Playlist: Just Purr and Sing Along

September 20, 2010 Holly Sivec

[youtube]Lhop9Pd4xfQ[/youtube] Ah, the Meow Meow Lullaby. Such a silly, simple, sweet song. Makes me smile every time I hear it. Reminds me of my own little fella . . .

Definitely an atypical tune from Nada Surf. Most of the videos out there for the song are of some scrappy concert footage, tots and tweens giving it a go, and slideshows cobbled together from Google images. The link above was the best of the bunch. Be sure to listen close to the end of the song. Melts the ol’ heart.

* * *

I stumbled across this blog post, On Losing a Beloved Pet, from Christine Kane last summer and promptly bookmarked it—after reading it twice and shedding a few tears, of course.

It’s about guilt and second guessing and knowing (or not knowing) when “it’s time.” It’s about life and the gift of time, surrender and experiencing the release of this furry being you treasure.

If you’re a pet parent, bookmark it. If you have friends who are pet parents, bookmark it for them. The wisdom runs deep. In the meantime, just purr and sing along . . .

Gratitude Roundup: Summer Lovin’

September 6, 2010 Holly Sivec

Alas, (not to be confused with “at last”) it’s fall. Sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes are just around the bend. Scarves, too. (I love scarves!) And even though the calendar still says we have two more weeks of summer, I’ll always associate September 1 with fall’s unofficial start. Maybe it’s the latent meteorologist in me . . .

But before I usher in autumn, I must pay homage it its spunky little sister. This year’s summer was filled with things to love, both big and small. Such as:

Park trips aplenty with the pups and my beloved
My best pal moving back east
An indulgent, two-hour yin + vinyasa workshop with YogaThree’s Chanel Luck and Bonnie Argo
Upleveling my life with creativity coach extraordinaire, Christine Kane
An outdoor yoga class in the DeCordova sculpture park
Learning how to hold ’em and fold ’em
A new car (after a year-plus of being a one-car family)
Hosting a fancy-pants dinner party at the Liberty Hotel (even though the hotel lost our flowers)
My hair got crazy long
Perfecting the art of cold-brewed iced coffee (thanks to smallnotebook)
Front-row seats to see Willie Nelson at the House of Blues (and access, to the fancy-pants Foundation Lounge)
Laughing in yoga classes with Boston’s omgal, Rebecca
Cupcakes and iced coffee on the porch of a yellow Victorian with my best pal
Discovering lovely, serene sittin’ spots around town
Getting my geek on with this uber-addictive card game
Digging my toes in the sand while sitting beneath my beach umbrella
Taking lunchtime walks and snapping photos (like the one above) on my cell phone
Falling in love with croonsmith Ray LaMontagne
Playing bocce (win!) and mini golf (let’s not talk about that score)
A leisurely, cloudy morning spent at a harborside coffee shop (with a new notebook in tow)
A foodie gift bag from a friend, which included the most lovely jar of dandelion honey from Italy
Trying new flavors at the ice cream stand up the street from my house (graham central—yum!)
Eating raspberries in the parking lot at Russell Orchards, fresh from the field, still warm from the sun

I’m a simple pleasures kinda gal. Sure, a week on an island would have been lovely. But my memory of those raspberries is priceless . . .

"That much gathers more is true on every plane of existence." --Charles Haanel

Good Boy

January 29, 2010 Holly Sivec

pastoric A coworker who’s involved in dog rescue posted something on our intranet that caught my attention. It was about a Navy Seal who’s also a photographer in Iraq and was looking for pet food donations to help care for the countless stray cats and dogs who were hanging around—and winning the soldiers’ hearts. That’s him in the photo above with a couple of the pups.

People and animals alike, there are so, so many in this world who need a helping hand. I wish I could do more to help everyone. For now, a grassroots plea will have to do.

Can you help?

Here’s what’s needed:

Cat food*
Dog food*
Heartgard
Frontline
Medicated shampoo

*Dry food should be emptied into a durable plastic garbage bag and sealed tightly. It’s a good idea to also include the label from the packaging.

Note: Collars and leashes are a no-no. It’s a death sentence for the animal if an Iraqi soldier knows an animal is being cared for by Americans. (That’s just wrong.)

Perhaps you have some cat food in your cupboard that your finicky feline won’t eat. Or maybe you wouldn’t mind picking up an extra bag or two of pet food when you’re at the store. Or perhaps your vet would have some food or supplies to donate. The flat-rate box cost $11.95 to ship—not so bad, considering how far away it’s going.

The address is:

MC1 Jayme Pastoric SOTF-W DET RAMADI Unit 43501 FPO AP 09367-3501

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Making space on the ol' to-do list so that a few sweet furry creatures might be able to live happily ever after. (Photo from Jayme Pastoric's Facebook page)

Lucky Ticket

November 29, 2009 Holly Sivec

Ticket-dog

"The psychological and moral comfort of a presence at once humble and understanding--this is the greatest benefit that the dog has bestowed upon man." --Percy Bysshe Shelley

Our pup that we adopted nearly three weeks ago came from a home with two other dogs--one of whom had already been adopted by the time we were there and the other, a small cattle dog named Ticket. I met Ticket briefly at the pound. He had a lot of words, as is to be expected of anyone--or any pup--who has been cooped up for as long as he had been.

