Life Happens In Unexpected Ways

Have you ever had one of those days when you wake up feeling sorry for yourself?

That happens to me on occasion, but I have an personal agreement. When the foul mood attempts to overcome my senses, I allow for a 5 minute pity party, and then I get a firm grip on myself and start remembering all the good things I do have in my life to be thankful for.

I had such a morning two days past.  Waking up, overcome by the loneliness that I'm sure other older, single people experience, I sat in bed wondering what I'm doing with my life.

Five minutes elapsed. Begin the positive affirmations mantra.  

With a sigh, I rose from my cozy bed to seize the day. AND what a day it turned out to be.

First, I made the decision to get another breed of dog to show. I decided on Whippets which are as different from an Australian Shepherd as you can get. I called the breeder of a male I was interested to let her know that I would buy him.  
How could I resist this face?

Second, and most astounding, my daughter calls. I am going to be a grandma in October. Huzzah!  I have waited all my life to attain this status and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  My heart near bursts as I feel the love growing exponentially. I want to share my glorious news with the world, but instead I call my best friend in the world. She celebrated grandmotherhood two years ago, while I tried not to be covetous. Her grandson is beautiful.  I can see her winking and saying, "Tara needs to have a daughter now and then we can join our families!"  Ah, the plottings of two women, no longer in the bloom of youth.

The cherry on the top of my day came when the phone rang and my sister's voice came across the line.  She had flown to Houston for a job interview with Continental Airlines. They offered her the job. Hooting and hollering, we basked together in the glad tidings!

And so I conclude today's blog with.....

"My cup runneth over with joy"

The Coming Spring

Desired I, to gaze upon
the coming spring,
the first green bud.
The door, wide open I did fling
witness what Mother Nature,
today dost bring.
Once again she did prove,
merciless mistress, to taunt and tease.
Mother Nature threw back her head,
shouted "I shall do as I please!"
and then she laughed, until she cried.
Through joyous mirth fell silvered drops
to disbelief and my dismay
this is what I heard her say,
"Snap! Diana, I've changed my mind.
I'll show you my perfect day!"
© Diana 2010
 

My world through the door.

Touched by Words

I received the following email (story) this morning and with the author's permission, am posting it here.
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Once upon a time a mommy and daddy were very sad because they had very little money. All of their money was being spent on necessities and private school for their young daughter. They thought they were doing the right thing. But, because the private school had no provision for child-care during the breaks (Easter, Summer, Christmas etc) they did not have the money to hire childcare. So, their young daughter had to stay with Grandmother during those times.

In order the help their young daughter overcome some of the lonliness of those times, and to have a companion because they also lived where there were few children for her to play with, they went in search of the perfect companion.

They thought this companion would come in the form of a four legged blue merle australian shepherd furfriend. They interviewed breeders finally finding Diana Farthing.   Diana lived clear out in Romoland, CA at that time.

We drove for what seemed like days (an hour),  reaching the site we were introduced to two beautiful, clean, fresh smelling blue merle Aussies. A little girl and a little boy. The little boy only had eyes for the play yard, not engaging with us at all. The little girl was sweet but we found that she was so soft that she would not look at us, even when I held her in my arms.

Reluctant to leave Diana's without considering all options since it was a long drive, we asked her if she had anything else. She was hesitant. She relented saying something like,'well you said you didn't want a red dog. You were very certain.'  Still, what could it hurt.  She warned us that this puppy had not been bathed to be seen. We were fine with that.

We waited on the lawn. She brought out this crazy red puppy with gold eyes. From across the lawn this little dynamo ran from Diana, across the yard, into my arms - putting her puppy paws on my shoulders and kissing all over my face. It was like she said, 'I've been waiting so long for you.' and 'What took you so long?" I looked at Diana and said 'sold'.
 She rode on my lap all the way home without making a sound.
 We gave her to our daughter, Cerin, on July 4th 1996.

RIP Aladdin's Red Red Wine (aka Jazmin, Jazzy, Jazicola, Old Bat. Batty). 8 minutes ago ·
 
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This was my reply....
 
[tears rolling down cheeks] Your story and ones similiar are the reason that kept me raising puppies for all these years. I could not have wished for a better home for Jazmin. She lived a long life surrounded by the humans she loved. What more could a girl ask for?

I read a really cool saying about how each dog in our lives gives their heart to us and in return they take a piece of ours when they die. Their hope is that we will then have the heart of a dog and become all that is good in a dog.

So, although I know there is sorrow and you will miss Jazmin, you are a better human for having known her. May your dog's heart swell inside you and share the love of a dog with the world.

Big Comforting Hugs,
Diana ~ humbled by words and the dogs I love

The Bucket List

If you haven't seen this movie, then you won't understand why this bit of celluloid made such an impact on my life.

Of course, I'm not lucky enough to have a disillusioned friend with oodles of money that wants me to accompany him/her whilst we jet about the planet, checking off the items inked out on "the list".

