Plunge

I did it.
I took a leap of faith.
I jumped in to the unknown.
I left my comfort zone.
I will fake it until I make it.
I am busier than I ever thought possible.
I love what I do.
And I haven't looked back.

After 12 years in the corporate world I did it. I left at the end of March. I left for a smaller paycheck, harder work, longer hours. But boy, am I happy. I put it out in to the universe last fall that I wanted to work in the world of animal advocacy. And it finally happened. Some days I have no idea what I'm doing. Or how I'm going to get it done. But somehow it all works out. And I am amazed. I have those hard days. The days I have to say goodbye. But I know that what I am doing IS making a difference. This work has put everything in to perspective.

Follow your heart. Follow your dreams. And always be awesome.

Wednesday Sunset Date: Barnaby

Who says shelters don't have puppies? 

This is Barnaby.  He is a 5 month old blue pit bull mix. AND SO SQUISHY CUTE!!  K. and I took him out to the yard to check his behavior since he hasn't been released to the adoption floor yet (yes, that's how brand new he is).  He is super cute, super playful and I'm gathering super smart.  He caught on quickly that when we say sit and he sits he will get a treat.

Check out this video of him!

Barnaby will be available for adoption this Saturday at the SL County Pit Crew/SLCOaS adoption event at Petsmart on 3300 South 3100 East (11am-4:30pm). We will have lots of other adorable dogs with us for adoption!

What I'm Crushing On

Valentine's Day got me thinking... 

What am I crushing on right now?

1. Eucerin Aquaphor. I originally bought this to help heal my tattoo, but then thought, hmmm, I wonder if this will help my super dry winter legs. And it does! I have been using it daily to keep my gams soft.

2. Tarte Lip Surgence in Charmed. LOVE. It simply tints your lips and keeps them fresh.

3. Minnetonka Moccasin. I got these for Christmas and can't stop wearing them. They are incredibly comfy and have good tread for those slippery snow days. If you plan on trying them out for yourself, be sure to purchase the size down from what you normally wear. They stretch! I normally wear 8.5 and got the 8. I might have even been able to get away with a 7.5.

4. Betty Crocker gluten free chocolate chip cookie mix. Seriously yummy.  Now that I've gone 99% gluten free I rarely have baked treats. And the baked gluten free treats I have had I do not like. BLAH. And then I discovered my dear Betty's mix. You can't even tell it's gluten free and that 100% for me!

What are you crushing on?

Wednesday Sunset Date: Boss

I am pleased to introduce you to one of my favorite boys at 

Salt Lake County Animal Services... BOSS.  

Or as I like to call him, Bossy-Boo.

   Picture compliments of Salt Lake County Animal Services.

I vividly remember the first day I met Boss this summer. He "looked" at me through his kennel door and his eyes said "Be my friendly lady."  And so I took him out in to the yard.  I wondered why he ran in to my legs, in to the door, in to the kennel walls. Of course I inquired and found out that Boss was loosing his eyesight.  So I started researching how to work with dogs that are going blind.  Scents and sounds were going to become powerful tools in helping this guy. He can always sniff out the treats I bring him. And I bring him the GOOD stuff, the really smelly kind!

If Boss were to place a "Single's Ad" for Valentines Day his stats would read:

*7 yr old handsome male 

*Wants to be your only furbaby 

*Loves belly rubs, cuddles and most importantly KISSES

*Searching for that special someone to take me on long walks and splash in the water

*Needs a little extra TLC to help me learn this new world around me

Every week we are learning new things about Boss.  One of the shelter staff took him home last weekend and learned that he is great with chickens and her young daughter, that he is housetrained and does well in a crate!  For now, Boss needs to be the only dog due to his failing eyesight.  Other dogs and cats have a tendency to sneak up on him and spook him.  He did well around small children, as long as they are respectful of his space.  Otherwise, little grabbing hands might also spook him.  

Picture compliments of Best Friends Animal Society, January 2012

He has been in the shelter WAY too long (July 2012!).  I have been working on "Stop" with him at the shelter to prevent him from running in to walls, door when I am with him.  Blind dogs are just as awesome as seeing dogs! He needs someone who will love him for him and teach him how to keep being awesome in this new world without his sight.

Here is the video I took with him yesterday during our date.

And here he is on Channel 2 News Tuesday!  He really is our little movie star!

http://www.kutv.com/news/features/pets/stories/vid_40.shtml

And here he is on Channel 4 News this week!
http://www.abc4.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=3936770

If you are interested in Boss, please come visit him at Salt Lake County Animal Services (500 W 3900 S).  

