Lazy Dog

My yorkie Ginger is a lazy dog;
She spends her day walking from the couch, to my lap, to her bed, to our bed, and back to my lap––taking very few steps in between.
The only time she’ll get excited is when the word “cookie” is mentioned;
She jumps four feet off the ground, gobbles the delightful dog treat, and jumps back into my lap––snoring within two minutes.
Why can’t I have that life?

A Dogs Life...

If I were a puppy, I’d sleep all day, too.
Cuddled up on the sofa while dreaming of burying bones and squeaking toys all day long.
It would be delightful to have someone feed me when I was hungry, bathe me when I needed cleaned, and walk me when I needed to go to the bathroom.
My dogs have the life.
Of course if I were a dog, I’d probably be the unfortunate one;
like the puppies who end up in the commercials with the Sarah McLachlan commercials.

Colorado Christmas Day 1

Upon arrival last night, we were greeted by the entire family with an Italian dinner.
Their warmth was a nice contrast to the cold winter night.
The puppies woke up early this morning to go play in the snow;
They leap through the air like Santa’s reindeer.
Today we’re baking traditional Italian Christmas cookies;
Just looking at the ingredients I’m gaining weight!
It’s good to be with family during this time of year.

How Much Is That Shih Tzu in the Mirror?

I’m staring at my dog as she watches herself in the mirror;
She’s trying to decide if she should attack her reflection––or play chase.
We make eye contact and she tilts her head sideways;
My heart melts and she gets bashful.
I can't comprehend people who don’t understand dogs––they are such honest, loyal creatures.

Lick Your Wounds

I took my dog to the groomer yesterday,
They nicked her left paw and neglected to inform me;
I discovered it this morning, thanks to the trail of blood on my beautiful 800 thread count sheets.
She licks her wound,
While I scrub the blood from the Egyptian cotton.

Puppies, Come Out of the Closet!

Both of my puppies are curled up on my lap;
Neither one suspects what’s about to come.
They hear me fetch their leashes from the doggy drawer––
Nope, it’s not a walk Lily...
It’s time to get your hair cut!
Ginger, the Yorkie, knows what’s up.
She just took off to hide in the closet––
Trust me Ginger, I spent time in the closet, too;
You’ll feel better when you come out! ...You’ll look better, too!

Rain Day

The rain falls causing a familiar smell from my youth;
Being trapped in a classroom––playing Seven Up––because teachers didn’t want to be outside monitoring the wet, muddy, playground.
Heads down, thumbs up; it was fun for a moment, but the gravity would sink in...
No fresh air today––math class, reading, and an indoor game at your desk?
It’s like telling a child they get to skip school, and then informing them it’s because they have to go to the dentist.
As and adult I LOVE a rain day.
The perfect excuse to stay in my pajamas, curled up on the couch with a book; puppies on either side––sipping hot chocolate.
It’s good to be an adult.
Except for that “work” idea... that part is less fun.

The Mountain and The Mutt

The  warm mound of laundry––fresh from the dry––piled atop my couch;
My Shih-Tzu, Lily, conquers the fluffy hill, burying her head underneath the clean scent of fabric softener;
She disappears into the sea of sweatpants and is lost in the comfort of cotton.
I can’t blame her, even my workout clothes are very fashionable.

River Walk with the Puppies

My dogs are always so eager to get out of the house;
Which is odd in this heat––I’m doing everything I can to stay in the arctic confine of my sixty-eight degree climate-controlled house.
If I even walk past the puppy drawer my Shih-Tzu, Lily, goes crazy––she knows where the harness is stored and she is ready!
After sleeping in until 7:30AM, I decided it was still early enough to go for a short walk along the Los Angeles river.
Once I was dressed and lathered from head-to-toe with SPF 100 with zinc, I gathered the puppies and we embarked on our journey.

Within three blocks of our house, my Yorkie, Ginger, had given up: she made her business and then demanded––via digging all four feet firmly into the scorching sand beneath her––that she received princess status in my arms.
Lily, on the other hand, was ready to trek the miles of California foliage that lined the riverbed; in search of a scent that was yet to be discovered.

