This Skeptical Shot Has a Twist
I haven’t thought about this song in years, but I feel like it is only appropriate when you’re drinking a Chocolate Cake Shot. Yes, it’s a shot that Allrecipies.com states, “A shot that tastes and feels just like a piece of chocolate cake. You have to shoot it to believe it!”
I stumbled across this little slice of decadence and now feel the need to go try it. There are way less calories in this shot than a traditional bite of chocolate cake, for those that are health conscious.
Drop this into a peanut butter stout and you just might have a savory little something.
Ingredients:
· 1 oz Frangelico
· ½ oz Citron vodka
· 1 lemon wedge
· White sugar
Directions:
Combine the hazelnut liqueur and vodka in a shot glass. Coat a wedge of lemon with sugar. Suck the sugared lemon wedge and drink the shot with the lemon juice still in your mouth.
Empathy Changes Everything
Many people don’t understand the difference between sympathy and empathy and the world could use a lot more connection.
Sometimes, we need someone who understands. Someone who has been where we are or even someone who just fucking listens without judging, giving advice or pouring out their cup of problems on us to try and make us “feel better” about the situation.
Empaths are misunderstood people and the road of life is not easy for us to travel. We crave connection and nothing more from others. Did you kill it at the meeting? Hell yeah. We want to hear about your wins in life so we can celebrate with you. We don’t want anything from you. We are here for you when you fall flat on your ass or when your significant other breaks your heart and you just need a good, ugly cry.
We listen and share our experiences with others in hopes that we might find kinship in small, meaningful things. We build on trust and are a safe space for when the really bad things happen, or you have a secret burning inside that you don’t feel you can tell anyone. We are here to hear about your fears, your dreams, your goals and would love to help enlighten your ideas because we want to see you succeed and cheer you on when you find the strength to face your demons head on.
A lot of you have reached out over the past few months and asked about me. “What happened to That’s What She Said”? Why aren’t you writing much anymore? Why have you been so distant? I have addressed those inquiries privately, because honestly, I was ashamed of the answers.
I felt like I had failed everyone. I went back to working a regular job instead of freelancing. I cried for months because I felt like no one could truly understand how I felt and what I was going through. I realized how much ego I had placed in what I did. I let my love of writing and my hobbies define me and when it all went away, practically overnight, I was crushed. It was the wake up call I needed.
I had to lose myself so I could find myself again. It hurt. I felt very alone but I knew that this was the path I needed to walk down. I had to unplug from everything and absolve myself in the silence of re-learning who it is I truly am and my gifts I can share with the those who need the same empathetic connection.
If I can use my art to connect with you in some small, meaningful way, that is all that matters to me. I am here to write things for you, if you seek an empathic kindred soul in which to be connected to, who merely uses the power of words.
This is How I Discovered ‘Heavy Metal’
I have always been fascinated with the arts. As a child, I was obsessed with the works of Ralph Bakshi, Don Bluth, the puppeteering of Jim Henson’s creatures from Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock and The Dark Crystal and the Filmation cartoons that brought this 80’s kid He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and She-Ra Princess of Power.
Another jewel in my beloved treasure trove was discovered by pure accident.
My mom and aunt took me and my cousin to the drive in so the adults could watch “Stir Crazy” and laugh at the antics of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. At four years old, we were completely uninterested in sitting still in the backseat of the car or this film.
We turned our attention to the back window and saw what our little minds interpreted as a “cartoon”. We couldn’t hear it, but our attention was completely focused on the animated sexy Sci-fi film “Heavy Metal” and completely rocked my world from that moment on.
Heavy Metal introduced me to artist such as Frazzeta, Vallejo and many more. I couldn’t get enough. Forget the fact that I can barely sketch stick people or even draw a straight line, I consumed all of these artists works.
Today, I find myself binge watching “Love, Death & Robots” because it is as close to “Heavy Metal” as I can get in this new decade. I am happy to see that Netflix has released the Season 2 trailer, with a “Season 3 renew already in the cards (and arriving sometime in 2022)”, according to Uproxx.
