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Happy Friday from Bella and Wolfer!

What a great way to start a Friday...with a pic from Bella (King Charles) and Wolfer, her neighbor and BFF!  Have a great Friday everyone!!

Thursday pick-me-up from Slumdog!

I love this movie!  I love this song too...it's just fun!!

New Dog in the White House!

We have just learned that the Obama's have chosen a four-legged pup-in-chief...a Portuguese Water Dog.  Word is they will adopt a rescue, just after they get back from Spring Break.  No confirmation on whether this will be a sir or madam. 

Way to go first family!   Isabella would welcome any invitation to play on the South Lawn, as long as she can have a chat with President Obama on the need to educate the nation on the importance of spaying and neutering your furry friends. 

In the Car With Katherine!

I am so excited to share this amazing author with everyone!  This is actually a re-post of a story I did for Brett's blog, but I HAD to share with all of you Houston Dog Blog readers.  Katherine Center's writing is fun, poignant and most of all...purposeful! Her first novel, Bright Side of Disaster is awesome and her newest novel, Everyone is Beautiful, dropped February 17th!  In addition, you can get a daily dose of Katherine by checking out her blog by clicking here!

Hope you enjoy our chat! Don't forget it was done a year ago, so to learn the latest about what Katherine is up to, visit www.katherinecenter.com!  Hopefully we will have a chance to chat again for Houston Dog Blog soon!  She has a book signing for Everyone is Beautiful tomorrow evening at Brazos Bookstore and another March 3 at Blue Willow Bookshop if you want to get a signed copy and meet the lovely Katherine!

In the Car with Katherine Center!

On a rainy day in June of 07, Brett and I ventured out to go to a book reading for a client of his whose novel had just been published by Random House.  We pulled up to the Brazos Bookstore to find a line out the door and no parking. After parking what seemed miles away, we entered the packed store and found a space on the floor.  It was there that I was first introduced to the literary genius of Katherine Center.  Having gone with no expectation other than seeing the great shot Brett took of Katherine on the book jacket, I was instantly drawn to her cheery personality and, by the size of the crowd, I was not the only one. 

Leaving the reading with a huge smile on my face and a personalized copy of the book, I couldn’t wait to curl up and read.  Everything about the experience made me want to drop whatever I was doing and dive in. Even the cover had me excited! All of you who know me well know of my freakish love of Rubber Duckies and there in my hand was a bright blue book with a perfectly placed ducky.  What more could I want? Knowing my habit of starting a book and not finishing, I decided to save this for a planned excursion to Playa Del Carmen.  There I would have plenty of free time and the distraction of a novel to get me through the flight and shuttle ride to paradise. 

From page one, I was hooked.  Eagerly turning pages to see what the main character, Jenny, would do next.  As the book progresses you find yourself not only routing for Jenny, but yelling out loud “No he didn’t!” and “Hell no!!”  You can’t help but love Jenny and relate to her struggles as a parent or recognize her characteristics in yourself or one of your closest friends.  From page to page you join Jenny on a journey that proves that there is a bright side to disaster.  In fact, after reading the final line you can’t help but have a positive outlook on life.  All of life’s troubles can lead to happiness and each journey builds strength and character that you didn’t know you had.

Since that rainy day in June, I have had the pleasure of meeting Katherine and her family at Brett’s studio and I knew I would love the book.  She has the type of personality that makes you want to hug her and the witty humor that legends are made of.  What struck me most was the way she interacted with her children. It is obvious that they are the center of her life and she handles the job of motherhood with patience and poise.  This is not a stuffy novelist with an entourage.  This is a mom, with a gift for storytelling and a passion for life.

Fast forward to February 2008 and I am getting ready to have a chat with Katherine for the blog.  I  have transitioned from an admirer to a huge fan. I touch base with her to confirm our scheduled discussion and she asks if I would mind talking while she is waiting in the carpool line at her daughter’s school.  Nothing is more fitting than talking to Katherine while she is on the move. As a matter of fact, I doubt there are any times that she is not on the move.  She, like her character, is a busy mom!  Between raising two young kids, maintaining a household and spending time with her husband, she is an award winning writer with one book published and three more on the way.  She has toured the country promoting the book and is gearing up to start a national promotional tour for the paperback release of Bright Side.  Her book has been chosen as a Breakout Selection by Target and will be featured in the Barnes and Noble Book Club.  Sounds a lot busier than anyone I know, and yet here she is on the phone with me, grabbing a latte at Starbucks and headed to the growing line of carpoolers.  Knowing that she had a window of time before the car was filled with the laughter of children, we got down to business. 

