We will never forget these sweet souls

Rather than listening to the cacophony of voices and opinions, this furry angel has decided to align with Ann Curry’s proposal of 26 acts of kindness (#26acts, #26actsofkindness) in remembrance of the Sandy Hook victims.

Happily, herds of humans are joining in and sharing goodness.  Just google 26 acts of kindness or look on twitter (#26acts, #26actsofkindness, @anncurry) — the stories you’ll find are guaranteed to warm your heart.  And may inspire you to pass it on.

Big or small, random acts of kindness restore our faith in humanity.  They open a place in our hearts that may have been closed, stuck or hardened.  To honor the sweet souls of 20 children (babies, really) and 6 of their educators, this pup (and the Big Dog) encourage you to try it.  #26actsofkindess will help heal your heart and help others remember that people are inherently good and kind.

The acts of kindness we’ve read about run the gamut from shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor to bringing cookies to the local firehouse to paying off thousands of dollars worth of layaway gifts.  People are paying heating bills for families who need a little help, they’re leaving cards with money on random windshields, they’re paying for the car behind them on a toll bridge, folks behind them in line at Starbuck’s or at the drive-thru.

My earthbound family has been participating in 26 acts of kindness.  They’re not quite to 26 yet, but working on it.  Mama bought 8 $25 Toys R Us gift cards and put them in beautiful dove covered cards.  Her message was simple:  Dear friend, you are a special soul. Let love and kindness rule your world and pass it on.  In honor of the Newtown children.

She went to Toys R Us and wandered around, randomly handing cards to strangers.  The reactions were a bit comical.  Some were thankful, some confused and a couple of them were even suspicious.  But through these acts, mama felt close to the souls of the innocent and the angels were smiling upon her.

Timmy Elijah dreaming of his next random act of kindness

Two checks were also mailed this week; another donation to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the other to a teacher friend of ours who’s collecting money to pay for an apartment for a homeless student and her single mother.

Will you join us in honoring the victims of the Newtown shootings with a random act of kindness?  Please post what you are doing in the comments section.  Let’s all spread a little kindness and love…

Mama got her paws on a cool gizmo and I can’t stop barking about it.  The Neato XV-21 robotic vacuum might be the greatest invention since poop bags for humans who love animals!  The Neato is the cutest little robot that can suck up dirt and fur and allergens like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

Having a Neato is almost like having another pet in house.  It’s cute and small and moves around.  It makes adorable little noises (a little song chimes before he gets going).  And the best part about a Neato pet is it cleans up after the other animals!  With it’s special filter and anti-allergen attachments, the Neato inhales all the fur and dander your pet leaves behind.

I learned this week that animal lover and advocate, Ellen, has been promoting the Neato during her 12 Days of Christmas shows.  You can see the Neato in action on The Ellen Show in this video (around 4:30 minutes).  Isn’t it darling?

Timmy E's not intimidated byt the Neato -- he's intrigued!

Like me, Timmy E & Wilbur don’t dig the noise of the big vacuum cleaner.  As soon as it comes out, the boys “hide” on the bed until the monster has been put away.  The Neato is pretty quiet compared to a regular vacuum and the boys are intrigued instead of intimidated.

When the Neato comes on, it revs up like a quiet jet.  And it’s so smart!  The neat Neato maps out the room with it’s laser eye and works it’s way around furniture and other obstacles.  Mama especially loves the small size of the Neato — it cleans under the couch and chairs (where fur and dust like to congregate).

The Neato robotic vacuum is a truly Pawsome invention!

Isn't the Neato cute?

You can buy Neato through Amazon, but ChaChaBee has an ever better deal right now (only $299 — 30% savings!).    If you don’t know what to give the pet lover on your gift list, this furry angel highly recommends the Neato!

Disclaimer:  I’m not a paid spokes-dog (yet!) and get no commission from Neato sales — I just really dig this product!

A couple of weeks ago mama was on a conference call when Timmy E and Wilbur began misbehaving badly.  Timmy was running and jumping around mama’s office, chasing the cat and, as puppies do, his enthusiastic play just encouraged him to act wilder.  Wilbur tried to calm the mayhem by barking.

