Keira-anne.com

Okay, okay, so I know I haven’t exactly been acting like much of a blogger this week. I haven’t posted in two days and even then it was only a video clip, so even I can admit that was a half-assed attempt. Work has been a hellish gong show for me over the last two days. On Wednesday after work, I sat on the floor of the shower, letting it run over me for 20 minutes, pretending I was sitting in a summer rain shower on Chesterman beach, not unlike the last time I was there. It actually worked.

However, now it’s Friday and my hell days allowed me to accrue enough overtime hours to stay at home today. Because my brain is essentially fried after completing 110 pages of written submissions, here’s a Friday link fest for you.

Photo: iheartsharts on Flickr

It’s probably been at least a 67 years since I last posted a link fest, so here you go, Tuesday. Here’s a link feast…

Photo: John Bollwitt on Flickr

P.S. I love my MacBook Pro

My drive and desire behind participating in 2008’s SPCA Paws For A Cause has remained completely unchanged. My passion and love for four-legged friends - and dogs in particular - is what pushes me to speak for those who have no voices.

Being that one of my very best friends feels the same way and is a committed dog lover himself, I asked Matt to come on board. Paws For A Cause is really and truly about the animals, and only the animals, and so I re-vamped my participation profile to reflect that.

While I will still be holding the leashes, it is Benji, Casey, Pete, Bella and Jorja that will be walking on September 14 to speak for their furry friends. I know my girl Charley would participate too if she were in Vancouver. Between the donations I’d already raised and those we’ve raised by way of Matt’s blog, close to $3,200 over $3,300 is going to the BC SPCA - all thanks to you!

This West Coast weather cannot get more gorgeous, and so with all the sunshine and heat, I’m trying to make the most of it. Lucky for me, I am in charge of my favourite charges, Benji and Casey, for another fun-filled week. We hit Crab Park yesterday for a long while, are hitting it with Becky tomorrow and had a play date this afternoon with Amy and Peanut.

Photo: Amelia Burrows on Flickr

Not only did all three of them have an absolute blast frolicking and playing in the sun and the grass, they also met a few new friends. Harley was a 2.5-year-old Pomeranian who was unbelievably soft and had a friendly face that was almost identical to Benji’s.

Soon after, the boys met Beans, a four-month-old Norwich Terrier. Beans was, without a doubt, so cute that it hurt to even look at her. She had the happiest face, beautiful fur that made her look like a cross between an Ewok and a teddy bear and did this cute thing where she’d get down real low on the ground whenever she approached another dog…like she was being all slinky and sly.

I have got to get one for myself. Need proof? Check out these little dumplings. Norwich Terrier breeders are few and far between, but I managed to find one online in South Surrey/White Rock. These babies don’t come cheap though…one can expect to pay about $2,500.

My precious little girl, Charley, is becoming quite the explorer. She’s developed a sense of adventure and lost much of her unwarranted fear. Other dogs don’t phase her, unfamiliar places are no longer frightening and the ocean is becoming her second home. She is, in fact, becoming quite well acquainted and comfortable with the Georgia Strait.

My mom and aunt brought her to Seal Bay Forest Nature Park yesterday, and my mom on her own headed for Miracle Beach Provincial Park with the little wiggle bum this afternoon. A few adventure shots of the cutest little girl ever…

Normally Charley will steer clear of the ocean, but being that July has brought hot temperatures, she felt quite comfortable plunking herself right down in the water!

As Jen and I strolled down Robson Street this evening, I stopped in front of a boarded up construction site that had been plastered with random concert and record posters. One cluster of ads, however, caught my eye. On September 14, 2008, the SPCA is holding its annual “Paws For A Cause” at Vanier Park in Kitsilano.

Let’s hope for sunshine, as I’ll be heading out to Kitsilano in September to march and rally with a menagerie of four-legged friends (and some very compassionate animal/SPCA supporters). My goal is a lofty one, but I firmly believe that the animals undoubtedly deserve every penny.

If you’d like more information on this event, visit the “Paws For A Cause” website, and to sponsor me directly, head on over here and search for “Keira-Anne Mellis” to pledge.

Any and all support is humbly and graciously appreciated.

Please take a minute to watch the video below to see how much work the SPCA does to help animals - not just domestic pets - across our Province.

Less than a year ago, our family life changed. After having a dog-free household for years, we adopted a new puppy. The day we brought Charley home, September 1, she was tiny enough to fit into my two palms. The first thing she did was “den” under our dining room table and get accustomed to her new home. Since then, she has grown bigger, gotten smarter, become lovelier and made her home in our hearts.

