Mad dogs humping

I once had a crazy dog. He was male and our neighbor’s dog was his best buddy pal. On Friday nights usually we would visit and drink wine, the women, and the doggies would play together. Often, the two male dogs would hump one another. And on occasion, they would wrap their paws around humans, usually men, and do their thing. We laughed and thought it indiscriminately funny. We joked about them being gay dogs and were mortified when their behavior became out of control, when they assaulted people’s legs with their overzealous sex drives. Hormones, who knew.

Thankfully, Cici has never been interested when canine friends or strangers have tried to have their way with her. She lets them know in no uncertain terms that they better move on or she will kick their butts. Growl growl growl. The dog in the photo below looks similar to Cici but she would never do such a thing with a member of her own species, never mind another. Just a funny photo, right.

 

 

There has been a lot of public discourse on the Internet and TV about groping women, sexual assault and locker room talk amongst men during this seemingly endless political election cycle due to the fact that the GOP candidate has been accused of assaulting numerous women. I have lost count, has it been nine or 15 or countless hordes? Ir started with the tape of him bragging about being a sexual predator. Women have this week come forth citing that he would peek into the dressing rooms at pageants to gape at half naked and naked young girls. He has even groped his own daughter on TV and called her a ‘piece of ass.’

He has countered the accusations by denying their veracity, threatening to sue the media, attacking the women by calling them dogs, pigs, not good looking enough for him to grope, and pretending to be the victim in the scenarios. It is common for abusers, bullies and predators to DENY, ATTACK AND REVERSE THE VICTIM AND OFFENDER ROLES. As far as I and many women and men are concerned, he is an unregistered sex offender and hopefully in the upcoming court case where he is accused of raping a woman when she was 13, he will reap what he has sown. Certainly, because of these instances and many other ways he has been mean, cruel, insensitive and hurt men, women and children, and his ignorance and belligerent attitude, racist associations and claims, serial lies, even about things he has said on tape, he is unfit for office. As the Australians in Parliament said, he is a revolting slog.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37640145

 

Cici and I have a lot more to say on this topic but will only discuss a few important items here. First of all, where there is smoke there is fire. Remember Bill Cosby? How many women did it take to come forward and accuse him before we started to believe that just maybe there was some truth in what the women were saying.

Women are too often not believed when they accuse a male of raping or groping them without consent. However, rapists lie 100% of the time and too often get off without any jail time due to the favorable to rapists culture we live in. ALL women have been harassed and assaulted by boys or men. ALL WOMEN.

Two, whatever the orange mutant has done and said has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with Bill Clinton, who is NOT running for president. I actually did NOT vote for him either after I found out about his affair while he was governor from the person he had the affair with. This was before I even knew who he was and the story was sleazy and I vowed not to vote for him. NONE OF THIS EXCUSES THE GOP CANDIDATE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE AND SAID.

Imagine IF Hillary Clinton groped a man…and/or done or said half of what Trump has.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/opinion/sunday/if-hillary-clinton-groped-men.html?smid=tw-share

 

Hypocrisy much?

http://americannewsx.com/politics/republicans-will-lose-white-house-senate/

 

We LOVE what Seth Meyers said about why it has taken women so long to come forward. Many said it was because of at the last debate Trump lied and said he had never assaulted a woman.

Meyers summed up the issue pretty quickly.

“When people ask why women wait to report sexual assault, that’s why, because instead of believing them, you question their motives,” he said.

“Stop pretending there’s an optimal time for women to go public with these kinds of allegations,” he added. It’s not like if you do it within the first 24 hours, you get a parade and an iTunes gift card.”

 

By the way, some women haters in the GOP think sexual assault IS FUNNY, they created a hashtag poking fun of the brave women who have come forward to speak their truths.

 

We also like what this woman wrote:

“The reality of our culture is that all women—yes, all—know what it feels like to be sexually harassed. Chances are they also know what it feels like to be assaulted. Every woman knows what it is to be talked over, paid less, fetishized. Every woman knows what it is to walk alone in her own neighborhood and feel the hairs on the back of her neck tense when a man walks by who gives her a bad feeling. Every woman knows how to quicken her step at night and look ahead into dark corners and cross to the other side of the street when nervous. Every woman knows what it is to be called “honey.”

As women have been saying for lord knows how long and as they will continue to chant for much longer still: We are not your honey.

and

“We are done being quiet. We are done looking for our place, trying not to cause trouble, trying to smooth things over. We are done being told that we are worth less, both for the work we do and for the nature of who we are. We are done being tasked with bringing the next generation into this world and raising them and feeding them and loving them only to have them grow up and spit in our face and lurch at us and whistle and tell us how much we do or do not please them with our looks and our behavior and our words.

“We are done feeling threatened walking down the sidewalk in our own neighborhood, in any neighborhood, at any time of day. We are done with feeling unsafe in our skins. We are done with being told our views and opinions are “emotional” and not logical. We are done being dismissed and diminished and interrupted and talked over. We are done with people not listening—never really listening—to what we say and how we say it, until a man says it, too.

