could make a case for both.  I doubt if I will ever have that kind of job so it is a pipe dream and until that day comes, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. 

*Had to post a pic from SK9’s even though I wrote about ACSPCA today.

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Finally Friday

I, as you might expect, follow several dog-blogs as well as even more dog and dog related pages on Facebook and I absolutely love looking at everyone’s pictures. The great poses that the humans capture as well as the clever captions are a true source of enjoyment for me.  I know I am not by any means very talented behind the camera.  I’m more of a point, shoot, cross your fingers and delete kind of gal, so I seem to have a long running internal debate.  Should I buy a better camera?  As you can tell from the low quality of the majority of my pictures, I rely heavily on my crappy Droid for capturing moments and the few times I get a better quality it is because I’m borrowing my daughter’s Kodak.  Should I invest in a camera?  How high of a quality should I choose?  At what point would my limited knowledge of photography make a new camera….wait.  I’m not wording this well.  What I mean is I don’t want to get too much camera for my limited skills because that would just be a waste of money.

Well.  That paragraph went in a direction that I wasn’t planning. My original point was that I’m always curious as to the acutal size of the dogs I’m seeing online.  How is that for the stream of consiousness to take a wild turn!  My first experience with a Pit Bull type dog in person was my sister’s dog who was gigantic.  Tai Chi weighed nearly 100 pounds and he was tall, so for the longest time, I thought that is what  Pit Bull looked like. 

Then I started reading about how much variation there is and about the whole lumping of several breeds into the general term “Pit Bull”  and I’m fascinated by all of the differences I see.  I love it. 
I’m wondering though, about Ray of course.  I wonder how long he will continue in his physical growth.  Because he has excellent manners out in public, people forget or just don’t realize that he is still a puppy.  I take him with me each month to the Veterinarian’s office to get his heartworm “cookie” so that I can weigh him and give him more exposure to people and that office in general.  Not surprisingly he keeps growing at exponential rates and every time they read a new weight from the machine I have to remind them he is a baby.  “He weighs 73.5 pounds today but a month ago he was 66 pounds?”  Yes, but don’t forget he is not quite ten months old.  Oh. Yeah.

Big baby with his binky

So here is what I believe I remember:  Miss M. is 85 pounds, Wallace was under 55 pounds, Audie is 45 pounds and of course baby Ray is 73 pounds at 10 months.  The point?  None, I guess.  All of the above are “Pit Bull-type” dogs though none of them look at all alike.  True, they all have blocky heads and muscular chests and short hair but even that varies.  Miss M has a very different kind of head that Audie’s whose is very different from Ray’s whose is very different from Wallace’s. So while they are so different-looking from each other, why do so many people want to attribute blanket generalizations to them?

*Excuse the rambly-ness today, although I have no excuse…oh wait, let’s just call it Friday-itis.