Ears

Loki has great ears.  Which is how he got his name, after this Loki:

This morning in the park, he must've stood in the same spot for 10 minutes, while his ears never stopped moving.

Introducing Loki

Please meet the newest member of our family:  Loki.

We adopted Loki yesterday on the first day of the Toronto Mega Adoption Weekend Event.  It was a difficult experience.  Difficult in that there were so many dogs available for adoption - approx 70-80. All sizes and ages.  However, there were more people than Dogs so I'm confident that there will be many many forever homes found this weekend. There were also many cats and kittens. All adorable and in need of loving and caring homes.

UPDATE:  I just went to grab a link for the event and there are no Dogs left, but many Kittens, Cats, and Rabbits!  Thank goodness I took a day off work yesterday :)

We got the very best Dog for us. He is a sweetheart.  Still a bit shy, but as he cuddles, eats, and walks, his tail is starting to wag and lift up, and we've each received a few nose kisses. He is also healthy and without any behavioral issues. Bonuses are he's fixed, micro-chipped, and house trained!

When outside, he has not been spooked by traffic noise, cars, buses, people or other dogs.
His ears perk up and he takes in all the sights and sounds. He is great going downstairs but is hesitant a first to go up stairs.

There are 2 things he as not done yet. Bark or poop.  There has not been one sound out of him. No whine, whimper, or bark.  In regards to the poop, he's eating well so that's just a matter of time I'm sure.

Loki is classified as a Terrier Mix.  I would say he's more a Terrier/ Chihuahua/ Daschund mix.  There were quite a few small dogs like Loki that the Toronto Humane Society brought in from California.  They go there twice a year to rescue dogs from a kill shelter there. They say that these are perfect city apartment/condo dogs.

He is one year and one month old, and weighs about 12lbs. He's had 2 previous names.  In California, he was Bruce.  At the Toronto Humane Society, he was Brian.  Within minutes of Adam and I standing with him in line to get our Toronto Dog License, he was renamed Loki.

Loki, after The God Of Mischief.  It was his shiny black coat & amazing ears:)

Looking out the window. His ears are amazing. I need to catch a shot with them straight up.

I kept waking him up with the beep beep of the camera.

His nose and ears were working overtime on our walk this morning.

Already, in less that 24 hours, I am over the moon happy and feel so lucky to have a little four legged life in our home. This little creature has made a huge difference.

Our Timeline Has Shifted

I think of Crockett every day.  I miss him.  He was a wonderful sweet Pug.  Like every pet owner, I wish he could have lived forever, happy and healthy.

Life for me, without a Dog, is just not the same.  Some people enjoy hiking, camping, shopping, driving, gaming, baking, reading, knitting, etc. Me, I like to draw, color, paint, create things, but mostly I am a homebody who enjoys spending time with my Mr, my family, and enjoying the company of Dogs.

Dogs make my life better.  They give me something to care for.  They get me out walking, meeting neighbours, exploring the neighbourhood, and seeing things from a different perspective.

Who also doesn't love being loved unconditionally and greeted at the door with wags and kisses.

With the weather, and living in a very dog friendly neighbourhood, every time I'm outside be it 5:30am or 7:00pm, I see no less than 4 dogs with their people. It's killing me.

This weekend Adam and I may become a Dogs people.  We are going to the Toronto Mega Pet Adoption Event

It is taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Bldg at Exhibition Place.  Last year 585 Cats and Dogs were adopted.  Lovely.

It is not and will not be an easy choice.  We are leaving a lot to fate and hope that a four legged creature finds us worthy of being his/her people.

Fingers crossed and hearts ready. This video below is from last years event.

Friday May 1, 2015 This and That

Today is the last day of my Vacation, and I go back to work on Monday.  The time off has been wonderful and valuable. Today will be spent tidying my room and doing laundry, and I bought some potting soil yesterday so I need to re-pot a few plants.

I don't know what to call my room. Adam has his room which is his office/man cave.  My room, although I have my desk and laptop, doesn't feel like, nor do I want to call it my office.  We wanted to buy a nice reading chair but opted for a single bed.  Good choice as it is comfortable.  If I prop myself up in the corner it is a comfy reading place.  If I lay down, I fall asleep. Instantly.  I want a storage/bookshelf unit to replace my dresser. The dresser isn't working well for storage of my art supplies and crafty bits which is resulting in a bit too much clutter.  I want everything out of sight, neatly in its own place, and easily accessible.  After that, maybe replace my 15yr old RCA with a nice flat screen I can attach to the wall, and make some noise reducing curtains (as my windows face the busy street).  These of course are wants, not needs so the timeline is .... whenever :)  I guess my room is my sanctuary.  My little place I can just be.

