Published... Sort of

Even though I do a lot of writing in my job, I've never considered myself a writer. I guess I am now. After being encouraged by my sister and her dear friend, I penned an article on pet travel and now I'm published...sort of.

Navigating the Airways with your Dog

Here's my sister's article:

Adopting the "Less-than-Perfect" Dog

Here's the one that started it all:

A Tale of Three Dogs

I just had to have these!

Let's just hope they fit. They only come in a B-width and my foot, although very long, is extremely narrow.

New Shoes Cure the Blues

I had a revelation on the way home from work last night. It was after 8PM and I was exhausted from a long day, but in the back of my mind were all the things I still needed to do at work and at home. I decided what I really needed was to relax, chill for a little while. Did I think of having a drink, taking a nap, maybe exercising, meeting a friend for coffee? No! I thought about treating myself to a pair of shoes. And it hit me, shoes are my drug of choice. I've always argued that since I had a hard-to-fit foot, it only made sense to buy shoes when I found a pair that fit. My closet is now close to overflowing, yet I continue to shop. I shop for shoes when I'm happy, when I'm sad, and when I'm bored. Translation: I shop for shoes all the time. And I don't care! I love my shoes, especially the ones that like fine wine, great steaks, and cheese, need time to age. So enjoy the photos of some of my favorite pairs:

I saw a wedge shoe in this style on Zappos, but it was not available in my size. I was even more devastated when the designer's website did not have the shoe. I continued my quest and when I saw this pump in the same print, I decided that second best was not that bad. It's a 4-inch heel; I'm an amazon in them! I may never wear them out, but they were too gorgeous to send back. They are currently with my supplemental sea shipment which is scheduled for a Saturday delivery. I can hardly wait to try them on again.

So of course, once I committed to the keeping the sexy pump and packed it for shipping, I found the original and more practical shoe that I first loved. I ordered it as well. Why not? Gotta love Arthur Beren Shoes too.

Long before I bought the tortoise print pumps with the 4-inch heel, I ordered a similar style in gold. I kept it in the closet for awhile until I discovered the same shoe in an amazing red patent. I had to have it so I exchanged the gold pump for it. Isn't it beautiful?

Alas, it arrived shortly before I left Kuwait. So I tried it on, then packed it for shipping. While I was on vacation, I saw the same red patent in a platform with a rounded toe. I thought this was a much more practical shoe, so I ordered it. It's cute, right?

But why the obsession with red? When I unpacked and organized my stuff, I found this great ankle boot. I don't remember the last time I wore it. But now, I'm ready for any occasion. Now I just need the perfect red outfit...

I know summer just arrived, but I can't wait for fall and the opportunity to wear these shoes. they look a little funky all by themselves, but they are great with pants and jeans.

Sometimes I'm a little obsessive about shoes. As a native Nebraskan, I felt a duty to have a pair of cowboy boots. It took about 8 months to get these and they had to be not only special ordered, but made too. Of course they got scuffed the first time I had them on. Just like driving a new car off the lot, I felt the immediate depreciation. I've only worn them one other time because I just can't get over the nick in the leather. Maybe with time, I'll learn to appreciate them again.

Finally, grey shoes are hard to find, so when I saw these, I grabbed them. Alas, they were lost in the mail. If you see them, please help them find their way home.

And what prompted all of this? I bought a pair of shoes today. I'll post a picture if I decide to keep them.

It's Official...

I'm a feminist. I've always had feminist tendencies and supported causes promoting gender equality, but I've shied away from calling myself a feminist because the word is loaded with so many negative connotations. But I now embrace the label. Why? What pushed me over the edge? A seemingly innocuous comment set me off: I was at a lunch today and met a very nice older gentleman and his niece who works in his office. He told me that he niece was a recent college graduate and was at the top of her class. Likewise, his two daughters were excelling in school. One was also at the top of her class and received a full scholarship for her medical degree. The other was a pianist and doing well in her music composition classes. After bragging about both, he concluded that the younger daughter and her pursuit of music was the best career for a woman BECAUSE SHE COULD STAY HOME AND WORK! The contradiction between his pride in his daughters' accomplishments and his belief that they needed to be home cooking, cleaning, and making babies stunned me. That was it. I decided I needed to be more active in advancing the fact that women have made and will continue to make contributions to society and can do so outside of the house.

