Tag Archives: Riggins

Training Tips from a Pro

03 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Riggins

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

Yesterday Riggins almost killed the postman. The poor man had delivered my mail so I assumed it was safe to keep my door open. I was wrong. Apparently he had forgotten to deliver a package so returned an hour or so later. Riggins FLEW from my bedroom, down the hall, and ran full force, barking and clawing into the screen door. By the time I got there he had ripped down the baby gate, that is supposed to stop these kind of events, and had almost bent back the screen far enough to squeeze through. At the same time this was happening the postman threw the package onto my doorstep and RAN. I screamed “I’m sorry.” and he waved back at me so I think we are all good.

Don't I look like a news reporter from some war movie who didn't get the memo that black is a bad color to wear in the desert? The towel over Riggins was to help slow down the smell from spreading. I'm pretty sure the dog is laughing at me.

Don’t I look like a news reporter from some war movie who didn’t get the memo that black is a bad color to wear in the desert? The towel over Riggins was to help slow down the smell from spreading. I’m pretty sure the dog is laughing at me.

Today, on Runyon, Riggins and I had gotten to the gate near the bottom of one path, that is still up above the lowest point of the trail. As I turned around to go back up Riggins went on full alert with his pointer body poised at the top of a cement berm looking down. “Leave it,” I yelled and continued up. When I turned around again he was gone; replaced by a couple looking in awe down the hill. I knew what that meant. Riggins had made a dash down the cliff. I stood there clapping and yelling “up up up,” but got no response. When I doubled back to where the couple was I looked down and Riggins had managed to scale down a cemented side of the cliff, past some old ruins and was now at the very bottom of the hill frantically sniffing at one particular area. This has happened once before and Riggins eventually came back up. This time I figured he was preoccupied and I could cut him off at the bottom. So I turned around and RAN down to find him (I went the safe way on the path … not down a cliff). By the time I got there he was nowhere to be found. After yelling for him I gambled that he had gone back up and was making his way back up the hill. So, once again, I turned and ran. This time up the hill. About the time I was going to collapse from physical exertion I felt my butt vibrating. I quickly grabbed my phone out of my fanny pack. A nice family who we had seen earlier, had managed to grab Riggins just long enough to get my number off his collar. He was indeed going back up the hill on the path I gambled on, but was freaking out because he couldn’t find me. I walked up and meant him as he came barreling down the hill straight at me. I asked where he had been and rubbed his neck only to realize this was a HUGE mistake. On Riggins adventure he had obviously found something dead and rolled around in it. We both now smelled like dead animal ass. It was about this time that I saw my friend Zach running down and stopped to give him a hug. I then realized that Zach, the nice family who stopped Riggins, Riggins and I all smelled like decaying creature. Blah! Luckily I had a scarf on and was able to put it over my face while I was driving home. Dead animal smell sitting in a hot car is NOT pleasant. Riggins has had a bath now. He is bummed he went to all that trouble to get smelly and I undid it all as soon as we got home!

Now that you can see what a wonderful dog trainer I am and how well behaved my angel of a dog is, I wanted to pass on a couple of tips!

1. Get a good walking/training harness. I’ve mentioned this before but now I’m going to beimage (7) more specific. Get a Sporn halter or non-pull harness. When Riggins was a baby and went to dog training school his trainer suggested the Sporn halter to help train him to walk pretty (next to me and sit before crossing the street). I’ve used it ever since. Now that I’ve been doggie sitting I have to tell you my faith in the Sporn halter has grown. I used it for Bud (young boxer) and Snowbell (lab puppy). It made walking both of them a zillion times easier. I gave Morgan (Riggin’s poodle friend) a Sporn non-pull harness and it made a believer of his mom and dad. Personally I like the halter better. I think Riggins responds to it better and I find it easier to get on and off (although neither are hard). Riggins prefers the non-pull harness … I don’t know why. They can be found at some pet stores. You will probably have more luck at the non-chain ones. Or just order one online. I purchased Riggins mesh harness from Amazon.

