Amy Shojai's Blog, page 154

Monday Mentions: Howls, Wags & Wins!

He loves me for my mouse...

I'm just back from the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc annual conference, and had a ball! It will take me a few days to get caught up but I wanted to post pictures and give some shout-0uts about the great folks and speakers–including the furry ones.

Thanks to the officers and committee chairs and volunteers that made the conference possible. President Dan Case, conference chair (and new president!) Linda Apple, the contest team of Nita Beshear and Maria Veres, Gloria Teague the secretary, treasurer Barbara Shepherd and  and publicity director Jen Nipps.

There were three to four sessions scheduled each hour, and that made it difficult to decide which session to attend (and miss other great speakers). This year I was honored to be a speaker and we had a fun session on Friday with media training, and Saturday the Ebook DIY was well attended.

Media training session at the OWFI conference.

My apologies for the technical difficulties–the power point presentation with all the fun furry pictures pooped out on me, and I didn't get to cover ALL the info that I had prepared. Starting tomorrow, I will begin a Tuesday Tips series based on the presentation that includes all the DIY tips, links to important information, and marketing for your Ebook. The book signing (below) featured several of the books I've "kindle-ized" and also brought back in POD.

Amy at book signing.

The best part of the conference for me is networking and hanging out with friends, and meeting new folks. I collected a boatload of business cards (and hope I can find 'em all as I unpack!). It's great fun to finally put faces to names of "email friends" or Facebook connections–and I must say "sorry, my bad…" in advance cuz I'm awful with names and so avoid listing people as I know I'll get names wrong. 

I always look forward to seeing my good friend Carol Shenold, and met a really neat author/poet Joanna Tweedy who explained all about Quiddity (check it out!).   Tina Haapala is the founder of the Excuse Editor, and a writing coach and marketing consultant. At breakfast before I left the con, I got to meet several more terrific writers. Natasha Hanova won several awards, reason enough to hate her, but she's a thoroughly nice and talented writer. Judy Ridgley is another winning writer to watch–check out her blog, as is Marsha Lytle. Chesty, the dog, made a big impression but I don't think he has a blog!

Chesty wants my squeaky mouse!

 
Chesty (above) is an Italian Mastiff and service dog partnered with writer Jackie B. Jones. He came to visit me during the book signing and was particularly interested in my Play & Squeak mouse toys. We even had a signing duet (he has a lovely baritone voice). Chesty also added his howls of approval at the Saturday night awards banquet whenever folks applauded a win–what fun!
 
The Embassy Suites Hotel, home of the OWFI con for many years, makes everyone feel welcome. The "happy hour" each evening is a hit, and a great opportunity to unwind, exchange cards, share notes about the sessions and celebrate successes. My friends from Sherman also attended, Lois and Ron and Frank.
 

Lois & Ron Richardson

  

Frank Steele

 I first met Liz and Steve Berry at Thrillerfest when he was the co-president and worked as a volunteer for Liz–she's the executive director. So I was thrilled that Steve was this year's keynote speaker–inspiring!–and Liz gave a great talk on marketing.

Steve Berry offers an unscheduled morning talk.

 
 Steve even generously gave an impromptu unscheduled Saturday morning talk on plotting and character (7:30 a.m., yikes!) that was packed. So yes, I did the fan-thing and ask for a picture. *s*
 

The amazing Liz and Steve Berry

Sorry, folks, I didn't get any pictures of the Friday night "sparkles"  for the Famous Author banquet. That's the evening that those who had the great fortune to publish a book the previous year are recognized. This year, William Bernhardt announced the names and I was pleased to have my American Pit Bull Terrier book recognized. On Saturday the contest presentation was a great surprise when the book won Best Nonfiction Book in the published category–and yes, I did get pictures of those sparkles.
 

