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Adopting Older Pets
I just love puppies and kittens–when they belong to someone else. The chewing, the accidents, the level of hyperactivity is all just a bit much for me. No, give me a well-established dog or cat every time. I want a companion with a certain level of independence. Another good thing about getting a full grown…
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You Matter
I was talking to a dear friend recently, and at the age of 67, he feels he’s pretty much done everything he planned to do in his life, and now he’s just “hanging around, waiting.” This brought tears to my eyes. To think of this wonderful man having absolutely no clue, no clue how much…
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Thanks, Crappy Dad!
I was commiserating the other day with someone about what horrible, toxic, deadbeat and emotionally unsupportive fathers we each have. I was wondering how much farther ahead we’d both be if we had grown up with men in our lives who encouraged us and made us feel safe and loved. I can’t even imagine what…
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What Hate Looks Like
It really breaks my heart to have to write this blog entry after the high of yesterday’s entry about Seattle Pride. Unfortunately every light seems to have its shadow. The brightest lights seem to cast even darker ones. So, two things. First, at the Pride events I attended, I would occasionally come across religious…
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What Love Looks Like
I just had the most amazing few days. Saturday I went to Pridefest Capitol Hill, and Sunday I went to the Seattle Pride Parade. It was my first time attending these annual events, but it definitely won’t be my last. What delighted me about this spectacular spectacle was that it made this big city feel like…
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Scary Small World
I just learned that Omar Mateen, the Orlando gunman, briefly attended Indian River State College, and was kicked out because he threatened to bring a gun there. I received my last degree from IRSC, and I’m now profoundly grateful that I wasn’t there the same year. Even so, this news has me extremely rattled. He…
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Have I Been Torturing My Dog?
A friend of mine told me about this article on the Mother Nature Network about why dogs don’t like to be hugged. Basically, many of them see this as a form of aggression, and it makes them nervous. It does go on to say, though, that not all dogs are alike. But it gives you…
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Sorry Robert
When I was 9 years old and living in Avon, Connecticut, there was this boy in the neighborhood named Robert Russo who was, frankly, the bane of my existence. He would tease me and pick on me incessantly. I tried to avoid him as much as I could. One day I was playing in front of my…
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Coming to the Rescue
I just had a long talk with my newest dog, Quagmire. Don’t panic. I’m not Son of Sam. I’m willing to acknowledge that the conversation was rather one-sided. But just by being the dog that he is, he was able to tell me quite a bit. Before I adopted him, he was found dirty, terrified,…
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Give Yourself a Raise
Recently I got a raise at work, and I was thrilled. You have to understand. For 14 years I worked in a non-union job, and we got a one dollar raise every 6 years, which, needless to say, did not keep pace with the cost of living. And we’d have to fight to get that.…