Five Simple Ways to Save $ When Traveling

Greetings from OneNurseOneDog!  I have been a travel nurse since 2011 and oh, the things I wish I knew then!  I am not only a travel nurse (one can be a travel nurse and only go as far as 5o miles from around your permanent home); I am also a traveler.  I love to vacation. Travel nursing is not what it used to be…yes, everything (housing, food, gas, etc.) comes out of your paycheck. Yes, we make good money, but what I appreciate most is the opportunity to see new places; meet new people; and vacation!  Here are five simple ways I have learned to help save money when traveling, both for the job and while on vacation.

1. Stop getting regular manicures and pedicures.  I stopped after I worked in Houston. I was single with no dog; I did not play Ultimate Frisbee much; and my mani/pedis were heaven.  Those Houstonians know how to do it right.  I have not found that level of service anywhere else.  Now I have a dog; I play more Ultimate Frisbee; and just don’t have the time to go anymore.  Read: HAVE DOG = HAVE LESS MONEY.  I now do my own nails.  I have studied my photos from my recent Hawaiian vacation-news flash-I can’t see my nails.  Saved: $30-$50 a month; $360-$500 a year!
2. Groupon and Livingsocial.  As a single traveler, Groupon for the solo traveler can be a challenge, though not impossible and can be worth the effort to find another solo traveler. You don’t have to do everything WITH that person while on the getaway. Not only is Groupon good for a getaway; most people use it for meals; spas; etc.  It is worth the effort to look at Groupon deals no matter where you may be! I admit I am not as good with Groupon while vacationing as I should be: I do not eat out much when traveling solo…which leads me to:
3. Eat out less.  Okay, okay, I get it…eating out while on vacation is HUGE!  I love food.  I love trying new restaurants and eating local specialties, etc.  Rachael Ray did have a successful show, “$40 A Day”, right?  It CAN be done.  Groupon. LivingSocial. Look at the magazine rack at your hotel; at the airport; at the concierge desk.  Those thick pamphlets?  They have coupons!  Use those for those excursions and dining.  I collect coffee mugs…I could have gotten a free one when I went to Pearl Harbor!  Back to eating out less: find a grocery store and buy food and other things you enjoy (I happen to enjoy flavored coffee creamer).  Most hotel rooms have a refrigerator and microwave (Unless you are in Las Vegas-I liked Planet Hollywood but was very disappointed that we did not have a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker.) . You can tailor you own “Eat Out Less” method: you can eat brunch out and dinner in OR you can eat breakfast and lunch in most days and eat dinner out. Make coffee in your room!  Visit the local Farmer’s Market.  No, you don’t have to buy all the produce, but these markets are filled with locally made and grown food in meal form.  THIS is the best place to try that food, like poke; fresh coconut; fresh juices in Hawaii. I love Farmer’s Markets. Limit the alcohol while out and about…this is a huge money saver.  Buy what tasty beverages you enjoy at the grocery store.  I enjoyed a Mai Tai while on my deck, overlooking the ocean, most nights on my recent Hawaiian vacation. Savings: (solo) $50-$65 a day.  $350 – $455 for 7-day vacation!  (Just the coffee alone can save you up to $30-$60 on a 7-day vacation.
4. If the service on your flight, at your hotel, or on an excursion, etc. was questionable, tell the company.  Take a few moments and write to the airline, etc. I recently went to Las Vegas and Delta Airlines staff at baggage claim were rude and unhelpful.  I wrote to customer service.  When I returned home, my baggage was broken.  I wrote to customer service.  I received a $25.00 gift card for their customer service and I also received full price for my baggage, no questions asked.  Use this ONLY if there is something to actually complain about! I was recently in Waikiki and it was loud.  I had beach/oceanfront views and it’s Waikiki.  It is going to BE loud.  My ocean view room was without extra cost…so I saved money on my view; however, it is usually louder (even at all-inclusive resorts).
5. Use only credit cards that give you points.  I love my points and miles credit cards.  I researched for a month or two before choosing a card or two.  Back to the Groupon deals-just because I did not use Groupon for any meals or excursions does not mean I still did not benefit in some way.  I used my Expedia and points credit card to book the trip (I JUST started using a miles card so did not have enough miles yet) and to book the excursions. So not only did I research which deals were best for my excursions (such as Pearl Harbor), but I also received points for each purchase.  I used this card’s points for Christmas gifts (gift cards) this year.  All other purchases were made with a mileage points credit card.  I have good credit and can pay off my cards, so please be careful.  If you don’t have money in the bank; or not so great credit, there are other points credit cards.  If you don’t travel as much, use a cash back credit card.  My cards of choice: MasterCard Expedia (I do not live in one place, so becoming a “gold member” for Delta, American Airlines, etc is not a great option for me, yet.); American Express Blue Preferred (cash back); and Capitol One Venture (miles on any purchase, any time).  Be careful! I find myself thinking, “Oh! I’ll buy that with my Venture card to get more points for my next flight!”  I really clamped down on my “touristy” purchases this last trip…I know I went to Hawaii…so do I really NEED that t-shirt?

