"Live ... Bark ... Believe"

 Thanks to Mr. Lazarus I can now proudly stand up

(Okay, sit down because I’m at the computer)

and proclaim loudly

(Okay, type in all caps)

I AM A DOGTOLOGIST

(Okay, non-practicing)

I must admit that I am also a little conflicted because my current living arrangements would more clearly indicate that I am a believer in “Catakism”.  Despite the fact that this dual belief system was “once a boiling pot, it has now been turned down to a simmer … this newfound détente has been the ability of some humans to embrace both beliefs”.  Catakism is nearly as widespread as Dogtology!  At least I’m not a DUD (human who Doesn’t Understand Dogtology)

Important definitions:

DOGTOLOGIST:

A practitioner of Dogtology

DOGTOLOGY:

(1) The belief in Dog, 

(2) The system of rituals, practices, and behaviors engaged in by Dogtologists.

If none of what I have written so far has elicited a small smile or maybe even a snicker “Dogtology” may not be a book you want to sniff out.  This is a tongue-in-cheek “bible” explaining the “dogma” of those people who love their furry canine friends.  During the reading of this book I have come to understand why “Dog” is “God” spelled backwards, why men have nipples, why wolves howl, and the sole purpose of cell phone cameras.

                       

The book begins with a conversation between God and Dog.  God is explaining how he created Dog to be his “avatar” in the world.  Later He came to the conclusion that Dog needed a companion and someone to scratch behind Dog’s ears, so he created man … bit of an afterthought?  Obviously Dog and man were an important combination and the rest of the book goes on to describe how man has come to “worship” dog.

I found this book funny and charming and insightful, but some might take great offense to some of the references comparing dog ownership to a religious conviction.  I am not that sensitive and like to think that I have a sense of humor.  Come to think of it some dog owners might find it a little offensive too, only because it could hit too close to home.  Every point Mr. Lazarus makes is spot on. 

On the serious side, if there must be one, despite the humorous manner in which this book is written there were “aha” moments of understanding that this is also an excellent study of human beings as a whole; covering everything from favorite sports team support to religion.  It also may have convinced me that, sometimes, dogs may be smarter than man.

“Dogtology” was a fun book to read, so thanks to Mr. Lazarus (and his dog), for getting this dogma down on paper for me to enjoy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from his Amazon Author Page)

One night while out to dinner, the author's first-time date grabbed the third rail of dating and asked him, "What's your religion?" Without thinking, he blurted out jokingly, "Dogtology." As he later thought about his smart-ass response, he realized there was more truth to it than he'd intended--he didn't just love dogs, he adored them. All his life, he has been a dog advocate, dog rescuer, and dog whisperee. That's right; dogs talk to him. (In fact, Dog told him to write this book.)

The following video was Facebook and explains "Dogtology" quite nicely.

* I received this ebook at no charge via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *

Who Let the Dog Out - A Review

Andy Carpenter is a lawyer who takes cases on a “this sounds interesting” basis.  Because of a rather large inheritance he doesn’t have to work and this allows him the time to indulge in his passion … “The Tara Foundation” … a dog rescue shelter that he runs with his good friend (one time client - Andy successfully defended him on a murder charge), Willy.  When Willy calls Andy one evening to report the burglar alarm is ringing at the shelter it’s panic time.  Upon investigating they notice that the only thing missing is a dog they called Cheyenne (aka Zoe in her real life), a rescue who came in recently.  Tracking the dog they discover her sitting in a house – beside a dead body.  The police soon arrest Tommy Infante for the murder, but Andy just cannot leave it alone and once again he is drawn (seems he cannot help himself) into defending a murderer.

I am a big fan of Mr. Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series so as difficult as it is to write the words I have to admit this was not one of his best.  Yes, the regular cast of somewhat misfit characters is all present and accounted for as are the requisite dog or three.  Yes, Andy's dry sarcastic wit is still spewing and in this case, possibly, saves the book.  There is just too much going on in this book to allow for me to become invested in the story.  Just as I was following along with the murder storyline Mr. Rosenfelt threw in a terrorist plot side story.  I got that in a previous book and wasn’t really interested in rehashing the "save the world" theme again. 

