Shake loose my brain, see what falls out

I replied to the message my long-lost best friend sent to me on Wednesday and haven’t heard back from her yet. How long should I wait before I send another note to make sure my message didn’t get sent to junk mail or otherwise lost in cyberspace. I am feeling very anxious about this!

First of all it snowed. !!!!

Then I got to work, opened my e-mail, & found a message from my very best high school/jr high school friend. We fell out of touch when she went away to college, as she found new friends and was in another state. I still have dreams about her sometimes. So I was thrilled to see she her message and immediately wrote back. I am really, really hoping we can reestablish a friendship. I have not had a best girlfriend since her.

Then while sitting in a meeting, I experienced the crushing realization that I really don’t like my job. As jobs in my field go, this is the best one I’ve ever had, but I really just don’t like this line of work and on most days am just making the best of it. So that was depressing.

Then I got to mess around with one of my faculty members who is having a power struggle with me over gel pens, of all things. See paragraph #2 regarding how I don’t like my line of work.

Then Mr. Wren & I drove to the gym amidst giant, fluffy snowfall, and I ran on the treadmill again. I decided that I would like to set a running goal but have no idea what that goal might be.

So there it was. Really, a pretty emotionally volatile day.

The forks in our house are disappearing. Where can they be going?

This is a fun article, and I also think it is interesting that the personality characteristics attributed to dogs named Sadie are just exactly what my Sadie is like!

Female Dog Names: What are the Meanings of Common Female Dog Names?

What is in a dog’s name? There are lists of common dog names, but…what do they mean? Are certain dog names associated with certain characteristics and traits?

After interviewing several veterinarians about this hypothesis, it was determined that there are certain characteristics generally associated with different female dog names.

A list of the top 30 female dogs names were compiled by Veterinary Pet Insurance over 300,000 policy holders. The following are characteristics associated with each name:

The Meaning Behind the Top 30 Female Dog Names

1. MOLLY – Molly is a great dog name. Molly’s come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are generally gentle and sweet natured. If you look into most dogs named Molly’s faces – they actually have “pretty faces”. Molly’s are generally very trusting. Origin: Hebrew. The meaning is: Virgin Mother of Christ.

2.MAGGIE – Most dogs named Maggie are happy and mild-mannered. They prefer to be with their owners than on their own. They love to be loved and give TONS of love back in return. A lot of dogs named Maggie like to communicate with you either with whines and barks or with their eyes. Origin: Greek. The meaning is: From Margaret; a Pearl.

3. DAISY – Dogs named Daisy are often sweet dogs with loving personalities. They are often low-key dogs with quiet tendencies. They like to play at times but prefer to sleep. Origin: Latin. The meaning is: Days Eye, Flower
name – with yellow center and white pedals.

4. LUCY – Lucy is a name often given to spoiled dogs. Lucy’s are loved and given lots of attention and time. Most Lucy’s are smart dogs and good problem solvers. They are alert and not much gets by them without them knowing about it. Many dogs named Lucy are described as “beautiful”. Origin: Latin. The meaning is: Light and learning.

5. SADIE – Dogs named Sadie are often kind and sweet dogs. Sadie’s are often intuitive and have penetrating eyes. When they look at you – you feel as though they know what you are thinking. People that meet dogs named Sadie often say “What a Sweet Dog”. Origin: Hebrew. The meaning is: Princess.

6. GINGER – Ginger is a common name given to dogs that are ginger in color – a red/brown color. Golden retrievers, Irish setters and Brittany spaniels are a couple common breeds named Ginger. Most Gingers are sweet although some can borderline on selfish. They sometime prefer to be in single dog households. They often have a “girl next door” appearance to strangers. Origin: Latin. The meaning is: Spring like; Flourishing or pungent spice.

7. CHLOE – Dogs named Chloe are often larger breed dogs with very loving and loyal personalities. They aim to please and can be quite “care-free”. Origin: Greek. The meaning is: Greek Shoot or fresh young blossom.

8. BAILEY – Bailey is a unisex name that is often used on both male and female dogs. Female dogs named Bailey are generally sweet and kind. They like quiet times and just to be with their owners. They often have a “sweet tooth” and will have a tendency to beg if given the opportunity. Origin: English. The meaning is: Bailiff.