After a few minutes of me spouting praise and favorite excerpts, the first thing I had to know is when is the next book out?  I knew that she had an initial two-book deal with Random House, but learned that they have extended that offer to four books.  Book two is complete and books three and four are on their way.  Looks like we will see a new book a year till 2011.  How exciting!  Of course, based on the success she has had thus far, I predict we will be reading Katherine’s work well beyond 2011.

Her second book will be released in about a year as Bright Side will be released in paperback, with a new cover and the afore mentioned retail giants backing the work. 

The new book features “totally different characters” than Bright Side according to Center.

“The new novel features a woman with three boys under 4 who is swamped,” said Katherine.  “She moves from Houston to Massachusetts and finds that she is isolated with just the kids.  She is looking for the new her…who she is beyond kids,” she offered.  “It carries a similar tone of comedy related to life and is a bittersweet look at life and motherhood.”

Faced with nearly a year of waiting for the newest work, I revisit Bright Side and how the story came to life.  Following is a recount of our conversation:

RR:  I found all of your characters so familiar.  Are they based on people you know or a combination of people? For the main character Jenny, you paint a picture of controlled chaos and at times, hilarious visualizations of her struggles with motherhood.  Are these based on experiences you had with your tots? 

KC:  Everything is a collage.  As a story takes off characters come to life.  I actually never intended for the character Dean to be as bad as he was.  The story just wrote itself!  I would hear the characters talking in my head while I was in the middle of doing daily tasks and scramble to write the conversations on a paper towel with a crayon.

RR:  So you already had your first child when you were writing Bright Side? How and when did you find the time to complete the daunting task of writing a novel?

KC:  “I always wanted to be a writer.  I went to Vassar College on a creative writing scholarship and won the Vassar College Fiction Prize and was later accepted into the nationally recognized writing program at the University of Houston.

In the beginning I wrote a lot of short stories.  Peep Show, a collection of short stories led to me being a finalist for The Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction.  I was not very brave about sending work out, which is one of the most important factors in successful publication.  You must have a rock-solid faith in your work, which I didn’t have at the time.  I was not convinced the stories were going to interest others.  I would quit and say I was getting a real job, but I never could stop writing.

In the midst of this, I had my daughter.  Having a baby was not at all what I imagined.  It was so much better and harder. I didn’t write for a year and a half after the birth.  Everything was too frantic.  One night I was complaining that I couldn’t get any writing done and my sister said I should write a novel about being a mom.  That night I started writing and didn’t stop until I had a draft. It took six months to draft and nearly a year to revise. 

Then I became pregnant with my son.  There I was, novel in hand and baby on board.  He came early and before I knew it I was back in the baby life.  I put the book in a drawer and forgot about it.  One day, on a trip to the park with my kids I ran into a novelist acquaintance and, in the course of chatting, she offered to read my story.  She read the first three chapters and then offered to pass on to her agent.  After several months and a bidding war, Random House bought the book and we were on our way.

RR:   At your book signing party last summer you told the crowd about the Vanity Fair Party thrown for you the night before in NYC.  Did you ever imagine that you would receive such an honor?  What other fun stories can you share?

KC:  Just before the launch Vanity Fair threw a party for the book. We flew first class and hobnobbed with the publisher of Vanity Fair.  Twenty-four hours earlier I was changing diapers! A surreal and amazing experience.  A few months later, we were in LA for a reading and a man walked by who looked like Ben Affleck, to our excitement, it was!  I ran over and gave him a book signed to his wife Jennifer.  I told him that she may enjoy reading the book as a new mother.  He laughed and said “what about me, wouldn’t I enjoy it?”  As he was leaving he was snapped by paparazzi and the next week he was on this site with the book in his hand.  That was fun.

RR:  Can you describe yourself and your view on life?

KC:  In life, I like funny banter.  My husband Gordon is very funny.  I look forward to our fun banter daily. I believe in happy endings and that the suffering makes us better people if we are careful about it.  I also feel it is important to tell stories of struggle to show that people get through and triumph – it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you respond. 

RR:  Last question, although I could go on for days…what is your favorite book?

KC:  Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books.  It’s all about overcoming misery and rooting for the character!  To me, that is so satisfying!

Words to live by if you ask me.  Stay tuned for much more Katherine Center in the future and run, don’t walk, to buy your copy of Bright Side of Disaster and Everyone is Beautiful!   Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

 

Canines and Their Companions! Joy and Tiki Winkler!

Since starting Houston Dog Blog in August, I have been lucky enough to meet and chat with some really great folks!  One of my favorite parts about the blog is getting to hear fun stories about the unique relationship between dogs and their humans.  I decided to try and capture some of the unique pups and people and share them here in a new feature called Canines and Their Companions.  I hope to show how dogs and humans can inspire and help each other in their own special ways, remaining devoted companions throughout their lives.