Amen!

I'm not one to use the word "amen" in either a religious or secular sense, but it's the only thing I can say about Lynette Clemetson's February 4, 2007 New York Times article Definitions: The Racial Politics of Speaking Well .

"Nonya"

For the past month, I've had a cast on my right foot. It will be there for about 3 more weeks. Eight years ago I wore a cast on my left foot, hopped around on crutches, and was completely astounded that despite numerous signs and claims of special features, it was very difficult to function as a person with limited mobility. Doors that did not automatically open were often to heavy for me to manage on my own. Handicapped accessible bathrooms were never in convenient locations. And there were many other obstacles. This time around I was astonished by how little progress has been made in almost a decade. I still needed a lot of help/intervention to get in and out of buildings, including the one where my doctor's office is! But what really shocked me was not the kindness of strangers, but their curiosity. Many wished me a speedy recovery, but most whom I encountered wanted to know what happened to me. Did I break my ankle or my leg? Was I in an accident or a fight? What condition was the other person in? I don't mind sharing with close friends, but complete strangers in restaurants, at the airport, in the library, on the street, and just about everywhere else wanted the gory details. Just because they were nosey and rude, didn't mean I should be impolite. I tried to give the simplest answer possible when all I really wanted to say was, "Nonya," as in none of your business!

What about Me?!

Cashmere has not so subtly informed me that this blog is full of pictures of Kamir, Bandit, and Riko, but her presence has not been recorded. I guess she's more technologically-savvy than I thought. My response that she usually runs from the camera was not a sufficient explanation for the lack of her pictures. So, here goes... Here she is under the bed. She's gained 20 pounds in the five years since she left the shelter, yet somehow still fits under the bed. Posing for a change. Like all dogs, Cash loves a good nap.

Woman Crashes when Teaching Dog to Drive

From the Associated Press: Mon Aug 28, 8:13 AM ET A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday. No injuries were reported although both vehicles were slightly damaged, it said. The woman, identified only be her surname, Li, said her dog "was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive," according to Xinhua. "She thought she would let the dog 'have a try' while she operated the accelerator and brake," the report said. "They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car." Xinhua did not say what kind of dog or vehicles were involved but Li paid for repairs. Kamir enjoyed the car too, but I knew when to stop. He had no thumbs; how would he grip the steering wheel?

Is it Ego or Inequality?

I often accompany my boss on official meetings and the press is usually there when we arrive. I've gotten used to seeing my profile in the pictures that run in the papers, and really did not think much of never being identified by name. I work in a relatively small community and those who pay attention to what my boss does know and recognize me. I've actually enjoyed the quasi-anonymity. In the past week, however, someone on my staff, a new arrival to the office, accompanied my boss on a meeting. His picture made the papers as did his name and MY title. And it got me wondering: my boss is usually accompanied by someone to take notes when he goes on meetings, and if the person is a man, he's named. It's only the women who are not acknowledged. Is this an intentional oversight? Or am I just delusional?

Welcoming Riko

Kamir's loss was devastating and Cashmere convinced me that the house was a little too quiet with the pitter-patter of four instead of eight feet. So, we drove out into the desert to a shelter run by the Animal Friends League of Kuwait. After "interviewing" dozens of dogs, we came home with Riko, formerly known as Ringo. (I like the Beatles as much as everyone else, but I could not deal with the name.) Riko, who also answers to Ri-Ri B, is part German Shepherd part desert dog. He was born in May 2005 and until he joined us, had spent his whole life in the shelter. His first week in the house he was very curious, watching TV, taking things off of shelves, and "tasting" anything that crossed his path. I lost a rebate check, a house slipper, and a bottle of lotion.

He has really calmed down after that introductory exploratory stage. He has commandeered my bed and spends most of his time there. He only leaves it to bark at the phone, eat (he has a really light appetite), and go for a walk. Mostly, he's quite mellow and just wants to have his tummy scratched. Cash enjoys his company and when not trying to dominate him, curls up next to him for very long naps.