Finally, after thirty minutes in the heat, Lily laid down in defeat.  Eager to get home, but not thrilled about carrying two furry creatures in the blazing sun, I found the shadiest path possible and laboriously made my way home.

Now inside the freezer box, I see Lily eyeing me, “Daddy, don’t ever make us do that again.”  My thoughts exactly.

Life on Tour

I'm hours away from embarking on a four week tour of the US; teaching, choreographing, and adjudicating dancers in glamorous cities like New York, Chicago, Atlantic City, and San Antonio.

As if the idea of spending a month living out of a bag, eating lukewarm convention food, and tolerating the needless body pat-downs from power hungry TSA agents doesn't make you think twice about my chosen line of profession—imagine leaving your cuddly puppies, comfortable pillow-topped bed, and of course my husband.

Like a high school Math team, I've spent the past week trying to mentally prepare for my TOURnament, with meditation, "to-do" lists, and creating projects that will keep me distracted while away from home.

One of those projects is a daily account of my life on the road; my objective with Truth on Tour, is to stay positive and creative through a series of quips, videos, pictures, and blog posts.

With any luck, I'll be so overwhelmed with creativity and brilliant energy, that I won't be so consumed with missing my family.

But for today, I'm going to enjoy a puppy in my lap and the other cuddling up next to me!

Puppy Vs. Human

I’m watching my Shih Tzu, Lily, cram her furry head into the side of the couch;
Burrowing deep into the pile of blankets to shield her ears from the sounds of the neighborhood leaf blowers and trash trucks––disturbing our quite reading time.
If only I could bury my head every time I hear something that annoys me;
I could walk around with a pillow and protect myself from the needless distractions.

Blame It On the Puppies...

If cuddling with my puppies while watching reruns of The Golden Girls was a sport––I’d be a Gold medal winner.
Their soft little bodies warm my bones better than grandmas electric blanket;
But it’s their unconditional love that provides such an enormous amount of joy which forces me to stay in bed an hour longer.

Six Word Essay

Cozy on the couch with puppies.

That's Life

I received a 4AM wake-up call;
Thanks to a reaction from the vaccination that both of my puppies had yesterday.
You don’t really know what love is, until you’re cleaning shit and vomit, while using a calming voice, “It’s okay sweetheart, you just had an accident.”
People who say dogs are just like having babies are wrong:
Babies wear diapers!

Six Word Essay: Returning Home

Comfy in my bed snuggling puppies.

Saturday

My day is free––a rare treat.
The skies are bright with possibilities;
pooltime, outdoor yoga, and a long walk to Starbucks (naturally) with the puppies.
Balance means stepping away from the computer...

The Starbucks Shuffle

Finding shade outside;
Trendy LA writers, actors, producers––the industry spends more time drinking coffee than working.
Although netWORKing is draining.
With my puppies on my lap, I happily create.
Life is beautiful. Especially outside in LA!

Laptime

Life is good with a puppy on your lap;
It’s even better when you have two!
It does make it a bit more challenging when you’re trying to typo...

The Rain In LA

The rain in LA falls mainly in the drain.
According to one meteorologist, “We’re receiving reports of up to two inches of rain in Santa Monica! That. Is. Record. Breaking!”
This statement comes in the midst of a drought; I’m not sure that one day of “record breaking” rainfall is going to save LA––but it certainly gave me an excuse to blow off my regularly scheduled day for a book-fest on the sofa with my puppies instead!
I’m currently working on my second book, so I’ve decided that this is the perfect day for some “industry research.”

All In A Days Work?!

Returning phone calls,
Responding to emails,
Scheduling meetings and planning huge projects.
Creative writing.
A walk to Starbucks for some lap time with my puppies.
A yoga workout; mind and body in check.
There are days when my job doesn’t feel like work––I wish they were more often, but hey, I’ll take what I can get.
#Balance