9. SOPHIE – Sincere and sweet are two words often used to describe Sophie’s. They can be creative and like to play. They are people dogs and prefer your company over the company of other dogs. Origin: Greek. The meaning is: Wisdom.

10. ZOE – Dogs named Zoe are often strong leaders. They can be quiet and thoughtful. They seem to read your mind at times. They prefer your company over anything else. Origin: Greek. The meaning is: Life.

11. PRINCESS – The name “Princess” is often associated with smaller breed dogs with a lot of charisma. At least they show charisma to their owners but it may not be obvious to their veterinarian or groomer. They like to look “pretty” and are often dressed in pink clothes, collar or bandanas. Origin: English. The meaning is: Royal Daughter.

12. BELLA – Dogs named Bella are often small and pretty. They are generally very agile and graceful. Most Bella’s are very loyal to their owners and are used to being spoiled. Many Bella’s like to be fussed over with grooming, nail painting or being dressed up. Their favorite color is pink! Origin: Italian. The meaning is: Beautiful.

13. ANGEL – Angel is a name often associated with a quiet tranquil dog. They are thoughtful, loving and very loyal. They are often suspicious of strangers and slow to warm up to new people. They are trustworthy friends and good at keeping secrets. Origin: English. The meaning is: Angel; Messenger; kind and lovable.

14. LADY – Lady is a wonderful dog name and often given to Cocker Spaniels after the Disney movie “Lady and the Tramp”. Dogs named Lady are generally very smart and have very keen sense of hearing and smell. They are loyal to their owners but sometimes leery of strangers. Origin: Unknown. The meaning is: Cagy; female title of nobility.

15. SASHA – Dogs named Sasha often come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Most Sasha’s are eager to please and very “caring” dogs. They are also good listeners and love it when you talk to them. They like to go on walks and spend quiet time with you. Origin: Greek. The meaning is: Defending men; helpmate.

16. ABBY – Abby is a good dog name and associated with a happy, free-spirited dog. Many Abby’s never met a stranger and seem to really love their life. They have a fondness for treats. Origin: Hebrew. The meaning is: Father in Rejoicing.

17. ROXY – Many dogs named Roxy are completely spoiled. They are sweet dogs and loyal to their owners. They are sometimes described at one-owner dogs – meaning they really set up loyalties to one person more than others. They are sweet and are often described as “adorable”. Origin: American English. The meaning is: Sunny.

18. MISSY – Dogs named Missy are sweet and often quiet. They often described as “shy”. They are loving dogs and like to spend quiet time with you. Origin: Greek. The meaning is: Soft-spoken.

19. BRANDY – Brandy is a wonderful dog name. It is often associated with smart independent dogs with big personalities.

is 100% awsome!

birthday telescope arrived in a huge box…that had the name of what it was written all over it. And Mr. Wren was home to receive the package. Boo!

Well, at least he will be surprised when he opens the package containing Walter the Farting Dog: Banned from the Beach...

It comes from the Doggy News e-mail that I subscribe to. Sadie has zero problems with separation anxiety, but I know that many 43Ters worry about this problem with their pets. So I thought I’d post the info here.

Dog owners sometime ask, “Does music soothe pets the same way it can relax people?”

Many of our dog lovers have asked about what they can do when their pets become anxious or nervous.

Some of you have said that your pets become upset when they are left home alone for any period of time. That’s a common problem. Others have mentioned your dog’s anxiety or carsickness when traveling in the car. Some pets become very anxious when they are in unfamiliar surroundings. And some actually throw up or chew away areas of their hair and skin during thunderstorms, or when they hear loud noises like fireworks. When they are stressed, many dogs are likely to hide and not be found. Some dogs get manic and run away.

Pet anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways. We love our pets, so of course we worry. We don’t want to see them upset or stressed out.

Some pet owners have tried creative ways to ease their pets’ stress, like leaving the TV or radio on for “company” when they leave their pets home alone. But that could actually be doing more harm than good.

Studies have suggested that TV and radio can actually CREATE stress for our pets because of the drastic changes in programming and the random mix of musical styles. The TV and radio certainly create “noise,” but they don’t necessarily create a relaxed environment.

