Gearing up for Adoption Day

T-shirts: Check.

Banner: Check.

Bandanas: Check.

All ready for the upcoming Adoption Day this coming Sunday, May 31st, at the Discovery Bay International School.

Much thanks to all of us who have collectively made this possible.

Fashion Consultant Stephanie for being the key mastermind behind it all. For doing most of the leg work, and for tapping onto her resources in order to get things done. One impressive lady who has her hands-on from the very beginning, from driving us around to source raw materials, to designing the shirts and bandanas, seeing them through to cutting and silkscreening, and coordinating everything, all the way to the finished products.

Graphics Designer Michelle, for designing the banner and for putting it together for print within a very short time frame.

Professional Pattern Cutter, Mr. Chan, for cutting the patterns for all three sizes of bandanas for us.

Lita for her diligent work of pre-washing and ironing the materials, and for cutting out the actual bandanas, piece by piece.

And lastly, Pete for his advice on how we could have helped make the Adoption Day more effective without being intrusive.

And of course, a pat on my own back for being a part of this awesome teamwork.

Great job, guys and gals!

And now, to the PALS Adoption Team: go get 'em, tiger!

Photos of the Tee's and Bandana's coming soon....

-AM

Our 3'x8' banner:

Staying Rooted

Busy but enjoyable day at home, training with the kids.

So good to see how things are going back on track with just one dedicated day with them. It's also a wake up call for me, as I've been out a lot lately and have really slacked off on their training. There's no excuse, as I'm supposedly their guardian and I'm totally responsible for their safety and happiness.

I've been all over, juggling many things at a time, teaching, training, planning, organizing, executing. Over-estimating my own capacity and under-estimating the complexity of things at times, and therefore, over-stretching myself ever so often.

It's all about staying rooted again.

Gotta ground myself and refrain from floating in all directions.

It's about saying Yes, and also, saying No.

Knowing when to say Yes, I want to do this, I want to accomplish this.

And knowing when to say No, I won't push myself too far, I will not rush things.

Resolution to self: Re-organize. Prioritize. Breathe.

One day at a time. One thing at a time.

Sweetest dreams, my friends,

AM

Monday, Monday....

Another lazy Monday, day of rest and recuperation for me.

Dragged my lazy butt out for a yoga practice and it was totally awesome. Got myself into one of my deepest backbends - wow.

Amazing to find out how my lousy backbends could have improved so much when I am no longer pushing it, but instead, letting my practice develop naturally on its own. It's good reminder that I should sometimes slow down, let things sink in and take hold, rather than rushing everything my way.

Another note to self: Slow down. Stay rooted. Breathe.

It's sometimes easier said than done.

But I'll try.

Nite everyone,

Ann

My Furry Face

On my way home from the LFS Kennels on Friday, images kept flashing in front of my eyes.

Faces.

Eyes.

Expressions.

Dogs at the kennel, saying a million words without the use of any vocal expressions.

It was then that I've decided to set up a separate blog dedicated to these big and little fellas that I've met at the shelters. A small cyber corner where their faces will be posted and remembered. And maybe, hopefully, giving them one extra chance to connect with a potential new home.

Please check it out when you have time.

Or better yet, if you know of any friends who may be interested in taking in a new dog, please forward him/her the link and let her know that I'd be so glad to help connect them with the shelters if they should be interested to know more.

www.myfurryface.blogspot.com

Thanks and have a great remaining weekend,

AM

Heartaches

Back to help at the LFS Kennels on Friday again.

An easier job this time around, with refined techniques and smoother teamwork.

Dogs were also calming down a lot more, making it easier for us to bring most of them in.

Also giving me major heartaches to say goodbye to them at the end of the day.

This may be the last time that I will be helping out there, at least for the next little while, as I cannot switch my teaching schedule around all that often. As much as I want to be with the dogs, I still have to respect my role as a yoga teacher and be there for my scheduled classes.

I know I will miss them. In fact, I'm missing them already.

I wish them all well.

Happy and well.

-AM

My last attempt....

I'm beginning to feel dizzy and trembly, probably from lack of energy.

Been making myself plain congee for the day but nothing seems to hold, simply comes right out the other end in a matter of hours.

Lomotil doesn't work anymore as it only slows down bowel movements. Whatever I have in there is just too strong to be flushed out naturally by my body, so I have only one last resort before heading out to the Doc.

Enema.

One final attempt to flush everything out before reaching out for antibiotics.

Sounds gross but usually effective in wiping out both friendly and harmful bacteria in the gut. Then I can start all over again by taking massive doses of probiotics to repopulate the friendly stuff in there.

And if it doesn't work, I'll be calling the quits and seeing the Doc. Can't prolong this any more as I'm really starting to feel weak.

One last bowl of congee, and off to my "private chambers" I go.

*sigh*

I'll be spending the next two hours in the toilet, and let's hope it'll work......wish me luck.

-AM

Running the runs

It all started Saturday morning, where I woke running to the bathroom.

Continued every 2 hours or so, wiping me out by the end of the day.

With consisitent intake of probiotics, I had thought I had the situation under control. At least things were trailing off by Monday and I felt fine by yesterday morning.

Felt so good that I even went out with my Mom and had dimsum with her.

But then, it all began again. Back and forth to the bathroom, cramps and shivers.

*sigh*

And now, I am holding onto a pack of Lomotil in addition to my Udo's Choice, keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that it will all stop soon.

And now more than ever, I wished I have one of those Toto Bidets nearby so my "so very sorry ass" could have a little TLC.

Oh-o, gotta run again....

*sigh*

-AM