How Much is That Doggy in the Window (middle of the street)?

Just a funny little story for the heck of it. 

Last week I was driving up Bent Mountain Road where the road goes from 4 lanes to 2 lanes. But right before that should have happened, traffic suddenly backed up. But this is Roanoke. We don't have traffic. But my lane was the turning lane, and it hadn't stopped, so I was able to move a little closer.

Just ahead several cars were in a circle in the road. All the cars in all 4 lanes had stopped and people were running around in the road. The firefighter in me thought it was about to be an awful car accident. 

That's when I saw a beautiful brindle greyhound dog running around. His tail was tucked, ears down, and he looked terrified as he ran between the cars. People were chasing him all over. One guy looked like he was trying to lure the dog with food. Several people opened their car doors, to try to trick the dog into jumping in. (Truth be told, if I had been a little bit closer, I would have done the same thing. That trick usually works.) 

I wasn't going anywhere, and I felt bad for the dog and all the people. So I got out of my car to help, and picked up Kaya's (my dog) leash out of the backseat, (she wasn't with me), and held it up. 

I was actually holding it up so the people would see me and the leash. The man with the food had nearly grabbed the dog a few times, but the dog had slipped away. I figured maybe a leash would help.

But the dog saw the leash and ran right up to me. I put the leash right on him! 

The man with the food was actually the owner of the dog. He said he had jumped right out of the car window while it was moving. The poor man looked as traumatized as the dog did. I let him take my leash. It seemed like a good causse.

I walked back up to my car the hero of the traffic jam. People were clapping for me and yelling thank you. It was cute and hilarious all at the same time. Nobody knows that it was a fluke that the dog ran to me. I didn't expect that to happen!

The only problem is now I don't have a leash. And Kaya is not going to be happy when she finds out we can't go for our Sunday walk. 

Gotta Keep Typing

(Just a few recent pics off my phone.)

To put it mildly, life has changed drastically in the last 4 weeks.
I don't mind. I'm really enjoying the changes!

I couldn't find who the artist/sculptor was who did these two sculptures. But they were actually at 2 different museums. I'm assuming they were done by the same artist. Because what are the odds otherwise?

The most bizarre of all the changes is that I've developed (for the second time in my life) callouses on each of my fingertips and a bruise on the bottom of one wrist from so much typing.

I'm working daily for Meridian Magazine again, writing freelance articles, writing for the Motley Fool, building a new website, and when there are few spare minutes in a day, working on writing 2 new books.

About 2 years ago I complained that I was typing, on average, about 20 pages a day. And I'm easily back up to that again now. No wonder I'm getting callouses from all the typing!

(And yet we call this unemployment.) 

I love my dog

You know I love dogs. Not all dogs, mostly my own dog. But I do try to love other dogs. But no other dog will ever compare with the cuteness of my own pup, Kaya.
True, Kaya is really not a pup anymore. She's getting a little gray around her snout, and showing a few signs of old age. But she still has a strong puppiness about her, and is the most loving, loyal dog you will ever meet.
Yesterday, I took her to the farmer's market, like I do most Saturdays. She gets to socialize, sniff dog bums, and meet lots of toddlers. She loves toddlers- and the food they tend to carry with them, both intentionally and unintentionally. Yesterday a fairly young dad was holding a baby girl who looked to be about 9-12 months old (lots of chub). She was doing her best to divebomb out of daddy's arms and go to Kaya. She was reaching and wiggling her fingers at the dog. It was all very cute. The dad asked, and I gave permission, for the baby to meet the dog. The baby girl was so excited she was kicking and squealing- the sort of thing that would scare most dogs. But Kaya was totally good with it. She let the baby grab her fur and give her lots of excited baby loves. And then Kaya proceeded to lick the baby clean. The baby loved it. Kaya licked every last inch of that baby, and the dad didn't pull her away. I wasn't worried in the least, because I know my perfect little pup would never in a million years hurt a baby.
When I saw this video today, I just fell in love. It's totally something Kaya would do. Show her love, and she'll show it right back to you in her own special way. (Even though that way is often just allowing you to throw her favorite toy or give her a belly rub. And you can never give her enough belly rubs. In fact, as I type this, she is sitting on the floor below me, paws in the air, on her back, watching me and waiting for a belly rub. I have no idea what she thinks she has done to deserve one.)

One more thing to love about the KayaDog- when I watch the video, with the dog whimpering in the background, she gets up and gets nervous. She starts looking around trying to figure out where the hurt dog is. I love the unconditional love of puppies!

Cry Uncle! (and buy my books!)

Almost exactly one year after I begged for mercy and declared a personal hiatus from life, I'm doing it again.
No more job hunting- or at least not active and aggressive job hunting. There are a few leads still out there and I will continue to follow through with those. And if a great opportunity finds me, I'll pursue it. But otherwise, my ego, psyche, and broken, jaded, little heart need a break.
This hiatus comes as a huge relief for me and gives me the personal mental freedom I need to make other commitments and move on. There are other opportunities and options around me that I have not taken advantage of because I was always afraid that I might be about to accept a job and move away.
And so it is I cry uncle, and move on in a different direction with my life.
I don't regret this. If anything it comes with a great deal of relief. I'd rather be happy with what I have- or work to be happy with what I have- than always be telling myself I could do better if others would just let me. I prefer to be the one who determines my own happiness!
Just 48 hours into this decision and I've already looked at plane tickets for another humanitarian vacation, made inquiries into musical activities, and joined a dance class for adults. See? Already happier and more active!
And... I've already started to work on a brand new book (as well as continue working on Book 3 in the Haley and Cam series, "Coming Up Next").
Which reminds me! The final section of Book 2, "This Just In," will be ready sometime next week. (The full book will also be sold as one unit starting next week too.) Have you read parts 1-3 yet?
(PS- Does anyone use iTunes/iBooks for buying/downloading books? I haven't had any request that I make my books available that way, but I'm curious if I should.) (Also, if you haven't checked out Smashwords.com yet as a way to find and purchase books, I highly recommend it!)