“We are done being told that we are only attractive up to a certain age. We are done being told that we can be sexy or motherly and that both are acceptable but nothing but and never together. We are done with people telling us we’re “sweet.” We are done with trying to dilute ourselves to make someone else feel bigger. We are done asking you about your day and you never asking us in return or asking only as an afterthought when you realize you should. We are done feeling like imposters, never asking for more, only taking what is given.

“We are done waiting—for respect, for health care, for equal pay, for the same sense of safety and entitlement that others get to carry with them through their lives.

“We are done being the ones who always have to compromise our own dreams and ambitions for yours.

“We are done.”

http://www.todayletter.com/home/grab-her

 

Millions of women put forth their own stories on Twitter about their FIRST assault. After I wrote my own, numerous other incidences bubbled up inside of me. Situations that  I had forgotten about like the rabbits foot incident, the gold lame pants I wore in public when I was 10, the time my uncle groped me, when a guy stopped to ask my friend and I a question, he in his car with his genitals in hand, and so on. Too many incidents of being assaulted and harassed by men. Maybe because I was cute or pretty or naive or young or a female and fair game for predators. Perhaps because ALL women, no matter their age, attractiveness, or weight or height or race or religion are assaulted every day BY MEN AND/OR BOYS on the streets of America and worldwide.The men and boys get a pass because BOYS WILL BE BOYS. But we females have to deal with this all of our lives EVERY DAY worrying about what we wear, what routes to walk to work, streets to go on, neighborhoods to avoid, if we should go to a party or drink, or should we date this guy or not and if so, will he be a gentleman and care about US or just what his friends think and try to get away with assaulting us sexually. And girls and women who dare to speak out and accuse their predators are too often not believed, accused, shamed, and publicly humiliated. Our bodies, minds and spirits violated and re-traumatized because of having the audacity to SAY NO.

NO, we are not objects.

NO, we are not pretty things.

NO, we are not toys to be used.

NO, our bodies are not PUBLIC PROPERTY.

NO MEANS NO… no matter where, when or how we say it NO MEANS NO. It does NOT MEAN MAYBE OR YES. NO MEANS NO, go away and leave us alone. NO your hands are not welcome on any part of my body. NO, your tongue is not welcome being thrust down my throat or slobbered on my lips. NO, your words are insulting, demeaning, hateful and INAPPROPRIATE. NO, your eyes staring at my breasts or butt or vagina ARE NOT WELCOME.

Bottom line we deserve a PRESIDENT that we can trust not to rape, grope, or assault little girls, teenagers and women, especially not one who has been terrorizing females and minorities for decades.

Or as the comedian Andy Borowitz said:

Trump: “This is just a case of he-said-she-said-she-said-she-said-she-said-she-said-she-said-she-said.”

and

Andy Borowitz

 

According to Trump’s Law of Projection, the fact that he just accused Hillary Clinton of being on drugs is conclusive proof that he is on drugs.

 

 

 

Please vote.

 

fyi,  Republican women are unendorsing Trump twice as fast as men

 

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/republican-women-are-unendorsing-trump-twice-as-fast-as-men-are/?ex_cid=story-twitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Promised Land on a Horse with No Name

500 women over the age of 50 on the monterey bay peninsula are experiencing what I have as well as people across the country have been writing to me telling me their stories. Cici and I are overwhelmed with gratitude for the people who have sent me kind words, donations and offers to help us.  A special thank you to Melody and Diane, two inspiring women who gave us hope and friendship on the road.

http://www.vox.com/first-person/2016/9/29/12941348/homeless-over-50-statistic

 

Thank you to Eleanor at Vox and Karen Turner for their kindness and assistance with this article.

 

We have been featured on some pretty high profile pages, see below.

 

 

 

 

 

We also love what our friend Wanda Sue wrote about us in this week’s Cedar Street Times:

 

Monterey Workshop addresses Affordable Housing Solutions

Ask yourself: Now what was that all about?

Reducing a speech, lecture, or event into a one-line summary isn’t easy, but you’ll be surprised what you discover by condensing a major phenomenon into ten words or less.

If interested, try this: Focus on one specific event, such as the first Presidential Debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump last Monday. Then ask: What was that all about?

When I did the exercise, fifteen hours of contemplation resulted in extracting a comment Hillary made at the opening of the debate. Paraphrased, the most-important message I culled from event was:

One out of two Americans lives paycheck to paycheck

Never mind the fact neither candidate mentioned the H word. Hillary’s statement implied poverty is already a national epidemic. Mass homelessness proportional to disenfranchised Americans of the  Great Depression years seems imminent, even in a paradise like Monterey..

That not-too-distant future is now for CeliaSue Hecht, about whom you’ve read in this newspaper.

The former journalist who’s now homeless lives a nomadic life which is currently reminiscent of Biblical times.

Monterey’s rider on a horse with no name

CeliaSue is a stalwart symbol of bright, sober and mature homeless women with both courage and talent. She is a well-bred middle-class, college-educated former New Yorker, age 66, whom homelessness turned into a living example of the legendary person crossing the desert on a horse with no name. The steed in her case is a dusty white van shared with her dog Cici. It serves as the office from which she freelances as a writer and blogger.

