It's My Dog's World: I Just Live In It

yes yes yes

Source: fubiz.net via HOLSTEE on Pinterest

In praise of courage, especially on reality TV: man terrified of pit bulls tries to conquer his fear

Reality TV: not a big fan.  I worked in television for too many years, trolling for "true crime" movies back in the day, to really believe that things can be "real" or "true" on television.  (One thing I do know for sure, to use an Oprahism:  Valerie Bertinelli is a really nice person and an amazingly hard worker.)

Still, this clip, from a new Animal Planet show about people overcoming their extreme animal phobias, just breaks my heart.  It's a cliche, but it's not:  a big tough-looking guy, terrified of ALL pit bulls.  Which doesn't just mean that he avoids pit bulls.  It means he avoids places where pit bulls MIGHT be...like dog friendly parks.  Which means his time with his family outside is highly limited.

I identify. I was never quite as phobic as this guy...but I would cross the street, and I would never pet a dog. It made no sense to me at all.  My shift took years and years,  and more than one dog. This guy has a very good reason for being afraid of this breed, and I salute him for doing this at all---let alone doing it on TV.  This is NOT about him creating a brand, or selling food, or showing up at openings for large sums of money.   He's doing it to get part of his life back.

 

 

 

Reason number 10 to love NY

 

The guy who was playing the piano said it had been a long time since he had played, and he could remember the name of the sweet, sad, song he was playing--he had learned it at school a long time ago.  I told him that these pianos were all over the city, and he was really happy to hear it.  After he was done, he scanned the QR code on the piano to learn more about the program. The woman in the background is his sweetheart...you can see how happy this made her.
I loved stumbling across this. It makes me love New York even more. And on Father's Day: it reminded me of my late father, who fell in love in New York and with New York so many years ago...and loved playing the piano.

Yarn + Hell's Kitchen tree + impish creators = this

Among the many reasons I haven't updated lately: 

My colleague Gabe Stein and I made a short film about a delightful yarn project in Hell's Kitchen, NYC.   The team calls themselves the Looons--please watch the film to see why.  Luisa and Nicki, the owner of the three cats (the ooos in the name), say that the cats were instrumental in making the tree yarn sculpture you'll see here. Sadly, the cats were not available for filming.  They were probably too busy playing with yarn. :)  Yes, I do think dogs can contribute to yarn projects.  Just not this one.  Also, please go visit the adorable home store Luisa and Nicki run, Domus.  It is eight tons of awesome.

Thank you forever, Phoebe Snow

We lost a great artist today,  and a fearless mother.  

 

It's NOT a Dog Eat Dog World

Best-selling author and all-around mensch Tim Sanders says it IS a dog's world, but rewrites the cliche just a little.  More of  his coolness is here in his new book, "Today We Are Rich."

You don't have to speak Japanese to understand this video..just dog.

The lost dog of the tsunami finds her owner.

The two things you must learn to live happy

This morning, I found myself talking to my doctor, the fabulous Dr. Austin Chen, about longevity and happiness, and about staying open.   It was a great conversation.  I love Dr. Chen.  If you are looking for a great ob-gyn, she is the woman.  I told Dr. Chen that I thought being happy boiled down to learning two things:

 

1.  How to be a good friend.

I mean friend in the widest possible sense.  You must be a good friend to yourself, to your associates, and to your beloved.

 

2. How to grow old right.

Wrong: get crabby.

Right:  teach yourself how to type when you are 70 so you can write your memoirs for your grandchildren.  (Thanks, Pop Garvey.)

Wrong: stay home, get isolated.

Right:  maintain a circle of friends (see 1.) and play cards with them whenever possible.  On the way to the card game, rev your Rambler just a bit. (Thanks, Gram Hutchinson.)

 

More later.  What are your happiness tricks? (Extra special thanks to Patti Digh and Gretchen Rubin, both aces in the happiness project department.)

Buy your dog a collar, help a soldier heal.

This is very cool.  Survival Straps, a small Florida company, makes all kinds of neat things out of parachute cord, including bracelets, with or without inspirational dog takes, and (my fave) the Germ Grenade, a nifty way to carry your hand sanitizer.   Even neater, they also contribute to the Wounder Warrior Project.   And this month,  you can buy a soldier a Survival Strap care package for 19.95.  Or if you buy 75 bucks worth of Survival Strap gear, Survival Strap will add on a soldier care package for FREE.

 

Here's a place to buy your pooch a collar.  

 

Thanks to IWearYourShirt for this great tip! Check out the Christmas tree decorations they made from Survival Straps.

 

The amazing story of the recovery of the Michael Vick pit bulls...

I'll have more to say about the book, The Lost Dogs, which is deeply moving.  In the meantime, take a listen to this Fresh Air interview with author Jim Gorant and some of the principal people involved in this remarkable rescue.

The rescue team expected to save, maybe four dogs.

In the end, only one was euthanized, another passed away from injuries, and 47 were saved.