Mama hit the mute button on her phone and yelled “relax it out” and they immediately stopped.  Relax it out… I love all the connotations of this phrase!

Timmy E. Relaxing It Out

Relax it out can mean chill out, calm down or play together nicely.  For people, this phrase is a nice reminder to take time out to just be.  To breath and stretch and calm the mind.

Relax it out could be a great phrase for a yoga class.  You’ll stretch more deeply if you’re relaxed, so relax it out!  Relax out the muscle tension and calm your mind.

Relaxed humans are easier to be around.  When you relax your body and mind, you are more open and tolerant of others.  You feel a sense of well-being.  Nothing is urgent or stressful when you’re relaxed, right?

So, during this busy time of year, remind yourself to relax it out.  As you’re traversing the shopping crowds and waiting in long lines, relax it out.  Take a deep breath, put a serene smile on your face and enjoy these minutes of nothingness.  Relaxing it out is like an open-eyed meditation.

When you’re relaxed, there is no expectation of being productive.  No guilt, no pressure…just calm.  If you’re at a family holiday function and guests begin arguing about politics, religion or reality television, just relax it out.  Your mellowness will extend to others — it’s contagious.

This is how Christmas puppies Relax it Out!

Relax it out!

I’d love to hear how others feel about this phrase.  Can you see using the phrase on yourself or others?

I actually penned a blog not too long ago addressing the elephant in the room: gun laws.  The post was meant as a call to discussion, but sadly there are gun owners who would like to “use their second amendment rights on the leftist dog” and I was forced to delete the entire post.  Thankfully, the over-the-top comments landed in moderation or spam, as I wouldn’t want my readers to experience negative vibes.  But, alas, I am back!

Holidays are for relaxing with family

Thanksgiving weekend is already a week past and I am still counting my blessings.  Thanksgiving is just a day, but the focus of the holiday should be felt all year long.  I believe the world would be a better place if each and every day love and reverence were felt towards family and loved ones.  365 days of gratitude!

The other angels and I have a difficult time understanding the urge to spend, spend, spend on the days following gratitude day.  It’s disconcerting that bipeds feel the need for more things instead of reveling in their gratitude for what they have.  Friends, family, health, a soft place to lay your head at night, puppies, breath, life… what more could a human need?

More bothersome is the push to spend sooner, cutting into family time and the much beloved post turkey lounge-fest.  Thanksgiving is the only truly communal holiday in the US.  The only holiday with shared traditions that span religions, ethnicity and income levels.

It’s a shame to see big box retailers luring shoppers away from their families with the promise of once in a lifetime deals.  Is a discount on an imported gadget really more meaningful than an extra piece of grandma’s pumpkin pie?  Than conversation with little seen relatives around the table?  Than cheering on your favorite football team with your siblings?

pups always believe in staying for seconds over frenzied shopping

We participated in Small Business Saturday and Cyber-Monday this year.  We still found deals, discovered locally made treasures and didn’t miss out on a minute of holiday time.  Maybe, communally, we can start a new Thanksgiving tradition:  returning to old traditions — returning to a day of gratitude and savoring family and food.

Did your long Thanksgiving weekend involve family or frenzy?  Please share!

I’d like to stress a Universal truth (coming straight from the Big Dog); every soul is valuable.  You are valuable and important in the Big Dog’s eyes.  Don’t listen to those who denigrate and devalue you — even when you see it splashed across the telly and newspapers through the Republican presidential candidate’s words.

In case you missed it, Romney told a group of big dollar supporters that 47% of Americans are “dependent on government” and will never “take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”

Only the hard-hearted and ill-informed could possibly believe that half of Americans don’t take personal responsibility for their lives.  Romney showed disdain for seniors, the disabled, military members and veterans, and low income workers.

He also disrespected his own party since many of the tax exemptions (children, education, mortgage, renters credit, etc…) were included in past Republican tax plans.  And that’s why many low-wage workers don’t owe federal income tax beyond their payroll taxes and contributions to social security and disability.

44% of these freeloaders and victims, per Romney, are senior citizens living on pensions and social security.  The elderly are being mocked because they live on retirement funds that they paid into as they were working their entire adult lives.