Your ears are not deceiving you, if you can’t quite put your finger on that track that is included in the trailer. If that haunting tune sounds eerily familiar, it is “Reborn”, which is on the “Hereditary” original motion picture soundtrack.
I think this season is going to be full of all kinds of surprises and look forward to being able to watch the show, complete with sound, from the comfort of the couch instead of the back window of a car at a drive in. However, I will always treasure that fond and twisted introduction that bought me a one way ticket to midnight.
Don’t Wake Billion Dollar Babies
Having a new baby in the house is not for the faint of heart. Another option of lullabies available from Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star to soothe a screaming baby just launched from “No More Mr. Nice Guy” himself, Alice Cooper.
These tracks give all parents (and let’s be honest, really cool grandparents), their favorite lullaby renditions of their favorite genres.
Babies just need to chill sometimes and TTLRS has made it easy to search for your favorite band and artist because everyone knows, you’ve got to parent them right and start them off young. If you don’t find your favorite band on this comprehensive A-Z list, you can submit a request for a sweet renovation to be created in order to pacify both the young and young at heart.
Seems like yesterday when I would pull out similar tracks on cd and played them both for my kids at such a tender age. My how times have changed.
Rock on “Billion Dollar Babies.” We promise not to wake you.
Is it Migraine Monday?
People who suffer from migraines have our deepest sympathy. There is nothing quite like the sudden onset of such a debilitatingly painful condition like a migraine can bring. They make us want to scream sometimes out of pain alone.
The American Migraine Foundation estimates that more than 1 Billion people worldwide battle headache symptoms that include moderate to severe pain, throbbing pain that is often worse on one side, lapses in school, work or other activities, increased sensitivity to light, sound or smells, long lasting pain.
Researchers with The American Journal of Medicine published a recent study and found that victims of these types of intense, debilitating headaches might want to consider reeling in the excessive amount of caffeine that they consume. The study found that high levels of caffeine may actually be triggering migraines later on that same day.
According to NBC News, participants who drank three or more caffeinated beverages were 1.4 times more likely to suffer from an episodic migraine that day, while those who consumed five or more servings had 2.61 times higher odds.
Be aware that three or more servings appears to be the magic number of caffeinated beverages to likely increase the chances of being crowned the King of Pain, however these limits do not pertain to coffee exclusively. Coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks can all be culprits of caffeine but be sure to add chocolate, ice cream, breakfast cereal, pudding, hot chocolate and headache relievers to the list of non-beverages that contain caffeine, too.
The root cause of migraine triggers remains a mystery still to this day, but these 10 Odd Causes of Headaches from Live Science might help shed some light on the situation.
Just don’t try Googling any symptoms for a self-diagnosis. The results can often result in unnecessary paranoia.
Velociraptor Awareness Day
73 million years ago, a creature roamed the Earth that struck fear into the hearts of many – all thanks to an author’s novel that was later adapted into a beloved movie franchise. Its name means “swift plunderer”, but it was not discovered by science until 1922.
Today is National Velociraptor Awareness Day, and is a day to celebrate all things raptor, but these animals are not quite what most imagine. They were adorned with feathers and wings, much like a dinosaur turkey, if you will. These birds of prey were on the smaller scale and had serrated teeth.
Velociraptors still have scientists scratching their heads about their true roots of evolution and are unsure which ancestor species led to velociraptors or if several species of velociraptors existed. Dinosaurs can never be fully extinct because we keep them alive with their own legacy that has transcended millions of years.
Let’s face it, the image of raptors is ingrained in humanity and just won’t die. Ford named a truck model after them, Toronto has honored them with a namesake of their basketball team, there’s Philosoraptor giving the internet a dose of quirky thoughts and Universal is welcoming visitors onboard its VelociCoaster this summer.
Life finds a way.
Go Bat Shit Crazy Because it’s International Bat Appreciation Day
“I don’t do mornings” is always the case for any creature of the night but today is International Bat Appreciation Day and there still much to learn about these mammals who are shrouded in mystery.
