Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Am I Tasteless or Timeless?

I am starting to see a pattern and it appears to be telling me that I may not be as cool and hip as I thought I was. I regularly and avidly read the section of popular magazines called "who wore it better?". I always cover the answer while I study the picture with the eye of a frequent "Project Runway" and "America's Next Top Model" viewer. So you can see I am pretty well trained. I select my choice and look at the answer - 95% of the time I'm wrong. Maybe not "wrong" in my book, but "wrong" according to whatever low class people they survey to get their answers. I think that I can put myself together quite nicely, when needed. I can mix and match things in my wardrobe with items that even surprise me. But I can't seem to tell "who wore it better". That in itself didn't mean I wasn't cool.

Then I started reviewing things I bought through Amazon. I love writing comments about all of the cool things I now own. I take it very seriously but try to add a little humor to brighten people's days. I'm considerate that way. After a few weeks, I went back to my reviews to see if people gave me "helpful votes". Yes, I certainly got a few but not the big numbers I have seen on some reviews. Then I noticed that many of my cool products were no longer available. Unfortunately I don't think it was because they were so popular that they ran out of them. I think that most people just never knew they needed them. So my "anti theft strap" or as I call it now "a long plastic strap with a "thingy" on the end" and my cool folding dog dish are no more - unavailable.

Could my taste be in question or am I just ahead of the rest of the population? Am I style-innovative or style-less? Did I miss a season of "Project Accessory"? Does Amazon laugh at my purchases or are they in awe of my choices? Maybe I'm just uniquely eclectic - yeah, that's it. Come on world, catch up!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Wanderlust Dog

They say that children watch and learn everything that their parents say and do. And when I say "everything" I mean when parents say "where did they hear that word?" everything. I think my dog child is doing the same thing.

We just got back from a long trip overseas and he was a trouper. He seemed to be very excited to be home. But now when I try to walk him in our neighborhood, he drags himself around like he is on his last leg. His tail is low, he walks so slow that I have to keep turning around to be sure he hasn't fallen asleep standing up. After walking about three houses away, he stops and won't move until I call him to me. Then he does a little hop to help me pick him up and is content to finish his walk in my arms. Do you know how stupid it looks carrying a dog on his walk? I seriously thought he might be dying of something. I took him to the vet because he has the beginning of hip displasia and started talking about surgery. These walks around the block were worrying me and I was ready to say yes to the surgery - poor guy.

Then I took him with me to do a little shopping and opened the door to get him out of the car to walk in the field of the Target parking lot. I went to gently pick him up - poor guy - when he just about jumped over me to get out the door. His tail was wagging furiously, he was prancing and running every way he could within leash length. I could barely keep up with him as he headed for the field while stopping to do a few pee drops on any tree or bush we passed. After about 20 minutes, we headed back to the car. When I opened the door, he put on is doggie breaks, back on the heals of all four paws, and refused to get in the car. I think this is one of the times he hates that he is only 7 pounds because I just lift him up, stiff legs and all and settle him back into the car.

By the time we are home, he has become Mr Gloomy Dog again. I kinda understand the feeling because I get excited when we travel. I think we can put off that surgery for now and instead get out the maps. He is so much like me - is it nature or nurture?