Many of these methods can be used no matter what type of travel it is…When I travel to assignments, I camp out many nights (weather permitting); I make my own coffee; I use the ice at the hotel (when I do stay in a hotel) for my cooler; I buy food at a grocery store instead of eating out; I keep jugs of water for me and my dog (instead of buying water).  SAVE ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS.  Travel nursing is about writing off what you can on what you use for the assignment: oil changes; rentals; scrubs; food; parking charges; etc.

The United States has it backwards, people!  Working all the time is NOT what our lives is all about!  We have all seen that blog on “Life is about experiences, not stuff.”  It is an amazing world we live in; now get out there an enjoy it (even if it’s just in your own state). te .

 

 

 

Alaska Journey ’15-’16: Part One

Reindeer

Official Start Iditarod ’16 Willow, Alaska

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Winter is tough.  Yes, I am still in Alaska.  Let me make one thing clear: when you have no snow and you are in Alaska in winter; you want snow.  I gained weight; I stayed inside; I have no idea if my mood lamp helped my mood.  CrossFit helped my mood even if I couldn’t fit in my clothes.  LA = skinny.  CF = muscles. A potential stress-fracture in my foot nixed my CF days for a while.  Though my personal life has been down right weird here in Alaska, I did stay here this winter for a few reasons and the Iditarod was one of them.  I had to dig deep to put on clothes and go outside; I persevered.  Thank you to all the nurses have switched with me so I could participate in a few things!

 

Anchorage is home of the “Ceremonial” start of the Iditarod.  It is not the official start: not enough snow.  Last year, the official start was in Fairbanks!  This year it was in Willow. What a beautiful drive and I was grateful to go with a fellow nurse, her husband and two girls, and her grandmother.

Snow was brought into Anchorage from Fairbanks this year (by train).  We had NONE of the snow you see in these pictures and video.  It’s depressing.  Plenty of ice and my bruised hands and sore butt can attest to that (ouch). No, I did not have those things for my shoes. I do now.

The trip to Willow; great company; beautiful view; and lots of partying!  Though I don’t necessarily like the idea of dogs running for 1049 miles in the shortest amount of time possible in snow and cold…it is a long tradition here in Alaska.  I was also deeply affected by the death of one of Jeff King’s dogs, Nash, by a native Alaskan on a snowmobile in one of the small villages. I have been told by an Iditarod volunteer that it can be dangerous in some of the smaller villages because the Natives don’t want the “white man” on their land. Women do not volunteer in those villages.  In this particular incident, last I knew, he is saying he was under the influence of alcohol and did not mean to hurt anyone.  Whatever the reason, the dogs have no choice in the matter.