International Bat Appreciation Day was established to help spread awareness of the good things bats do, in addition to helping provide facts and dispel myths about them. There’s so much more to these essential living organisms that goes above and beyond their bad reputation drummed up in rumors, superstitions and Hollywood images.
Holding the title of being the only mammal that can take flight and truly sustain flight, bats are actually more maneuverable than birds. Having this kind of portability and ability to travel practically anywhere helps make them ideal for being natural insect repellants.
While different bat species have different dietary needs, bats who feed on nectar and fruit are critical to their biomes for pollinating flowers and scattering seeds. These animals have a vital role to play in our eco-system, and some of them are becoming endangered.
Preferring to make their home in tight places, many bat species are social creatures and prefer the company of others. Some colonies numbers can exceed more than a million. Living large minimizes the risk of becoming a casualty to a predator.
The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas is where North America's largest urban bat colony calls home during the summer. An estimated 1,500,000 Mexican free-tailed bats hang out beneath the road deck in gaps between the concrete component structures. Their nightly emergence from the bridge draws 100,000 tourists annually.
Bat, Ozzy, and Meatloaf are just a few examples of musicians who seem to have fallen under the Chiroptera order’s spell. This is easy to understand once you see how adorable they are as baby bat burritos. For others, they make great hairdressers, as adulthood.
Tonight, kick back and celebrate International Bat Appreciation Day with your eye to the sky in hopes of capturing a glimpse of a truly remarkable being.
What in the Hell? A Hot Sauce for Coffee, Apparently
We know there is all sorts of coffee additives out there but this one just made me hot - literally. There is a Kickstarter campaign going on right now for a hot sauce for coffee. What in the in the hell?
Ujjo, will come in both a light roast and dark roast and states “it’s seriously delicious on all kinds of things.” I doubt many will believe that, but hey, taste is subjective. There is already 190 backers currently all in and get kick up their cup and the campaign has almost doubled its goal. Hot.
Could this be like drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth? Who knows until we know.
This reminds me of a bad triple dog dare and I’m here for it. I have to admit, I was tempted enough that I decided to ‘play with fire’ and back it.
It’s a ‘Star’ Party and You’re Invited
It’s almost time to celebrate another year around the planet! Not in celebration of a birthday, but in celebration of the return of the annual Lyrid Meteor Shower. Starting tomorrow you can catch a glimpse of these heavenly bodies outside if you’re patient. I struggle badly with patience, myself, so this is a class to sign up for directly from the universe to all of whom need a fresh lesson.
Look to the North right underneath the star Vega for these “falling stars”, which are not actually stars at all – it is Earth passing through the debris of a comet’s tail.
Optimal viewing is expected on April 19th, when the shower is at its peak.
If a trip away from the city lights, outside, in night owl mode sounds like your kind of star party, then this is your invitation from the universe. No RSVP required.
5 Tips for Navigating High Functioning Anxiety Skies
I don’t think people fully understand what it feels like to live with high functioning anxiety unless you’re in the pilot’s seat. It’s taken me a very long time just to get to this place and I am still navigating a lot of the storms that having high functioning anxiety has done to me. It is not a fun place to be in – restless and sleepless nights, excessive exhaustion, mental breakdowns because you never feel “good enough” for the task at hand, always being ‘busy’, and overanalyzing everything. Mayday! Mayday! Until I crashed and burned and then walked away.
Here are five things that help me survive the wreckage:
1. Turn off the noise. Most things in life are simply just that noisy noise. We are inundated by advertisements, social media posts, television and polarizing things. It’s okay to turn it down or even turn it off. There is peace in simplicity, quiet and the unfollow button.
2. Take a break. I know when I feel like I’m climbing the walls and can’t deal with things. I need a long timeout for myself. That could be a long weekend to look at different walls or just some much needed time to be alone with my thoughts.
3. Try to find a balance. We all have busy lives but making time to be unbusy has become mandatory. I started making time to do this and really focused on protecting my peace. I just sit and listen to sounds around me. I take it all in, breathe and appreciate the little gifts of the universe that arrive for me. Angela 1 Anxiety 0.