Another sector of this 47% that Romney holds contempt for are the disabled and sickly.  I’ve known plenty of folks that have had to tap into disability benefits, by no fault of their own.  Remember, these are federally guaranteed benefits that every worker pays into the system.  Is the cancer patient who’s worked hard for years and is now drawing disability insurance payments a victim and freeloader?  Absolutely not!

And all those low-wage workers — hard working folks just trying to get by.  Are they to be mocked too?  And why are more and more people earning such low wages?  Republican backed policies have kept wages stagnant; refusing to raise minimum wage and union busting are just two of the reasons.

Sure, there will always be people who game the system.  Does that make it ok to mock the majority who don’t and need help?

When we become a society that sees no value in the elderly or disabled, a society that has no concern or empathy for those with less than ourselves, we cease to have humanity.

The irony of Romney’s callous attacks on the less fortunate do not escape this dog.  Romney is angry at people making less than $30k per year for not paying their fair share, yet has no problem with his $77k tax deduction for his dancing horse!  The disconnect between how real people live vs. the extremely wealthy is mind-boggling!

I feel better now that I’ve got this off my furry chest and I will leave you with one question:  do you want a president who cares about the entire population or one that only recognizes and respects top earners and mocks the rest?

I penned a piece over the weekend about the attack on the embassies and consulates in Egypt and Libya and Romney’s unprecedented and quick-to-fire response.  I didn’t publish it because the reaction from people across the globe may be the bigger story.

We, as soul-beings on this earth, have a choice to make: anger/hate/fear and retaliation or understanding/love/kindness and tolerance for others.  I choose the latter.  Not just because it’s good karma and what the Universe (God — use what’s comfortable for you) wants us to do, but also because I’ve come to believe that hate reduces I.Q. and fries brain cells.

We’ve seen examples of both this week.  From the Libyans who tried to get Ambassador Stevens to the hospital to the young lady that posted a picture of herself on Facebook with a sign that said something like:  Not all Americans hate Muslims.  I love you.

And we’ve seen the fear and hate-filled responses as well.  The instant (and not very well thought out) comments by Romney as the situation was still in motion was reactionary and divisive.  I don’t trust that he understands the intricacies and nuances of foreign relations.  The only purpose for his appearance (before the Secretary of State or President had spoken, which is unprecedented) was to feed the fire.  To spin a story, an unfolding and dangerous story, just to rile up his base was disturbing.

Fear, hate and anger towards “others” , breeds more fear, hate and anger.  Everyone agrees that what happened at the hands of some extremists in the middle east is vile.  Yet we need to remember that, as far as we know, this was not a government, popular or military attack.  Yet we hear the cries for war.  War against who exactly?

I’ll bring this conversation into my own circle now. The day after Ambassador Stevens and 3 others were killed I read a number of posts from our “friends” that frightened me.  And, I must say, all of them were from zealous Christians.  Now mind you, just as I don’t judge all Muslims by the heinous acts of the minority, I don’t judge all Christians by their hateful minority fringe.

I think the most upsetting post to me read, in closing her hate-filled post “when I see those coexist stickers on a car, I just want to run them over”.  Wow!  Intolerance for tolerance — that was a new one to me.  Usually an act of inclusion and oneness, even if it’s just on a bumper sticker, makes people feel better, so this post was highly unusual in my experience.

I have more examples of intolerance and hate, but I choose not to focus on them.  It just makes me sad for these people.  I will continue to focus on oneness and peace, even if some people want to run me off the road for it!

You have the power — each one of us does — to contribute to the world becoming more peaceful and loving, or more hateful and angry.  How will you choose to change your world?

I’ll end with the old standard question, WWJD?  and I think we all know the answer.

Peace & love to all of you

Here’s what you’ll need:

Whole wheat pizza crust, single serve size. Mama buys her pre-made (available at Whole Foods, Sprouts and other grocers), or you can make it from scratch.  If you’re making from scratch, pre bake your crusts before assembling pizza

Gorgeous, delicious, simple and healthy pizza!