During the six-months in which the City of Monterey was researching the feasibility of adopting five amendments to its Housing Element, each of which might hopefully ameliorate the affordable housing crisis in the city, CeliaSue Hecht went south to avoid becoming a starfish on another cold winter beach in Monterey.

Hoping to find a cozy room at an inn, she found instead, what I would succinctly define as a temporary oasis in The Promised Land for the Homeless, otherwise known as the desert near Giant Rock Airport.

The Promised Land for the Homeless?

CeliaSue has been sleeping in a trailer on a campsite where she helps tend a herd of thirty-plus goats. There is no running water or electricity, but a perk in this region noted for flying saucer sightings is an occasional anomaly above the yucca trees that could be a fortuitous sign or even revelation of future things to come.

Look at the photo and ask yourself: What is this streak all about?  Then try to define it in ten words or less.

As a  help, you might remember the most-beloved Bible story of them all, in which a bright star appears over the manger in which an infant sleeps while shepherds tend their flocks by night.

When I asked myself what this is all about, the answer was: History repeats itself.

If this goat could talk, it might reveal where the homeless go from here by baa-baa-baa-ing, “There’s lots of  land in the Great American Southwest!

 

 

SAVING LIVES

if you live on the Central Coast of California or know someone who does and have an RV, camper, mobile home or trailer that is gently used and would like to provide a home for a senior or veteran, please call CeliaSue at 702-225-8206…have a list of those in need of housing. You can also contribute here:

https://www.youcaring.com/celiasue-hecht-594952

Advocates for Women

I have been back in the hospital now for two weeks. Three blood clots on my lungs, breast cancer was ruled out and ovarian cyst to be determined. Without housing, how can I get better?  Sleeping upright in my car night after night, my legs swell and blood clots develop in my legs and travel to other parts of my body and basically could kill me.

 

I want to create a nonprofit called ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN, the mission is to create, build or find housing for women 50+ who are displaced and have dogs since no one else is doing this and too many tell the women to give up their dogs.

What would happen TO HUNDREDS OF DOGS IF EACH OF THE WOMEN GAVE AWAY THEIR BEST FRIENDS, COMPANIONS, and FAMILY MEMBERS???? (Not to mention what would happen to the women sleeping on the streets or in their cars without the protection of their dogs) ?

HOW WOULD GIVING THEIR DOGS AWAY SOLVE THEIR HOUSING CRISIS EXACTLY SINCE GIVING UP THEIR DOGS WILL NOT SOLVE THEIR ECONOMIC WOES.

As the Big Sur Sobranes fire burns hundreds of acres nearby, there are all kinds of fundraisers going on to help the people who have lost their homes due to the blaze. These people deserve the resources that they require. Yet this highlights and proves what i have been saying all along that where there is a WILL THERE IS A WAY. When people actually WANT TO DO SOMETHING,THEY DO IT.

For the past two years since I have been without a home, except for when I had a camper to live in and roommates, I have met numerous women of the hundreds of women also without homes and been displaced due to ECONOMICS. I have NOT seen the community come together in the same way, doing fundraisers to build, create or find HOMES FOR single women without children, women who are not mentally ill, not drug addicts, not alcoholics, with low income, not working or cannot find work, with dogs, many over 50 years of age, some illl and who’s health has deteriorated without having shelter.

We want to create CARETAKERS VILLAGE,  Land or a lot can be utilized to place SHIFTPODS, yurts, RV’s, campers, trailers, tiny mobile homes, etc. to CREATE a village for women over 50 with dogs who need HOMES ASAP.

WILL YOU HELP US ????  it takes a village…to get this DONE.

thanks.

https://www.youcaring.com/celiasue-hecht-594952

 

Cici has been with Mark Anderson again at the Monterey County Weekly, now for two weeks.

 

This week, she turned 10 years old and Mark gave her a big bone to celebrate.

 

—

Doggies gone wild

these dogs at the weddings sure were in the way at the wrong times, funny though.

would you like to raise money for senior dogs and their people?  Doggies deserve new Homes and so do their people !!!!

Some cities are starting to fine owners of dogs for leaving their pets outside during the cold / heat. This is good. Pets can die outside in the cold / heat and they should also not be chained up and left outside 24/7.

And what I would like to know is:  who is going to be held accountable for leaving people (some who also have pets) outside in the cold / heat without shelter????

Hypothermia can set in even in weather as warm as 50 degrees, but many cities don’t declare hypothermia alerts or winter emergencies,…

As the size of the average American family home has ballooned over the last half century—homes are now two-and-half times larger than they were in 1950—so too has the homeless population.

…More than 3.5 million people, including 1.35 million children, experience homelessness in the United States each year, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

400+ women over the age of 50 are without homes in the Monterey Bay.

who is going to be held accountable for leaving elderly women out in the cold ????

 

Cici and I would love to start a non-profit, with your assistance, that would actually provide housing, tiny mobile homes, RV’s, campers, etc. for these women to have SHELTER, privacy and dignity. Don’t you think that elderly women, many with dogs, deserve homes to live out their life with grace?

 

Like Christine who has been sleeping outside in the cold and heat for two years now. And others sleeping in tents. One lady 75 years old while getting chemo and radiation treatments. Or an 82 year old woman who slept in her van for three years.

