Bookend Year

 Year 2023 was, what I am calling, a "bookend year".  In January of 2023, I got myself a new job.  It was a huge leap for me, and a leap I wasn't sure I wanted to take.  Now having been in my job for a little over a year, I can surely state that I have no regrets in leaving my old job.  My new job, working in hospice, has been wonderful.  Sure, I still get anxious.  Sure, I sometimes feel as though I am inadequate on what I do (after all I am still learning the job).  And, sure, sometimes I hate having to go to work.  However, my new job allows me to work at home most days, and the people I am providing support for seem to really appreciate even a 5 minute check in.  Learning something new and challenging myself outside of my comfort zone is proving to build parts of my self esteem that had been lost...or maybe forgotten.  My work environment is filled with positvity, love, and genuine concerns for the well-being of our clients as well as for each other.  My old job had that, too, but in hospice it feels a little less toxic, and a lot more patient centered.  The folks who work there seem to operate on a spiritual level that is above my own, which helps to elevate me as well.  Some days I feel that more than others. 

Then, in December of 2023, we got ourselves a PUPPY!  

Something that also brought with it some trepidation:  We've done this before and had a horrible experience from start to finish, Will the puppy bond with me?  Can I even take care of a helpless creature when I struggle to properly care for myself all the time?  A puppy is a lot of responsibility that affects spontaneity and freedom.  The dirt!  The smell!  The potty training!  All that and so much more.

However, getting Meeka happens to be just about the best thing that has happened to me since falling in love with my best friend 10 years ago.  She brings joy to me on a daily basis, is my co worker on days I work from home, my motivation to get out for walks, and a tremendous emotional support.  She keeps me out of the world of my head and into the world of the living. 

Though I have had to make a few personal adjustments.  For example, she won't let me wear headbands or hair ties as she removes them from my head just about as fast as I put them on.  She has left me about an inch of a king sized bed to sleep on, and I am forced to share just about all of my food that I eat.  Oh, and the cat box has to be kept extra extra clean because she reaaaalllllly likes cat turds.  But somehow, even her naughty behavior is cute and charming (except the cat turd thing....that is just awful).  

So, yeah, the year 2023 started out with a positive change and ended with a positive change.   And as I am sitting here writing this blog during my work day, with my dog sleeping in a sun spot, and my lady love downstairs, my heart is filled with gratitude.  

Getting My Ski On

January and February can be a funky time in these parts, especially if there is no snow in which to have fun.  The dead of winter.  Dark, grey days can create dark, grey spirits.  Knowing all too well the heaviness of this time of year in the Northland, I took some days off work so that I can have some FUN and lift the heaviness that has fallen on my soul yet again.

Finally we have a winter that has substantial snow suitable for snowshoeing and skiing.  During these 6 days off, I am embracing Every. Single. Moment.  Perfect weather, and fun friends, has made for some of the best skiing I have had in years.  The other night, I skied under the light of the full moon and had one of the best laughs I have had in a very long time.

Some days have been super ski days with skiing in the morning AND the afternoon.  I feel like I need to get all my skiing in during these 6 days because once I head back to work, its no turning back.  I will be working 12 shifts in 11 days.  Just thinking about that makes me tired.....

BUT for THIS week, I am enjoying quality time with nature. 

Snowshoeing with the dogs is always great fun.  They roll around in the snow collecting snowballs.......

Or becoming one.........

 

 

 

Before too long, skiing and snowshoeing season will be over and we will morph into ucky mucky spring, but I intend to take advantage of this glorious snow that has been absent the past few years.  Lots of good skiing can still be had; its only March!

And just as easily as it sneaks in, the darkness lifts and once again I can think a little straighter, breathe a little lighter, and laugh a little easier.

Smile :)

I have a bit of a fetish with smiley faces.  Not the aforementioned fruit snack smiles (though I do love those as well), but with the smiley faces you can find in everyday objects.  There was that commercial a while ago, I think about a credit card, that featured smiley faces formed out of naturally placed objects from the buttons in an elevator to how boats are placed in a marina.  Even before these commercials, I liked to find my naturally occurring smiley faces.

