The joy of pets

   This is in response to an article in the New York Times called "things I wish I had known when my dog died." https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/nyregion/things-i-wish-i-had-known-when-my-dog-died.html?smid=fb-nytwell&smtyp=cur&_r=0&referer=http://m.facebook.com   Wonderful, and sweet. Brought tears to my eyes, thinking about the two cats I've lost as an adult… Let alone the pets I grew up with, and dear friends' pets.

   Many daily joys revolve around interaction with my pets. The cat is always the first to greet me when I wake up, and anytime I return home. (With the dogs pushing and shoving to be next in line.) They howl with excitement when I get out of bed every morning. Every morning!

   Reading an article like this reminds me to cherish them every day they're here, and to be thankful when they're well. And not just pets, but people too.

   And I'm especially grateful for those who dedicate their lives to saving these precious creatures and placing them in loving homes. Kathi Nichols, Kate Fields, Jack Pullan, Steph Allen, Bonnie Drayson Still, Joahnna Lyzza Osmena, Rachelle Steele, Casey Waugh, Robin Bybee Rowland - among many many others I'm lucky to know!

My Cat From Hell

You know what no one is? Perfect. Including pets. Kizzy, for instance, insists on faithfully following me all over the house... And "helping" me. These were today's shenanigans:

I've been watching "My Cat From Hell" this evening. And much like "The Dog Whisperer", the animal experts encounter a seemingly nonstop stream of people whose pets have behavioral problems. Pets seem complex if you don't work to understand their instincts. And they take time, training, and care. It's a lot of work. I get it.
What I do not get is why nearly all of these people think it's an acceptable solution to get rid of their pets (right up until someone swoops in as a "last resort"). It isn't okay. Ten times out of ten the owner is the problem. They are unwilling to devote time and energy; often, they are weak leaders. Or they're doing something that upsets the animal and manifests in unwanted behaviors. So they give up. And come to the conclusion that the animal has to leave.
I understand there are cases where people must surrender an animal and have no other options. But what drives me crazy about these shows are the arrogant, obstinant people who are looking for an easy solution. A pet isn't disposable; adopting one should be a lifelong commitment.
People make comments to me all the time about how well-behaved my pets are. They didn't come that way. I work with them every single day. And they bring me immeasurable joy. I wish these people would look harder for that. Or never get an animal in the first place.

Artist Q&A

   I participate in various mentoring programs, and was recently contacted by the daughter of a former colleague. She asked me a few questions and I prepared some responses... I could go on and on about this stuff! It was fun to ponder. Thought I'd share for any budding artists out there.

How you got yourself out there during the beginning stages of your career:

   I applied for the Hallmark design internship during my junior year of college, and spent the summer in Kansas City. Things went well, and they surprised me with a job offer the week after the internship ended! I stayed for 18 years... And was laid off 18 months ago. 500 people were laid off that year. So really I am just learning how to put myself out there! 

   A strong portfolio is important. I'm on LinkedIn and I also have a "Jen Rarey Art" page on Facebook and Instagram. That helps new people discover me, and encourages me to always be creating, even if just a sketch here or there.

   The best way to put yourself out there, I think, is to get out and meet people in person. Professional societies and events, networking events, getting introduced through colleagues, etc. Because being great at what you do is expected… It is the price of admission. What people who are hiring really look for is your attitude and personality, so they can assess if you fit within their culture. (You should assess them, too.)

Advice for young artists:

   You need to be a strong visual storyteller and have a strategy behind everything you do. If people ask why you did something a certain way, why something is a particular color, what something represents, etc.… You should always have an answer. You should know why you made every mark, and it should matter. If you are putting this much thought into everything you do, you won't need to explain… Your work will connect with your audience!

   Some people mistakenly think that an artists' job is just to make something look pretty, but your strategic agility and storytelling skills are what truly makes you valuable and set you apart from your peers.

How you get inspired: 

   I get inspired from looking at other artists' work and going to hear them speak when possible--such as the "Made in the Middle" conference I attended this past weekend.  It's very important to know the trends in the particular industry in which you're working.

   However, it's vitally important to not just rely on others' work as your inspiration. You need to find the things that speak to you and immerse yourself in them. For me, that is physical activity, which gives me a lot of time to think. And especially being out in nature. I just came in from my daily morning walk with my two dogs an appreciated the sunrise and the beautiful fall leaves. Music is another thing that inspires me. The particular music I'm listening to influences the style of my work. My pets also inspire me, make me laugh, and remind me to take breaks. A lot of the sketches on my Facebook Art page are of my pets. 