 

Won’t you help us Get Elderly Women OUT of the Cold ??? Thanks.

Please donate to Paypal via prmatchmaker at yahoo.com.  Every share and/or donation will make a difference.

Thanks !

 

who let the dogs out?

 

check it out:

 

https://aspecialeventconcierge.wordpress.com/2016/01/16/photography-gone-wild/

Love bites

love bites. Ok not talking about vampire romances or zombies dating. Am talking about the fact that there are people who get love marks on their necks (and other body parts) and I cannot think of the name of them at the moment. That is how out of touch I am with a love life.

My day revolves around a certain dog who wanted an encounter with a skunk this morning. No, thanks. Been there, done that. And in Cici-ville, you know all is upside down since that is her perspective from lying on her back looking at the world.

Anyway, romance is not supposed to be dead for those of us over a certain age (50 or even 60). In fact, I wrote a press release for Dr Christiane Northrup, a wonderful woman’s doctor, who had proof that women get hotter and sexier as they age. And our peak sex lives are supposed to happen as we enter our Golden Years.

OK. well, as usual I guess I am missing out on the trend.  I never did get REALLY married (well, I did for four years) but I am talking about FALLING IN LOVE, TRUE LOVE marriage for 10 years PLUS with my Prince Charming, I have been divorced for 15+ years now and Cici has been my only companion. That is sad, don’t you think?

So to add a little spice to my life (and yours maybe), I am going to write about my romantic life or lack thereof, attempts to write about romance and singlehood as a pet guardian. I will also include travel into the mix. Just thought that I would warn you that I am going to be taking this left turn into a new topic arena. Just in case you are interested, have tips, advice and/or are offended by romantic/sexy topics. Not graphic nor erotic stuff. Do not want to invite voyeurs, perverts or child molesters onto this blog. Anyone with an unhealthy appetite can leave now. Thank you very much.

But if you are willing to go along on a new track with me, hop on the bus, Gus. And don’t fuss about it. And if you think Baby Boomers, seniors and old people do not have a love life, think again. Valentine’s Day is soon upon us and we expect flowers and chocolates. We will be posting about love gifts for your dog and for the pet guardians as well as romantic retreats that are also pet friendly (our annual Valentine’s Day gift guides).

I have been trying to get through writing ONE romantic comedy book for awhile now. Think Jennifer Crusie meets Janet Evanovich meets Ciciville. Well, I had some of the elements down that I want in the book. But so far, I have changed the locale four times, from Las Vegas, to a made up town in Arizona based upon an actual town in Arizona, to 29 Palms and now we have landed on Virginia City, NV. Back to Nevada.

The setting is because it is about a romance blooming in the desert. And it has ghosts, a haunted B&B, that was a former house of ill repute, and a dog that goes humping everyone’s leg in the night. The heroine has two romantic interests. One her boss, Editor/Publisher of the newspapers she works for. Oh no no, you did not. Yes I did. And a new reporter. The two of them are to write dueling columns about a topic, to bring the gender wars into focus, gin up controversy and to sell newspapers. She is not sure how she feels about any of it. And she has two old aunties, who raised her, who think she is getting married to a dog. She IS planning a BIG gala dog wedding to raise funds for the local animal shelter. But her aunties are Lucy and Ethel on steroids. So what do you think? Would you read a book like this?  If I can get passed Chapter 3, perhaps you will be able to do so.

I am also working on the format for the California Travels with Cici guide I wrote, a new travel guide (much smaller) for the Southwest USA, and a chronic pain guide with a pit bull perspective. Perhaps one of these days, I will actually complete ONE of them or ALL of them. It would help a lot to have an agent. But in order to get an agent, I have to complete ONE book. Self-publishing is probably my best option.

In the meantime, if you have any thoughts about dating a dirty old lady (never mind), seniors dating, dogs dating, over the hill writers writing romance novels, (Grandma Moses was in her 90’s when she painted her first painting), then please feel free to comment below (keep it clean). thanks.

oh yeah, love bites… hickeys.  That is what I was trying to remember, the word hickey. Do you think it will be in the dictionary? When you were a kid did you look up all of the dirty words in the dictionary like we did?  what do you know, it was in the dictionary. Bad dictionary. Sit. Stay. Now Go Fetch me the rest of the plot for this book I am writing. Now I definitely have to include hickeys in it, don’t you think?

Ageless Dogma

Interview with author Annette Cain and her dog Pepper … co-authors of Ageless Dogma: A Dog’s Life Guide to Staying Young

tell us more about Pepper, how old is she? when did you get her? did you adopt her from a shelter, rescue her or get her from a breeder or ??

Pepper is coming up on her 10^th birthday (4-15).  However, she still thinks she’s two!  She was one of 18 puppies (2 moms, same dad) from my friends’ dogs.  My husband and I decided it was time to grow our family, so we took Pepper (aka Pep) home when she was 3 months old.

what made you choose a Lab?

Friends’ dogs were Labs.  Pep’s dad was a field trials champion.  We chose Pepper out of all the other dogs because she was the only one with a white patch on her chest, a ridge on her nose, and her personality, of course!

how often does Pepper do doga?