 
Here are just a few of the folks I met, some I heard in sessions and others connected iver meals or buzz sessions during the weekend:  
 
 
Kathleen Anderston, literary agent
Pat Browning, and Jackie King, awesome session on "selling your book on kindle."
Gretchen Craig, romance author
Verna Dreisback, literary agent
Scott Eagan, literary agent
Kate Epstein, literary agent
Mari Farthing, editor Metro Family Magazine
Andy Horton, screen writer
Kelly James-Enger, sessions on ghostwriting and contracts
Max McCoy, author, interview techniques and more
Rhonda Penders, editor The Wild Rose Press
Fred Pfister, Ozarks Mountaineer Magazine
Charles W. Sasser, Author
Joanna Beth Tweedy, awesome poet and editor with Quiddity Literary Journal
Wendy Lyn Watson, author of cozy mysteries
Dale Whisman, author/playwright
Vivian Zabel, editor 4RV Publishing
 I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
 

Filed under: Bling Alert!, Kindle, Monday Mentions, Wags & Purrs, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, books, dog behavior, dog books, dogs, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Kindle, Oklahoma Writers Federation, pet books, Steve Berry, William Bernhardt, writers conference, writing

Furry Friday: PUPPIES GUIDE!

I'm so excited to announce my news–I'm the new Puppies Guide for puppies.About.com!  Yee-haw!

Most of y'all know that for the past year I've been the behavior contributor over at cats.About.com working with the outstanding Franny Syufy and am delighted to still be part of the "furry family" with puppies. I'll also be working with Jenna Stregowski, RVT  dogs.About.com Dogs Guide–she has terrific canine content, and Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM the Veterinary Medicine Guide. Pretty awesome team!

Danny & Mercy prove fur-kids CAN get along! (copr. Gail Parker)

The site is dedicated to all-things-puppies. Over the past several weeks I've been writing puppy care articles for beginners, for savvy dog owners, and for folks who just enjoy cute puppy pictures. You'll find vet care information, training and behavior tips, and even some fun stuff sure to make your virtual tails wag. *vbg*

I hope you'll visit–and send me suggestions for more articles. If I've been a bit harried over the past month it's because I wrote about 65 new articles (and BOY are my typin' fingers tired!) for the site. And I learned more about HTML coding and SEO than I ever imagined!

The site is a work-in-progress, only one day old (it went "live" yesterday, so it's a newborn *s*) so there's lots of room for new topics. Don't forget to check out the pages where YOU can share stories and pictures about your special puppies, too! You can subscribe to a nifty weekly newsletter, too. For all  my dog savvy colleagues, stay tuned cuz I have plans for some "guest writer" spots as well as book reviews down the road.

Today I'm at the Oklahoma Writers Conference  and last evening had dinner with Steve and Liz Berry, Bill Bernhardt, Linda Apple (awesome conference chair), my shepherd and co-writer Frank Steele, writer buds Carol and Lori Shenold  and networked with many inspiring writers. I'm sure there'll be lots to share in the blog in the coming days and weeks.

I'm speaking about media training for authors and DIY Ebooks. And yes, next week the blog will feature a weekly series on Kindle–how to do it, where to market, and more–with some great helpful links and don't-make-this-mistake-I-made tips.

Gotta get ready for the day–busy busy busy! I may not get the chance to reply right away to comments. But I'll get back to you, never fear–I love hearing from everyone! Lots of fun and exciting "furry news" always seems to be happening around here.

And to celebrate the launch of puppies.About.com, I will give away an autographed copy of PETiQuette: Solving Behavior Problems In Your Multipet Household by drawing the name from comments posted on any of this past week's blog. *s* Don't be shy–share what kinds of puppy (or kitty) info you're most interested in, or writing tips–whatever floats your furry boat.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Furry Fridays, Wags & Purrs, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, books, cat behavior, cat books, cat health, cats.About.com, dog behavior, dog training, dogs, dogs.About.com, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Oklahoma Writers Federation, puppies, Puppies Guide, puppies.About.com, puppy behavior, writers conference, writing

Feline Friday: SQUEAKY-Games Kitties Play

Watching cats play makes us smile, laugh out loud, and maybe even join in the fun. While adult pets play less than rambunctious babies, all cats play to some extent through their entire life. It's not only fun for you both, but healthy as well.

What about your cats? Do they have favorite toys or activities? Do your adult cats still play, or have they become sedate couch potato kitties?