   And challenging myself to learn new, tough things inspires me (learning to swim, scuba diving, rock climbing, building a website, reading a challenging book, etc.) Always learning, learning, learning! Every experience teaches you something that could inspire your work.

How you balance life with career:

   This is a tough one, and I don't think many people have it figured out! When you're an artist, you are never really "off." Part of what makes you uniquely talented is that you are keenly aware of what's going on around you and notice the beauty in even small details. 

   Like most careers, you have to work really hard to make a living as a creative person. My downtime consists of time with my friends, time with my pets, long walks, hiking, running, biking, kayaking, and taking trips whenever I can. Physical activity is how I unwind, since making art is sedentary. Staying healthy is always top of mind. 

How you choose what projects to be involved in:

   If you're a freelance artist, especially just starting out, you may have to take most jobs that come your way, assuming you are capable of executing them. Until you have a large enough base of clients, you may end up doing work that you're less passionate about. I have taken many jobs where I wasn't sure how to do it, but I figured it out along the way. Being resourceful, curious, and willing to learn is incredibly important and valuable—you should always be learning, growing, and evolving. If you don't, your work will become irrelevant.

   The best thing is when you find clients or full-time jobs who specialize in the type of work that you are best at doing and really enjoy. Then it isn't just about the money. Like any career, if you're just in it for the money, I don't think you will find true happiness. 

   I have donated my time to create branding (logo/T-shirt/invitations) for fundraising events for the Humane Society of greater Kansas City for 12 years. I dearly wish it paid enough for me to do it full-time, because the work is so much fun, and I love the idea that the work I have created helps generate money that has saved and/or improved the lives of hundreds or maybe thousands of pets in KC.

Then my skills have a deeper meaning and purpose... makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Your favorite things about being an artist: 

   All the fun, creative people you meet. Artists tend to have diverse interests which inspire their work, so each one has a lot they can teach you! I have found most creative types to be extremely generous in sharing what they know. 

   I love collaborating with people on projects, and adding ideas to make the work better and better!

   It can be frustrating when people think that the work we do is always fun and easy--like magic. Some of my favorite work I've done was the most difficult or taught me the most. So I love it when I've worked really hard on something and my clients are delighted, and truly understand and appreciate the heart and soul that went into them.

   I love drawing with little kids because they're so uninhibited with making things look "right." Pure creativity!

   And I love mentoring young artists and sharing what I've learned. It has been a great career. Certainly not easy, but I can scarcely imagine anything more rewarding.

Synchronicity

   I came home from work last night and took care of the animals, which is the first thing I always do. Gypsy hadn't eaten a bite... for the second day in a row. (The dogs love this, because I give them Gypsy's leftovers.) She seemed to rally after the low around Christmastime, and was back up to 11 lbs, from 9. But her appetite has been weak again since I returned from San Francisco on March 6.
   She always acts very interested in food—even follows me around shouting at me when she's hungry, pronouncing every letter in "MEOW!"—but when I put one of about 15 different foods down, she sniffs it and walks away. It's very frustrating. She's getting lighter and lighter.
   Later I went down to the laundry room to find that she had vomited clear liquid. Not good... definitely something to watch.
   This morning I saw that she hadn't eaten anything overnight, and she had vomited in the basement again. I called Joni to tell her I'd join them later for our hike if I could, and headed right for the vet, who graciously squeezed us in.
   We saw Dr. Miller, who hadn't checked Gypsy before. I could see the concern on his face when he read her charts. She was back down to 9.4 lbs. and he recommended bloodwork to check her kidney levels, subcutaneous fluids, and an anti-nausea injection. He palpated her and noted that her kidneys were huge... which has never been the case before. It's definitely cancer. And when you add that to the renal disease, it equates to, "we can't do anything but keep her comfortable and try to give her a good quality of life a little longer".
   None of this was a surprise, of course, given the last few months of history. But it did break my heart. I only lost Atom five months ago, Gypsy has been up and down since, and Taylor is seriously ill as well. They say things come in threes. I've found my unlucky number...
   I brought Gypsy home and comforted her, then took the dogs up to the dog park to meet Joni & friends. I shared the bad news, but we didn't dwell on it—I needed to get my mind off it for a couple of hours.