This is the 13^th book featuring Andy Carpenter and it may well be an unlucky number for this series.  I hope it was a blip in an otherwise fun and entertaining series.  Yes, I’ll still pick up the next one, but with the hope that both Andy and Mr. Rosenfelt are not getting a bit “tired”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from his website)

I am a writer with 27 dogs.

About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It’s total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.

Read and Ride ... AWESOME IDEA!!

I am taking no credit for this post at all except to say that I think its a great idea and wanted to share it.  It is a straight cut and paste of an article posted by Upworthy and written by Mary Rindlesbach.  Now if only I could get motivated to do the same thing!!

 

Scott Ertl was reading a book while riding a stationary bike at the gym when he had an idea.

Like many busy adults, the only time he really got to read was when he squeezed it in while on an exercise bike.

 

These things are like the ultimate multitasking machines. GIF via "Reposessed."

At Upworthy, we tell stories for a better world.Like us on Facebook to get them first:

Ertl was an elementary school counselor in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the experience got him thinking, "I bet a bunch of kids would find it fun to read while exercising...we could get some exercise bikes and give it a shot." The principal at his school, Ward Elementary, was on board, so he hatched a plan and put it in motion.

The experiment started with a single bike in the corner of a classroom.

The solo bike was so well received that Ertl knew they needed more.

He's got legs and he knows how to use them — to get his mind and body moving! Images via Read and Ride, used with permission.

With the help of Craigslist and garage sales, he outfitted an entire spare classroom with stationary exercise bikes.

Teachers signed their classes up for 15- to 20-minute blocks of time in the bike room, and students brought a book or picked up an educational magazine. The program was dubbedRead and Ride.

Movin' and groovin' — and reading!

The kids loved it, and they were reading and moving more.

The school wanted to know if there were real learning benefits attached to Read and Ride. They compiled data that showed that reading test scores and proficiency were up — and the more time students spent in the Read and Ride room, the better they did on state reading tests.

Read and Ride programs now exist (at least informally) in 30 states across the country, and educators all over are getting behind the trend. They aren't just using exercise bikes —under-desk ellipticals, something called Bouncy Bands, and exercise balls used as chairs are showing up in classrooms, too.

Movement helps kids like these be more fully engaged in learning. It's a win-win scenario for everyone!

As an added bonus, these types of exercises are especially good for students who are, um, a little less gifted in the athletic department (*raises own hand*). Since the rider controls the speed and intensity, each student can set their own pace, and there's no scrutiny or pressure — and no one ever gets picked last. Score!

Getting smarter and more confident, one pedal at a time.

Most Read and Ride programs get their bevy of stationary bikes via donation programs. If you've got an exercise bike collecting dust in your garage, consider finding out if your favorite school would like to have it donated.

Rescue Me, Maybe - A Review

* I received this ebook at no charge via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *

When you find a penny, superstition says that it is a penny from heaven, sent by a loved to tell you either “everything’s okay” or “watch out, something momentous is going to happen.”  But, what does it mean if the Penny you find has four legs and wagging tail?

Jane Bailey has had one hell of a couple of weeks because she lost both her husband and her dog to cancer.  What most people didn’t know (or so Jane thought) was that things were not so great in her marriage before her husband became ill and, truth be told, although she was certainly grieving her husband’s death she wasn’t sorry he was “gone” AND she missed her dog more.

Jane has decided that she is going to leave the hated city of Philadelphia (her words, not mine) and return to her beloved San Diego.  However, with little money and no job prospects it was going to be a tough move.  When her aunt and uncle offer her an opportunity to run their B&B while Aunt Sugar has some surgery Jane, while not jumping for joy, she does jump at the chance to live rent-free while she is job hunting, then plans to get herself to San Diego as soon as her aunt is well enough to resume looking after the place.  Well … best laid plans and all that.  Things soon change when an abandoned puppy, a handsome handy man, an outgoing coworker and set of unusual circumstance all fall into her path.