Everyday.  She starts before she even gets out of her bed in the morning and always stretches after all of her siestas.  Most nights after dinner, she’ll do her own unique ‘doga’ stance—she goes down on one shoulder with her rump sticking up in the air and tail wagging (picture).

what are her favorite things?

Hopefully us, but sure bets are:

The obvious—tennis balls, peanut butter-filled gongs, squeaky toys

Activities—going to the beach (includes swimming & riding waves), taking a ride (anywhere), digging squirrel holes, morning walks, and lots of wagging!

Worst favorite thing—Pep loves getting ahead of us on the trail and eating coyote skat (must be the right vintage though)

what kind of diet does she eat?

Mostly wholesome dry food (minus the skat).  Snacks include:  pb, greenies, chicken jerky, and usually whatever my hubby is snacking on.  Pep loves fruit…she actually pulls persimmons right off of my grandma’s tree.  She’s sad that persimmon season is over. (picture of her under tree)

are there specific things you do to help Pepper remain youthful?

Daily walks, weekly swims, supplements (chondroitin/glucosamine and fish oil), playtime, and she’s really good about taking naps.

does she like to travel with you, do you take her with you?

Pep would like to go everywhere with us.  Our favorite vacation is renting a house on the beach (favorite beach is Stinson—private part is very dog friendly).

does she have any doggie play pals?  do you take her to the dog park or dog beach?

Pep is very socialized when it comes to dogs (helps to come from such a big family), however, she could take ‘em or leave ‘em.  When we go to the beach it’s all about chasing the ball or scooping up crab shells—she doesn’t even notice other dogs around her.

what is the best, most inspiring thing Pepper has ever done? funniest/ silliest?  most rewarding time you have ever spent with her?

Best/inspiring:  When Pep was just a year old, she had a terrible accident.  She had to undergo several surgeries and had 100’s of stitches (even actual buttons at one point) and was in a cone collar for three months.  She was such a trooper and taught me much about surrendering to uncontrollable circumstances, going with the flow, and grinning while bearing pain.

Silliest:  Pep’s ‘rump in the air’ act always makes us chuckle

Most rewarding:  My husband says the most rewarding time has been from when we picked her up until now.   For me, it’s how she greets me with joy every time I enter the room (this is one of her traits in the book).

have you had other dogs?

I grew up in Belize and had many dogs as a kid…a German Shepard named Apache, a Dachshund named Whiskey, and several “pot likkas” (meaning “pot lickers”—what we call mutts in Belize) Ginger, Swing, Yum Yum and Tubby.

what made you write your book with Pepper in mind?  what gave you the idea?

My passion is to help others age stronger so their bodies can keep up with their lives.  My tagline for my business is “Age less.  Live More.” and when I saw a bumper sticker one day that said, “Bark less. Wag More.” the idea for “Ageless Dogma” came to me…the bumper sticker and Pep inspired me to write a book that could help people “Age Less and Wag More!”

have you written other books?

This is my fourth book.  I have written 3 previous books on health/fitness—“Fat Chance,” “The Lazy Way to Shed Some Pounds,” and “The Lazy Way to Get In Shape.”

are you planning to write other books?

Yes.  I have many ideas tucked away in my head and I’d love to write a novel in the future.

what is the most rewarding thing that you enjoy about your work?

I absolutely love inspiring others to take care of their bodies and take part in life.  I do this through writing, speaking and coaching.  It is very rewarding to be creative and connect with others.

anything else that you’d like to share?

Annette’s website agelesswithannette.com

Bloggers Hopping along

hopping along the blogging trail…

me from high school to now…

What’s your favorite non-animal related book?

I love to read, and do not do it enough.  I LOVE Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle even though it is supposed to be a children’s book, it is about changing reality … amazing book, so inspiring.  There is a dog in the book but not about the dog.

 

here are some other favorites: (some are funny books, hilarious, laugh out loud, others heartwarming and/or spiritual)   the dog training book is a romantic comedy that is roll on the floor funny in some parts. books that touch my heart, open my heart, make me feel something

the good earth by pearl s. buck

healing from the ashes by rabbi Yonassan Gershom

full blast, full scoop, and 12 sharp of stephanie plum series by Janet evanovich

 

The Enneagram by Helen Palmer

 

The Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov

dog training the american male by LA Knight

Fast women and other Jennifer Crusie books

 

 

What’s your favorite non-animal related movie?

I love movies and it seems that they have been putting them on all over TV again and again lately. #1 Love Actually.   Also, Ghost, Sound of Music, Groundhog Day,  Pretty Woman, Erin Brockovich, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle… again, the romantic comedies and movies with songs to sing a long to are fun too.

 

Who’s your favorite actor?

Hmmmm my favorite actor… (is this gender male or female?) well, ok,  male would be someone hot and gorgeous like George Clooney or Richard Gere or Robert Redford, oh well, guys who have integrity in the films they do and actress would be Meryl Streep, she is soooo good in everything she acts in, well mostly

 

What makes you feel fabulous?