   When I got home, I opened up today's paper to see this:

   Synchronicity. Unfortunately, the article didn't offer any answers or much comfort. The author just confirmed that the lost of a beloved pet, a being who is devoted to you and depends on you, is very difficult—often moreso than losing a friend or close human family member. Again, not a surprise. Despite my other three pets, the house feels empty without Atom's presence.
   At dinner last night (Joni and I piled up the kaiten-zushi plates at Sakura), we talked about this subject. She noted that you always think your pets will live until tomorrow; but eventually tomorrow becomes today, and today becomes now. We agreed that the one good side to pets' lives being so short is that if you could keep them forever, you'd lose the opportunity to rescue more of them.
   I agree with that, but somehow I know I won't adopt another kitty. I've already had the two best kitties anyone could have... I can't imagine another that would live up to the standard mine have set. Most likely I will begin to foster dogs again, someday when time has helped heal my heart.
   Until that day, I have to be thankful for every moment I have with Gypsy. It's tough because it is plain to see that she is slipping through my hands, and though she is still here, my heart is raw, anticipating the inevitable. I have to keep reminding myself that I thought I was going to lose her on my birthday, so the last three months have been bonus time, and I'm thankful for it.
   Joni just emailed and reminded me: "Beginnings and endings are what life is all about.  It's what makes life so hard.  And it's what makes life so magical." She's a wise friend.

Inktober kindness

   #inktober 13... A simple sketch with a sweet story.

   This morning I walked the dogs as always--we enjoy the fresh air and the exercise, and especially meeting all the kids on their way to the elementary school. I've previously mentioned two special kids in particular, whose mom passed early this year. Once we met them, we have made a point of being out there every single day in the hopes of catching them. And most days, we do. 

   The dogs shriek with excitement when they see the kids coming down the sidewalk, blocks away. The kids always stop and sit on the sidewalk for a few minutes and pet the dogs and talk to me before they have to run across the street to beat the bell. It's very clear from their cute faces how much this little diversion brightens their day--and equally, ours.

   This morning, the girl excitedly approached me with something in her hand. A few days ago, she brought a rose from her yard to give to one of her teachers, and had showed it to me. I thought she might have another.

   What she put in my hand was a folded up dollar bill. It puzzled me for a second, but she quickly explained, "I am so sorry, it's not much, but I want you to have it."

  I was still puzzled. 

   "You're so nice," she said. "And it must be really difficult taking care of two dogs by yourself."

   Well, as you might imagine, my heart about burst right there on the spot. She was giving me a dollar to help me care for my pets! Never would I ever have expected that. I wasn't sure what to say, though I wanted to say it gently and not offend her.

   "Sweetie," I said "please keep your money, and save it for something you really want. I really appreciate you thinking of me, but I'm doing OK."

   She was hesitant to take the money back, but I finally convinced her. Then, she invited me to another symphony concert, but this one was during the day, so I couldn't attend.

   I think it's easy to see why I make such an effort to get out there to greet these kids. (He is as sweet as she is.)

   I sure hope they have a guardian angel looking out for them. I didn't share, but I anonymously donated some money in their names to a school fundraiser last week. I am no angel, but I'm happy to help when I can. :)

   So my #inktober drawing of the day is a simple, funny little group of pets. We are so lucky to have pets in our lives, because they help us make connections. They are intuitive, and sweet, and non-judgmental. I treasure mine for the love they show to me and everyone.

The Gift Animals Give

  I try to catch CBS Sunday Morning every week. My Aunt, Martha, turned me onto quite a while ago, and she occasionally calls to discuss it, so we virtually watch it together. Today's show was near and dear to my heart, an entire episode about animals and what they bring to our lives.

  The most poignant excerpts of the show for me were the piece on "War Horse", the Tony Award-winning musical about the horses who served in World War I. The show stars remarkably lifelike, full-size horse puppets developed by Handspring Puppet Company in South Africa. Seeing the video from this show really made me want to go back to New York!

   They also showed the Animals in War Memorial in London, which pays tribute to the countless animals who have served and given their lives for humans with the simple and powerful inscription, "They had no choice."

   The interview with author Dean Koontz was also enlightening. He reminisced about his first dog, Trixie, a golden retriever, and said that, "One of the greatest gifts we receive from dogs is the tenderness they evoke in us." If you doubt that, tell someone you don't like their dog and see what kind of response you get!  ;)

I have a VERY similar photo of my old boy, Justin. Need to dig that up...

