In honor of my dog Jake’s fifth birthday today I’m writing about animal rescue.
I adopted Jake from an Atlanta-based rescue organization when he was 13 weeks old. He’d been found abandoned in a ditch along with two other little boy puppies who looked just like him.
I’d recently lost my dog, Bear, and could not stand to be in my house. It was so eerily silent and creepy…so quiet, and so sad.
So, I went on Petfinder.com and did a search for large breed puppies. I came across this photo…
Jake | 6 weeks
It was love at first sight.
Ha.
I knew immediately that we were meant to be.
I went online and filled out their four page application and I obtained a (very nicely written) recommendation from my [Bear's] vet.
If you are contemplating an “addition” to your family, please strongly consider animal rescue.
There are so many animals who need good homes through no fault of their own, and there are many reputable organizations to work with and Petfinder is a fabulous site where they post photos and information about the animals.
1. I think dogs are better than people. 2. I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. 3. I had my tonsils taken out when I was 20. 4. I graduated from Florida State University. 5. With a degree in Economics. 6. Which I did not understand until my junior year and then I got “A”s. 7. I moved to Atlanta, Georgia when I was 27 years old. 8. I started running when I was 29. 9. A year later I became a vegetarian. 10. 2.5 years later I went back to eating meat. 11. 2+ years ago I became a veg-head again. 12. Because I saw Robert Redford’s Sundance documentary about the meat processing and packaging industry and it completely freaked me out. 13. I have a brother who lives in Colorado. 14. When I was five my mom accidentally (??) slammed the car trunk on my head and I had a big gash on my head but did not have to get stitches. 15. In college I had a dog named Buffett. As in Jimmy. 16. When my brother was born my parents got me a puppy. 17. I realized later it was a peace offering. 18. She was a Cocker Spaniel and I named her Samantha after my favorite show Bewitched. I was four.
19. I hate Florida. 20. My whole family lives there (except for my brother; we’ve covered that.) 21. Apparently I’m not that interesting; this is already becoming difficult. 22. I had braces in high school. 23. I also wore a back brace for Scoliosis (I looked totally hot. I KNOW.) 24. If I could look like any celebrity it would be Jennifer Aniston. 25. I get my eyebrows waxed every two weeks. 26. I hate strays and I hate plucking. 27. I have worn contact lenses since I was 15 and last year I learned that I am allergic to them. 28. My favorite shoes to run in are Nike. 29. I hate shopping but if I have to go my favorite mall is Phipps Plaza. 30. But Lenox Square now also has a completely awesome Nike store. 31. I have run five half-marathons. 32. I have completed all of the training for two full marathons. 33. I have run zero marathons due to injury (1st time) and illness (2nd time). 34. I believe that the third time will be a charm. 34. I have lived in 5 states. 35. And 8 cities. 36. And no my dad is not in the military. 37. Atlanta is definitely my favorite. 38. I started my own business when I was 36. 39. I am now 39.8. 40. It was the most liberating thing I have ever done. 41. I took ballet when I was 6. 42. I was the most uncoordinated child in the class. 43. I cut some of my own hair off the day of my recital. 44. On one side only. 45. Rarely did I get in trouble as a child but I did that day because my mom had to get my hair up in a bun for the recital. Sorry Mom.
46. In high school I was on the tennis team. 47. And track. 48. And cross-country. 49. And I was in the Spirit Club. 50. I refer to my hair stylist as The Hair God. 51. I used to call him The Hair Genius and upgraded him to a deity several years ago. 52. I have been going to him for nine years. 53. I hate wearing shorts. 54. Except to run, of course. 55. I love capri pants. 56. My favorite song right now is Somethin’ Special by Colbie Caillat. 57. I love my iPod nano. 58. It is green and on the back “Fortitude” is engraved because that’s what distance running requires. 59. My nickname is Tess. 60. For a whole year in high school I went by Megan. 61. It is not my middle name. 62. I hate wearing flats and I think the current ballet shoe trend is stupid. 63. I have watched the movie Raising Helen at least 50 times and I still love every minute of it. 64. Ok I wouldn’t mind looking like Kate Hudson, either. 65. I don’t like sweets. 67. At all. 68. I was not born on another planet. 69. I love pizza. 70. With extra cheese and extra sauce. 71. I also love steak. Filet specifically. 72. And I really really miss it. 73. My favorite time of day to run is mid-morning. 74. I hate getting up early. 75. I do not set an alarm. 76. I love coffee. 77. I hate making it. 78. I don’t like to talk to anyone before 10:00 a.m. 79. Except my dog Jake. 80. I love sushi. 81. My favorite roll is the Alaskan (snow crab). 82. When I was little my dad called me “Grace” because I was such a klutz. 83. I would actually walk in to walls. 84. When he learned that I was practically blind and needed to wear glasses he felt really bad about that. 85. I love vegetables and my favorite is spinach. 86. I think beer is for frat boys. 87. I am running out of things to say. 88. I need 9 hours of sleep every night. 89. My favorite flavor of Gatorade is Lemon-Lime. 90. In fact, I have never even tried any of the other flavors and I don’t want to. 91. I love NYC. 92. I do not miss being Platinum on Delta. 93. I love Lifetime movies. 94. The romantic comedies and dramas not the wife-beater depressing ones. 95. And, I am addicted to CNN and I’ve been on @RickSanchezCNN’s show four times via Twitter. 96. I love winter. 97. I hate summer (probably part of the reason I don’t like Florida). 98. I hope someone reads this. 99. I LOVED college. 100. I hated high school. 101. My dog is on Prozac.
Ok now it’s your turn. Please write some random things about yourself on your shiny new blog [it does not have to be 101] and link to it in the comments section so I/we can read it.