4. I stopped putting stock in things that don’t really matter. I had to stop doing a lot of things I loved so I could reset. I had to have really tough conversations with myself about my purpose – what it is not and what it is and look to building what it will be.
5. Be gentle. With yourself and with others. I am usually kind to strangers but am learning to be kinder to myself. I have been a people pleaser my entire life and it hasn’t gotten me anywhere but hurt. I’m learning to say “No” and “Fuck Off” gracefully and be content with the results. My purpose is to serve, the right people and for far too long I put stock in the wrong people. Aren’t we all learning as we go, though?
Living with anxiety sucks and at least we have others who can help us when we need big shoulders. Go listen to “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty and I guess you’ll know when you get there.
“Le Pain” in the Ass
The world is trying to move back to “normal”, and that’s fine, but here I am, still carrying this hankering for trying something new that I’ve never done before. It’s kind of intimidating to be, honestly. Can I do this? How will this turn out? I overthink a whole lot of things that I know I shouldn’t and don’t give enough thought to things I should - I just dive in, head first to them.
What has been on my mind and burning a hole there? Bread. I am not like other pandemic people who jumped into cooking, baking and doing all the cutesy stuff I saw on social media. That isn’t me. I can cook but my husband is more passionate about it and therefore better at it than me. That’s fine. I am not encroaching nor feel “less”. This isn’t a competition with him. It is a me thing. I’m scared of bread.
Well, I’m not scared of bread, per say, but I’m nervous about learning something new that I honestly no nothing about. Will I burn it? Will the smoke alarms go off? Will I catch my house on fire? I replay these worst case scenarios in my head as I look at the shiny, brand new bread maker, terrified of it.
This idea of baking has been a desire I’ve had for awhile. It keeps haunting me like a restless spirit to go give it a try. “Go bake something. You know you want to”, it whispers to my conscious.
Yeah, I want to, but at the same time, what if I mess this up and the results are a disaster? Better yet, what if they aren’t? What if I make something amazing?
I think there in lies something we, as creators, all struggle with. That internal critic who is super-judgey before we even have a chance to try. I’m learning to shut this zealot up and shut it down before it even has a chance to take up unwelcome space in my head and give me anxiety over something as trivial as making bread. Sheesh.
No one is a pro when they first learn something new and that includes breadmaking or whatever piques our interest. I may try this one time and never do this again but the thing is, I’m trying. I’m learning. I’m not a professional and I don’t pretend to be.
We all start somewhere, and today, I’m starting in the kitchen with this bread maker. The results might be disasterous, but they will be results nonetheless. I will try and learn. I will fail. I will get it right with time, patience and practice. I refuse to let my fear of failure and my Type A strive for perfectionism run rampant with something I am interested in. Don’t let your fear hold you back from trying something new. It will be worth the effort even though it feels like “le pain” in the ass.
Flash Gordon is the Hero We All Need
When I was a kid, I was captivated by the 1980’s movie Flash Gordon. I’m not sure if it was because Queen did the soundtrack or it was set on another planet, but it damn sure made a big impression on me.
King of the impossible, right?
This is where I first was introduced to the character Prince Vultan and the other Hawkmen, who I thought were completely amazing. Big dudes who could fly – hell yes, I was there for it.
Gordon’s alive?! Indeed.
To this day, if this movie is on, I’m going to watch it and if you’re around me, you’re going to have to watch it, too. We can geek out on this cult Sci-Fi together, or maybe not, and then I’ll have to rethink everything.
“He’s for every one of us. Stand for every one of us. He’ll save every one of us. Every man, every woman, every child with a mighty Flash.”
Even as I write this, I am listening to this soundtrack. It is so beautifully done and just a lot of fun with the mix of synth sounds and movie clips. I feel like I’ve left Earth for a little while. It’s like an audio-cation away from the hustle and bustle.
“Just a man, with a man's courage
He knows nothing but a man
But he can never fail
No one but the pure in heart may find the golden grail”
That is his power. He’s an ordinary man with a heart of gold. He convinces two opposing leaders to join forces to combat the real enemy.
Flash, I love you.