 You may remember my Cheerio Smiley Face from Las Vegas.  In case, you have forgotten, I will repost his picture for you.



Cute little guy! 
All Cheerios fell in this random pattern.

When it was time for me to buy my very first car, the criteria was that it had to "look happy and round".  Imagine the happy dance party occurring in  the sale's man's head when he heard that.  I guess I was a little scared of having my car turn into Stephen King's "Christine" if it did not look happy.  The winning car was a very round, and very happy looking, Ford Probe. 

Walking with my friend the other day, I came across the happiest smiley face a person could ever stumble upon.  It made us both laugh, and still does make us chuckle.  I made her stop and take a picture with her cell phone.  Gross as it was.

Yup, that is some foreign dog's fecal droppings.  All in the shape of a smiley face!  How could I pass that up?

Hot Diggety Dog

Because I work in the field of Mental Health, I find myself assigning a diagnosis or 2 to family members, friends, and characters in books or on the screen. This practice of mine has now spread like an infection to giving a clinical diagnosis to the animals in my life.

Take Polly, for example. She does not belong to me, per se, but she joins us on many a walk. Spend just one minute with her and, you too, will soon discover that this dog is one big case of ADHD. Hop this canine up on some Mt. Dew and she would expend more energy than the Earth spinning on it axis much like Hammy, the nutty chipmunk, in Over the Hedge.

Polly has a human counterpart in Robin Williams as well.








Both have annoyingly spastic energy with a douse of comedic timing. We refer to Polly as a little comedian as she constantly makes us laugh.

One would wrongly assume a lengthy walk would tire Polly out. Instead, it revs her up. She bounds in the house ready to play some more. Like the Energizer Bunny, she keeps going and going and going and . . . .

Polly's diagnosis: ADHD (with an emphasis on the H)
Mania (or excessive happiness a la Robin Williams
in Patch Adams)
Rule out Psychosis

Then we have Tiki. Her human recipe is one gallon Marcia Brady, add one Tablespoon of Cindy Brady, plus a Splash of Gladys Kravitz from Bewitched. Blend well.
PLUS
PLUS





EQUALS


Tiki is cute, adorable and innocent. Think of Cindy Brady asking "Thanta" Clause to help her mommy get her voice back so she can "thing" at "Christhmuth". How cute was that?

Much like Gladys Kravitz, Tiki sticks her nose in business that isn't hers resulting in a histrionic drama of epic proportions. Tiki's shrill yap is quite reminiscent of Gladys' equally shrill "ABNER!"

Marcia Brady's narcissism is evident in Tiki's doggie persona (Marcia also had a hint of histrionics as well). Tiki demands attention and covertly budges her way in to get the accolades she so deserves. She is beautiful and she knows it. Tiki takes serious ownership of her belongings just like Marcia treasured her prized trophies. Marcia wouldn't share with Jan, and Tiki makes it known she will not share her trophies either. Missy is probably secretly saying "Tiki, Tiki, Tiki!" You know, like Jan says, "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia".

Tiki's diagnosis: Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Little Dog Syndrome

Oh, poor Missy is a clinical nightmare. She has all of the initials used in diagnostic labeling. Where do I start with this poor girl.

Her humanish counterparts are Eeyore, Droopy and Corky from Life Goes On. Obla Di, Obla Da.


I have heard it said that dogs are not stubborn. The quality of being stubborn suggests there is a willful deceit which dogs are supposedly incapable of. But Missy is the epitome of stubborn, or shall we say oppositional and defiant.

If Missy does not want to go for a walk, there is no way to force her. At times, she will refuse to even begin walking when we approach the trail head. She says to me with her doggie eyes:

"No, I don't want to go and you can't make me".

The more I insist, the more she resists.

