I love it when dogs growl! Yes, you read that right. A dog’s growl is part of his vocabulary, and I am so glad that it is. The growl can mean several things. Let us say that you come upon a dog that you don’t know and he begins a low rumbly growl as you approach. This is a wonderful thing to hear because it gives you time to respond to the situation. The dog is simply saying, "I don’t know you, you’re making me nervous, and I don’t want you to come any closer." Message received loud and clear! Thank you pup for letting me know BEFORE you try another tactic such as lunging or biting.
Cold weather always makes me dream of warmer places, and it's been cold! The Big Island of Hawaii is one of those places that I could escape to any time (if it weren't for work and those pesky airfares, that is). How can you go wrong with Hawaii? It's one place where you can go to a different world, different climate, and different culture without needing your passport. The fact that it's a little slice of paradise makes it just about perfect!
I've been told this before a few times. I've also heard an awful lot about dressing for success. So I recently decided an attempt at what could be considered a social experiment. I got the idea from a doctor friend of mine. Now, while this man is an accomplished, respected, and very successful physician, his social skills are lacking, to put it mildly.
"Help, I Have Ear Worms!"...is not a phrase you would typically use. However, I'm sure many of you have complained at one point or another of a song that's stuck in your head. That annoying little ditty that you just can't turn off is most commonly known as an "Ear Worm." According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, 98% of people suffer from this condition. It's also called "Stuck Song Syndrome" for obvious reasons. Women seem to suffer from it more than men because women try to fight it while men just let it be.
It is only a few weeks until the holidays, so I am in full-fledged creative mode. My projects seem to be going great, but it has been difficult to get into the proper mood for the season. I think the most likely culprit is the unseasonably warm weather.
I grew up in a family of practical jokers. My mom was the silent type. She took EMT training when I was in college, and I came home one midnight to find a visitor in my bed. "Resusci Annie" was taking my spot. My dad, on the other hand, was one of those people who was always joking. I remember a former minister telling me that he knew my dad was trouble the first time he spoke in Sunday School.
'Tis the season, where fond memories flit through our brains. For me, one of my favorite memories of holidays past is of spending hours in our kitchen making Christmas cookies. It is a tradition that was born out of necessity. My children attended year-round elementary school (in school for 3 months and out of school for one month). As a result, the school could handle 25% more children in each elementary school building in the district. Also, my children were on "break" from Thanksgiving until New Years!
"What is this little guy’s name? I can’t get close enough to see her tag." she asked. I looked down at the little min pin who was quietly standing near her. She looked a little nervous about being at doggy daycare and a little on edge. While I was thinking of the dog’s name, the girl started walking quickly towards the dog (because the dog was trying to move out of her reach). With hands outstretched, she grabbed her collar, picked her up, and held her up to her face so she could see the tag on her collar. "That’s a good way to get a good bite in the face!" I said.
My son-in-law came to America when he was 2. He's as American as "apple pie" - except when it comes to our prolific and incredible idioms! He was raised in his parent's home, and they did not use our "incredible American idioms." So, as we talked, he was often forced to say, "What does that mean?" or "I don't understand." I sent him a book (my answer to all of life's problems) full of idioms and their meanings... with good intentions... hoping it would help him comprehend his confusing mother-in-law.
Did you know that 99% of ghosts turn out to be squirrels running around on the roof/in the attic/upstairs? Okay, maybe not always squirrels. Sometimes the "ghosts" are raccoons. Or cats. Or humans.
