Picking Up the Poop, and Applications Outside of Dog Walking

sodahead.com

We no longer have a back door for letting out the dog. We need to remember all the important little things to take along like a bag, the leash, treats, sometimes a ball, and keys to get back in the apartment. Only then do we head out the door, zip down twelve floors, grab an extra bag on the way out because you never know, and walk around to the side lawn in order for Addy to “do her duty”. (Incidentally “do her duty” is what my parents dubbed the process when I was a kid. “Please take Candy out to do her duty.”). 

Yes, it’s a process.

I was under the impression that everyone living in this vertical, highly dog dense, living arrangement went about this process essentially the same. Was I ever wrong.

Here is where the process breaks down.

Dog owners have two opportunities to grab poop bags, in their apartment, or exactly the moment they are exiting the building. Never mind there is even a sign to remind you to grab one.

I don’t want to be a sourpuss, or not believe there’s inherent good in 99.99% of the people walking around out here but, I can’t understand how someone can neglect to remove their dog’s poop. Then live with themselves.

We can assume they just watched their dog drop some fresh stuff (yeah, it’s sick because we do watch for it). They know they didn’t bend down to pick it up after watching it happen. They are also fully cognizant of the fact that they are walking away leaving a ticking land mine behind for some unfortunate schmuck (read me) who will subsequently step in it while holding a poop bag for their own dog’s junk.

I just don’t get it! And it’s all over the place.

I guess this behavior has some application outside the dog poop context. There are people who clean up their messes, and those that don’t (like in the SCUBA diving world where there are people who pee in their wetsuits (yuck!), and people who follow the unwritten rule, which prohibits this behavior out of courtesy to the next person wearing it!).

Excuse me while I get a knife to extract Fritz’s excrement from my gym shoes.

Finding a Good Writing Spot is a Little Like the Three Bears Story

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Since my move, I have been trying to find the “right” spot to write. Okay, so I haven’t tried really hard otherwise there would be more words published on this blog. But I haven’t given up, and I have been searching all right!

The couches in the family room are firm enough, but the southern exposure of floor-to-ceiling windows renders those couple of spots too hot. 

Distracting.

I can’t write propped up in bed because it is too soft.

Distracting.

Sitting on any chair at the kitchen table feels too erect and stiff, which is in-conducive to the process. 

Distracting.

And all the above mentioned seats offer a city view. 

Distracting.

I thought about taking my laptop over to Dollops (my current favorite coffee shop) because lots of people are there absorbed in whatever they are seeing on their computer screens. I know me, though. And I would most likely people watch, which is all right except I probably wouldn’t write much. It would be very much...

Distracting.

BUT, I think I’ve got it!!!

My back is to the windows as I type this post. I am sitting on a barstool at the kitchen island. It is the perfect height. The coffee pot and snacks are close. The balcony door is open. I can hear the streets of the city bustling if I concentrate. Otherwise the traffic and the jackhammers provide the perfect background of “white noise”.

The room temperature is not too hot, or too cold. The seat is not too hard, or too soft. The city is not too loud, or too deafeningly quiet.

It all seems to be just about right!

Am I the only one who squirms around looking for the “right spot” in which to write?

Questioning My Taste in Music, Are You?

This Sunday music meme is courtesy of Sunday Stealing by Kwisgiver. 

1. Which bands/artists do you own the most albums by? In my move here recently, I came across my box of old albums. So cool. Flipping through, I have the most albums by The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, and Genesis.
2. What was the last song you listened to? These Are Days by 10,000 Maniac.
3. What’s in your CD player right now? Nothing. We usually hook up my husband’s phone to the stereo system. He has the best playlists of anyone I know!
4. What was the last show you attended? Spoon at The Chicago Theater. A few weeks before that, I saw Natalie Merchant at the same venue.
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to? Probably the first concert I ever attended. Probably because it was my first and it was HUGE. The Rolling Stones at Solider Field in 1978. Journey was one of the four opening acts of this all day affair.
6. What’s the worst show you’ve ever been to? I was really looking forward to seeing Prince at the United Center a few years ago. It was horrible! So unfortunate because I am a huge fan.
7. What’s the most musically involved you’ve ever been? I’m not sure I understand this question. You mean like karaoke? 
8. What show are you looking forward to? I am looking forward to seeing Nick Walenda walk a tightrope across the Chicago River without a safety harness tomorrow night. As far as concerts, I would love to see Bob Seger who is playing locally in December and I have added this to my pre-Christmas list.
9. What is you favorite band shirt? For my fiftieth birthday, my girlfriends gave me a custom bikini made out of a vintage Stones tee shirt. You know, the one with the big red tongue. The had the artist put the tongue on the butt cheeks instead of the front. I have only worn it a few times under private circumstances. I’ll see if I can find it and post a picture (not on!).
10. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day? Off the top of my head, Keith Richards.
11. Who is one musician or group you wish would make a comeback? Ummmmm…I’ll get back to you.
12. Who is one band/artist you’ve never seen live but always wanted to? John Lennon.
13. What was your last musical “phase” before you wisened up? I like what I like so I would never wisen up.
14. How many music related videos/DVDs do you own? I can count them on one hand.
15. How many concerts/shows have you been to, total? I don’t have enough fingers or toes to count them all. I have been fortunate to live in a city where tours constantly come through.
16. What’s your “guilty pleasure” that you hate to admit to liking? I don’t hate to admit it, but my “guilty pleasure” is definitely Kid Rock. So naughty! So good! So fun!!!
17. What is your favorite movie soundtrack? I liked the quiet soundtrack of one of my all time favorite movies, The Way We Were. I also liked the one from Remember the Titans. I could probably come up with more if I had the time.