Someone Stole Something of Value from Me
In scouring this morning’s news on the interwebs, I stumbled across an image that looked oddly familiar so I did what most curious people do - I clicked on it.
Upon opening and reading the attached story, I realized that it was a blog I had written in the past. My work was plagiarized and I am not completely sure how I feel about this. There was no credit given to me nor the client whom I wrote it for. No backlink. Nothing. Just straight up taken as their own.
As a writer, I pay attention to the world around me. I am inspired by so many things but have never taken someone else’s work and credited it as my own. Hell, I never even copied off someone else’s homework in school nor turned it in with my name on it. I never did this because it is wrong. I am led by my integrity but alas, there are clearly others who are not.
I feel sick. The bottom of my stomach has dropped and feels queasy. Like I just got handed some heavy news. Oh wait, I did. Someone stole something of great value from me - My words. My art. My craft.
A Season of Change
Everything has an end at some point regardless of if it’s a job, a relationship, a person, or a dream that came to fruition we once held dear. Things change, people change, and we change.
I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about this concept of change and I have to admit, it has changed me, too.
Perhaps I can offer some advice to those who are feeling this sting of pain? I feel like a pioneer in this area because nothing in my life has ever truly been constant, and I think if we’re being completely honest here, yours hasn’t either. Change will find us and usually when we least expect it. That has always been the case from my own experience.
Change gives us the gift of opportunities. It bestows upon us the opportunity to be with our feelings of anger, sadness, fear, and even remorse. “Why did this have to happen?”, “Why me?” is usually what comes to mind. Be in those feelings for as long as you need to, but don’t ever park your car in pity town.
No one is immune to losing that which we truly love, you see. We all have our seasons of life and it is just winter from where you are standing looking out of the window.
Change also bequeaths the opportunity of learning. “What did I learn from this?”, “What could I have done differently in this situation?”, “Would it have mattered?” Of course it matters, as long as we are receptive to the lesson that change it trying to teach us. If not, we are bound to repeat it and it will sting over and over again until we learn from it.
Change is always uncomfortable but necessary. It is up to us to stay where we are and stay with the exact same (or worse) results or move into the space to grow. Growth is never comfortable, but necessary, if we are to become who we are truly meant to be and live out our life’s purpose.
Evolve or die. Unlike the dodo bird, I choose life.
When I was little, I learned the meaning and wisdom of the old saying, “If you love something, set it free. If it returns to you, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.”
Over the years, I’d forgotten these lessons about change. I thought that by filling up other people’s cups, they would value me. They didn’t. I was never the first kid picked for any team. I was always the last. That really hurt me over and over again until I realized I was the one putting myself in harm’s way. I had to face change. I stopped seeing it as a foe, but as chance to be better.
I’ve learned that things around me, and thing that are happening to me, do not define me. I define me.
I’ve learned the value of walking away from things I truly loved. I’ve learned the value of change and now appreciate the opportunities that come with it.
I read more. I enjoy the little things in life more. I’ve learned the value of being still.
I am at peace with myself for the first time in a very long time. Maybe even the first time. It took me a long time to find the warmth of spring, which will turn into summer when it is time, die with the fall and return itself to winter, once more.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that I am content on living in the present and being in this moment, because this is where I am supposed to be. It is where we are all supposed to be.
Change. Accept. Learn. Grow. Repeat. Live.
Give Your Modern Kitchen Seriously Vintage Vibes
It’s been a long time since any kitchen gadgets or wares really caught my eye. I don’t like a lot of things that are popular these days, as I find myself drawn to much older time periods.
Recently, I stumbled across a new line of kitchenware that I cannot wait to get my hands on. It’s pretty, sleekish, modern but has a vintage feel without a hefty price tag. It is “Beautiful” and it was dreamt up by Drew Barrymore.
The collection includes touchscreen kitchen appliances such as a sliced toaster, blender, air fryer, air fryer toaster and electric kettle. All of these are currently available in 4 colors so you can do your kitchen your way - mix and match or stand in solidarity with choosing one.
The gadgets reverberate with clean lines and a fun nod to 70’s throwback colors.
