Photo Courtesy of Cathy Miller

After a weekend at The Viceroy Hotel it is to be expected that I would experience some sort of emotional let down when I returned home and what could be better to lift the spirits than driving eight hours in one day to pick up our new puppy, Muki? I’ll tell you in a nanosecond!

Enter Muki, a fifteen week old white fur ball with paws as soft and cushy as sea sponge, chocolate markings and green eyes that my nephew Devon says resemble the inside of a blueberry. She is intelligent, sweet and lives to please and we can tell that if we put our time and effort into it she will be an easy study but there is one enormous psychologically draining glitch that we did not anticipate, Muki appears to be a “Velcro” dog. Ask me how I skipped that description on the Spanish Water Dog website? I went back to read all of the information at 2:00am when I couldn’t sleep because I was so distraught that Muki had no desire to bond with anybody but me, and the absolute last thing I need is another attachment, and this is what I read:

“Spanish Water Dogs are very intelligent, faithful, energetic and happy dogs.  Sometimes they are known as “velcro” dogs and usually stick very close to their owners.”

Note to self: When doing research don’t get blind-sided by words like “intelligent” and read more thoroughly.

After three days I called the breeder in a panic telling them of Muki’s behavior, “She completely ignores the boys, growls and runs away from Wade whenever he comes into the room, and ferociously barks and lunges after other dogs when on walks,” I said choking back my tears.

When I called my mother and told her that I had asked what their return policy was, she said that I sounded like that woman who sent her son on a one-way flight back to Moscow with a note saying he was violent and had severe psychological problems.

My mother, always bringing light and humor to my anxiety, suggested that we get another puppy, one for the kids and one for me. She also told me to let the puppy sleep in the bed with the boys for the bonding. Problems solved! I said, “Just as I will always be like you, spontaneous, optimistic and often impulsive, Muki will always be like her mother, on the extreme side of shy and nervous and a one person dog,” character traits that were revealed to me the day before she was flying to us.

On Thursday I decided that it would be a good idea to leave the family alone with Muki for a short period of time and so I hopped on my bike and took off. Twenty minutes into the ride Brevitt called me sobbing so hard that I could barely understand what he was saying. He had been working so hard with Muki in these past few days, they all had, showering her with gentle love, feeding her, walking her on the leash, trying to train her and play with her but she was not responding.

I told Brevitt to listen to what I had to say and when I finished I asked him to repeat to me what resonated with him most, “you said something about a dog whisperer and that because I am like a dog I should practice being the Alpha-leader and that I need to calm down and drink some water,” he said between sobs.

There is no question that our family is receiving valuable lessons as we work through this extremely emotional time and I firmly believe that this dog has come into our lives for a reason. Brevitt is showing me perseverance: 

Axel understanding:

and Tucker acceptance: Photo Courtesy of Cathy Miller

As for Wade? He is once again showing his true colors. Where any other husband would turn his back and say, “I told you so,” Wade is convincing me, as Muki bares her teeth at him, that we cannot give up so quickly and that we have to try and make it work.

Each day brings progress and greater insight into our family as a whole and I am hoping that I will not forever rue the day that I chose to pick up Muki without bringing the boys.

In the meantime, we will, “explore the deeper dimensions present in a relationship with a dog,” as stated in the highly recommended book, “Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete,” and do our best to create a family bond with Muki and to detach the prongs that cling her to me so aggressively.

(working out as the sun comes up)

In the past month, I have likened myself to Jim Carrey’s character, Carl Allen, in the movie, “Yes Man”.  As soon as I made a conscious decision to open myself more to my spirituality and physicality, opportunities have been knocking on my door and I have been saying yes to everything that comes my way. In just two weeks I have attended a four hour seminar on The Anatomy Of A Yogi, I have observed the opening ceremony of visiting Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery and watched as they meticulously began their mandala sand painting and I have experienced almost two weeks of Boot Camp.

In my first week of boot camp, my trainer Eric, did my body composition report. It was slightly unnerving to get my rolls measured but I walked out of his office impressed by his passion for strength and conditioning and excited to begin his training sessions. He also enlightened me on the dangers of dieting and how diets negatively affect our metabolism helping me to understand the dangers of not eating right.

When I joined boot camp I had no idea where it would take me. I only knew that I was ready for a change in my body and in my life. In a short period of time I already feel more vibrant and fit. It was not so easy to adjust to a 5:30am work out and I am still struggling with it. I do feel more energetic during the day but by the time the afternoon kicks in I am exhausted.  Taking cat naps at red traffic lights is not the safest way to rest but it does the trick.

The most noticeable change, since I started the camp, is my mood elevation. The kids are very happy that I am more tolerant and fun with them. As for my physical change, my body seems to be adjusting to the training as I no longer scream when Wade touches my aching muscles. My new strength appears in the strangest places like when I threw Tucker while we were playing in the pool. We were both shocked at how far he flung into the air. I had to apologize to him and explain that I didn’t know my own strength anymore. Brevitt and Axel, eyes wide open, were on me like white on rice. Mommy was a super hero and they were all over it.

I actually have grown to enjoy working out under the stars with Eric calling out the exercises. I figure I can handle any pain for thirty to forty five seconds. As I burn my muscles into exhaustion I repeat the names of the thousands of squats that we have to painfully endure and make comments to myself:

PRISON SQUATS: Maybe we should put Eric behind bars so we don’t have to do these anymore

BULGARIAN SQUATS: Those Bulgarians must have nice glutes

WHITE OUTS AND GATE SWINGS:  Squat and sink, squat and sink, squat and sink.

When he calls out the names of my least favorite exercises, such as the Jump and Stick and the Scissors Kick, I mentally retreat thinking negative thoughts filled with explicit obscenities directed toward Eric. I eventually come to my senses and remind myself that I am not getting up early in the morning for nothing and that I had bloody well better stick to the program and change my attitude.

The addition of calisthenics and strength conditioning into my daily life is changing me in more ways then I ever could have imagined. I feel good that I am being proactive about my health and I am determined to make it through the month.

Eric, I promise that I will try not to get there later and later every day. It is difficult to get up in the morning for a normal person and especially difficult for a chronically late dolt like myself.

Perhaps tomorrow I will bring my boon box and play the cadence songs that my father use to sing to keep his daughters moving as we hiked in the mountains.

JODY CHANT (SOUND OFF 2):

Am I right or wrong?

You right!

Am I right or wrong?

You right!

Am I right?

You know I’m right

So tell me!

You right!

Health Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity: Brought to you by the Department of Kinesiology and Health at Georgia State University:

• Reduce the risk of premature death

• Reduce the risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease

• Reduce high blood pressure or the risk of developing high blood pressure

• Reduce high cholesterol or the risk of developing high cholesterol

• Reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and breast cancer

• Reduce the risk of developing diabetes • Reduce or maintain body weight or body fat

• Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints

• Reduce depression and anxiety

• Improve psychological well-being

• Enhanced work, recreation, and sport performance

(sun hitting Mt. Sopris)