Thor

I'm sure every pet owner has nicknames for their dog or cat. Jay and I have come up with quite a few, and they are a bit more non-traditional. Our favorite recently is to call Thor "dingis." I should have prefaced that with, we say that with so so so much love.

Today we took dingis to the park, he LOVES it! He got to romp in the grass and run to his little hearts content. There were a few other dogs at the park today. Two little chiwawa type dogs, super high energy ran/sprinted right over to say hi. Thor did great, he's super friendly, loves other dogs. Then there was another dog, an american bulldog, named Einstein. Einstein is deaf, but a super mello loveable dog. Thor did great, so proud.

One of the things he does is, when we go outside. Thor will often sit down mid-walk and sniff the air. He'll sit real still, but you can see his nose is firing. It's pretty cool. We also saw it today at the park, he would be trotting along and all of a sudden get hot on a scent. He's such a smart dog.

Here's a photo of Thor 9 weeks on the left and 11 weeks on the right. You can see how much he's grown in the past 2 weeks. He doesn't really fit under the couch so well, but he sure does try.

Thor

Thor will be 11 weeks old on Wednesday! Sometimes it seems like we've had him for weeks and weeks, and then I look at the calendar and realize it hasn't even been two full weeks yet. It puts things in perspective for me. I desperately want him to be perfectly obedient and do exactly what I want. You won't be shocked by this, but he doesn't.

He's got his own little personality. He doesn't like the sun, can't really blame him. He's got so much fur, it must be unbearably hot. He loves to eat mulch and dig in the gardens around our condo. He is a creature of habit. When we walk or go "out" he strongly prefers to walk the same paths, we can even predict exactly where he will hop up from the street to the sidewalk. What an amazing memory he must have to remember these things.

Today, I came back to work after the weekend, and realized how much I was whining about how hard having a puppy is. While it's true that it is more work than I anticipated, it's still an amazing experience. It reminds me of listening to Mum talk about having three small children. She could have called it the terrible two's or she could reframe it and call it the terrific twos (which she did). I can think of this time as terrible, and hard, and exhausting, and think of Thor as stubborn, and misbehaving. Or I can embrace the fact that everyday is something new for him. There's a new smell he HAS to check out. Or a new game that he gets so excited about he goes nuts. I can love him and support him, or I can resent this stage of growth.

So I am going to try and write a little bit regularly about doggie life and what I'm learning. Focus on the amazing journey and his incredible growth and development.

Weekly Reading List [7.9.12]

From Twitter over the weekend...

1. @AJEnglish "Feature:Northern #Mali has imploded from a mix of #poverty, drought, #guns, #corruption, marginalisation aje.me/NPy5c6"

@texasinafrica "Someone finally covered the Mali deaths of those US Special Ops guys who were with 3 Moroccan prostitutes: j.mp/NSv18r "

2. @adrianhong "Shame. RT @TheEconomist: Not everyone is pleased about Africa's new breed of clergyman, whose wealth raises eyebrows econ.st/NPQ0j4"

3. @texasinafrica "UN & aid agencies have evacuated from Rutshuru: apne.ws/NbdVg2%0A

Some background from the WSJ on the conflict in the Congo"

4. @thehill "Clinton hails deal to provide $16 billion in Afghan development aid bit.ly/PzRXrk"

@csmonitor "Another $16 billion in aid, but Afghan businessmen say help us bit.ly/PBnKrK"

"$16 Billion in Civilian Aid Pledged to Afghanistan, With Conditions" from the NYTimes

5. @EgyptSourceBlog "New on EgyptSource: Morsi's Counter Coup by @MicheleDDunne #Morsi #SCAF #Parliment bit.ly/LacYGi"

Also, from the NYTimes, "Egypt's President Orders Return of Parliament"

In additional news, today mark's the 1 year anniversary of South Sudan! Congrats to the men and women who fought long and hard for their cessation from Sudan, and continued prayers for your wisdom and fortitude in governing your new country.

Weekly Reading List [6.22.12]

Let's be honest, in this day and age, who doesn't struggle to stay on top of their email box(es). One of the fabulous designers I work with, made this awesome flow chart. 

1. EGYPT: ISLAMISTS VS. COPTS & EGYPT DELAYS DECLARING WINNER OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION & CALVINBALL IN CAIRO  & NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU LOOK AT IT TROUBLE AHEAD - Start with Calvinball in Cairo. I think it sums up Egyptian politics so well. I don't follow Egyptian politics closely, but what I do observe is chaos. It also gives a great summary of what's happened over the past month leading up to the election.

2. HOW ONE MAN SWAM TO FREEDOM AND INTO FIGHT AGAINST MODERN-DAY SLAVERY & LOVE 146 - Help put an end to child trafficking - An estimated 27 million people around the world are living as slaves. U.S. officials are saying, "that the world has never been home to more slaves than it is today." The story of Anan is inspiring, he overcame incredible odds, and is still raising awareness about others who are still trapped. If you want to donate money or time to help see other people free check out Love 146, and consider supporting my friend, Noemi, who is raising money to combat trafficking of children.

3. THE ELUSIVE BIG IDEA - "Ideas are rare" In the past, "we sought not just to apprehend the world but to truly comprehend it, which is the primary function of ideas. Great ideas explain the world and one another to us." Today, "we prefer knowing to thinking because knowing has more immediate value." "We have become information narcissists, so uninterested in anything outside ourselves and our friendship circles or in any tidbit we cannot share with those friends that if Marx or Nietzsche were suddenly to appear, blasting his ideas, no one would pay the slightest attention..." "What the future portends is more and more information - Everests of it. There won't be anything we won't know. But there will be no one thinking about it."