Veggies for grilling — we chose eggplant, red and yellow bell peppers, zucchini and red onions

Fresh spinach

Fresh basil

Beefsteak tomatoes (get the freshest you can find — if you have a local farmer’s market, that’s  your best bet)

Olive oil

Cheeses:  gorgonzola, fresh parmesan and fresh mozzarella

Balsamic glaze — Trader Joe’s has a wonderful balsamic reduction glaze, or  you can make your own glaze

Slice eggplant into 1/4 inch rounds and cover with salt (this leeches out the bitterness)

While your eggplant is ridding itself of bitterness, start your coals

Slice the remaining veggies (peppers should be in 2 inch strips)

In a bowl or salad dressing jar, mix 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 Tbl balsamic vinegar (not the glaze), 2 teaspoons chopped basil, teaspoon of chopped (or dried) rosemary, salt & pepper.  Mix well.

Rinse the salt off the eggplant and put all veggies in a large pyrex casserole or bowl

Cover veggies with the marinade — go ahead and use your hands (or paws!) and really incorporate the marinade all over each veggie slice

Now your coals should be just about ready to spread.  Get your grill hot over the coals and place your veggies, single layer, on the grill

Note:  We always grill extra veggies and store them in tupperware in the refrigerator — they’ll stay yummy for a few days.  We use them in salads, pitas & pastas.

Now for the assembly.  Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of gorgonzola and 1 teaspoon of parm on each crust.  Arrange your grilled veggies.  Add another teaspoon of parm.  Cover with single layer of fresh spinach and torn, fresh basil leaves.  Tomato slices come next.

Slice the fresh mozzarella thinly and dot around the pizza.  Drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Bake at 400 for about 8 minutes (or until desired crust crunchiness) and voila!  A homemade, healthy pizza that your friends and family will love!

I’m an old soul, now fully evolved as a furry angel, and I’ve seen a lot.  The last few years, the style of campaigning on falsities has grown & morphed, and it’s disturbing.  I have the inside scoop up here and my perceptions are not singular.

Wilbur has a primal reaction to liars...he gags!

Romney pollster Neil Newhouse made the statement last week  “We’re not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers” and I find this extremely disturbing.  And Romney’s campaign certainly lived up to that statement, as we witnessed in the RNC’s speeches.

Ignoring facts, truth, history and science is a dangerous road.  Paul Ryan’s speech was especially egregious, as fact-checkers across the political spectrum noted.  He was called out by not only “liberal media” (that term always cracks me up — propaganda — as Rupert Murdoch owns more media worldwide than anyone else & he’s a staunch conservative), but the Republican’s own media arm, Fox News, said his speech was “dazzling, deceiving and distracting”.

The Atlantic divvied up Ryan’s speech into categories: small lies, medium lies, and large lies.  Ryan has God-given intelligence, so claiming he didn’t know better doesn’t fly with this dog.

One of Ryan’s blatantly false statements didn’t even happen during his speech.  In fact, it was Runner’s World magazine that called him out on what he reported as his marathon time.  Ryan is a fit guy and God bless anyone who can endure a marathon.  That in itself is a great story of tenacity and dedication.  So why did he have to tell reporters that he ran the marathon in less than 3 hours (elite athlete time) instead of the real 4+ hours (still incredibly admirable)?

Ryan insisted he forgot his time.  Friends, do you know any serious runners?  Well, they never forget their race times!  In fact, they can tell you to the second what their time was.  When someone is so loosey-goosey with the facts when it comes to an amateur race, it makes me doubly question anything they say of import.

I’ve stayed quiet on the election thus far, but this dog has had enough of the falsehoods and lies.  I pray that this weeks’ DNC convention has a few less Pinocchios…

“Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.” ~ Einstein

Our old home was a good spot to transition, but it was time to move on and expand.  We were getting pretty crowded in our small, historic house in old town Folsom and mama was feeling the walls closing in.  A larger home was needed.

Mama is feeling free.  Our new house has good flow — roomy, airy and bright.  In spirit, I’m inhabiting this new abode with mama. Wilbur, Timmy E and Bella.  They feel my presence and my excitement for this new chapter.

It’s time for a change.  Not just a new home but a change in the freedom to be who we are.  We’re certainly not a cookie-cuter family (2 dogs, 1 cat, mama and a furry angel) and we needed something that suited us.