This book was a “feel good” read.  It had a little bit of everything; an untenable situation, a bossy mother-in-law, a pushy mom, a good dose of guilt, a little bit of love and lots of angst about what it going to happen next – all tied up with a pretty pink bow at the end.  Exactly the kind of read I enjoy on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Once again Ms. Bouchard has won me over with a lovely story where the dog melts everyone’s heart.  If you are looking for a cozy read “Rescue Me, Maybe” certainly fits the bill.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from Amazon’s Author Page)

Jackie Bouchard (jackiebouchard.com), a USA Today bestselling author, writes what she calls Fido-friendly fiction - humorous and heart-warming stories about women and the dogs that profoundly impact their lives.

She spent a long time as a creative soul trapped in the body of a practical person. When she was bitten by the writing bug, she managed to leap free of the hamster wheel of corporate America, and now spends her days walking her dog, talking to her dog, and listening for the voices in her head that want their stories told. When the voices don't talk to her, she can often be found staring into the refrigerator.

After growing up in Southern California, Jackie moved to Bermuda, where she met her husband. Now back in San Diego, American Jackie, her Canadian hubby, and her Mexican rescue mutt form their own happy little United Nations.

Can You Read These?

We've all seen these before ... notes written with random letters or just the vowels missing and the question 

"CAN YOU READ THIS?"

I would hazard to guess that most people can ... even me with my slight dyslexia distinguishing E & F's and B's and 3's.  Hmmm ... or maybe because of it.  It's really never caused me a reading problem.  I recently saw these two on Facebook posts and thought they were a little bit different with the multi-directional letters and numbers included.

Just thought I'd share ...

The Dog Master - A Review

If I had to say one thing about Mr. Cameron’s books it would be that they certainly tug at my emotions, whether the lighter  “Dog’s Purpose” series or this latest, most ambitious to date, “The Dog Master”.

“The Frightened” – a clan of incredibly shy people, often alone posing no real threat

“The Cohorts” – man killers, they are the most feared tribe of the book

“The Kindred” – hunters and migrators, with a strict social structure

“The Wolfen” – hunters, who run everywhere they go and have a social structure based on observing wolf packs

“The Blanc” – fishers rather than hunters, known for their peaceful ways and pale hair and complexions.

These are the people who populate this book.  Starting in Year One the reader follows these tribes through their day-to-day lives, becoming familiar with their hunting and living habits as well as their family and social structures.  Each tribe kept to themselves, with occasionally little but most often no friendly interaction.  It’s a hard and often solitary existence if you don’t fit in.  Even more difficult when you’re shunned and forced to live on your own … until a series of circumstances allow you to make the most unlikeliest of allies – a wolf – and so begins man’s extraordinary relationship with “the dog”.

As the book begins the reader joins the first day of Dr. James K. Morby’s class studying “Early Humans”.  Halfway through he receives a message stating simply “they found her”.  Finally, his long held belief is proven; they have discovered the skeletal remains of a human buried with a “dog”.  As Dr. Morby rushes out of class and onto an airplane to the archeological site where he and others hypothesize (off page) about the origins of the first dog, the reader is transported back to Year One where Mr. Cameron begins to weave a wonderful story of these pre-historic people and their relationships.  This book had me enthralled from this first page.  It had me smiling tenderly and nodding my head, at times frightened for my favorite characters while at other times angry at the ugliness of other characters.  A few times I even got teary, especially those parts told from the perspective of the wolf (that’s all I’ll say so no spoilers).  No matter what my emotional state while reading I never ceased to be awed by the scope of Mr. Cameron’s imagination. 

Every dog from the smallest teacup poodle to the huge mastiff carries some DNA in common with wolves.  If you have ever wondered why, Mr. Cameron gives you an, although fictional, highly believable and entertaining explanation.

