Lots to write about now!

On Friday, I made Salty/Angel an official member of our family.  We've been fostering her for Underdogs (www.saveunderdogs.com) since April.  She's a rat terrier mix, about 10 years old.  Senior dogs are hard to place. 
Some of you will remember Pepper, who we lost in March.  Our new addition (whose name is Angel, but she didn't seem to answer to that) is the anti-Pepper.  Exactly the same and exactly opposite, like Pepper's good twin.  Therefore "Salty."

Saturday found Cade & I at Okaloosa Island for Hands Across the Sands.  I was impressed at the turnout.  I am mindboggled that this humble group has become a global phenomenon.

Suday morning I took all 3 dogs to the Niceville dog park.  Salty/Angel has bad knees from some previous injury, and she doesn't get around vey well.  (We have a nickname for the dog with two names - Gimpy).  I actually saw her try to chase a squirrel!  Very funny!

In the afternoon Cade, Connor, Dan & I all went to the beach.  It's heartbreaking to think our beautiful beaches could be irrevocably soiled by crude any day now...

I'm expecting my aunt Twila, her husband Chester, and two of her grandkids Grayson & John Lucas to come visit.  I hope they get to see the clean beaches while they're here.

**update - Twila and Chester, along with their shelties AnnieBelle and Bridget, made it here.  The grandkids decided, about an hour from home, that they didn't want to come.
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Underdog's photo of Angel
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Lately I've been feeling uninspired and unmotivated.

Perhaps the many roles I play are weighing on me.  Perhaps I'm just tired of running the same routes over and over - been here, done this.

I visit a number of websites and blogs.  Some are people I know, some are not.  I try to gain insight and fresh thoughts from any avenue I can find.

What do you do when you find yourself in a rut?
 
Ah, balance... something I struggle with every day.

Over the past two weeks, finding balance has been a study in mindfulness.  Last week I was battling an episode of vertigo.  There's no lesson in mindfulness like examining every motion of evey breath, wondering if the world will turn upside down or spin out of control.  With the help of Dr. Sue, I managed to pull through a little faster than in the past.

Yesterday, I was at PAWS (joined by esteemed author Catherine Mann) for what may be my final monthly shelter doga practice.  I've loved providing just a moment of tenderness to a shelter dog (our partners Sunshine and Regal seemed to enjoy it), but as my other commitments have grown I've been forced to find balance among my worlds.  Thus, I've made the hard decision to cut back on my volunteering.

Yesterday evening I began my latest schedule of teaching evening yoga classes, filling in for Amy Likins while she is away.  I'll be teaching for Amy on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings for the next two weeks.  Best wishes to Amy, and to the rest of her family, as together they battle the cancer that's gripped her father's health.

Balance isn't just not falling over.  It's being centered in the whirlwinds of chaos.  Work, family, health, rest, community service, teaching, learning... all the things that need our attention.