Finding Contentment via My Dogs

My doggies are asleep on the carpeted floor beneath my desk chair as I write, one on either side.You'd think the tap-tap-tapping of the keys would keep them wide awake, but the opposite always happens: the rat-a-tat literally acts as a kind of 'white noise' and they fall fast asleep, whether I'm writing at 7:00 A.M., 5:00 P.M., or 12:00 Midnight. I think these two German Shepherds offer opposing sides of "psychological nature". Our female, 4-5 years-old (she's a rescue, so we don't know for certain her age)"Afton" (so named, because that is the name of the road she and her five puppies, were found wandering on), is outgoing, gentle, and always wagging her tail. I like to think she's my center, that she embodies alot of me, but this could be projection, or worse, ego. "Agent", our male, approximately 2 years old, is a black-and-tan-German Shepherd, rescued, just like "Afton", but the similarity ends there. He's much darker, in both hue, and temperament. It's not that "Agent" is mean, he's just extremely wary. Once he sees you are not a foe, he'll approach, his head down, submissive, possibly wetting himself when you reach out to pet him (we often introduce folks new to "Agent", to him outside, since his peeing is pretty unpredictable). So one dog is open, trusting, friendly.The other? Closed, anxious, (possibly still reeling from the incredible neglect, and obvious abuse we were informed of, before we adopted him), not particularly friendly. While "Afton" is much like my outer persona, "Agent" has a few of my not-often-seen, less-than-desirable qualities: I too, am often very unsure; insecure about what I may have, if anything, to offer. Perhaps it's what I told my Mom, the other evening, "Is this a Middle-Age crisis?...but hey, at nearly fifty-five...unless I live to be A Hundred and Ten, how can I call this 'Middle Age'?! Here's the thing: it doesn't matter whether you are outgoing, or shy; optimist, or pessimist; young or old; you can still commit. I guess I'm giving you kind readers and followers of this blog, advice....but I'm giving myself a bit of a pep talk, too...I mean, if "Afton" can survive neglect and abandonment, and "Agent" can survive neglect and abuse, and what separates them is how they cope, well, then, might not we all learn from them? I mean, sometimes it takes warmth (my smile; her wagging tail) to engage, to get others to open up,(and become my friends; offer her a treat) and other times, restraint (my mouth shut; his head lowered), in order to listen, and hear (and learn more about my friends; offer him a treat)what others feel. We're (hubby and I, who parallel our dogs in myriad ways and...that's for another post)working on socializing our dogs with other doggies, taking them to dog parks, enrolling them in classes, so they can have a happier, better-adjusted life. In the meantime, I'm working on me: writing, writing, writing, and hopefully, becoming happier, better-adjusted. Peace, kids.

A Bright Reminder Of Why I Am An Unapologetic Idealist.

Wednesday night was so exhilirating, I had to take over 24 hours, to process all of it.
I attended the May meeting for Pax Christi, (St. Jude's chapter).
We had our opening peace prayer
The prayers chosen are always very inclusive, and
(We have featured Native-American prayers, Jewish prayers, Interdenominational, etc.)
I was delighted to see this prayer featured the work of writer Dorothy Day, famed for founding the (socialist) Catholic Worker Movement, which our own fearless leader, Joe Goode asked me to read aloud.
We had our discussions about Peace Moments(we routinely share moments where we felt a presence of Peace); we discussed living non-violently.
We spoke of the new immigration law in Arizona. We are all, absolutely, against such obvious profiling and bigotry. As people of God, we want reform that will allow all(if they wish) to become citizens here.
We all agreed that the USA is quite fortunate to be blessed with such a great mix of people. :)
I offered to cast, and direct "A Line In The Sand", a play written by young people involved with CRS(Catholic Relief Services) and a play that I feel is especially timely, given the increasingly heated debate in the USA, over immigration.
I had first mentioned this play, back in 2007, and am glad we waited.
The play chronicles several scenarios involving undocumented workers from Mexico, the so-called "coyotes" that get them here, and the fear their families endure, seeing their loved ones try to squeeze across the border, just for a job that does not even pay a living-wage.
I hope to get this cast, and begin rehearsing, by late summer, or early fall.
We'll see!
We discussed books written that explore faith and spirituality, whether by metaphor(think:any novel by Flannery O'Connor)or in a biography or memoir(think: "A Persistent Peace", by Fr. John Dear)
The evening was one of connection(all of us offering support for each other's prayer intentions; all of us discussing ways to better live in peace, with one another), and communion(not the wafer-type, but the communion between humans that occurs when the connection is made real, whole, and wholly meaningful).
Every meeting I attend, I am again reminded of why I joined this group--and continued in this journey(I am a charter-member of PCSJ)--it is because it is here that I feel lifted-up, certain that the idealism we all hold in our hearts, and the living example of the peaceful, non-violent Christ we believe in(the only Jesus Christ who existed)and which we try to follow, can be achieved.
We can make a difference.
We will.
Peace, kids.

