The 1994 Edition of Animals Digest

[The following is a transcription of Animals Digest, a pocket-size magazine written by myself and my elementary school best friend, Mimi, when we were approximately 8 years old. Animals Digest is a limited edition publication from the third grade and is currently out of print.]

[P.S. I'd like to note that Mimi is now and English teacher and I'm pursuing a career as a writer. So. This is only the beginning of what would become our future professions.]

[P.P.S. I got accepted to an MFA program in creative writing for June! Yes!]

Animals Digest

[Golden retriever sticker here.]

TO PICK OUT YOUR PET
If you are allergic to a certain animal, do not get it. But if you have that animal and you just find out that you are allergic to it, give it a bath every month. Stay away from it, too.

In other means, pick out an animal you know you will take care of, feed it, and give it lots of love. When you know what you want, go to any humane society to pick it out.

[Humane society illustration here.]

TO NAME YOUR PET
If you have a hard time giving your pet a name, read this.

First, you might play with your pet. See what it likes. Name it something, like if it dodges after a ball you might name it Dodger. Second, you might name it from its color. Like if it's the color of a piece of candied ginger, you might name it Ginger.

[Ginger candy and Ginger the Cat illustration here.]

IF YOUR PET IS ACTING WEIRD
If your pet is acting weird, it's probably sick. Quickly call a vet and tell them what the problem is. The veterinarian will tell you when to bring your pet over. They might look at what your pet does weird-like and might give it a shot. Let it rest for a few days and wait till it looks better. Other times it might just be playing. Let it play then.

[Cross-eyed bassett hound with crossed legs illustration here. See image above.]

YOUR PET'S DIET
If your pet is a baby, feed it something soft to eat. Grownups can eat hard food. You can feed it human food every once and a while. On its birthday you can give it a special meal, too. If it's sick, let it eat as much as it wants. If it doesn't eat, take it to the vet for a checkup to see if it's okay. If not, take care of it well.

[Food bowl illustration here.]

YOU AND YOUR PET
Your pet is always one of your best friends. Treat it like one and make sure it always feels at home. Sometimes your pet might despise you, so treat it well and it will get much better.

Remember, dog's a man's best friend.

I am . . .

. . . starting to feel this urge again to accomplish something unreal, to be famous, to be an artist. I want to take over the world.

I hate it when dreams are too good to be true.

And I will never forget my first puppy love.

It takes courage to go for your dreams, and more courage to bear the hurt when you let them go. Zio is going home tonight, back to his breeder.

We will miss you, Zio, our first dog. We pray a good family will find you soon.

The Consequences of Impulsive Decisions

Because I am the author of this blog, I have the ability and the power to persuade you that my perspective in a single moment is the only way. I can hype up all of my activities, employment opportunities, artistic endeavors, purchases, and ideas as if they are the absolute bomb, as if it were the plan all along. I can convince you that my life is like the exciting novel I sometimes wish it were, where my choices and my experiences will always inevitably tie up into one big bow at the end of each entry.

Alas, life is not this way.

Despite the look in his eyes.

I have to be honest, so here is the truth: Sam and I are thinking of returning Zio, our new beagle puppy, to the breeder. This was one impulsive decision that is not panning out the way we'd convinced ourselves--and you--that it might.

This potential breakup is looming over our heads. We fell in love, but this relationship isn't heading in the right direction. He was cute, we met up, we had a first date and we couldn't resist the charm. The sweet kisses, the cuddling on the couch, the companionship--it all seemed too good to be true. But then this relationship turned needy. Needier than we expected. That black cloud of anxiety I felt with old, wrong boyfriends has returned to my life in the form of a dog.

Sam confessed to me that he feels in the wrong, that he feels he should take the blame for this one. He knew I wasn't a dog person, he knew I'd be the one primarily taking care of the dog, and he convinced me with the persuasive charm that changed my name to Lambson that a beagle would be the next best thing in our life.