4. Guess who we pick up on Monday?!?!

The Weekly Reading List [6.17.12]

1. U.N. SUSPENDS SYRIA MISSION, CITING INCREASE IN VIOLENCE & HEAVIER WEAPONS PUSH SYRIAN CRISIS TOWARD CIVIL WAR - Things in Syria have been heating up this week. Hilary Clinton, accused Russia of supplying Syria with new attack helicopters. Meanwhile the UN is pulling out the monitors and accusing Syria of using children as shields of protection. Check out this map; THE U.N'S LIST OF SHAME: WHERE CHILDREN ARE TOOLS OF WAR. Another interesting resource is the U.N.'s SYRIA REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE.

2. ASK NOT WHAT CHINA WANTS FROM AFRICA, BUT WHAT AFRICA WANTS FROM CHINA & CHINA, AFRICA TRADE VOLUME TO HIT 150 BILLION - I'm always interested in what China is doing on the continent of Africa. I thought this was very interesting, "China-Africa trade to double to $300B in 3-5 yrs."

3. OBAMA TO PERMIT YOUNG MIGRANTS TO REMAIN IN U.S. & WHY SOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AREN'T CELEBRATING OBAMA'S NEW POLICY - This week President Obama made an executive order to allow thousands of children of illegal immigrants to remain in the US. I've read that this could benefit more than 800,000 young people. While it doesn't grant them "permanent legal status, it does clear the way for young illegal immigrants to come out of the shadows." I think this is a great positive way for Obama to set himself apart from the Republican candidates. While also backing them into the corner, where they will not walk away the winner. Oh politics.

4. THE 22 RULES OF STORYTELLING, ACCORDING TO PIXAR - Just something fun.

Weekly Reading List [6.8.12]

This was a big week for us. First our couch was delivered! We have spent weeks sitting on our wooden porch chairs. What a reprieve to have something soft to sit on. Then yesterday our refrigerator was delivered! We've been using a mini fridge that I borrowed from work. The new one is HUGE! Wow. The house is now....complete. Until we start renovations.

1. Starting the weekend of with some poetry by Walt Whitman.
"...this is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people..." (Preface to Leaves of Grass)

"...I say to any man or woman, Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes" (Song of Myself)

2. This week the author of Fahrenheit 451 passed away. I really enjoyed this book, but have to be honest, I never gave much thought to the author. I was impressed with the quotes and stories and interviews that started pouring out with his passing. Here was a man passionate about doing what you love. He said, "Books are smart and brilliant and wise. Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life." A school teacher wrote to several high-profile people and asked them to describe overcoming an obstacle in their life. He used these letters in his class. Ray Bradbury's response is awesome! First, look at his letterhead. I'm in love! He says, "What did I learn? To be myself and only myself and never let others, prejudiced, interfere with my life. Kids, do the same. Be your own self. Love what YOU love!!" There is another letter on Letters of Note from Ray Bradbury. It's a response to a fan who was commenting on the many dangers of robots taking over the world. Ray responds by saying, "P.S. Can't resist commenting on your fears of the Disney robots...Any machine, any robot, is the sum total of the way we use it...I am not afraid of robots. I am afraid of people, people, people...I am afraid of Catholics killing Protestants and vice versa. I am afraid of whites killing blacks and vice versa. I am afraid of young killing old and vice versa...But...robots? God, I love them."

3. Some fun little creative artistic things I've seen this week -
Lost Type Co-op - this is a site devoted to artists obsessed with typography and the creation of new types.
Nippon Colors - it's all about color.
Christian Popsicles - It's a little bit awesome. It's a little bit creepy. And it's a little bit offensive.

4. And finally a little Mister Rogers [Remix]

Weekly Reading List [6.2.12]

It's been a crazy week. It's had some major ups and downs. But it's Saturday, and we're moving on.

1. N.Y. PLANS TO BAN SALE OF BIG SIZES OF SUGARY DRINKS - Bloomberg wants to combat obesity by banning the sale of drinks like the Big Gulp. I can't say I think the Big Gulp is a good idea, but I'm not a fan of a government ban. I think it still holds that you can't legislate morality, it won't change people's hearts, you'll just end up with a lot of rules. It'll be interesting to see if this goes through.

2. EDWARDS NOT GUILTY ON ONE COUNT; MISTRIAL ON FIVE OTHERS & CAN JOHN EDWARDS MAKE A COMEBACK? - I have to admit, I didn't follow the trial at all. I think very little of John Edwards and thought for sure, with all the press coverage, there must be some serious basis for the accusations, and surely he would be convicted. Apparently I was wrong. No matter what, as both articles point out, Edwards has lost in the court of public opinion.

3. WEAK JOB GROWTH STOKES FEARS OF GLOBAL SLOWDOWN & OBAMA, ROMNEY SPAR OVER FIGURES - New job figures came out this week, and they were lower than expected. This has give rise to fears over a new global turndown.

4. UN RESOLUTION FOR SYRIAN MASSACRE - There was another attack in Syria earlier this week. The atrocities in Syria are still worse than atrocious, and I, personally, am tired of not being able to do anything, and having other nations stand between life and death for the citizens of Syria. It's just wrong. I saw a tweet relfecting that political posturing "#Clinton says #Russian policy on Syria is going to contribute to a civil war. #UN warns of a looming "catastrophic" conflict there." There was a GREAT cartoon in the economist. Worth checking out!

*Hope everyone is having a great weekend!*