And of course, if you end up falling in love with him I will simply say "Told you so."  

Wednesday Sunset Date : Casey

 Casey is my "Adora-Bull" Wednesday Sunset Date! This month at Salt Lake County Animal Services they are featuring some of their dogs with fun Valentines.  Following suite, here is my "Singles Ad" for Mr. Casey...

I am a frisky fellow looking for love.  Don't let my age (1 yr 9 months) fool you~ I have wisdom beyond my years. I love to play, but also am perfectly content to snuggle all night long in front of fire with my special someone.  I am constantly "winking" at you with my single black eyebrow~ think Groucho Marx and The Rock (Dwayne Johnson, can you smell what the ROCK is cookin')!  Come whisk me away as your Valentine today!

Casey is an absolute love bug!  The first photo is his professional glamour shot taken by one of our awesome volunteer photographers at the shelter. The others are mine that I took last night. He was always trying to sneak a kiss in, that sneaky little guy. 

He's also great at bathtime!  Me and M and S took him, along with a few others, to get bath's at Paw Paw's a few weeks ago and he took it like a champ! He has the most handsome brindle spots on his white coat. 

And just in case you need even MORE reason to go see Casey here's a little video I made last night (first one ever btw)...

If you are interested in making Casey your Valentine, stop by Salt Lake County Animal Services (500 West 3900 South)! Trust me, you won't regret it.

On My Bookshelf

A lot of people ask for good reads. Well, I started reading Dead and Alive, but then got interrupted by receiving Wallace for Christmas.  Some good reads if you ask me!

WALLACE by Jim Gorant

What the Blurb says: Saved from a suspicious breeder, Wallace was a dog with so much drive and intensity that he flustered the people and dogs around him to the point that the no-kill shelter where he ended up considered putting him down. But where some saw menace, Roo and Clara Yori saw misunderstanding. After a long fight they were allowed to take Wallace home. 

Determined to give Wallace the focus and support he needed, the Yoris stumbled into the world of canine disc competitions—an unlikely place for a big-headed, lumbering pit bull to make his mark. But through the sheer will of his unbending desire, Wallace exceeded all expectations, and along the way he helped salvage the couple who had saved him and became a symbol of hope and potential in a larger struggle.

What I Loved: I love reading true stories about dogs. Wallace happens to be Hector's fur-brother. Hector is a Vicktory Dog.  And I think we all know I'm obsessed with the Vicktory Dogs. I've been following Wallace on Facebook and wanted to know more about him. Of course I cried throughout almost the whole thing.  You see, Wallace currently has cancer. But he's beating the odds and living longer than his vet thought! And then I smile knowing how his whole life (after being adopted by the Yori's) is all about changing perceptions. And then I start to tear up again because I'm thinking about dogs who have stigma's attached to them just because of what they "are." And then I smile thinking about the ones I know personally who are changing local perceptions... This cycle just keeps on going. 

You'll Love it if... you like a true underdog story.

DEAD AND ALIVE by Dean Koontz

What the Blurb says: As a devastating hurricane approaches, as the benighted creations of Victor Helios begin to spin out of control, as New Orleans descends into chaos and the future of humanity hangs in the balance, the only hope rests with Victor’s first, failed attempt to build the perfect human. Deucalion’s centuries-old history began as the original manifestation of a soulless vision–and it is fated to end in the ultimate confrontation between a damned creature and his mad creator. But first they must face a monstrosity not even Victor’s malignant mind could have conceived–an indestructible entity that steps out of humankind’s collective nightmare with powers, and a purpose, beyond imagining.

What I Loved: I'm a monster book nerd. I can't help it. I like to read about zombies, vampires, monsters.  I especially love Dean Koontz books.  This is book three in the Frankenstein series. I bought the entire series at a garage sale for a total of $2. I paid $5 since all proceeds went to a dog rescue group. Sheesh, how did I start talking about dogs again? Monsters. We're talking about monsters and stuff. Keep on subject.

You'll Love if... you like monster books.  Book one was good. Book two started to get a little strange. Book three is beyond strange. I wonder what book four will bring.

National Pit Bull Day

Lola and I participated in National Pit Bull Day festivities hosted by Salt Lake County Animal Services Pit Crew.

 

Lola wore a bandana to show her Pittie Pride!