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                 with Heart, Humor & Optimism (H20 to Go! )

        

 

        *View From The Paw! Every Friday (at right)                     


           *Daily* Heart, Humor or Optimism 

 


  
 

 Sunday March 7

Day 61/365.

 Humor: Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin hosting the Academy Awards (I hope!)

 

Saturday March 6

 60/365

Optimist: Day-dreamer more elegantly spelled.

 

 

Well, I thought I’d be able to write on Friday-what was I thinking?  I arrived in Berkeley and was going non-stop from the minute I landed.

Berkeley-what can I say? If Los Angeles was the Land of Avatar gone Hollywood,then Berkeley is the Land of Avatar gone 60’s. I am of the original 60’s. The tie-dye, long haired, flower power generation who spent hours debating politics and social issues, and when some were not demonstrating against the Vietnam War, were at Woodstock or listening to rock, jazz, Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley, That was my era, although truth be known, I did not like crowds so demonstrations and rock concerts were not part of my bio. I also grew up, and out, worked, married, became a mom and an Independent.

 

But, I arrive in the Land of Avatar-Berkeley and am immediately transported back. It is not as if I see that many aging hippies-but, it's rather that I see any, and enough to notice! There is something almost eerie about an aging hippie. It’s like looking at the male version of an aging blond who still wants to go “Barbarella”. I want to say-No! Go get new clothes.  We’re not there anymore.  That was then and it was great in real time. Now, you just look like a relic in a museum.

 

Also, everything is dramatically “green”. If heaven forbid I were rushed, or simply wanted the thrill of engaging in banned behavior, and put trash in the wrong receptacle I would be in fear of sirens going off, a Green Patrol swooping down on me, and greenies demanding to see my environmental credentials!

 

My childhood friend lives not five minutes from here.  She is an excellent homeopath. And, I love visiting her. I always eat so well when I am out here. I do truly love the food in California.  And I also realize that as an ex-New Yorker, and 24 year Washingtonian, it’s really important to get out of East Coastdum and be amongst other lifestyles and patterns. I am sitting in a local cafe waiting for her to finish up with a client. So, I get to look around.  At first glance, the people in the café look no different from anyone I might see in Washington, at a local Starbucks, except- no business attire on anyone. no sense of rushed purpose in expression or walk. I look at the older faces and wonder where they were back then? I look at the younger faces and wonder what they think of Washington? I wonder what they would think of me?

 

Sitting in a café in Berkeley, in the Land of Avatar gone mellow. Can I deal with that? Absolutely.  I shall be returning to the other side of mellow none too soon.
Stayed tuned!

Friday March 5

59/365

Heart: My little dog -- a heartbeat at my feet.
--Edith Wharton.

Thursday March 4  

58/365

Humor: Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window!
-- Steve Bluestone

Wednesday March 3

heart.jpg heart image by danielle__X3
57/365
Heart: Tree of Heart=Tree of Life

 

Wednesday March 3-From California

Time Change in the Land of Avatar
I get back to the hotel after taking 4 of my son's friends to dinner. What fun to watch kids eat like they are on a perpetual economic fast that gets broken only when a parent arrives to force feed them with the bribe of lots of free food! Once fed, they are so much fun to be around--so full of purpose and drive, and humor!

I return some email, etc. then look at the time. It is 11pm. I think -3 hour difference-maybe my husband is still in his office-it's only 8pm there-I call the office, no answer. Good, I think, he's not working late. I call home.
He answers right away-are you ok? Is everything all right?
Yes, I'm fine, I answer confused. Why?
Do you realize that it's 2 o'clock in the morning?

Why, when I was returning emails and my computer read 2:00am, did I dismiss it with a simple-hmm, ‘that's weird!' It's not as if this is my first time in California. Was is it that the boots in 62 degrees had a trickle down affect and completely disoriented me? (See March 1 blog)

 

Going to sleep in the land of Avatar at 3:09am eastern standard time-when I wake up who knows!

 

Tuesday March 2

Day 56/365

 Optimism: Every blade of grass has its Angel

that bends over it and whispers,

"Grow, grow."(The Talmud)

  

 
  Monday, March 1-From California!
 

