Humans huddled in the corner of a classroom — Everyone sprang into action at the sound of the lockdown signal. With the depression of the button, a recorded message announced over the intercom, “This is a lockdown. Immediately, prepare for lockdown. Lockdown in progress.” With those few words, our school changed from a learning environment to a survival mode…

A home without a pet contains empty spaces — I didn’t realize the gravity of my decision when I agreed to allow our daughter to foster kittens. When Kari proposed the idea, her father was a barrier to overcome. He dislikes cats. But when the fourteen-year-old tilted her head slightly to the right, flashed her crooked smile, and batted…

A humorous tale from Live a Satisfying Life By Doing it Doggy Style- Available on Amazon — When my husband gets sick, he goes down for the count. It always seems different for men than women. The ritual is always the same. I hear, “I’m sick,” and then he disappears for a couple of days. (Really!? What woman has this luxury?) In his defense, he doesn’t get…

Break Rules to Control Your Destiny — Flip through the pictures on your phone. Which ones make you smile or even laugh out loud? I bet some of them are pictures of misbehavior. My daughter called upset and frustrated when Winston, her pup, tore up his bed. As a pup he didn’t have the refined communication skills…

One chapter at a time — MuddyUm published the first story I wrote about Dagney. I related the horrific and humorous events of me in the middle of the night, wearing a nightgown, chasing Dagney through the trees. Dagney was chasing a skunk. A 5-Pound Dog Protected Me in the Dark of Night. Our 6-year-old Yorkie…

Patience provides a window to the world — Most people lack patience. We live in a world that craves immediate satisfaction. Dogs excitedly hop around when they want something. Our youngest becomes a canine jumping bean when we return, even when we simply walk outside to empty the garbage. However, I’ve noticed with age dogs learn to settle…

She fits perfectly in our family — I’ve been thinking about getting rubber soled shoes for our dog. Something to slow her down when she slams through the doggie door at the back of the house when she hears a dog in the front. Actually, I don’t know if she sees, smells, or hears the intruder on…

A can-do attitude creates success — If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. — Maya Angelou “You get what you get so don’t throw a fit.” This is a standard cliché in a kindergarten classroom and the home of a mother with small children — at least my…