The cookware also comes in three of the colors available in the appliances, so I’m wondering if these options will be expanded as time goes on? We will have to wait and see what she has in store but I have good feeling about it all.
The best part - the entire “Beautiful” collection is available at Walmart which means you can give your modern kitchen seriously vintage vibes. I know what I’ll be asking for, for every Hallmark Holiday from here on out.
Check it out here.
This Cocktail Is As Close To Island Hopping As It Gets
When I was much younger, I was fortunate enough to visit the Virgin Islands. The Caribbean is my personal paradise and visiting really invokes my inner pirate.
Since I can’t just up and go (sigh), the best I can do is drink up to be there in “spirit”. Here is a drink I discovered while I was there and it has been a staple in my locker for years. Yo ho, yo ho…
Bushwacker
1oz dark cream de cacao
1oz dark rum
1oz kaluha
2oz cream of coconut
2oz milk (+vanilla ice cream if you like it real creamy)
8oz ice
Put all of it in a blender and mix until all the ice is crushed and well blended. You’re going for a milkshake like consistency.
Put it in a hurricane glass if you’re feeling like a fancy privateer or red solo cup if you’re not. No one is judging your container anyway, scallywag.
Sunday Brings the Full Worm Moon
You’re going to want to get outside on Sunday night and spend some time gazing at the Full Worm Moon.
While it has many names that include Crow, Crust, Sap, or Sugar Moon to name just a few, March’s full moon is known as the Full Worm Moon because this is the season where the ground began to soften so that earthworms could appear, drawing more birds to feed, according to the Farmer's Almanac, and because it symbolizes the beginning of spring.
Winter is over and the Worm Moon signifies that spring has sprung!
While the jury is out on if this is technically a Supermoon or not, it doesn’t change the fact that these are special, as there are only a handful of these that happen every year. We won’t have to wait long, though, as the first actual supermoon of 2021 comes in April with the Pink Full Moon.
Supermoons occur when the moon is within 90 percent of perigree, or when it's closest to Earth during its orbit, according to CNN. This is why the Moon appears so large and so bright in the nighttime sky.
Get This Texas Brisket on Now
Meat matters because it’s time to get outside and get smoking.
Brisket is a popular cut of meat to share with family and friends, but everyone knows a good brisket takes time. Brisket can be tricky because it is a tough meat. However, a well marbled piece will become fork tender and easily pull apart, if cooked correctly.
Brisket preparation is up to the cook and can include the use of hardwoods, marinades, and sauces. A Texas style brisket is one of the most popular methods, where the meat is marinated beforehand and left alone to smoke for hours. Can’t rush a great meal of meat. Slow and low is key.
Try this Coffee-Rubbed Texas - Style Brisket recipe from My Recipes, done up nicely, Texas style. I call this one, the Texas Three Step, because there it’s as easy as 1,2,3 and is perfect next time you want to get your grill on and enjoy a deep, smoky flavor to the meat. Now get out there and get to grilling.
Texas Three Step
Ingredients:
6 cups oak or hickory wood chips
1 tablespoon ground coffee
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (4 1/2-pound) flat-cut brisket (about 3 inches thick)
Directions:
1. Combine coffee and the next 8 dry ingredients in a bowl. Pat brisket dry; rub and coat brisket with ingredient mixture.
2. Remove grill rack and set aside. Prepare grill for indirect grilling, heating one side to high and leaving one side with no heat. Pierce bottom of a disposable aluminum foil pan several times with the tip of a knife. Place pan on heat element on heated side of grill; add 1 1/2 cups wood chips to pan. Place another disposable aluminum foil pan (do not pierce pan) on unheated side of grill. Pour 2 cups water in pan. Let chips stand for 15 minutes or until smoking; reduce heat to medium-low. Maintain temperature at 225°. Place grill rack on grill. Place the brisket in a small roasting pan, and place pan on grill rack on unheated side. Close lid; cook for 6 hours or until a meat thermometer registers 195°. Add 1 1/2 cups wood chips every hour for first 4 hours; cover pan with foil for remaining 2 hours. Remove from grill. Let stand, covered, 30 minutes.
