Readying for the Journey Home

It's two weeks until Christmas. And about 12 days until I start my journey home for the holidays. 

My bags aren't packed, I'm not ready to go- yet. I have presents to buy and wrap, I have to find someone to look after my fish, and I need an oil change for the jeep. 

Like most years, I am driving. And I find myself getting more and more excited about it. There's just something about driving through this country that thrills me. It's so huge and awesome. 

This year, I am making the drive solo with Remi as my co-pilot. It will be a little strange to not have someone who can talk back to me, but at least this way, no one will get tired of all the Christmas music that I plan to listen to. 

My route home has been mapped out. It looks like a long drive, but it's really not that bad. And I'm actually excited to get on the road and just drive!

The countdown on is on! 

Foster Update: Mango The Ginger Pig

"Saving one dog won't change the world, but surely for that dog the world will change forever."

- unknown

This past summer I decided that I wanted to foster dogs. I did my due diligence and research and chose to contact Sit With Me Shelter Dog Rescue. I went through a series of interviews and checks and a home visit before a dog was placed with me.

I was entrusted to look after a small pocket pitty, Mango. She was less than 40 pounds when she arrived, she has just been spayed and so she was doped up and miserable. And she wanted nothing to do with my dog Remi. Remi on the other hand wanted to play with her so badly that he was vibrating. And so Mango entered the Ottawa branch of the McLellan Family.

In the next few days, it became obvious that she still wanted nothing to do with Remi. Any time he came near her she snarled and tried to bite him. And not in a cute don't bother me way. I was starting to get worried that there was something wrong with me or Remi or that in the short amount of time that I had had Mango, that I had turned her into a dog aggressive pitbull and ruined her for life. After a week of trying every trick that I knew, I contacted that rescue group ready to admit defeat and tell them that I couldn't look after this adorable dog. Thankfully, Mel (my foster coordinator) dropped in for a home visit to see how the dogs interacted. After a few tense moments where Mango went for Remi, Mel could see that Mango just needed to be shown that she wasn't in control of Remi and coached me in how to help Mango snap out of that mind set. We practiced a few times before she left and that was that.

Since then, she and Remi are inseparable. They eat, sleep and play together. It has been so rewarding to see her come out of her shell and turn into this playful, goofy dog. She has learned her commands in English (I learned the commands in French!) and is learning to walk gently on a leash.

Not bad for a little over a month of love and gentle work.

I've also become well versed in pitbull stigma. In Ontario any dog that looks like it could be a pitbull is banned. Because Mango is a 'pitbull' type dog she is subject to the law. She is only allowed in Ontario because she is a ward of a rescue organization and her foster home is in Ontario. This means that every time she goes outside she has to wear a muzzle. And the muzzle is what brings attention to her. I've become used to people stopping and getting out of the way (even going so far as to cross to the other side of the street) as we stroll down the street.

I've heard people comment that I shouldn't be allowed to have a vicious dog. Lots of people make snap judgements about the dog I'm walking, and also about me. I had one couple stop me and ask me if it made me feel powerful to own a dog that was so vicious it had to be muzzled. I quickly explained that Mango was my foster dog and that she wasn't vicious at all. That because someone somewhere thought she was a pitbull, I had to put a muzzle on her. I told them her story, how she was essentially abandoned and even though she was so young had been pupped on at least 2 occasions. I told them that I was responsible for ensuring that Mango was looked after until she was adopted. I explained that the Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is actually ineffective as a law, and that it should be changed to target dog owners, not dog breeds. All this is happening while Mango sits quietly at my side, tail wagging as people and dogs walk by- clear evidence that she is not what they judged her to be.

This is what I do as a foster for Mango, I engage with people and take that opportunity to educate the public on what wonderful dogs 'pitbulls' can be. I get dirty looks and rude comments, but I can put up with that as long as it means that strangers are willing to stop and listen when they ask a question.

As for Mango, she doesn't even realize that people judge her before they even know her. She's happy to go for walks and chase Remi when I let her. She knows that if she is good, she'll get belly rubs and cuddles. And if she's bad, well she'll still get those things, just after her timeout.



So far, fostering is one of the best things I've decided to do. It's just as easy to look after 2 dogs as it was to look after just Remi.