Physically, may sound strange but I have been running in my sleep, since I cannot do so here in the physical world yet due to physical limitations (can hardly walk).  would love to do yoga again, ride a bike, ice skate, dance, all the fun things I used to be able to do…

Emotionally, giving, loving, creating something beautiful… heartfelt…

Professionally, personal connections with folks who appreciate my work is always good. And being able to inspire, encourage or help someone who will actually take the tips/encouragement and run with it, even in their own way.

 

What do you wish you were more skilled at?

I wish I could do more of the fun things I love to do. If I were more skilled at stuff I hate (math, techie stuff), I wouldn’t do them anyway LOL… I do wish my brain was friendlier and receptive to some things but a rose is a rose is a rose and an orchid an orchid, we each have our own individual special magic gifts to shine and bless others with ok, I guess I wish I could draw, paint more realistically… and take more photographs…

 

What’s your favorite holiday?

Well, I could say Thanksgiving since my birthday is either on it or around it… Xmas, my first one was 30 something years ago, it was very shiny and new to me then, now, hmmmm, I think July 4 is not it although I love the fireworks… perhaps my favorite holiday is Valentine’s day because I am a romantic person at heart and love love love LOVE… was just thinking of starting a new blog about Finding True Love, can a 60 something woman find True Love??? It is time for me to at least go on a DATE…

 

Favorite meal?

Chinese or Thai food… Pad Thai or chicken curry with egg rolls and rice. Yummy. Chocolate something for dessert of course.

 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love beach volleyball, watching the players in the sand slam dunk. Mostly, my free time is spent watching  TV shows like Charmed, Masters of Sex, or NCIS, or movies

 

What one word would people who know you use to describe you?

I think most people think I am crazy. Hopefully though, they think I am funny, spunky and creative, too. My family (when they were alive) used to say I was too sensitive, my ex thinks I’m brilliant, other friends say I am pushy and I never wanted to be known as cute nor perky.

 

What is one thing you’ve done that you’re most proud of?

I’m very proud of the seminars and workshops I led, prayer warrior work I did traveling around the world for three years as well as the metaphysical meditation growth work (behind the scenes) and activism I’ve done over the years. It is all related to changing the world, creating a better more humane world to live in, one where EVERYONE is loved, belongs, is honored and cherished. We ALL deserve to be loved and respected and valued.

 

If you could change one thing about your life what would it be?

I would have a life partner to travel with in life and around the world.  True Love Companion. A human BFF.

 

Other than blogging, what are three things you do that bring you joy?

I love being in nature, whether that is with animals (dogs, cats, horses, dolphins, whales, whatever), connecting with other humans who like to have fun and laugh and share themselves, and of course chocolate makes me happy (nah)…

 

What’s one thing you could do to be more kind to yourself?

Stop focusing on what’s missing or wrong or bad in me and focusing on what is working, what makes me happier, solving problems instead of creating them with my fears and insecurities and anger.

Also forgiving myself and others.

 

Thanks, this was fun !  And this was a blog hop….  with AJ from I Still Want More Puppies, Jodi from Kol’s Notes, Mel from No Dog About It, Julie from The Daily Dog Blog, Jennifer from My Brown Newfies, Kim from CindyLu’s Muse, Lauren from Life With Desmond, Leslie from Bringing Up Bella, Jodi from Heart Like A Dog, Kristine from Rescued Insanity, Peggy from Peggy’s Pet Place, and Dawn from NEPA Pets.

Howling Pet Obsessions

People are dressing up their pets for Halloween next week and it is getting crazy out there… and here…

You have just a few more days to send me your pet photos for our Howloween contest… You might just win a cool scary prize BOO…

Now, here is the skinny on how much pet parents are spending on Halloween costumes for their pets. It could make you HOWL…

http://millionairecorner.com/Content_Blog/Heather-Couture-Corner-Halloween-Costumes-You-and-Your-Pet.aspx

“Trends for 2013 show that the most popular pet costumes are the following: a pumpkin, a hot dog as a close second, cat, and devil.

“….According to a National Retail Federation Spending Survey, Halloween is second only to Christmas in spending and since 2005 spending on Halloween has increased 54.7 percent with total spending estimated to reach $6.9 billion in 2013.

“A good portion of the spending for Halloween comes in buying human costumes, but of the people surveyed, an additional 13.8 percent of pet parents plan on dressing up their four-legged companions as well.

“An estimated $330 million will be spent on finding just the right costume for Fido or Fluffy. This number has jumped an astonishing 65% since 2010.

“…Pet parents could once count on their favorite retailer only carrying a few selections of pet Halloween costumes, but today, there are literally hundreds of choices. This is especially true when you add online retailers into the equation”.

http://shine.yahoo.com/pets/americans-spend-330-million-halloween-pet-costumes-235900559.html

15 signs that you are obsessed with your dog

of course…

10. You take your dog on vacation with you.

(and I would add and you write a whole blog about it, ha ha ha)…

http://www.buzzfeed.com/cvlee12/15-signs-that-you-are-obsessed-with-your-dog-fs6g

 

Blog Hop time…thanks to Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume…  grab the blog hop  link 

 

Guy meets girl meets Dog

Dog training the American Male by LA Knight

a love triangle of the hilarious kind…

This is definitely NOT your usual romantic comedy romp between the sheets and the relationship. It started kinda slow to me… but it is a very funny premise about a man and woman and a dog. The woman is a radio talk show host and a psychologist. Her radio show is about relationships and it is doing poorly. Nancy has issues with men, to say the least. She moves in with her boyfriend, Jacob, he gets a dog and the dog is out of control so she hires a dog trainer.