I then went to Wasilla and looked at a teardrop camper for my drive back to the East Coast.  I stopped in to a friends’ house in Palmer and it truly is breathtaking.  There is so much I still want to do here and where did the time go?  Who knows, my lack of desire to drive anywhere this winter may have saved my life: it is icy here and dangerous.  Plus, flooding my apartment just before Christmas kind of put a curve in my plans for winter.

I have been here twice and I would definitely come back.  Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Valdez, even Nome…remain on my list of places I have not been.  I can’t complain: I have been to Denali; Fairbanks; met Mitch and Dallas Seavey; met Jeff King.  I have been salmon fishing; trout fishing; and halibut fishing in Homer. I have been to Seward; Soldotna; Alyeska; Eklutna; Matanuska Glacier; The Alaska State Fair; the Iditarod.  I have driven the Denali Highway; been on two glacier cruises; hiked to Byron Glacier. I have been through Hatcher’s Pass.  I’ve been to the Zoo twice.  I have been up to Chugach State Park several times.  I have seen everything in the wild except a wolverine.  I have yet to see the Northern Lights but I am hopeful I will on my trip home.

Again, I want to say thank you to everyone who has made this journey so special.  The pictures I have are such a blessing and I can’t thank Jeff Libby enough for being so patient. His pictures are simply amazing. I am so incredibly grateful. The ones of my dog, Brie, are gorgeous.  Words cannot express how thankful I am for those memories.  Fairbanks; hiking; fishing in Willow; trips all over…I know I am saying “grateful” a lot but it is true.  Jeff and Misty opened their home for me when I first arrived and that is not an easy task, for sure.  Brie and I thank you.  Perhaps, in time, if it is meant to be, we will be once again. I wish you both nothing but the best.

CrossFit Anchorage’s, Vic and Katy,  opened their doors to me and provided the much needed social interaction and friendships needed at a dark time (literally).  Brie and I had so much fun just hanging out with you and your children. I was really looking for a great coach and if anyone is looking for CF in Anchorage, your box is where it is at. I would have loved to have continued training there and advancing my skills.  Thank you so much for your hospitality and friendships.

James!!!  I truly believe that God provides.  Crap happens and you say, “Ah ha!”  We became friends and have had some fun times.  Helping me move; opening up your home for Brie and I when we were homeless; taking care of Brie; letting me crash your New Year’s Eve; FOOTBALL!; and even that show on Starz, haha! I am glad I have been (kind of) able to return a few favors while you were away.  I believe we will always stay in touch.

I will save my experience for Providence Anchorage for my last moment here…I have a few more weeks…let me say that I could take all of you and bring you with me to every hospital.  I have to continue on with my pictures of the Iditarod or else these tears will blurry my vision!

Travel Nurse with Dog: Our Trek From Los Angeles, CA to Anchorage, AK

Many travel nurses fly to their destinations.  This only makes sense:  less wear and tear on your body and on your car.  I also know married couples who drive an RV and travel. I can only tell you that when I was young, I dreamed of driving across the country.  Of course, it was without a dog.  I also envisioned a convertible, the sun shining at all times, and my sister in the passenger seat.  I laugh just thinking about those visions in my head.  I have a dog.  Not just any dog, as you may have guess from previous blogs.  I do not have a convertible.  The sun is not always shining.  Unless you are in California.  Who wants the sun shining ALL the time?

I chose Anchorage, Alaska as my next travel assignment for a few reasons:  Who wouldn’t want to go there? (I liked it in 1997.)  I have friends that always said that if I got an assignment there I would have a place to live in their home, they would look out for my dog.  Brie and I drove from Maine to California, we are pros! How much worse could driving to Anchorage be? (Insert sarcasm.)   I jumped at the opportunity for Anchorage.