2. A dog that jumps on people is annoying no matter what his/her size. I know this because Riggins jumps on people and I’m mortified at his behavior. Another tip from Riggins trainer was to arm everyone with breath spray, then instruct people to use it when the dog starts to jump. Specifically demand, “down” and spray at his mouth/nose (not eyes). The spray doesn’t hurt the dog but will stop him/her in his/her tracks! Sometimes it causes Riggins to sneeze. I find this much easier to remember then putting your knee up in front of the dog or turning your back to him/her. Like any other training method consistency is key. That is the biggest issue with this method. Riggins doesn’t jump on me as much as friends/family. That means I need to get them spray before they come in the house then convince them to actually use it. Despite my assurances that it is fine to spray him and is actually for his own good, people are hesitant.

image (11)3. Get a dog that matches the color of you house carpet. I figured this out after Snowbell left and my house, and all my black work out pants, were covered in white hair. I am assuming there is just as much, if not more, black hair around but it is harder to see since I have dark carpeting. Just a tip from me to save you a little bit of sanity!

There you go. I’m sure you will take all my great dog training advice since it is obvious that Riggins is so well-behaved! (Oh please. Like the Dog Whisperer is perfect.)

Thank you. Love you. Mean it.

01 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

image (7)When I was little my mom and dad, with help from Grandma Newell, taught my sister and me that it was extremely important to write thank you notes for any and all presents you receive.  No matter what.  This was pre-internet and email (Can you believe we lived pre email?  It’s a shock we survived.) so the only way to do this was via mail.  What we now call  snail mail.  This was such a hard-core rule with my Grandmother that not sending a note in an appropriate amount of time could mean you forfeit whatever present was coming up next.  Seriously, if you wanted a birthday present you better sit down and write a thank you for that Christmas present Dec. 26th!  No ifs ands or buts!

As much as it was drilled into my head and even though it is just good manners, I often let time go by and then forget to send a thank you note.  I’m horrified on my own behalf.  To make me feel even worse about this, a good number of my friends are GREAT thank you card writers.  There is no doubt that they each had their own Grandma Newell who taught them the correct way to show gratitude.

The person who shames me the most is my friend Leslie.  I know, without a doubt, that if I give something to her I will have a handwritten note in my mailbox two days later.  I’m always so impressed not only with her manners and timeliness but with the classiness of her stationary.  In response to your gift you will receive a heartfelt written thank you on crisp and elegant card stock style note cards with her name printed in fancy font.  Every single time I receive one I think, “Now that is class.  I need to get me some of these here personalized cards for sending out notes.”  Then I remember I actually have some, I just don’t use them.

It was no surprise that after dropping off cookies for Leslie’s son I received a thank you card.  What surprised me is that this little dude (Age under kindergarten … I don’t know his actual age.  I barely know my actual age.  I’m going to go with 2.  I think that is right.  2-ish.) has his own personalized stationary.  Classy AND age appropriate.  Totally swanky! I was blown away.

So after my latest birthday I wasn’t going to let Leslie’s tiny son outdo me in Thank You photo (8)note writing!  I pulled out some thank you cards and wrote them out.  Then I addressed them and sat them on my desk.  Where they sat for a few days.  Then I managed to remember to buy some stamps and those sat in my purse, with the cards still on my desk, for a few days.  So here we are.  A week after my birthday and my cards have yet to be stamped and mailed.  That is going to be fixed today!  Maybe.  Probably.

Better late than never I say (I don’t think Grandma Newell would agree)!

(Dog update – We took Snowbell home yesterday.  She is the best puppy ever.  When her parents told me she doesn’t destroy things I rolled my eyes and thought, “sure … a six month old puppy who doesn’t chew things up … sure..”  That puppy showed me!  Riggins already misses her — image (10))

 

Every Man For Himself

29 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by in Riggins

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

If you read/watched yesterday’s blog you know that Riggins and I are doggie sitting a 6 month old lab named Snowbell.  Ask anyone who has ever had a 6 month old puppy and a 6 month old human baby which is harder, that person will say the dog.  At this age a lab is a ball of hungry energy.  In fact, this will be a short post since Snowbell is trying to jump into my arms while I type this …

photo (11)Normally Riggins will spend 1/2 of the night in his own bed before moving to mine EXCEPT when we are doggie sitting.  When we are doggie sitting he sleeps with me from dusk until dawn.  I’m sure it’s his way of showing the visiting dog that he is the king of the castle.  So last night Riggins jumped up in bed with Snowbell not far behind.  Eventually, after some laps around the room, up the bed, and over my body, Snowbell found a spot at the foot of the bed and fell asleep.  Like any baby she was restless all night, and jumped all around eventually re-landing in a similar spot, always with her head on my ankles.  After awhile Riggins had had enough.  He threw up the white flag and made a beeline for his own doggie bed.  He didn’t even look back.  Just went AWOL without a thought of the men he was leaving behind!  Loyalty to his master be damned.  The kid was tired and had enough of this foolishness. That left Snowbell and me to fight for real estate on the bed.

