The Perfect Storm

On October 31, I walked Tommy & Louise together by myself. A leash in each hand and a bag of treats hanging off each hip, I showered the dogs with goodies whenever another dog (walking by or barking from behind a fence) sent Louise into a tizzy.

My thinking was as long as I could walk Tommy & Louise together on my own, I could keep Louise.

I continued to walk them like this without incident, cavalierly defying my trainer's emphatic warnings against doing so, until the morning of November 29, when the perfect storm sparked a full-on fight in the middle of the street just around the corner from my house.

The following evening, the wind storm tore into town. The photo above shows Tommy in front of a pile of debris in Farnsworth park a few days later. His snoot loop broke in the fight so you get to see his gorgeous mug in all its naked glory.

He looks sad, doesn't he? Maybe he was stressed from being without electricity for days.

I haven't walked Tommy & Louise together since. Sometimes you have to learn lessons the hard way.

Occupy Hahamongna

I snapped these pictures of Tommy on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena just after Occupy Wall Street started in September.

At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about the Occupy movement. It seemed vague and directionless. What was it trying to accomplish?

But as the movement evolved I began to empathize with the sense of outrage that sparked it.

Our society puts a high value on free speech, as it should, but what is the point if that speech falls on deaf ears? What is the point if those in power ignore it, no matter how loud the collective outcry?

Tomorrow Occupy protestors will march at the tail end of the Rose Parade. Joining them will be people against the massive, devastating tar sands project in Alberta, Canada.

I'm excited that the movement against environmental destruction is joining forces with the movement against economic injustice.

So why Occupy Hahamongna?

Pasadena plans to build soccer fields in the Hahamongna watershed, despite years of eloquent, passionate opposition from the community.

The majority of Pasadena City Council members seem unmoved by the many voices raised to save Hahamongna. Maybe it's time to take it to the streets.

Random Highlights

Tommy and Louise march in support of Occupy Los Angeles last month. Deirdre the Brit puts them up to it...

Louise graduates from J9sK9s obedience class. She gets a star for perfect attendance and comes in first in agility competition. I'm so proud...

Tommy makes a good co-pilot. My neighbor says, "He sits in the front seat just like a person."

Louise makes herself right at home...

Let's face it: She's a permanent member of this pack. Tommy is not sure what to make of this...

Sweet Louise

A few weeks ago a kind, elderly couple fell in love with Louise after watching this video that the fabulous Veronica of The Dog Rescuers made (everytime I watch it I get choked up, so if you're mushy like me break out the Kleenex):



They were so excited to meet Louise and desperately tried to win her over. She sat for them and ate their duck jerky treats (how gourmet is that?!) but each time retreated to my side. She never let down her guard.

When they left I was relieved. It wasn't a good fit, and, no surprise, a part of me doesn't want to let her go. Still, I have to at least try to find her a great home.

Louise is also listed with Molly's Mutts & Meows. A wonderful photographer named Poly made a video of her, too:



We went to Race for the Rescues this past Sunday. Louise walked around the Rose Bowl with 4 other pitties. She did great. Lots of people fell in love with her beauty, but still no adoption bites. That's okay. I'm not in any hurry.

Art & Macarons

I had the good fortune to attend Art Platform – Los Angeles last Friday night.

As I sipped vodka in the VIP lounge (I have well-connected friends), I caught eyes with Albert Brooks, who stood a few feet away. I broke into a spontaneous smile, which he returned.

My girlfriends and I buzzed about him while we sampled hors d'oeuvres off passing trays. Then we went to look at art.

The art, from all over the world, spread out over a giant warehouse space. I lagged behind my friends as we explored row after row of art.

Up ahead, a server held out a tray of macarons to passersby. My friends each took one as the server waltzed in my direction.

There was one macaron left. As I reached for it I got a glimpse of Albert Brooks and his lovely wife strolling just behind the server. Albert Brooks’ eyes scanned the tray where my hand grabbed the macaron. I was busted.

I held up the green macaron and blurted out, “I took the last one! Do you guys want it?”

“Oh, no, no,” they mumbled, shaking their heads. They smiled as they continued to walk, looking at art, perhaps searching for more macarons.

I should have asked if they wanted to adopt Louise. You never know.

Louise at Ellouise

One recent Sunday I took Louise to a spoken word event at Ellouise. I wasn’t sure if I'd be welcome with a pit mix at my side, so I loitered at the entrance when a red-haired woman with a mission approached.

I braced myself to be shooed away, but instead she asked, “Who is this beautiful child?” She referred, of course, to Louise.

The animal lover vibe was clear, so I laid out Louise's story thick and quick. We were invited inside.

The place overflowed with teens. The red-head was Ms. Hunter, high school English teacher to most of the readers as well as to many who filled the seats. Students got extra credit for attending, and they showed up in droves.

Ms. Hunter paraded us in front of the crowd saying we all had to find Louise a home.

People packed the house. Extra rows of chairs were brought in. Kids sat on the floor. Louise and I were treated as honorary guests, with a VIP seat just by the entrance.

Poor Louise was overwhelmed, but she stayed curled at my feet the entire evening, which lasted over 2 hours. We stuck around to hear local Altadena poet Linda Dove read. It was worth it.

Louise didn't find her forever home that night, but I have a good feeling about these poetry readings. Animal lovers abound. Louise made a big splash. She'll attend the next one. Such a good girl. Tommy wouldn't last five minutes.

Progress

When I mill about the living room and dining room, Louise respects the baby gate and stays in her kitchen den. A knock on the front door, however, sends her flying over that gate like a gazelle leaping through the savannah. Her athleticism is impressive, but it means I have to be on my toes when managing the Tommy and Louise dynamic.

Louise rests after a flying leap into the living room.

Last month when I stepped into the living room from the bedroom, Tommy and Louise stood at high alert. I gasped at the sight of them causing their heightened energy to erupt into a fight.

But that’s old news.

When Louise flew over the gate last week, I calmly walked toward the back door, calling Tommy to put him in the yard. But when I opened the door it was Louise at my heels.

Tommy? He’d run and hid under the dining room table.

I call that progress.