3. Unwrap brisket, reserving juices; trim and discard fat. Place a large zip-top plastic bag inside a 4-cup glass measure. Pour juices through a sieve into bag; discard solids. Let drippings stand for 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top). Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Drain drippings into a bowl, stopping before fat reaches opening; discard fat. Cut brisket across grain into thin slices; serve with juices.
Bet Your Dog Doesn’t Do This
It’s National Puppy Day and I have a lot of thoughts about my own dog on the day of celebrating our canine companions.
My dog, Ghost, is a true pain in the ass. He is an almost 3 year old merlequin Great Dane with a personality all his own.
We got Ghost when he was 8 weeks old from a young lady who had a hard time letting him go and told us he had “hearing issues and/or was deaf”, which is not uncommon in Merlequins of any breed. He needed to be with someone who had Great Dane experience and I wasn’t going to guised to treat him any differently than a hearing dog because of his special needs.
The first Dane fit we experienced was when my husband left to outside. I thought someone’s car alarm was going off the way this big little puppy was screaming at the top of his lungs. We were mortified that a dog, a puppy, could sound like that and so we did what any normal family would do - we laughed our asses off about it.
He grew.
In typical Great Dane fashion, his favorite place to be is the couch. When he was little and realized he was too small to get on it, he again made his car alarm sound and demanded to be put on the couch. He won this battle for a long time. He would scream, someone would pick him up and put him on the couch. This went on for months.
He grew more.
When he was big enough to put himself on the couch, which is now his couch, we finally felt safe from the car alarm screeching.
Ghost is the most high strung Dane I’ve ever owned in 20 years with the breed. He opens doors, gets into whatever he wants, hates most men, barks at nothing and likes to do this in the middle of the night and gets his feelings hurt that the cat doesn’t want to play with him. I simply, do not understand this complicated couch potato but I love this dog with all my heart.
Ring or knock on the door and that car alarm scream is still there but now is proceeded with a huge giant breed bark.
He is loyal, he is protective, he adores the Staffie next door and he is ours. I wouldn’t trade him on National Puppy Day or any day. Here’s to you, Ghost - you complete our family. Thank you, boy.
Being an Accidental Car Door Slammer was Not Expected
I’ve had a very long time to think about a lot of things, as I’m sure most of you have also done. We’ve spent the past year on on a “traumatic rollercoaster” and I’m stepping off the crazy thing.
Last August, I started back to working a full time job as a content creator. I couldn’t be more grateful as I love my job and the company I work for. That was a huge positive for me and our entire family, considering so many people had lost their job during the pandemic.
School started back up and I was determined not to let my son’s online learning get the best of me like it did last year. We smashed that goal, too, as I found a way to make it work for us. I morph into a 3rd grade teacher during my lunchbreak and after work and we just get everything done. It’s not nearly as crazy for us this school year as it felt last year, even though he has a lot more work.
We made it through what felt like the longest winter on record. I never want to see snow again.
In February, my entire household got COVID. My husband was hospitalized and almost didn’t survive. It really made me focus on what really matters in life. I am grateful for the lesson and honor it by living day by day now.
I spend a lot of time just being still and listening to the world around me. In the silence, I find myself not feeling overwhelmed with life. I’ve stopped paying attention to things that really don’t matter and have unfollowed a lot of things that I just don’t have the energy for. I am learning to be at peace with myself and the world around me by walking away.
I enjoy the little things like watching the clouds drift by, keeping an ear out for the neighborhood woodpecker, laughing at something funny that one of my kids told me. When was the last time you really did something like this? Life is for living and I’m all in with those I love and care about.
I realized I got to this dreaded point by constantly being sad, angry and at war with myself. It took this undoing and letting go to finally find the motivation to just be who I am truly meant to be - a writer, an accidental car door slammer, a wife and mom and so much more that is simply perfectly imperfect about me.
So, here I am with learning something new about myself that I wasn’t even aware I had within me - being an accidental car door slammer. My point is, spend some time to learn something new about yourself. It’s good for the soul (not the car door, apparently) and you just might find some humor in it either way.