A spacious living room with French doors creates an open and inviting place to chillax with comfort.  The room exudes even more peacefulness since mama hung her O.F.’s (original Franziskas‘ – FOA and amazing artist!)  Mama has a big office, there’s plenty of storage space and we now have a guest bedroom.  We’re so excited to have the space to entertain friends and family.  And we are a pet-friendly accommodation, if you’d like to stay for a few days.

This move comes at the perfect moment.  Actually, every moment is perfection if we have a certain pawspective.  Every encounter, every circumstance is a moment to relish; to learn and grow.  The situation with Timmy E’s hospitalization is cause for paws.    Close relationships (especially family relationships) are complicated and sometimes tangled.  It’s good to take a step back and reevaluate from time to time.

Timmy E is always authentic... he's a puppy!

Mama has learned that she needs to be clearer in speaking her mind and her wishes.  That’s a good lesson to learn for any human!  Authenticity and truthfulness at a soul level is what we all strive for and mama is grateful for the lessons learned.  We were all justifiably peeved at what happened to Timmy, but we’re passed that.

Forgiveness is easier when we realize that everyone is doing their best.  It may not be what we want or need or agree with, but everyone’s on their own journey, at their own pace.

Walk your life’s journey with wagginess and an open heart to receive lessons.  Life is joyous with a furry angel’s outlook.

~ wags & peace ~

Mama is beside herself with grief, worry and righteous anger.  Anger doesn’t feel like a very angelic quality, but even this furry angel knows that sometimes anger is warranted and needs to be released.

As you probably recall, it was only 7 months ago that I passed due to organ failure from toxicity.  My doctors said that my decline could only come from two sources:  a wild death-cap mushroom or a sago palm .  I was at grandma’s when I became ill and mama immediately inquired if grandma had a sago palm in her yard and learned that she did.

After my transition, mama insisted that grandma remove the deadly plant from her yard.  Sago palms are not only highly toxic and potentially deadly for animals, but also for humans (especially children).  80% of animals who ingest the plant will die, even with aggressive medical treatment.  Grandma often watches Timmy E and Wilbur if mama’s out of town and it was imperative that the offending palms be removed.

Grandma assured us that the palms were gone.

Timmy E earlier in the day (pre-poisoning)

Yesterday, my family was at grandma’s for a family lunch.  Within 10 minutes, Timmy E was seen chewing a plant on grandma’s deck — a plant that suspiciously looked like a sago palm — but it couldn’t be.  We had been assured months ago that the deadly flora had been disposed.

Imagine our utter shock when grandma said she didn’t actually get rid of the palm because “it’s so pretty and what stupid animal would chew on a plant like that?”.  I felt the heat exploding from mama all the way in heaven at that remark.  Mama was livid (and honestly, still is)!  The plant that took me away from my mama on Earth had been moved back onto the deck at puppy-mouth level!

Chewing, licking or ingesting the fronds, rootball or trunk of a sago palm will cause liver failure within hours without treatment.  And sago palms are attractive to animals.  They like the smell and taste.

Knowing these facts, mama rushed Timmy Elijah to the emergency pet hospital where they immediately induced vomiting, followed by alternating courses of charcoal and an iv drip to detoxify his liver.

Timmy E is a little fighter and as of this printing he is resting at the hospital.  If he continues to stay steady and improve, he should be released tomorrow.  Liver (and other organs) failure can happen within hours or days of exposure to sago toxins.  If he comes home tomorrow, mama needs to keep a close eye on him for the next couple of days.

Anger is not a comfortable emotion, at least not for mama, but she is in a firestorm of anger and pissiness right now.  And I don’t blame her.

Be kind & compassionate to your pets & kids! Know potential toxins (isn't that what google is for?)

She is angry that her own mother lied to her about disposing the palm.  Angry that grandma did not seem to understand the severity of toxicity surrounding that particular plant.  And immense anger when, later last night, grandma defended her actions to mama with the statement “I didn’t believe you that the plant was toxic.  You can be over-dramatic”.

I normally sign-off with “peace & wags”.  Today I sign off with “seething & worried…”