Frugal is the new Extravagant!

"Frugal is the new Extravagant."--My personal motto for some time now, and with that in mind, I have an even newer motto:
"Gimme More 'Target'!" The "cheap-chic" store is expanding--yes, you heard me correctly.....
Although recent news for retailers has been gloomy, I believe consumer confidence(and spending!) is steadily rising, and I think we have the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act(and President Obama!) to thank. I've been saying for months that Target Corporation will post record gains by mid-to-late 2009, and all signs indicate this will be the case. Read on, to see the good news for at least one retailer, and major expansion by two others!
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Target to open 27 new stores

(CNN) -- Target Corp. this month will open 27 new stores employing a total of more than 4,300 people, the company said.

The stores' openings will come just weeks after the retailer cut 600 people from its headquarters staff amid what it called weaker-than-expected sales.

The retailer will hold grand openings for the 21 general merchandise stores and six full-grocery SuperTarget stores on Sunday. The new sites include the company's first two stores in Hawaii.

Each general merchandise store employs 150 to 250 people, and each SuperTarget has 200 to 300 workers, the company said.

In late January, Minnesota-based Target cut its headquarters staff by 9 percent and eliminated 400 open positions. The company, citing difficult economic conditions and sales that didn't meet expectations, also said it would soon close an Arkansas distribution center that employs 500 people and would cut back on planned new-store openings.

"We are clearly operating in an unprecedented economic environment that requires us to make some extremely difficult decisions to ensure Target remains competitive over the long term," Gregg Steinhafel, Target president and CEO, said in a news release that month.

Retailers in the United States took a hit last year as a weak economy weighed on consumer spending. Retail sales fell six straight months until January, when sales rose 1 percent, according to the Commerce Department. However, retail experts said they were skeptical a rebound had taken hold.

Still, two other retailers also announced plans to expand. Kohl's announced last month that it intends to open 55 stores in 2009, and Dollar General in February said it is looking to open more than 400 stores.

Target reported its fourth-quarter net earnings were 40.7 percent lower than the same quarter a year earlier. Same-store sales in January were 3.3 percent lower than a year earlier. December same-store sales fell 4.1 percent.

Target's new general merchandise stores are in Rogers, Arkansas; Santa Clarita, California; Pensacola, Florida; Bethlehem, Georgia; Honolulu and Kapolei, Hawaii; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Las Vegas, Nevada; Paramus, New Jersey; Cincinnati, Lebanon and Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Philadelphia and Exton, Pennsylvania; Memphis, Tennessee; Houston, San Antonio and San Marcos, Texas; Midlothian, Virginia; and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

The new SuperTarget stores are in Kissimmee, Florida; Canton, Georgia; Hillside, Illinois; and Pflugerville, Allen and Lewisville, Texas.

The new locations will increase the number of Target stores to 1,699, the company said.
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Good News, Hope, and
Peace, kids.