By four weeks of age, kittens practice four basic techniques: play fighting, mouse pounce, bird swat, and fish scoop. The first play displayed by kittens is on the back, belly-up, with paws waving. Feints at the back of a sibling's neck mimic the prey-bite used to dispatch mice (toy or real). Kittens also practice the simpering sideways shuffle, back arched high, almost tiptoeing around other kittens or objects. Soon, the eye-paw coordination improves to execute the pounce, the boxer stance, chase and pursuit, horizontal leaps, and the face-off where kittens bat each other about the head. Read more about WHY cats play as well as HOW they play in this Paw Nation article.

Thrill of the Chase mouse-track toy--Seren was "eh, so-so" but she's never cared for these.

Seren, as an adult, doesn't play all that much–except at night when we're trying to sleep. That's when I hear her GALUMPHING up and down the stairs, chasing toy (or imaginary) mice. She's thrilled to have just received a BOX-'O-KITTY-TOYS from Play-n-Squeak and has been kitty-testing them. Check out that link for a way-kewl video demo, and to hear the actual mouse-squeak.

Seren wanted to cheek-rub the Spring Fling toy--it also squeaks with each head-bonk.

She's a tough sell so if Seren-kitty likes 'em, chances are your fur-kids will be thrilled. These "mice" actually SQUEAK like a real mouse–and that's a huge thrill for an indoor kitty. There's lots to choose from, and I've just highlighted a few.

Tiger Teaser is Seren's fav! Loves to head-butt the feather wand, and chase the squeaky mouse.

Do your kittens go overboard with play? Cat aggression and cat attacks may be either predatory or play aggression, and look identical. But when the kitten grapples your bare feet and chomps down, it's anything but fun and games for owners. You may suspect Fluff-Baby has turned into Demon-Cat, but truly, this is normal kitten behavior and he's not channeling his "inner lion" and planning to eat you. Here are 7 ways to stop kitten play aggression.

Twinkle Mouse not only squeaks, its eyes light up for nighttime play. I suspect "galumphing" is in this toy's future!

How do YOUR kittens (and adult cats) play? Do they invent games? I've known cats that run-run-run-run, LAND on a throw rug and sleddddddddddddd………… across the slick floor, for example. Or adult cats that leap to the tops of cabinets, knock over the box of dawgie treats, and play gravity experiments tap-tap-tapping 'em off the edge to feed the grateful pooch below. So what's your cat's pleasure? Toys–or toes. *eg* Please share your favorite ever cat toy or game.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Feline Fridays, Wags & Purrs Tagged: Amy Shojai, books, cat aggression, cat behavior, cat play, cat toys, cat training, Complete Kitten Care, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, kitten play, kittens, pets, Play-n-Squeak Toys, www.playnsqueak.com

Thoughty Thursday: Tick-Tock

This week has flashed by. Today at noon, I leave for the Oklahoma Writers Conference, which means I've cut the work week by two days. Not the work load, just the amount of time to get 'er done.

Seven blogs, a newspaper column, Paw Nation article, two Ask Amy videos, a TV segment and . . . oh yeah, a meeting with my co-author for some revisions on our play. And a SUPER-SECRET-HUSH-HUSH-PUPPY PROJECT that launches tomorrow evening (shhhh, it's puppy-licious!). In between it's twittering, FB-ing, reading emails, and answering list members, friends and colleagues.

I'm panting–just like the Magical-Dawg after a Frisbee marathon!

Family and friends sometimes suggest I should take some time off. Relax. Stop and smell the roses. And those who read this blog know that there are plenty of roses available to sniff. The thing is, there just aren't enough hours and I have soooooooooo many more projects I want to do. And time is not infinite, at least not for humans–or our pets.

My colleague Jean Fogle died this week. She was my age. She loved life, loved dogs, and was a brilliant writer and even more brilliant photographer. She left behind a husband and two sons, a loving family and countless colleagues and friends who openly admired her courage, joy, and spirit. She wasn't given enough time. Jean will be missed.

No pictures today. Nothing I post could possibly compare to the images Jean produced. So I'll leave you with a link to Jean's website where you can enjoy her gardens, her dogs, her spirit.

Go hug your dogs, your cats, your kids and loved ones for me. Plenty of time for me to take a break–later. I've got too much writer-icity left in me, so the break will come much, much later. Clock's ticking . . . .

