Husky will melt away winter blues...
Charmed by Stormy’s radiant amber eyes? Captivated by Stormy’s black and white coat? It's hard to pass by his suite without noticing this striking, handsome dog. His personality, however, is what will warm your heart. Stormy’s warm demeanor will melt away any winter blues. This handsome gentleman would be just right for curling up on the couch after a day of playing in the snow.
Stormy is an intelligent six-year-old Siberian Husky. This well-behaved male is partial to belly rubs and plenty of chin scratches, especially after some time outdoors. He would do great with someone who regularly exercises and truly enjoys bonding over a game of fetch. Huskies are great jogging companions and Stormy is no exception, especially considering how wonderfully he walks on a leash.
Bring Hope to Animals
The Wisconsin Humane Society will be shining brightly this holiday season with more than 5,000 holiday lights in honor of homeless animals on Sunday, December 7. The Hope’s Lights Celebration will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Wisconsin Humane Society, 4500 W. Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.
In addition to the building and grounds being brilliantly illuminated with lights, the celebration will include activities such as programs featuring tours of WHS and appearances by several furry and featured guests. Sign up online.
Avoiding Injury While Training
A reader wrote to me and asked about the relationship between athletic training and injury. The question was, "I tried running and my knees and ankles hurt every day. How can I run without suffering some type of injury?"
This is an excellent question. Thousands of scientists, doctors, coaches and athletic trainers all over the world have done extensive research on how to avoid injury. I am not an expert; however, I can speak from personal experience: I have never had a joint-related injury during my entire lifetime. I have never injured my knees, hips or ankles and I have never had back pain. I did suffer from pain after running my first marathon; however, the pain subsided after 48 hours and I had no permanent injury and no joint problems.
Authors on the Road
Poco the Puppy
Looking for a puppy, like Poco? He'll melt away your winter blues, keep you fit all year round and brighten up every morning with exuberant kisses. It's a joy to raise a puppy into a happy adult and there is no better time to adopt than right now! Poco, an 8-week-old Labrador Retriever mix, is among many other puppies hoping to find homes for the holidays.
Move over, Lassie. Here comes Marley!
Move over, Lassie! Here comes Marley!
On Saturday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, all shelter guests will have a chance to spin the wheel and win either a free Marley & Me poster or movie pass for a special screening at Mayfair Mall on Thursday, December 18. Stop by this weekend to see adoptable animals, visit Wally’s Workbench, or pick up holiday gifts from Animal Antics. The Wisconsin Humane Society finds homes for 9,000 animals every year and we’re hoping to find homes for many great companions this holiday season.
Gettin' in the Christmas Spirit
I know we are supposed to be happy at this time of year, with all that good cheer going on and all, but as I get older it seems it's taking me longer to get in a Christmassy mood. And this year is especially hard. Trying to wrap up a class, finish projects at work, the economy woes, it all seems to have distracted me, and all of a sudden Christmas is almost here, and I have barely noticed. Why is that? It feels to me that I'm the only person that is too busy for Christmas cheer, but I'm sure I'm not. Are you having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit? I have tried a few things this year that have started to help. Here's a list things you can do:
Go through the Country Christmas lights display at the Country Inn in Waukesha http://www.thecountrychristmas.com/. It's awesome! Or drive through Candy Cane Lane in West Allis which benefits the MACC fund.
From Muknowago to Mitchell Field -- Then a FIXX
The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field at the airport and the FIXX Coffee House in St. Francis are hosting the next two Anatomy of a Trial book signing events.
According to my publisher, University of Missouri Press, Anatomy is doing well. That’s reflected in what people who’ve read it say:
Unexpected Visitors
It was insanity.
My younger son stood in our living room yelling at his older brother. My older son stood in our living room yelling at his younger brother.
It was cold outside. We had no plans and I was on the computer paying bills.
Suddenly, the volcano of two children erupt. Voices rise. Doors slam. Insults fly. Threats escalate to a volume beyond comprehension.
With my face red, I walk to the living room and send one child one direction and the other child another direction. I hear only the crying of two kids in unison. My heart pounds.
Ding dong.
Oh my god. Someone's at the door.
I scan the house. Toys are everywhere. Dishes are unwashed. Garbage needs to be taken out.
