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.

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.

On Saturday, I held this year's first doga practice at All One Yoga & Wellness.

I was delighted that one brave soul, and her brave dog, came out for the practice.  I was disappointed and disenchanted that turnout was so underwhelming. 

There was a gentleman, Chris, from the Northwest Florida Daily News who came and took photos.  I'm not sure how to feel about that.  On one hand I'm excited that doga generated enough interest to send a photographer, and perhaps the photos in the NWFDN will grow the practice.  But I'm also afraid that photos of me and one participant will hurt more than help...
You can see the pics here http://nwfdailynews.emeraldcoastphotoswest.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=29512123&event=1004907&CategoryID=28208

Nevertheless, Underdogs will be receiving a donation courtesy of All One Yoga, Doga, Delana & Salty!

The past few weeks have been wrought with stress.

First, on a GLOBAL scale is the oil that is spewing into the Gulf daily, with no end in sight.  It makes me angry, sad, overwhelmed.  I plan to help with cleanup, and I've already recruited Cade.  While part of me sees the opportunity for him to learn an environmental lesson first hand... he shouldn't have to.  We spent Sunday afternoon at the beach, playing.  I don't know when we will be able to do so again.

Second, my mother had been fighting ailment and injury.  She fell and has a sprained SI joint and a fractured T12 vertebrae.  On Friday she had carpal tunnel surgery.  The surgery was a result of her diabetes and degenerative nerve function. 

Third, Amy Likins of All One Yoga is out of town, and several of us have come together to teach her classes while she is away.  She is dealing with a health crisis in her family.

Fourth, my dear friend Brenda's son suffers from kidney disease.  He is in a full relapse, and will start another round of vicious meds soon.

Fifth, my wonderful co-worker Cindy had a terrible accident at home that left her partially blinded in one eye.  Her sunshine disposition hasn't been affected, even as she struggles with her new reality.

On Saturday I was at the Landing.  I was fortunate to participate in the New Leash on Life event.  I spent the day speaking with lots of wonderful new people about doga, and about the Animal Justice Rally Group.  Reaching out to my community about the things I hold dear reminds me why, despite eveything else that goes on in our lives and in our world, we do what we do.  Illness, injury, tragedy will strike.  It's the relationships we form that get us through the darkness, together.

I will be in Crestview again tomorrow morning, April 22 with the Animal Justice Rally Group (AJRG).

We will be there in support of two victims - both dogs who died as a result of starvation and neglect.

Aeza Magadia will be sentenced by Judge Ward for the death of her dog, Rosco. She kept him locked in the garage, living in his own filth.  Rosco was seized and euthanized by Crestview Animal Control.  Magadia pled no contest.

Jacoby Jackson has entered a motion to dismiss the cruelty charges against him.  His family dog, Smokey, died of starvation in the backyard. 
Judge Stone will be hearing this motion.

AND tomorrow April 22 is Earth Day!  Of course, every day is Earth Day (just like every day is Mother's Day), but it's an opportunity for all of us to really practice ahimsa, non-harming.  Ahimsa applies to everything - ourselves, other people, other creatures, and the Earth upon which which we exist.  Environmental ahimsa is really selfish - no Earth, no us!  Be selfish - be non-harming to your home.

This is not just a post title! 
Tammy Binkley is working hard to raise money for the charity Off the Mat, Into the World.  This yoga-based charity is based on the principle of seva (selfless service).  This year they have chosen to help children in South Africa who have been affected by HIV / AIDS.
You can learn more here: http://tammysyoga.com/index.html

On Saturday, Tammy partnered with Amy Likins at All One Yoga to hold a restorative yoga practice and essentials oils workshop.  We worked together to balance our chakras through asana, pranayama, oils, and chakra tuning forks.  We also worked together to raise money and awareness for Tammy's Seva Challenge.

BIG thanks to everyone who came!

On Saturday, we took Bosey, our foster puppy, to the fairgrounds.  PAWS had their 1st Yard Sale & Adoption Fair that day.  Bosey met lots of people and dogs, but no one seemed interested in adopting him.  Therefore he went back to PAWS, where he waits for his furever family to find him.  We miss him already.  Jojo in particular seemed lonely. 
Cade says Bosey is welcome to come visit for play dates once he is adopted.

When Dan and I were discussing Bosey's return to the shelter, I said "I don't know what I'm going to do with myself if I'm not mopping the floors 3 times a day."  Pepper had been struggling with incontinence for well over a year, and then Bosey took up where she left off.

I may not need to worry so much.  After his bath yesterday, Connor kindly peed on the hallway floor.  He must have known Mommy really missed the mop.

A few weeks ago, when I was at PAWS for my monthly doga practice, the gals in animal control asked if I would be able to foster a brindle puppy who had just been brought in minutes before.  I said "I'll have to ask my husband."
Fostering is a subject that we've talked about many times before.  We've "fostered" many kittens on our own that we found, and then tried to re-home.  Yin, Zoi, and Mahogany are ours because we couldn't find new homes for them.  Dan's objecion to fostering was "we'll end up keeping them."  When I asked about fostering for PAWS this time, he grumbled "How long?"
So the next day I went to PAWS and told them I could foster.  However, the little brindle puppy had a possible owner. 
But the never-ending parade of animals that need homes produced a little black fuzzy puppy that looked like a bear.  I brought him home to foster.
We called him Bosey, as in the Bose radio: "You won't believe such big sound comes from a little radio!"  Bosey is scheduled to return to PAWS for adoption later this week.

The past 24 hours have been wrenching - both with joy and with sadness. 

Yesterday evening was Cade's last basketball game of the season.  He missed both games last week, so it was important to be there Tuesday.  His team won!  I don't know if they won any games last week, but they won last night.  Cade even got a rebound.

Yesterday evening, I noticed Pepper in the backyard.  Many of you may know Pepper - my blind, epileptic basenji.  She has been declining in health for the past year or so, and we've noticed more and more dementia.  However, when I saw her yesterday I knew something was desperately wrong.  She was walking in circles (which really isn't unusual) but her posture was... different.  I knew she'd suffered a stroke, or some other injury.

Today Dan and I took her to our vet Dr. Murphy.  He confirmed she had some type of brain injury.  There was a small chance she would improve a little, but a greater chance she wouldn't improve at all.  I held her in my arms, struggling to find the right answer.  I felt with my heart, hoping and searching for truth and guidance.

I asked her "are you ready to go?"  I felt her twitch, her head moving slightly.  Not wanting to put my own thoughts upon her meaning, I then asked "are you afraid?"  With those words I had my answer.  She relaxed and released into my arms, as if knowing I would make her better - by letting her go.  (Thanks again to Dr. Murphy and all his staff for their compassion). 

Cara at Kindred Hearts Bereavement has her earthly body.  Cara believes, as do I, that our departed companions will come to us after their passing; in a dream, a flash of deja-vu, or some other way.  Cara said she couldn't wait to hear about our dreams... given Pepper's one-of-a-kind, grouchy, mischievous, stubborn, trouble-making ways while here with us on this earth.

Shortly after coming home, I bent down to pick up our foster puppy to take him outside - and promptly ripped the ass of my favorite pair of pants.  Thanks, Pepper.