tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113047842024-03-07T01:10:17.526-08:00Zoe Tales8 years ago my sister suggested I find a way to publish the amusing emails I sent her about our dog Zoe. Now there is blogging! Zoe tales are about Zoe (3 1/2 lb Chihuahua), Gracie (bigger and the world's friendliest Chihuahua) and other stuff I am thinking about. Enjoy!Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-62167410251031195272008-11-09T11:37:00.000-08:002008-11-09T11:44:18.425-08:00Chihuahuas 101From Animal Planet's Dogs 101 series, <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/tv/dogs-101/video/video.html?playerId=1827990420&titleId=1847356164">Chihuahuas</a>!<br /><br />And note to Discovery - make your videos embeddable. Readers who have the option of just watching the adorable dogs running around and learning all the cool and important fun facts about the breed would more likely watch the video here and get turned on to the series than clicking through.<br /><br />Anyhow - though I doubt anyone reads this sadly neglected blog anymore - if you see this post, click. Cool series, great video, watch the Chihuahuas and then go find other breeds you like.Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-68434437685922142702008-01-01T16:08:00.000-08:002008-01-01T16:32:45.278-08:00Hello World, There's A Song That I'm Singing<i>C'mon Get Happy!</i> - The Partridge Family<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/40egogo4kcY&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/40egogo4kcY&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />It's New Year's Day and I'm not making resolutions. I'm also not making goals. I looked back on the last set of New Year's goals I wrote two years ago and I achieved only one. It was important. The rest weren't achieved because my priorities and perspectives shifted throughout the years. Life happens, things change.<br /><br />Last year I started trying the practice of choosing a word to focus on and to provide a theme and touchstone throughout the year. <a href="http://christinekane.com/blog/resolution-revolution-a-better-way-to-start-your-year/">Christine Kane</a> has a fabulous explanation of this practice. Unsurprisingly (if you know me) I couldn't choose just one word. So last year I had three:<br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Effortlessness</span> defined as "in its own perfect time" and which requires trust</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fearless</span> which equals love</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Authentic</span> which requires honesty</li></ul><br />2007 was in some ways was a very difficult year for me, chief among which was because of <a href="http://mariax.vox.com/library/post/rest-peacefully-my-dear-sweet-girl.html">the death of my dog Zoe</a>. However, I begin 2008 with nothing but love for my life in 2007. I learned much and transformed my life in some subtle ways and have realized that I am happy.<br /><br /><i>For those who had a notion, a notion deep inside/that it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive</i> - Bruce Springsteen "Badlands"<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xemgC81-5Uo&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xemgC81-5Uo&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />However that's not to say that I have nothing left to learn or ways in which to grow or that my life cannot continue to improve. So for 2008 I'm choosing a new theme and focus (without leaving behind my words for 2007, rather seeing them as more fully incorporated). <br /><br />About a month ago I started the <a href="http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/">Complaint Free World Challenge</a> and I'll continue until I reach 21 days free of complaints, criticisms and gossip.<br /><br />I also learned something about myself because I opened myself up to hearing an important message. Although I'm pretty good at living life I have a tendency to stop and look back and get stuck analyzing and examining the past. The analogy was presented to me as climbing a ladder and when I look up and climb (towards God, towards my highest and best self, towards the future) that ladder is golden. So in 2008 my theme will be to "<span style="font-weight: bold;">keep climbing</span>" and <i>living my life like it's golden</i>...<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DQdmrFrM5lE&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DQdmrFrM5lE&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Cross Posted at <a href="http://mariax.vox.com/library/post/hello-world-theres-a-song-that-im-singing.html">Beyond Help</a> and <a href="http://consumerpop.typepad.com/popconsumer/2008/01/hello-world-the.html">Pop Consumer</a>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-51951840866137966272007-07-22T15:04:00.000-07:002007-07-22T16:17:39.556-07:00Rest Peacefully My Dear Sweet Girl<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfSvbS-7L3nxY08_kMA3rXbC8FKAavXVSSY4_Ih1ebmsmukdfy2sa7KZMc8epAa7T1QJ4UbMzl7YstvFkPvF7qv7rt8ZH3vbWO-axcMx0ThTa9dwj4vTQ2UZsYKLGgMWRSB96/s1600-h/Zoe.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfSvbS-7L3nxY08_kMA3rXbC8FKAavXVSSY4_Ih1ebmsmukdfy2sa7KZMc8epAa7T1QJ4UbMzl7YstvFkPvF7qv7rt8ZH3vbWO-axcMx0ThTa9dwj4vTQ2UZsYKLGgMWRSB96/s320/Zoe.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090163335092334578" border="0" /></a><br />Zoe<br />5/23/1994 - 7/16/2007<br /></div><br /><br />On the morning of July 16, 2007, Zoe left this life. Her heart finally got too big for her body to hold. I think the irony is poetic - she had to leave because this world got too small for the bigness of her heart. There are many stories I want to tell and are a part of this journey - stories I have been meaning to blog but have not and will retroactively - but this is my testament to her spirit and an expression of my grief, my love and my gratitude.