Change October 29, 2008

Sometimes, people go on a journey together and that journey reaches a destination.  The destination may or may not be what each wanted, but it is a destination.  These people may walk away from each other with memories of this journey and never speak again.  Or, they may embark on a new and different journey with a different destination.  Some of these journeys take years, even decades and some, mere days.  We may only embark on a single journey with a given individual or experience a lifetime of them.

I believe that, often times, people are brought into our lives or those already in our lives change roles for a reason… to lead or accompany us on a journey.  I find myself at a crossroads where a number of journeys are ending and a few are just beginning (mostly facilitated through the ending of others).  I haven’t found myself in a position like this since I moved to California 10 years ago.  There aren’t many things that I am “in the middle of.”  In some ways, this makes me sad, but I can mourn for these journeys that have reached an unsatisfactory destination and celebrate those that have come to a positive conclusion.  I can also look to the future with hope.

I’m a Mommy (again) October 29, 2008

Argus

OK, before you start thinking the wrong thing, I’m a PUPPY MOMMY again.  Last Tuesday, I picked up a 9 week old English Bulldog from a breeder in San Diego.  He went for an entire day without a name as I wanted to get it just right.  I have 3 other dogs and I had names picked out for 2 of them that I ended up changing after getting them and observing their personalities and I didn’t want to do the same thing this time.

After many hours of observing him, I decided on Argus.  It has both Greek and Scandinavian derivations and means vigilant one as well as bright, shining one.  In Greek mythology, Argus had 100 eyes that became the spots on a peacock’s feathers.  Argus is also the brand name of a device on a parachute that should you become incapacitated or lose consciousness in freefall (or like a dumb-ass, lose altitude awareness), will deploy your reserve parachute for you automatically.

Argus is definitely a bulldog through and through.  He is sweet and loving, yet stubborn as can be.  He is extremely smart and already knows sit, but getting him to walk on a leash has been quite the challenge.  Like any puppy, he wants to put everything in his mouth, including me. I’ve learned that for about an hour and a half in the evening, I need to keep a toy in my hand at all times and encourage him to chew on it or else he is trying to chew on me and those puppy teeth hurt.  He is starting to understand “no” but is selective in choosing when to heed it.  I am hoping that he learns from my other dogs and ends up being as trustworthy and well behaved as them.  I have a long year ahead of me with him and he may be more of a challenge than my French Bulldogs, but I don’t think he’ll be as challenging as my Pit.

I always go through some anxiety when I get a new dog.  I just want to do everything right and find a way to deal with any challenge that comes up.  My challenge for this week:  getting my body used to getting up every few hours to take Argus outside…..whew, am I tired!