   In addition to the work for which he's best known, he wrote "A Big Little Life", a tribute to Trixie. He says she opened his "eyes to how much [I] started turning off the beauty of the world out of busyness." I believe that's very true, that animals force us to slow down and appreciate small moments which we might otherwise miss. He called Trixie a theophany; a entrance of God into his life. Companion animals are more than a little divine. I can't imagine coming home to an empty house every day. No matter how my day was, I have four little heartbeats eager to greet me every time I return, and that's something  you can't take for granted.

   He also said something else that I liked: "The imagination is a muscle... and the more you use it, the easier it becomes." I've always found my pets to be a source of humor and a springboard into my imagination. (Why did they do that? What are they thinking? What would they say?) As a creative person, having pets around seems to be a necessity.

   As a true pet lover, Koontz supports Canine Companions for Independence, who train dogs to help handicapped people live fuller lives. The ability to train dogs to this extent has always interested me immensely, and someday I'd like to volunteer for them in some capacity...

   The show talked about Duke University's Canine Cognition Center, which studies how canine behavior and intelligence can enrich human lives and the relationship between our species. And one of the dogs they showed when talking about canine intelligence looked more than a little familiar...

   They also showed Chaser, a border collie who lives with a researcher and knows over 1000 words—both nouns and verbs—that she has remembered for years. She knows specific names for each of her toys and can bring them, point to them, nose them, etc. Smartypants!

   Everyone who knows me knows I have a houseful of pets: the cats, Gypsy (14) and Atom (almost 13); and the dogs, Taylor (almost 5) and Aki (4). One of the great tragedies of companion animals is that their lives are so short. That's why they should be treasured so thoroughly for the unique personalities that they each have. And that's a big reason why I volunteer for the Humane Society and Shiba Rescue; because every pet and every person deserve a relationship as special as this. And when you save an animal and pair them with the right person, the joy is immeasurable.

Cats & Dogs Living Together: Mass Hysteria!

   I have a VERY strict no-pets-on-the-furniture rule in my home. However, my pets don't seem to have received the memo. I came home from the race today to find this scene: two pets on each couch. Like I had interrupted an informal meeting or something.

(singing) "One of these things is not like the other..."

   I'm especially surprised that finicky Gypsy was content to curl up near nosy Aki, who still delights in chasing the cats a bit, despite my protests.
   Lots of pet hair on the couches, but I guess I should just feel fortunate that everyone gets along and that they actually all enjoy hanging out together. Maybe "enjoy" is a little too strong. They're not quite touching, but definitely not recoiling either...

Random Hallmark Moments: my pets

   Months and months ago, a coworker asked me if they could use a couple of photos of my pets that they saw on Facebook for humor cards. Of course I said yes, as I've come to appreciate a chance to memorialize them, and share their cuteness with others.

   Flash forward to today, when I was walking through our shop at work and glanced over at the new Shoebox display. There, at eye level, staring right at me were my two beloved pets, black-and-white kitty Gypsy (who preceded Kismet) and my buddy Taylor. And I started tearing up right then and there, to see the two of them together again. While the pain of losing Gypsy two years ago has faded, I will always miss her.

   Pretty cool to see these photos that I took myself appear on cards so I can treasure them forever.

Wayside Waifs... And Jake Smith

   Tonight I had the pleasure of touring these facilities with my friend Robin, who recently accepted a position at the shelter. I was very impressed with the facilities themselves: the size of the building, the clinic, and the overall cleanliness. The staff and volunteers were friendly, and the pets… Well, let's just say it was tough to get out of there by myself tonight.

   The shelter finds loving homes for 6500 local pets each year, and each pet spends only an average of two weeks in the shelter. Whatever they are doing, it surely is working!

   Check out this amazing, kinetic art hanging in the lobby, designed by a Hallmark artist:

   And this is Mr. Jake Smith:

   He is just one of many wonderful cats and dogs whom I met at the shelter this evening. This guy is about a-year-old, extremely outgoing, friendly, and playful. He has a striking face, with dramatic eyes like a Siamese. IF I wore in a position to adopt a kitty right now, which I am not, it would be a tough decision for me between this guy, and a white and orange tabby whom I saw in the temporary holding area.