<br /><br />I am human and I am selfish. Although Zoe's health was not optimal this past year and her death was therefore not a surprise it was still a shock and emotionally devastating. Although I am grateful for this past year with her, I still wanted her to live forever. And, knowing that is not possible, my heart still stubbornly clung to the hope she would make it to the upper end of a Chihuahua's life expectancy even though my head knew I should consider it a gift of God's Grace that she lived for 13 years and that I got to spend most of those years with her.<br /><br />I have had to pass through the stages of grief out of order. We were on a business trip at the time and I had to go to work a few hours after she died in my arms. Zoe was so stoic through her pain and I could be, too. I've cried some but too quickly dried my eyes and put in drops to make the red and the swelling go away. I have unpacked her things and put them away and I'll donate the medicine I refilled and food I purchased on faith just before she died. I've left her monogrammed pocked bed that she loved a giant hole into for Gracie to sleep on. Gracie looks for her but has after a few days learned that she no longer must wait for Zoe to be fed before she can eat. We all mourn in our own way and in our own time. :^)<br /><br />I wonder if I will be hit with a wave of weeping and, if so, I hope it's not at the BlogHer Conference. If it is, please understand. And I will still need a hug - I haven't had enough.<br /><br />The story of love is not of mine for Zoe, it is of Zoe's for me. I am humbled that she chose me as her favorite human. Zoe has always been a one human, pack of two, dog. She was my sister's dog until I willed her to allow Zoe to live with me instead. At first, for a long time, months if not years, Zoe waited patiently for my sister to return. After a couple of years there came a time when I realized that finally Zoe loved me best. Imagine that a creature who is utterly dependent on the kindness of humans for its survival decides that you are the best human on the planet and they give you all the love they have without judgment or reservation to the point of being unwilling to die if you are not there. I am a better human for wanting and trying to be worthy of such an awesome love.<br /><br />I was not the only one who recognized that Zoe was special. So often people would tell me that although they didn't like dogs or little dogs or Chihuahuas Zoe was different. Because of her ability to bore into you and touch your soul with those giant brown eyes of hers. Because of the way she would shyly wait for Gracie's exuberance to die down and allow her to sidle up to someone for a pat. Because of the way she would cuddle up on your lap and defend you, any one of you, from an infidel who, by reaching for Zoe, might dare breach your personal space or attempt to take away from your cuddle time by growling or snapping at them.<br /><br />And so I am grateful. Grateful for Zoe's life. Grateful for the lessons she taught me. Grateful for the comfort her presence in our pack brought to Gracie. Grateful for the time I had with her. Grateful to all the kindness shown to her by friends, family, neighbors and BlogHer conference goers. Grateful to her veterinarians who took such amazing and loving care of her. Grateful that she passed on her own before the vet could administer the shot I had made the necessary decision to give her. Grateful for the comfort of knowing that it was time for her to go, that she is no longer suffering or in pain and that she was able to hang on until she was in my arms safe and knowing it was OK for her to go.Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1170209630358627042007-01-30T18:11:00.000-08:002007-01-30T18:13:50.360-08:00We're still around!Hey Zoe fans - we're still around! We'll be back here someday but in the meantime come check us out at the new blog party hangout - Vox!<br /><br /><a href="http://mariax.vox.com">Beyond Help</a>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1157936317215933962006-09-10T17:58:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:39:20.136-08:009/11 - Happy Birthday, Poppy Rose<p>This year, September 11 would have been my grandfather's 100th birthday. </p><br /><p><a href="http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/AAMLO/collection.html">Joshua Rose</a> was the first African-American City Council Member in Oakland, California. Prior to that he established the Negro YMCA in Oakland.</p><br /><p>He loved playing golf, eating peanut brittle and<a href="http://socrates.berkeley.edu/%7Eafricam/diaspora/f97.pdf#search=%22virginia%20rose%20ellen%20craft%22"> my grandmother</a>. He took me to A's and Raiders games when I was a kid.</p><br /><p>Today we celebrated his life and my grandmother's 93rd birthday. I'm glad to have some happy memories to hold tomorrow along with the sad ones.</p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 136); text-align: right;"><small><em>Powered by</em> <a href="http://www.qumana.com/">Qumana</a></small></p>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1154464327047826412006-08-01T13:32:00.000-07:002006-08-08T23:51:03.843-07:00BlogHer '06 - Identity and Obligation Thanks and Other Shout Outs *Updated*<p>My primary experience of the conference content was as moderator of the <a href="http://blogher.org/node/7922">Identity and Obligation</a> panel. I was able to catch bits of some other sessions but mine was the only one where I saw the whole thing. :-)</p><br /><p>I've attempted to make my rounds around the blogosphere to leave thank you comments, and I will continue to do so. But let me try to call out those to whom I owe particular thanks.