Have to say that I was appalled when Jacob goes to a pet store to buy a little foo-foo white dog. Buying a dog from a pet store these days seems so taboo.  As dog lovers know, millions of shelter pets die every year and part of the problem is people buying pets from puppy mills and irresponsible breeders. Jacob has been told that is the kind of dog his lady likes, little white foo-foo dogs. But when he finds out the price, he instead goes to the pound and adopts a shelter pooch. Circuituous route to adoption but at least he gets there instead of supporting puppy mills (which is where pet store pets come from).  I digress.

The heroine, Nancy Beach, hires two dog trainers to help with the German Shepherd pound puppy five years old and not fixed. Then she decides to use the training tools she is learning on the dog with the man and it works for a short time. And what ensues is kinda kooky, crazy and just plain funny. What woman is not frustrated with trying to domesticate the male Y chromosomes in her life and becomes so fed up with trying that she will go to any lengths to get there?  As a woman, I think that women can definitely relate to this tale about the Extreme Makeover of the Male of the species.

Ultimately, some women discover they much prefer the company of dogs to mama’s boys (not sexually) because after pursuing adult monogamous relationships with man boys and having the child men meltdown time and time again, women realize that dogs are loyal, faithful, give unconditional love, like to play, are forgiving, do not care how we look, listen to us, are patient, kind, and usually like to cuddle so why bother. Yeah it would be nice if we could meet actual adult men who actually like women to be in relationships with. But we find that rare. Far too many men are judgmental, selfish, seek successive revolving doors of Barbie, Madonna, sluts, mommy, are passive aggressive, power crazed, workaholics or lazy do nothings and act as though giving us what we want, satisfying a woman is a fate worse than death.   Meanwhile not offering much of what we want from them to begin with. (Companionship, romance, passion, genuine friendship, loyalty and cleanliness, for starters). How dare we expect men to be human and humane and to listen to us!!!  I chalk it up to the testesterone. Does something wacky to their little brains.

 

The difference between men and dogs…

Dogs:

*They never lie
*They never borrow money
*They do not hold grudges
*They are willing to wake up and be there for you no matter what time of day or night
*They always want hugs and kisses and are always ready to return them just as quickly as they receive
*They never have anything nasty to say and even if they could talk I just know they would never complain
*They don’t care if you are fat, short, skinny or tall
*They do not care if you are having a bad hair day, they love you just the same
*They never complain if you get home late
*They are always patient
*They are always honest
*They are a willing lifelong companion

“Men really are dogs,” says L.A. Knight. “The average American male would rather sit on the couch all day, scratch his privates and sleep. Who among us hasn’t performed for a treat, peed on a tree, dry-humped a woman’s leg, howled at the moon, stuck his nose in a groin or two, or inspected his own bowel movement before flushing? As a dog owner, I know that when my wife had our dogs trained they became more content, were less anxious, and they even lost weight. I say bring it on…just go easy on the electric shock collar.”

There are a lot of quirky characters and hilarious situations that are laugh out loud funny and definitely R-rated. Sex toys, gynecologist visits, elderly antics and some really disgusting bodily fluids gone into at length ad nauseum. Too much info. What is NOT at all funny are the training tools used by the Spencer character (one of the trainers). He is a military guy and he uses shock collars, prong collars and choke collars on the dog. The first dog trainer used positive reinforcement but the book makes it seem that the cruel methods worked better. None of which is true in reality. I winced every time the collars were used on the poor dog. Perhaps it was a spoof on Cesar Millan and his methods?  Not sure but please DO NOT follow these methods at home.

The book is also kinda sexist and the women characters and the relationships could be MUCH MORE detailed… like how and why and when exactly did these two characters fall in love?  That is completely glossed over.  They go on a blind date, meet at a bowling alley and next thing you know, One Month Later, they are moving in together. What??? Where is the romantic and sexual tension? Where and when and what happened between these two people?  For regular readers of romantic comedies, the romance almost seems besides the point of this book. And the book is written in scenes like a screenplay.

Still, you find yourself rooting for the characters and the romance and for the dog.  And you can see the set up of situations and you think you know what is going to happen and it does not. Definitely not predictable, like a good mystery.

And in the end, it all works out in unexpected ways, which is refreshing. The dog is redeemed and so is the guy. And some of the scenes will keep you rolling on the floor laughing even after you put the book down so we give this e-book three and one-half (out of four) paws up.  Cici would love to meet a nice handsome boy toy like Sam, the German Shepherd but then she has plenty of boy dogs in the neighborhood already. (Milo, Pablo, Gizmo and others). Lucky dog.

http://www.laknightentertainment.com/

Blog Hop time…thanks to Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume…  grab the blog hop  link

Doggone Spring Break 2013

Our pet policy here at Have Dog Blog will Travel is that we will feature places we like that have Dogitude, (go above and beyond to welcome dogs and their people) and even places we have never been if they allow ALL breeds of dogs, do not restrict pets based upon weight nor size, do not charge enormous pet fees, and are generally pet friendly and dog tolerant (although we prefer places that really welcome pets with big open arms and hearts).  If your venue does NOT allow dogs like my Cici, then naturally we prefer that you find another blogger to write about your place. Thank you.

