tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862498860385296052024-02-19T13:55:05.716-08:00Wende WritesWriter, traveler, java junkie, trekkie, and book addict. Mother of three boys, puppy wrangler, and master of the Nespresso machine.Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-24220824208536207562016-04-05T06:16:00.003-07:002016-04-05T06:37:52.272-07:00Inkspell Cover Reveals What a great way to start a new month - with cover reveals from two of my Inkspell Publishing peeps. These covers are absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on these books!<br />
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<b>The first is from M.S. Kaye:</b><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 20.0pt;">Once<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">by M.S. Kaye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Her first and also her once.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Jonathan and
Rebecca’s paths cross at exactly the right moment, when each most needs to hear
what the other has to say.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But Jonathan
is three days from entering the priesthood, and Rebecca leaves him to his
peace. But he is unable to find peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Without each
other’s comfort and strength, they must each struggle to forge a new path, with
only memories of the one day that changed everything.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But are they able to forget and let
go?</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 14.25pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Will be released 7/2/16 by Inkspell Publishing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Author Bio<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
M. S. Kaye
has several published books under her black belt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She writes in genres ranging from
contemporary romance, to romantic suspense, to paranormal young adult. As s 4<sup>th</sup>
degree black belt and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo, she enjoys
bringing some of that kick-butt attitude to her stories. A transplant from
Ohio, she resides with her husband Corey in Jacksonville, FL, where she does
her best not to melt in the sun.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Once-Book-1-MS-Kaye-ebook/dp/B01DQ6JVE0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1459862120&sr=1-1&keywords=once+by+ms+kaye">Available for preorder on Amazon!</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "cambria";"><b>And from Susan V. Vaughn:</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "cambria";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 20pt;">The Pixie Queen<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "cambria";">by Susan V. Vaughn</span></div>
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In the small town of Caseville strange things have occurred…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the time Jane Hensley was little, she knew she was
different. Instead of hanging out with friends, she was often in the woods,
alone, chanting magical words that filled her with power and effected the
environment around her. A sudden summer storm on a perfectly sunny day. Monster
waves crashing into the shores of Lake Huron. Strange things happening in
nature with no rhyme or reason. Residents are mystified by these occurrences,
but would never dream they could come from Plain Jane Hensley, the girl that
was so quiet, it was like she wasn’t there at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But David Reynolds, the town’s football star, has noticed
Jane. In fact he has been secretly in love with the strange girl for years. And
on the morning of her sixteenth birthday, he is determined to finally reveal
his heart to her. Instead David discovers Jane’s powerful secret. A secret that
has brought a magical stranger to their town. One who claims to be a Pixie
King, and entices Jane on a quest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now David must choose whether to allow the girl of his dreams
to disappear forever. Or follow her on a journey that defies logic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About the Author:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Romance Author, Susan V. Vaughn understood the meaning of
sarcasm before she could walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
childhood in the suburbs of Detroit was spent mainly trying to outwit her six
creative siblings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she wasn’t
working on the next soul crushing jab, she sharpened her imagination on
romantic literature and day dreamed about her knight in shining armor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It didn’t take long for Susan to take her passion for
reading romances into writing her own unique love stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Susan lives her life finding laughter in all
situations, and delights in marrying sarcasm with romance to create realistic
falling-in-love stories in the unlikeliest of scenarios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Susan lives on the shores of Lake Huron with her real life
knight in shining armor and enjoys watching their three children learn the art
of sarcasm and wit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://amzn.com/B01DPP14RO">Available for preorder on Amazon!</a></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-18148144719782588872016-03-16T16:14:00.001-07:002016-03-17T04:27:54.364-07:00Little Things Blog Hop<div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_-3eIr6P0ZgmZszF79gJ6LTa2iMKo5zZSo18Cle8SEYB9QEmUpwkaa6rlLaXDg2kOrthxR7gFzkoKS1iUcFAvGevCroDZhGTbOZwXmp4ld2VR5eEyhjcMnuJpZev_oCIya_rvumlUvM/s1600/970382_1043780735678282_1906120494922700435_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_-3eIr6P0ZgmZszF79gJ6LTa2iMKo5zZSo18Cle8SEYB9QEmUpwkaa6rlLaXDg2kOrthxR7gFzkoKS1iUcFAvGevCroDZhGTbOZwXmp4ld2VR5eEyhjcMnuJpZev_oCIya_rvumlUvM/s320/970382_1043780735678282_1906120494922700435_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hello, lovelies!</div>
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Welcome to the 6th stop on the Little Things Blog Hop. Make sure you visit each stop and enter the posted giveaway. Also, don't forget to enter the grand prize on Rafflecopter - a $50 amazon gift card grand prize and tons of other prizes, too. The info for this is posted below.</div>
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My good friend Colleen Meyers put this together as a way to celebrate the little things in life. We all have big things that matter, like family and friends, but what are the little things? For me it's pretty easy, but I'll only name the top three. </div>
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1. I love a warm cup of coffee on a cool, rainy morning, especially if I have a soft chair to curl up on and books to read.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDebna0i-8-uB82M5XFXhDB1jkPtH3sJvh1ubiY8JPEoFnCk0Lyrucu1LVQjATEPtRB_n2uwFVs5hXVDw0oQDsjBkAc_XWeYZ0EhP5d9qAh6yi1eSItwcW4hFKTS-Cko1zZFoQ7SaBcc8/s1600/photo+three+rainy+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDebna0i-8-uB82M5XFXhDB1jkPtH3sJvh1ubiY8JPEoFnCk0Lyrucu1LVQjATEPtRB_n2uwFVs5hXVDw0oQDsjBkAc_XWeYZ0EhP5d9qAh6yi1eSItwcW4hFKTS-Cko1zZFoQ7SaBcc8/s320/photo+three+rainy+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. Cozy socks and a snoozing puppy on my feet. This is Capone the Wonder Dog. He has his own FB page (don't judge me), and he's kind of famous. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Capone-the-Wonder-Dog-911837042208982/">Capone's Facebook page </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dj3Vs2rUuO7uleDXymZu_aa49iyZsOcg0haUybgY9YeNMni3E6LCrpAtCGttOWpb8jTPvQON-37LnZnYqL9jUe7nJjeRl_ult7LrmPPlo19dPrwCZaakutwurptqmbGoWNdx4HZUAq4/s1600/1517547_1298693496824222_5178248583038416757_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dj3Vs2rUuO7uleDXymZu_aa49iyZsOcg0haUybgY9YeNMni3E6LCrpAtCGttOWpb8jTPvQON-37LnZnYqL9jUe7nJjeRl_ult7LrmPPlo19dPrwCZaakutwurptqmbGoWNdx4HZUAq4/s320/1517547_1298693496824222_5178248583038416757_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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3. Enjoying a glass of red wine on a Friday night, and watching a movie with the people I care about most.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3zKg3Utjb5ifzWQJnTvmuUp1mQZ_JrR2NEmobSelOxIR9OWHKUV_yGTpNSgaAZ_GbZJzPQnhveGiHP0CcDFB6EPQzZ8hcaWutzdyzbHjfC7mGRHApi6yufvrSmAggLnpvgj_yztjaDw/s1600/c3d32899df60bf4ca58f2f1b221c80e6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3zKg3Utjb5ifzWQJnTvmuUp1mQZ_JrR2NEmobSelOxIR9OWHKUV_yGTpNSgaAZ_GbZJzPQnhveGiHP0CcDFB6EPQzZ8hcaWutzdyzbHjfC7mGRHApi6yufvrSmAggLnpvgj_yztjaDw/s320/c3d32899df60bf4ca58f2f1b221c80e6.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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What little things are important to you? If the answer is books, then you're in luck - the giveaway for this stop is an autographed or ebook copy of one of my three books. </div>
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Tiger Lily:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFwLMTOkb5Q882LOMUVJ5JltqRhngedUiducJxdQLNJrQSWDNk0G9TD7TT4HLFsnn-IMeVOwN_7EPCXVZQ2G-MqIhC9l46gTtGFU7HILp3Xrr7WMuQO2vazw8ta643G5E2KGNF63JqQw/s1600/TigerLilyFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFwLMTOkb5Q882LOMUVJ5JltqRhngedUiducJxdQLNJrQSWDNk0G9TD7TT4HLFsnn-IMeVOwN_7EPCXVZQ2G-MqIhC9l46gTtGFU7HILp3Xrr7WMuQO2vazw8ta643G5E2KGNF63JqQw/s320/TigerLilyFinal.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Lily Madison thought dying because of a bad manicure was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Waking up in the hospital and realizing she’s being stalked by an entire herd of naughty little ghosts turns her entire world upside down. She begins to doubt her own sanity until she realizes she isn’t alone. A Goth girl, named Zoe, can see the ghosts, too. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Most of the ghosts look like fuzzy blobs, but one is not blobby at all. He’s a very hot, very annoying dead guy named Nick. Although they dislike each other on sight, Nick soon realizes Lily is his only hope. With the help of Zoe and Mr. Wan, the manicurist who almost killed her, she has only days to get Nick and the other ghosts back where they belong or the whole world will be in terrible danger. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">But sending the ghosts back means saying goodbye to Nick forever, and Lily isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to let him go. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"First Wende Dikec grabs you with her fresh writing, then she keeps you in the throes of her story with an incredible voice and a gifted talent for spinning tales that will amaze and delight. I am stunned. Tiger Lily will consume you, and before you know it you are fighting for air yet begging for more. You've been warned!" </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">--NY Times Bestselling Author Darynda Jones </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018A6N548/?tag=wendedikeccom-20">More about Tiger Lily</a></span></div>
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Starr Valentine:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGksUQN6Rs9ibzT2jTvwfQQ9RXhX_XxPuvufdlhaB0Ope9ygHXwtnrNdLThUkUm9tGa7Mp7oAosupVLPJiZt0x-S9oJTWuZ7P-JZv3wM76sOW6aALnOR592Pnl4ufLn-Xm4ovs6XfpJ8/s1600/StarrValentine.v4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGksUQN6Rs9ibzT2jTvwfQQ9RXhX_XxPuvufdlhaB0Ope9ygHXwtnrNdLThUkUm9tGa7Mp7oAosupVLPJiZt0x-S9oJTWuZ7P-JZv3wM76sOW6aALnOR592Pnl4ufLn-Xm4ovs6XfpJ8/s320/StarrValentine.v4.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What happens when the beautiful swan becomes the ugly duckling? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Starr Valentine has a perfect life in Middleton, Ohio. She was named captain of the cheer squad, her mother finally allowed her to get highlights, and the cutest boy in school asked her to homecoming. But everything comes crashing down when she finds out her parents are actually monarchs in exile from a mysterious planet called Vega. Starr doesn’t want to leave, but loves the idea of being a princess, and decides moving to an alien world might not be so bad. When she gets there, however, she discovers that something is terribly wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Starr has always been the winner of the family, but now everyone is fawning over her chubby older sister, Astra. And everyone, even a handsome and annoying young duke named Julian, seems to hate her. That is when she realizes the awful truth. Astra is now the pretty one. Astra has all the friends. Astra gets all of the attention. And Starr Valentine, voted Miss Perfect, is now the ugly duckling. Her biggest fear is…will she be able to turn back into a swan, or is she doomed to be a loser forever? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AO8XJRI/?tag=wendedikeccom-20">More about Starr Valentine</a></span></div>
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Traveller:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ILR4P3XW-PWNUZPAynvIGMFNwbBUxzQItEN73ZyOED2Gi_L-oFjvlj8CjQvpRgkWDKlNrsx4-MeywpVnT3RBqNp53f6rraOAhaF2IUSddK-2v2w2FwSWAYsTp1B8HRFvSfF-EIdScyg/s1600/Traveller_w10221_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ILR4P3XW-PWNUZPAynvIGMFNwbBUxzQItEN73ZyOED2Gi_L-oFjvlj8CjQvpRgkWDKlNrsx4-MeywpVnT3RBqNp53f6rraOAhaF2IUSddK-2v2w2FwSWAYsTp1B8HRFvSfF-EIdScyg/s1600/Traveller_w10221_300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Former Junior Miss Kentucky Emerson Shaw won pageants using martial arts as her talent and Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” as her guide, but a painful secret leads her to the University of York, and puts her in the path of tattooed and pierced bad boy, Michael Nightingale. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Michael is a Traveller, part of an ancient line of mercenary gypsies who protect the world from vicious monsters called the Moktar. When Emerson gets attacked, she has no choice but accept Michael’s offer of protection or face certain death. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Traveller society, full of outdated rules and ridiculous superstitions, isn’t a good fit for the headstrong Emerson. Traveller women aren’t allowed to fight. Traveller women aren’t allowed to win. Traveller women aren’t allowed to leave. But Emerson will do what she must, even if it means losing the one person who matters most.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01APJZR12/?tag=wendedikeccom-20">More about Traveller</a></span></div>
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To Enter my giveaway</div>
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➜ Subscribe to my newsletter. <a href="http://madmimi.com/signups/177092/join">Sign up for my newsletter here!</a><br />
➜ Like my facebook author pages, both <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wendedikecwriter/">My Wende Dikec Page</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/abigaildrakewriter/">My Abigail Drake Page</a></div>
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➜ Comment below letting me know you did the above and tell me what <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/littlethings?source=feed_text&story_id=1719396564943438" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #627aad;">#</span><span class="_58cm">littlethings</span></a> inspire you.</div>
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The next stop on the hop: </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/authoraliwinters/">Ali Winters</a> </div>
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And don't forget the Rafflecopter Link:</div>
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<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba44e54f2/?">Rafflecopter Giveaway</a></div>
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Join the Little Things Blog Hop Event for more fun and giveaways. We have had so many prizes that each day there will be several giveaways on the event page. </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/562506680576207/">Little Things Event Page</a></div>
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And you can find links to all of the hop spots here: </div>
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<a href="http://theclubbookpromotions.blogspot.com/%E2%80%A6/LittleThingsBlo%E2%80%A6">Little Things Blog Hop Links</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Thank you, and happy hopping!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Winner (s) will be chosen by Mr. Random and announced on this page and on the Little Things Event Page by April 6th.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-83014258959391260862016-03-04T06:28:00.005-08:002016-03-04T06:28:57.284-08:00Cover Reveal: The Warrior Prophet by Lisa Voisin<h1>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm very excited to reveal the cover for</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">THE WARRIOR PROPHET</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">, the third
book in Lisa Voisin's</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
Watcher Saga</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">,</span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">and to share an excerpt from the book.</span></span></h1>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Mia Crawford is a prophet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">She can see angels. She also sees demons.
Everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">She knows the angels are preparing for war to get
her fallen angel boyfriend, Michael, back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A war that could take years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Haunted by visions of Michael’s soul being
tortured, Mia can’t rest until she knows he’s safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">To save him, she must make an impossible journey
through Hell. Her only guide is the one person she prayed she’d never see
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">While the angels battled outside, a
ghoulish female demon pounded a crack in the protective structure around
Michael’s hospital room with her fist. Her long, stringy black hair whipped
over her face with each blow. She struck and struck until she hit the perfect
angle. The structure cracked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Her eyes glowed red and her skin was the
color of black polished granite, wet with black slime. With a tearing sound,
like ripping silk, the crevice grew. Her form as ragged and filmy as liquid
smoke, she slipped into the crevice and poured herself through. I struggled to
make a sigil of my own and managed to make the first cone. By the second, she
was in my face. Her cold, dead stare mesmerized me and her shrieking pierced my
eardrums. But when she reached a bony arm for Michael, I reconnected to the
network and ignited the room, throwing her beyond my reach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">She picked herself up and circled the outer
edges of my halo, inching closer to test it. I dropped Michael’s chart on the
bedside table and flared my energy out further. My halo wasn’t as big or bright
as when Michael and I had been connected, but I could hold her off. I had to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;">Available April 13, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;">Pre-Order it now:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;">Amazon: Kindle: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Rkq5RK">http://amzn.to/1Rkq5RK</a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;">Amazon Print: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://amzn.to/1QJEsi4">http://amzn.to/1QJEsi4</a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;">Kobo (epub): </span><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-warrior-prophet-2</span></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;">Barnes and Noble: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-warrior-prophet-lisa-voisin/1123449947">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-warrior-prophet-lisa-voisin/1123449947</a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;">Add it on Goodreads: </span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29332802-the-warrior-prophet">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29332802-the-warrior-prophet</a></span></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-29281478264306979402016-02-19T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-19T05:00:00.728-08:00Cover Reveal for Kisses on a Paper Airplane<div class="MsoNormal">
Today we're celebrating the cover reveal for Sarah Vance-Tompkins, a fellow Inkspell Author and all-around cool person. Isn't it gorgeous??</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNUduUdcUuCfXSppi4Mc2kFtI6krO624SfNR1cKAOsH5KZeoIt9gfLhCcZWpU87MeNKC8UF0ZxMRX6P7Gyr92nmvXQe9s1i-8svrwmTG5VJiECKc7fjQf2ltkFwsf3mQCcYxqRbwA2ys/s1600/KissesOnAPaperAirplane.v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNUduUdcUuCfXSppi4Mc2kFtI6krO624SfNR1cKAOsH5KZeoIt9gfLhCcZWpU87MeNKC8UF0ZxMRX6P7Gyr92nmvXQe9s1i-8svrwmTG5VJiECKc7fjQf2ltkFwsf3mQCcYxqRbwA2ys/s320/KissesOnAPaperAirplane.v3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Drama student Hannah Evans isn't kissing any frogs on her
path to find Prince Charming. She's determined to share the perfect first kiss
-- with the perfect boy -- in the perfect place -- or she's not kissing at all.
When Hannah meets a cute ginger-haired boy in first class lounge in the London
airport, she knows he's 'The One.' <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Pop star Theo Callahan is on the road to get as far away as
possible from his back-stabbing best friend, and his supermodel girlfriend who
broke his heart. Until one shy smile from Hannah has him rethinking all of his
travel plans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Theo is smitten, but he's worried she's just a groupie in
search of the ultimate selfie. Can Theo learn to trust Hannah in time to share
one perfect first kiss, or will Hannah be forced to kiss a frog?<o:p></o:p></div>
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~~~~~~~~</div>
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An excerpt from Kisses on a Paper Airplane:</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Let’s get real. I
had never even kissed a boy. Should I really start with a pop star? I needed to
get at least a little practice in first. Julia was right. I needed to kiss my
way through a whole bunch of frogs before I attempted to kiss someone as close
to perfect as Theo Callahan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I took a deep
breath and ducked out of sight behind a pillar, my fears too overwhelming to
face talking to him again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">What if Theo
Callahan <i>was </i>my first kiss? Then what would happen?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I closed my eyes
and imagined Theo Callahan brushing his lips over mine. Just the thought of it
made me jittery, as if I’d downed a triple shot of espresso. My eyes opened
wide. My pulse was racing. My heart was in my throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">There was no way I
could kiss Theo Callahan. Not for reals. Not if I had to talk to him, too. Yes,
T would be the perfect boy to share my first kiss, but if I had to carry on a
coherent conversation with Theo Callahan before, during, and after, it just
wasn’t going to happen. Especially when I was going to have to deal with all of
“the feels” I was sure kissing would bring. I had enough on my plate dealing
with school, my mom’s wedding, and another plane flight after my layover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I’d seen enough
movies to know what a great kiss looked like, but having never been kissed, I
had no idea what it would feel like—not just to touch someone’s lips with mine,
but I was even more curious about “the feels” Julia mentioned she always had
when she kissed a cute boy she’d been crushing on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I couldn’t do it. I
couldn’t talk to Theo Callahan, let alone kiss him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
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~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></div>
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About the Author:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sarah Vance-Tompkins was born in a small town in northern
Michigan. She received an MFA in Film Production from the University of
Southern California, and went on to work in feature film development. Prior to
film school, she wrote and produced radio and television commercials. A working
writer, she has been paid to write everything from obituaries and press
releases to breathless descriptions of engagement rings. She and her husband,
The Handsomest Man Alive™, live in Southern California with three cats.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>~~~~~~~</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Links to pre-order Sarah's book:</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BTEUL86?*Version*=1&*entries*=0">On Amazon</a></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/kisses-on-a-paper-airplane">On Kobo</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Congratulations, Sarah!</div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-42356565839094188382016-02-15T11:09:00.007-08:002016-02-15T11:09:54.474-08:00Cover Reveal for Bridie HallToday is the cover reveal day for my fellow Inkspell author, Bridie Hall. Isn't it gorgeous? And since my boys are off on a ski trip today, it's quite appropriate! <div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxJALcZnINGmwajwrGSvglWCmdefTQAsLdz6BgJrpaiHTKwVVszBTA0tNhBChqjkugW1W5A34IrOIJWmSp2eHpxXVHwqtK5K06pYBCCFMuSLiOk200wsdhEs5IfA_tvINADE1vpyIeyU/s1600/OnTheSlopes.v1-Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxJALcZnINGmwajwrGSvglWCmdefTQAsLdz6BgJrpaiHTKwVVszBTA0tNhBChqjkugW1W5A34IrOIJWmSp2eHpxXVHwqtK5K06pYBCCFMuSLiOk200wsdhEs5IfA_tvINADE1vpyIeyU/s320/OnTheSlopes.v1-Final.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Here is a bit about the book:</u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB">Snowboarding means everything to Charlise, but
she hasn’t met Sam Miller yet.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Charlise is
a snowboarder with a promising career ahead of her. Despite the fact that her
father hates her risking her life on the slopes that had taken the life of
Charlise’s mother she is determined not to give up her career the way her
mother did when she fell pregnant. Charlise wants to win medals, lots of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The last
distraction Charlise needs is the American freestyle champion, Sam Miller, who
utterly enthrals her with his wit and friendliness. Refusing to risk her career
for a relationship, Charlise returns home for Christmas, determined to sort
things out with her father. But the holidays culminate in an epic fight, and
with a repeat of the painful breakup with Sam. However, new discoveries from
her family’s past might change Charlise’s mind about Sam …</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<u><b>And here is an excerpt - just to tempt you a bit further:</b></u><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Can you drive stick?” Once the rain let up in the
afternoon, Sam needed to go into town. It was his turn to buy groceries.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure.” Charlise grabbed at the chance to get out of the
house because so much testosterone was doing her head in. “Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sam let out a breath. “You’re driving, then. I don’t get
these European cars. Why can’t they be automatic?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She chuckled, thrilled to be better at this than one of the
boys.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sam and Todd were from the US, while Thor was German. Most
of the film crew was American, hired by their American sponsor. She was the
only French on the team.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Aren’t men supposed to be tech savvy?” she teased him as
she started the car and turned up the heater. The temperatures had dropped to
around zero, and snow had been forecast for the evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not being able to drive stick is not a gender thing, it’s
cultural,” he said indignantly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She snickered. “Freud would have a field day with you
mentioning stick and gender in the same sentence.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Har fucking har,” Sam said, but, despite his grumpy tone, a
smile curved his lips.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s a good thing, anyway,” she said smugly. “You not being
able to drive around at least means you can’t kick me out because you need me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m sure there are others on the team who can drive stick,”
he said, challenging her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She glanced at him with a grin. “I’m sure.” After a pause,
she added, “But none of the boys are as cute as me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He chuckled, but it annoyed her that he didn’t agree. He
always liked to flirt with all the girls at snowboarding competitions, but he
never flirted with her. She didn’t feel comfortable being singled out this way.
She liked it when boys flirted with her. It made her feel powerful, and it was
a big letdown Sam wouldn’t grant her the power.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>And last, but not least, the links to preorder her book:</u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/on-the-slopes">Buy it on Kobo</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BJVJKIG?*Version*=1&*entries*=0">Buy it on Amazon</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Congratulations to Bridie on your beautiful new book!</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D386249886038529605%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9xa1txFnAnE%2FVsIhNOnt8LI%2FAAAAAAAAASA%2FpwibaId6z5k%2Fs320%2FOnTheSlopes.v1-Final.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=j2ZH9e6UQdYs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 246px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 72px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D386249886038529605%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9xa1txFnAnE%2FVsIhNOnt8LI%2FAAAAAAAAASA%2FpwibaId6z5k%2Fs320%2FOnTheSlopes.v1-Final.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=j2ZH9e6UQdYs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 246px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 72px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-75580433568532425822016-01-28T09:27:00.000-08:002016-01-28T09:29:50.898-08:00My (not so) Secret Identity<div class="MsoNormal">
Several people have asked why I have two names as an author.
There are many reasons, but I think I can explain it best if I ask you to imagine
each of my writing personae as two very different people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wende Dikec is my real name. As an author, she is appropriate
for all audiences. The kind of person your mother would love and you would
trust to babysit your kids. She doesn’t swear. She isn’t inappropriate. Her
books are light and funny, but with some sad moments and a powerful message, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abigail Drake is my pen name. Abigail is more of a drinking
buddy, the person who is a lot of fun, but not necessarily someone you want
your kids to hang out with until they get a little older. She can be a inappropriate
at times. Not “Fifty Shades” inappropriate, but her books do have
sexual content and they are really best for an older audience. Although
Abigail’s debut novel is rated “PG 13 – spicy, sexy”, I personally would not
want a 13 year old to read her books. An 18 year old would be fine, and
possibly even a 17 year old (although my middle son is 17 and I can’t imagine
him ever reading them).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have teenagers. I teach writing to children. I want to be
as careful as possible not to expose anyone to Abigail Drake until they are
ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t hide the fact that I’m
both Wende and Abigail, but I wouldn’t want someone to pick up one of Abigail’s
books and think it might be similar to Wende’s. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p>
<o:p>That's why I have two separate websites. <a href="http://www.abigaildrake.com/">Abigail's website</a> has a link to <a href="http://www.wendedikec.com/">Wende's website</a>, but not vice-versa. I have two of everything now - including Facebook pages, email addresses, and even Pinterest accounts. It can be a pain, and I feel like one of my personalities is sometimes neglected, but it works better this way.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>And now I have to worry about giving each of my personalities equal love and attention. Geesh. You can see exactly how ridiculous this can be sometimes.</o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The easiest way to sum it up is to say my mother reads all
of my Wende Dikec books, but so far I’ve kept her away from Abigail. There are
some things she really doesn’t want to know, but soon I'll have no control over it. TRAVELLER will be released on
February 26, 2016, and my mom has her own Amazon account. She can buy whatever she
wants, so it’s out of my hands. I guess I’m doomed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can you still be grounded if you’re over forty? Wende is an
angel, but Abigail might get a time out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01APJZR12/?tag=wendedikeccom-20">To buy Traveller on Amazon</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018A6N548/?tag=wendedikeccom-20">To buy Tiger Lily on Amazon</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6hhyEpF32VJH4yeG04Ihmukmhga8PuaO0yd055vZqiy8Rl3ueybPmVTxNvOPk-zXyFxy-I7zjqaK2dCTxaje4pA9R-4mWHWf4OMZjJjkuL4JjNqEmYewxl8DDtUn_R5LMk60Ph7qtdc/s1600/TigerLilyFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6hhyEpF32VJH4yeG04Ihmukmhga8PuaO0yd055vZqiy8Rl3ueybPmVTxNvOPk-zXyFxy-I7zjqaK2dCTxaje4pA9R-4mWHWf4OMZjJjkuL4JjNqEmYewxl8DDtUn_R5LMk60Ph7qtdc/s320/TigerLilyFinal.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-79115023109877218682016-01-05T07:39:00.001-08:002016-01-05T07:39:34.123-08:00Questions for my Editor<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt;">I was lucky enough to have the wonderful Vicky
Burkholder edit two of my books, TIGER LILY (which comes out on January 13,
2016) and STARR VALENTINE (which will be released in March of 2016). She’s an
absolute pleasure to work with, but I couldn’t help being a bit curious. How
does a writer become an editor? It seems like wearing two very different hats.
Vicky was kind enough to answer several of my questions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">How did
you become an editor?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I've always been good with grammar, I guess. So
when a writing friend asked me to look over her manuscript (a very long time
ago!), I did. She was an editor with a now-gone publisher and recommended me
for an opening they had and the rest, as they say, is history. Over they years,
I've done novels (in every genre you can think of), policy and procedures
manuals for businesses and organizations, college-level textbooks in several
subjects and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">What do
you like most about your job? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I like being able to help authors hone their work
to its best. Plus, I get such a variety of things to work on from fiction to
non-fiction and every genre and subject you can think of. It's all good. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Does
being an editor affect your own writing? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Unfortunately, yes, but in both good ways and bad.