And while I know I will a little sad, when my ginger pig gets adopted, it will be nothing to the joy I will feel. So until then, I will love Mango like she's mine.

I am: Little Miss Christmas

Tomorrow is the first of December. 

And that means that I am finally able to wear my Santa hat at work. I adore Christmas. It is my favourite time of year. And since Christmas began at work on November 3, I've been waiting impatiently for December to roll around.

Most of my regular customers know my love for Christmas. And one completely fantastic couple calls me 'Little Miss Christmas'. Mostly because I've been bopping around for weeks singing Christmas carols and songs and reminding people how many days until Christmas. 

So, if you stop into my shop tomorrow, don't be surprised by my Santa hat. And don't complain about it either. Be thankful that I waited until December to wear it!

Words of inspiration

She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.

-Elizabeth Edwards

A musical flashback

Tonight, while driving back from a friend's parents' house, I discovered several old mix CDs that I had burned at some point. Putting them in and listening to the songs was a trip down memory lane.

So, without further ado... here is a playlist of the songs that were rediscovered tonight.

When your bad luck outweighs your good

It has been said that if I didn't have bad luck, I would have no luck.

I would agree with this statement. Whole heartedly. 

Two weekends ago, Kate and myself were slated to transport three dogs from our area to the Montreal SPCA. I'd done this once before and it was easy and painless. So we picked up the dogs and started out. It was a great little drive. Except for the fact that one of the dogs, a shitz-tu that we named Yzma, didn't stop her shrill barking. So I had to pull over an hour into the drive to take her out of the crate and give her to Kate to hold. Unfortunately for Kate, she was covered in old pee. And stank. Every time she moved, we got a whiff and it was enough to make us gag. 

We made it to the Montreal SPCA with no more difficulties and got the dogs unloaded and signed into their care. Then we jumped back into the Jeep for the ride home. Except when I went to back out there was no power steering. So I popped out to check that everything was okay. And let's just say that it wasn't.

Thankfully the people and staff of the Montreal SPCA were lovely and cool headed, we spread kitty litter all over the lot to soak up the various liquids spewed out and they had one of their people look at the engine. And then Kate and I sat in the building to think about what we were going to do. Kate had to open the next morning at 5 and we both have 2 dogs that needed to be fed and walked. Spending the night in Montreal was not an option. 

So I did what I do whenever I'm in a spot of trouble: I called Lisa. 

And she offered to drive from Stittsville to Montreal to pick us up. So I had the Jeep towed to a garage that was still open, and then Kate and I wandered the streets of Montreal, ate MacDonald's and tried to find a Starbucks that we could take refuge in until Lisa and Jan rescued us. 

Although, the whole situation was pretty terrible, the silver lining in it was the confirmation that I have wonderful friends in my life. I don't know many people that would have offered to drive 3.5 hours to pick us up and then turn around and head back to Ottawa. 

So although I have terribly bad luck, the one area I have an abundance of luck in, is my friends.

When an ending is just a new beginning

My roommate turned best friend moved out of our apartment yesterday.

And while it was an exciting event, at the same time it was one of sadness for me.

There was much joy because she was moving into her very own space- one that she had purchased. There was happiness, because how can you not be happy for someone who is gaining their stride and chasing their dreams and ambitions?

There was sadness as I loaded boxes onto the truck. There was sadness as I returned home last night to an apartment that while still full of furniture and things, felt ever so empty. There were tears (only a few, maybe 7 total) as I realized that my ending was her beginning. Home suddenly felt lonely and quiet to me.

Today, waking up alone in my apartment, I was suddenly filled with a sense of beginning. This is another new beginning for me. A new roommate, a potential friend, will move in. And we will muddle through the first few weeks until suddenly, hopefully, we click. And that sense of home that I feel is missing will return.

I know there will be times where I miss her lots, but those times will be made better with a text. And I know I will still see her, especially since she moved just a hop, skip and jump away. There will be dinners at her new place, and afternoons spent knitting. It's not an ending. Just a new beginning.

Until my new roommate moves in, I'll be spending my time alone watching Netflix on the couch, pant-less, and listening to the Frozen soundtrack on repeat. Loudly. (Sorry neighbours!)

I'm also bringing back the pop in. If you're in the neighbourhood, feel free to pop in. Don't text, just come. If I'm home, we'll visit, if I'm not.... well, better luck next time.