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Uncategorized

Woof Wednesday: Canine Cake, Bad Backs & Dig THIS!

Royal Corgi Cake, Aroooooo!

Cynthia over at The Interior Design Hound posts the most outrageous, fun, and interesting dog-matic information on her blog. She featured the Corgi Cake, created by Michelle Sugar Art, along with a kewl video of the dogs enjoying their snack–(does that smack of canine cannibalism?!), plus lots more Royal Canines through history.

At least this edible Corgi isn't prone to back problems the way real long-bodied, short-legged dogs are. I'm sure the Royal Family wouldn't have a problem funding cutting edge care should they suffer an injury. What would you do if your dog suddenly became paralyzed? Here's a true story from Pet Care in the New Century. 

MODERN MIRACLES: JENNY TAKES A STAND

When Jenny the Dachshund stopped climbing the stairs, her owner, Connie Mallory of Redmon, Washington, knew something was wrong. "I put some ice on her back and she got better," says Connie, "but it didn't last." Within a few days the 13-year-old dog couldn't walk and had to drag her back legs. Her rear end was totally paralyzed.

Connie tearfully called her sister, who urged her to attend a lecture held that same day by a veterinary chiropractor from Seattle. He had a new therapy called VOM that was supposed to offer new hope to pets that suffered from back and other orthopedic problems. Connie was skeptical.

She didn't want Jenny to suffer, and she was reluctant to put her through the trauma of surgery. Feeling she didn't have much choice, she made an appointment to have Jenny put to sleep. But that Sunday, on the way to the vet's office Connie stopped on an impulse to listen to what Dr. William Inman had to say. She arrived in time for the last half hour of the lecture.

Connie sat with the paralyzed Dachshund on her lap in the back of the room, petting Jenny and trying to stop her tears. Jenny wasn't the only dog in the room—Dr. Inman was conducting demonstrations during the lecture—and before she knew it Connie had her dog being examined by the veterinarian.

Dr. Inman used the activator to examine and treat Jenny. The paralyzed little dog lay quietly on the table without moving throughout the treatment. Then the doctor stood her up on the table.  "She took three or four steps—and everyone in the room started crying!" says Connie. "She's 16 years old now, and still walking and even running. Jenny moves a little sideways, but she keeps on ticking."

Of course, when the lil' guys are healthy they drive us nuts in other ways. Do your Dachshunds dig? What about your holy Terriers? What do you do about doggy digging maniacs? The latest Ask Amy offers some suggestions but I bet y'all have even more, please share!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Video, Woof Wednesdays Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, books, cat books, Corgi, Cutting Edge Medicine, Dachshund, dog, dog back problems, dog behavior, dog books, dog cake, dog digging, dog training, Dr. William Inman, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Interior Design Hound, old dogs, Pet Care in the New Century, royal corgies, veterinary care, veterinary chiropractic, veterinary medicine, VOM, writing

Tuesday Tips: Ask Amy Thinks Outside The Box

 

Now that I've got your attention, no–that is NOT a real book. The totally twisted folks over at Smoshed.com posted a whole slew of tongue-in-cheek (I hope!) "Rejected Children's Books" . Here's another one that seems to fit today's theme–think outside the box & get off the @#$%^! pot!

As writers we need to know our audience, and give 'em what they want. Since all my kids have four feet and fur, I'll leave it to others to wax poetic on what's appropriate for human children. But for the rest of us, one truism remains in today's world of publishing. Even though it's changing faster than Magical-dawg sheds fur, publishers still want the same-ol' same-ol' but with a twist.

They want a book that's exactly the same (so it'll sell), only different. Arggg! Listen, if you're writing to a popular "trend" the train has already left you behind. Legacy publishing–the traditional Noo Yawk way of doing things–takes so long that by the time your agent search, editor offer, and publish date rolls around, your piping hot trend is old news fit only for the bottom of the cat box. And we all know that discerning kittehs snub stale boxes and look for pristine accommodations.

Creative use of Beatrice's wedding hat...