Day 55/365

Humor: Me traveling!
Landing in the Land of Avatar!
I leave my house at 5am in the morning and it is a windy chilly 30 degrees. It is the first time in over 2 months that I have not had on serious snow boots or Uggs! I arrive in southern California. I look out the plane window and have to put on my sunglasses. The pilot announces that it is a sunny, balmy 62 degrees. 62 degrees!!!  I cannot remember what 62 degrees feels like!  I descend the plank. (We are in Long Beach-I love this old-fashioned Casablanca airport!) and make my way in this heavenly warmth into the airport lounge towards baggage claim. There are people seated all around.  And what do I see on the women and girls? Boots!! Not only boots, but Uggs!!! They are wearing Uggs!!!  What is wrong with this picture! 62 degrees is their winter? Their feet are cold?
I think I would die in Uggs in 62 degrees. So, I guess it is a good thing I am from the East Coast where winter is a real winter, and where we put on boots because otherwise we’d be ankle deep in snow or freezing cold! I look down at my feet.  I have just put on sandals and my feet feel as if they have just been let out of lockdown!
So, it’s me in my sandals walking amidst them in their Uggs. What can I say? I have seen Avatar. I can learn their language!
Stay tuned!

 H20 to Go! Growing Emotional Resilience & Navigating Through Childhood with Heart, Humor & Optimism
 by Margo Judge
 Latest Post: Installment #49 & 50               

Link: Conclusion: Heart, Humor & Optimism Revisted

& Final Letter

 

 

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 With Heart, Humor & Optimism, All Things Are Possible

 

 

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Oh no! Not another 'On Sale' sign! She's going in!
Time to negotiate! One scoop, vanilla, in a cup!
(Tonka spending 'quality' time with Mom)

 
Friday's View From The Paw!
(Become a Fan of View From The Paw on Facebook!)
 
Friday February 26
 
Sunday On The Couch with George?

Ok.  I do not want to hear another word about my being too big to get on the bed, or the couch in the kitchen-yes, my owner mom does have a couch in the kitchen.  This was the result of a long held fantasy that began when she lived in NYC and according to her, kitchens were the size of closets!  When she bought and renovated our house, the very first thing she decided was that she would have a big kitchen with a couch in it.  It's great. Everyone squeezes onto it to watch games, or news  or a movie.  


 
Well, when I get on it, I do take up a lot of room. I am not as big as my owner mom's former Bernese Mountain Dog who weighed 120 pounds- but I am also no micro. I weigh a solid 85 pounds!  Not one of those dogs that shrinks three sizes when wet!  Anyway, it is hard for everyone to fit when I am on the couch and it becomes a dog eat human world to see who gets to the couch first!


 
So, I have a strategy. First I scratch a lot at the door to be let out.  I am let out.  Then I scratch to get back in. I am let back in.  Then I beg for food from the table. I am told no!  Then I go back to the front door and scratch.  After I see the frustration in my owner Mom's face and she looks at me and says enough, I make my move! I put my head down and look sad and move very slowly back into the kitchen towards the couch. Everyone is still having dinner. I yawn. I jump up on the couch, lay down and get very, very cozy. Then, I pretend to fall fast asleep, I even snore a little. When it comes time for everyone to move to the couch (to watch the Olympics, for example) who can move a big sleeping dog?  So my owner Dad usually ends up sitting on a kitchen chair.
 
But I do feel a little conflicted, because if I stretch out too much and no one can sit down next to me, I don't get any tummy rubs. So, I do try to move over just enough for one o human to sit.

 But then I see your picture, George, George On His Bed and I think that there is absolutely no reason for me to feel the least bit guilty!  If your owner can negotiate your 245lbs  on a bed, then my owners can deal with me!
 
So, Owner Mom, Owner Dad, Ben & Laura---I am looking forward to the great couch race!  Bring it on! 
Better still, how about a George size couch so everyone can fit and I can invite George over to watch The Dog Whisperer!
Have a very George on the Couch weekend!
Tonka
Oh, I forgot to say that I will be on vacation at the same time my owner Mom is on vacation. I will talk to you again on Friday, march 12th
If you miss me too much, read my archive.  And remember, raising a human can be tough at times, but in the end, they end up just fine!


 
 For more View From The Paw clickView From The Paw Archive

 
   
 
This puts human relationships to shame!

Comments to Tonka c/o MomOpinionMatters

View From The Paw -

Copyright, 2009
By Margo Judge Permission granted for reprinting with
Attribution to Margo@MomOpinion Matters 

IMPORTANT LINKS
(The best Child Abuse & Safety Website!)
 
(Absolutely a must for all teenage girls and mothers!)
 
(Terrific for all sorts of specific issues.  Very Informative)
 
(An Overview of the H20 Philosophy)

 Love Our Children USA (follow updates on Twitter)      

(the best Child Abuse & Safety Website!)

Children and Homeopathy  (Autism)

The #1 Amber Alert for Pets! FindToto.Com (What a great idea!)

 Pet Insurance (VPI Pet Insurance

Great website addressing serious mental health issues on college campuses

Stomp Out Bullying

 

 

 

Copyright, 2009
By MomOpinion Matters (TM)
All rights reserved.
All material on this website protected.
Permission granted for reprinting with
Attribution to Margo@MomOpinion Matters (TM)