Five hotels in New Mexico in three cities that are

pet-friendly and have custom pet-friendly packages and amenities. Note:  The ONLY hotel in Santa Fe that does NOT restrict based upon weight is the St. Francis and we applaud them for that. The other two hotels accept dogs up to 50 pounds. What happens after 50 pounds? Do the dogs woof more, shed more, become a nuisance, are real dogs?  We do not get it, but let it slide since these two hotels would allow Cici to visit. However, for our friends with dogs that weigh 60, 75 , 100 or 150 pounds, we do not condone this nonsense and suggest that you let the hotels know and go stay at the St. Francis.

Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque:

http://www.nativolodge.com/special-pkg/albuquerque-pet-friendly-pkg.aspx

Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe:

http://www.hotelchimayo.com/special-pkg/santa-fe-pet-pkg.aspx

Lodge at Santa Fe:

http://www.lodgeatsantafe.com/special-pkg/santa-fe-pet-pkg.aspx

Hotel St. Francis in Santa Fe:

http://www.hotelstfrancis.com/santa-fe-pet-hotel.aspx

Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces:

http://www.hotelencanto.com/special-pkg/las-cruces-pet-pkg.aspx

 Oregon

Lincoln City OR has a reputation for being a pet friendly place to visit. From lodging options, to activities, Lincoln City has a lot to offer travelers and their furry companions.

Check out pet resources here:

http://www.oregoncoast.org/pets/

A few hotels in Lincoln City that offer pet friendly options:

http://www.lookingglass-inn.com/Dog_Friendly.html

http://www.thecoholodge.com/packages.html

http://www.theshearwaterinn.com/Dog_Friendly.html

More Lincoln City, Oregon info… Cici and I LOVED staying at the Capt. Cook Inn when we were there… it was a small motel, with LOTS of pet friendliness, privacy, clean and quiet at a very affordable price. We felt welcomed, it was charming and truly nice people in the midst of a very busy city. A hidden treasure.

THINGS TO DO

http://www.captaincookinn.com/Things-To-Do.html

http://www.oregoncoast.org/pets/

Other pet friendly hotels along the Oregon Coast…

http://www.oregoncoast101.com/lodging/pets.html

 Washington

The Woodmark Hotel is located on the shores of Lake Washington in Kirkland, Wash. The Woodmark Hotel is dedicated to providing all guests with a home away from home, which for many means travelling with their faithful canine companions.

Amenities for four-legged travelers are available upon request, and are offered free of charge. The shoreline paths, nearby city parks and beautiful scenery are perfect for a leisurely dog walk or invigorating run, ensuring a restful night sleep for all. The Woodmark provides everything needed to pamper pups with complimentary use of a cushy pet bed, food and water dishes, plus Woody’s walking map, bottled water, leash, tennis ball and doggy biscuits. Simply request a pet friendly stay upon booking and all the items will be waiting in-room.

First to welcome two- and four-legged travelers to the property is Woody Mae, a black Labrador retriever and the hotel’s “Director of Barketing.” In June through September, Woody Mae also hosts Yappier Hour on the Beach Café lawn, where pups and their people can enjoy the lake views, warm weather and a cocktail.

The Woodmark requires no additional fees to travelers with pets. For more information about The Woodmark’s pet policy, go to… http://www.thewoodmark.com/seattle-pet-friendly-hotel.php

New York and DC 

Pet-friendly Affinia Hotels, has properties in NYC and D.C. The boutique hotel collection caters to man’s best friend with Happy Tails which includes:

• Good Karma Rope Toys^TM by Jax & Bones for the pup to chew, play, tug, or fetch
• Plush, eco-friendly dog beds by Jax & Bones
• Delish dog treats by Dylan’s Candy Bar
• Food and water bowls (offered in deep and shallow depths)

Additionally, extra services can be arranged including pet psychic, grooming, walking/pet-sitting services, and much more.  Some Affinia hotels even go above and beyond:

·        The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel in Washington, DC invites your pup to enjoy their famed restaurant, Art and Soul, established by celebrity Chef Art Smith, where Fido can crack open a “Bowser Beer” (a non-alcoholic canine brew), enjoy a “Hungry Dawg” six ounce grilled steak and linger on a “Raw Deal” frozen dog bone. All of these items are on the restaurant’s Pooch Patio menu:  http://www.artandsouldc.com/images/Puppy_menu.pdf.

·        Affinia Manhattan is an official host hotel of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and was the home to the Best of Show winner for two years in a row!

·        TripAdvisor rated Affinia Dumont, located in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood, as the number one pet hotel for the second year in a row.

There is a $25 surcharge per stay.

More about dog friendly NYC and Wash DC

http://celiasue.com/2011/03/02/spring-break-for-bicoastal-pets/

http://celiasue.com/2012/04/02/spring-break-dog/