To kick off the feature, I asked my friend Joy if she and Tiki, our resident yoga-dog, would like to give us a peek into their unique world. I am lucky that I get to see them at Joy Yoga Center daily, watching the hippest mom/dog-ter team take on the ancient practice of Yoga!  Here's your peek!

Canines and Their Companions! Joy and Tiki Winkler!

HDB:    How did you meet your canine companion?
J&T:    Tiki was a gift for my 29th birthday. 

HDB:    What is your favorite memory of your pup?
J&T:    I love how on Saturday mornings, Tiki sits in my lap while I give my lecture on the history and benefits of yoga.  It’s so adorable because she looks out and connects with each and every student, like she’s the one teaching.  And considering all the wonderful lessons to be learned from watching our dogs, I think the students learn as much from her as they do from me!

HDB:    What is your favorite thing to do with your dog?
J&T:    I love to bring Tiki with me to my yoga studio, the Joy Yoga Center.  She’s our official Yoga-Dog.  Before classes, she goes around to greet every student and share the love.  Sometimes, she gets so excited and enthusiastic about being at the studio, that she just can’t contain herself.  She races around the studio like a little Tasmanian devil with a huge smile on her tiny face – I call these her happy laps.

HDB:    Does your dog do any fun tricks or have a hidden talent?
J&T:    Tiki does an incredible Downward Dog.  She is quite the model for my yoga students.  If you ask her nicely, I’m sure she’ll demonstrate, especially if there’s a treat involved!

HDB:    If you had to describe your dog in one word, what would that be?
J&T:    Sassy

HDB:    If your dog could talk, what would she say?
J&T:    Tiki says, “I am the perfect model for how yoga can transform your life.  I am by nature a pretty high-strung little doggie, but yoga has taught me that when I take a minute to calm down and just breathe, I can enjoy and appreciate every moment of every day.  I’ve learned that even when I’m faced with challenging situations, like going to the vet or encountering a huge, scary dog on my walks, that I have a choice – I can revert to my old stressed-out reactions, or I can begin to even appreciate these challenges because, even if I can’t see it at the time, they are for my benefit.  After all, those trips to the vet aren’t meant to stress me out; they’re meant to keep me strong, healthy, and better prepared to run my happy laps around the studio.  Choosing to let go of the old stress reactions has made me a very joyful, hopeful, and generally blissed-out little dog, and I hope that you’ll give yoga a shot to see how blissed-out it can make you, too!”

HDB:    If your dog was a celebrity, who would they be?
J&T:    Tiki would be Madonna. She is feisty, strong-willed, and loves yoga.  And of course, Tiki can be quite the little performer when she has an audience.

HDB:    What song best represents your pooch?
J&T:     “I Like to Move It!.”  It’s the song from the cartoon Madagascar. This song seems especially appropriate as you watch her running her wild-eyed happy laps around the yoga students!

HDB:    Does your dog blog?
J&T:    Of course!  Tiki is a very wise little Chihuahua and loves to share inspirational stories about her adventures.  You can view these weekly “Tiki-grams” at http://blog.joyyogacenter.com.

HDB:    Is there an animal charity or group that you and your pooch are passionate about? If so, tell us more about the group!
J&T:    Tiki is passionate about supporting the Rescue Bank.  The Rescue Bank is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization committed to supporting the animal rescue and rehabilitation community with much-needed supplies and services. Operating on the "food bank" model, Rescue BankSM is a collection and redistribution point for surplus pet supplies and donations. These amazing volunteers are working to relieve area rescue groups and fosters of one of their most difficult tasks- identifying and soliciting donors for the everyday supplies needed to keep their animals healthy.  You can find more information and donate to the Rescue Bank at www.RescueBank.org.

If you want to meet Joy and Tiki, why not swing by Joy Yoga Center for a class! It will change your life!  Stay tuned for more Canines and Their Companions!  You never know who we'll feature next!

Got a Dirty Dog? Take Fido to Muddy Buddy Dog Self ServiceDogWash!

 There's a new place in Spring, TX for pet lovers to bring their not-so-clean pets and get then washed, dried and fluffed--Muddy Buddy Self Service Dog (and cat!) Wash.

Located at 3730 FM 2920 Suite 109, in Spring, TX, Muddy Buddy is the low-stress, low-cost answer to keeping your pets clean and smelling sweet. Everything you need is provided--shampoo, towels, drying station, even the aprons to keep you dry while Fido gets wet.

At a time when everyone seems to be tightening their economic belts, a trip to a groomer may be a luxury you can't justify. But a trip to Muddy Buddy is a family affair that will fit right in your budget. Bring the kids--they really love the atmosphere and they get a kick out of helping wash the family dog. Don't have a dog? Muddy Buddy even has a totally enclosed cat friendly wash area.