</p><br /><p>I have undying gratitude to the panelists - <a href="http://balefulregards.blogspot.com/">Dawn Rouse</a> (the microphone master), <a href="http://www.chookooloonks.com/chookooloonks/">Karen Walrond</a>, <a href="http://www.addictedtorace.com/">Carmen Van Kerchove</a>, and <a href="http://latinalista.blogspot.com/">Marisa Trevino</a>. I moderate for a living and working with this dream team was effortless. I just had to be the designated loud mouth.</p><br /><p>Thank you to <a href="http://blogher.org/blog/elisa-camahort">Elisa Camahort</a> for pulling together such a stellar group of women on this panel and for honoring me by asking me to moderate.</p><br /><p>The session was special not just because of the amazing women surrounding me but because of the equally amazing group of people both in the room and participating virtually. <a href="http://www.recoveryvehicle.us/blog/">Kirk</a> recorded the session, <a href="http://farahssowaleef.blogspot.com/2006/07/identityand-obligations.html">Farah</a>, <a href="http://www.christine.net/2006/07/facing_challeng.html">Christine</a>, <a href="http://www.lynnedjohnson.com/diary/live_blogging_identity_and_obligations/">Lynne</a> and <a href="http://www.secondhandkarl.com/2006/07/blogher_06_iden.html">Karl</a> live blogged it. Keep your eye on Amy Gahran's <a href="http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/blogher06">Wiki</a> for additions. <a href="http://flamingohouse.blogs.com/daily_dose_of_denise/">Denise</a> and <a href="http://blogher.org/node/8287">Jeneane</a> chatted it. And <a href="http://phatmommy.com/2006/07/29/blogher-in-spirit-topics-for-saturday/#comments">PHAT Mommy</a> led the BlogHers in spirit - check the comments for links to those who played the home version.</p><br /><br /><p>Updated to add: Liz Henry has an <a href="http://liz-henry.blogspot.com/2006/08/identity-and-obligation-panel-blogher.html">amazing liveblog</a> of the session. Go read it now. I'll be waiting.</p><br /><br /><p>I'm going to try and make another post later where I will attempt to give a shout out to everyone I managed to meet, speak with, glimpse and give you a virtual squeal and hug if I didn't get to in person. As volunteer to help organize the conference I didn't really get to attend or participate - I got to be the hard ass at the registration table and the whipping girl for all the sponsors and attendees who for whatever reason felt that we didn't supply the experience they imagined they would have or, worse yet, imagined they were promised and for the hotel employees who insisted that we never asked for things that we had planned for and asked for for months.</p><br /><p>Don't get me wrong - for the most part attendees, sponsors and hotel staff were lovely, appreciative and flexible. But I'm still, days later, having a particularly difficult time processing all the negativity I'm seeing expressed about the conference. In particular, I resent the implicit assumption in many of the posts and chatter that the organizers (including me) were unconscious to or uncaring about or did not plan for various aspects of the conference. Also, I'm bugged by the implicit suggestions that conference attendees (or non-attendees) have no agency or responsibility in how they experience or perceived the conference. </p><br /><p>So, I have to give a very special shout out to the group of women who were subjected to my bitter, fried brain ranting on Saturday night and who did not slap me upside the head even though I am sure they wanted to because, hell, I wanted to slap me. xoxo to <a href="http://annetteonculture.blogspot.com/">Annette John-Hall</a>, <a href="http://www.tiffanybbrown.com/">Tiffany Brown</a>, <a href="http://outonthestoop.blogspot.com/">Gena Haskett</a> and <a href="http://menstrualmaven.blogspot.com/">Tarita Thomas</a> for allowing me to vent and promising me some specific suggestions. Much love, sisters.</p><br /><p>Cross posted at <a href="http://www.consumerpop.typepad.com/fizz">Fizz</a>.</p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 136); text-align: right;"><small><em>Powered by</em> <a href="http://www.qumana.com/">Qumana</a></small><small>Tags: <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/BlogHer">BlogHer</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/BlogHer06">BlogHer06</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Identity+and+Obligation">Identity and Obligation</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Dawn+Rouse">Dawn Rouse</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Karen+Walrond">Karen Walrond</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Carmen+Van+Kerchove">Carmen Van Kerchove</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Marisa+Trevino">Marisa Trevino</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Elisa+Camahort">Elisa Camahort</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kirk+Brooks">Kirk Brooks</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Farah+Sowaleef">Farah Sowaleef</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christine+Herron">Christine Herron</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Lynne+D.+Johnson">Lynne D. Johnson</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Amy+Gahran">Amy Gahran</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Karl+Erikson">Karl Erikson</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Daily+Dose+of+Denise">Daily Dose of Denise</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jeneane+Sessum">Jeneane Sessum</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/PHAT+Mommy">PHAT Mommy</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Liz+Henry">Liz Henry</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Annette+John-Hall">Annette John-Hall</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tiffany+B.