IT'S IN THE BAG

I don't profess to have an understanding of human nature--what makes people behave the way they do and the why behind it. There's a bucket-full of behaviors I'll never comprehend, mostly because I'd much rather spend my time dealing with animal behavior-something far more enriching and rewarding...it balances me.

I take my dog out every day--three or four times. We head down to the off-leash on the beach once a day for some serious exercise; the other walks are on-leash around the neighbourhood.

Because I'm a responsible dog owner, my pockets always have bags and treats in them. Treats because I'm a sucker and all the dogs in the neighbourhood can see me coming (poor starving lot!) and bags to stoop & scoop. Which I do--everytime! Have done for years. I stoop, pick up, tie the bag and deposit it in the nearest receptacle available. I don't dump it in recycle bins along our way-I wait until I come to a public trash bin (preferably on the boardwalk).

There is in this city an ugly movement afoot. A secret club perhaps, with a whole lot of individuals who are displaying some strange behavior.

I'm speaking of the practice of stooping and scooping, tying a neat knot in the bag, then dropping the bag onto the ground. The base of a tree seems to be a favourite target for these goody bags.

It's in the bag----! The tough part is over. Your knees and back a little worse for wear but you'll live to see another walk. What kind of behavior is that??? And why???

What possesses you to just drop a full bag of poop? I have to have something to go on here...



Perhaps the bag gets too heavy and you suddenly get a cramp and the muscles in your hand release involuntarily?

Is there a touch of Alzheimers and you forget where the bag came from, worrying you may be carrying contraband?



Maybe you are a single person and you see a potential suitor approaching. You're concerned the scent now emanating from the bag is over-riding your carefully chosen cologne?

My money is on human laziness-you're just too damn lazy to carry it once you've picked it up. The bag colour doesn't go with your ensemble and besides--you picked it up and put it in a bag-why should you have to walk farther with it?

It would be better if you just left the poop on the ground unbagged...it will break-down eventually.



Your dog has done what you took it out to do-now you can drop the bag and leave it for someone else to pick up, take the dog home and get on with your life--

Guess I do understand human nature after all.

(all bags I took pictures of today I picked up and disposed of)

PRIORITIES...

Happy New Year! May happiness and health lead you through 2010!

No matter how much I choose to down-play the commercialization of the Christmas season, I get caught up in the energies madly swirling around me like an invisible snow blizzard. My priorities are tinged with echoes of marketing ditties dancing in my head mixed in with the infernal muzak being piped into my brain whenever I enter a store or mall.

I remember a time when all that was played in the stores at Christmastime were hymns that soothed the soul and reflected the meaning of the season. Now the frenzied tunes played reflect a different message--the marketers dream---buy, purchase, consume-!

There are cards to send, gifts to choose and wrap, parcels to mail, decorating to be completed, baking to be done, salon appointments, brunches with friends we don't see enough through the year, open houses to attend, relatives visiting from out-of-town--the list goes on. No wonder there's a spike in heart-attacks from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day!!

Our daily schedules are thrown so off-kilter. There is added stress in our households even if just due to time restraints. Our dogs pick up on the energies.

It's important to keep your dog's walking schedule. Let it get out and socialize too and run off all that energy it's been picking up on---you'll find you don't have to worry about it tearing up wrapping paper or acting out for some of your attention if it has an outlet too!

I haven't the luxury of a fenced backyard where I can just open a door at 7:00 a.m or 10:00 p.m when the wind is howling, embedding ice crystals into the window screens and I'm cozy-warm in my favourite bathrobe.

If she is crossing her legs at the door, it's my duty to don my clothing (all four layers!) and answer her call to nature.

Anyone who knows me, knows this for certain--when I plan any activity, it falls between my dog's walks.

'Let's go downtown tomorrow-get some shopping done'.

'Alright-we'd have to leave around 10:a.m. I have to be back by latest 3:00-".

'Kerry's having a Christmas party-we should get there by 8:p.m.'

'Sure-I can go for a couple of hours-I would want to get home by 10:00'.

Just my choice in keeping my dog on a schedule no matter what the season or reason, when it's within my power to do so.

It's my time with my home companion. A walk releases stress for both of us. It's good for the soul-

Not alot to sacrifice for the joy she brings into my life every day of the year!!