. . . in the distant, early morning . . .

Nah, this has nothing to do with Santa.

I’ve decided to do something drastic.  I have a lot of “crap” - stuff I don’t even know I have, in the attic and garage.  I’m not use to having space, and I’ve done a good job of filling up those extra storage areas.

I’ve decided to start cleaning up.  My goal is to have my only what I actually use - or in other words, “What would I keep if I were moving?”  Moving always entails donations/recycling/throwing stuff out, so I’m going to do that now. 

Not immediately, but my thought is to do 30-60 minutes of that a week until everything is outta here and I really only have the stuff I use. I’ll store some stuff - things like ethernet cables, HDMI cables, that I don’t need now will remain.  But the rest is going to Goodwill or Salvation Army.  Most of it isn’t actually junk - it’s just stuff I don’t need, and that I don’t particularly want taking up space.

The ultimate goal is to clear out the attic in case I ever decide to finish it (would add approximately 200 sq ft, at least).  Get stored stuff organized in my over-sized garage, hopefully I won’t have that much stuff in there. 

I’ve always liked to have little “stored stuff”, believing that if I don’t need it within a year - I probably just don’t need it.  Things like photo albums are obviously exempt, but I don’t have any.  If it’s in a box I never look in - then I won’t miss it, eh?

Doing this a little at a time will make it seem like less work.  I’m lazy, so “less work” is good for me.  But this is work that needs to get done, so I’ll just portion it out.

Meanwhile, there is an Aatu Tamaskan litter only 15 minutes away.  There’s a lot of political hubbub between Tamaskan groups.  I’ve met the two Tamaskans that made these pups and love them.  I don’t particularly need 3 dogs right now, but the temptation is hitting me kinda hard.  It’s made easier only by the fact that I really want a rottie next - but Tamaskans are super high on the list and I’ve been eyeing the for years (even considered importing I want one so badly).

*sighs*

-Lisa, on September 6, 2010 at 2:47 pm .::. Comment (0)

Milton has not been an easy dog to feed.  Oh, he loves to eat - eating is no problem.  But all varieties of kibble give him varying levels of stomach problems.  On top of this, he’s had an ongoing battle with Giardia.  He’s also bathroomed more than any dog I know.

He’s not been on a raw diet because he seems to be sensitive to chicken - our staple.  However, Winco has been carrying some excellent different cuts of variety meats.  Milton’s last meal of kibble ran out on Friday morning, and Friday evening - after coming back from boarding, he went right on to raw.

I started with chicken.

Now this may seem a weird choice given that I think he’s sensitive to it.  His symptoms, though, are teary eyes and itchiness.  These are two things he seems to suffer from all the time and I need to work with Dr. Huff on figuring that out.  In the mean-time, chicken is hands-down the easiest raw to switch dogs onto, easiest on their stomach and to digest.  So far, he’s had two raw chicken meals (wings to start) and he’s doing super well.  No more itchy than normal, no more weeping than normal.  He seems to be going to the bathroom less already and seems overall more comfortable.

In a few weeks I’ll start adding some turkey (have an order in already for 10lbs of turkey necks and backs at New Seasons).  Then I’ll add in some red meats, like beef.  After that he’ll just go on the normal variety that Elka get, at least that’s my plan.

I am really a huge proponent of a raw diet, and now with two dogs on it I think I’ll actively cooperate in the local co-op for raw food products.  Can save a ton of money once I figure out how that works.  It’s a healthy diet that can ultimately be less expensive than a kibble diet.  I’m happy to have both dogs on this now.

Now just to see if it fixes Milton’s ongoing stomach issues.

-Lisa, on September 4, 2010 at 11:20 am .::. Comment (0)

Here I sit, nursing a rum & coke, watching tv, and just relaxing.  I’ve spent time this evening loving Milton, Elka, and Mali.  Mostly I’ve recovered.  Traveling to Seattle was a great, enjoyable experience.  But any travel takes a different type of energy than used every day.

I’ve also been re-reading what I posted whilst staring at the beautiful scenery out the windows of the train.

Mom called and asked me, very worried, if I was happy.  She’d read that post.  I never intended to alarm anyone.  I am extremely happy.  I have a beautiful family, a gorgeous house.  I have a job that I love with a team of people that I am extremely proud of.  I have wonderful friends, both local and around the globe. 

This isn’t the life I envisioned myself in when I was younger.  When I was younger, I envisioned the man, the dogs, the white picket fence.  There’s no man here, and there’s no picket fence.  I’ve done this on my own.  HOW FUCKING COOL IS THAT?  I am undeniably successful, though in ways I had never dreamt of.  I don’t know what my future holds, but I think my present is so wonderful that it borders on unbelievable.

I saw someone complain a few weeks ago, one of my friends, that people always bemoaned their lives.  I have my moments of depression, of thoughtfulness, of regrets, of hopes and dreams.  But I wouldn’t change my now.  My now has some failures, but it has a great many more successes that far, far, far outshadow the failures.

Here is a toast to my wonderful family, my friends, my team-mates and the wonderful community that supports us.  Here is to the all of the strangers that I met the last few days, that were friends for a brief time, to the friends not yet met, and the strangers I’ll never meet.

Life is a grand adventure; sometimes it is confusing, a wild ride.  Sometimes I look back and wonder.

And sometimes, I look around me in wonderment.  What a strange and wonderful experience this life turns out to be.

-Lisa, on September 3, 2010 at 9:14 pm .::. Comment (0)