+Brown">Tiffany B. Brown</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Gena+Haskette">Gena Haskette</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tarita+Thomas">Tarita Thomas</a></small></p>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1149277852693846822006-06-02T12:41:00.000-07:002006-06-02T12:50:52.730-07:00Chihuahua RacingThis is hilarious.<br /><br />Petco is putting on <a href="http://www.petco.com/Content/Content.aspx?PC=petcounleashed&Nav=1">Unleashed: The 2nd Annual National Chihuahua Races</a>.<br /><br />KTVU the local Fox affiliate put on their own mini race this morning as part of a story on the San Francisco trials which are going on tomorrow (actually in Santa Rosa, not San Francisco).<br /><br />The anchors and the traffic guy all had tears streaming down their faces at the sheer absurdity of the whole thing and the traffic guy even said he wanted to get a Chi now because they seem like so much fun. They are, dude, they are!<br /><br />Check out the <a href="http://www.ktvu.com/video/9312266/detail.html#">video clip</a> and see why Chihuahuas are so much fun - once they are out of the gates they run back to the gates to see their people or they wander over to say "Hi!" to the other Chis and people. The only one who ran to the end (only on his second try) had another person at the other end. Too funny.Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1149134434041980792006-05-31T21:00:00.000-07:002006-05-31T21:17:35.973-07:00Hey, I'm rich and white, now!<p class="posted"><strong>Jory Des Jardins</strong>, BlogHer co-founder, my neighbor and supremely fabulous blogger at <a href="http://www.jorydesjardins.com/pause/">Pause</a>, was interviewed at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-shaw/women-and-blogging-my-co_b_21910.html">The Huffington Post</a> recently. The expanded <a href="http://www.blogher.org">BlogHer</a> website and organization has been getting some wonderful, positive reaction and a fair bit of negative, knee-jerk backlash (generally along the lines of ... it's by and for women, so even though men are welcome, it must be whiny and sexist.) I've got to say, though, that some of the commentors to Jory's interview blew me away by their complete lack of taking even the most cursory of looks at BlogHer before launching their attacks.</p>Especially this one from "netparrot"<br /><p style="font-style: italic;" class="posted">Oh thank goodness - I was worried that rich, white, liberal women weren't adequately represented online (*cough*HUFFINGTON*cough*), so thank goodness BlogHer stepped into the void. Especially since sites like TypePad and Blogger.com like, so totally exclude women! Well, they don't actually, but you know, since their URLs have no feminine pronouns in their domain names, so that won't do.<br /><br />Of course, I'm simply aghast at the lack of black and latino voices on BlogHer, so it's time to balkanize again.</p><span style="font-style: italic;">By: netparrot on May 31, 2006 at 05:59am</span><br /><p>I suspect that, in addition to me, some of the women* who are Contributing Editors, Conference Speakers, or who are on either the Conference Team or Advisory Board will be stunned to find out that they are white and/or liberal and I would be willing to bet that any woman involved in BlogHer would like to know how netparrot knows anything about their finances, let alone knows whether or not they are rich. If you think Arianna's voice somehow doesn't count because she is rich,white and liberal, then what are you doing over there supporting her blog by commenting and not starting your own non-white, non-rich, non-liberal male blogging community? (Perhaps there are not enough poor, non-white, conservative male bloggers to put on a show?)</p>*Charlene Li, LaShawn Barber, Liza Sabater (whom Jory specifically mentioned), Marian Douglas, Nichelle Stephens, Lynne D. Johnson, Tiffany Brown, Trisha Okubo, Zadi Diaz, Kim Pearson, Laina Dawes, Danielle Henderson, Karen Walrond, Liz Henry, Desigal and LDW, plus I'm sure I've missed others.<br /><p>If you are coming to Day 2 of BlogHerCon '06 check out the panel I'm moderating on <a href="http://workerbees.typepad.com/BlogHer06DayTwo_WEB.html">"Identity and Obligation"</a> where we will discuss issues around identity and blogging.</p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 136); text-align: right;"><small><em>Powered by</em> <a href="http://www.qumana.com/">Qumana</a></small></p>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1141442862770843932006-03-03T19:27:00.000-08:002006-03-03T19:27:42.776-08:00Why I was a Ph.D. dropout<DIV>In part, because of the very painful, peculiar and pompous writing style that you engage in that only other PhDs will ever read. </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Plus, you virtually always have to "revise and re-submit" so you have to spend a ridiculously long time torturing yourself before you get finally get to enjoy inflicting agony and suffering on the dorks that actually read the nonsensical crap that you've managed to get published. Don't get me wrong - there are many brilliant academics in many fields that are doing great work and advancing not just their fields but the whole of human knowledge. Nevertheless, there's a lot of incomprehensible silliness between the covers of many an academic journal.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Here is a parody of academic writing in the form of a critical analysis of Dr. Seuss' <EM>Green Eggs and Ham</EM>.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV><A href="http://lanfiles.williams.edu/~mlynch/mlynch/177.PDF">Read it and weep</A>. Then applaud my good sense for fleeing! </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Hat tip to <A href="http://www.danieldrezner.com/archives/002610.html">Daniel Drezner</A> for the link.