How to do your dog's laundry

What? Dogs have laundry? I thought that was just kids and babies... Nope. Dogs definitely have laundry; especially dogs who have blankies that they carry around, chew on, and sleep with. So here is how laundry goes.

Step 1: Make laundry pile on the floor. Include rug from under food bowls, both dog bed covers, blankie, and a couple other rugs to fill the wash load.

Step 2: Watch dog attempt to pull blankie out of the pile.

Step 3: Tell dog "no" then pointlessly explain that she can have it back once it's clean.

Step 4: Gather other laundry loads to take down to the laundry room (I mean, there are 3 washers; I'm certainly going to be using them for my laundry, too...).

Step 5: Bring laundry to laundry room - wash as you would any laundry.

Step 6: Come back to your apartment only to see your dog curled up on her blankie.

Ugh! Sneaky little bitch (I can call her that. She's a female dog). And people wonder why it's always gross!

Jonsi's Live Performance - 17 October 2010, The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA

I can't even call this a concert. It wasn't. I've seen some really great concerts, some of them quite recently, but this doesn't even compare. Not because it was so much better, but it was just different. It was an experience. An emotionally intense experience that has lasted for at least an hour since I left the theatre.

I kept meaning to write reviews of shows here, but I'd get home, feel tired, go to bed, and then the recollections would fade, making it tough to write. But tonight. I'm writing. Mostly because I can't get this show out of my head.

My view during the show was honestly not that great. I had floor tickets and ended up behind tall people. Mix that with the fact that Jonsi often leans over (bends over, really) when he sings, and I basically had little to no view of the actual musicians. I had occasional flashes of them - mostly Jonsi's head when standing and the drummer. But that didn't really matter. Jonsi worked with a team of visual artists to create an accompanying visual show to go with the music. My first thought when I heard of this was, "yeah, I see A/V stuff at shows all the time. What's the big deal?" Last week at Arcade Fire, they had visuals that went with their songs. It's cool, but it doesn't really set Jonsi apart from others. Wow, was I wrong.

The visuals for the Jonsi show are so stunningly beautiful. Animals and flowers and birds and rain and storms - manipulated nature scenes, but like I've never seen them before. Further, the imagery is so incredibly well matched to the songs. The visuals seemed to intensify every emotion evoked by the music and vice versa. The use of color and light was perfect. A friend of mine at the show cried, and I was on the verge of tears. My head and my heart just felt so full of.....something I can't explain in words.

I had never noticed the drums in Jonsi's songs quite like I did tonight. They are phenomenal, and I was happy to have a good view of the drums throughout the show. Jonsi's voice is so intense, and the richness of the music as a whole was so beautiful.

The show was streamed live by NPR tonight, and they are replaying it tomorrow (Monday), as well. I will be watching it again just so that I have the chance to experience it all over again. I highly recommend it to others, as well. And of course, if he is playing a show in or around where you live, please go. You will not regret it.

Or are you born that way?

I have a crazy Russian old lady neighbor. She lives below me. She is a hoarder, as evidenced by the things on her balcony, including but not limited to random raccoon tails. She takes her trash out in her underwear. She wears pink bathrobes with pink UGGs. And she thinks my dog needs to find a boyfriend (she always asks me if "Ava has found her Adam?").

But tonight beats them all. She was outside talking with a friend. I went outside to take Ava out to pee, and she stops me.

Russian neighbor: You have great body, you exercise a lot?

Me (confused and thinking maybe she is talking about my dog?): I'm sorry, what?

Russian neighbor: You (points to my stomach) you exercise a lot? Or are you born that way?

Me: Oh, uh....I just joined a gym actually. (Maybe this will change the awkward subject where this woman is pointing to my stomach and butt).

Russian neighbor: Oh, where is the gym? Is it a nice gym? Is it a big gym? How much you pay for the gym?

Me (answer her questions, although not sure where this is going)

Russian neighbor: You have boyfriend?

Me: No....

Russian neighbor: What?! Why not?!

Me: Uh, I guess I just haven't met the right person?

Russian neighbor: Oh, you and Ava. You need boyfriends.

Russian neighbor's friend: Oh, she is asking if you have a boyfriend because her son is single...

Russian neighbor (smiles and nods)

Me: Uh....ha, um. I have to go... BYE!

Homosexuality

I haven't written a post here in a long long time. I've been busy, but I also haven't had that much to write. But this week I have been inundated with all the news and commentary about the recent suicides of gay teens after incessant bullying, teasing, and internet-outing. Tonight, on Glee of all things, the character Kurt, who is gay, was talking about his belief (or really lack thereof) in God, and said "[God] makes me gay and then makes His followers go around saying it's a choice, as if I'd choose to be mocked every day of my life." I've been saying that for years (the part about no one choosing a sexuality that results in such pain and ridicule), but not to the right people. This is probably because most people I know are already supportive of equality. I just don't understand why this isn't a logical statement to everyone. I've heard people get stuck on the "but it's wrong according to the Bible" thing. Fine. If you believe the Bible like that, fine. I disagree, but regardless, let God judge them for it, not you.

But bigger than a lack of acceptance and a lack of equality is the slippery slope that it leads to. Simply saying "I disagree with the lifestyle" (which I hate, by the way, because it portrays sexuality as a lifestyle choice) has greater harm than it sounds. Denying rights for marriage or serving in the military preaches to our children that there is something wrong with homosexuality. And really, that IS what they're saying. And when children hear that something is wrong, they think it is ok to act out against it. And kids being kids...I think you know where this is going. Sarah Silverman just posted a video that ends "They learned it from watching you." just like those old drug ads on TV. And it's true. Small acts of bigotry like denying equal rights based on sexuality will lead to bigger acts of bigotry like outing someone on the internet, making his life a living hell, or even physical assault. All of these things have occurred in our country, and they are not separate from the smaller instances of discrimination society accepts on a daily basis.

A patient today, struggling with sexuality himself, told me he was scared to come out because "homosexuality is the one thing that still has discriminatory laws against it." This is a teenager who is already a target of bullies for other reasons. He shouldn't have to go through this. This kid who has been bullied for years and knows what it's like would absolutely choose to be straight if he could - cause at least that would be one less target for the bullies. But it's not a choice. So instead, for now, it's a struggle. He has support as he goes through this, but not everyone does. This has to change. How many more people have to suffer, and some even die, before we get our act together? And how do we change this when those of us who are already on board with equality always hang out with other people who are on board...

I guess if you happen to stumble across this post, and I do not know you, and you are questioning your beliefs, please think about this. And if you are my friend and agree, but know people who don't, please don't stay silent. When we're silent we essentially allow the hate to be louder than us, and it leaves struggling kids feeling alone. And it's just not ok.