Little did I know what it really meant to drive to The Last Frontier.  I laughed; I cried.  I was tense; I felt relaxed and on the “right path.”  I breathed in smoke from wildfires and dealt with burning eyes.  I was hot; I was cold.  I loved my dog; I disliked my dog.  I felt alive; I felt alone. There was too much traffic; I was the only car on a dirt road.  I traveled to another country. I was ahead of schedule; I felt like I was never going to get to my destination.  I slept on average seven hours a night; I was exhausted. I was grateful for my recent ex’s, “Thank you, God, I dodged bullets!” “What a valuable life lesson and I wouldn’t change a thing. Oh, and thank you for Brie.”; “Everything happens for a reason, and I trust You and thank you.”  I cursed the ground on which they walked, “How dare you pretend to want to spend the rest of your life with me! Wasted time and money!  Ugh! I have a dog!”  I sang; I cried; I spent a LOT of time with my windows open and in silence (British Columbia and Yukon are HUGE and desolate = no radio).  Brie was constantly on my lap, and traveled well (she is a blessing).  It took us ten days to complete our journey of opposites and amazement, up the Western United States, into Canada, up to Alaska. Please join Brie and I as we take you through our journey as written in my nightly  journal. I took as many photos as possible with my little Lumix camera and IPhone.  Do you remember how your mind works when you are on long road trips?  It is never linear and perfect! We begin on Day Two: (Day one was HOT and I lost my cellphone. The end.)

6/15/15

Brie and I started our trek from LA to Anchorage yesterday.  We got a late start because I went out with Kimberly, Megan, and Jen (all travel nurses).  We had so much fun!  I am sad to leave California.  “Why don’t you settle down?”  I am constantly asked.  When I meet someone, I’ll meet someone.  I am drawn to this travel life.  I was given the wrong advise by my obstetrician when I was in my early 30’s (I asked to freeze my eggs. She recommended I don’t and said, “Sperm is cheaper.”) Therefore, I am single, no eggs on ice, no man…but I have been given this wonderful career and opportunity by God, I love what I do, I love to travel. The end.

It was SO hot driving up the 5 yesterday.  Not one single bathroom without a line of at lease eight people waiting…I’m like Pavlov’s Dogs:  the minute, the second I decide to go to the bathroom, I must go then.  I have no ability to hold it.  It was also miserable for Brie.  I couldn’t wait in those lines because it was simply too hot for Brie.  I couldn’t bring her to walk around because her paws could have easily burned on the sidewalks and roadways.  It was because of the heat and my dog I decided to drive up the coast and through San Francisco to the Redwoods, instead of through Sacramento and Redding.

This worked out because I got to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge! How cool is that?  We tried to stay at the Samuel P. Taylor State Park but it was full. We stayed at the KOA in Petaluma.  I love the weather, the vineyards, the farm stands. The farms stands bring out a longing in me.  Probably because my Papa was the best gardener in Maine.  Who knew that cherries and pistachios were the specialty up the northern coast of California?  Brie and I tent out as much as possible.  How do I sleep?  Ambien.  It is a must for me.  We jogged in the morning and I took a VERY cold shower!  No hot water at the KOA.

(One thing about the way I travel is I do not plan.  I miss things, too.  We missed the Chandelier Tree in the Redwood Forest: the tree you drive through.  It was advertised as the “Drive-Through Tree.” I had no idea what that meant until I was almost 30 miles up the road.  That is 60 miles extra.  We did see Grandfather Tree, Corkscrew Tree and The Big Tree.)  As I write this, we are tenting at Florence Keller.  The Redwoods are so impressive.  Being in California, you miss the green trees, the rivers, the water.  The West Coast is beautiful.  I love Maine and the East Coast, but boy, the West Coast is something….Southern Cali – ultimate Frisbee every day, beach Frisbee, sun, ocean…good friends.  Why am I leaving again? Oh right.  I AM a Gypsy nurse, a fierce adventurer spreading the love of labor and delivery around the country. With a dog. Right.