So the tip of the day is — WRITE WHAT MOVES YOU. Put on your big-kid panties, get off the pot and write what YOU want to read, find your passion, and never mind if others raise eyebrows. It takes a brave soul to be a trend-setter. Somebody had to be the first to turn dry courtroom jargon into a thriller, transform doctor-speak into bone-chilling narratives, fairy-tale broom-riding kids into an international phenom, and cold-blooded suckers into sparkly hearthrobs. Study why that trend works. Then set it on its ear, and find a way to make your twist a success. And remember to listen to your audience!

I'm trying, believe me. Fur keeps getting in my ears.

How do you think outside the box? What passion rules your writing–or other creative outlet? Are you knitting fantastical creations for your grandkids–or the Siamese down the street? Have you figured out a new way to clicker train your goldfish, or teach middle school students? (Now THAT'S scary!)

My audience, for instance, gets pissy about cat box issues. (How's that for an awkward segue? Stinks, don't it…) Litter-ary problems are the top cat behavior complaint and there's lots of reasons why Sheba chooses to …ahem…  "color" outside the lines. I suspect there are parents out there with their own potty-training horror stories. Lucky for me, Seren-kitty has been faithful to her box. This latest Ask Amy "covers" a common potty problem. What are some other tips that have worked for you? Please share!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Howls & Hisses, Kindle, Pet Peeves Radio, Tuesday Tips, Video, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, bling, books, cat behavior, cat behavior problems, cat care, cat health, cat litter box problems, cat training, cats, childrens books, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Kindle, pet books, Pet Peeves radio, publishing, smoshed.com, video, writing tips

Monday Mentions: Evil vs Bliss

I want to go back to that time of innocence, when we felt secure and didn't sleep with an ear cocked or watchful eyes scanning for danger. When shoes were shoes and not potential weapons. When profiling was the artist's way of rendering a painting. But we'll never go back, whether revenge is satisfied or not. But we can go forward.

It's raining buckets in N. Texas today, and started yesterday morning with horizontal winds that blew down power lines, tree limbs, and even church steeples. After the late night news, it's almost as if the sky weeps for a world that feels the need to celebrate the death of one evil man who caused such anguish to so many. That's an added horror for me. And I pray that never again will such an act give our nation the justification to seek and then celebrate a man's death–however justified.

This coming weekend I'll be at the OWFI Conference offering sessions on media training for authors, and a how-to course on Ebooks. April is the one-year anniversary of my journey into Kindle-ization with my backlist and a lot has happened since then! Watch the blog, cuz I want to share my successes and challenges–learn from my mistakes. I'll share a whole series of blogs on Ebooks and Kindle-ization, with lots of great links for how to do it, and ways to market and promote your self-pub'd Ebooks.

One of last week's posts ask readers, what's your bliss? Several readers responded either in comments section or privately about wanting to become involved in an animal-related carreer, or writing. Those certainly brought me my bliss! So today's Monday Mentions offer some resources as a jumping off spot, and also celebrates a few folks who not only found their bliss but have helped others do the same. Enjoy!

Diana L Guerrero (Ark Lady) offers animal career counseling–and has a terrific newsletter and blog that covers animal training, animal careers and animal behavior. She's also a terrific lady!

Careers with Dogs: The Comprehensive Guide to Finding Your Dream Job  is a terrific guide by Kim Thornton, an award winning columnist for MSNBC and author of many pet care titles. Kim's one of the best pet journalists out there, and is a past president of the Cat Writers' Association.

Cat Writers' Association is a professional organization of folks with a special interest in cats. Members are writers, authors, broadcasters, artists, photographers–you name it. CWA holds an annual writers conference open to the public and aspiring writers, which this year will be the weekend before Thanksgiving in White Plains, New York.

REAL MEN CARE–Promoting compassion by honoring four men who made a big difference in animal lives this past year–if' you're in the DFW area, please check it out!

The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants offers Continuing Education courses on everything from dog aggression and cat handling to pet first aid courses and how giraffes (or other animals) learn.