We weren't in a position to adopt the two dogs. Really, the idea never even crossed our minds. However, knowing that Ticket was a sibling of sorts to our new little girl, I felt emotionally invested in him, too. His sister got to go to a nice, loving new home. Ticket deserved the same.

When I checked Ticket's Petfinder ad on Friday to see if he had found a new home yet, there was an "URGENT" note attached to his description. It said that, because of his intake date, his name was near the top of the euthanasia list. I know, sadly, that there are thousands and thousands of pets out there who never get to go to new home--but it just seems so very wrong that they have to die because of it.

I posted a write-up about Ticket on Facebook, Twitter, the intranet at my workplace, and on Yelp. Several people responded, and a few others helped spread the word. When I checked his listing again this evening, I was delighted to see that Ticket had gone to a wonderful foster home and that he was making great strides in his new, less stressful living situation.

So, what I am most grateful for today is that there are caring souls out there who open their hearts and homes to provide foster care to pets in need of an honest-to-goodness second chance at a happy life.

I'm Alive and Well

November 12, 2009 Holly Sivec

kayla1 After a ten-day courtship, we adopted this little girl from the city pound in Providence on Monday night. She had been there for just over two months before Andrew stumbled across her posting on Petfinder. Two months is a long time for a dog to have to wait to find a new home.

We weren't exactly planning on adopting another dog at this point--but she fit the criteria we were looking for (if we were looking). I protested the idea at first, but once we started talking about driving down to meet her, I knew this was for real. Why should we put off the things that matter to us? For whom exactly were we always being so practical? Instead, we chose spontaneity and followed our heart--an hour south, across state borders, to a warehouse full of displaced dogs.

After meeting her, we couldn't imagine not rescuing her. Nor could we imagine the alternative. The sacrifices we'd have to make in order for this to work were minor compared to the hand she'd been dealt--and what lay ahead. If she could smile and wag despite her situation, then certainly we could do the same.

On the drive down to pick her up Monday night, the song "I'm Alive" by Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews came on the radio. The first few verses gave me goosebumps:

So damn easy to say that life's so hard Everybody's got their share of battle scars As for me I'd like to thank my lucky stars that I'm alive and well

It'd be easy to add up all the pain And all the dreams you've sat and watched go up in flames Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain But not me . . . I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see Today's the first day of the rest of my life And I'm alive and well I'm alive and well

Fitting words for a new lease on life.

The Facts of Life, Part 2: Bad Weekend, Good News

September 22, 2009 Holly Sivec

long goodbye I said goodbye to my beloved orange cat, Teddy, this past weekend. He was diagnosed last month, at 16.5 years of age, with advanced-stage pancreatic cancer. Although his days were numbered, Andrew and I committed ourselves to making each one as comfortable and comforting as possible for him.

I spent long stretches of time sitting on the floor with Teddy, encouraging him to eat. Chicken, salmon, tuna--our hallway was a buffet of small, stinky plates that mostly sat untouched. I quietly cheered him on when he ate and quietly cleaned up the carpet when those few bites didn't agree with him.

Day 33 post-diagnosis was a turning point. Teddy's belly gurgled nonstop, his eyes lacked sparkle, his personality no longer there. Andrew had "the talk" with me, but I knew it all already. Our vet appointment was scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Somewhere in the midst of bargaining and acceptance came an unrelated bit of good news: Andrew had landed a job--a good job--after nine long months of being without. During that long stretch of time, splurges and niceties went to the wayside. Bills became a challenge and our home became our haven. Included in that haven was an abundance of companionship and a new-found love of simple pleasures. Teddy and Andrew gave one another the gift of time.

Day 38. Saturday. Teddy perched upon my chest as we laid in bed that final morning, his paws at the very edge of the blanket; the blanket tucked up to my chin. His weight was just a wisp of what it used to be. I ate my breakfast while sitting on the bedroom floor that day, inches from the sunbeam that enveloped Teddy. I stroked his fur, kissed his little head, and recounted to him the names of everybody who loved him. But most especially me.

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2009 Good Karma Housekeeping. Making the space--mentally and physically--to live happily ever after. Even when it's hard to let go.

The Facts of Life: Good Weekend, Bad News

August 10, 2009 Holly Sivec

The good: A funny yet elusive letter inviting me out for a special evening with Andrew. A chauffeured ride into the city for a late-afternoon yoga class. An impromptu overnight stay at a swanky new hotel. Living large. Al fresco waterfront dining and a movie by the moonlight. Laughter. Reminiscing. Riesling. An impromptu celebration to acknowledge a milestone anniversary. Lemon raspberry pancakes in the morning and an afternoon spent wandering a museum. Rejuvenated. Grateful. Living for today. Living happily ever after. The bad: My beloved old cat is not well. Barely eating. Throwing up when he does eat. Losing weight fast. Sad meow sounds. Missing the litter box. Worrisome x-rays. Blockage in intestines. A mysterious mass clouding his abdomen. Ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday. Heartbroken over my little furry guy's declining health. Hoping he's okay for the cat sitter.

There you have it. So, what to do? Bad news happens. Without it, good news gets taken for granted. Not appreciated quite as much as it should be. Same thing goes for fancy celebrations and impromptu getaways. Balance is important. You take the good with the bad. The bad with the good. That's life.

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