</DIV>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1141155073254912042006-02-28T11:31:00.000-08:002006-02-28T11:31:19.800-08:00I have the best BFFs<DIV><FONT size=2>"If anyone knows how wonderful it is to have entertaining friends, it's you. You've spent a whole lot of time cultivating just such a crew, and you don't take their affection lightly. You also don't invite someone into that circle without considering how their company will add to it, or how the existing members will take to them. So now that you're ready to 'open the books,' be sure someone lets this fortunate newcomer know just how special the invitation really is."</FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV><DIV><FONT size=2>This is my horoscope from My Yahoo! today. I don't know that it's much of a horoscope. I mean, why aren't I going on a journey or meeting a tall, dark and handsome stranger? But it is true that I have some high standards about who I am friends with. I'm a snob. There, I said it.</FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV><DIV><FONT size=2>Frankly, I don't know that I'd make the cut for being friends with me. Which is why I'm always supremely flattered when the bloggers I stalk give me shout outs on their blog, and better yet they sometimes let me stalk them offline, too! Not only is it pretty much the only way I get traffic (my one faithful reader - my sister- asked me for this blog's URL recently - I mean just because I didn't post for 6 months you stop visiting? Really? WTF?!?) but I only stalk the really cool kids so it's like totally awesome when they send me the linky love.</FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV><DIV><FONT size=2>So I don't know who the fabulous person it is to whom I'm about to "open the books." My circles are so spread out across the country these days I count the years between seeing most of them in person and the visits are generally discreet, with one or two - not in circles. Damn, I miss the chance to twirl in circles. But anyhoo - if you're the lucky guy or gal the stars say are about to not only have the pleasure of my fabulous friendship, count your blessings that you are going to get an invitation to join my crew and that's really going to rock your world.</FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV><DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV><DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV><DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1140929094669259132006-02-25T20:44:00.000-08:002006-02-25T20:44:54.700-08:00R.I.P. Mama Kitty<DIV>My sister convened a family meeting this morning to discuss how to celebrate my mother's birthday. I arrived to learn that Mama Kitty - the original feral cat, and mother and grandmother to the brood that my sister and her partner care for in their backyard - leader of the "backyard babies" had died. She was probably hit by a car, which is sad, but she had a much better life and avoided that fate for years because of the fixin' and care given to her by the new owner of the house attached to the backyard that she had claimed as home.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Mama kitty was curiously small - much smaller than her children and grandchildren. And had the wisdom of age and life on the streets. She was the only one that wasn't freaked by Zoe's presence and Zoe respected her quiet authority. </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Here is a <A href="http://zoetales.blogspot.com/2005/05/comment-so-good.html">link </A>to a story from my sister which includes the tale of when Mama Kitty met Zoe.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Rest peacefully Mama Kitty.</DIV>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1139610769070903682006-02-10T14:32:00.000-08:002006-02-10T14:32:49.116-08:00Spring is in the Air<DIV>Envy me. It's been in the 70's all week, sunny, gorgeous, clear - I can actually peek at the Bay - and flowers are blooming. There are cherry blossoms, camellias, cala lilies, daffodils and some beautiful and enormously fragrant white flower I discovered yesterday on the next block over while a was walking the dogs. Now with all these blooms busting out all over you'd think the air around here would smell like perfume. But no, it smells like skunk. And now I know why.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>It turns out that it's skunk mating season and when the boy skunks come a callin' the girl skunks are not only picky but they indicate their rejection of potential suitors by dousing them with stinky skunk spray. </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>And I am happy to know that I have until April to enjoy this charming aroma. Oh, joy.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/08/HOG0KH3CT91.DTL&hw=skunks&sn=001&sc=1000">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/08/HOG0KH3CT91.DTL&hw=skunks&sn=001&sc=1000</a></DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV align=right><FONT FACE="VERDANA" COLOR="#000080" size=1><I>Powered By <A HREF="http://www.qumana.com" TARGET="_blank">Qumana</A></I></FONT></DIV>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1139293059543783372006-02-06T22:17:00.000-08:002006-02-06T22:17:39.616-08:00Favorite New Finds<DIV>I am so going to have to figure out how to add Flickr photos to this blog. I've never used Flickr or found out what it is all about. But I found this stream of pictures <A href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anne516/95224509/in/pool-52241959321@N01/">My Chihuahua is Cuter than Your Chihuahua.</A> that is motivating me to learn all about it.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Also, I discovered a blog that reviews much of the same impulsively purchased food items as I often enjoy and occasionally mention here. Check out <A href="http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/">The Impulsive Buy</A>.