"Catch the Wave" of outstanding training sessions at the 2011 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Educational Conference and Trade Show. Speakers include some of the top names in the dog training industry.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Kindle, Monday Mentions, Uncategorized, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, APDT.com, Ark Animals, Ark Lady, Association of Pet Dog Trainers, books, Careers With Dogs, cat, cat behavior, cat books, cat writers association, Dallas Animal Advocates, Diana L Guerrero, dog, dog behavior, dog training, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, IAABC.org, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Kim Thornton, Metroplex Animal Coalition, Oklahoma Writers Federation, writers conference, writing

Feline Friday: National Hairball Awareness Day

That blue bed is as hairy as Seren-Kitty!

Do you know what today is? In celebration, Seren-kitty left me a "present." She has good aim. She nailed the buttons on my printer, the scanner that sits next to it, AND a couple of books stacked on the scanner. One of the books was borrowed. But it's my own fault. That hairball had to come out somewhere.

 It's National Hairball Awareness Day! RomeoTheCat and FURminator are co-sponsoring an event to bring attention to this big-hairy-deal.

 Have you ever discovered the latest squishy "kitty creation" by stepping on it, barefoot, at 3 a.m.? Ewww!

 Cats, and some dogs (Pomeranian owners, am I right?!) swallow fur during self-grooming. Hopefully it ends up in the litter box or yard. But when it comes out the other end, the cat vomits hotdog or cigar-shaped hairballs.

Cats spend 30% of their lives grooming.

 Shedding season increases the odds kitty will "urk" more often, especially in longhair cats. The techie term for hairball is a "bezoar."   I warn you, don't click that link until after breakfast. I'm not posting a picture cuz I don't want readers to "urk." (Turns out, humans get bezoars, too, Ewww!) 

I'm fortunate that Seren has short fur, but even that can accumulate and be swallowed. We kid that fur in a pet home should be considered a condiment, but if kitty swallows too much, it stops up the system. Baseball-size hairballs have been removed from cats. Most cases won't need surgery, though, and most hairballs can be easily eliminated.

That's a wad won't go into the cat, or stain my carpet on the way out.

 The no-brainer solution is to groom kitty and pull off the fuzz before it gets swallowed. I have grooming tools–the Furminator (above) is awesome and works especially well on the Magical-Dawg. (I don't even wanna think what size bezoars he'd produce!)  And Seren enjoys the attention. Here are 7 more ways to manage hairballs.

So yes, I know, I already admitted this was my fault. Luckily the printer, scanner, and books cleaned up with only trace evidence of kitty DNA left behind.

 Seren just smiles. She's always been critical of my reading material.

Do your cats get hairballs? What do you do to prevent 'em? What about your DOGS and hairballs? Cats that groom dog friends increase their hairball risk, too. Do your fur-kids like or loathe grooming. What are some tricks you use to keep a handle on fuzzy-icity? Please share!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Feline Fridays Tagged: Amy Shojai, bezoar, cat care, cat grooming, Complete Kitten Care, Furminator, hairballs, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, kittens, National Hairball Awareness Month, PawNation.com, pet shedding, pets, Romeo The Cat

Thoughty Thursday: What's YOUR Bliss?

"Bliss is a ball . . ."

I've had a lot of jobs over the years. Some were glorious adventures while others hit big numbers on the suck-ometer. Cashier, actress, optometric associate, legal assistant, TV news reporter/anchor, vet tech, bank compliance officer, spokesperson—shoveling crappiocca (and dodging what was lobbed my direction) came with every position.

Oh, I wouldn't trade the experiences for anything, despite the aromatic negatives. In fact, I'd go back in a heartbeat to employee gigs with a very select few despite son-of-an-ass-terick bosses because I loved the work that much.

Some folks-in-charge aren't nearly as classy as this lil' fellow.

A N'Orleans street musician playing for pennies was asked why he spent hours playing for so little. The gentleman said, "Hey man, it's what I do." He'd found his bliss.

I meet lots of dissatisfied folks. They feel trapped or prevented in some way from finding their personal bliss. Maybe they want to adopt a pet but have allergies, or the $%^&*(!#% apartment won't allow a furry companion. Or they're faced with house payments, braces for the kid's teeth, college tuition, replacing the hail-damaged roof or (fill in the blank) bills that enslave them to a hated 9-to-5 and have no time to write their novel.

Have you let fear of failure or embarrassment, hurt pride or anger over other folk's jerk-icity keep you from doing what you love? Guilty as charged.

