Overall I throughly enjoyed the book. It was a little offputting sometimes as she goes back and forth in order to cover a multitude of people and events. While not as well written in as one might have expected, the pages do pull you into their singularly quirky flow especially when you realize that she writes in the same style as she speaks. The reader is taken behnd the scenes of her life and a litany of events that are fascinating and relevant. Then, suddenly on page 391 (hardcover edition) she writes ‘I think that is enough about my personal life’ and firmly shuts the door. It’s not as though we are voyeurs as it was Ms. Walters herself who invited us in. Up to that point her words had been candid and sincere as she interwove her complicated personal and professional life with the headlines that made up the fabric of her remarkable career.

What is written after that statement reads more like a series of essays, albeit interesting essays but very structured never the less. Even the chapter titles become terse. I finished the book but was less enthusiastic; I felt perplexed as though the most interesting guest had abruptly left my dinner party just as we were about to have dessert and coffee.

For readers who have an interest in the stories behind ‘the story’ this is the memoir for you. And for any female who wants to know more about this media icon “Audition” is well worth your time.

We made the decision, found a great breeder and got an Australian Shepherd puppy. What was I thinking!!!??? Actually Mia is wonderful but all that energy. I have surprised myself though, I am more patient than I use to be, laugh at her antics and quickly realized that the best thing to do was go with the flow and enjoy her.

I especially like the way that she has re-decorated the house. The living room is a delightful blend of PetSmart toy aisle accented with a few chewed up magazines tossed here and there for that splash of colour. The kitchen she has done in the wet look of upended water bowl. But nothing can surpass the bathroom now a trendy grunge look of toilet paper draped everywhere except on the roll .

House breaking is so much easier in the summer, as is her training and exercise. The blip is that the chocolate lab really doesn’t like her so I have to keep a close eye on the two of them. The back yard is fenced but I worry that he may try to push her through one of the few small openings or whisper in her ear that the little green unripe crab apples are really puppy treats. So I usually sit outside with them which has actually been a good thing. I stop slaving over a hot laptop, grab my book and relax for awhile. I have even strayed from my schedule, made my afternoon tea and herded them both outside. Quelle shock!

A friend of mine, UK Life Coach Lynette Allen is currently raising TWO spaniel puppies, she is using the Life Coaching puppy training method mixed with some timely cursing. While I am trying the Zen like ‘what the hell’ method mixed with expletives. Lynette’s blog is aptly entitled The Life Behind the Coach .

Here are some pictures of our new addition Mia on the Casselcreek Australian Shepherds website.

(For those of you who are new to this blog the Aussie in the picture with me is Jenna, we lost her to a brain tumor in May.)

So late last year, certain things happened and I ended up sitting in my gynos office and the C word comes up. It’s ok male readers there will be no details because that is not what this entry is about. Anyway over the next six months we took certain steps and yesterday’s appointment confirmed that all is now well.

What is kinda’ interesting is where one’s head space goes during those somewhat traumatic events. For instance the first thing I wanted after yesterday’s appointment was to go to the Starbucks across the road. So I bellied up to the counter and asked the barista for a venti latte with whole milk AND a piece of banana loaf. What the heck, husband was driving.

Then on the way home I tried to remember what deal had I struck when this all began. Had I promised to enter some monastary, which wouldn’t be too bad if I didn’t have to take a vow of thou shall not use thy laptop. Or had I offered my first born to the other end of the spectrum in which case I was in trouble as that would be the neurotic chocolate lab.

Truthfully, my mental deal was far from spiritual and not even remotely noble; I had in fact promised that my healthy self would work harder to grow my business and I would find the time to write more. Now, don’t take the high road until you have been there. The brain is a mysterious thing and when backed into what it feels is a corner it is amazing what thoughts emerge. The fact is that I love working and we have a house in Nova Scotia that needs a lot of expensive renovations. The Plan being to move there in 3-4 years when the house is completely restored. The property also has a lovely little art studio (& it too needs work) which is going to be my office. So far from being mercenary, I just want to work harder on ‘The Plan’.

It is also true that in the face of an unknown one does dwell on plans not accomplished, places not visited and goals not met. So, did this experience leave me with a greater comprehension of the meaning of the time before me in which I can still tackle some of those things, yes it did.