Like the Kindle, the Smart Pen, the re-seeded lawn, or the green leather heels from Nordstrom, this impulsive need for the puppy became the obsession of the week, the must-have, the NEED. (But I still need those green shoes.) We fought for Zio. We read up a storm with piles of dog and beagle books from the library. We dived in the way we always dive into things like jobs at McDonalds, moves, opportunities, crazy ideas. It's what makes our life so awesome and adventurous . . . but not all our impulsive decisions are the best ideas in the end.

I had a difficult week with the puppy. When we drove home with him and for the following few days, I felt sick inside by how uncomfortable I was around the dog and by the overwhelming propect of taking care of him and cleaning up after him for up to 15 years. He has been cute and fun, and we've gone on nice walks and outings, but . . . it doesn't feel right. It happened so fast, and it's not what I pictured in the story of my life.

When Sam came home two weeks ago and said he wanted to get a dog, I didn't want to hold him back. I like to be supportive--I want to do things that will make my husband happy. And I am always willing to try new things. But this willingness to try new things is what sometimes comes back to haunt me.

I spent most of the week at home--this was my first week home since I left the quilt shop--and taking care of Zio took hours of constant effort and attention. You could say to me that taking care of a child is like taking care of a puppy, but I want to persuade you in the way that I do that it is not the same. It. Is. Not. The. Same. Dogs are not and will never be children. Three months of nannying a 3-month old baby was far, far, far different from what it's like to watch a 3-month old dog.

You could say that getting rid of the dog is cruel--would I give away my child if I didn't like it? Well, no, I wouldn't. Let me tell you why: my child would be my human child, and this puppy is a DIFFERENT SPECIES. We are not related, we are not the same, and owning a dog is not parenthood. Breaking up with the dog is not like breaking up with a person. The person may never forgive you, but the dog doesn't even know that his week at the Lambson's wasn't like any other week at a boarding house. He'll probably be stoked to see his parents and siblings again.

And here I go again, convincing you that this is the right thing, when last week the right thing was something completely different.

I'm still feeling overwhelmed, lost, and out of control, and adding one more thing to that list of overwhelming factors I posted a few days ago was not the answer. It's time to simplify. It's time to return to what we know of ourselves. It's time to make home like home again.

Complimentary massage? Why, yes!

We/I tend to make spontaneous decisions that kind of overwhelm me, including the beagle that I now spend most of my time with. It has become quickly apparent to me that I'm not a dog person . . . although I'm giving it a try. I live with a dog now. I'm trying to convince him not to be totally dependent on me. He's getting better about being home alone.

I was raised to believe an Asian perspective that dogs are dirty creatures that may be eaten but may not be treated as human equivelants. But the dirty principle I didn't understand has now brought itself to light. We were getting along okay--he's obedient, fun, already housetrained, and sleeping through the night--but yesterday I got really mad at him not just for being difficult on our walk, our trip to the vet, and during his first bath, but because the vet discovered this pup to be an island resort for a rambunctious, hopping flea colony. Um, gross?

Yesterday was the first day then where Sam "was the one who wanted the dog." I abandoned all night to rehearse in Vancouver while Sam did like 7 loads of laundry washing everything the dog had touched, vaccuuming, mopping, and dousing our house in flea-killing insecticide. Sam was so sweet about it. We've put the puppy on a monthly pill (an expense, among others, I hadn't anticipated) that killed his fleas within a half hour, I scrubbed him down with flea shampoo, and the deep sanitation process should now be complete.

So I think Zio and I are back on good terms.

Today was supposed to be my last day at work, but my manager called me yesterday and told me not to come in. So oh well to saying goodbye to my coworkers. Bye guys! I'll miss you! Let's hang out sometime!

The reason I left the quilt shop is a long story which I'll refrain from going into on the www, but it has been a stressful situation for me, especially just as I was getting into the groove in our new locale. Yesterday I cried all the way to my hair appointment with the weight of that whole ordeal and the flea-ridden dog sweeping over me. I thought getting my hair done might help, but I always think I look ugly when I get my hair relaxed and it's plastered to my head, so . . . my feelings about that experience are neutral.

