Boot Camp Day 5

What a harsh night! DaVinci joined me for my walking warm up around the park, only because he refused to get out of the car while I was unloading our event materials from this past Tuesday. It ended up only being one other person and I at camp tonight, which meant more pain. It was so bad I couldn't talk and could barely breathe. Even an hour later I'm hurting, but I'm told it will help my posture as well as shrink my abs. I am noticing that I can see a waistline again, so I'm very happy about that, and my jeans are starting to feel a bit bigger on me. I just have to remember, no pain, no gain. We'll see if my legs agree in the morning.

Don't Know Much About Technology

Ok, well, anyone who knows me know that is a lie. But for the last month, part of my job at eMarketSouth has been maintaining our blog to inform clients of services and gizmos we can offer them for their websites. It's been fun as each member of the staff took turns to make one post a day for National Blog Posting Month. It wasn't always easy, but I think we were able to teach ourselves quite a bit along the way.

Next week, I will be teaching again for the Georgia Center for Non-Profits. For one afternoon on December 6, I will be sharing my ten years of Internet experience with other non-profits looking to make the most out of their website. Having built several non-profit websites including LibLines.org, TybeeBeautifcation.org, and of course CoastalPetRescue.org, I'm hopeful attendees will take away a lot of useful information to make their websites more profitable for their organization.

Boot Camp Day 4

Misery loves company, so I conned our CPR secretary Heather into joining me for the workout last night. While she only got a small taste, I think she'll see it to be as beneficial as I do. I've noticed that I feel better overall, I sleep better, and I'm eating a bit less junk food, which is a huge step for me. I have to admit, I don't feel near as bad this morning as I normally do after a night of bootcamp. I guess I'm getting used to it. I even found myself doing cartwheels last night. No idea what brought them on, but I know it's been years since I've done one. Guess I just feel better all over.

The Excitement and Anticipation of Graduation

Today, my cap and gown arrived for my December 20th graduation from Duquesne University. They also called me today to let me know they were mailing my honor cords. Yes, I am graduating with honors. I'm so excited. I can't remember having worked this hard for my associates or first bachelors degrees. Maybe it is because I'm older and have direction in my life and hope this degree will take me to the next level. Regardless, I'm looking forward to the travel to Pittsburgh, a big adventure in a new city.

Boot Camp Day 3

Oh the pain! The horror! Believe it or not, I was accepted to the US Coast Guard academy my senior year of high school. However, I declined the offer as I was not interested in signing away the next nine years of my life or early morning exercise. Which is the reason I attend the evening Boot Camp.

Tonight was abs night. Derek thought we needed to work off all the turkey we ate over Thanksgiving. I tried all my might to minimize my eating so there would be less to work off. It didn't matter. We did a thing called the cockroach tonight, which Daniel explained "pushes your abs out your a**." Yep, I definitely had that feeling. But oh do I ever feel better after a hot shower.

The Spirit of Giving During the Holidays

For many of us, this past week has been full of chaos with preparing to spend time with family and shopping for gifts. For Coastal Pet Rescue, it has been full of trying to schedule adoption interviews, find room for new intakes, and figure out how to get more funding. After an afternoon of errands and evaluating pets at animal control, I made one last stop at WalMart to get some storage containers for our office. I was tired and worn out, and as I walked to my car, I noted a beautiful black SUV next to mine. I had gone through a coin wash back on Wednesday, but it didn't do much good. Our car is in bad shape and needs lots of work, not to mention the payoff. I had loaded everything in and was preparing to leave when there was a tap at my window. The gentleman asked me if I managed the rescue, and I replied yes. He then handed me a $20 and said "This is for you, keep up the good work." I was stunned. I was almost moved to tears as I told him thank you. He smiled and went back to loading his purchases into the vehicle I had been admiring previously, and I found myself smiling all the way home.

What a great start to the holidays.

Boot Camp Day 2

In honor of Thanksgiving, tonight's workout was only 30 minutes. I had my measurements done. While I don't have them in front of me, I do know that my weight was at 174. Yikes. Well, guess it is a good thing I decided to do something about it now. And poor Derek, he didn't know what a problem child I was going to be for him... bad wrist, left knee MCL injury, and scoliosis in my lower back. So lucky me, I did squats for most of the night. But I made it through. I know this is what I need, so I'll keep at it. I just have to remember not to eat six hours before the workout...