image (8)In the morning Riggins jumped up and laid down next to me … as if I wasn’t aware that he was a traitor.  It was about that time that Snowbell realized there was no reason she should sleep on my ankles when she could just as easily just sleep so her entire body was on or next to me.  I hung out there for a while listening to two dogs snore in stereo before giving up myself and starting my day.

Snowbell went to Runyon for the first time in her life today.  She was thrilled.  In fact I managed to poop her out.  Even if it was for a very short amount of time.  I see a trip to the dog park is in our future this afternoon!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Pretty as a Very Colorful Picture

28 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

photo (10)As I mentioned in a previous post my friends threw me a surprise birthday party last weekend.  We had a blast.  They are all very lucky that I was dressed up to go out.  One of my biggest fears about surprise parties is having the person of honor show up in PJs.  I had even chalk colored my hair red (well pink).  On St. Patrick’s Day Dee Dee had dyed her hair a pink/salmon color and she looked AMAZING.  Her skin looked AMAZING.  Everything abut it was just AMAZING.  I was so jealous.  I had to give it a try!  I don’t have the same level of guts as Dee Dee so I used chalk instead of permanent hair dye.

At my party I got a lot of questions about how I had managed to make my hair so colorful.  My answer was of course, chalk.  The application can be best learned by asking your tween daughter how to do it.  Of course, if she isn’t talking to you and you still want to have a cool kid hairdo at the next PTA meeting you need to get this knowledge from somewhere.  I decided to make a tutorial video for all of you that find yourself in that specific predicament.

To help cut down on cleanup I decided to shoot this outside.  It just so happens that 6 month old Snowbell started her dog vacay with us today.  So this video includes guest appearances from both Riggins and Snowbell.  Also note due to dog distraction I accidentally film most of this sideways.  I stand by the fact that it is still helpful and just as good as any tween/teen how to video on YouTube.

Enjoy …. Alright I know it isn’t useful.  Once you view it you will understand why I didn’t try for another take.

 

39 Acts of Kindness – 39 + a Pinch

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in Act of Kindness

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today is the day that I achieved my goal of 39 Acts of Kindness birthday celebration!  Four days ahead of schedule.  I’m excited to share with you so let’s get going.

#39 – Make A Wish.  I know from experience and my focus group of 1 that kids love throwing pennies into fountains and making a wish.  I also know as a fact from my focus group of 1 (me) that adults love doing it too.  If it is good enough for Snow White it’s good enough for me!

Years ago while babysitting Gavin I had decided to take him to Build-a-Bear.  I was trying to make the company a client and really needed a better perspective on what all the hubbub was about.  Gavin seemed like a good enough guinea pig!  Due to a colossal parking fail on my part we ended up in the mall parking garage but walking out onto the wrong street.  I have very strict rules on where to park in all the malls in the Los Angeles area.  I’m not a big fan of the mall experience so I always have to know the best parking space for easy access.  This time I was coming to the mall from a different angle and threw cation to the wind parking in a non-Wendy approved designated spot.  Due to this fail we had to walk through the Americana on Brand (a fancy outdoor mall) to go across the street to the Glendale Gallaria (the less fancy indoor mall).  Yes … they build two malls right next to each other.  Don’t ask me why.  It’s Glendale.  I doubt they know why.

image (6)The Americana on Brand has a huge water fountain in the middle of its main courtyard complete with dancing waters.  It’s pretty fantastic.  Gavin was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.  I spent the next 20 minutes or so digging for change out of my purse so Gavin could make wish after wish.  He is my kid focus group of 1.