Music Eases Pet Anxiety – But Not Just ANY Music Will Do

Music is good for the soul. They say it calms the savage beast. And it turns out that’s more than just an old wives’ tale. It’s a proven fact.

Classical harp music is used around the world to help alleviate stress and heal sickness in dogs, cats, chimpanzees and other animals. Even animal shelters are now spend big bucks for sound systems and music to create a more serene environment. Studies show that dogs and cats prefer classical music. Cats will relax in front of the speakers when classical music is playing, and dogs will actually bark less – especially when listening to the music of Bach.

Our pets respond favorably to classical music under stress-inducing situations, often slipping into a very serene and peaceful state of mind after only a few minutes of listening. But not all classical music will have the same calming effect. For the music to soothe a pet, it must have a soothing dynamic from start to finish – which is not the case with most “off-the-shelf” classical music

This came from a daily newsletter that I receive. It was so interesting, I thought I would re-post it for the many dog-lovers on 43T. Sadie, btw, has a great fondness for rolling in nasty stuff. I remember she did it once at a rest stop when we were taking a big road trip back east. Whatever she rolled in smelled so awful that we had to do our best to wash it off her right there are the rest stop, using socks and shampoo from Mr. Wren’s luggage and water in a soda bottle!

You may work like a dog to get your dog clean and smelling pretty, and how does he repay you? By running to the first pile of poop he can find and rolling in it!???
Or, you’re both walking along a relaxing nature trail, enjoying the sweet breeze, when your dog spots a dead animal. And what does he do? He immediately dives head first into the unpleasant mass of decaying odors.???

Why on earth do dogs enjoy doing this?

The answer is simple: it’s an instinct.

If your dog could talk, he probably wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly why he does it, either. No one is sure what the attraction is, but there are three working hypotheses.???

One is that dogs are attempting to mask their own scent. This would be a holdover from their origins as wolves. Masking their scent may help wolves sneak up on prey without alerting them by way of smell.???

A second theory is that rolling in feces or a dead animal’s remains is a way for a dog to communicate that he’s found something interesting. The dog (or wolf) then transports that smell back to his family (his pack) in order to advertise his discovery.???

A third theory comes from the book, The Truth About Dogs, by Stephen Budiansky. It is possible, Budiansky writes, that we’ve gotten it backwards. The dog may not be trying to absorb the scent; instead he may be trying to impart his own scent onto the object of his interest, for the same reason that a dog may urinate on a tree. The purpose may be no more than to leave a calling card – to overmark another scent.

Mr. Wren & I watched this news story on Sunday, and it really got me thinking. The story is about a woman who line dries her clothing to save energy.

My initial reaction was to be all for the woman who is doing the hippie green thing. But here is the thing. She lives in a planned community, and she signed a contract when she bought her house agreeing to abide by certain standards. One of them was that she wouldn’t line dry her clothes. It surprised me, really, that someone would even think to include such a rider in a contract, but apparently there are a lot of people who feel that clothes lines are a real eyesore.

After living in this community a few years, she became more environmentally conscious, which I do think is a very good thing. At that point, she started line drying her clothes. This upset her neighbors. They don’t like looking at her wash as it dries on the line, and they feel it lowers their property values. She continues to do it despite their protests and has taken to hanging an American flag on her clothesline.

It’s funny. I really want to side with this woman. I agree with being environmentally conscious, I agree with a person’s right to do as they chose, and I disagree with hoity-toity giant SUV-driving people who care more about appearances and their property values than they do about the ozone layer. BUT I can’t get past the fact that this woman is being a really bad neighbor. She freely chose to live in a community with these restrictions, and as shallow as her neighbors may be, they have a right to expect that she abide by the rules.

I finally decided that what I believe is that the right thing for this woman to do is either move to another neighborhood, lobby to change the rules where she lives, or else find other ways to save energy. While she may be saving some energy by line drying her clothes, she is creating a lot conflict and behaving in a very passive aggressive manner.

Anyway, it was kind of strange to realize that this is how I felt. And it made for an interesting conversation with Mr. Wren.

That is all.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.” —Dale Carnegie