Here is an overview of an article that I read this morning in the Calgary Herald: The town of Strathmore has 300 sheep in the rodeo grounds to keep the grass manageable . Two weeks ago a lamb was found dead and teenagers were chased from the grounds. Just recently hockey sticks have used to beat some of the sheep and one had to be euthanized. I am at a loss for words. Here is the Full article

On a happier note in the aniaml kingdom I came upon these follow-ups regarding the Michael Vick dogs. By the way they are now being called Vicktory Dogs! Now those are empowering words.

Best Friends Animal Society

Bad Rap - Grab a tissue and watch the See Them Now video

What is happening to the self-indulgent, leisurely, yes I deserve to spoil myself pastime of thank god that day is over, finally it’s the weekend, let’s have some with dinner, glass of wine? Wine consumption has become positively clinical with each improvement having a perfectly logical 21st century explanation.

We are told that screw caps & synthetic corks seem to be ‘ok’ for near term drinking but the verdict is still out on what happens with those wines that should be aged before they are ready to be enjoyed. Wine tumblers are convenient as they have no cumbersome stems and they fit in your dishwasher.

The whole plastic wine bottles/tetra-pak wine containers brings out my two conflicting personalities. Jekyll, my environmentally conscious, forward thinking side vs Hyde, traditionalist wine snob. Then, don’t even get me started on those pump action wine preservers, they sound like something that belong by the swimming pool.

It’s not really a wine snobbery thing (well, maybe a soupçon) so much as a we all thought bottled water was revolutionary and now look where that has taken us. All I know is that my wine rack has glass bottles gently reclining, one of which I will uncork and then pour it into my favorite wine glass that I will later have to wash by hand. I can feel myself relaxing already.

I was out this morning walking neurotic chocolate lab (I’ll share his story another time). We live in a normal neighborhood where 97% of the homes are well kept with nice gardens but then there is THAT house; little lawn maintenance, overgrown shrubs you get the picture. What really gets me seething is that this who cares attitude spills over onto the sidewalk. Walking past the house one steps over cans, wrappers, paper coffee cups, grass cuttings from where he actually trimmed the grass growing through his fence but never bothered to pick it up and then there is the broken glass beside his curb. Now I am not saying it is all his but really, let’s have some civic pride here!

After plowing through this mess for the umpteenth time I went home grabbed broom, gloves and green garbage bag and cleaned up the potpourri of garbage. Sometimes enough is enough and you have to just do something. I wonder if he intends on thanking me?

On Saturday night husband and I rented ‘The Bucket List’. The critics didn’t particularly like it but it’s not a critics type of movie it’s a people movie. We enjoyed watching it together; laughing through some of it, lump in throat in others and wincing during a few bits but as I said it’s not a classic. We even engaged in some rare analytical conversation related to what was happening on the screen during certain parts.

It got me thinking that whether you call it a Bucket List, Life List or 10 Things To Do Before You Die List there is nothing too big or small, silly or serious as it really is not just about being all deep or profound but more about what is important to you. If that means being served tea in your private compartment on board the Orient Express then write it down. Oh wait , that is number three on my life list.

So anyway watch the movie with your beloved it is worth making the popcorn for.

The 2008 US presidential election is the first one of the 21st century. As such it seems to have one foot in the same old rhetoric while the other one is in a social networking site where you too can be a friend of the candidate along with some 529,324 other people. Even the media seems to be just as unsure of it’s position; this probably comes from trying to cater to one generation via the internet, another through print, then there are those TV viewers. But I digress, one minute someone is commenting that ‘we have heard this before’, next a speech is condemned as being overly new age and therefore out of touch with the working people.

Seemingly stuck in the middle of all this redefining of politics for the new century is the 44 year old, Michelle Obama. She is an attractive, well educated and self-confident woman. As a mother she is trying to give her two young daughters some semblance of normalcy in the midst of the political mayhem. The ‘problem’ appears to be that Michelle is also very articulate with a mind of her own. Instead of criticizing her maybe it is time for the realization that the ‘First Spouse’ of this new century needs to have just those qualities.