So today I'm taking a break. This is what I recommend: go to a really fancy, wealthy-people gym/spa and look interested in a club membership although you know you can't afford it before you even ask about the price. But maybe they'll give you a free half-hour massage coupon and an unlimited-access week pass for you and your husband. I did this, and today I had some prime relaxation with a luxirious massage from one of the club therapists, a complimentary terry bathrobe to use during my visit, a hot shower in a bathing facility nicer than ours, and a warm toasty moment in the cedar sauna. Too bad I didn't have time to do my hair at the romantically lit vanity. I didn't want to leave the dog alone to long. Maybe he could have waited.

But now it's on to Plan C: I'm waiting to hear back from the creative writing master's program I applied to, which would begin in January if I'm accepted. If I get in, I'll work part time and study/write/read part time. If I don't get in, I'll find another job. Still in the mix is whether or not to pursue music teaching and performance as my primary source of income (there seems to be a lot of opportunity), and how much freelance writing I'll do for the web development company I continue to contract with. This week I also started rehearsals with the Vancouver Symphony, which is replacing my income from the quilt shop, at least for this week (since I'm a sub). I don't mean to talk money. Money is more personal than even relationships, isn't it? Sorry if this is too intimate. I don't know why I feel this drive to make something of myself, and I feel like doing some kind of meaningful work is connected to that.

I'm so enjoying rehearsing with the Vancouver Symphony so far. I'm making new friends, I feel welcome, and I feel back in my element--playing the bass, relishing the challenge of non-mundane, creative work. My stand parter is a great fellow who graduated from high school the same yearI did--he actually was best friends in college with one of my friends from Colorado, which is such a funny connection. It's been such a relief to find a little work that I feel comfortable with, where I feel respected and needed, and where I'm with people who share my interests. I feel very fortunate. I know not everyone has the luxury.

Our concerts are this weekend if you'd like to attend!

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
(Visit the site for ticket/concert info.)
October 24 & 25, 2009
Nancy Ives, cello, guest artist
Requielro - Andaluz C. Montes
Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 - Antonín Dvorák
Pictures at an Exhibition - Mussorgsky-Ravel

Directions to Skyview Concert Hall: 1300 NW 139th Street. Coming from the south on I-5, take the 134th Street exit. Turn left (west) at the light. Follow this street for 1-2 miles past Fred Meyer - Skyview is on the right. (134th Street curves and turns into 139th Street – stay on this main road as the name changes from 134th to 139th.)

Off to get groceries--oh, I'm so behind. We're having dinner guests tonight.

More Zio Photos

Misteree Revealed!

I know we've had you on pins and needles. Good job! You're so good! Yes you are! Sit! Sit still!

Good dog!
Here's the treat:Meet Zio!
Full Name: Zio Antonio Lambson. "Uncle Tony" in Italian.

Zio = Sam's (upcoming) 26th birthday present.

Born on the 4th of July, like a true American-Italian dog.

Beagles away!

More to come!

What to Do When You're Overwhelmed

Quit your two-month job, consider a career change, apply for a masters, wait and see if you get into the said master's program, get a new calling at church, take your car to the shop, totally space craft fair meeting, start freelance writing again, call for interviews, learn about rice mills, learn about Tasers, write about Tasers, write about rice mills, join a community orchestra, join a semi-professional orchestra, cook dinner for two, think about practicing, go to the library, get the groceries, pick up sewing machine from shop, pick up car from shop, try to figure out a 1/4" seam on said sewing machine, work at the quilt shop until Tuesday when it's over, plan for the holidays, and . . .

. . . plan for Friday.
Something very exciting is coming to a Lambson home near you. Last night's detective work in the rain ended up sealing the deal. We talked to Cheryl across the street. She directed us to Trista's house by the elementary school. Not home. We found Shelley down a long driveway to a house hidden by the woods. She used to live in our house. She was home. She made a phone call for us. I received a phone call this morning from the man married to the woman she called. The deal is in the works. I should be signing some paperwork soon. Putting some money down. Part of the agreement involved providing proof and figuring out how to deal with a new change in the local waste management company, which is making a change next month.

And on Friday, it will happen. I'm reading up on the subject. I'm studying, trying to prepare myself for the unexpected. It's very exciting, very new, and something I have never done before. Something I never expected I'd ever do. And if you know what's cooking, don't ruin the surprise--I want to relish this!

More to come. Can you bear the suspense?