Brie and I are hanging out. She has yet to poop.  This is my life on the road: did we poop today?  Nurses and dog-owners are all about poop.  I have learned, by traveling Coast to Coast and then up the Coast: don’t stress about Brie’s poop or no poop.

I did not pack well.  We are in Northern California and it is COLD at night. At least I have long pants, sweatshirts, hat and gloves, warms socks.

I cooked tonight!  Brie was being such a pain in my ass, eating sticks and whatever else is at this time campsite.  I got her food puzzle out and that gave me some quiet time.

Brie and I walked more around the park.  How can you NOT be in awe of these trees?  The “rotten” trees on the John Dee Trail look like old men.  To be among something prehistoric.  Awe. I am enjoying the green and the moss.  Even though there are no showers and I am next to some sketchy people (One of the GREAT things of having Brie.) I am glad we stayed here.  There is a nice grassy park area here and Brie got to go off-leash and play a bit.  She is quiet right now. Always a treat!   I wish we would have taken the campsite among the trees but the people upwind had a campfire going and it was smoky and next to the road.

Grandfather Tree

Will I See Bigfoot? How many places claim to be the “Home” of Bigfoot?

Big Tree

Big Tree. I could have spent a long time on these trails…admiring. Dogs are not allowed, though.

Big Tree

Just how BIG is Big Tree?

Corkscrew Tree

Corkscrew Tree

Corkscrew Tree

A little humor goes a long way. This picture with Corkscrew Tree cracks me up.

I will miss this beautiful coastline.

Ahhh!!!!

Brie loves to play.

Beautiful: both the campground and Brie

The only night I took out the stove.

Making sure to keep my memories alive! Driving and traveling alone leaves for many thoughts and ideas.

Campsite

Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge

Our first night of the trip from LA to Anchorage.

Living with “Almost” Anorexia: A response to “When Your Daughter Has Anorexia”

I recently read an article on http://www.cnn.com about a mother whose daughter had anorexia.  Her daughter had been attacked and raped at age 13 and developed anorexia.  The family went years without proper treatment, never knowing “Why?”, until their daughter was in her early 20’s and spoke about the incident.  Reading this brought up many emotions I am usually better at suppressing.  I live (d) with “almost anorexia”.  Or as the medical world likes to call it, “Anorexic Tendencies”, “Disordered Eating” and even, “Exercise Obsessiveness.”  We fly under the radar. We are not usually hospitalized for being too thin; we usually do not suffer such tragic medical consequences as cardiomyopathy; we also do not usually undertake years of psychotherapy.  We are the border people. We hover the line.  We are not “sick” enough, yet we are not completely whole and healthy, either.  With the family in the article, their daughter suffered a tragic attack. (I am so happy they were able to overcome such an awful experience.)  What do we do with those with “anorexic tendencies” and “disordered eating?”  Back then, not much.  Is there an absolute trigger to these bordering behaviors?  Or is it more complex? Obscure? It took their daughter years to tell her story to her parents. I know, from experience, it is difficult to feel so helpless (the parents) and to feel the need to be in control and to shield, to protect (the daughter).

I was almost 20 years old when I told my mother I stopped having my period.  She brought me to my doctor. I ate about 1,000 kcal a day.  I weighed 106 pounds, and was 5 feet 5 inches tall.  As my doctor explained to my mother, I was “Not clinically anorexic.”  Let’s review my symptoms and you decide if the diagnosis was correct: I had lanugo; (I had fur, people, a fine, soft hair that grew on my abdomen mostly. This was my body’s way of trying to conserve heat.); I fit into my ten-year old sister’s clothing; I was pale; I was a bitch; I measured and weighed all my meals; I biked five miles to a car, then drove to the gym; I sat on my classmates jackets in college; I couldn’t lay on my side because my knees touching caused pain.  The list goes on…yet, somehow, my mother and I were told I “weighed too much to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.”  I was given a pill to start my period and that was that.  That summer, I lost at least three more pounds.  I do not think I dropped below 100 pounds.  I stopped weighing myself that summer.

