Everyday Epiphanies

Meet Pua.

I've been wanting another dog for a while. I've toyed with the idea, gone back and forth. Somedays I was all for it and somedays I was quite content with just the one I have. Then there was the question of "what kind" of dog should we get? We had so much luck with Kai being a labrador retriever, I thought, another lab would be perfect. But the breeders here ask for an arm and leg for one. So I've been visiting the humane society a few times over the course of several months. Some days we took a few of the dogs on walks, but just "undecided."

Then I stumbled upon Paws of Hawaii, a rescue organization specializing in adoptions. From there I followed their Facebook page and routinely checked the dogs they had on there. One day we came across puppies that were abandoned and when they were ready for adoption we went to meet them. There were so many families that day hovering over these puppies. Unfortunately only 3 of them survived. My daughter had every inclination we were coming home with a cute little puppy, but in the corner of our eye, stood Pua with a baby blue T-shirt on that said "Adopt Me". She walked in circles with her foster mom in circles, a bit anxious or scared. We walked towards her to say hello and she immediately "looked" into our eyes. I'm not exaggerating for the sake of writing a story... Pua is the first dog I've seen that will look at you directly in your eyes and just stare into your soul almost. My husband pet her and she instantly sat down and cuddled with him. From that moment, I knew.. we were not coming home with a puppy.

As my hubby asked if he could walk her around, I talked with the Foster mom about her story and more information about her. Pua was born on the Big Island and was rescued with her brother. She and her brother were really close and they tried desperately to have them "both" adopted so they could stay together, but the guy that took her brother already had another dog and could not take Pua. Her foster mom has had her for only 4 months, before that she lived with the owner of Paws of Hawaii.

As I began to fill out the paper work to begin the adoption process, there was another family inquiring about her. A young couple who just thought she was the sweetest thing they've ever seen. Shortly after that, a family came in looking for an older dog with a heart breaking story of just losing their dog abruptly. Then I told myself, if I don't take her, she will go home with one of these families. I had to make a decision in those few short minutes. As I looked at my husband who was drowning with kisses by her, I could see he fell in love to. Izzy wasn't that keen of the idea at first, she was stuck on the notion of having a little puppy to carry around.

An hour later, she was in the car with us propped up next to her brother, Kai... on our way to her new home.

 

This is the first time she has met Ethan, she just gazed into his eyes.

She preferred to sleep on my lap or being really close to someone.

 

Her first week with us was a transition and much like bringing another "child" in your life, it requires a lot of work and sticking to your routine while teaching her trust us and let her know she will be loved in our home. Although she quickly attached to our family she was still learning her ways around our house. I was used to Kai's behavior and his personality, it took a few days to remind myself she is a totally different dog with a different personality. For example, she's a sight-hound, a mix of whippet and Doberman driven by her natural instincts to "go after" little creatures (like birds or cats) she does not have that same self restraint nor the training to "leave it". So while walking she would "lunge" at other dogs or birds. Glad to say, today she has learned to master those urges with simple "leave it" command. And I'm not sure if it's because she is a female dog (must google this) she has a tendency to "bark" at the sound of other dogs passing as if she wants to protect this house or us. Kai never seem to be bothered by any of that... so again this was all new to me. But we're working on that. I remind myself that she is indeed a female dog and they seem more like "protectors" than the male.

So they are all minor issues, along with her appetite. She is not "food-driven" like Kai so I find it humorous how she does not scarf down her food like Kai, instead eating it slowly like a true lady.

Okay.. so I may have placed Kai's leg over her... but still they were cuddling.. :)

My heart and my lap is indeed full of love.

 I could not be more blessed to have rescued this little angel. She's the perfect addition to this family. Although my first experience with a dog was with a breeder, I highly recommend rescuing a pet. Just to know that you have the power and heart to save a life of these amazing creatures, is a blessing in itself. I can't even begin to explain how having a pet in your life, just enriches it even more. It teaches you a thing or two that you could not recieve anywhere.

Pua, in Hawaiian, means "flower" and she is just as delicate as a flower. She is a mix of Whippet and Doberman, but when I look at her, I see more Whippet. I've done my research on her breed and she's got similar characteristics. She was born to run for sure and boy can she run! When we are out on an open field, I can't help but to smile and wish she could run forever! And on the softer more feminine side, she's quite sensitive. The minute your tone of voice changes, she backs up and runs the other way. She lives to please you and for free belly rubs. But she's the sweetest girl ever... I am so glad we made that decision to rescue another pet. If I could save more animals, I would. I have the uttmost respect for organizations that do.

 

Resurfacing.

(yes bad photo... straight out of the iPhone, but love this girl)

Last week my daughter came home and told me her teacher told her that her journal entries were well written and when her teacher asked where she learned to write so vividly, she replied, "My mom, she likes to write a lot on her blog..." 

My heart just melted.