PSA

 

PSA (Pet Safety Announcement)

   Anybody who knows me knows that I love my pets. And that my pets have a ton of personality. And that "personality" is code for "they are sometimes a complete pain in the @**." Sharing this story and sketch in the hopes that it can help you avoid similar trouble in your own home. Take out the trash!!
   Overnight, my cat got into the trash and dragged out some pork bones (delicious KC BBQ!) that I had forgotten to take to the garage. She dragged them into the living room and chewed on them, then came upstairs and puked on my bed (while I was sleeping in it).
   The dogs knew all this before I did, so when we headed downstairs bright and early this morning, one ran straight to the bones in the living room and swallowed at least one of them—whole—before I could intercept him.
   Number 6 in the drawing is: I wait nervously to see if an emergency surgery will be in order. UGH!!! Welcome to the circle of garbage.

Art Unleashed Wrap-Up

What a wonderful evening to raise funds to continue the mission of HSGKC. Over $84,000 was raised to support the shelter pets!
  More than 1,000 people attended and 95 folks volunteered their precious time.
  Thanks again to the artists who donated more than 300 orgianal and limited edition pieces. We could not continue to change lives of pets in the KC area without your help.
AU volunteers shirts are available for $5 in the volunteer room, sizes S-3XL, while supplies last...

PSA: pets and fireworks don't mix!

   I've already heard of one friend's dog who is missing due to fireworks last night, so I'm posting this in the hopes that it will help keep others safe. (This stuff applies to cats as well.) A pet can go missing unexpectedly and it happens in the blink of an eye. An animal that is panicked is unpredictable, so please take every precaution, particularly this time of year.

To prevent lost pets:
- ALWAYS have a collar, harness, and ID tags on your dog whenever it is outside
- get your dog microchipped in case its ID is lost. You will get a collar tag with your microchip that the dog should wear at all times to alert anyone who finds them.

If your dog is missing:
- call friends to help, especially if the dog knows them
- bring special treats, toys (esp. if they make noise, like a favorite squeaky toy!), and a leash
- canvas the area, and talk to everyone you see—you never know who will find the dog. Bring fliers with the dog's photo, name, physical description, & your cell phone.
- put a sign in the dog owner's front yard, so that if someone finds the dog, they'll know where it lives
- leave food at the house (especially a special treat like canned food or hot dogs): front & back porch; leave back yard gate, garage door open in case the animal returns when you are out
- call nearby animal shelters, vets, & animal control to alert them
- stay calm & have faith!

Many jobs

   Today was busy. REALLY BUSY. After I finished my job as animal caretaker, I went to work and hammered through a bunch of Christmas, Easter, and Valentine's programs. And led a recording session with two adorable little girls to get voice overs for a fox and seal. (I have the weirdest-slash-awesomest job ever.)
   One job I did NOT have to take on myself today was driving to work. And as I was in sleepy-eyed mode on the bus on the ride home, I realized what a huge relief it is to leave the driving to someone else. If it were possible to give up my car entirely in Kansas City—it isn't—I'd gladly make public transportation my only transportation. Taking a train to work every day would be a dream. 
   After work, I came home and took care of the pets again, then played the role of groundskeeper, mowing my quickly-becoming-overgrown lawn. Then I switched into lumberjack mode and chopped up the 20+' limbs that fell off my tree in the last storm. I bundled up all the wood and hauled it back into the back yard, thinking that I might build a quick fire pit this weekend, so that I can sit outside and enjoy burning off the wood over Memorial Day. We'll see what I have the stamina for this weekend.

   I will say that I am very lucky—and thankful—to live in such a great neighborhood. As soon as I arrived at home, I fed the animals, let them outside, then ran upstairs to change clothes in preparation for the barrage of yard work. I heard a rumbling in the driveway, and peeked out the window in time to see Loren dragging my trash and recycle bins up to my garage for me. I ran down to meet him, and he said he wanted to stop by to see if I needed any help disassembling the huge tree limbs. How sweet! Later in the evening, his wife, Edna, walked over to say hello.
   A few minutes after Loren and his dog, Champ, headed back up the sidewalk to their house, Steve pulled into his driveway across the street, and came over to see if I needed any help. This is Steve with whom I bonded during the very snowy winter last year, when he brought over his new snowblower and finished off the second half of my driveway in minutes, relieving me of the rest of the shoveling.
   Abby and Scott have been the most fantastic neighbors, too, sharing home cooked food and letting my dogs out on those occasions that I get stuck at work unexpectedly. My pets have all taken a liking to them, and especially to their one-year-old, August. Kismet is entranced with him, and even Aki follows him around with a goofy smirk on her face, kindly licking his face to remove any traces of food. This, the dog who was formerly terrified of anyone shorter than me.
   So blessed and happy to have such wonderful neighbors!
   The last couple weeks have been nuts, between a surprise case of the flu, and between completing the Dog-n-Jog t-shirt designs and being immediately thrown into starting and finishing the Art Unleashed logo. Being sick was a blessing in disguise of sorts, as it forced me to cancel my trip to do Divemaster training at Beaver Lake, which allowed me to do the artwork, in between bouts of running a massive fever and having the entirely uncontrollable urge to sleep it off. Taka will be in town for Memorial Day, so I'm looking forward to several days of having fun and doing very little in the way of anything productive. I've had that overloaded feeling a lot lately, even with the stuff I enjoy, and am beyond ready for a break.