NaBloPoMo Day One: Uh OH!!!

I almost forgot to sign up for my third year participating in NaBloPoMo (a.k.a National Blog Posting Month). This month is famous all over the blogosphere as the time when bloggers blog everyday (unless you are The Jack B who does this anyway, and then some!) I still, after participating these last two years, have a hard time writing NaBloPoMo!

What is good about NaBloPoMo is it helps me get into a writing groove. A good habit. Writing every day makes writing every day much easier, smoother, more natural. Plus, this space has been empty far more than I ever wished or wanted. I have made so many excuses for why I haven’t been writing. Mostly good things. But yes, my move sucked the life out of me. I have been busy training for a new exhibit at the aquarium (you’ll have to come see me!). I am searching for new haunts in my neighborhood (i.e. bookstores). The list goes on and on. 

And the longer I don’t put pen to paper, the easier it becomes to not do it. This new habit formed. What it really boils down to is that I have not felt interesting from a writer’s prospective in such a long time. And that’s really not true! I’ve got stuff going on in my life that would be fun to write about.

I have moved from the suburbs to the big city. There are so many stories tumbling around in my mind about city life like how to decide which beggar to give money and chat with (are they really homeless and how will they use my money?), the crazy questions tourists ask, or the things I see or do while walking our dog.

I am training to be a diving docent in the Caribbean Reef exhibit at The Shedd Aquarium where I will be feeding three different types of sting rays, a giant sea turtle named Nickel, and swimming with some bonnet head sharks. And a hundred other kinds of fish. All in front of an audience. Or the time when one of the 300 pound, six foot long Arapaima (check out the show River Monsters for a glimpse of what I mean) jumped while I was inside cleaning the tank sending all the other animals scattering for shelter (by ME)!

I am dreaming so vividly! Dreams can be interesting, right? Like this morning after my husband got out of bed. I rolled over to catch a few more zzzzzz, and dreamt I was writing a poem. At the time I was dreaming it, I was also thinking “Man, I have to remember this for when I wake up!”. I must have been in a twilight state. Now all I remember is the last line. It went like this:

“Yes, the were all really assholes.”

Okay, whose poems end like this? Must have been quite the spunky piece of poetry! Darn if I could only remember more!

Welcome to NaBloPoMo in my little corner of the world where I will try my best to entertain myself and, in turn, entertain whoever stops by my humble little blog! 

P.S. Be prepared for lots of stuff about books and more than a few “stream of consciousness” style writings. Also, last year I missed about a week and a half. While I would rather not have that happen, there may be a chance that it does. I am not planning for this, but I am also not going to stress myself out over it. 

Yeah Write Micro-Stories: When Your Wife Might Really Be A Zombie

Honey, don't forget to lock the balcony door!

The thing about being married to a “ripe” woman who sleepwalks is my darling bridegroom can't discern where I’m headed post-midnight. I believe he’s secretly relieved when I hit a bedroom wall because then he doesn’t have to search far for me.

Nerd Alert! Books and Reading Habits

lisathatcher.com

This week’s questions over here are titled “Nerd Alert”, and they pertain to books and reading. How can I not participate in a meme about books and reading? Plus, I am definitely this kind of nerd!