The good is that I rarely turn in a manuscript that needs a lot of work. The
bad is that by the end of a day spent fine-tuning another author's work, I'm
often too brain dead to work on my own. So it has slowed down my productivity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">What is
your pet peeve? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">In editing? Authors who think they're too good to
learn the basics. Yes, everyone makes mistakes. But if your editor tells you a
dozen times that you need to learn the difference between there, their, and
they're - you really should learn the difference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">What was
the best piece of writing advice you ever had? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Grow a thick skin. This is not a business for those
who are weak of spirit. You get a lot of rejection and negativity and you need
to be able to take it. Yes, you can wallow for a day or two, but you can't let
the negatives get to you. You have to keep going. I know a lot of authors who
made it... on the next book. The one after the one they got dissed on. You may
never get published even if you keep writing, but if you stop, you certainly
won't be published. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">More about Vicky:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Vicky Burkholder resides in Pennsylvania near the
area where her ancestors settled in 1741. She lives in a three-generation home
and is lucky enough to have two other writers in residence. At various times in
her life, she has been a journalist, writer, editor, teacher, short-order cook,
computer specialist, DJ, and librarian. Her writing spans the fantasy, science
fiction, paranormal and romance lines from YA to adult. No matter the age or
genre, all of her books have a touch of romance in them and have to have a
happily ever after ending. In addition to writing her own books, she currently
edits for two publishers as well as private clients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">More about TIGER LILY:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1Vr866hfUmcspP04GE4-OiW5hxCdW-Ji2iKHJwGEQP3uykAuwSy5qJl7E_Eb-fJDwLk-JuC8_SPcKbuwFAKMVQMyGrX3nevF6HsP8YJD46NVXvv7wm-3h2VzSmHZEBEygWUwZOXEjS0/s1600/TigerLilyTakeTwo.v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1Vr866hfUmcspP04GE4-OiW5hxCdW-Ji2iKHJwGEQP3uykAuwSy5qJl7E_Eb-fJDwLk-JuC8_SPcKbuwFAKMVQMyGrX3nevF6HsP8YJD46NVXvv7wm-3h2VzSmHZEBEygWUwZOXEjS0/s320/TigerLilyTakeTwo.v3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Lily Madison thought dying because of a bad manicure was the
worst thing that could happen. She was wrong. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Waking up in the hospital and realizing she’s being stalked
by an entire herd of naughty little ghosts turns her entire world upside down. She
begins to doubt her own sanity until she realizes she isn’t alone. A Goth girl
named Zoe can see the ghosts, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Most of the ghosts look like fuzzy blobs, but one is not
blobby at all. He’s a very hot, very annoying dead guy named Nick. Although
they dislike each other on sight, Nick soon realizes Lily is his only hope. With
the help of Zoe and Mr. Wan, the manicurist who almost killed her, she has only
days to get Nick and the other ghosts back where they belong or the whole world
will be in terrible danger. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But sending the ghosts back means saying goodbye to Nick
forever, and Lily isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to let him go.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">TIGER LILY comes out January 13, 2016, and is </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">available</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018A6N548/?tag=wendedikeccom-20">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/tiger-lily-10">Kobo</a>.</span></span></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-56151523825495507252015-12-15T04:14:00.000-08:002015-12-15T04:29:46.361-08:00Interview with my Cover Artist Najla Qamber<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Today I'm interviewing my
fabulous cover artist, Naj Qamber. Naj does all the covers at Inkspell
Publishing, and we're very lucky to have her. I sat down with her to ask her a few
question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">1. What made you decide to
become a graphic artist? Did you study it in college?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;">I think I was 16 when I decided to become a graphics
designer. I used to manipulate photos together when I was about 13 and I
managed to build a big enough portfolio that it caught the eye of a local
Creative Director and he sort of took me under his wing. He gave me an
internship at a local design studio and I was usually working on corporate
design. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;">My time at the studio made me realise what I wanted to do with my life.
And I loved reading YA books back in the day (I read historical romance mostly
now), and I would always look at the beautiful covers and say "One day,
Naj. You'll get to design book covers too!". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;">Inkspell was my very first
client! And nope! I did not study it in college. But I do have a bachelors
degree in Business Informatics to help me run the business and handle clients
the best way a business could.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">2. How long have you been
designing book covers? How many have you created?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I think since I was 18, so that's about 6 years (8 years for graphics design as a whole). I might have designed about 500 covers by now, if we're counting pre made covers as well. Wow! I didn't realise I've designed that many!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">3. Does it take a lot of
time to design a book cover? What is the process involved?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;">It actually depends on the project really. If the
cover involves a lot of detail and elements, it could take me about 3 hours to
put together. But on average it takes me an hour and a half to put together
something. There are times when it doesn't take more than 30 minutes. The
toughest part of the design process is the feedback stage. That's where a lot
of time is put in. We're talking about an extra 4 to 8 hours all
together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">The process, put simply, is like the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;">Inquiry stage - I give the client my prices, and if they're okay with it, I give them two dates. One for the brainstorm and one for for the first draft of the design.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -1in;">Brainstorm stage
- iron out details, talk about what we'd like done, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -1in;">Feedback stage -
the client gives me their feedback after I show them the preliminary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Finalising stage
- I send over the clients book cover and any other swag designs she/he ordered
with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">4. Do you have any covers
that are your favorites (other than Tiger Lily, of course!), or any work that
you are especially proud of?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.5in;">Hmmm, that's a very good question! Now that I think
about it. I actually don't have a favorite cover. But here is some of the work
I'm proud of:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Thank you, Naj! And thanks
for the wonderful cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdmZQduvxJUW4R7uSoSBN-l-d983KHSV-Ckkj8T1CEYV0EqSL01oYQp0HXMhuju2I0bRfW4tD0vRB-MUL-sVbvzB1xZl52_gqeT1iSnL2sxMa8N4vheb96Jv99xanY13ERfPnEn2Vv28/s1600/TigerLilyTakeTwo.v4.Amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdmZQduvxJUW4R7uSoSBN-l-d983KHSV-Ckkj8T1CEYV0EqSL01oYQp0HXMhuju2I0bRfW4tD0vRB-MUL-sVbvzB1xZl52_gqeT1iSnL2sxMa8N4vheb96Jv99xanY13ERfPnEn2Vv28/s320/TigerLilyTakeTwo.v4.Amazon.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Tiger Lily is available for pre-order on:</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018A6N548/?tag=wendedikeccom-20">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018A6N548/?tag=wendedikeccom-20</a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And on Kobo:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3c318a; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/tiger-lily-10">https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/tiger-lily-10</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>For more information about Naj and the fantastic work she does, check out her website:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.najlaqamberdesigns.com/">http://www.najlaqamberdesigns.com</a></span></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-80601113772140129362015-11-22T07:58:00.002-08:002015-11-22T07:58:54.694-08:00Cover Reveal for TIGER LILYAfter revealing a bunch of beautiful covers for my friends and colleagues, I finally have the chance to reveal my own.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepvdrJS0jZKTanGXqWPhMbtFXv5QHGJv9KVDHh2_4T079IXvKlWGC8_CERfvFUxTMM_Jq2CofEjDcCfDpsarhCoPuy4NuhZQNSdO1_lJ9_800eth0l1eLiSmK2Mvt0STkgSxfKmPP5XQ/s1600/TigerLilyTakeTwo.v4.Amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepvdrJS0jZKTanGXqWPhMbtFXv5QHGJv9KVDHh2_4T079IXvKlWGC8_CERfvFUxTMM_Jq2CofEjDcCfDpsarhCoPuy4NuhZQNSdO1_lJ9_800eth0l1eLiSmK2Mvt0STkgSxfKmPP5XQ/s320/TigerLilyTakeTwo.v4.Amazon.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
TIGER LILY, a work of young adult fiction, is available for pre-order now on Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018A6N548/?tag=wendedikeccom-20">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018A6N548/?tag=wendedikeccom-20</a> and on Kobo <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/tiger-lily-10">https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/tiger-lily-10</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Lily Madison thought dying because of a bad manicure was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong. </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Waking up in the hospital and realizing she’s being stalked by an entire herd of naughty little ghosts turns her entire world upside down. She begins to doubt her own sanity until she realizes she isn’t alone. A Goth girl, named Zoe, can see the ghosts, too. </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Most of the ghosts look like fuzzy blobs, but one is not blobby at all. He’s a very hot, very annoying dead guy named Nick. Although they dislike each other on sight, Nick soon realizes Lily is his only hope. With the help of Zoe and Mr. Wan, the manicurist who almost killed her, she has only days to get Nick and the other ghosts back where they belong or the whole world will be in terrible danger. </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But sending the ghosts back means saying goodbye to Nick forever, and Lily isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to let him go. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">TIGER LILY will be released January 13, 2016. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-66616873716292453302015-11-18T04:15:00.002-08:002015-11-18T12:21:48.039-08:00Happy Book Birthday to Sheridan Jeane and Casey ClipperI have two friends who released new books yesterday. Both are fabulous!<br />
<br />
The first, ONCE UPON A SPY, is the third book in the "Secrets and Seduction Series" by Sheridan Jeane.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6aK-NNoWKUbPry_xnSm2PcupPTTv84ZpywzejhoNkcHzIXD8OpUAwRjcHK5yABtlOQSezoXPXcHObyhADFZ0B61fenalBHkD4eMukRd-3rPsb6cO088-9n8dgnUpgMl_g0d4_jO-vQ8/s1600/Once+Upon+a+Spy+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6aK-NNoWKUbPry_xnSm2PcupPTTv84ZpywzejhoNkcHzIXD8OpUAwRjcHK5yABtlOQSezoXPXcHObyhADFZ0B61fenalBHkD4eMukRd-3rPsb6cO088-9n8dgnUpgMl_g0d4_jO-vQ8/s320/Once+Upon+a+Spy+Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Spy-Secrets-Seduction-ebook/dp/B017GAHVDA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1447877959&sr=8-3&keywords=sheridan+jeane"> http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Spy-Secrets-Seduction-ebook/dp/B017GAHVDA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1447877959&sr=8-3&keywords=sheridan+jeane</a><br />
<br />
<br />
The second, HEIST, is the first in the new "The Men of the Law" series by Casey Clipper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UQgX6iWqQkVsPRdHrbjD8_9-Iv5w8TOBUOJ0MrCLsVLNeF2tYtL5cOlnfHtcdTbg1B4jGKZJa0YbFq6nuy88pUKO6ElFp3g-BXfDtDXtMU-4HJy0Q6im1s4JiiHzWssJrxcq9u5xD0o/s1600/11221827_10206286844743557_7030729849006860928_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UQgX6iWqQkVsPRdHrbjD8_9-Iv5w8TOBUOJ0MrCLsVLNeF2tYtL5cOlnfHtcdTbg1B4jGKZJa0YbFq6nuy88pUKO6ElFp3g-BXfDtDXtMU-4HJy0Q6im1s4JiiHzWssJrxcq9u5xD0o/s320/11221827_10206286844743557_7030729849006860928_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heist-Men-Law-Book-1-ebook/dp/B017FI1ITQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447878032&sr=8-2&keywords=casey+clipper">http://www.amazon.com/Heist-Men-Law-Book-1-ebook/dp/B017FI1ITQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447878032&sr=8-2&keywords=casey+clipper</a></div>
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Congratulations, ladies! So proud of both of you.</div>
<br />Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-55890256283779091852015-11-01T05:29:00.003-08:002015-11-01T05:29:45.908-08:00Best of the Burghosphere<div class="MsoNormal">
Most Wanted Fine Art teamed up with Pittsburgh Bloggers to
create something new and exciting. The Best of the Burghosphere (<a href="http://mostwantedfineart.com/2014-events-at-mwfa/best-of-the-burghosphere-2015">http://mostwantedfineart.com/2014-events-at-mwfa/best-of-the-burghosphere-2015</a>
) is a way to honor and acknowledge the contributions of bloggers in
Pittsburgh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I signed up to participate, even though I’m sort of a
slacker blogger. I do most of my blogging on my Facebook page (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Capone-the-Wonder-Dog">https://www.facebook.com/Capone-the-Wonder-Dog</a>
), and so my actual blog has been severely neglected. Abused. Abandoned.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was assigned a blog (<a href="http://thomascwaters.com/">http://thomascwaters.com</a>)
to read and explore. I also had to choose an award/category for this blog. I
chose “<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Thorough, Informative,
and Professional Coverage of Events in the LGBT Community and Beyond.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the moment
I opened Mr. Waters blog, I was impressed with the amount of work that had been
put into it. It is so incredibly professional, thoughtful, thorough, and
educational. I loved reading so many of the articles. As a writer of romantic
fiction, I found several of his blogs to be very helpful with correctly
addressing LGBT issues and writing about a trans character appropriately and
accurately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This isn’t just
a blog for people who are part of the LGBT community. This is a good read for
anyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reading Mr.
Waters’ blog inspired me to put more time and effort into my own blog. It also
made me curious about what other bloggers are lurking around the Pittsburgh
area. Thank you to Most Wanted Fine Arts and Pittsburgh Bloggers for creating
this event!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-77724686134791202322015-10-04T17:04:00.002-07:002015-10-05T03:31:21.666-07:00Cover Reveal for Colleen S. Meyers<br />
<br />
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82032" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78280" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong class=""><span class=""><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm so excited to share the amazing cover of my good friend Colleen S. Meyers' debut novel. </span></span></strong></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78280" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong class=""><span class=""><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></strong></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78280" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78282"><span class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78284">Colleen</span></span><span class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78286" style="font-weight: normal;"> plays many roles. Not only is she a veteran, a mother, and a practicing physician, but she is a writer of science fiction and contemporary romances. Colleen’s dreams include surviving her son’s teenage years, exploring every continent on this planet, except Antartica, cause that’s way too cold, and winning the Nobel peace prize. Dream BIG! Currently she is getting ready to publish her first novel, MUST REMEMBER in November of this year. Until then look for her at Three Rivers Romance Writers, at </span><a aria-haspopup="true" class="Object" href="http://www.csmyersmusings.com/" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT3434_com_zimbra_url" style="color: #336699; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook </a><span class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78290" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><a aria-haspopup="true" class="Object" href="https://www.facebook.com/ColleenSMyers" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT3435_com_zimbra_url" style="color: #336699; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Colleen Myers</a><span class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78294" style="font-weight: normal;">, and at @ColleenSMyers. </span></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78280" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTXSVruHWxQ9g_YxnV6mhB4TipCT_6tF4dDRNpGmd_6cTV4uBAR2NvcrC5HhnjXYBpJhTkRo4V7u8MTfvEfmrIzansMVFakzzX76y8UUrpaZ5BY-6uLPDuALmzupYX6M5INg6SRd1HvU/s1600/must+remember.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTXSVruHWxQ9g_YxnV6mhB4TipCT_6tF4dDRNpGmd_6cTV4uBAR2NvcrC5HhnjXYBpJhTkRo4V7u8MTfvEfmrIzansMVFakzzX76y8UUrpaZ5BY-6uLPDuALmzupYX6M5INg6SRd1HvU/s320/must+remember.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78280" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78280" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="" style="font-weight: normal;">MUST REMEMBER</span></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78280" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78280" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="" style="font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78332">
<span class="" style="font-weight: normal;">Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth ‘Beta’ Camden is a survivor.</span></div>
<span class="" style="font-weight: normal;">
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78760">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82041" /></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78330">
When the E’mani—those pale alien freaks—destroy Earth with a plague of madness and scoop up the remains, Beta is one of the ‘lucky’ ones. For years, she endures their tortures, experiments and games. Then one day, she manages to escape their ship with her life, and no memory of her time with them.</div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78762">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82045" /></div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78335">
Stranded on their world, Beta wanders the mountains, looking for a way home. She stumbles onto the Fost—the E’mani’s ancient enemy. Their war with the E’mani is old and rooted in magic that the Fost once had and the E’mani crave. Magic Beta soon discovers she’s developing along with strange tattoos and disturbing glimpses of her past. The Fost take her in and train her in their ways. As she spends more time with them, she falls in love with their culture and with Marin—he of the hot hands and slit eyes.</div>
<div class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78764">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82049" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78337">
But the E’mani took her for a reason and they want her back—dead or alive. If Beta doesn’t remember that reason soon, they’re all going to die.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_77492">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82053" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_77494">
<b class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78772">Excerpt:</b></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78352">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82058" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78686">
Oy. No more weekday frat parties for me, no matter how<br />
noble the cause, especially when I have a test the next day. What was<br />
I thinking? And last minute cramming with a headache was not a<br />
good idea either. Forget it. My eyes drifted to the clock.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78757">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82065" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78718">
And now I was late. Damn it. With a sigh, I threw down my<br />
pencil and scrambled up, my head throbbing. I traded my Eeyore<br />
jammies for skinny jeans and a fitted white t-shirt. Shoes, where<br />
were my shoes? Gah. I ducked and rooted around in the deep, dark<br />
spaces under my bed. Hmm, the green dress I borrowed from Sarah.<br />
Mental note: I need to return that. English book, various dust<br />
bunnies of uncertain lineage…there.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78774">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82075" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78719">
Sketchers on, I grabbed my backpack, turned up my iPod,<br />
and ran out the door. No time to primp.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78721">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82080" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78720">
Good thing the campus I lived on was small. There was a big<br />
central courtyard—the quad—filled with towering oak trees and<br />
wide-open spaces surrounded by squat school buildings and<br />
classrooms. If I hurried, I’d make it…</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78796">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82087" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78723">
I raced into the quad out of breath and slowed, turning in a<br />
complete circle.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78724">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82092" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78726">
Huh.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78750">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82096" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78728">
No one around. Unease skittered through me on soft paws.<br />
The courtyard was always busy. I pulled my headphones out of my<br />
ears. Was there some sort of event I didn’t know about going on?<br />
The unnatural silence pressed in on me for a second as the<br />
echoes of my steps faded.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78738">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82104" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78737">
Then screams—men’s and women’s—poured from Main<br />
Street. I broke into a run and shot between the buildings toward the<br />
sound.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78746">
<br class="" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_82110" /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78745">
Cars littered the intersection. Some guy rear-ended someone<br />
else, causing a chain reaction down the road. A horn blared nearby<br />
and a faint breeze blew the smell of gasoline, smoke, and copper my<br />
way. Clusters of people stood among the wreckage.</div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78745">
<br /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78745">
<br /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78745">
<br /></div>
<div class="" dir="ltr" id="yiv7138537811yui_3_16_0_1_1443899005606_78745">
Congratulations, Colleen, and we're all looking forward to reading this book in November!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</span></div>
Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-6477812458280810362015-08-17T19:21:00.002-07:002015-08-17T19:26:24.331-07:00Capone's Cojones<div class="MsoNormal">
It began at doggie daycare a week ago, when one of the
trainers there gave Capone a speculative look.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Is he still intact?” she asked. It took me a full five
seconds to understand her meaning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh. Yes. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yes. </i>Very
much so.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She frowned. “And how old is he now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ten months on Saturday. Still a baby. A big, hairy, 85 pound baby.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She shook her head. “We should have mentioned this before,
like two months ago, but there is an extra charge for intact male dogs.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How much?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She winced. “It’s actually double the fee.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That made a day at doggie daycare sound more like a day at
the most exclusive spa in town. “Gosh. Okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was in a pinch, moving my oldest back to college that day.
It would take hours and I couldn’t leave Capone alone. When I got back to pick him up that evening, the people at
doggie daycare kindly charged me the regular rate since they hadn’t
warned me ahead of time. As I paid and waited for Capone to be brought forth, I
explained my dilemma. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Quite a few people have encouraged me to wait a year or
two before getting Capone neutered. They said it would be better for his health
in the long run." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girl working behind the counter listened sympathetically. “Has he exhibited any…behaviors?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not at all.” I responded, quite proud of the fact that
Capone was not a humper. He did have a brief interlude with a Mexican blanket a
few months ago, but nothing at all since then. But maybe there were other things I should be worried about. I frowned. “I mean, he doesn't...uh...hump. Are
there other behaviors I should worry about?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, there is marking….”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stared at her. “Is that when they pee on every tree, bush,
rock, fire hydrant, and anything remotely shaped like a phallus when you take them for a walk?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She nodded. “My dog started marking, and I kind of ignored
it. Then he started doing it inside….”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, no.” I suddenly imagine pee splattered walls and
couches and curtains.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, yes,” she said. “That’s when I knew it was time to get
him fixed."<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I called the vet the next morning and made the appointment.
Capone is now scheduled to be emasculated on August 27. Not everyone in my
house was happy to hear the news. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do we have to do it?” asked my husband on a long distance
call from Amsterdam. “I feel bad for him.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll feel bad for us if he starts marking our furniture.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess so. Wait. How much is this going to cost?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It would be roughly the price of a new set of tires for our
car. My husband gasped when I told him. “I think we should wait,” he said. “It’s
not just the money. I feel so sorry for him.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think it’s time,” I said. As the only person in the house
without testicles, I quickly realized I had to be the one to make this
decision, and I had to stand firm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My oldest son, already back at college, reacted with shock.
“Can I see him before it happens?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My middle son quietly patted Capone’s head and handed him
extra treats. “Poor puppy,” he said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My youngest had a different plan. “I think we should breed
him. He’d make really cute puppies.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband had been all for this idea, too. “Let him have at
least one happy memory.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rolled my eyes and messaged the breeder, who really didn’t
need Capone’s services. I knew this would be the case, but I had to contact her
just to confirm it. Otherwise they all might have wondered if we’d rushed into
things and missed out on the possibility of an affair de coeur for Capone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the questions started, mostly from my youngest. “Do
they actually cut off his….you know….?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes. I think so.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Can we keep them?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“His <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">balls?</i>” He
nodded, very seriously, and I shook my head. “Uh, no. We cannot.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever the subject of the surgery came up, every member of
my household had the same reaction. A wince. A flinch. A sort of doubling over
(like someone had punched them very low in the stomach), followed by the
instinctual and involuntary covering of their male parts. It was like every
time they thought about what Capone would go through, they imagined it
happening to them, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s not going to be that bad,” I said, rolling my eyes as
they did their flinching ball covering dance once again. “You guys are
ridiculous.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even the neighborhood children were concerned. “Will they
put him to sleep for it?” asked one little boy, his blue eyes huge in his face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes, they will.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Phew,” he said, giving Capone a pat. “I’m glad you won’t
remember it, boy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was like a conspiracy among males to protect other males.
Every conversation I had with my husband (still in Amsterdam) often centered on
Capone and his balls. “I think we’re rushing this…” he began, but I stopped
him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s time. He’ll be calmer.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked at Capone, sleeping on the floor and snoring like a
cartoon character. A loud inhale of a snore followed by an exhale that sounded
like “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">waba waba waba.” </i>It had to be
the cutest dog snore ever. For a lab, Capone was a very calm puppy already. If
he got any calmer, he might be comatose. Maybe this wasn't the best argument for neutering.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t want him marking our house,” I said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Neither do I,” said my husband.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And I don’t want to pay double the price for doggie
daycare.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Neither do I.” He
let out a sigh. “Lots of dogs go through this, I guess.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yep. Most do.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so it’s been decided. Capone will officially be turned
into the dog equivalent of a eunuch next Thursday. He will recover very
quickly, I’m sure. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the guys in my
family. I think it’ll be a long time before they can look at Capone without
wincing and flinching.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-2821019519185475772015-07-04T20:09:00.001-07:002015-07-05T03:49:50.432-07:00Capone and the Sooth-Saying Sphincter of Destiny It started out as most Mondays do, meaning things did not go
as planned. My husband had forgotten to set his alarm clock, but (thankfully) I
have a preset internal clock that wakes me every single day at exactly
6am. As much as I like that internal
alarm clock during the winter, I abhor it during the summer and on weekends. I
don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse, but in this case it proved to be a
blessing since my husband made it to work on time.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still, we woke up in a panic, adrenaline pumping. Capone
seemed to sense our anxiety and began howling from his kennel. I opened the
back door, let him outside, and stumbled towards the coffee maker. Before I
could even get it started, I heard a strange sound coming from outside, sort of
between a whine and a whimper.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I glanced out the window and saw Capone doing an odd squat
walk through the backyard. It wasn’t his diarrhea squat walk (a dance I knew
quite well). This was different. I opened the patio door and stepped out,
trying to figure out what was wrong. Capone looked at me, his expression both mortified
and embarrassed, and then I realized the problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone had a piece of poo dangling from a string still
affixed to his anus. Later I discovered that string was actually a strand of my
hair (majorly disgusting on so many levels), but at the time I only realized
that the poop was a-dangling and Capone had no way of getting it out by
himself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looked at me, his eyes begging for mercy, and he did an
incredibly fast squat walk straight to the house. He planned to squat walk
right into the house, so I slammed the door in right his face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No. Sit. Stay. Go back.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looked at me in confusion, then did a squat walk circle
around the patio. I did the only thing I could think of, which was to grab some
wipes and my gardening gloves and help Capone solve his problem. Manually. A
hands-on approach.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was easier than I expected. I winced, took a deep breath,
and tried to ignore the fact that I held a solid ball of poo in my hand. One
tug and it was over. Capone looked at me with a heady mix of relief and
adoration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He followed me around all
day, tail wagging, and every so often he’d look at me, as if to say, “Remember
when that poo was stuck and you saved me? You’re the best.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day that began with a missed alarm and a poo problem
gradually turned into one of the best days I’d ever had. Later I got the email
I’d been waiting for, an offer for my first book from the publisher I’d really
wanted to work with. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the usual happy dance around the kitchen, I shook my
head in disbelief as I smiled at my husband. “Maybe the poo was a sign,” I
said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He laughed. “Maybe Capone should stop eating your hair.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little over a week later, I took Capone out for his
morning poo, and the same thing happened. This time, instead of the poo
dangling from a piece of my hair, it dangled from raffia style packaging
material I’d used to pack a gift bag for a friend. Different material, same
result. I had to don the gloves again, grab a wipe, and give it a yank.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Maybe this means I’ll sell another book today,” I said as
Capone licked my calves to show did his appreciation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few hours later, I did. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My second book sold to a different publisher, also exactly
the publisher I’d hoped to work with for this book. I looked at Capone. He was
on the floor by my feet, snoring loudly. He didn’t seem like an Oracle of Poo,
but he’d only gotten poo stuck twice in his life, and both times I sold a book
that very day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writers tend to be a superstitious lot, especially when we
are trying to sell a manuscript. I tend to be selectively superstitious,
remembering all the times the signs were in my favor and forgetting the others.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t exactly start to believe
Capone’s poo had magical powers, but I did pay close attention to his bowel
movements for the next few weeks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sold my third book without any sign from Capone at all.
Well, he did poop out part of the gardening glove I’d used to pull out the
first two prophetic poos, but I don’t know if that really counts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or does it? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Capone resting with one of my shoes (his personal favorite) after a morning of hard work predicting the future.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-92212796607033614492015-05-02T05:52:00.000-07:002015-05-04T04:54:57.534-07:00Murphy's Law and Mutant Turtles<div class="MsoNormal">
It started with a dream about giant turtles. I kind of blame
my neighbor for that one. She’s an adorable four year old, obsessed with the
Teenaged Ninja Mutant Turtles, and we’ve had lots of discussions lately about
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I like Michelangelo. He wears purple," I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a lucky guess, but I was completely wrong. She shook
her little blond head at me. “No, he wears orange.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, I meant Leonardo.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She put her hands on her hips and shook her head at me in
disgust. “He wears blue.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She didn’t say it, but I could see it in her big, blue eyes.
She was wondering if I’d ever seen TNMT at all. I had, of course. Many, many,
many times. In cartoon form. In live action form. In Japan, when the turtles
went back in time and lived in a feudal village. But the more I tried to
convince her, the more it sounded like I didn’t know what I was talking about.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After several of these discussions (and getting the names,
colors and weapons of choice wrong every single time), turtles must have been
on my mind. In my subconscious they morphed into giant turtles, scary turtles
that invaded my dreams. I don’t remember the details exactly, but it was
frightening enough to startle me out of a deep sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gave up on the idea of getting more rest, mostly because
Capone the Wonder Dog, with his super sonic hearing and his ability to
recognize the sound of my foot hitting the floor, had already woken up, too. My
husband can get up, take a shower, get dressed, and make all sorts of noise,
but we never hear a peep from Capone. It’s the same with the boys. But if I so
much as place a toe on the carpet, he immediately starts whining downstairs in
his kennel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After he did his good morning dance and stretch, I let him
outside. Oh, the beauty of the Dogwatch Fence we just had installed last month!
I no longer have to trudge through the wet grass before the sun is up, circling
the yard in an effort to get Capone to poo. Now I can watch the event unfold
from the comfort of my warm kitchen. Better yet, the fence protects my little
Ninja Turtle loving neighbor from Capone running into her yard and knocking her
over in an attempt to lick her from the top of her ponytail down to her tiny
toes. He outweighs her by about fifty pounds. He could flatten her with one
nudge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Normally Capone trots around, does his business, tries to
eat a bush or a tree or something, chases a robin, and comes back into the
house. This time, he looked at me in a panic and did the diarrhea squat walk
all over the yard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, no.” I whispered. "It begins again."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When he came back inside, I wiped his bottom with the dog
wipes I’d bought at the all-natural dog supply store (yes, they really do
exist) and dried him of with his dog shammy (yes, that really does exist, too).
The shammy is adorable. It’s embroidered and has pockets for my hands, which is
very convenient. But as soon as I tried to clean his bottom, I realized
something. It was swollen. Really swollen. Like swollen enough that I
understood his anal glands might need expressed again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, no.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My boys were up by this time and groggily getting ready for
school. “What’s wrong?” asked my youngest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think I might have to take Capone to the vet again today.
Or the groomer. His anal glands feel swollen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Does he need another butt massage?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I nodded. “I think so.” I remembered in vivid detail the youtube video I’d seen, and how it described the process as ‘milking’ the anal
glands. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m not doing it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My son held up his hands. He’d seen the video, too. “Me
neither.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to take Capone for a long walk. The vet wasn’t
open until nine. I knew this fact very well. I'd spent many mornings perched on a chair, holding my phone, and waiting for nine o'clock to hit. I thought a walk would calm him down and make the whole potential anal expression much easier for both of us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The walk went well at first. He passed a group of children
waiting at a bus stop and didn’t try to lunge at them. He passed an unleashed
older lab and paused, hoping for some play time, but didn’t even bark when the
other dog just trotted past him. He walked next to an entire herd of small
children on a narrow path and didn’t try to eat any of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good dog.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fed him a constant stream of treats and realized Capone is
getting older and everything is so much easier. He was also getting much
bigger, a fact I didn’t consider until he rammed me in the knee on our way
home, bending it in ways nature did not intend knees to be bent. Then he
stopped in front of me suddenly, almost sending me crashing down to the
sidewalk. Then he bit my thumb (totally by accident) when I tried to retrieve a
rock from his mouth. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we got home, it still wasn’t even close to nine, so I
decided to clean Capone’s deposits from the backyard and do some weeding. When
I stepped into the house to get a bag for the weeds, Capone followed me in, a
giant weed in his mouth - roots, dirt, and all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This soon turned into what Capone thought was the Best Game
Ever. I chased him round and round the island. He shook his head happily, dirt
flying all over my clean kitchen floor. Finally I managed to straddle him and
remove the weeds from his mouth, but by this time my entire floor had been
sprinkled with dirt. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone looked completely confused when I said, “Bad dog.”
After all, the whole thing had been a blast. He felt better when I took out his second
favorite thing in the world (his first being food of any kind), the vacuum. He
did his happy vacuum dance as I plugged it in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am not doing this for your pleasure. I just want you to
know this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fact that I have conversations with my dog has stopped
bothering me at this point. I had too much on my mind to worry about already.
Tomorrow was my middle son’s junior prom. I needed to pick up flowers, iron his
shirt, and do about a million other things today. Cleaning the kitchen floor
for the second time and taking a puppy to get his anal glands expressed was not
on my list.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The dirt wasn’t coming up very well, so I lifted the hose
off my Dyson to suck it up that way. Usually the hose lifts up and clicks. This
time there was no clicking. The top of the hose nearly lifted completely off. A
small wire that looked like part of a slinky was the only thing that held it together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not today.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t have time to buy a new vacuum today. I
looked at the dirt on the floor and nearly cried. Capone wagged his tailed and
licked the vacuum. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I managed to hold the hose together and get most of the dirt
off the floor. As soon as I turned off the vacuum, I realized I had a voice
mail on my phone. It was the school nurse. My middle son was in her office
throwing up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” I said when I called her
back. And on the way to the school I looked at the clock and realized it wasn’t
even 8:30 yet. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are just some days that nothing goes right. My son was
well enough that I decided to tackle all my errands today, just in case I was
the one who came down with the stomach flu tomorrow (usually the case in our
house).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to Costco to get roses to
make a bouquet for prom, then to JoAnn Fabric to get ribbon to match. I decided the anal glands would have to wait.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love making my own bouquets when my boys go to dances. It
relaxes me, but it’s also a way to be involved. As the mother of three boys, I don’t
get to do the girly stuff like dress shopping. The bouquet making gets that
need out of my system.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I found ribbon and lots of sparkly things at JoAnn, and had
a very helpful and clever girl at check out who found several coupons for me
and was all together lovely. As she bagged my items, I realized something.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Is that a Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles apron?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She posed rather proudly, turning around so I could see the
back was an actual turtle shell made of green fabric. She’d sewn it herself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Today is the last day for this one. I wear a different apron every month. Tomorrow I’ll wear a new Darth Vader one, as long as I get it
finished tonight. It has a hat and everything.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to take her picture to show my neighbor, but there
was a long line and I knew some of the crafters waiting behind me might get
annoyed. Crafters are not the most patient of people, especially when there is
a huge sale on raffia and their coupons are about to expire.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead I told the girl how completely awesome she was and
promised to come back to see the Darth Vader apron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I told my neighbor about the apron, she
listened politely, but didn’t believe me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Turtles don’t wear aprons.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish I’d taken that photo. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLshP_fgkgT9X4c_5oGDdfRi3poaU_VJZQ4mCokpLOrYJRTadSHzrtZ8jkgD0qWRTFzAhOb7x2qlNXi_UdB9LYsLMaYkysZE4QhCEyCPGcH2gEL85_SJXs2I4d-gNN9SucSwpFJY4eP5I/s1600/535944_1119918308035076_6647130915714151994_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLshP_fgkgT9X4c_5oGDdfRi3poaU_VJZQ4mCokpLOrYJRTadSHzrtZ8jkgD0qWRTFzAhOb7x2qlNXi_UdB9LYsLMaYkysZE4QhCEyCPGcH2gEL85_SJXs2I4d-gNN9SucSwpFJY4eP5I/s1600/535944_1119918308035076_6647130915714151994_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I did get a photo of the prom flowers. They were lovely, and Capone never needed to get his anal glands expressed after all.</i></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-47703839934639204082015-04-14T18:02:00.000-07:002015-04-14T18:10:45.463-07:00The Care and Training of Husbands...And Teenagers<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
It probably wasn’t my best idea. I
got my husband at a weak moment (nearly asleep on the couch) and decided just
to drop it on him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“I think you should take Capone to
doggy obedience class tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
We were having a glass of wine, and
feeling very mellow. “Sure,” he said. Then he opened his eyes a bit wider.
“Wait. What did you say?”<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Tomorrow Capone has a class, and
oddly enough we have nothing else going on. I’ll go with you, but I think you
should do the class.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
He swirled his wine as he
considered my proposal. “I have a better idea. Why don’t we leave Capone at the
class, and you and I can go to breakfast.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Uh, it doesn’t work that way.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I poured him another glass. He
needed it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Well, I guess it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">might </i>be fun.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I tried not to snort. “Yeah. Fun.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
On the way to obedience training, I
thought I should prepare him a bit for the reality of the situation. “Just to
let you know…it’s hard work. It’s 45 minutes of hard work. For you and for the
dog.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Work?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“I don’t like the sound of that.
Maybe you do the class and I’ll watch.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Fine, but you have to pay
attention. You can’t sit on the balcony and drink your coffee.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Come on. How hard can it be?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I just stared at him. “It’s
stressful and I sweat. A lot. It’s better than doing zumba.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I clipped on my bait bag as soon as
we arrived and let Capone out of the car, confident that he would once again
rock obedience class. He’d been one of the best-behaved dogs lately, and I was
sure my husband would be very impressed with his progress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
He wasn’t. Capone decided that day
to be non-compliant. And a little obnoxious.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“What’s wrong with him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Capone, overwhelmed with the sights
and smells of the dog park, leaped out of the car with crazy gleam in his eyes.
He did his best to pull me away from the door to obedience class and straight
to the dog park. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“You take the dog,” I said to my
husband. “I’ll sign us in.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
To say he looked terrified would
have been an understatement. “What do I do with him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Walk him around. For five
minutes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
He looked less than convinced. I’d
hoped Capone would calm down before I got back, but no such luck. He had on his
Gentle Leader collar, a device that fit over his nose and prevented him from
pulling. The Gentle Leader is a lifesaver for me, but it sometimes irritates Capone.
Today was one of those days. Capone rubbed against every possible surface,
trying to get the Gentle Leader off. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“I hate this collar,” said my
husband.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“It’s a valuable training tool,” I
insisted as Capone wound the leash around my legs and tried to use my shoe to
pry it off. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
We’d come for the early class, and
it was small, but it was entirely filled with labs and German shepherds, a lively mix. One
gorgeous Italian bull mastiff joined the group, and also a small brown dog that
was a mix of a shar-pei and a pit bull. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“What is that thing?” asked my
husband.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“A shar-pit? Or a bull-shar? I
don’t know.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I secretly wanted to call it a Shit-bull, but held myself back. He was a cute little dog, although he seemed a bit wound up. He was<span style="line-height: 200%;"> leaping into the
air, barking and twisting his entire body around. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">“He’s the worst dog in the class,” said my husband.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Yep.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Our dog is the second worse.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Capone was rubbing his face on the
floor, frantically rolling back and forth. “Yep.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
My normally calm and attentive dog
now acted like a giant squirrel with ADHD. He eventually calmed down and got a bit of focus,
but it was probably the worst class he’d ever had.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“What’s wrong with him?” asked my
husband as Capone continued to roll around on the floor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“I don’t know. He was always so
good. I blame you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Capone tried at that moment to
wiggle out of his Gentle Leader and almost succeeded. “It’s not me. That dog is psycho.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Then I realized exactly what was
happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Not psycho, although he’s close.
Capone is now a….teenager.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I was kind of an expert on teenaged
males at this point. My oldest son was now twenty-one, but the younger two were
still firmly entrenched in teen-hood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
knew the signs when I saw them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
How six months old puppies are like
teenagers:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They are defiant</b>. Capone had suddenly
become headstrong and a bit stubborn, usually when I want him to come back into
the house after playing outside. This applies to teenagers, too. They always
want to stay out late, and they always think it’s unfair when you cut short
their fun. Capone might bark, but at least he doesn't have a smart mouth. That's definitely a point in his favor. He also never rolls his eyes at me, another plus.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They think rules don’t apply to them</b>.
We’d trained Capone months ago not to go on the couch and not to go upstairs.
We used something called a Scram Mat, which emitted a sound like a smoke
detector and scared Capone (and anyone else in a two mile radius). It was effective. It was wonderful. But suddenly and without warning, the Scram Mat has no effect on him. At all. He loves to jump on the couch now
just to challenge me. Fortunately he understands "off", especially when accompanied with me running at him like a crazy person.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They smell</b>. On the way to obedience
training, my husband had sniffed (repeated) and said, “Something smells like old socks. I
think it’s the dog.” He may have been right, or he may have been smelling the
dirty soccer socks I found under his seat. Both kind of smell the same. When my
mom rode in my car today, she tried to be gracious about it, saying, “It
doesn’t smell like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dog</i>…it smells more
like dog <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">food.</i>” Judging by the dog
treats scattered throughout my vehicle, that isn’t a surprise.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Which
takes me to my next point – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">teenagers
and puppies are both food motivated and like to eat</b>. A lot. My boys wake up
hungry and as soon as breakfast is over they are thinking about lunch. Capone
is the same. His favorite words are “eat”, “meatball”, and “treat.” The only
way I can get him to come inside when he’s being defiant is to say, “Meatball?” in a happy, singsong way. If I do, he runs right in.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They don’t understand consequences</b>.
Capone and I regularly engage in a sort of Mexican standoff. We face each
other, like gunfighters, and there is usually something in Capone’s mouth that
should not be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Drop it,” I say in
my harshest voice. He doesn’t reply of course, but he mocks me. I can see it in
his eyes. At this point I have two options. If another person is available, we
engage in a merry chase that always ends under the dining room table. One
person goes behind him, and one person crawls under in front of him. Once he’s
effectively trapped, I take whatever it is out of his mouth and say, “Bad dog.”
If no one else is around, this technique does not work, so I go for my next
best option. I say, “Meatball?” in my sweetest voice. Capone immediately drops
whatever he has in his mouth, and looks surprised when I don’t give him a
treat. Instead I just point my finger at him and say, “No meatball. Bad
dog.” He never holds a grudge. He just wags his tail and hopes for another
meatball-earning opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They like to hang out with their friends
and start to have an interest in the opposite sex.</b> Capone loves the ladies.
All the ladies. He loves dudes, too. He loves everyone. Watching him play at
the dog park after obedience training is honestly half the reason I like to
take him there. He frolics, free of his leash and safe within the confines of
the park, and has the BEST TIME EVER. Just like I know when Capone is mocking
me, I know when he is thinking those words. BEST. TIME. EVER. Those times
usually involve running around in circles with his friends and a lot of butt
sniffing. Although teenaged boys don’t usually engage in butt sniffing, they do
play like puppies – with lots of running and wrestling and shows of dominance.
Watch a bunch of teenaged boys interact sometime. It isn’t that different
from a dog park. The only difference is the dogs don't use Axe.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They can sleep through anything</b>. Last
week at 2:30 am, I was awoken from a deep sleep by the sound of coyotes
outside. They were probably in the field across the street, but they sounded
like they were in our yard. They yelped and yipped and howled, and it sounded
an awful lot like they had caught something and were tearing it apart. I
listened to them, waiting for some sign from Capone that he’d heard them, but
the only sound that came from his kennel downstairs was the sound of him
snoring. He didn’t hear a pack of crazed coyotes, but he can somehow hear it as
soon as I step out of bed and my big toe touches the carpet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That makes him bark. Coyotes? Not so much. My
boys didn’t hear the coyotes either. They also don’t hear alarm clocks, storms,
smoke detectors, Capone, or the Scram Mat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
After I explained this brilliant
realization to my husband, he just shrugged and said, “We’ve survived three
teenagers already. At least Capone will only be this way for a few months,
right?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
We can only hope. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mL5FIejtZGJ3SIvLx8sbnPjnY_vQ8KcNIpF-v8HNI0rfXsEDYhJ2kaLydBzU_Y9513lyk3cLfrEBo_7Ue5Df4lqtvc4TuvErfoiAY0ejwfSuCbZC0Xeo506JTf5EfZG95WyEuTg9g-A/s1600/11090944_1104006569626250_8322031933732165424_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mL5FIejtZGJ3SIvLx8sbnPjnY_vQ8KcNIpF-v8HNI0rfXsEDYhJ2kaLydBzU_Y9513lyk3cLfrEBo_7Ue5Df4lqtvc4TuvErfoiAY0ejwfSuCbZC0Xeo506JTf5EfZG95WyEuTg9g-A/s1600/11090944_1104006569626250_8322031933732165424_o.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i> Capone with his best girl, Gracie, at the dog park. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-29319629621039068382015-03-28T14:12:00.000-07:002015-03-28T14:12:06.483-07:00The Wicked Witch of the Westies<span style="line-height: 200%;">This morning Capone completed his
fourth obedience class. He did extremely well, but in the middle of the class
he started acting a little strange. He began gagging on his treats (an integral
part of obedience training), and finally plopped down on the floor and yakked. </span><div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;">He threw up right in the middle of obedience class. It was awful. He looked up at me in
confusion, his embarrassment obvious, especially when the cute little
shar-pei next to him tried to eat his vomit. Capone looked like he might throw up again at the thought.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;">The trainer told everyone to take
a break and he even took Capone for me so I could clean up the mess. It was the first time we’d been
with this particular trainer, but I liked him. He smiled a lot and looked like
Santa.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 32px;">"Are you sure you don't mind holding him?" I asked.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 32px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“It’s fine,” he said. “I’ve got
him. These things happen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I swear I almost heard a “ho, ho,
ho” in his voice when he laughed, but it may just have been wishful thinking. I
grabbed some paper towels, bags, and a spray cleaner, but no matter how much I
scrubbed, it was still pretty obvious where Capone had puked. I realized there
were a lot of other stains on the floor and decided it was clean enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I couldn’t figure out what had made
him sick. He’d been a little clingy all morning, and had whimpered a bit as we
dropped off my middle son at an SAT class. We’d arrived ridiculously early for training, so I'd attempted to take him for a little walk. He was remarkable
uncooperative, and it was ridiculously cold, so I gave up after a few minutes.
I hadn’t dressed for the weather since I had erroneously assumed it would
not be 17 degrees outside on March 28 (I was wrong). I’d left in a hurry and had forgotten
my hat and gloves. I’d also forgotten to put on socks. It was a busy morning,
but this was sadly typical in my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I let Capone play in the dog park a
few minutes before class with his doggy friends and he had a blast. Maybe too much of a blast. He was
so excited when we walked into class that he almost vibrated. He performed
well otherwise, but I wondered if all the running and romping in the dog park
may have triggered the puking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
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I chose a spot near the door for
the rest of the class and when Capone started gagging again, I pulled him
outside immediately. I didn’t want to go through the whole
cleaning-up-the-dog-vomit routine again. Once was more than enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
As soon as I got outside, I saw
her. The Wicked Witch of the Westies. She was back. She pulled up to a space
close to the dog walk area and pulled the Westies out of the car one by one, little balls of perfectly groomed white fur.