Brief definition of Bucket List: a list of goals a person would like to accomplish before he/she "kicks the bucket".  For those of you that don't know American slang, to "kick the bucket" means to die.
Death is inevitable. Here's a line about death that amuses me...."No one gets out alive."

I realize my personal lack of funds is not justification enough to prevent me from creating my own list and prioritizing it.
I believe I've always had a list of "goals" kept in the cluttered office of my mind. Writing them down doesn't make "the list" engraved in stone, but does organize the gray matter.

What is really important to me? What have I not done yet? Does it need to be meaningful or just be done for pure joy? Should I put my list on this blog? Maybe it will be an ongoing blog as new and interesting ideas pop into my head.
One important thing about an individualized bucket list is there are no right or wrong answers.

I do like the idea of putting a check mark next to a completed event and saying "Check!" 

With that in mind, I should put the more attainable goals at the top of "the list" and hold my pen at the ready.

For now, I'll just start jotting down what is easily extracted from the gray matter, in no particular order.

Let's begin....

1. See Tara in her wedding dress standing next to her new husband, Chris.
2. Attend Westminster to watch one of my dogs compete.
3. Finish my book "Ariana" and find a way to get it published.
4. Spend the night in a European castle.
5. Wriggle my toes in the sand somewhere along the Meditteranean coast.
6. Become a granny.

to be continued.....

Farmville Addictions

Have a chuckle out of this writer....
Farmville Addiction plagues the Government
 
I'd really laugh if I didn't already know several people with the addiction. Then I tell myself behind every joke there's a moment of truth and that makes me tremble in fear.
 
At least if you have to have a game addiction...try my favorite, World of Warcraft!

Climate Change? Think I'll go get a pedicure..

49 States share a winter wonderland
As the argument over global climate change, man-made or cyclical, rages on, here in the U.S. humans have seen a winter like most have not experienced in their lifetime. Snow in 49 of the 50 states last Friday!  This winter it rained in Canada and snowed in Texas.

As a believer in living my life to see what's going to happen next, this has been a bumper crop of a year.

But, bottom line, I sure am ready for spring and in preparation of that eventuality (I hope), I think I'll go get a pedicure.

Re-evaluation

After watching the video of the Australian Shepherd breed class, I shall amend my opinion of Poppy. She is NO hyena, but a wonderful example of an Aussie bitch.  I still love her!  I thought she looked terrific even bald! Valerie is awesome!

On the other hand, I was NOT impressed by the selections made in Herding Group tonight. BAH!!!

Dealing with Dog Show Disappointment

Poppy showed today at "The Garden"...I think. I haven't heard from Valerie to get all the particulars.
what I do know...Poppy didn't win. Didn't even make the cut.

Smart Judges only choose their winners by what they have to evaluate on the day they judge. Selecting the best of the best on that day.

[please, a little cheese for the upcoming whine!]
I've come to the conclusion that showing girls at this level of competition is just too disappointing. Yes, it's true! I, the proverbial optimist, am disappointed. :-(

Poppy is hormonal right now, which not only caused her to shed out all her coat, thus giving her the look of a hyena, but also turned her into a Fruit Loop. [heavy sigh] So in all honesty, she didn't deserve to win today....and she didn't.

Mom always said, "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen". Ok Mom, you are right, I have to get over my "Pity Party".

The truth....
The dogs that won today are beautiful and deserving. Under normal conditions, Poppy is just as awesome, but this is NOT her moment to shine.

Tonight I'm going to hang out with a friend and together we will watch the Westminster Group classes on TV.  I will root for Rowan, a red tri Aussie, to win the group. I have seen this very nice male in the fur and he deserves my support. GO RED DAWG!!!

Note to self -the next dog I own that competes to this level is going to be a "knock your socks off" testosterone-toting huggy-bear Boy! [fingers-crossed]

Poppy @ Westminster AKC Show

Tomorrow, Poppy, a red merle Australian Shepherd that I have the priviledge of owning with two of my friends, will appear at Madison Square Gardens to compete at one of the most prestigious dog shows in the U.S.....NAKED!
[Gasps from the crowds]
How is this possible, you ask? It's the curse of being a female aussie. Twice a year, give or take a month or two, the "girls" remove their coats in preparation for a whirlwind romance with the "man" of their dreams. Okay, maybe not their dreams, but the dreams of their owners.

Hmmmm.... I wonder if I would attract the man of my dreams if I suddenly lost all of my hair? Uh, on second thought, I'd worry about who I would attract like that.

Back to Poppy! In the most competent hands of Valerie, who holds the other end of the leash, Poppy will show her heart out and I WILL be proud. No structural flaw will be hidden under a profuse abundance of hair. What you see is what you get.

So, with a wish thrown up into the stars, I shall wait to hear the outcome and tell myself that this is only one person's opinion if they don't choose, Miss Poppy.