Mental Health Parity 2010

This is a big deal when and if it actually happens and insurance companies don't go crazy in the meantime...
Check it out!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/washington/06mental.html

sometime soon

I may just write something again sometime soon. In the meantime I am watching my roomate and dog do yoga together. She does downward dog, then he does. It's amazing!
You should check out the Film Call and Response though and educate yourself about human trafficking. It'll break your heart likely, and perhaps move you to fight for justice. I'm going on Saturday night.

SWIM!

Fun Times.

why my dog is hilarious and [somewhat] not that smart.

I just returned from a morning of appointments and errands. As usual I left Spike inside to nap and occasionally get into the random foodstuff container. He is smart in that when he is distraught that I haven't paid him due attention he decides to tear up mail or an easily accessible package of food. With serving, walking other peoples dogs, and then school I admit my attention toward Spike has been menial of late. Which will likely explain the following episode.

After bringing my groceries inside I let Spike outside. Usually he stays close to the car hoping that he gets to go with me to my next destination, even if I'm not going anywhere. Today he decided he was not going to get left behind. Standing a few feet from the back of my car Spike decides to take a chance at getting into the car by launching himself full force into the CLOSED door of my hatchback! All of a sudden I see him take this giant leap smack into the back of my car. His four legs all sprawled and claws trying to grab hold to the roof. Oh dog of desperation! Gravity quickly took over and Spike, a bit confused, planted himself back on the ground and gave me the most curious look-"what just happened?" (in his eyes).

"Um, well Spike, you just threw yourself headfirst, full throttle into a stationary object."

"oh. okay. ho hum." (my ex-roommate does the greatest Spike impression!)

I offered my condolences then had to laugh.

Then check out the paint on my new car...luckily both spike and the car came away sans injury.

I say [somewhat] not that smart because that is obvious...He is smart in the way he will get back at me if I'm not around enough. Generally he finds something that is mine and chews it up. Luckily he doesn't get mad all that often but he has eaten quite a few towels, old pizza boxes, a shoe, a book cover, and other recyclables within reach of his outside cable. Many times I've gotten in my car to leave only to see him go for a large piece of cardboard with a look of "take that ALISON!"

Spike also has a huge flab of skin on his neck that when pulled up looks like a fin. It also can be put into a pony tail. This is entertaining.

Spike knows how to sit, shake (although he hates it when you actually touch his feet so he just puts his paw up and tries not to have it touched), lay down, and go to his bed. The hilarious part about his tricks, however, is the fact that he just knows the behaviors not the word associated with them. So as soon as I get out a treat he goes through all of the tricks at once until he gets his food. I'm not too concerned about this as you can tell.

Successful car entry. Spike as a shark or dolphin. Spike asking "WHAT are you doing to me Alison?"






Generally I don't anthropomorphize animals. Today, however, is an exception. Spike says "hello" to all of you ;)

Shabbat!

Meet my tattoo.

A Serious Question.

Why is it that a man who can sing or play an instrument or do both well so enchanting/compelling/captivating?
Seriously.
Truly, what are your thoughts?

Urban Walker

Of late I've noticed the widespread usage of the word "Urban." It is seemingly the "in" thing so I thought I would capitalize upon this little five lettered friend before it goes out of style.

I consider myself something of an urban walker. I don't necessarily walk to many destinations but I walk a lot. At work I walk around five to seven miles, around and around and around the restaurant, back and forth, up and down. Hey it's urban and I'm walking. Restaurant walking can be quite entertaining... As a server you just never know who you are going to walk up to and where they are at in their story. Perhaps they are celebrating an anniversary, a return from war, or a promotion. Perhaps they are having an affair (sadly and truly). Perhaps they are making out in one of the little corner boths every single time you come to the table. This style of walking is good practice for counseling I think, and developing what my professors call "containing" or "holding." Meaning keeping a lot of tension, ambiguity, and emotion inside (kind of) on behalf of the other person and yourself. Restaurant walking also strengthens my back and arms as I cary loads upon loads of cheese and meat and chocolate. It's almost a full body workout.

I walk dogs in various locations in Tacoma with no particular destination in mind, only with the purpose of moving around. For the most part I love these walks. Particularly at night in the summer. Tonight after I finished my urban restaurant walking I went straight to dog walking. Warm summer nights such as these are beautiful. My pace slows down and I notice life around me, perspective changes. I love the quiet calmness of sleepy houses. I love the warm lights I don't see during the day, the landscaping illuminated from the ground up rather from the sun. The night smells different, behaves different. Tonight the wind picked up and as I walked under the stoic old pines of North tacoma I felt their presence and that of the lazy air. Cooky looking cats always run around in the shadows. My mind spends time dreaming.

All this to say. I like to walk and I walk a lot. And I hope you get to walk a lot too and really SEE all that surrounds you.

Summer

I like the smell of summer. I can tell it’s here when the heat conjures the musty molecules too heavy to rise in the cold winter months. Those molecules that lie dormant in my carpet and closets and basements and garages. Plants and trees also tell me summer arrived as I walk past their blossoms and do a double take with my nose…Really, that tree smells that good? Whoa. The lilacs are just beginning to bloom as well. This means my walks around the neighborhood will be interrupted by quick stops to breath in their fleeting fragrances. The cherry trees announced the arrival of spring a while ago with their crazy pink blooms. Now they mock winter’s snows by dropping their petals like a mid-December dusting. Except it’s pink. My neighbors even use their leaf blowers to clean up what I would dub a “party favor” for spring’s arrival. My next favorite tree is what I call the “wedding tree.” I don’t know the proper name, but they are short trees trimmed so that their long branches full of white or pink blossoms fall to the ground. They look like they should line a bride’s wedding isle. Their flowers are nature’s way of welcoming the wedding season I think.
Looking forward to roses, drinking beer on my back porch, and warm summer nights,
With Love,
Alison