And while it’s no longer possible to carry her in the palms (it’s really more like carrying a toddler around), she’s still the little girl we brought home in the fall - just one year older. I was going to spend the afternoon in the sunshine at the beach with her as a birthday treat, but the rain is falling in Courtenay. Instead, she’s curled up next to me as I type her tribute.

As we celebrate our girl’s first birthday, here’s a quick look back on her first year in pictures and video.

Turns out she’s just as much of a snow bunny as her big sister!

Few dogs are this photogenic all the time…

P.S. Charley loves the new chew toy she got from her Auntie Becky!

After two long, lovable months of puppy-sitting two of my most favourite dogs, tomorrow is the day on which I have to hand back the leashes. It’s impossible to not become attached after having these two as the entire focus of each and every day for weeks on end, and one would be silly to think they haven’t grown somewhat attached to me more than they already were. To go from everything to nothing is very difficult, but thankfully I’m headed to the Island on Wednesday evening (to help one special little girl celebrate her first birthday), so it’ll be a great opportunity for distraction.

Being that today is my last full day with them, I grabbed my friend Phaedra after work and took Benji and Casey down to Crab Park for some off-leash fun! These were the times that ensued…

…we just live in it.

The more I live, the more I experience.
The more I experience, the more I grow.
The more I grow, the more I learn.
The more I learn, the more I understand myself.
The more I understand myself, the easier it is to conclude what I want and need.

Photo: sirenbrian on Flickr

I still want to win the lottery, but not so that I can be wealthy. Though, that’s not entirely true, because my dream has expanded, and to accomplish what I would wish to do would require money…and probably a lot of it.

Photo: sirenbrian on Flickr

I love dogs (let’s all say “duh” in unison here). In fact, I am beginning to enjoy the company and spirit of dogs almost more than that of people. It isn’t to say I don’t love people, of course, but there’s just something about canines that is so unconditional.

I love walking dogs and playing with dogs and taking pictures of dogs and feeding dogs and spoiling dogs. The joy and satisfaction is, I could say, even greater than that I experienced while teaching preschool some years ago.

Being in the middle of a growth spurt of the internal kind, some conclusions I have been drawing have struck me as somewhat surprising. I have always dreamt of the married life with 2.5 kids and a minivan. And now? Not so much. Perhaps that will change, but today, it’s definitely not where I am at.

I want to be the old lady who lived with her dogs.

Photo: mosilager on Flickr

So here is where my expanded dream comes in: were I to rake in the big one, I know precisely what I’d do. I’d buy a spacious chunk of property, somewhere in the range of 20 acres, nestled somewhere between Parksville and Coombs. After building a comfortable home for myself (and pepper a few little patio homes across the property for family and friends), I’d build a kennel. But not just one or two little concrete and chain-link kennels. I’d build 30 or 40 kennels, built of warm cedar with soft blankets and countless toys.

And while I wouldn’t want 30 or 40 dogs of my own, I’d hire a round-the-clock veterinarian and create a sanctuary for abused, abandonded or lost dogs. The veterinarian could take care of the physical health aspect; while giving the dogs ample fields in which to play, run, rest and socialize would help rehabilitate them on the inside.

To say it would be my “dream” would be highly understating the truth.

If you were bestowed unlimited funds to build your philanthropic dream, what would you do?

My weekend has gotten off to a most excellent start. Though Casey tried to wake me around 5am for cuddles, I stayed in bed until 7:30 after a relaxing evening of Deadwood, Deadwood and a little more Deadwood. I checked into a Hidden Language hatha yoga class at 9am to get my “Om” on, which is the way I wish I could start every single day. After a little downtime, I grabbed Benji and Casey and headed to Crab Park for one big doggy playdate to enjoy this unexpected sunshine and warmth. Benji, of course, was more than ecstatic to see his buddy Peanut after so long.

May I present to you my afternoon in photos…

This is, undoubtedly, the best photo of Casey ever taken. All he needs is a bow tie!

Dogs like me - what can I say?

Casey never failed to take a 10-15 second rest in the shade after each and every fetch.

This van pulled over to the side of the road - twice - and kept on going. It totally creeped us out.

Peanut and Benji are always so happy together. Kinda like that Turtles song.

In a few hours, I’m headed to the Chinatown Night Market with Jen, so expect to see some verrrrry interesting photos after the venture. And being that I’ve only seen it once, we’re headed to the theatre to see Sex and the City for a second time - I’m freakin’ excited!