Liberty

We are trying to find a new home for our Border Collie.

Some quick background. We found her a year ago as a teeny pup, roaming the streets, and decided to keep her when we couldn't find the owners (no chip, no luck in shelters). She's lots of fun - has enormous amounts of energy (is a fabulous mtb dog / trail running dog - off leash even).

She's great with kids - who are 10 to 12 years and up. She's a herder - so she nips and herds very young children and sometimes a bit aggressively. (She can also be sassy with dogs who are smaller then her when she wants to herd them - but is totally submissive to dogs larger then her.)

Since we are constantly surrounded by lots young kids/toddlers, we are concerned that the perfect set of circumstances could lead to a nip in the wrong place - and want to try and place her in a home where there aren't a lot of kids chaotically running around, but in a stable, adult household. She likes order - and is super smart. Learns fast and is eager to please - but is also mischievous when trying to get your attention. She'll often grab a sock or shoe and slowly walk by you taunting and looking right at you - wanting you to chase. She's still a puppy.

Her name is Liberty - we found her on 4th of July last year.

And of course, she needs lots and lots and lots of exercise. By nature she needs to herd sheep - so a run or ride every day is ideal. If you own a herd of sheep - even better.




She's up to date on her shots. Has been spayed, de-wormed, blah, blah, blah. We've had her for a year - and love her to death. But just can't keep her because of the kid thing. We have kids. We're sad. I feel like crying. I feel guilty, please don't tell me what we did wrong in this. This whole thing is agonizing.

Please, if you know of anyone who's thinking or interested, let me know. We're in contact with the SPCA as well, who will help find a new owner - but it would be great to give her to someone we know so we could keep in touch and visit.

Stop The Madness

I don't do this anymore.

I have a job where I actually do work, at work. So I don't do this at work anymore. So I'm remiss. And I miss it. So here I go. At 7:30 pm. After work. With a glass of wine. While waiting for the pizza guy to come.

The other night I was riding my bike home from work when I came to a four way stop. A four way stop where from all four ways, cars want to get on the freeway. To go home.

And so, I stopped. And watched as each way had their turn. And then it was my turn. And I went. Straight ahead. Next to a car that was going straight ahead. Because it's better that way - to ride with a car sometimes, so that no other cars from any of the other 3 ways, hit you - because while they may not see you, they'll at least see the car.

But the car gassed it and flew away from me fast. And while I was in the middle of the intersection, a black mercedes drove into the intersection and we made contact. My front wheel to her bumper and my right side to her hood.

And it was in slow motion. Slow enough that I knew and felt and thought about how she was going to hit me. And was in disbelief that she never even looked my way.

Afterwards. I stood there staring at her and she rolled down the window. And before I said anything, she said calmly, I didn't even see you.

And I said, I know, you didn't look my way, you just went. And she said, I'm so sorry, I didn't even see you. And we just looked at each other. And I said, you HAVE to look. We're out here. We're everywhere. We're here.

Look for us.

And she said. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.

We spoke calmly to each other. Like we were in line. At the grocery store. And cars were lining up at all the stops while we were in the middle of the intersection. We were talking. Not yelling. We were there, just talking. And everything around us was frozen.

In the middle of the intersection.

And then some jackass honked, for us to get out the way. And yeah, I put my hand up in the air and stuck out my middle finger. And smiled up at the line of cars.

And then she squeezed my arm. And I squeezed her shoulder. And we both continued on.