The Cat Tree

   Unbelievable though it may be, I am not the only one who is crazy about my pets. In fact, most of my friends share this affliction. Case in point, Trish: whose two black cats got into a serious argument when one of them got trapped in the window blinds, panicked, and they began attacking each other. She has been going through painstaking process of separating and then re-introducing them to restore peace in her condo. And one part of this is introducing new stimulus.

   The cat tree. Trish purchase this gorgeous piece of furniture hoping it would soothe the boys. Unfortunately, they didn't take immediate interest. She said she might have to sleep on it herself, and I couldn't help but send her this:

   The comments & suggestions from Trisha's friends on Facebook are absolutely priceless:  use the top to store wine & the shelves to store glasses and the cats will become interested when they realize they can wreak havoc; get rid of the giant cardboard box that it came in so they will take an interest in the tree; put some newspaper on it and pretend to be interested in reading…

   God bless our pets and my funny friends for giving me so much great material from which to draw.

Naked Kizzy

the last photo of Kiz with that cute, pink tag

  My pets have all settled into a great routine. In the morning when I wake up, they all greet me: Kiz on the bed, and the dogs on the floor next to it. Kiz purrs so loud she squeaks as if she's got a part loose, and rubs her head on me so hard she almost pushes me over. The dogs howl and then vie to see who will get me to pet them first. I say, "Let's eat!" and they all follow me downstairs to the kitchen. There, they IMpatiently wait for me to fix their food. Kismet always gets to eat first, and Aki is made to sit and watch, which assures that the cat is top of the pecking order. When she finished and leaves the room, the dogs race to see who can finish their food first. When that contest is decided, I say, "Let's go out!" and all three race to the back door. The dogs run out, with the cat on their heels. They're three peas in an admittedly strange, fuzzy pod.
   The weather was gorgeous yesterday, so when I left the house to attend the Plaza Art Fair, I left the back door open enough for the pets to go in & out & enjoy the yard. Because they do this every weekend while I'm home without incident, I didn't worry. I came home and everyone looked happy. But... Kismet was naked.
   Her cute brown & pink collar with the bell that the Heart of America Humane Society gave her, and her pink name tag, were gone. It was a breakaway collar, designed for safety: if the cat becomes caught on something and pulls hard enough, the clasp opens and releases kitty. Problem is, where was it now?
   I looked around the house and yard for about an hour, until I needed to head out to meet friends for dinner. I came home and continued to look in the house. And this morning I mowed the lawn and trimmed the shrubs—for four hours—in effect, canvassing the whole yard. No collar. I looked in the trees. I climbed under the forsythia bush. I removed the lattice from the deck and crawled on my hands & knees in the dirt. No collar.
   I'm sure it will turn up when I least expect it. But I must admit it is driving me a little crazy. Where could it have gone? My subconscious had an idea: while I was sleeping last night, I dreamed that Kelly found it. I hope it's right.
   Then tonight I did a load of laundry and as I was pulling everything out of the dryer, one sock was missing. Apparently there is a Bermuda triangle in my home. If I don't show up for work, please come looking for me.

Sponsor Team ShibaRunner!

   This is the official Shiba-Inu-powered fundraising page for Dog-n-Jog. You can sponsor our team by clicking here. 100% of your gifts will go toward helping the homeless pets (of all makes and models) currently at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City's no kill shelter.
   I have donated artwork to HSGKC to support fundraising efforts since 1997. My partner-in-crime and lil' sister, Lindsey, hails from Ohio. This will be her third trip to KC to run in DNJ. While our 12-legged team is unlikely to place this year (I took my first run in TEN WEEKS last night, having finally been cleared to start exercising from my injury), we promise we will run our hearts out. Your support will make the shelter pets winners for sure!
   You can find more information about the event on HSGKC's site.