Rachel Abbott, owner and operator of Muddy Buddy, is always on site to help you through and lend a hand. "Owning a dog wash has been a goal of mine for a long, long time. I have 2 dogs and 4 cats of my own, and after a trip to the dog park--a stop for washing is a necessity!" Abbott is also the owner of Houston Whisker Sitter, a professional in-home pet sitting service.

Muddy Buddy also carries a variety of high quality pet food, pet treats, and other retail items. More information, along with pricing, is available at www.muddybuddydogwash.com.

Too Many Beagles!

Upstage Theater presents
Too Many Beagles
Benefitting
Basset Buddies Rescue of Texas
Adoptable Pets at each Performance

February 21 - March 8
Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00
How many is too many?? That depends on your point of view. Hey! Who let that Basset in? Come join the fun and the
 mischief as these unpredictable hounds romp and sing 
their way into your hearts. Learn a little about animal adoption, too.
 You might even adopt one! Performance written by Ann Richie. Music by Arnold Richie. Performance held at UpStage Theatre at Lambert Hall, also home of Opera in the Heights, located at 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, 77008.

Happy Friday from Stella!

How cute is Stella!  What a lucky dog and a lucky family to have found each other!

Stella was adopted from a breeder who had no more use of her.  Sad.  She lived in a cage her entire 4 years until her forever mom, Glenda, freed her.  She now is 17 pounds slimmer and is a happy, but lazy bulldog.  Stella and her mom are in training for the SPCA Mutt Strut which will be on March 7th.  Visit www.houstonspca.org/goto/glenda to see their web page and make donations.  They are strutting for all the homeless animals who need a forever home.  Stella lives with her 3 humans (Glenda, Dave and Riley and 2 sister dogs (Misty Lou, and Dali) and a cat (Jango).

It’s Country Time! By Henrietta!

Our friend Henrietta, from Houston Pet Talk is back and sharing her latest insight on staying slim! 

Well, it’s the New Year and I have only gained a respectable 5 lbs from the holidays. I thought that was quite an accomplishment until I was aptly reminded by my cousin Gidget (otherwise known as the Taco Bell Dog) that 5 lbs is 25% of my body weight. Didn’t know I had such a famous cousin?…well…we’re “distant” cousins. Very distant. And besides, why would I listen to someone who’s claim to fame is calling “Here lizard, lizard, lizard”?

So my next trick will be to remove the 5 lbs since swimsuit season is around the corner. I’ve tried Billy Blank’s “Kickboxing For 4 Leggs” and Suzanne Sommers’ “Abs-Olutely Canine”…didn’t work. I’ve tried The South Claw Diet, Cur-Tail and Biscuit Busters. No results. I’ve decided I need a new approach…I’m going to shake it off. UhHuh, that’s right. I’m going to dance those Greenies right off to my newfound love, Country Music.

As I see it, no other genre of music has paid more homage to canines than Country Music and I’m going to return the favor by making it my music of choice and my weight loss muse. Classics like “I Wouldn’t Take Her To A Dog Fight ‘Cause I’m Afraid She’d Win” or “I Was Drinkin’ Out Of The Toilet When Life Gave Me The Flush” are definite “must haves” for my IPAW.

Now, I can think of one more reason to hitch my leash to Country Music. The men are fine. I’ve posted notice at the local watering hole that I’m no longer available. I heard the howls of pain all the way down at the Piggly Wiggly. Yeah, I’m movin’ on to Dierks Bentley (me and his dog Jake could make a good roadie team!). That boy makes my tail wag!…Wonder if he’d write a song for me? It might go something like this:

Went down to Houston where I’d never been before
I ain’t seen such pretty girls with as many legs as four
There’s really a special one that’s just right for me
 She loves a good steak and a sniff of a tree

Our future together would be filled with lots a’ fun
She’d bring me the paper and I’d rub her belly in the sun
As she drinks from the toilet, I’d have a bottle of beer
She’d lick my nose and I’d scratch her behind the ear…

Oliver, Chi Chi and Hudson!

Meet our newest Furry Friends Oliver, Chi Chi and Hudson!  We met their dads, John and Dean, through our friends John and Stephen this weekend when we all enjoyed a few margaritas on the patio of Ninfa's on Navigation! 

Chi Chi, a is a 10 year old toy poodle and die hard New Yorker who controls the roost by marking over every inch of where the boys mark! She is also, as you can see, quite the fashionista!

Oliver is a 13 year old Shih Tzu who is also a die hard New Yorker.  So much so, he still does his business on concrete.  Once a city dog, always a city dog :-)!

Last, but definitely not least, is Hudson, a 5 year old Shih Tzu.  Unlike his siblings, Hudson hails from Texas and has a heart the size of our great state.  He also loves to help his dad Dean in the garden by ensuring that all squirells stay away!