I figured if Gavin and I enjoyed it so much others would as well.  I printed up some “Make a Wish” signs and stopped at the bank to get 2 dollars worth of pennies before heading to the Americana.  My goal was to get there as early as possible, before the shops opened, so I could limit the people who would see me.  For some reason I was ridiculously fearful that the mall cop would catch me and scold me for screwing up their pristine fountain!  Wouldn’t you know it, as I got of thephoto (9) elevator and looked toward the fountain I was walking side by side with a mall cop!  I made a beeline in the opposite direction of him, around the mom’s with strollers going for their morning walk (Just as an FYI mom w/ stroller always has the right of way … don’t forget it.), past the odd couple sitting at the fountain and got in, what will be, the queue to see the Easter Bunny.  There I put down my first sign and 100 pennies.  Next I walked around to the opposite side to place my second sign and final 100 pennies.  I then made a dash for the escalator.  I hope the fancy Americana mall cops take the act of kindness as a positive thing and let the signs and pennies hang out there long enough for people to enjoy them.

image (9)Pinch to grow an inch – Free Happiness.  After the Make a Wish Wendy Bomb of Kindness I made my way home to take Riggins for his morning walk.  I had decided that my neighborhood could use a little happiness and compassion.  I’m not saying it is a bad neighborhood but it did take me YEARS to get my neighbor to smile back at me when I waved as I passed him in my car.  And there was that one time when I was running with Riggins and misjudged the height of the curb causing me to fall flat on the ground.  We are talking straight down, pants torn, knees bloody, hands scrapped fall.  Their were plenty of people around, there usually are.  They all stopped and stared at me.  Not ONE came to see if I was okay.  The only person at my side was Riggins.  Now it is possible they are afraid of Riggins.  Scratch that, they are afraid of Riggins.  If you want to scare the crap out of someone in my neighborhood tell them you are friends with the big black dog that blonde girl walks.  It will have them shaking in their boots.  Still, no one even called from a distance, “Are you okay?  I’d come help you but your dog scares the crap out of me.”  Sigh.

On our walk today Riggins and I put up free happiness flyers.  Each had tabs that a person could take for him/herself or pass on to a friend including “happiness,” “love,” “a hug,” “confidence,” “patience,” “humor,” “strength,” and “peace.”  I hope they bring a smile to someone’s face.

BTW while looking for Scatter Kindness pictures I came upon a few that are part of really great Etsy stores so I wanted to share them with you:

I’ve made a word document for you to use if you would like to post a few in your neighborhood.  Download from here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ofpzkj1286dhki/Scatter%20Kindness.doc

Done!  Finished!  Terminado!  Finito!  I’ll write-up a final roll call on my birthday Monday so we can review the 39 acts and the fun I have had.

Act of Kindness Roll-Call:

Not a Lab

20 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Riggins, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

I feel like I’ve written about this before but a quick search proved me wrong.  So here we go …

image (4)Yesterday I was looking at Riggins vet bill, from his accident, and realized they labeled him a Retriever, Labrador Mix.  To be fair Riggins has been to this emergency vet before so it is possible this was the label they original gave him on our first visit when I was sobbing and unable to speak.  You have no idea how much it chaps my hide when people demand Riggins is part lab.  He isn’t.  If you look at him he doesn’t even look like a lab.  It’s his color that throws people.  Big black dog = lab, to people.  That’s just not correct.

Riggins mommy was a German Shorthair Pointer while his dad was a Samoyed.  This blows

people’s minds to the point that they don’t believe me and argue that fact.  Which leads me to the statement, “I saw his mom and dad in person.  Did you?”  Grrrrrrrrrr.  Riggins body type is straight from his mommy while his hair (including the fact that both are big sheeders) and personality is a mix of both breeds.  You can watch videos of what is typical for each breed at the Animal Channel link that is found on the breed pictures here.  If you watch the video you will learn that German Shorthair Pointers are a hybrid of many dogs including dalmatians which means black, instead of brown, is one of their colors.  In fact, there is a black dog in the German Shorthair Pointer video that looks a lot like Riggins.

So there you go.  That’s the answer of what Riggins is.  Now if you were someone I met on the street and/orsomeone I was on a first date with you would now tell me I was wrong and fight with me about it.  Don’t fight with me about him not being part Lab.  First of all you are wrong and secondly it’s like you have never seen a lab before.  Of the two of us I’m the dog expert here so back off!

Speaking of the vet and Riggins accident I wanted to give a shout out to the people thaimage (8)t helped us.  First of all the Eagle Rock Emergency Pet Clinic was amazing (minus the whole lab thing).  I imagine it’s a horrible job.  The graveyard shift at a place where only really sick and hurt animals go?  No thanks!  The 4 people I came in contact with including the front desk woman, two vet assistants and the vet herself, which were all not only professional but super kind.  The vet in particular put me at ease due to her knowledge and her wiliness to give me as much information as I wanted and needed.