Precious pets

The Cat In The Hat?
No... The cat IS the hat!!!
   Somebody missed me whilst I was camping this weekend. Kizzy couldn't wait to snuggle on my head and snooze. She's extraordinarily friendly and I swear she misses me more than the dogs do. My neck hurts. LOVE this kitty!!!

   As an animal lover & photographer, I strive to capture the unique personality in animals, and have the image tell a story too. (See the one below of Taylor...) 

   Pets never live long enough, so I love capturing these moments in time that make them so special and unique. I'll catch Aki next. She's not a big ham like these other two, so I have to be sneaker with her. :)

No pizza is safe!!!

meaningful moments

Just read some essays from several writers in Real Simple magazine about "the most meaningful moment of my day." And it inspired me to think about some of my favorite moments of the day:

Wake-up call
Aki wakes me up every single morning between 4 am (if she's a b*tch) & 7 am (if she's feeling generous) to demand her food. She stands 5 feet from the side of the bed & alternately whines/snaps her jaws/shifts her feet, making her nails clickon the floor. Taylor is even less subtle: as soon as my eyes pop open he springs out of bed and howls "hellooooooooooo!!!" And wags his goofy, powderpuff, mohawk-tail vigorously. Why do I have pets, if not to make myself feel needed & to give myself a good laugh? (I also get an encore performance from Taylor every day at 6pm when I return from work.)

Late nights
Throughout my school life, I worked hard to finish all my projects early. But something has fundamentally changed in me in the last 13 years. Usually after procrastinating on a deadline for artwork due (which I prefer to call "waiting for inspiration to strike me") I will suddenly & inexplicably experience just that: a strong desire to do nothing but work, with great confidence and a stream of ideas... All of them better than my casual, initial thoughts for the work. There's nothing better than knowing exactly what I need to do & attacking the artwork, sometimes staying up all night to get it done. You never know when inspiration will hit, so you have to seize it when it does. These fits of productivity are usually accompanied by a favorite movie, coffee, chocolate of some kind, and at least two pets within arm's reach. Gotta have the right tools, too, after all.

EARLY-early mornings
Some of my favorite times this year were when I was in the habit of getting up at 4:45 am, taking care of the dogs, & arriving at the gym by 5:10. I have never been a morning person as my mom would attest, so it made me feel good to counter that. It felt good that there were only 5 of us on any given day that came in to work out that early. It also felt good to run on the treadmill or elliptical for 45 minutes until I was drenched in sweat & my legs shook with exhaustion, then head home to shower. Working out in the morning gives me boundless energy to attack the day... Until right about 3:00, when the lack of sleep & after-lunch coma set in. Least favorite time on a weekday? 3:00.*

*Since November, I gave up the early schedule in favor of cozying up in a warm bed for an extra hour in the morning. I go to the gym--and fight the crowds--after work instead.

Hangin' with the kitties
I love weekend mornings when I have no early plans & can spend a little extra time wrapped up in the covers with a kitty on each side of me, or maybe on top of my chest, inches from my face & purring, eyes closed. The dogs don't sleep on the bed, so this is their time. (Until Aki's wake-up call, at least!)

My Furry Soulmate

   Gypsy has always had an extra-super-special bond with me. I love all my pets of course, but I can't even begin to imagine loving anything more than my Gyp. I'm going to spend every day praying that she's with me as long as possible, and cuddling her and spoiling her like every pet deserves to be.
   I feel sorry for people who never allow themselves to experience this kind of bond with their pets. I am lucky to come home every day to my zoo; Gypsy jumps in my lap, and I lead the dogs in a group howling session. Crazy? Maybe. Happy? Absolutely. :)

Quick on the Draw

   I drew this as I was bounced back and forth between Hallmark's tech support provider and their Mobile Connect provider, trying to get an answer to what *SHOULD* have been a very simple question. An hour later I still didn't know with certainty, but I was done. For now. And all this for the pleasure of paying for my own device from now on. Yay.

   And I drew this as I was talking to my Mom; I called to get her advice on "go to urgent care, or no?" since my legs, ankles and feet are pretty much covered with red bumps that itch more than the itchiest thing you can imagine x 1000. I've been up most of the night for three nights straight. Granted, she was just trying to help me problem-solve, but she asked if my pets have fleas. You can see how kindly my pets took to the implication: