Don't Make Me Use My Teacher Voice

Today I decided to try out the Bark Park again with Guinness. Our first and only visit there resulted in Guinness being rolled in the mud by a big dog only 30 seconds into the experience. I explained all of this in my previous post about the bark park. This time was a little better.

There are three off-leash, fenced-in areas in the Bark Park. I decided to take him into the one that usually is empty. There was only one dog in there anyhow. So I took Guinness in and let him off of his leash. We went to the far left of the enclosure ( which is huge btw) and found some tennis balls lying about. I played fetch with him for quite a while which he loved. Its funny how retrieving really seems to come instinctually to him. For the most part he ignored the other dog in there. Then he started to meander over to him so I followed. The couple that owned the dog looked at Guinness suspiciously and I assured them that he was totally friendly. The woman's immediate response was, "Well he is not." about her dog. Immediately their dog viciously lunged for Guinness. I was so pissed. WHY, if you know your dog is dog-aggressive have you brought him to the dog park?? Huh? The rules of the Bark Park clearly state that not only are dogs with histories of aggressive behavior prohibited, but that any dog must be removed at the first sign of aggression. They, of course did neither.

I leashed him up and he was scared to death. Now, Guinness is typically not afraid of any human or animal he comes across. If he shows any sign of trepidation I usually take that as a clear indicator to steer clear of that dog, knowing Guinness' amiable nature. I decided to chance it and take him into the main enclosure. There was a full-grown Golden there and it has been my experience that most Golden owners are very responsible pet owners. Of course the big Golden came right up to greet us. Guinness was just totally freaked out by everything. He ended up cowering over by the gate the entire time and trying to escape whenever someone opened it. I should also explain that about a week ago we were walking in the adjoining Military Park and this massive dog got loose from its gentle leader and came right for Guinness. I hadn't realized until that moment that I would take a bite for my dog, but I found myself shoving Guinness between my legs and crouching over him protectively. I ended up putting the other dog in a headlock until its owners could run over and get him.

Damn people. I mean really. Now that may have been an accident, but so many people are irresponsible with their pets. I ended up talking to the lady that owned the Golden and another lady who had what looked like a black lab mix. We were discussing why people were bringing dogs that were aggressive into the park. Meanwhile, Guinness, still over by the gate, ends up getting mounted by this pitbull who's jerky owner decided to bring in. Poor Guinness. He just melted into a pile of submissive goo and looked helplessly at me. I leashed him up and kept him beside me. The only dog he was really comfortable with was the big golden and a couple of the little tiny dogs. The pit kept assaulting every dog he came across. The owner continued to let it happen for some time before finally taking him back over into the other enclosure.

I'm gonna try to go there early in the morning the next time. I've heard its a better, more responsible, group of people at that time. And the next time I see people being irresponsible with their pets I'm going to point out the rules sign to them and inform them that they need to leave. I'll make sure I've got my cell on me from now on with the parks dept. number in it. I really think that the responsible owners who are there should really start to put their foot down about this issue with aggressive/obnoxious dogs.

But really, for the most part I enjoyed myself a lot more. The Bark Park really is a great thing and we both could really enjoy it if it wasnt for the bad owners. There is also a guy that seems to come there all the time and he sits on a bench with his dog and plays his fiddle. Thats such a nice touch. :)

We will be back. And we will enjoy ourselves without the presence of bullies.

Another social networking swamp is on the rise.. If you haven't heard of it yet there is no doubt that you will soon. Twitter. Its all the rave these days apparently. Its what all the cool kids are doing.

I want it to stop. Please! I can't keep up with the pace of the internet anymore. LOL

My first venture into cyberspace was ICQ. Man, I was quite the little rebel at 13 with my ICQ messenger. It even had instant chat and you could see when people deleted as they were typing. I talked to strangers all over the world...oooooo *spooky fingers*.

Then there was Yahoo Messenger and Yahoo Chat. MSN Messenger..AIM messenger.

Then came the social networking sites. Friendster. Had one never used it. Xanga..I was pretty active on it for a couple of years. I moved from there to Facebook then to Myspace.

NOW there is Twitter! What is Twitter? Well, I don't know and I'm putting my foot down now and saying I really don't care. I'm gonna stick with myspace and facebook and the random assortment of messengers I have collected over the years.

After all of this social networking am I really any more social? Not really, not that I suffered in that department before. Am I finding new clubs, potential employers? No.

So what was the point? I think I'll cling to what little social ambiguity I still possess and Twitter can be where the buck stops.

Well to say that the past few months have been a struggle would be an understatement to the greatest extent. I have been an emotional roller coaster. For someone who prides them self on being stable both in mind and in actions, I feel really out of whack with the mood swings I've been experiencing.

Bob and I considered depression. There was a month or so when I first moved down here where I was constantly weepy, down, and excruciatingly irritable. Poor Bob, he bore the brunt of that period. Thing is...and call me hoity-toity if you must..I'm above depression. Yeah..it sucks not having a job and feeling like you are helpless and forced to depend on someone. I'm a very independent person so thats hard for me. But nothing to be depressed about. Then again, I wouldn't put myself past relying on that rational reason and overlooking the highly irrational nature of depression. So maybe its true..what next?

I've done everything I can to get a job. My resumes are floating around two large counties right now and a handful of private schools and academies. The jobs just aren't there. Stupid recession. Alright, North Carolina. Where is this job shortage you've been touting all over the midwest? Huh?

I'm bored silly and that is half of the problem. It all goes back to being jobless though. I have no income, and no insurance. In plain words, I'm in ghettoville, ladies and gentlemen. In the past six months I have experienced the very worst that our fine American health system has to offer to people in my situation. I have had to get approved for free medical attention..thats a perk right? Well making an appointment with that perk still meant having to sit in St. Joe Hospital E.R. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for over 7 hours only to find out that I had acute tendenitis and being put anti-inflammatories. That reads, prescription-strength Ibuprofen, folks. I have a new appreciation of what people in my situation, and in worse situations, have to go through to receive basic medical attention. Newsflash America! Your doctors are the highest paid in the world, and your health system ranks with several third world countries. This brings me back to a little ditty I learned on Sesame Street as a child. "One of these things is not like the other. Which one of these things does not belong?"

I haven't been able to refill my Ritalin LA for a few months now. Let me explain what that means in my world. I get up around 10:30-11 every day and have NO motivation to do anything. Some would call that lazy..thats my mind screaming "GET THE HELL UP AND DO SOMETHING, ALREADY!" and my body responding..."Cant....move...can't...think...can't...function". I'm in flakeville big time.

The good news? After having to go to the County's Public Health Dept. I was finally referred to a physician who will see me without raping me for loads of money. So hopefully, I'll get a refill next Friday and be a normal person again. If anything about my life is depressing it is that fact. Normal people take drugs and act like flakes. My brain makes me act like a flake and I have to take medication to be normal. Thats terribly depressing. I hate having to depend on anything. So anyhow, this doctor used to be the director down there I guess. So she's gonna see me, without insurance, for $35. BLESS HER heart and thank you Baby Jesus.

Speaking of Jesus. And I don't say that in a vain tense...I have a predicament. Bob and I are still church-shopping and there is a local church that I'm really interested called Westminster Presbyterian. Anyhow, they have contemporary services as well as traditional. I'm looking for a blend of the two I think. Bob is leaving in the morning for Georgia. He won't be back 'til Thursday. I'm thinking of going alone but I'm really nervous. Does anyone else go to church alone if they are in a relationship? I mean Bob would go if he wasn't leaving for Georgia on business. Do you really need company to go to church? I'm kind of torn. Let me know what you think.

Well this was a long time coming. I need to get off for now though. I apologize for the tone of this blog, however, its simply the reality of my current life situation. I'll leave you with a positive note. Today I bought daisies and pansies. Two of my favorite flowers and also very happy flowers. So I'm going to try out my green thumb again this year and transplant the daisies into a nice coco basket I got to hang off of our porch rail. I'll take picture of the progress.

'Til next time! Toodles...

I'll get around to this soon pending a refill on my Ritalin. What? I can't get anything DONE without it.

I'll get back on here..don't you worry your little heart about it.