Secondly, I need to give a shout out to Dogvacay.com.  This is the site where my dog sitting profile is located.  When I informed them of the problem I had on a meet and great they were appropriately horrified.  I had actually written the CEO and he answered personally and quickly.  Their insurance woman was incredibly nice and all seemed to be very worried about Riggins.  If you need a doggie daycare and/or somewhere to keep your puppers overnight check them out.  If you use the promo code IHEARTRIGGINS the first time you book an appointment you will get $10 off.

image (5)Since I didn’t want Riggins off leash with other dogs while he is still healing we skipped Runyon and the dog park today and instead went for a walk around the Rose Bowl.  It was torture for Riggins as he kept trying to stop every human and make him/her pet him.  He was also tortured by the gang of mom’s and their strollers since many children were riding along eating snacks.  Snacks at nose height for Riggins.  No snacks and everyone was too busy exercising to pet him??????  Horrible!

(Still haven’t forgotten about number 39 Act of Kindness.  It’s coming.)

MAN DOWN!

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Riggins

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

I know I’m leaving you hanging on the 39 Acts of Kindness with only one left.  I had planned on finishing up today but, unfortunately, my day has taken a bit of a turn.  It’s a no hike day as Riggins spent the night at the emergency vet.  He is fine but we are all tired from the long night.

Yesterday I had a dog and his mommy over for a meet and greet.  She was nervous to have her dog, a border collie mix, be left at a person’s house while she was away so had requested the pre meeting.  I can’t blame her one bit.  I’d be hard pressed to leave Riggins with anyone besides my family.  Her dog, let’s call her Sam to protect her identity, was very nice with a ton of energy.  A young one, she hadn’t spent much time socializing off leash and was aggressive to other dogs on leash which meant most of her play time was between her and her Momma.

I had Sam and her mom come into my backyard and hang out first.  Then I brought Riggins and Shug out.  Everyone got along great either ignoring each other or forcing Sam’s mom to pet them.  We then went inside where everyone just wandered around.  Finally we went for a walk.  I took Riggins and Sam while Sam’s mom took Shug.  We walked around the block and, again, all was fine.  Sam did some barking and pulling around other dogs and both him and Riggins tried their darndest to scare the crap out of two cats.  Two cats, who unflinching, stared at the animals on leash and the woman yanking them down the sidewalk as if we were the dumbest thing on the planet.

Back at my house we sat down in the living room.  Riggins jumped up and sat on one side ofimage (5) me and Shug jumped up and sat at another.  All was well until Sam got a little too close for Riggins liking which caused him to give a warning growl.  Unfortunately Sam didn’t get the hint and then all hell broke loose.  As you know Riggins is a lover not a fighter.  So despite his tough bark he is truly a horrible wrestler.  Once things get real his main goal is to get under or behind the closest human.  When the rumble started I pulled the dogs apart and Sam’s mom and I got them laying down to scold them.  At that point we noticed Riggins was bleeding.

A few years ago Riggins had a small mass on his ear and had a notch taken out.  The notch was now much bigger.  I grabbed a rag to hold on his ear and noticed a piece of his ear on the ground.  Gross right?  Sam’s poor mom nearly had a heart attack.  She is a sweet young woman and the poor girl sat on my living room floor near tears.  It happens.  Two dogs sometimes equals a dog fight.  Riggins ear was at the wrong place at the wrong time! (I have a feeling Sangita’s girls are going to be far more upset about this whole thing than I was.)

image (2)Sam and his mom left and I packed up Riggins and Shug into the car to make a run to the emergency vet clinic.  We had to wait 2 hours before Riggins was seen.  During this time he managed to splatter blood ALL OVER everything in the vet waiting room.  Then he decided he was starving and had to lick some of it up.  Gross again right?  Normally I would be upset with a wait but this was a triage center which means anyone who skipped in line ahead of me was far worse off than poor Riggins.  Riggins was acting fine, as if blood wasn’t streaming from his ear.  His only unhappiness came from the fact that I wouldn’t let him stroll around the room to get pets from the humans.  I told him no one wanted his blood on them.  I didn’t ask the other humans I just assumed this was true.

When Riggins was taken away to be looked at Shug and I sat in an exam room.  Shug wasphoto (8) NOT happy about being separated from Riggins.  She could hear him barking and kept pacing and looking at me as if to say, “Do you hear that???? He needs help!!!!  Let’s go get him!  Why are you just sitting there????  He needs us!”  When we left the vet Shug sat down in protest and I had to pick her up and carry her to the car.  When we got home she protested again sitting down in my driveway refusing to go further without her new friend.

Riggins spent the next few hours at the vet where they put him under, cut off a small photo (6)part of his ear so it could be stitched up better, stitched him up, and pumped him full of antibiotics.  I picked him up just after 3 AM.  He is still loopy, as you can see from his glossy eyed picture, but seems a-okay.  The vet did a great job and was even able to bandage the ear so it isn’t bothering him much at all.

Riggins had a hard time getting comfortable when we got home.  He started in my bed but then moved to his bed in the office.  I felt like I should be with him and he wasn’t budging so I grabbed a pillow and an afghan and laid down on the floor next to him.  That’s what Mommy’s do right?  It didn’t take him long to figure out the bed was more comfy and we both returned.  Somehow 10 pound Shug had figured out how to take up the ENTIRE bed for herself so I had to lift her up and let Riggins get comfy before allowing her to curl up next to him.

We are all living on lack of sleep today.  In 5 days the bandage comes off and in 10 the stitches.  Then Riggins will be good as new.  Even if there is a bit less of him!

 

 

39 Acts of Kindness – 35

15 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by in Act of Kindness

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and since my weekend is full up of green alcohol fun I dropped of one of my themed Wendy Bombs of Kindness today.

photo (7)#35 – No pinching.  When I first got Riggins I had grand plans of getting him certified as a helper dog who I could take to hospitals and senior living homes.  His job, which he is a natural at, would be to make people happy.  In return he would be the recipient of endless attention and snuggles.  Seemed like the perfect fit until I came to realize Riggins is crazy.  He does not like anything that he sees as “abnormal.”  This includes anything with wheels, high-pitched voices, signs of nervousness (or just shaking in general), starring directly in his face, odd smells, etc.  In general he would hate everything about a retirement home and/or hospital (no offense).  He seems to be calming down in his old age but I still wouldn’t trust him around a wheelchair as far as I could throw him!

Riggins went to an assisted living home once, to visit my Grandma.  He was a puppy and did well.  Sometimes I think he would probably be fine and I should look into the certification again and then he goes ape shit over a little person walking at Runyon (Is little person the politically correct term?  I’m going to go look it up …. well that was unhelpful but if you want a giggle go to Ask Jeeves and look at some of those answers.) or nearly has a stroke when a skateboarder comes by, and I come to my senses.

Both my grandma’s lived in different degrees of assisted living near the end of their lives.  I feel like when people look for places to donate their time, energy and or love our elders get overlooked.  I didn’t want to leave them out of my 39 Acts of Kindness!

Riggins and I walk by Windsor often.  It is an assisted living community in Glendale, CA.  I’ve always been impressed at how pretty they keep their lawn, flowers, outside of the buildings, etc.  I had never been inside but based on the flow of family members and visitors in and out I figured it had to be a nice place.  I decided to make them green tissue flowers that they could wear on St. Patrick’s Day.

A quick trip to the dollar store left me with two different color green tissue paper.  Weirdphoto (4) fluorescent green and gross dirty green.  Who knew that when you put those together they are beautiful!  I’m so happy with the results.  Here is my “how to make tissue flowers tutorial” for those who can’t remember this same lesson from kindergarten:

  • Grab something circular that you can use as a pattern.  I choose the lid to a lovely smelling candle a friend gave me.  I’m sure a crappy smelling candle lid would work just as well! 
  • Cut out tissue in the circle shape.  I folded the tissue over a number of times so I could cut as many circles as possible all at once.  Some would call that sloppy.  I consider it efficient.
  • Fold the circles in 8ths (that’s 3 folds in half) and round off the corners with scissors (again I did as many at once as I could manage to push my scissors through).  I didn’t worry about uniformity.  Once unfolded you have a scalloped circle.
  • Gather 6 (or so) of these fancy circles and stack on top of each other.
  • Insert a brad clip in the middle and secure it on the back.
  • Starting at the top (middle of the flower) pinch up each layer to make your flower.
  • I added a piece of curly ribbon to the back with a safety-pin.

I dropped of my bouquet today.  Let me tell you the Windsor lobby is as impressive as the outside.  Definitely a place to look into if you require such services.  Now the men and women of Windsor can enjoy a pinch free holiday!

(Once again I forced boy dogs to model flowers.  I told Morgan and Riggins they were boutonnieres and very fashionable for the hip gentleman.)

Act of Kindness Roll-Call:

(BTW no one alerted me to the fact that I had two 31s.  Fixed that, making me even closer to my goal!)

To be continued …

Tata Talk

14 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in movie

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

If you are worried about this break from the 39 Acts of Kindness, don’t be. I’m working on putting together some great St. Patrick themed fun! I’m excited to tell you about them but this isn’t the time. Right now I am preoccupied with my boobs.

You heard me.

photo (3)6 months ago I had an irregular mammogram which lead to another mammogram and then a sonogram and then a biopsy. I still have the scar from where they stuck a needle to take out a chunk of me to investigate further and put a metal marker in its place. They put the marker in so during future exams if there is a question about that same area, it shows that it was already examined. My mom was treated for breast cancer just a couple of years (or maybe it was one) early so I was shocked (and thrilled) that the test came back negative. Like any other lady part test if you fail once you have to go back every 6 months for a while and today is my lucky six month boob check anniversary. I’m glad I’m going since I’ve had some pain (not double over and die pain but, “hey that kinda hurts” pain) and a very odd skin infection (at least that is what the dr thought) in/on my boob(s). I’m sure it’s nothing but it is always better to know and, if needed, get treatment, then sitting around twiddling your thumbs as your body rebels against you. Luckily, I’m getting a sonogram not a mammogram. Although I don’t think mammograms are nearly as horrible as people say. Some would say it hurts less because I have big boobs while others would say it should hurt more because I have big boobs. Whatever. They only get squished for a second and then it’s on with your life. Lesson — go get a mammogram.

While we are on the topic of my boobs, let me tell you about my movie theater trips. They involve my tatas. My movie theatre uniform is work out pants, tennis shoes, sports bra, tank top and hoodie. Each clothing item has a purpose. Work out pants are just comfy and allow for wiggles and leg shifting without any difficulty. Tennis shoes are nice since they cover your entire foot protecting it from the goopy gross floor. Sports bra and tank top are the comfy equals to the pants and the hoodie allows for me to cover my head and lean my head back without touching the back of a gross chair (gross in so much as a zillion other grimy and greasy haired owners have leaned against it in the past). Plus the hoodie up gives the world my international sign of “I’m invisible. Don’t talk to me.” I started this at a job so I could maintain the HR suggested open door policy while still giving my employees the understanding that now wasn’t the best time … as I was invisible to them. I’ve since adopted it for plane rides and, if necessary, dog park outings. Of course none of these items covers my cleavage. In fact they allow for a clean popcorn runway right down my blouse. You’d be amazed at how often I miss my mouth and the popcorn makes a run for it right down my shirt. Constantly. Then I sit there in the dark theatre and dig it out hoping no one sees me. It adds to the entertainment of the show. Probably does so for others as well.

In general I have a sports bra coverage, cost, and support issue. First of all why are they so expensive? Someone needs to fix that. I have a zillion of the Target flimsy sports bras that really do nothing. I wear them at Bar Method. Since they do nothing I’m constantly giving someone a cleavage show when I bend over. The biggest problem with this is I really don’t care. Target sports bras are cheap and comfy so I’m wearing them. I’m not bouncing around all over the place in Bar Method I’m moving inches and breathing heavily concentrating on not throwing up. I’m too busy to care if someone is looking down my blouse. Most of the class is almost always women anyway so no one cares (I assume). Every once in a while a straight guy manages to find his way in and then he gets an extra show. Good for him. Welcome to Bar Method!