I went out yesterday to pick up a few things and I purchased a new memory card for my camera as I used to see things differently when I carried my camera. I'm looking forward to getting outside more and seeing the little things Spring has to offer.

I also bought myself a new Pictura Panoramic Fold Out Coloring Book - A Stroll In London.  I'm looking forward to coloring it. Perfect stress reducing and relaxing activity.

Source

That's Nice.

I've never been one to have quotes on posters pinned to my walls, or to repeat phrases to myself in the morning like Stuart Smalley, but when I read this quote, it made me smile.

"When you smile about the life you live, you 

end up living a life worth smiling about."

- Unknown

Close One Door, Open a New Door

These past 6 months have been full of change. Not all good, not all bad, just change.  I am not really a fan of unplanned or forced change.

Life without Crockett is not the same. We miss our sweet boy. We will have Dogs again as life is so much better with them, but it will be at least a year until we are ready.

I wouldn't say that at 46, I've experienced a full on midlife crisis.  I'll call it more of a midlife review. I said to my Mom on the phone the other day that I spent the 1st quarter of my life blissfully unaware, the 2nd quarter of my life existing, sometimes aware, most of the time not. This second half of my life is going to be different. Full of awareness, purpose, and action.

There are things I have always wanted to do, to do again, to try, and for whatever reason or excuse, just never did.

The focus for the next however-long, will in no way be about my job or career.  That may sound foolish as I spend the majority of my life at work.  At the moment I have an 8to4 that while not ideal for many reasons, is for a lot of other reasons. I am not in a place where I want to, or am able to make any changes.  That does not mean that down the road this won't change. I know it will. It is the hours I am not at work that are my priority. Time for some living, not just existing.

I am off work until Monday. This time off has been spent organizing and implementing changes in our lives. Mostly pertaining to health, diet, and exercise.

Onward and upward.

My Muse

Dearest Blog, you are not forgotten.  Truth is, my little 4 legged fur bundle was my Muse. 

He used to sit with me as I sat here writing. I'd take a break and cuddle or play or nap with him. He lead me to the park and to the flowers I would photograph. We explored the neighbourhood, side streets, parkettes, and ravines together. I haven't been in the park or on a neighbourhood walk since he passed.

Today is the 1st day of Daylight Savings Time. It is also the first day in a long while that the temperature got above zero.  Today was perfect dog walking weather.

I had feelings of jealousy seeing people out with their dogs. Lucky bastards.

I miss Crockett everyday.  The last few weeks when I've come home or gone into the living room to sit down, I almost expect to see him sitting there looking up at me.

He was a sweet lovely Pug and companion.

Something I Learned

Today, I am taking down our Christmas Tree. I have learned that I never want to have a real Christmas Tree again.

Ours was small and beautiful and perfect. But as the days passed, I started to feel like it was stupid to cut down a tree to put in a home.  The poor thing started to sag and lighten in color. I watered it, but it was dying. What a waste of a tree. It belonged planted in the earth, thriving, a home for birds and critters.

I told my Mom that I reminded mysef of the blind date set up in the film Notting Hill for William. Kaziah, the Fruitarian:

Keziah:
We believe that fruits and vegetables
have feelings so we think cooking is
cruel.  We only eat things that have
actually fallen from the tree or bush
-- that are in fact, dead already.

Happy New Year 2015

I wish health and happiness to my family, friends, and all mankind in 2015.

For me, 2014 was a year spent in my head.  I did a lot of thinking and reflection. The world is changing, and not for the better. It is time I make the changes I need in order for my small life to make a difference.

We lost our sweet Crockett in August and that was the worst day of 2014.  My heart still hurts and I miss him terribly.


The next year is all about health for both Adam and I.  It will be a year of change, that will not be easy, but it is necessary, and will ultimately be incredibly rewarding.

I am optimistic about 2015 in a way that I haven't been for many years. I am ready for it, and hopeful.