DogTwist.com

I recently started writing for a UK-based web site called "Dogtwist.com."  They've done a nice job putting the site together and the employer is one of the friendliest I've worked for, so I thought I'd give them (and me) a plug. I've written two articles for them so far: one on pets and divorce and one on dogs in other cultures.

The dogs in other cultures article is one I just finished and was harder to write then I expected. While researching, I came across a lot of horrible things done to dogs in other cultures that I won't go into here. (Not that horrible things don't happen to dogs in our culture. I live in an area where people seem to think it's acceptable to chain a dog in a backyard and leave him there for the next seven years.) But I ended the article with what has been a favorite quote of mine for some time:

 "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."  - Gandhi

I think the greatness of a person and their moral progress may also be judged by the way the individual treats their animals.

Let's all go out and be great today.

Do You Watch U-Tube?

If you're under 30, you no doubt are well acquainted with U-Tube, the site where bored, marginally talented people with way too much time on their hands post video clips for those of us who are bored, completely untalented, but also have way too much time on our hands.

I never go to U-Tube unless someone e-mails me a link with the requisite, "This is funny!" note attached. Even then, I may or may not visit. There are too many other things I'd rather do in life than sit in front of a computer all day and surf. (One of them is sitting in front of my computer blogging about how superior I am for not spending all my time surfing.)

Anyway, I friend sent me a link to a funny cat video. Here it is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mHXBL6bzAR4&feature=related. I enjoyed the first video so much, I found a second. Here's that one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qit3ALTelOo&feature=related. Then I was having so much fun, I found a third: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DpA2tMrQ4RU&feature=related.

At this point, it was obvious I needed help. I managed to close down my U-Tube connection and haven't dared go back since.  I see now how people get sucked in and suddenly 2 hours have disappeared.

Not me. I'm logging off right now.

But you should go watch the cat videos. They're really funny.

What's Your Word?

I'm re-reading Elizabeth Gilbert's brilliant book, Eat, Pray, Love.  I just read it at the end of last year but I fell in love with her writing and humor and decided to indulge my urge to read it again.

I read a section last night that I thought would be interesting to blog about. When Liz is in Italy, she has a conversation with an Italian friend who tells her that every place has its own word. Rome's word, for example, is SEX. Sex is what everyone there is thinking about and influences daily how people eat, dress, shop, talk, walk, and make friends. Liz declares New York City's word to be ACHIEVE and Los Angeles's word to be SUCCEED.

She then moved into contemplating what her own personal word might be and that got me thinking about what my own word would be. It's easy of course to come up with words I wish described me: PEACE, LOVE, HOPE, JOYFUL, ENCOURAGING...  But I think my actual word would be something closer to: EXPLORE, WISH, ADMIRE, ACHIEVE, EGO, or LAUGH.  Not bad words, but perhaps not quite the Zen-master word list one might hope for.

The good thing is your word can change as you change. But how 'bout it? If you had to pick one word today to encapsulate who you are, what would that word be?

Gettin' Girly

I'm not a girly-girl. My idea of a fun evening out NEVER involves having my hair and nails done, slipping on a ball gown, and wearing sparkly eye shadow. I hate shopping for clothes. I cave in to my husband's urging to wear comfortable versus stylish shoes.

Still. I go in stages where I have the urge to pretty myself up a bit. I'm entering one of these stages now. I know because I highlighted my hair on Wednesday. And while I was waiting for my stylist, I flipped through a beauty magazine and read with great interest how a few fake eyelashes at the outer corners of the eye can add drama and effect. I'm heading to CVS today to get me some of those. (Prepare for a forthcoming blog on how I had to call 911 to remove eyelash glue from my eyes.)

I went to a book signing last night for my friend and fellow GSO author, Quinn Dalton.  I found myself paying attention to what the women were wearing.  And the fact that most women had their nails done. I gave up on nail polish years ago. I do so much typing on the computer that I can't make a polish job last even a day. But I admit... I was feeling "less then" because my my poor little nails were naked.

I blame TV. Watch an old episode of "Friends" or "Desperate Housewives" and check out the $2000 outfits these women lay about the house in.  At the moment, I have the urge to hit the stores and buy new clothes so I can feel pretty sitting at my desk. However... is that really necessary? Does it make sense to pay $150 for a blouse and wear it around the house where likely no one will see it and--knowing me--there's a good chance I'll spill something on it during the course of the day?

But I'm in girl-mode. I want padded bras, matching silk underwear, new eye shadow combinations, chunky jewelry, oversized rings, high heels, glossy lips, extra-conditioned hair, skirts, floral prints, and six different ways of styling my hair. I want it... and I want it now.

This too shall pass, and I will return to my normal mode of jeans and my "dress up" pink t-shirt. And hopefully the phase will pass before I spend too much money. To begin, I'll satisfy myself with a little trip to the drugstore for eyelashes, eyelash glue, nail-polish, and maybe a new lip gloss. Just to lift the spirits.

Cheers to all women who have to do SO MUCH MORE CRAP THAN MEN to look good. =)