My issue, according to the doctors, was not lack of calories; someone who eats approximately 1,000 kcal a day is NOT anorexic, that is too many calories for that diagnosis.  I exercised. Hours a day.  Every day.  Isn’t it funny that 1,000 kcal a day is too many to get the help one needs?  I look at all the symptoms and I shake my head.  Flying under the radar.  I even got my college degree in nutrition!  Not ONE professor asked me about my extreme weight-loss and inability to sit in class. Another reason why we are incognito, insignificant in the realm of psychology, society, is that I was only “almost anorexic” for what most consider a short amount of time.  I knew I needed help. I wanted help.  Next thing I knew, I pulled all of my abdominal muscles while on the stair master, about six months into the illness.  I could not walk to class and my Food Science professor sent me to the infirmary immediately.  They fast-tracked me because any abdominal pain is ruled appendicitis until proven otherwise.  My iron was so low I almost required a transfusion.  I was given muscle relaxants and set up with a counselor and nutritionist, whom I promptly fired (she told me that oranges were a good source of iron, and prescribed one to two peanut butter milkshakes every day to “gain weight.”  Even I was smart enough to know that was NOT the issue at hand. Really? You want me, someone who abhors gaining weight MORE than anything, to drink two PB milkshakes a day? Not to mention, Sweetie, that oranges are not a “good” source of iron.   My counselor? Six months in he said I didn’t need to see him anymore.  Ha! I figured I knew more about nutrition and psychology then those two and set on to help myself. This article, however, did not grab my attention because of the diagnosis, it was the “why.”  Eating disorders are most often NOT about the food, the weight…Eating disorders are much more complex and each person on this planet has a different chemical make-up. We handle stress differently; not one of us are the same.

I have never shared this with anyone…the “why.” I have my educated theories; my speculations.  I often wonder if I had an amazing ability to suppress something so tragic and damaging that I still have no memory of it. That would be easier to treat, wouldn’t it?  I am sure there will be a day I will share my thoughts on the matter; the “why”.  No one has yet attempted to delve deep enough into my background to even come close to understanding.

For now, it is day-by-day. It is not easy being a single “older” woman, competing with thinner, fitter, healthier, less-wrinkled, younger women.  For any issues I had when I was in my early-twenties have now matured into the reality of my life as a single, professional woman. My coping mechanisms, my self-esteem, life goals, have had to evolve because of my “single” status at this age.  My family was, and is, hugely supportive and I lived in a household (with my grandparents) who did not criticize my “grazing” habits; my intestinal woes; my need to exercise regularly, etc.  I can imagine how it must have been, looking in the cupboard or refrigerator, and seeing half-eaten food.  My grandparents decided to stop criticizing, let it go, and even made jokes, “There is a mouse in my house!” Nana would say, upon discovering a piece of bread without the crust, and laugh.  For the most part, I am a “professional hider” of the half-eaten food (people simply do not understand and it is just easier to hide or I simply throw the rest away).  Nana’s joke? THAT made me feel okay, I was loved for who I am, without judgment.

Trapeze School New York, Santa Monica Pier Always Be Brave

Three Tips for Having a Smart, Working Dog

Having a Border Collie (or a Border Collie-Australian Shepherd Mix, as I do), is special.  Let me preface by saying I never dreamed of having a Border Collie.  I wanted an Australian Shepherd. I hoped and prayed she was an Aussie, but alas, the evidence is clear now, a 100% Aussie she is not. At first, I thought, “Great! We can learn to do obstacle courses, catch a Frisbee, have all kinds of fun! I have THE smartest dog on the planet!”  Then hit reality.

TIP ONE

This one is all-inclusive:  You must be fully committed to the emotional, physical, financial and mental well-being of your dog.  Perhaps you have never wanted children, but all of your friends are having children.  Do you have a child just because of your friends?  Of course not!  You think of all the responsibility first-same with a dog.  Be happy being you (solo).  Dogs don’t come with child-support!