You Heard It Here First (Book 1)
From the moment girl-next-door Haley McAdams met America's Favorite News Reporter Camden Morrison, her life hasn't been the same. Suddenly she has everything she ever wanted- love, money, and career success. But can she handle the pressures that come with it? One day she's a financial blogger, the next, a TV expert on a political scandal. Her on-air epiphanies and liberated writing style have landed some powerful men in hot water, and there are consequences to pay. Just as her career takes off, so does her love life. But the memories of her past make it hard to accept the good things around her. Is her rich and famous boyfriend the real reason for her new success? Does he really love her? Or does he have an ulterior motive too? Haley is a good girl from a loving family and traditional values, but she knows her way around the world of finance and politics. She may be virtuous, but she is not naïve. And if there is one thing she has learned, it is that the love of money is the root of all evil.

Kindle: $3.99
Paperback: $7.99
Nook: $3.99
Smashwords/iTunes: $3.99 

This Just In! (Book Two, Part One)
Haley Jo McAdams has found the love of her life in Camden Morrison. She's landed her dream job, and fame and fortune are hers for the taking. Her life reads like the perfect modern-day fairy tale. She's never been happier and life has never been better.
But just as the starbursts and fairy dust begin to settle, the fireworks and explosions begin. Long-distance relationships are never easy,  especially when they cross international time zones, and involve the paparazzi.
Just when Haley thinks she has it all figured out, scandals, pirates, and a kidnapping turn her life upside down.
Is her life a fairy tale or a complete nightmare?
Kindle: $1.99
Nook: $1.99

This Just In! (Book 2, Part 2)
When we last left Haley and Cam, Cam had endured and succeeded in a very tense first meeting with Haley's father. The couple had discussed marriage, but Haley began to have doubts.
Big questions are resolved, but as Haley learns, life goes on, and more questions are always asked!
Kindle: $1.99

Nook: $1.99

This Just In! (Book 2, Part 3)
No good deed goes unpunished! For every good thing that happens for Haley and Cam, something worse seems to follow. Cam's reputation and career are on the line. His family's dirty laundry is out for everyone to see. Should Haley defend her man or defend her own reputation?
Kindle: $1.99
Nook: $1.99

My human BFF and my dog BFF got me sick.

My dog and her decapitated, dismembered favorite toy.

I don't mean to be an alarmist, but there's something going around. And both the humans and the dogs are getting it. 

Yesterday my dog got sick. She has issues (most of which stem from her bad choices of knocking over the trash can and eating anything she finds in it every time I leave the house). She's sneezing and coughing, and has watery eyes. Today she gets to go to the vet.

Yesterday my human BFF also got sick. She went to the doctor too. And then she sent me hilarious emails and text messages after she took cough syrup with codeine. She's never had codeine before. I'm looking forward to her finding the text messages later and seeing what she said. Mostly she said she didn't think the codeine was working. But then she mentioned Asian strippers, and posted something on Facebook about her butt cheeks. I think it was working.

Today I woke up sick. Nasty, gross head cold sick. Those past three weeks where I didn't feel like this were really enjoyable. After the dog goes to the vet, I get to go to the doctor too.

You've been warned. There's something going around.

An Old Dog Teaches Her Human a New Trick

Kaya's 15 Seconds of Fame, thanks to Purina

Have I mentioned lately how awesome my dog is?

Kaya and I have been a team for 3 years now, and we still like each other. 
This week I learned that an old dog (she's 7) can still teach me new tricks.
For as long as I can recall our routine (and that of most dog owners I think) is to take her out to do her business, or even just let her run out on her own, and when she comes back in the door I give her a little scratching and ear rub, and tell her she's a good girl and "so good looking." (A joke I picked up from Seinfeld years ago.)
Lately she's been driving me crazy. She got to go play with two other dogs for a whole week while I was out of town. And since I've been back, she's been very demanding about wanting more attention and playtime. Unfortunately for her, since I've been back, I've started working again, and have had no play time to give. She gets frustrated with me and will come up to where I am sitting and working with my laptop and placing her face on top of the keyboard to get attention. This usually gets her sent to time out.

So she stepped up her game demanding walks and standing by the door making insistent noises that I let her out. All dog owners know to not ignore this behavior, so I give in and let her out. Normally she runs out, prances about the yard, does her business, and runs back in. But lately she's been doing something new. She runs out a few steps like she intends to dart across the yard, stops, turns and looks at me, wags her tail and runs back in the door and right up to me, waiting for her praise and rub down.
At first I thought I was imagining things. But she's done it so many times now that I know she's doing it on purpose.
All she really wants is attention and to be loved on, so she's resorting to the one behavior that always gets her that reaction- running out the door and running back in.
After I caught on I felt guilty and took her for a real walk. And I even played fetch with her for a few extra minutes. Apparently an old dog can teach her human a new trick.