Today I’m going with my friend to her gym to do some sort of dance class. It’s a huge sacrifice for me not to go to Bar but she says it’s ridiculously fun so I’m trying it out. I had to dig through a giant pile of clean clothes to get one of my sports bras that actually have some holding power. I figured dancing equaled bouncing and the Target non-sports bra wasn’t going to cut it. Then I proceeded to put it on inside out 3 times. Not once, not twice, three times. Seems impossible right? Wrong. Totally possible. Each time I’d start laughing again as I tried to wiggle my way out and then wiggle, tug and pull my way back in. Sports bra (non clasp kind) are an X rated comedy sketch waiting to happen. It is NOT EASY to get those suckers on and off. You know where it is nearly impossible? The pool. It is actually almost impossible to put anything on in the pool locker room. Everything, including you, is moist and there is no way to get dry. So there you are standing in a moist room, with moist skin, trying to yank down a sports bra that has decided to go no further than your armpits. Once, at the pool, I failed so miserably at putting on a sports bra post swim and was laughing so hard at myself, I had to take a time out to go pee. Sports bra 1/2 on. One boob hanging out the bottom refusing to corporate and the other mashed at the wrong angle, mocking the other one. Thank goodness I was alone! That pool is frequented by JPL employees. Can you imagine? I could have failed at the simple task of getting dressed in front of an actual rocket scientist!

Well — I have to go get my boobs checked. Enjoy the boob-o-licious pics of Riggins and me. Due to the position of my chest and the angle of any self taken iPhone picture 90% of my Riggins/Wendy photos have my cleavage front and center.

 

39 Acts of Kindness – 32, 33, and 34

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Act of Kindness

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

It could be record-breaking heat today in the valley of Los Angeles.  It feels like just yesterday I was complaining about it being freezing … no more!  The sun is out, the smog is thick and low, and it’s glorious!  Today on the hill I heard a man tell his wife, “look out there isn’t that a great picture?  The smog makes it look so pretty!”  We may all have asthma but we don’t have any vitamin D deficiencies.

I have one more Wendy Bomb of Kindness that hit this weekend to tell you about so let’s get down to business.

photo (9)#31 and 32 – I was working hard kindness bombing all the sweet children in my life that I almost forgot about those doggie mom’s sans human kids.  Almost but not quite!  Two of my lovely friends are single (Only in LA I tell you.  Both are bombshells that would have guys in line to be with them in any other town.) doggie mommies and I thought they deserved a splash of fun.  I got them each a scratcher lottery ticket and mailed them off with a little note.  Scratchers are so exciting!  There is always the chance of such happiness and surprise right on the other side of that silver scratcher stuff.  I hope they both win zillions of dollars.

#33 – Remember my tea party?  It was kindness act number 22.  On the tea invite I asked my guests to, if they wanted, bring a donation for the dog shelter and I’d go drop everything off.  My friends, the animal lovers, came through in spades!  Today, after going up Runyon, Riggins and I swung by the Pasadena Humane Society and dropped off the bounty.  Towels, cash, peanut butter, food, snacks, paper towels, and pedialyte filled up two giant bags.  The shelter was very happy to see all the goods!

I often make fun of the Pasadena Humane Society since it is BY FAR the nicest looking shelter I’ve ever seen.   It’s not part of a national chapter and is locally funded so all donations to this shelter stay local.  Sometimes I feel like I should be giving to a less pretty, and therefore seemingly well off, location.  But even with its spa like atmosphere I shouldn’t make fun as the Pasadena Humane Society as it does great work and does wonderful things with all its donations.  It is a no kill shelter that will not turn away an animal.  I heard the cock a doodle doo of a rooster when I got out of my car today.  They really do take in all animals.  I remember during the fires a few years back it allowed those that were evacuated from their homes to bring their animals there for temporary shelter.  They were beyond packed but still managed to make it work.  On top of all that they offer a number of programs from shelter to cruelty investigations to wildlife relocation.  They are an amazing group.

Speaking of animals … here was Riggins response to me this morning when I said, “Let’s get up and go up the hill.”  image (3)He wasn’t very enthusiastic.  He may have been on to something as it was very warm (even, dare I say hot) at Runyon and we had to tip toe around a VERY BIG RATTLESNAKE on the main path.  The ranger had blocked off  the area to help keep everyone safe but it was still pretty scary.  That is only the second time I’ve seen a snake on that trail and it was by far the biggest rattlesnake I’ve seen live.  March 1st marks the start of rattlesnake season in So Cal.  I sure hope it isn’t as bad as last year!  Keep your eyes and ears open and stay safe on your hikes!

Act of Kindness Roll-Call:

To be continued …