I've always loved to write. Wheter it's a bullet list, a dream sheet, or my life's stories. I enjoy expressing myself through words. As a young girl, I looked forward to diaries as chronicles of my life.  And in the coming age, this Typepad blog has been a part of my life for nearly 8 years. That's a lot of writing if you ask me.

But as of lately.. call it pure laziness or lack of effort. My blog days seem long gone. Many reasons why, "life" in general. But these days, my life in detail seems recorded on my Instagram feed or "tweeted" on my Twitter. With these short burst of cyber connections to the world on the information freeway called Social Media, it's hard to sit down and type a few sentences to save my life. But I miss it.. I miss "cyber-venting" or just "sharing" the latest in the Barut Household or what's on my mind. I look back on my writings and I literally astound myself of how much real and raw, emotions were put in writing some of these passages into this thing called life. Sure there were "filler" segments that seem to highlight the weekend. But with all the intention of expressing myself and staying connected.

I'm literally still amazed at how many people will say "Well you haven't blogged in a while.." Then I'm like "Wow, someone is still reading this?" But I want to resurface, and come up for air once again. My daughter has insipred me to "Keep Calm, and Keep Writing..."

And with school for me just around the corner, you can bet this laptop will be attached to me and I'll be trying to find ways to steer clear from the massive amounts of homework.. so I may need that gateway to free myself from the stress of school for sure.

Till then, I can safely say.. I will try to write more than a constructively written "tweet" of more than 140 characters (including spaces).  Twitter is a fun way to "talk to yourself" though. Although in my head I feel like I have 2.1 million followers, who laugh at the silly little tweets I "shout out". In reality.. I don't and I laugh "with myself." Still it's the amusement I get that matters.

 

I'm Still Here (with Eminem)

Yup, this is the most random blog.. ever.

So I guess after my massive blog about catching up on Project Life, I was creatively drained and obviously at a loss for words cause I haven't blogged since. A few days of hanging out in the computer room and scrapbooking was enough to make me steer clear to find other things to do. I guess it's all a part of that balance, well in this case, lack of. In case you haven't noticed, I'm one of those "All or Nothing" kind of gals. Where I invest all my time in one thing and seem to lose sight of other things until it is done. I guess to my benefit, that's how I get stuff done.

Now it's December and I'm back in my Creative Corner because it's the start of December Daily, something I've been doing for the past 5 years. And as much as I toyed with the idea of not doing it, cause lets face it, I'm behind a few weeks on Project Life (again). I found myself in the craft store with Holiday papers in hand and fully inspired to do another December Daily. Why quit the tradition?

It's 10:04 pm. I'm usually drinking a cup of Rooibos tea while watching TV getting ready for bed, but I'm up organinzing my photos for my Project Life and December Daily. I haven't been able to download photos from my phone because my laptop was not backing up after I updated my iOS to Maverick... but finally got it fixed.

I've got Eminem's latest album blaring through the computer.


Speaking of Eminem, he will always be one of my favorite artists, despite how crude, insulting, or even offensive he is to some. His music will always send me adrift to a different place. His new album is another masterpiece, some which make me chuckle (in a dark and twisted way) but some lyrics that deserves to be on repeat.

One of my favorite is Beautiful Pain.

As time passes, things change everyday
But wounds, wounds heal
But scars still remain the same
But tomorrow today's gone down in flames
Throw the match, set the past up ablaze

So feel the fire beneath your feet
As you barely even perspire from the heat
Exhale deep and breathe a sigh of relief
And as you say goodbye to the grief
It's like watching the walls melt in your prison cell
But you've extinguished this living hell
Still a little piece of you dies, you scream

I feel the burn, watch the smoke as I turn rising,
A phoenix from the flames
I have learned, from fighting fights, that weren't mine
Not with fists, but with wings that I will fly

This song inspired me to get more "ink". I've always wanted to tattoo the Phoenix somewhere on my back.. Phoenix meanings deals with rebirth, growth, life, and so many more awesome attributes. The phoenix is a mythological bird that recycles its own life. When it perceives its impending death, the phoenix ignites itself into a magnificent fire. In time, it reemerges from its own ashes - reborn, renewed, and very much alive. (But it hasn't even been a year since my last ink... It's true, these things are addicting.)

Some of my other faves are:

Legacy
Headlights (the first time I heard this, I immediately put that on repeat!)
Rap God
Rhyme or Reason (chuckle.. this always makes me laugh)
Wicked Ways

This is the album that has been repeat while at the gym lately. It's pushed me through my sets, no need for extra caffiene, Eminem's got my back.

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Well this was a random post.
I swear I had all these pics and stories to share, mostly about my dog(s). But I'm sure you get enough updates and photos on my Instagram Feed. I love my dogs.. I think everyone should have pets, they teach us so much about life and love. But I'll get around to that, for now it's 10:40pm, way past my bedtime... back to the comfy sofa to finish off this tea and re-reading Catching Fire.