Ding dong.
One child is crying and flinging insults across the house. The other child has his whole body smashed and spread eagle on our hallway floor. His cries are muffled only by his face against the linoleum.
Ding dong.
I look at the door again. Through the window, I see the framed smiling faces of my inlaws. They are waving. Smiling and waving ... smiling and waving ...
The door knob turns. I close my eyes.
Through the screams, I take a deep breath, grin amid the insanity, and greet my visitors.
---
This evening, finally relaxed, I've made my Christmas list. At the top of the list is a one day trip to a warm beach, by myself, with nothing but a cute swimming suit and an endless supply of silence and strawberry margaritas.
WHS offers expanded adoption hours
Hundreds of animals are up for adoption at the Wisconsin Humane Society, so we’ve expanded hours to include a Monday in December, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. This time of year, the shelter is eager to place animals in homes for the holiday season and even offers a “Gift of Companionship” program.
Contrary to popular belief, research shows that people who receive a companion animal as a gift make great guardians. Animals are no more or less likely to be returned than animals adopted by the guardians themselves. Gift adoptions include the companion animal and a $25 certificate redeemable within two weeks after the gift giving date at Animal Antics, the retail store located within WHS. Those interested in gift adoptions must provide specific information about the recipient so counselors can match all personalities involved. WHS also follows up with adopters and continues to provide support and assistance to ensure a happy match.
Dear Santa, help Chi Chi get better!
Chi Chi is hoping that 2009 is a better year. When she was brought to WHS, she looked so sad. She had great trouble walking due to a problem with her kneecaps and her family left her at WHS in hopes that we could return her to good health and better spirits.
Chi Chi, a 6-year-old Dachshund, was given a full medical exam upon her arrival and we discovered that she had heartworm disease. For many weeks, she needs to remain inactive as her system expells the worms. Exertion can cause the dead worms to dislodge, pass to the lungs and cause respiratory failure or even death. Without the discovery of Chi Chi's heartworm disease, she would have surely died at a very young age.
New Year's Resolutions
Have you ever had regrets about something you did in the past and would like to have done it differently? Do you wish you were taking better care of yourself or your loved ones? Do you want to stop a bad habit? We all wish that things in our pasts had happened differently and want to fix them. Well, now is the time to do it. A new year is starting, it's time to take a look at this past year, decide what you'd like to change in your life, and get going.
I have my own example: a fight I had with a high school friend shortly after graduation resulted in a 25 year lapse where that friendship could have thrived. I had heard she moved out of state. Over the years when I would think about it, I wanted to look her up and try to make amends, but I figured she had gotten married and so I would never be able to find her. I didn't even know where she had moved to. Every time I let it drop. A week ago, I got to thinking about it again, and by chance saw an internet advertisement for Classmates.com, so I thought I'd see if she was listed there. Wow, she was! I was so excited! Then it hit me, if I try to contact her, will she still be mad at me? Will she tell me to take a hike? I decided that I had nothing to lose. I wrote her a message through their message boards and she wrote back a few days later! Her message had no hint of anger, she talked about catching up on kids and families and why was I back in South Milwaukee? That one small thing I had been regretting and had been putting off due to fear was completely undone when I wrote that message to her. The remorse I had been carrying around all these years is now gone - just like that. And I hope to get caught up with a very valuable friend - something I didn't have last week. What a great gift!
ADOPTED! Larry the lovebug
Larry always turns heads when people first meet him! It's impossible to miss his distinctive patch of caramel-colored fur surrounding his cute little mouth. Did you notice his blue front paws, too? He's donning Softclaws, little plastic claw covers that protect furniture from cat scratches. We chose Larry to model Softclaws simply because he is a very affectionate, patient cat. Larry loves all the attention he can get.
No More Nick? (Time Warner Pulls 19 Channels)
Starting tomorrow, Time Warner Cable will be pulling 19 channels. This includes MTV, Comedy Central, Noggin, and NICKELODEON.
Apparently, due to the recent economy, Time Warner doesn't want to ask their customers to pay more, which according to what I'm reading, is 23 cents per month per customer. (Yes - it's odd to read an article about Time Warner wanting to save money for their customers.)