"No, really. Go ahead without me. You don't really want me to join you. I'll just sit in the car. You'll have more fun without me anyway."

She is attention seeking in such a way that is self defeating. She enjoys hearing:

"Missy, we missed you on our walk. We wish you would have joined us."Her tail wags happily upon hearing this.

A friend recently described Missy as a "Bumbling kid with Down Syndrome". Rather, I see Missy as having qualities of autism. She has poor social skills and lacks the necessary tools to make canine friends. Choosing to be off doing her own thing instead of mingling with her buddies.

She also has incredible social anxiety. New people and new situations are hard for her, but once you win her heart, you'll have it forever.

Missy's diagnosis (in no particular order):
Chronic Depression
Boderline Personality Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Reactive Attachment Disorder
Down Syndrome
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Rule out Prader Willie Syndrome

Whew! What Disorders affect your furry friends?

Those Damn Dogs

Missy and Tiki are both rescue dogs from the shelter. They belong to my mom, but I have joint custody. I get the fun parts: Walks, Treats, and Love. My mom gets the not so fun parts: Poop, Mud, and Cost. Though I have contributed to, or completely paid for, all vet bills and groomings as needed, she gets the daily costs of food and upkeep. Nobody on this Earth loves me as much as those dogs do, especially Tiki. She loves me so much! The feeling is mutual of course, and they know it. They have me wrapped around their little fingers...uh, paws.

On those days I simply do not feel like venturing out on a hike because its too cold or too windy or too hot or too rainy, I go. I go for them. They make me feel so guilty otherwise. If ever I make a casual stop at my mom's house with no intention of walking "the girls", they look at me with their puppy dog eyes that say, "Pleeease, take us! Pleeeeease?" Most of the time I give in.

They are great motivators for me to get out and enjoy each day. I have come to appreciate those days that most people don't even think to appreciate. On those frigid below zero days, enough layers of clothing keep a person toasty warm. The snow covered winters are beautiful and majestic with some of the most beautiful scenery nature has to offer. It wasn't until those damn dogs motivated me to get outdoors that I fully came to experience what the winter season has to offer.

We don't often head out on a hike when the clouds open up and let go of their moisture, but when we do, it is majestic. There is something special about being outside in a warm rain. Because of those damn dogs, I have experienced it.

Then there are those days I simply do not have the energy or the desire to go for a walk, but those damn dogs have a magical spell over me, and away we reluctantly go. Usually following one of those dreaded walks, I come away with increased energy and usually a better spirit.

So if you ever need a little kick in the pants for some motivation to get moving, I suggest getting a damn dog. Or at least getting joint custody of one. Or two. I love those bitches.

Smells of Spring

Spring in the Northland. Ahhhh. Finally, we can take the plastic off and open our windows for the first time in months. Even with that bit of chill in the air, it feels wonderful. Spring is a time of rebirth, rejuvenation and mud. Pussy Willows and tulips are beginning to bloom, and sweet surprises are uncovered by the melting snow. As I discovered today, those sweet surprises come in many varieties depending on whom you ask.

So I am hiking along the partially snow and partially mud covered trail with "my" 3 dogs today. Everything is going quite smoothly. We navigate around the puddles when we can. Since I am wearing $14 Walmart water boots with a leopard print, I feel invincible. And I am. Too bad the dogs were not wearing their rubber boots. Or as it turns out, their rubber suits.

We're almost done with our hike. Even the car is in sight. I take a peek around to find all dogs are visible. All except one. The little ADHD terrier who sometimes tags along on my hikes has taken a detour. When she doesn't come back when I call her, I know what she is doing. Oh, she comes back alright. She returns with a very foul smell. That little shit found shit. She found her own sweet surprise and loved it so much she had to roll in it. Why must dogs do that? Either that shit (of the literal variety) was freshly made or else it was newly defrosted. Regardless, it was mushy and moist. And powerful enough to awaken my gag reflex. Not all Springtime smells make a person want to take a deep savory whiff.