Ms. CPR Goes to Boot Camp

Believe it or not, I finally decided that chasing dogs around day in and day out was not enough exercise. I met a wonderful woman recently at an eWomenNetwork coffee, and she put me in touch with her husband that is a personal trainer. We spoke on the phone for about a good thirty minutes of what I wanted to achieve and the best way to get results. He suggested I try his boot camp out at J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill. Since I am very gym-phobic and lack any self discipline on my own, I thought this would be a great fit, especially since I was in athletics up through college.

Well, there was no slacking tonight. I lost count of the number of laps around the park he had me jog. I couldn't feel my legs. Then we did a lot more exercises, which reminded me of my soccer coach back at Andrew. Every part of me felt on fire. I forgot just how many muscles I had. But it wasn't just Derek's instruction and constant mention that I had "good hips" to tolerate the exercises. It was the feeling of being part of a team again. It was a small group, 10 of us I think (I still feel rather blurred from the hour), but I quickly connected with a National Guard Recruiter. Seems we have similar physical backgrounds, and sense of humor. At one point in class he said he was there because his wife called him fat, and she's pregnant.

I wasn't sure I was prepared for an exercise commitment again. But I can honestly say I'm looking forward to seeing Derek again on Wednesday, when he'll get to do my actual measurements, yikes! But I'm looking forward to the day I can look in the mirror and feel confident about my appearance for now.

When All He** Breaks Loose

There have been few situations within the rescue for which I have not been able to handle or which I knew the exact right course of action. Today was not one of those days.

Dogs are pack animals. I work hard to maintain harmony, but occasionally, personalities clash. But I was not prepared for what happened. My beloved DaVinci and a Pit Bull I have doted upon so much for the last several months were in a bad altercation. I can't begin to describe how much blood was shed, but you couldn't tell that Vinnie was a blonde. I don't know what happened or exactly when. I had last been out with the dogs around 3 when I took fresh water. I took a break from work around 4:30, and went out to play with the dogs. When I opened the door, DaVinci was lying right there. I tried to get him to come inside, but he wouldn't move. Then I noticed the panting, and something wasn't right. Then Lady ran in the house, and that's when I saw the blood drops down the hallway. My world just started spinning.

I shoved Lady into the bathroom and pulled the door tight, then ran to the computer to locate a phone number for the closest veterinarian to see if I could rush the dogs over. I called my unofficial big sister Wendy and her husband for help. Neither could answer, so I shot off a quick email then set about getting Vinnie into the car safely. I arrived to the vet a few minutes later and two techs came to help get him in there. Then I had to come back and get Lady. Luckily, Wendy's husband was able to meet me at the house to help get Lady in the car. Her face was scratched, and there was blood all over her. We arrived to the vet and Wendy had called that she was leaving work early to come be with me.

DaVinci was still back being evaluated. It seemed like an eternity before someone came to tell me what was going on. We had Lady resting on a towel, blood still dripping from parts of her. A tech came out. Vinnie had puncture wounds up and down all his legs, some going about to the bone. He had a few bites on his face, but nothing big, and a bad scratch on his head. They were taking him back to the tub to wash everything off and see what else had happened to him.

Meanwhile, Wendy and I discussed that this left us no hope of having Lady safely adopted, as once a dog has been involved in a fight like that without knowing the trigger, they can never truely be trusted again. When the vet came in, she agreed with us that putting Lady down would be the best solution. It hurt so much. After all I had put in to her, the chances I took, trying to prove to the world that Pits can be good dogs. And then this happened. The vet came back, I signed the papers, and Lady was taken away.

Meanwhile, Jackie and Brent came to my rescue to pick up the momma dog and two puppies I was supposed to get. They came to the vet and got my key and settled mom and babies in one of the back kennels until I could get home. Almost as soon as they left, DaVinci was brought out from the exam room. I fell to my knees weeping. Vinnie wouldn't move. All I could see was red up and down his legs, all shaved, and the fur missing from his head where more scratches were exposed. Guilt, that's all I can feel right now. I can't even remember a time that they ever even growled at each other, and I can't figure out why one would turn on the other, or who started it. But as we put my baby on the stretcher to take him to the car, I couldn't stop crying. He whimpered, tried to move, and we kept trying to keep him stable. The drugs were doing a little bit, but not enough.

Getting Vinnie home and settled was even more of a challenge. Aaron picked me up to go to Walmart and get him a bed, and the largest would could find barely held his entire body. We spent most of an hour trying to get him positioned on it without causing too much distress, but every time he cried, I cried. It is just not easy for me to be strong as my baby lies in pain.

And now that everything is all settled for the night, I'm feeling utter saddness for Lady. Such a wonderful dog, but maybe it is time I give up trying to prove the stereotypes wrong. It's hard enough to save the ones we can without extra baggage. But as I go to sleep on my pallet next to Vinnie tonight, I have to remember that I can't save them all, and I will always have my family first.

Sunrise from the News Room

Last month, I signed an agreement with WJCL/WTGS news stations here in Savannah for them to be the exclusive TV partner for Coastal Pet Rescue. What I didn't know was that I would become the stations' official pet expert. It's a great idea, and really helps the pets, but I've seen sunrise more in the last three weeks than I have the last three years. Funny enough, I'm finally using that first bachelor's degree.

Believe it or not, I did not plan to grow up and be a pet rescuer. According to my 8th grade yearbook, I was going to be a dolphin trainer at Sea World, and my high school scrapbooks says I was going to be a nature photographer for National Geographic. I went to school to pursue journalism, wanting to be a writer as I loved to write and had been published a few times already. Instead, I went the route of communication arts, being jaded by a not so favorite journalism professor my junior year at Georgia Southern University. I continued to write, mostly guest columns for the Tybee News and the Tybee Breeze.

Two years ago, I was sent to New York for an award I won from Jiffy Lube. I was put on a national satellite media tour, which meant that every three minutes I was doing live interviews in different cities around the country. The woman appearing with me, known as The Car Coach, told me I should consider going after CNN to be the pet reporter, that I had the poise, drive and knowledge (or at least could fake it). She turned me on to some great PR reference books, and from there, I learned how to best write press releases so media would run them. What has progressed since has been nothing short of amazing.

I've always considered Coastal Pet Rescue the underdog, or red-headed step-child, in our local community. We're new, we're overly diverse, and we don't get paid for our work. We are constantly looking to push limits and try something new, anything to make our mission work. I've been told I'm pushy and too direct, but I prefer to be called passionate and dedicated. And apparently, that was why WJCL/WTGS offered to partner with us as an exclusive TV partner, which means lots of early mornings for me.

So, here I sit in the newsroom, watching sunrise after having appeared on air from 5 to 7 am and waiting for the 8 am show to start. Mom and Dad would be so happy I'm finally getting something from that college tuition.

Saying Goodbye is Never Easy

Just a warning before you go further... today's post is not a happy subject, but a most necessary part of my job.

Two months ago, a white bundle of fur entered my home as a retiree. Cotton was a 10-year-old Husky/Corgi mix, who had spent the majority of life living on a chain, not truly knowing the joy and love of a full-time family. It took her three weeks to be comfortable enough to stay in the house, and we had her professionally groomed to make her pretty. We knew she had quite a few health issues, as the woman who saved her had veterinary care provided before her arrival to me. But of the two months, I watched as her energy levels dropped to zero, and I was forced to pick her up to go outside, and do the same to come back in. Her breathing became more labored, and her incontinence became more frequent. Her appetite became more finicky, and she barely acknowledge my petting her.

This morning, I decided we needed a veterinary consult. The determination was respiratory disease, possible liver disease, and a host of other issues. It was determined that the medicines may not improve the conditions and it was very doubtful they would prolong her life much further. We decided to put an end to her suffering and allow her to be in peace.

I held Cotton through her very last breath, and even longer after that. It is never easy to say goodbye, and we have to try and remember that as rescuers, we are charged to show more compassion and humanity than these animals had known previously. As I promised her savior that she would always have a home here, I made arrangements to have her cremated and her remains brought back to me.

Just a few moments ago, I finally picked up her food and water dishes and moved her bed to the laundry pile. I sat for a moment, holding the bed close to me, missing her so much already, and hoping she knows that even for a short time, she was very much loved.

Would you marry your pet?

I read this question on the SavannahNow message boards today. It is an interesting concept, but not now...

MarryYourPet.com came online back in 2003. With the divorce rates what they are (and Pet Rescue Barbie being among them), it might not seem like a bad idea. Let me examine my dog, DaVinci and what he gives me:

• Displays of affection without my asking.
  
• Always happy to see me.
  
• If I yell at him, he goes to the other room because he knows he is wrong, then will come apologize as soon as I get up to walk anywhere.
  
• Will wipe my tears anytime I cry.
  
• Brings me flowers (ok, so really it is all dead grass now, but it's the thought that counts).
  
• Does not scold me when I bring home another dog, and in fact, goes out of his way even more for my affection.
  
• Always treats my friends and guests with great friendliness and rarely makes a scene in public.
  
• Has the same taste in shoes that I do.
  

Well, even though there are lots of positives for just having a dog, I can't seem to give up hope of actually marrying a human male one day. Maybe Vinnie can give them a few pointers.