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV align=right><FONT FACE="VERDANA" COLOR="#000080" size=1><I>Powered By <A HREF="http://www.qumana.com" TARGET="_blank">Qumana</A></I></FONT></DIV>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1138863811684499032006-02-01T23:03:00.000-08:002006-02-01T23:03:31.716-08:00Message from the Universe - Must. Blog. More.<DIV><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I get this daily horoscope email (for entertainment purposes only, of course) that I love for the occasionally wacky and/or scarily accurate readings. The one for tomorrow (Feb 02, 2006) is more like a giant wack on the head from the universe that I interpret as saying: "Wag - get your ass in gear and actually post to your blog once in a while, girl! It will be all good."</P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">"Are you an intellectual or a poet, WAG, a novelist or a play-write? The celestial energy is leaving you alone with your anxieties and questions. You are sure of only one thing: words are the friends you have decided to spend the rest of your life with. This is a kind of dream and a challenge that corresponds well to your sign as a Gemini. Get to work. You will find your vocation as well as your passion in your writing."</P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">from astrocenter.com</P></DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV align=right><FONT FACE="VERDANA" COLOR="#000080" size=1><I>Powered By <A HREF="http://www.qumana.com" TARGET="_blank">Qumana</A></I></FONT></DIV>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1138690771827625142006-01-30T22:59:00.000-08:002006-01-30T22:59:31.833-08:00A Virtual Toast<DIV>Today the fabulous new <A href="http://blogher.org">BlogHer</A> site launched. The new site has amazing guides to all that is blogging goodness by BlogHers across the internets. The ladies celebrated tonight in the city by the bay, but I couldn't join them 'cause I feel crappy due to being under caffinated - if I don't get my precise morning dose of coffee I get messed up for days. But I raise a toast from across the bay to all the BlogHers but especially <A href="http://www.pingv.com/">Laura Scott </A>and <A href="http://surfette.typepad.com/">Lisa Stone </A>for the amazing effort they've made to get the site up and running.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV align=right><FONT FACE="VERDANA" COLOR="#000080" size=1><I>Powered By <A HREF="http://www.qumana.com" TARGET="_blank">Qumana</A></I></FONT></DIV>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1138662057345198882006-01-30T15:00:00.000-08:002006-01-30T15:00:57.376-08:00Learning to Blog<DIV>I'm trying to learn how to blog better and more efficiently. I need and want to keep up with my blogging more but it's getting harder as I'm now on three different platforms! So apologies for the meta post and thanks for being my guinea pigs for this post editor service called Qumana. </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV align=right><FONT FACE="VERDANA" COLOR="#000080" size=1><I>Powered By <A HREF="http://www.qumana.com" TARGET="_blank">Qumana</A></I></FONT></DIV>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1136530594803376772006-01-05T22:34:00.000-08:002006-01-05T22:56:34.833-08:00Dancing With The Stars - Random ThoughtsNot a recap, just a couple of disconnected random thoughts...<br /><br />Still fun but not as instantly addictive as when it appeared as a wonderful frothy summer re-run alternative.<br /><br />Jerry Rice was wiggle-iscious unlike the new Jell-O commercials which, although I applaud their freshness, for some reason I find kind of hinky and they give me a little shudder.<br /><br />Tia Carrere is perhaps the most naturally beautiful human I've ever seen. She used to come into the Beverly Hills Starbucks that I worked at during college and without makeup she was just stunning. It was fun to watch the guys in line behind her drool hopelessly. She was enough of a regular that she got a knowing "hey" when she ordered. Thus, one time a gentlemen asked me who she was (because he figured I knew her from the knowing "hey" not because he recognized her as the schwing! inducing babe from Wayne's World.) so that he could ask her out. I took a bit of schadenfreudey delight in letting him know that she was a married lady while secretly smirking that he had no idea just how out of his league he was.Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1134072115263721592005-12-08T12:01:00.000-08:002005-12-08T12:01:55.263-08:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/44/4564/640/DSC00008.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/44/4564/200/DSC00008.jpg'></a><br />Zoe & GracieWaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1134069266878997942005-12-08T11:10:00.000-08:002005-12-08T11:44:16.710-08:00Neighborhood WatchLet me kick off our return with a Zoe Tale...<br /><br />So my sister, the original Zoe Tale champion asked what Zoe's return to the "<a href="http://zoetales.blogspot.com/2005/03/original-zoe-tale.html" target="_blank">scene of the crime</a>" was like. Although Zoe did not chase off any neighbors during our recent stay at my mother's house, she did remain vigilant in patrolling the neighborhood during our daily walks.