They had on matching sweaters that were color coordinated. It was sickening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I looked down at my feet. I hadn’t
managed to get socks on this morning, and she had the time to color coordinate
Icelandic dog sweaters and dress four Westies. There was something very wrong
with this picture. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
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Once again, she didn’t make eye
contact or acknowledge our existence, but her little dogs did. They barked and
yipped and stared at Capone. He looked up at them once, seemed confused by
their sweaters, and went back to sniffing rocks that other dogs had peed on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“That’s my boy,” I said, as I gave
him a pat. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
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We went back into the class, Capone
didn’t barf again, and I realized I had no time for people like the Wicked
Witch of the Westies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I had to be realistic. </span>I didn’t even have
time to find a pair of socks. If she wanted to be a snob and refuse to talk to or
even look at anyone else, it really was her loss.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I tried for a moment to imagine
having the kind of life in which I’d be motivated to purchase matching
Icelandic sweaters for four identical dogs, and I just couldn’t do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounded like a sad, pathetic life indeed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I tried to muster up some sympathy
for the Wicked Witch of the Westies, but I couldn’t do that either. Mostly
because I caught a glimpse of her sweater when she unzipped her coat. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It was Icelandic. She matched her dogs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdClEY2YWjer02VW_Emp-7tttB03W-iT6MFwIci2kSRGH9FOBRs5PYgTPX3q4UsC8fIBVMewCZxqt_Jk1qBs1mfq0LoP1ancb-2K0gIqoPw3RZHjl4dmMWgd6nzplzb93Igf2FtYSROZI/s1600/11080315_1095201467173427_3139767285386805746_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdClEY2YWjer02VW_Emp-7tttB03W-iT6MFwIci2kSRGH9FOBRs5PYgTPX3q4UsC8fIBVMewCZxqt_Jk1qBs1mfq0LoP1ancb-2K0gIqoPw3RZHjl4dmMWgd6nzplzb93Igf2FtYSROZI/s1600/11080315_1095201467173427_3139767285386805746_o.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<o:p> <i>Tired puppy after obedience class on his favorite blanket - not a sweater in sight.</i></o:p></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-48534440641565504922015-03-28T12:57:00.000-07:002015-03-28T12:59:07.358-07:00Becoming a Fanilow<span style="line-height: 200%;">When my friend called me last week
and said she had an extra ticket to a Barry Manilow concert, I decided to go
even though I had huge reservations about the whole idea. I’d never been a fan,
and I thought Barry Manilow had become a bit of a joke, almost a parody of
himself. As the concert date neared, I actually began to dread it. Then the
flashbacks started.</span><br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Madonna. Almost four years ago. I’d
never been a fan of her, either, but I decided to go on a whim. It hadn’t turned out well. <span style="line-height: 200%;">The audience had been filled with middle aged women, some of them wearing lace fingerless gloves and
giant bows in their hair. Although Madonna came on stage almost two hours late,
there was a giant projection of a stained glass window and we thought we heard
the strains to “Like a Prayer”. Everyone got very excited, but then the window
shattered and the music changed to a song no one in the audience seemed to have
heard before. Incan priests in full headdresses rose out of hidden compartments
on the stage (I think they were actual Incans). Madonna danced and sang and we sort of tried to follow along. Then a bed appeared on the stage and Madonna sang “Bang You’re Dead, Shot My Lover in the Head” (I’m
guessing that was the name of the song because she repeated that over and over
again). She pretended to shoot a male dancer, then she stripped, then she
climbed on top of him with an open bible and a bottle of whiskey and pretended
to simulate a sex act.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">I looked around at the faces of the
shocked middle-aged women with drooping bows in their hair. They’d come hoping
to relive a piece of their childhood and hear songs they’d known and loved, but
Madonna refused to give them that moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The low point came when she writhed nearly naked on the floor, telling the audience she was taking
donations for charity, and asking people to throw money onto the stage. A few
people half-heartedly threw some bills at her, and she got angry, swearing and
calling people cheap until they threw more. People started leaving at this point, even though the concert wasn’t over. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
On the ride to the Barry Manilow
concert, I wondered if the same thing might happen. I mean, I knew Barry
wouldn’t be writhing nearly naked on the stage, but I wondered if we’d all leave
feeling a little disappointed and a bit sad and kind of dirty. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
As soon as Barry took the stage, I
knew it would be different. By the end of the concert I was a fan. It wasn’t
just about enjoying the concert. Barry taught me some important lessons I could
use as a writer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Know
your fans. </b>Barry understands his demographic. It’s mostly women over the age of
forty. The few men in the audience were there under duress. There was a boy in front of us, who actually seemed to be enjoying the concert almost as
much as his mother, and there some adorable teenaged girls behind us who kept
getting excited and saying, “Grandma! You love this song! Grandma!” They were
sweet, but they weren’t Barry’s bread and butter. Grandma was his bread and
butter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Know
what your fans want and play for your fans.</b> Barry nailed this one, and this is
exactly where Madonna went wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
played what she wanted to and didn’t care if the people in the audience liked
it or not. It might be “artistic” or “edgy” to do so, but it’s also a good way
to alienate loyal fans. Remember this as a writer. Barry has sung “Copacapana”
an infinite number of times, but each time he does it with grace,
style, and energy. It’s what his fans want to hear and he respects his fans
enough to do it. If you want to write for yourself and your own pleasure, fine.
That’s your prerogative. But if you want to be a successful writer and build a bigger fan base, take a note from Barry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Know
what you’re good at</b>. I think the biggest shock of the evening came when I
listened – really listened – to Barry’s songs and realized the man
is a genius. His words are poetic, powerful, beautiful, and achingly
romantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s the Boss of the Ballads,
the Sultan of Slow Dances, and the Earl of Elevator Music, but he's a master at
what he does and he sticks to it. If you’re really gifted at writing YA, do it.
If you have a knack for romance, go for it. Set aside your preconceived ideas
about what is true art and write what you’re good at. Let the literary snobs
look down their noses at you. Who cares? Be true to yourself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>But
break out of your comfort zone every once in a while.</b> This might seem the
opposite of what I said above, but I saw Barry do this on stage with a boogie
woogie tune and a bluesy number and realized even though these weren’t the
songs he was most famous for, they were fun and he had fun performing
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nice to stretch and reach as
a artist, as long as you have a firm understanding of your fan base and also of
your own talents. I had to try a lot of different genres before I really found
one that fit. I wouldn’t have figured this out if I hadn’t been a little
flexible and willing to try new things.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Storytelling
is key.</b> I’d heard Barry’s songs as a teenager, but listening them to an adult,
and as a writer, made me appreciate them even more. He is a born storyteller. Take
the song “Copacabana” as an example. In a few short sentences, you like Lola,
you want her to end up having a happily ever after with Nick, you know they’ll
be trouble when Rico comes into the bar, and the ending of the song just about
breaks your heart. Barry just wrote an entire novel and put it into a short
song. That is masterful storytelling. I think a good exercise for any writer
would be to see if you could tell a story like that, encapsulating plot,
character description, story arc, and denouement into a few short, concise
sentences. Talk about brevity and word choice and the power of words to create
mood – this is not easy to do.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The day after the concert, I shared
my thoughts with my husband. He was trying to read the newspaper. Although
he was happy I’d had a good time and a sort of an epiphany at the concert, when
I tried to give him concrete examples, he looked confused.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“It’s like when he begins ‘I Write
the Songs’ with the line, ‘I’ve been alive forever, and I wrote the very first
song.’ That’s poetry. Don’t you love that song?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
He thought about it a bit. “Um. I
don’t know that song.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I froze, wondering how that could
be possible, and began rattling off a list of songs I thought me must know.
“Mandy”, “I Made it Through the Rain”, “Even Now”, and finally
“Copacabana.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, I had a reaction.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“Oh. I might have heard that one.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Now it was my turn to look
confused. “You must have heard these songs. They sort of defined an entire
generation.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
He shrugged. “I listened to
Metallica when I was in high school.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
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End of subject. Oh, well. He might
not see the beauty of Barry the way I did, but I did score a minor victory. I
heard him singing “Copacabana” under his breath as he finished reading the
newspaper. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-56627912776168186182015-03-17T07:07:00.001-07:002015-03-17T07:16:20.965-07:00On Anal Gland Expression and Other Things No One Warned You About <div class="MsoNormal">
Our lives with the new puppy had been going so well. Capone the Wonder Dog, at
five months old and a whopping 56 pounds, had become the calmest, sweetest,
best puppy we could have ever imagined. Other than trying to eat an occasional
shoe or newspaper or wine cork, he’d actually become quite manageable and
pleasant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just last Saturday we attended our third obedience class. The
instructor asked to use Capone four times to demonstrate to the other dogs how
it should be done. FOUR times. It was awesome. He was a doggy obedience rock
star.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To make things even better, Capone's old arch nemesis Luke was in attendance with his
owner (No Brows). No one asked Luke to demonstrate anything. Not once. And No
Brows did not look pleased. Or perhaps it was the way she drew on her eyebrows
that day - she may have accidentally drawn “irritated brows” rather than her
usual<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“perpetually surprised brows”, but
I knew she secretly wanted Luke to be the one chosen for demonstration. I
suspect she had severe dog jealousy towards Capone that day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After class, we took the puppies to the dog park to
frolic. I’d never done this before because it had always been too icy. On
Saturday it was a bit rainy, but I decided to go for it anyway. Capone had a wonderful time, and it was fun to watch him romp and play with
the other puppies. They jumped and ran and rubbed against each other and shared a water bowl. They were like preschoolers, and just like a preschooler, Capone came home with more than happy memories.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday came, the Ides of March, and Demir called out to
me when he let Capone out of his kennel. “There is definitely something wrong with
his eye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’d been noticing a little drainage the last few days, but
Capone seemed fine so we figured it was nothing serious. Sunday morning,
however, was much worse. His drainage had changed color and his eyes looked
crusty. A giant blob of mucus hung next to his eye, and he promptly wiped it on
my polar fleece jammies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, God,” said Demir, pointing his finger at Capone. “He
just wiped that…stuff….on your leg.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, that’s pretty gross. I think he has conjunctivitis.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Demir’s eyes got huge and I could tell he was remembering
the Great Pink Eye Debacle of Christmas 2003 (a precursor to the Horrible Head
Lice Episode of 2004). “Can we get it, too?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, no,” I said, although I had no idea at all if that was
true. In this case I figured lying was the best policy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Monday morning his eyes were even worse. I scheduled
an appointment with his vet, which was a very good thing. He did have
conjunctivitis (and no - humans cannot get it) (amen). He’d lost all his baby
teeth, something else people never tell you about puppies. When they teethe,
they bleed – on their toys and on their pillow and on your socks. And they drop
sharp little baby dogteeth all over the house, which you will find as soon as
you go barefoot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He looks great,” said the vet, “and the eye issues could be
related to the teething.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She checked his tummy, giggled when he tried to lick her
face, and then she got to the other end and stopped laughing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Uh, oh,” she said. “His anal glands feel really swollen.
Has he been scooting around on his bottom?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I shook my head and gave Capone a grateful pat. I’d seen
videos of that kind of thing. “Not at all.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She continued fondling his nether regions. “Well, we’d
better express them. Otherwise he might have a problem and you’ll just have to
bring him back in.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure,” I said. We now have vet insurance now, so the idea
of how much this could cost didn’t even make me flinch. “What exactly are anal
glands and how do you express them?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is another one of those things that people who have
never had dogs would not know. Dogs have anal glands. They squirt something
nasty out of them after they poo, which is like a marker to other dogs saying,
“Hey, this crap is mine!” Why they need to do this, I cannot imagine, but
sometimes the anal glands get blocked up and need to be expressed, which is
basically milking them until a foul smelling fluid drips out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You can express them at home, if you’d rather.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was no hesitation in my response. “No. Nooooo. No. You
go ahead.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later, I found a video about anal gland expression, and I
was glad I let the vet take care of it. Basically you have to don a haz-mat
suit, lock yourself in your bathroom with you dog, and prepare to be
emotionally scarred. No thanks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s probably better if you don’t see this,” said the vet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No argument from me. At all. There are some things I have no
wish to see. Ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone came back, wagging his tail and seeming none the
worse for wear. We went into waiting room to pay and saw a very tiny Asian lady
crouching in the corner with her arms wrapped around the neck of a very large
poodle. She looked like she could be a WWF wrestler. I think the move she was performing
was some kind of doggy headlock. She looked absolutely panic stricken, but the
dog looked even worse. His eyes were bulging out from the force of the
wrestling move she was using on him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“So sorry,” she said. “He doesn’t do well with other dogs.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone looked and me and I swear he winked. It may have just
been the conjunctivitis, but I like to think the winking was because he was
thinking the same thing I was. The poodle might not be the one with the
problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our moment of understanding ended when Capone decided to
lurch towards the poodle, his goopy eyes wide and crazed. I thought Psycho
Poodle Lady was going to cry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“Maybe I should take him out to the car,” I said, as Capone
barked and lunged. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lady behind the desk smiled. She was completely unfazed
by Capone’s cacophony and Psycho Poodle Lady’s distress. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We’ll have your ointment ready shortly.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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When we got outside, something really weird happened. Capone
refused to get into the car. This has never, ever happened before. The car is a
source of constant delight for Capone because I get him into his kennel by
tossing a bunch of treats in there. It is also the only place he can hang out
on his Batman snuggi and he loves his Batman snuggi.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I tried pulling him close to the car, leading him with
treats, but he dug his heels in. He looked absolutely terrified. The only way I
could get him into the car was to physically lift all 56 squirming,
uncooperative pounds of him into the car. Then I tossed an entire handful of
treats into the kennel. He jumped in, but when I zipped it shut, he whimpered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What is wrong with you, boy?” I asked. I would soon find
out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The anal gland expressing and the encounter with Psycho
Poodle Lady had made us a bit late, and I had to pick up my youngest at school.
Thankfully, it was only a few minutes away from the vet. I parked near a grassy
area and took Capone out for a little stroll. He’d been whimpering and whining
in the kennel and I thought a little walk was just what he needed. I was wrong.
He didn’t need a little walk. He needed something else entirely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone shot out of the car like a rocket and ran to the
grassy area near the parking lot, pulling me behind him. He immediately
squatted and produced the noisiest and most explosive diarrhea possible, and it
went on forever. He squat walked back and forth, tooting and shooting out
nasty, poopy sprays of everything inside his intestines. It was awful. This is
yet another thing no one tells you. Anal gland expression can lead to explosive
diarrhea, and it will happen within minutes after the procedure. This would
have been really good to know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I checked my phone. School would be out in exactly three
minutes, and an entire hoard of kids would be walking through the toxic
wasteland Capone had just created in order to get to their cars or walk home. I
had to act fast, and I had to be brave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll spare you the details, but I can tell you it required
the use of many, many biodegradable poop bags and I hope to never experience
that again. I was exhausted, mentally and physically and probably emotionally.
Capone was exhausted, too, and I’m pretty sure his butt was more than just a
little sore. He waddled back to the car, climbed slowing into his crate, and
promptly fell into a tired heap, farting every so often in his sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As we drove off into the sunset, I concluded that finding
out about these things by accident was probably for the best. If I’d known what
was coming (and what would come out of Capone) I would have been terrified.
Ignorance is bliss. Anal gland expressing is not. Lessons learned.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i> Sad puppy at the vet just before his anal gland expression.</i><br /></div>
Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-9555652478359402702015-02-21T19:29:00.001-08:002015-02-22T13:08:31.737-08:00The Revenge of the Rabbits<div class="MsoNormal">
Two nights ago I found myself sitting on the cold kitchen
floor hand feeding soggy kibble to my puppy. Not exactly how I’d planned to
spend my evening. The wind howled outside, it was a frigid negative 10 degrees (according to
the temperature gauge on my car), and I had a nasty cold that had settled in my
throat and made me sound just a bit like I could have been the love child of
Bea Arthur and Darth Vader.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d planned to curl up by the fire with a mug full of
Theraflu and knock myself out, but, alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Capone the
Wonder Dog was having a bad night. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He hasn’t been enjoying the weather, a brutal gift from
Siberia, which is kind of a surprise. Labrador Retrievers are designed for the
cold. They’re bred to haul fishing nets out of the icy North Atlantic, but I
can’t even get my Lab to take a poo in the backyard without a lot of urging and
promises of treats and belly rubs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I asked Steve Moore, owner of Brown Dog Java (and also the
owner of Capone’s grandfather, Alfie) how to know if it was too cold outside
for a Lab. He said if they lift up all their paws, it’s too cold. I thought he
was joking, but I actually saw this happen today. Not simultaneously, but
Capone lifted one paw at a time, let out a whimper, and charged back to the
house. I don’t blame him. I was ready to go back inside, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trouble started with dinner. Usually dinner is a big
event for Capone. Usually food in general is a big event for Capone, but dinner
holds a special place in his heart. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I
imagine it’s somewhere along the lines of “Happy, happy, food, food, happy,
happy, food.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every mealtime I fill his
Bob-A-Lot (an interactive dog food dispenser) (don’t judge me – it buys me
fifteen minutes of quiet time in the morning to have a cup of coffee), and just
let him go. Tail wagging, he happily rolls the Bob-A-Lot around the kitchen
floor and feasts until the Bob-A-Lot is empty and the fun is over. But today he
didn’t. He just looked at it and…sighed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Something is very wrong,” said my youngest. “Call the vet.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I watched as Capone nibbled gingerly at the bits of kibble
on the floor. He seemed hesitant to bite them, which was a little strange. He
usually sucked them up with the intensity of a Dyson. But Capone just wasn’t his usual starving self this evening. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think he’s teething,” I said. “It would explain a lot. Like the biting. And
the chewing. And the various poo issues.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’d better call Patti,” said my youngest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Patti is a friend who owns one of Capone’s uncles, Clancy,
and knows everything there is to know about Labs. Honestly. If a person could
earn a PhD in Lab training and behavior, Patti would be awarded an honorary
degree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Patti stopped by the next day after work to make sure Capone
didn’t have an abscess or a dental issue. He greeted her, tailed wagging, and
acted pretty much like himself. As soon as she left however, things got worse. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve heard the term “explosive diarrhea” before, but I
thought it was hyperbole, like “greased lightning” or “raging hormones.” I
found out that "explosive diarrhea" was pretty much spot on in describing exactly was Capone was able to produce.
It wasn’t an exaggeration at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It went on all night. One in the morning, then four in the
morning, then seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d decided to cut
Capone off from food after he barely ate his evening meal, but by morning he
had no interest in water either. I fed him a steady diet of ice chips until the
vet opened at nine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course Capone had to get sick in the middle of a
snowstorm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been far too
simple for him to have explosive diarrhea on a pleasant, sunny day. We shoveled
the driveway, packed him into his travel kennel, and hit the road (or at least
what we could see of it) with our sample of fecal matter double wrapped in
garbage bags in the back seat. Fortunately, it was a short trip. We
really did not want to experience the explosive power of Capone’s bowels while
trapped together in an SUV.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The vet, after checking Capone’s poo and finding blood,
suggested an x-ray. “Just in case he ate something. Like a sock.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was not beyond the realm of possibilities since socks
were one of Capone’s passions. His other passion was shoes. In all honesty, Capone is
passionate about anything he can stick in his mouth, especially if it will
result in his favorite game, “Chase Capone Around the House.” It now takes two
people to catch him, trap him, and get whatever he as stolen out of his mouth. He’s become
very wily.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we waited for the x-ray results, I was actually kind of
scared about what would show up in Capone’s belly. I thought we’d been pretty
cautious, but he was fast and he was determined. I imagined the kindly vet looking
over his glasses and shaking his head in disappointment at me. I also pictured
a collection of assorted objects in his belly. Keys. Rusty nails. Paperclips.
Ginzu knives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a huge relief when all the x-ray showed was gas. A
lot of it. “What did Capone eat? He definitely ate something he should not
have.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time the vet <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i>
look over his glasses at me. I just stared at him, unable to answer for a
moment. This was a very complicated question. I started making a list in my
head. What did Capone eat or attempt to eat in the last few days?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A used tissue<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A cardboard box<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A roll of toilet paper<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A dried up worm that he found in the garage<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A thermometer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My socks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My sons’ socks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My neighbor’s socks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Shoes belonging to everyone in our family<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Shoes
belonging to everyone who visited our house<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
glasses<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
hand lotion<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
pillow<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
glove<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
blanket<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
newspaper (a daily event)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
book on dog obedience<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rabbit
poo<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since the rabbit poo was the only thing he actually
ingested, I went with that one. “He does eat a lot of rabbit poo.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The vet raised one slightly judgmental grey eyebrow at me,
putting me immediately on the defensive. “I don’t encourage it. Sometimes he’s
just sniffing in the snow and comes up with some. I guess it kind of does look
like his treats. He’s also been nibbling on the bushes in the backyard. And the
frozen moss that grows between the bricks on our patio.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The vet shook his head. “None of this is good for a dog. I
can’t say for sure what caused it, but we’ll need to treat it immediately.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a shot of anti-nausea medicine, a prescription of
antibiotics, four cans of special food, and a bill that was roughly same amount
we paid to purchase Capone, we drove back home. My husband poured a
large glass of wine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This is not how I planned to spend my weekend,” he said. I
felt bad for him. He was only home for a few days, and spent most of it
shoveling snow and caring for a sick puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"It's almost like the rabbits planned this," I said. "Like they were plotting for a way to get even at me for accidentally running over their nest last spring."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone went straight to his water bowl, happily lapped up
water like he hadn’t just been on the verge of dehydration and death, and proceeded to
rub his wet face all over my husband’s leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Well, at least he’s feeling better,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband didn’t respond. He just quietly reached for the
bottle and poured some more wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HqUqZOYURFk16aEfLS_9whJ3XSeRo8OPiCq7og6Y_JRIWEbv4hgbnPQA-caePpAauccrqkH9tj6NLFqTW2AapRS8_nBPWeBzbPKmBmgMp4iCDZEInUOjujd_wQVG9nX1CIe-IoQ0a94/s1600/11004585_1072915599402014_6844336040817265747_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HqUqZOYURFk16aEfLS_9whJ3XSeRo8OPiCq7og6Y_JRIWEbv4hgbnPQA-caePpAauccrqkH9tj6NLFqTW2AapRS8_nBPWeBzbPKmBmgMp4iCDZEInUOjujd_wQVG9nX1CIe-IoQ0a94/s1600/11004585_1072915599402014_6844336040817265747_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<i> My youngest with Capone after his long afternoon at the vet's.</i></div>
Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-87483153993782626682015-02-15T19:42:00.001-08:002015-02-16T05:43:22.221-08:00Minnie and Martin <div class="MsoNormal">
My grandmother is in a nursing home right now. She had one
fall, then another, and needed physical therapy. She’s almost ninety-four and
this is to be expected, I guess, the fragility and slow decline, the
forgetfulness, poor health, and scary phone calls to let me know Grandma is in
the hospital. Again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went to visit her today, bringing along a photo album she'd made for me years ago. It’s filled with photos of me. Only me. I was
the first grandchild, the long awaited girl after having three sons of her own.
We sat, looking over the faded photographs, and every so often Grandma’s
roommate would turn and look at us with a smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>"It's nice you brought pictures," she said. "It helps."</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>"It was my mom's idea," I said. "To help Grandma remember."</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Don't worry,” she said. “She's doing well here. Really well.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Minnie had been in the nursing home for
over a year. “But I’m leaving on Tuesday,” she said, her blue eyes bright. “I’m
moving to Lancaster. I have family there. It’s five hours away, but we’ll have
to stop for lunch. I hope the roads are okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She cast a worried glance out the window, at the icy roads
and piles of snow. “It’ll be fine by
Tuesday,” I said. “I’m sure of it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She gave me a grateful smile, and that's when I noticed the
photos on her nightstand. A wedding portrait. Snapshots. A black and white
photo of a man in uniform standing next to a younger, brighter, happier
version of Minnie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small picture of
the same man, shirtless and with his hair mussed, proudly holding up two fish.
Minnie stood behind him, looking over his shoulder with a mischievous grin on
her face and a twinkle in her eye. They looked young. They looked happy. They
both looked kind of sexy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You look beautiful, Minnie,” I said. “And what a handsome
man.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She picked up the photo and smiled down at it, tracing the
outline of his face with one gnarled and trembling finger. Her blue eyes were
distant, thinking of days long gone by.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“His name was Martin,” she said. “He was my husband.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Martin had dark, curly hair, olive skin, and a small, narrow
moustache that must have been the style back then. In the shirtless photo he
was kind of buff and his hair hung down around his face. He looked like a
pirate or a gypsy. Someone a bit wild and lots of fun. In the photo, Minnie’s hands were pale
and delicate on his tanned shoulders. Her lips were painted a bright red and she had a deep
dimple in her cheek. Both of them had the sort of personalities that leapt out
of the photo, grabbing your attention and holding it. The photo only captured a
moment in their lives, but it was a happy moment, full of raw joy and love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He looks like he was a lot of fun,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Minnie nodded, her eyes still on the photo. “He was.” She
looked up at me, her eyes coming back into focus as she put the photo back on
her nightstand. “He died more than fifty years ago.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m so sorry,” I said, and I meant it, even though they were such ineffectual words in the face of so much pain. Fifty
years without her Martin. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat next to her, not sure what else I could say.
She pulled out two more photos from under a blanket on her bed. One was of a
laughing Minnie. The other was of Martin, taken in profile, wearing his army
uniform. He looked serious, his wild hair slicked back and combed into
submission. The photos were in beautiful frames and she handed them to be
proudly, pausing first just to look at Martin, telling me more about her life
with that one gesture than a million words could say.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There had been no children. Minnie had nieces and nephews
who sent her packages from California and called her every week from Florida.
She’d outlived her sisters. She outlived her friends. And she’d outlived her
Martin by half a century.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Minnie tucked the photos back under the blanket and I stood
to return to my grandmother, but I took one last look back at the photo of
Minnie and Martin and the fish.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He must have been a really lovely man,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She nodded. “It was his heart. There is nothing worse than a
bad heart. He was sick seven years before he died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope your grandmother’s heart is okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked at my grandmother sitting quiet and still in the
wheelchair in one of the appliqued sweatshirts I’d given her for her birthday.
She was looking through the photo album I’d brought and giggling softly to
herself. She had a pacemaker and congestive heart failure. She had heart
trouble of her own, but as Minnie stared up at me with her clear blue eyes, I
just smiled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She’s fine,” I said. “Just fine.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m packing my
things,” she said. “I’m leaving on Tuesday. It’ll be better in Lancaster. I
have family there. It’s hard to be here. I’m alone, and there is nothing as bad
as being alone. Nothing at all.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good luck on Tuesday,” I said. “We’ll miss you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Minnie smiled, patted my hand, and went back to looking at
her photos of Martin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later when I
talked to my sister, I told her about Minnie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’d met her the week before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She told me she was going to Lancaster last week, too. I
don’t think she’s actually going anywhere,” she said. “I think she might be
there for the duration.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The duration. She’d endured fifty lonely years, and now
there was more to endure. I got the impression she was just tired of waiting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I write romance. It’s what I do. I love brave heroes and
spunky heroines, and there is something about Minnie and Martin’s story that
both touched my heart and then broke it, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes the best romances have no happy ending. Not in a
Romeo and Juliet sort of way, but in a Minnie and Martin way. A love that
lasted in sickness and in health. Through childlessness and war. A love so
bright and pure that its loss was mourned for fifty long and lonely years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been thinking about Minnie and Martin all day, and the
more I think about them the more questions I have. I want to know how they met.
I want to hear about their first date. Did they go dancing? Did they travel?
Where were they when the caught those fish?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And as much as I hope that my sister is wrong, that Minnie
will be in Lancaster surrounded by her family on Tuesday, part of me selfishly
wishes she’d stay just a bit longer and tell me some more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-7461451468418694872015-02-07T11:33:00.001-08:002015-03-30T13:41:34.150-07:00Puppy Preschool: Not a Raging Success The winding road to the dog park is lined with trees and
snakes its way gently up a mountain. On the way we drove past a lake designed
just for dogs, complete with a pier. I imagined glorious summer days filled
with Capone frolicking in the water as I sat sipping a mint julep or something.
We parked the car in a snow-covered lot nestled beneath pine trees. The dog
center looked picture perfect, perched on the very top of the mountain,
surrounded by miles of trails and woods and wonderful places to explore.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had such high hopes. My youngest two sons had joined me,
in spite of the fact that it was awfully early on a Saturday morning for
teenagers. We were all bound and determined to do the best for our dog, and
this seemed like the perfect place to start. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone leapt out of the car and looked around, tail wagging.
Every car that passed paused and the drivers couldn’t help but smile at Capone.
He is an awfully nice looking dog, and there is something so pretty about a
black lab with a bright red collar and leash against a backdrop of white snow
and pine trees. It was like a painting, probably one found in a hunting lodge
in a place that included plaid curtains, velvet chairs, and portly men smoking
cigars.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Walking up to the center, Capone was thrilled to greet the
other puppies. Most were around his size and age, and I imagined a solid hour
of nothing but fun and some rollicking puppy play for him. He was a
little…enthusiastic…but not more than the other puppies his age.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We walked into the center and Capone sniffed around in
joyous anticipation. I began signing him in, handing the receptionist Capone’s
vaccination record and the forms I’d brought with me. I was so proud because
I’d been organized enough to fill them out ahead of time (3 sheets, single spaced,
with over 50 questions). Part of it felt vaguely like a psych eval from the
NSA, and I began questioning my answers. What were my goals?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea. I just wanted Capone to learn
to obey me, for his protection and for my own happiness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got in line to sign in, waiting with all the other happy
puppies. The receptionist perused my paperwork with a frown. “Are you here for
obedience class?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No. Puppy Preschool. We have our two orientations and interview
for obedience class next week.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh. You’re signing the wrong sheet. Sign over here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked away from
the line of happy puppies and towards the sign up sheet with only one other
name on it. This was not going to be the crowded group of happy puppies I’d
imagined. This was going to be a one on one with Capone and a 10 week old lab.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As all the happy puppies pranced down to obedience class, we
were directed towards a large silver table and told to wait. An older couple
with a tiny black lab joined us. The man smiled and fussed over Capone. He wife
wasn’t quite so entranced. She had very thin, penciled-in eyebrows that rose to
her hairline as soon as Capone tried to greet her puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“Oh, my. What is his name?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Capone.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her nearly non-existent eyebrows rose even higher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Really? Our puppy is named Luke.
After the apostle. We named all our dogs after apostles. Matthew, Mark, John,
and now Luke. It’s from the Bible.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“How nice,” I said. “I guess we’ve got both saints and
sinners here today.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Even though her eyebrows made
her look perpetually surprised, I could tell she thought that was funny. She giggled until her husband let Luke get on
the floor with Capone. Then all the laughter stopped.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought Capone did well. At first. They approached each other
tentatively and sniffed with wagging tails. Then a dam burst somewhere inside
Capone and he had a sort of love eruption. He began sniffing Luke so
aggressively he knocked him over.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Oh, my,” said No Brows. “Pick Luke back up.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Her husband guffawed. “They’re just playing…”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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No Brows wasn’t having any of that. “Pick. Him. Up. Now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should explain, although Luke was 10 weeks old, he was the
runt of the litter (the evil breeder switched puppies on No Brows, I heard the
whole story - so did the trainer, the groomer, and every innocent bystander). Luke
weighed 18 pounds. Capone, 6 weeks older, was exactly 22 pounds heavier. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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By the time the instructor arrived, I was starting to sweat.
He asked if we had any questions before we got started. No Brows placed a
dainty finger in her chin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Luke likes to bite my calves. I tell him ‘no’. Is that
okay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My sons and I just looked at each other. We hadn’t done an
official count, but we told Capone ‘no’ about ten million times a day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Even the instructor looked perplexed. “That’s a good way to
handle it, but make sure you sound like you mean it. You don’t want the dog to
think you’re playing. You have to be firm.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My sons and I nodded at each other. We’d been doing
something right. We were definitely firm when we said, ‘no’ – and loud.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Luke was back on the floor and Capone struggled to get
close to him again. I raised my hand, even though we were the only two sets of
dog owners in the place. “How do I know what’s appropriate when he’s playing
with other dogs?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The instructor looked at my boys. “It’s like when your boys
get into a fight. You stop them before anyone gets a bloody nose, right?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Three jaws dropped. I think Capone’s may have dropped, too.
I wasn’t sure what to say. What kind of family did this man grown up in?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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He let out a sigh. “Let both of them go and see how they interact.” </div>
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<br /></div>
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I
looked at the instructor in surprise. I had the leash wrapped around both of my
hands and I was leaning back as far as I could to keep Capone from climbing all
over Luke and squashing him like a bug.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Let him go?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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He nodded. “Just let go of the leash, both of you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No Brows didn’t look convinced either, but we both let go at
the same time. It was not a raging success. Within seconds Capone was on top of
Luke and Luke had curled into a submissive little ball of black fur. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Capone. No!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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He knew I meant it. I spoke very firmly that time. He took
one look at me and darted out to the reception area, nearly knocking over a
cute little girl in a sequined skirt. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Puppy!” she squealed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m so sorry,” I said to her dad. He just laughed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We have a big dog, too. It’s okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We brought Capone back to the Puppy Preschool area and were
met with accusing eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Capone had
reached a frenzied state of puppy overload at the moment. He was low to the
ground and sniffing, pulling me back and forth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Look at him,” said No Brows. “He so crazy. And Luke is so
good. We named him after one of the apostles.” She nodded at the instructor and
he nodded back at her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Dogs eventually live up to their names,” said the
instructor sagely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, crap. No one told me that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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He asked me to lift all 40 pounds of Capone onto the shiny
silver table. He proceeded to clean his ears and pretend to clip his paws,
talking the whole time. “His energy is off the charts. He needs to learn how to
behave around other dogs. He needs social skills to understand appropriate
behavior.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looked over his shoulder at dogs in the outdoor play
area. A spaniel jumped on another dog and proceeded to hump it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He belongs out there.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt tears prick behind my eyes. “Are you saying he’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bad dog</i>?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looked shocked. “No. He’s a good dog. He just needs to
spend more time with dogs his age. He needs to be corrected so he can learn the
right way to behave.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone snuggled close to me and licked my neck. “He’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not </i>a bad dog.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ever since we got Capone, I knew we were embarking on
unknown territory. We’d never had a puppy. We didn’t know much about dogs at
all, but we were trying. And so far Capone was pretty good about 95% of the
time. Not bad for a puppy with off the charts energy levels.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went to the scale and it took Luke several tries to
understand he had to sit on it. Even then he didn’t really cooperate. It took
three people feeding him treats for him to stay. Capone hopped up and sat down
right away. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He hopped right up,” said the instructor. “Good boy,
Capone.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mentally stuck my tongue out at No Brows. Capone positively
preened. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He knows ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘lie down’, ‘come’, and ‘off’.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As soon as I said, “Off,” Capone stepped off the scale. The
instructor was impressed, and victory tasted so sweet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the agility training, Capone kicked Luke’s hairy little butt again. He
walked up and down ramps and steps and different surfaces with ease. He was an
agility genius. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He’s doing well for his second week,” said the instructor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">first </i>week,”
I said, a little smugly. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I couldn’t resist smirking at No Brows. Luke kept forgetting
what he was doing and turning around in the middle of the obstacles. It was
hard not to laugh at the expression on her face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The breeder gave me the wrong puppy,” she said to the
instructor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Our breeder gave us the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">right</i>
one,” I whispered under my breath. My son giggled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly, it hit me. Puppy owners were the canine
equivalents of Dance Moms. The bragging, posturing, and competitiveness was
(like Capone’s energy levels), off the charts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A woman came in with four white Westies. She scowled at me
when I said, “Hello.” After our class, we took Capone to the dog walk area to
relieve himself. She came out with first one dog, then another identical dog. I
smiled and tried again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s like déjà vu,” I said. “Weren’t you just here with different dog?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She didn’t even look at me. “I have no idea when you saw me
last.” She turned on her heel and went back into the center.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whoa. The Wicked Witch of the Westies. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“People are snobs here,” said my son. “Dog snobs.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There were nice people here, too,” said my other son.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’d be back in a few days for our orientation, then for
obedience training, and eventually for Doggy Daycare. Capone chose that moment
to squat under a pine tree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good dog,” we all said at once.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigic1wRap6M9tPnkQzNcNVcvA42yHlRXGuejmaF3hmdnbAe112i2DLSV9KCBX9pCXZ6z4rv1fMYg-jcJ8uXYn5zFfOkV46gePsV0D5St0M1cT0as-x8yXtqz3SgdAPSR99LF2ljdTVlUA/s1600/10403784_1063224213704486_3854570692589988027_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigic1wRap6M9tPnkQzNcNVcvA42yHlRXGuejmaF3hmdnbAe112i2DLSV9KCBX9pCXZ6z4rv1fMYg-jcJ8uXYn5zFfOkV46gePsV0D5St0M1cT0as-x8yXtqz3SgdAPSR99LF2ljdTVlUA/s1600/10403784_1063224213704486_3854570692589988027_o.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<i> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> Capone exhausted after his fist day of Puppy Preschool.</i></div>
Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-50322042308961983852015-01-30T04:05:00.000-08:002015-01-30T04:21:24.066-08:00Cool/Not Cool, Puppy Capone the Wonder Dog has been with our family a little over
a week now. We’ve discovered some of the things our puppy does are very cool.
Some not so much.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Waking up 3:30 am? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Not cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Having the morning wiggles so bad it’s nearly
impossible to get your collar on? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Not cool, puppy. I cannot wrestle a frantic
puppy before coffee. I just can’t.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Managing not to wee on the kitchen floor in
spite of the morning wiggles? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Going back to sleep in your crate until a more
decent hour? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Licking my feet in greeting with a level of
adoration usually reserved for goddesses or other ancient deities? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Working your way up to lave my calves as well?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
A little awkward, but still cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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Not cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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Not cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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Not cool, puppy, although I do appreciate
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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Cool, puppy. And kind of adorable in a Lady
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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Not cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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Not cool, puppy. I don’t even understand
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Not cool, puppy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cool, puppy, but touch my coffee and you’re toast. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-71865316970213897492015-01-25T16:14:00.000-08:002015-01-25T16:17:36.040-08:00Episode III, The Return of DemirMy husband left for Amsterdam on Saturday. On Sunday, Capone
the Wonder Dog joined our family. Needless to say, the house was a little
different when Demir came back from his trip.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Demir never had a pet growing up. We adopted kittens when we
were newly married (Thelma and Louise), and he developed allergies almost
immediately. We had fish, and every time one died, he considered it proof that
we should not own pets again. Ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enter Capone, my son’s surprise 14<sup>th</sup> birthday
gift and the sweetest puppy ever – about 90% of the time. The other 10% he’s a
nippy, crazy, shoe-obsessed little pooping machine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband loves dogs, especially when they belong to other
people, but Capone was irresistible. He fell instantly in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Look at his paws,” he said. “He’s going to
be big.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yep.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He inspected the paws a bit closer. “Really big.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yep.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He tilted his head to one side, a gesture surprisingly
reminiscent of Capone. “How big exactly?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Bigger than a bread box and smaller than a young horse.
Probably.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone proceeded to be an angel most of the night. Other
than a few shoe thefts, he was on his very best behavior. He put on a very good show - sleeping by he fire, cuddling with the boys, playing with my husband.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"He's perfect," he said. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were adjustments, of course. The floors were
completely bare, but every surface of our house was covered with a
random and miscellaneous collection of hats, gloves, laundry, books, wine, and anything
we didn’t want Capone to eat. There were a lot of things we didn’t want Capone
to eat and soon we were running out of surfaces. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Demir had to get used to leaping over the child gate if he
wanted to go upstairs, not an easy task when the steps are covered with more things
we don’t want Capone to eat. The baby gate is imperative, though. Capone is really good
at going upstairs, but downstairs – not so much. He starts out well, but gains
speed around the middle and ends up wiping out at the bottom. The gate is a
necessary evil until Capone gains a better understanding of the concept of
gravity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday morning Demir woke up at 4 am because he was jet
lagged. Capone woke up with him, very happy to oblige. They had a lovely stroll and poop session in
the back yard followed by a long and leisurely walk and tug session through the
neighborhood. I handed Demir treats and poop bags on his way out the door
because I was off to a morning meeting and was throwing him to the wolves. He
looked at the poop bags and then at me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What are these?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“In case he poops.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What do I do if he poops?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Clean it up.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The look on his face was a combination of outrage and fear.
“I didn’t sign up for this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Would you rather leave his poo in someone’s yard?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They survived the first walk and Capone did not poo. The
second day was a little different, but fortunately I was there to take care of matters. Capone chose a bad house and squatted down immediately to
poop. If there was a
rating system for which neighbors would be the most annoyed at a dog pooping in
their front yard, he chose the second worst possible house. And although it was early
morning, their lights were already on and I suspected they were watching from
their windows. I was too scared to actually look.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband used an expletive that had something to do with
what Capone was doing at that very moment. It was sort of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">le mot juste.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yep,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of the walk consisted of Capone either leaping
ahead or refusing to move. We finally got to a snowy path through a field, and
he happily sniffed around, picking up sticks and prancing around with them. My
husband tried to remove the smaller sticks because it looked like Capone was
trying to eat them. It was a back and forth of him saying, “Drop it” and Capone
refusing to comply. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At one point I was a bit ahead and I heard “No. Drop it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Surprisingly, it was followed by a “Good boy,” which meant
Capone had actually listened.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was followed by a panicked sort of yelp, but not from
Capone. From my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned around
to see him staring at what Capone had just dropped.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s….it’s….it’s…..” he couldn’t quite get the word out. “A
rat. He had a dead frozen rat in his mouth. What do we do?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I shrugged. It looked more like a dead, frozen field mouse
to me. “Keep walking?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I couldn’t see much of my husband’s face. Most of it was
covered with a hood that buttoned around his neck, covering him to the mouth.
His eyes spoke volumes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you want me to take the leash?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He didn’t have to answer. I gave him the poop bag and he
held it as far away from his body as was humanly possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I didn’t sign up for this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yep.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Capone at 13 weeks - right after our walk this morning.</i><br />
<br />
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</div>
Wende Dikechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078463943124157928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386249886038529605.post-36698032391693945632015-01-19T19:06:00.003-08:002015-01-20T04:00:39.949-08:00The Great Puppy Adventure 2015<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a disastrous start to our Great Puppy Search of 2015,
we ended up with a miracle. A beautiful 12 week old male black lab named Capone
from an amazing breeder. Her name is Sue, and she more than made up for the
horrendous first breeder experience. Sue loves her dogs, and treats them with
nothing but care and respect. She’s also one of the most knowledgeable people
I’d encountered. She answered every question thoughtfully and cried after we left with Capone. She was genuinely glad he went to a good family, but sad to see
him go. She gave me a huge packet with tons of important information, including
which commands she used, just to make things easier for us. Capone was off to a
great start. Now it was up to us not to screw things up. Ugh.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As soon as we got home, we had questions. I relied on my
friend Patti, who has the equivalent of a PhD in Labrador Retriever training and
behavior. Patti got her dog from Sue as well, and Patti and her dog Clancy are an outstanding
search and rescue team. My goals with Capone were not so lofty. First, I wanted
to keep him alive. Secondly, I didn’t want him to poop in the house. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe
those goals were a bit lofty as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We started off rocky, when the last part of the ride
home became stressful. Accusations were thrown, “Mom. You have to tell me when
you turn. He’s sliding all over the place.” And, “Are you sure you know what
you’re doing, Mom? This doesn’t seem safe.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We made it home. Safely. And Capone began exploring his new
environment. We rushed around what we thought was an already puppy proofed area
and puppy proofed some more. Friends came to visit and Capone charmed their
socks off. Then came the moment of truth. Bedtime. Capone sat in his kennel,
but looked at us accusingly. And the barking started.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What do we do?” asked my youngest son. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We’re going to be calmly assertive,” I answered. We’d been
watching way too much of "The Dog Whisperer."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We need Cesar Milan,” whispered my son as the intensity of
the barking and whining increased.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We’ve got Sue.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sent out an urgent FB message, which Sue graciously
answered immediately, asking her how to get Capone to sleep in his kennel. She
said to use the command word “No” when he barked, and then to say “Lie down.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked right into Capone’s eyes, used my most calmly
assertive voice, and said, “No. Lie down.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He gave a half-hearted bark, and I said it again. “No. Lie
down.” And it worked. Like a charm. He went to sleep within minutes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’re the Alpha,” said my youngest, not without a touch of
envy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We all knew that,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Capone has been with us for around 30 hours now. He
discovered the Cave of Wonders (our shoe closet), the Magical Dispenser of
Liquid Joy (our water cooler), and he learned to stay away from my favorite
slippers. He made friends at PetSmart, stayed in his kennel for a few brief
interludes and barely barked at all. He also ate or attempted to eat the
following:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The head of a squeaky toy frog<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Part of a soccer ball<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A pair black men’s dress shoes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My new boots<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rabbit poo<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A pine cone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Several rocks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Twigs in varying sizes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What I suspect was deer poo<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
plastic twisty tie<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
card with a photo of Patti’s dog on it<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
newest edition of my oldest son’s favorite magazine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
cardboard box<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
new pair of tennis shoes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Leaves<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Grass<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
coffee table<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
book<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
coat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A
penny<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">21.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->His
new leash<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are still working on the “drop” command. That has become
a bit of a priority for us. We found out online that if you blow on their face
when you say “drop” (in a calmly assertive voice), they will do it. Eventually.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He managed to remove every single tag that existed on just
about every item in our house. It was obviously his new job, and he took it
very seriously. He also took his other job seriously – being a professional
stalker. He spread the love, giving each of us a turn to be stalked, and he wasn't even sneaky about it. I think I
tripped over him twenty seven times today, but I may have lost count.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To all of you who said it wouldn’t be easy – you were
absolutely right. I’m exhausted. My youngest is exhausted. My middle son
escaped to the science center today, so he can’t share our war stories. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you remember when Capone almost ate the coffee table?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We shook our heads in disbelief, but none of it bothered
Capone. He wagged his tail, put his head on my knee, stared at me with his big, brown eyes, and all was forgiven.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As long as he stays away from my boots.<o:p></o:p></div>
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