I'm guilty of using the "time" excuse—"when I finish this next deadline, project, whatever, then I'll have time to  . . ."  My mom tells me if it's important enough, I'll find the time.

Grubby paws can mean you're digging for gold.

We all make excuses. It's the human thing to do. But if something or someone tried to keep me from my fur-kids, from writing my heart, from shiny objects or my music, my God-gifted bliss—I'd by-heaven find a way over, through, or around. And shame on me for letting anyone try to take that away!

There's a rush, a natural "right-ness" and physical Snoopy-Dance-'O-Joy feeling in doing what is meant to be. It never gets old, but there's no real destination, either. It's a moving target that makes you reeeeeach just a bit beyond comfort level time and again.

I'm ready to stretch a bit. How 'bout you? What is your bliss? What's kept you from reaching out for that brass ring?

 

To stay up to date on all the latest cat-egorical or dog-matic content, subscribe to this blog , "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Thoughtful Thursdays, Wags & Purrs, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, cat books, cats, dog books, dogs, German shepherd, http://www.amyshojai.com, Kindle, old dogs, veterinary care, writers conference, writing

Woof Wednesday: Have You Howled Today?

Magical-Dawg with a favorite bear toy--when not shaking the stuffing out of it, he sucks on 'em.

Living in Tornado Alley keeps North Texans alert to the weather changes–and the past week has been a doozy. My phone went out last Friday. This morning (6 days later!) the fine folks at Verizon fixed it. Wind, rain, hail (some the size of golf balls) grabbed and shook those phone cables like a terrier with a rat–or my Magical-Dawg with his stuffed bear. At least this time the electrical downed lines didn't spark a grass fire.

Still had my cell phone. And the DSL line for the computer and email worked. In this "connected" world we've got so many ways to communicate–emailing, texting, faxing, FB-ing, twitter-icity–could you go back to basics? What are the options? Smoke signals? The fire marshall would throw cold water on that notion. Tom-tom drums? Gotta have rhythm for that. Why not howls!

We've got lots to howl about, actually.  The horrifying "train your virtual dog to fight" Android Ap created lots of raised hackles in the pet writing community. My colleague Steve Dale's recent blog details the objections–and the REMOVAL of the Ap. ArrrrrrrroooOOOOOOOOOO!  (p.s., just learned it's risen from the dead in another incarnation, hisssss!)

Another colleague, Gina Spadafori of PetConnection.com is on the road with my one-time co-author Dr. Marty Becker on a 7-week book tour. They arranged with Marriott for stays along the way–including a place for the tour's spokes-dog McKenzie, a highly trained and easy going Flat Coat Retriever. Well–at the very first stop in Houston on the 30-city tour, Gina and McKenzie got evicted…no dogs allowed, never mind it'd been cleared by Corporate. Same thing happened at the next stop. ArrrrrrrrrrrrrrOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! The powers-what-be are working on it–meanwhile, McKenzie aka McKutie-Dawg spends time in the big bus rock star suite with Gina.

A howl works for celebration, for lamentation, for communication–and lots of other  "ations" including the canine n-ation. High tech human conversation loses lots in translation without the natural audible inflection, not to mention (pun intended!) the silent body language that goes with it. And I am NOT referring to elevated digits in rude salutes–although being without a phone for nearly six days tempted me to flex my fingers. Harrumph!

Howls are canine singing--sorta kinda in a way...

Dogs know how to communicate. You gotta go "low tech" to really connect with doggy wags, growls, whines and more. My Paw Nation article on doggy communication hit the high spots. Do your dogs howl? When do they howl–and why? Have you howled today? Try it–for a terrific stress relief (and you might get your canine's singing along). Lately the tornado sirens have stirred up the canine chorus at my house. So I thought this Ask Amy was timely, enjoy!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show , and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways !

Filed under: Bling Alert!, Howls & Hisses, Video, Woof Wednesdays Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, beagles, coyotes, dog behavior, dog communication, dog video, dogs, Dr. Marty Becker, flat coated retriever, German shepherd, Gina Spadafori, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.petconnection.com, http://www.shojai.com, Paw Nation, puppies, rat terrier, Steve Dale, wolves