Inspiring Insight
Just a quick doodle and post today. I’m interviewing two people tonight for my research project on “First to Graduate from High School and/or College.” It’s my hope to compile a series of inspiring stories for graduate hopefuls and get those rates of retention up!
On the dog front, Olive is on Day Four at our house and is doing well, although she and Opal can argue when they don’t see eye to eye. Mostly though, they are pretty chill:
Our daughter came home last night, crying. She accidentally slammed her hand in her car door. On the couch, she recounted the event to her father.
Olive, our pitbull rescue who has been in the house for three days, walked up to her, put her head and one paw on Josie’s lap and looked directly in her eyes.
Who knows what this dog has experienced, and the suffering she has endured. Still, she was able to show affection in this new and strange home.
Often, animals display more kindness and “humanity” than humans!
You are your own suffering. You are your own happiness.
Byron Katie
Wandered into colored pencil pet portrait class on Creativebug.com. Hm. The instructors had cute little terriers with different colors. They could use big, broad strokes with reds, browns and yellows. My dog Opal is pretty much a short-haired black pit bull mix. Short strokes for short hair. My hand got tired.
“Don’t worry if yours doesn’t come out the way you want. It took me seven years to get good at it,” said the teacher.
Seven years?
Ai yi yi.
Well, seven years is going to happen either way. If I’m still around, and I keep practicing, I could get good at this.
“In some ways, dogs are more connected to being than we are.”
Eckhart Tolle
Citations
*https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/08/30/a-black-blues-musician-has-an-unique-hobby-befriending-white-supremacists/?utm_term=.32603084cc7a
It’s summer school, 8:45am and the second graders are doing ice breakers (see yesterday’s post)
Adam*: “I have a little dog, a big dog and a cat…that cat is not so nice.”
Me: “I see. Does the cat bite?”
Adam: “Sometimes. If you came to my house and tried to pet it, then yes.”
Me: (laughing) “Well, I’ll try to remember that.”
“Oh! I also have…had…a hairless rat.”
“Had? Did he die?”
“Yes. He’s dead.”
“Dare I ask…did the not-so-nice cat…”
“No, no. The rat, he just died. You know, it’s the circle of life thing.”
* (not his real name)
The Setting: Summer School with eleven 2nd graders, 8:45am.
We do an ice breaker: How many of you have pets? I ask.
Sam* raises his hand.
“I have a little dog, he’s part…”
“Poodle?!” Adam* interrupts.
“No, he’s part…”
“Beagle?”
“No, he’s part hot dog dog and…”
“Terrier?”
“NO! He’s part hot dog dog and chi…”
“He’s a chihuahua!”
“NO! I HAVE A CHIWEENIE!”