I have had professional trainers; read books; called my best friend (a vet tech) hundreds of times; interviewed and hired professional dog-walkers; my travel habits have changed; my life has changed.  I am a single parent.  I am a travel nurse.  I absolutely love my life!  (Side tip: make sure your dog-walkers ARE insured and bonded.) I recommend NOT getting such a smart, crafty, high-energy, working dog such as a Border Collie as your first dog.

TIP TWO:

The Green “Treat” Ball

This ball is by far the best toy to have with a working dog, especially if your dog is food-motivated.  I have not used her food dish since our first session with a professional trainer. Working dogs, such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds, need to, well, WORK! We currently live in a studio so hiding her food is quite boring.  I use her food as training treats yet this ball is fabulous!  I put her food in this ball and it occupies her for hours.  I can write this blog; I get to work out. (Be careful of a rolling green ball while working out.  I almost threw it out the window one day after almost spraining my ankle tripping on that ball!) Which leads me to:

TIP THREE

Learn to let go of perfection…and learn to laugh…a lot.

Border Collies are TOP dog.  Translate: they are a lot of work.  Patience.  Time.  Effort.  There is a learning curve, for sure. Each dog is different.  No dog, no person, is perfect.  When beginning to train my dog, I decided to use positive reinforcement methods, rather than negative reinforcement.  Believe me, I cried; I yelled; I came close to sending her to doggie boot camp for a month.

I use a clicker with treats.  Once she really gets a behavior, I eliminate the clicker.  In the beginning, I truly thought that she was supposed to be the perfect, smartest dog on the planet.  I would cry and yell.  I have never hit.  As time has gone on, with lots of positive reinforcement for me, too (from our trainers), I have begun to learn to let go.  My dog is not perfect.  Neither am I.  I am learning to embrace her quirks, her imperfections, and her strengths and wonderful personality.

Brie does NOT like to roll over. This is a hallmark dog trick, right?  We continue to work on this…she did it about five times yesterday.  It is easy to become frustrated.  Learn to let go.  Take breaks. Dogs are so perceptive and can feel your tension.  Step away.  Go back to a well-performed trick.  This helps build your dogs confidence! (It also saves you from dealing with misbehavior-more likely to happen if you are tense.)

Back when I was a dumb, naïve working-dog owner, my dog would act out, a lot. I didn’t know about keeping her busy, mentally, and though she got a lot of physical exercise (actually, too much, sadly, but that is another topic), she was not mentally stimulated.  She loves socks.  She also enjoys taking items out of the bathroom garbage can.  Let that sink in.  I am a woman.  Think about that for a moment.

You can tell when my dog has something “bad”:  she sounds different! She bounds like a 40-pound miniature bull after the gate opens!  Parents: is it easy to hold back the laughter all the time?  NO!  My dog is currently on activity restrictions (hey, active dogs get injured more, again, I am not perfect, either) and therefore, she is inevitably going to act out.  She decided to grab a female personal item out of the bathroom garbage can. I mentioned earlier there is a learning curve, right?  If you ever want to go to the bathroom alone and in peace, do not get a Border Collie.  So there I was, immobile and there she goes, the maxi-pad thief- leaping into the living room, happy as a clam, with her loot; I could here the crinkling noises from her worrying her head and the gleeful pitter-patter of her feet from “playing” and quite simply, being “bad.”  All I could do was laugh, shake my head.  I thought, “This is the smartest dog on the planet?”  What about me? I know this is how she acts out!  Garbage cans and laundry bags are empty; non-Brie items are tucked away. We are not perfect. It has taken me over an hour to write this simple blog.  Thank God for that green ball!

Welcome To One Nurse, One Dog, One Blog

Welcome To One Nurse, One Dog, One Blog.