I have no hesitation in rating this book at five stars.  But, with that statement comes a little warning for fans of Mr. Cameron’s “A Dog’s Purpose” series.  This book is not a cozy and charming little read.  This book is an epic and the story has guts … and blood, and hunting, and cruelty, and sex and … well everything you would expect in a book about prehistoric times when it was survival of the fittest.  I loved it and would not think twice about recommending it highly.

This book had me so totally involved that I was sad to turn the last page.  I wanted to know more about these people’s lives.  I felt involved.  So, I was quite pleased after reading Mr. Cameron’s (very humorous) “Afterword” because it left me with the distinct impression that I may get a chance to revisit with “the Kindred” and “the Wolfen” and “Dog”.  As I post this review I can only hope that Mr. Cameron is typing furiously!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from the book cover but a more detailed bio can be found on his website)

W. Bruce Cameron is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose, A dog’s Journey and The Dogs of Christmas.  He lives in California.

*A note to Mr. Cameron should you accidentally happen upon this review*

Gawd … I really, really hated Albi.  Please, please, let me pick the rock!

Today's Dose of "Good News"

I love it when: (a) kids love to read and (b) kids do the right thing.

I saw the young man being interviewed on Toronto's Breakfast Television. Jackson Dowler accidentally tore a page in a comic book he borrowed from the library.  It happened when he fell asleep reading (bless his little reader heart), the book fell from his hands and the page tore.  He went to his parents the next morning and they attempted to repair the book, but he felt an obligation to pen a note to the library apologizing for the accidental damage.

This is the LINK to the video but I don't know if its viewable in all areas.

Librarians are planning to frame the note and display it somewhere in the library.  In my humble opinion this young man deserves his "five minutes of fame" for writing his apology note so I just wanted to share.  The following is the article from CTV NEWS WEBSITE.

Fan-Yee Suen, CTV Toronto 
Published Wednesday, August 19, 2015 6:19PM EDT 
Last Updated Wednesday, August 19, 2015 10:17PM EDT

An eight-year-old Toronto boy who penned a hand-written apology note to a local library branch after a comic book he borrowed accidentally ripped received a gift Wednesday for being "so conscientious."

Jackson Dowler received a number of books from library staff at the Main Street branch of the Toronto Public Library, where he had borrowed a copy of an Asterix comic.

"It's wonderful that you can come here today because we got your note in the drop-box about the book that had a torn page. And we were thrilled to get your note because it told us so many things about you," a librarian told Jackson before presenting the gift.

"First of all that you're so conscientious … and that you love reading when you go to bed," she said.

According to Jackson's note, he was reading before bedtime when he fell asleep. The book accidentally tumbled off his bed, ripping a page from it.

"I just fell asleep and I didn't know because I tend to forget stuff when I go to bed," Jackson told reporters at the east-end library. "I woke up finding pages somewhere else on my bed."

Jackson said he was worried he was going to get a fine, so he decided to write the apology note after telling his parents.

"I (went) to my mom and dad and told them: 'Mom, dad, my library book ripped in my bed when I fell asleep,'' he said. "And then I brought up the idea that I should write an apology note so the library would know."

Jackson's note, which was paper-clipped to the borrowed book, was found by library staff. It was posted to the Toronto Public Library's Facebook page over the weekend with the caption: "Here's to many more nights falling asleep with a good book, Jackson!"

The post has been liked more than 4,100 times as of Wednesday evening.

In the sweet apology note written in blue, Jackson tells the library: "I am sorry that a page ripped when it fell out of my bunk when I fell asleep reading. It won't happen again."

Jackson says he's surprised by his newfound fame. The story has been picked up by a number of international media outlets.

"I find it kind of crazy because I've never gotten this much attention in my whole life," he said. "(I'm) really freaked out that I'm getting my 15 minutes of fame right now."

The Main Street library branch plans to frame Jackson's note and hang it up for other patrons to see.

Asked what other people should do if they accidentally damage a borrowed book, Jackson says they should let the library know.

"I think you should always write a note when you wreck a book because it's your fault."