<br /><br />For example, one day <a href="http://zoetales.blogspot.com/2005/04/zoe-front.html" target="_blank">Zoe</a> and <a href="http://zoetales.blogspot.com/2005/04/gracie-side.html" target="_blank">Gracie</a> both decided to confront a neighborhood interloper. A young man turned down our street while walking his leashed dog. Unfortunately this was a new young man and new dog we had not previously encountered. Therefore they needed to be warned that this was Zoe's hood. Let me remind you that Zoe is a little over 3 pounds which apparently is not a concept that her Chihuahua brain can comprehend. This same brain compelled Zoe to rush out to greet the new dog and let it know what's what. You can probably guess the punchline - yes, it was a Pit Bull that received the growling and yapping greeting of two deranged Chihuahuas. Fortunately for us all the Pit Bull was beautifully mannered and fully under the control of it's young walker. They both stood there looking a bit confused by the insane toy dog posse and then just calmly walked away once I had pulled off the viscous beasties.<br /><br />Zoe, however, saved her true wrath and thunder for the real threats to the neighborhood - not elderly power walkers, not pitbulls, not tree stumps, but rather the ominous neighborhood evildoer - the brick on the tree stump.<br /><br />Yes, the brick on the tree stump was spotted one lovely late summer morning on our street. And Zoe would have none of it. Zoe strained mightily at the end of her leash as she lunged, barked incessantly and sought to single pawedly rid our block of hell-on-earth that nasty brick was plotting to unleash. Why, you might ask, did nobody else recognize this obvious threat? Such is the mystery and power of Zoe and why I tell her tales. Just as the elderly morning walkers never returned after being on the receiving end of the wrath of Zoe, the brick never reappeared on the tree stump or dared to show it's evil face on our block again. And my mother's neighbors rested well and easy for the remainder of our stay.Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1134069040873533462005-12-08T11:07:00.000-08:002005-12-08T11:10:40.886-08:00We're Back!Howdy! Wag, Zoe and Gracie are back on the blog. Sorry we have been gone longer than anticipated but life got in the way. We are finally starting to get settled into our new Oakland home and have everything up and running.Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1123102360438749852005-08-03T12:03:00.000-07:002005-08-03T13:52:40.460-07:00Bite Sized BlogHer Bites (BSBHB)I'm going to try posting my BlogHer reflections in small, roughly chronological posts in hopes of getting it all out. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll give you much in the way of thoughtful, in-depth analysis a la <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/elisa_camahort/iblog/C788295036/E20050731102531/index.html" target="_blank">Nancy White</a> and per <a href="http://www.thevisionthing.com/index.php?p=693" target="_blank">Ethan's request</a>. But, hopefully you'll feel some of the love and awesomeness (sorry - couldn't resist!)<br /><br />It all started with my stalking of <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/elisa_camahort/iblog/" target="_blank">Elisa</a>. Check the archives here - you'll see my many links to her! :-) She invited me to consider attending BlogHer and I volunteered to help with the conference if I could. So I wound up planning the Friday activities - which was an absolute blast for me. I felt so useful!<br /><br />Pre-Friday I spent a few hours helping out the magnificent three - <a href="http://workerbeesblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Elisa</a>, <a href="http://www.jorydesjardins.com/" target="_blank">Jory</a> (who ignored my stalking - but couldn't escape) and <a href="http://surfette.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Lisa</a> (who foolishly agreed to allow me to now stalk her as well) - stuffing binders for BlogHer. Sadly, I had to depart early to go liberate Zoe and Gracie from the confines of my mother's kitchen. But lesson for everyone - if you can be involved <em>in any way</em> in the next BlogHer - attending, volunteering, live blogging, proposing a room of your own, participating in the online chats, or even just commenting on the <a href="http://www.blogher.org/" target="_blank">BlogHer</a> blog - do it! It is rewarding beyond belief and any chance to learn from the magnificent project that is do-ocracy will benefit you far more than it might cost you in time, effort or dollars.<br /><br />At the stuffing soiree I had the magnificent pleasure of meeting <a href="http://www.themommyblog.com/" target="_blank">Mindy</a>. Mindy has <em>the</em> "mommy blog" which I wasn't aware of since I never paid much attention to such blogs because I thought they weren't relevant to me. Oh how very wrong I was. As I realized when I looked at Mindy's blog (which I had to immediately check out since, as a friend of mine always says, Mindy is a hoot and a half) I started realizing that a mommy blog is just the blog of a person who may or may not be interesting. Mindy is helluv interesting. Meeting and listening to the mommy bloggers (MBs) at BlogHer reinforced that - and trust me, they are all completely fascinating, and as <a href="http://www.blackphoebe.com/msjen/archives/2005/07/blogher__words.html" target="_blank">Ms. Jen</a> points out - party like rock stars. Besides, as <a href="http://www.threekidcircus.com/threekidcircus/" target="_blank">Jenny</a> pointed out - I'm a MB too - my kids just have fur!<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blogher" rel="tag">blogher</a>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1122928737425438342005-08-01T13:37:00.000-07:002005-08-01T13:38:57.433-07:00BlogHer Rocked!So I'll post a really long post about how much BlogHer rocked and how excited I was to meet and glimpse several of my blog crushes and find so many more. I'm still coming down from the high. But, as the previous post notes - dial up ain't no fun and I tried to quickly check out some of the blogs from the 5 pages of notes I took but I'm having trouble even getting them to load and display on this computer. I've spent too much time and I've got to get back to the housing postings at Craigslist. :-)<br /><br />But - for now a giant shout out to everyone at BlogHer - it was awesome!Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1122269994154789442005-07-24T22:38:00.000-07:002005-07-24T22:39:54.163-07:00JugglingWhen I was a kid, I, like many kids, tried to teach myself how to juggle. I managed to learn how to successfully juggle two balls but not three. And now, as an adult, substitute life for balls.<br /><br />I am always immensely relieved when I read one of those articles that tells us (now!) that we humans aren't cut out for multi-tasking. I'm so glad it's not just me!<br /><br />So life has given me too many balls and my blogging is suffering for it. Consider my infrequent posts a hiatus (like when your favorite TV shows disappear for the summer - I like to think that my life makes a great dramady.)<br /><br />I am semi-homeless at the moment having sold my house and, not having found a decent place to rent in its place, am sleeping on my mother's sofa (as Zoe and Gracie are not allowed in the guest room - Grandma's got no love for her fur grandbabies) and working on her dial-up connection. Sad (?) commentary on modern life that the thing I miss the most about my home is my broadband connection.<br /><br />Anyhoo - since it takes virtually all my precious time when I am not out looking at rentals and when I am tying up my mother's phone line to check Craigslist and my 5 email accounts - logging in and blogging about my life is low on the list. Plus - I've got no digital cable, no On Demand, no HBO, no Replay TV and the aforementioned no broadband (so no keeping up with the 75 or so blogs I read.) So basically I am cut off from all sources of input for my random musings. And I'm too gosh darn tired to give a fig about my life so I can't imagine I could write anything that would remotely interest or amuse all y'all.<br /><br />So - sporadic posts will be the norm until I'm settled. Keep me in your aggregator - I'll be back.<br /><br />Love,<br />WagWaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1120541256272599542005-07-04T22:15:00.000-07:002005-07-04T22:27:36.276-07:00Hey Baby - it's the 4th of July~X~ rocks!<br /><br />I listened to the Live 105 top American Rock Icons special all day and night today - very interesting. Lots to quibble with but it was unmoderated - based on listener votes. You know Kurt Cobain was going to be number one and he was but lots of varied choices all around and from all variations of "rock" from pop (Frank Sinatra) to classic (Hendrix) to R&B (Al Green) to funk (George Clinton) to Hip Hop (eminem, Beasties [forget who they chose as the "icon"], Chuck D, Jay Z, Missy Elliot...) to Punk (lots of arguable choices) to dance (Madonna) to country (Johnny Cash) and so on. It kind of reminded me of the late, great KSAN back in the '70s when they would play literally everything - it was a huge influence on my eclectic taste in music.<br /><br />People in the neighborhood are setting off their firecrackers and the noise is freaking Gracie out on top of her already frayed nerves from all my out of the ordinary activity. She knows when something's up (like moving) and she starts following me around or hiding in corners or behind the toilet. Perhaps that's why when I tried to cut her nails the other day so she would be presentable to meet potential landlords she managed to out devil dog herself and whip her head around in a 360 degree motion, jaws snapping non-stop and the most unearthly howls coming out of her so that I couldn't even put her muzzle on, let alone cut her nails. I wrestled with her for 1 & 1/2 hours - I kid you not. I'm sure the neighbors thought either I was torturing her or performing a satanic ritual.Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11304784.post-1120540494569743792005-07-04T21:58:00.000-07:002005-07-04T22:14:54.573-07:00Still BloggingAlthough I haven't posted in a shamefully long time it's not because I have blogger's block or have decided to quit blogging - it's just a very mundane case of life getting in the way. I'm engaging in activities that I've done before - but never all at the same time so it's sapping my time and energy in a whole new way.<br /><br />I'm selling my house (but I sold it without having to show it so that mercifully saved me from spontaneous combustion like a drummer from Spinal Tap.)<br /><br />I'm looking for a new place to live - but renting instead of buying. I'm moving up to Oakland which is an hour drive at best and much longer if I don't avoid the very long rush hour windows during the week. I've realized that buying is much easier than renting in that you only talk to your agent when buying and when renting you have to tell the same story over and over to a bunch of different people which can be draining. Plus, I've got special circumstances of being newly self-employed (no current employer, no tax returns from SE yet), not having been a renter for many years so no landlord references and having two dogs. And then there is all my picky requirements built up from years of being the boss of me at least when it comes to home amenities.<br /><br />I'm preparing for a moving sale.<br /><br />I'm doing all my own packing. <br /><br />I'm trying to figure out if I should rent a truck & move stuff into storage, rent a "pod", hire movers (3 of my last 4 moves have been corporate - sweet, let me tell ya.)<br /><br />So... I actually have lots to share with you. I've decided to stop looking for rentals until after I close so I can focus on packing, moving and having a garage sale so I should be around to blog more.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hey - anyone know any good local movers (the only time I hired movers on my own I got the classic horror story rip off) or have any experience with "pod" type storage?</span>Waghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860272280545417698noreply@blogger.com0