Only Dogs Can Hear

What to do?

The problem along the Afghan border is not mass support for Islamist extremism. Rather it is widespread acquiescence by people who are fearful and demoralized. As the extremists work to demonstrate that only they represent the true Islam, Pashtuns can reflect on the warnings against cruelty and violence that Rahman Baba outlined in “Sow Flowers”:                

Sow flowers to make a garden bloom around you,

The thorns you sow will prick your own feet.

Arrows shot at others

Will return to hit you as they fall.

You yourself will come to teeter on the lip

Of a well dug to undermine another.

                                      

Total-slacker-Facebook-Friday...Monday

Late again, I know.  In my defense, I was so sick all last week and was just barely functional starting on Thursday when the laryngitis started kicking up.  Then Thursday night, all day Friday and Friday night I couldn't breath through my nose at all.  Which not only means I couldn't sleep two nights in a row, it also means I couldn't taste anything.  I realized more than ever before that losing one's sense of taste would be pure torture. 

Last weeks status updates weren't great.  Luckily, I've already seen a marked improvement for the next update.  So people are apparently getting used to the new format.  Without further introduction:

1. Laura is attentively watching the green grass grow.
2. Betsy just finished explaining the difference between a couty and a state bean queen.
3. Molly just rocked an incredibly upset 6 week old boy to sleep in my arms in under 10 seconds.  Probably the sound of my own clock ticking that was so soothing.
4. Kat is experiencing that thing where you decide to clean up just a bit, and then you notice how disgusting the microwave is and suddenly it's two hours later and you're reorganizing all the cupboards.

Anyway, slow week for updates.  This week is bound to be better.

Hilarious

It's a big tent

After breakfast this morning, Jane sought refuge of a blanket tent in the living room.
Henry: Can I come in?
Jane: Do you have to poop, too?

In private I covet a full sized Land Cruiser

Today's Plinky prompt: Hybrid Prius or Escalade with gold rims? (Why didn't it say something more like: Hybrid Prius or Land Rover Defender with bench seating. Now that's a hard choice.)

I guess I would have to go with fuel efficiency. I'm cheap like that. Plus I would be so embarrassed parking a hulking mass of a vehicle on a crowded city street. Might make me look like an ass. Seriously, if it didn't have to come with gold rims...and it wasn't an Escalade...and I didn't feel like a total poser driving a vehicle meant for off-roading when I never get more than 2 inches off the freeway...Escalade all the way!

A few things to do before I'm gone

Trek the Annapurna route in Nepal
Nepal is awesome, and the Annapurnas are supposed to be beautiful.

Do a 10 day vipassana retreat
I'm really interested in what extended silent meditation will turn up in my mind. How I'll react. I think it could be an amazing, or terrifying (probably both), experience.

Learn to do a scorpion handstand
Pure bragging rights.

Take my family on an Alaskan cruise
I really want to do an Alaskan cruise and I think it would be a great way to spend some very quality time with family.

Plant asparagus patches in the yard of every house/apartment I live in over the next 20 years
I think an asparagus patch is a beautiful thing to have (tasty too), and a wonderful gift to give.

Facebook Friday...er...Tuesday

K and I were up at 3:30 Friday morning to make our respective flights to San Antonio.  We had a wonderful 4 days with K's family.  We had so much fun playing with our niece (who is already a daredevil at 6 months) and catching up with his parents and sister.  I was basking so fully in the warmth and comfort of my in-laws that I didn't even open a computer the whole time.  Which is the long way of saying, here is Facebook Friday.  Only it's several days late.

1. Gary celebrates by using "two deoderants".
2. Tabby reckons nothing puts you in as good a mood for the day as having a 3 year old, asleep in your bed, wake you up by weeing on you at 5 am.
3. Dana is surrounded by My Little Ponies and Littlest Pet Shops...HELP!!!
4. Matt thinks AIG's new slogan should be: Think outside the box...specifically, the box where you keep your morals.
5. Mike and Meg are having a tax credit...er...CHILD!
6. Joey says the answer, my friend, is pissing in the wind.  The answer is pissing in the wind.

Did I mention that last week was a slow week for good status updates?  This new format is sort of killing me.

The time-out chair

I have to admit that I don't understand the effectiveness of the 'time-out'.  Maybe someone can explain it to me?  How do you get them to stay in the chair, or the spot, or whatever it is?  I'm fascinated that they actually stay, and that they are so clearly moved/cowed/repentant afterward.  Totally and completely fascinated. 

My friend Rachel mentioned this little scenario today:  Me: Are you ready to come out of your time out? Her: Nope - I am not going to behave (with a smile).  And my sister recently mentioned her son begging to come out of time-out and for her to 'please don't be mad at me'.  What kind of mind games are at work here? 

Buddhist humor

Seung Sahn would say, "When you eat, just eat. When you read the newspaper, just read the newspaper. Don't do anything other than what you are doing."
One day a student saw him reading the newspaper while he was eating. The student asked if this did not contradict his teaching. Seung Sahn said, "When you eat and read the newspaper, just eat and read the newspaper."
–From Essential Zen, edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Tensho David Schneider (HarperSanFrancisco)

OMing that everyone should try

The incredible diversity of culture, thought and practice offered in Northern California is yet another reason I so love this opportunity K and I have to live here. 

“In our culture, admitting our bodies matter is almost an admission of failure,” said Ms. Daedone, 41, who can quote the poet Mary Oliver and speak wryly on the intricacies of women’s anatomy with equal aplomb. “I don’t think women will really experience freedom until they own their sexuality.”

Facebook Friday

Seriously, 100 people have clicked over to Only Dogs Can Hear from Google after searching for 'facebook memes'.  This silly, three line, little post I wrote is the most viewed thing on this website.  I guess I should have made it more meaningful?  Hind sight is always 20/20.  I'm tempted to change the spelling of meme to stop the insanity.

And now for the weekly dose of status updates from my illustrious Facebook friends.  This week 3 of those updates come from the same person (seems she was on a bit of a status update kick).  Therefore I will use the same fake name 3 times. 

1. John is, quite patently, rather stupid.
2. Mindy thinks the Teal and Rust colored Toyota Tercel she's stuck behind with the "Jesus will give you all you need" sticker needs to ask Jesus for a new exhaust system.
3. Tanya is watching her parents sort through their medication.  She didn't realize we were in the all important medication sorting phase of life already.
4. Matt is a one-man guy, and that one man is me.
5. Jay thinks spring is such a tease.
6. Shannon found the third circle of hell in a Walmart "customer service" line.
7. Mindy says Chris Brown won't be at the Kids' Choice Awards.  It's ok though - Miley Cyrus, Jamie Lynn Spears & Michael Phelps will be around teaching the life lessons.
8. Mindy says why is a Rock of Love Bus woman getting shit for not being able to make a TV dinner.  She lives on a diet of Vodka and Semen people!

Have a great weekend everyone!