1. Favorite childhood book? I have two, A Wrinkle in Time and The Phantom Tollbooth. I had the pleasure of revisiting them twice more when both of my children read them as kids. I also love Charlotte’s Web, but probably more so as an adult.
2. What are you reading right now? I am hopping around a bit, and having a little difficulty settling on one book. I am currently reading The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez, Excitability: Selected Stories 1986- 1996 by Diane Williams, and Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut. All are good in very different ways.
3. What books do you have on request at the library? None! I need to get a Chicago Public Library card. First, though, I need to buy a bus pass in order to get to the library. I can take the #29 bus. Not that I am afraid of walking. It is simply a very healthy walk there and back, and with winter coming and stuff…
4. Bad book habit? I obsessively order used, and sometimes new, books online from independent booksellers/stores. I frequent independent bookstores much too frequently! I need to get a bus pass!
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library? I need a bus pass…
6. Do you have an e-reader? Yes, I have several, and everyone in my family uses them except for me. I do not care for reading on an e-reader.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once? I prefer to read one with the hope of becoming so completely engrossed that I lose my mind. That doesn’t happen as often as I would like, but it did recently when I could not put down The Language of Flowers. Therefore, I usually have two or three going at a time with one definitely a collection of short stories.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting to blog? Not really except that I probably read a few less books. I have always been a “big” reader since childhood.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far)? I have read soooo many good books this year so if I had to give least favorites even though I did enjoy them, they would be The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick, or Night Film by Marisha Pessl.
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year? So many! Stoner by John Edward Williams, An Untamed State by Roxanne Gay, The Road by Cormac McCarthy to name a few!
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? Not often enough. Unfortunately, I like what I like.
12. What is your reading comfort zone? I like well written fiction that has some element of thought provocation. I also like short story collections, though these can be non-fiction too.
13. Can you read on the bus? I can, and do, read everywhere.
14. Favorite place to read? Is “anywhere” a place? In actuality, it is right where I am currently sitting. There may or may not be an indentation in the exact spot on the couch where I am inclined to read (it is pretty much “my” spot). I just got up and can confirm said indentation!
15. What is your book lending policy? I lend out all my books, all the time. I even lend out books I have yet to read. I trust the people to whom I lend. If they don’t return it/them, then they don’t. It’s on them. They should feel a little crummy about it since I was so generous. I’m kidding! I really don’t care that much if they are returned or not. They are just “things”. “Things” don’t matter much to me. In fact, I give away most of my books in order to fit more on my shelves.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books? Never on purpose!
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? I have on occasion, but only ever in pencil.
18. Not even in text books? Back in the day, I was a master highlighter. So the answer here is “yes”!
19. A book you didn’t expect to like but did? This is the hardest question. Geek Love by Katherine Dunne was recommended by someone who knows my book tastes fairly well, so I knew I would like this crazy tale. What I didn’t realize was just how much I would like it, I guess.
20. What makes you love a book? When I relate so much with a character that it’s like, “I have felt this too!”, or when it’s all I can think, or when I refuse to leave the house without it, or after turning the last page it’s all I want to think about, or can think about, or makes me think and feel something. It needs to transport me, either somewhere familiar or different, just somewhere else. Does this make sense?

What are you currently reading? What is your comfort zone or, maybe more importantly, discomfort zone? 

Is Providing Honest Opinions the Same as Having a Big Mouth?

I love October, and not just because I was born in this month. 

I love the feeling of change in the air. There is a freshness and crispness like no other season. It makes me think of chili and chocolate (though chocolate is always on my mind) and pumpkins. The sun glows differently too. Lower, and it feels softer on my face somehow.

The leaves are slow to change this year, it seems. Maybe because we’ve enjoyed some Indian Summer days these last few weeks. Hands down, watching the trees burn bright is one of my very favorite things.

Most of all, October signifies change to me. Do you feel it too?

I have noticed a change in myself recently. I am doing something, on occasion, that I never used to do. When asked for it, I am giving my (honest) opinion. And I am not doing it all the time. Baby steps.

In times past, my response to a question like “How did you like it?” might result in an enthusiastic gushing if I liked/loved whatever it was. If I had a negative opinion, I would respond, “It was good.” or “Fine.” Something extremely simple.

[If you are sick of hearing me talk about yoga, bear with me for a minute because I am baring my feelings here, and it is part of my change, I promise.]

After every class I take, which is usually 5 a week, the instructor asks for feedback. I sure hope they are asking because they really want to know because I have started to provide an honest assessment of how I felt about the class. After all, didn’t we just spent 60 minutes listening to him/her instructing us?

I am diplomatic. I choose words carefully. I believe in “it’s not what you say (usually), but how you say it (my kids are still tired of me relying on this phrase, though it is so very true)”. Plus, I am not a mean spirited person.

My problem is…

I think I got someone fired for giving my opinion. Well not fired fired, but removed as an instructor of the more advanced level Monday morning class. I confidentially provided honest and constructive feedback to the studio manager when she specifically asked what I thought of the class I’d just finished. Very nicely, but firmly I gave my honest opinion, which was the teacher in question did not instruct the class to the level expected. Not even close.

The instructor has never been on the studio schedule again. I feel more than a little crappy about it. My hope is she is at another studio teaching the level with which she is more suited. Still, I feel crummy.

I am going to continue taking baby steps toward speaking up when asked for my opinion when it’s negative, and I haven’t figured out a really good way to apply this change outside of Core Power Yoga in my “real” life, in particular, because I never want to hurt the feeling of those I care about. And forget about giving unsolicited advice. I will just keep quiet.

Would/do people ask for feedback if they really don’t want it? I am afraid of this…