Sweet Yet Sour

The End of Dog Racing in Colorado

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 | The Daily Special | 1 Comment

Last Saturday, June 28th, was the last day of live Greyhound racing at the only remaining dog track in Colorado, Mile High Racing.  Apparently this was due to the track owners not bringing in enough money during the winter season to justify having dog racing during the winter months.  Dog owners were asked to race the dogs from April to September only, and dog owners refused, since the dogs need to be fed and housed all year long – which is costly.

Unfortunately, this means that there will be a huge amount of dogs that need homes.  The organization that we got Cash through (Colorado Greyhound Adoption) is estimating at least 200 dogs that will need to be adopted, if not more.   And not to be dramatic here, but if the owners cannot find homes or other race tracks in other states to race their dogs at, the dogs will be euthanized.

I’m not exactly sure how to feel about the end of racing in Colorado.  On the one hand, I don’t get the impression that the dog’s lives while they race is that great and so I think it’s good that there is a chance for many dogs to have a better life.  On the other hand, it seems like a huge task to get hundreds of dogs adopted, so I fear that many will go unwanted.

If you want a great, calm, well-behaved dog, I believe now that there is no better breed than the Greyhound.  Seriously, look at our sweet dog:

Isn’t Cash cute? Before he met us, he lived in a concrete kennel for so long that his hind quarters and chest still don’t have hair.  Before he met us, he didn’t know about things like dog treats, toys, glass doors, stairs or how to live in a house.

Everyday we are glad that we rescued him. Everyday, we are glad that we got this large, but sweet and good dog. He’s not a guard dog, but that’s not what we wanted.  Mike wanted a large dog, like a Rottweiler, and I wanted something that I could control. We compromised, and we know we made the right choice.

For centuries, these dogs were revered and only royalty were allowed to keep them.  Racing of them began a long time ago in Egypt and spread into Europe; it’s been called the “Sport of Queens”, because the dogs were kept and raced by female royalty.  (Hunting is the sport of kings.)

For a long time, many veterinary practices would keep a Greyhound on staff because they are so docile that they are easy to use for blood donations.

We have never had a problem with Cash and our cats, Anna or our pesky 2 year-old nephew.  One of the cats took a swipe at him in the first few days and he’s never been near them since.  Adoption organizations always test the dogs for cat friendliness and will tell you if the dog thinks cats are prey.

We have also never had a problem with Cash and other dogs.  Except once, when a Husky tried to mount him at the dog park, and he turned and growled, but really, who wouldn’t?

When I heard that the track was closing, I called Mike and we discussed getting another Greyhound.  I think for the moment, with Anna here, we simply can’t, but we would love to do so in the future.  These dogs are so easy that many people we meet have multiple Greyhounds.  Mike and I always discuss that if we win the lottery, our dream is to get a big ranch and adopt lots of Greyhounds.

So I am asking you, my readers, to spread the word about the track closing.  This is a wonderful dog breed; if you want to try one out, most organizations have foster programs to acclimate the dogs to living in a home (there is some house training involved) so you can easily volunteer to do as such.  Most dogs available for adoption will spend several weeks in a foster home and so they will come to you house trained.

They really are great dogs, just come meet ours if you want proof!

Sex in the City (Spoilers)

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 | The Daily Special | No Comments

Whoohoo! I finally got to see Sex in the City. Jen, Ellebee and I must be the last women in their thirties in America to see this movie. (I put “spoilers” in the title of this entry, but really, I am the last person to see the movie, so I doubt it will matter.)

On Wednesday, Ellebee and Jen graciously met me out here in the way far away boonie burbs to see Sex in the City.  Mike babysat the munchkin and it was the first time I had left her for more than an hour.   I was really worried and nervous about how they would both do, and then on the way to the theater I thought, “If she cries, it won’t kill her, and that’s the only bad thing that’s going to happen while I’m away.”

So I relaxed and went to Walgreens, where I spent $6 total on king size packages of Whoppers, Junior Mints, Goobers, and plain and peanut M&M’s.  This is why I carry the big purse – so that I can shove all that stuff in there and no one will know… And seriously, what a deal, six packages of candy for $6!  I paid more for the bottle of water at the theater than I did for all that candy.

Anyway, it was nice to escape again into the lives of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha.  The fashion is always amazing, as is the idea that somehow Carrie’s tiny apartment has enough closet space to fit all those designer clothes and shoes.

I have never, nor will I ever, be able to identify with the ladies in the show.  There have been moments though, when things happen to me that remind me of certain episodes or lines.  Lately, I think often of the episode when Miranda is breastfeeding Brady while Carrie is visiting and says something like, “Look at how huge my nipples have gotten.”   I too, have been amazed of late how huge my nipples are; they’re probably two or three times their original size.

Oh, that was probably too much information there…

Identifying with the characters in Sex in the City is not the point, at least for me.  It’s a fairy tale of sorts and I have always loved fairy tales.  There was even a fairy tale wedding, with a princess dress and a wedding in a library.  (I too, like Carrie, love the smell of library books.  I also love the noise of that crisp plastic they put on some of them.  Weird, I know!)

I personally would have gone for the Vera Wang wedding dress, but certainly, the Vivian Westwood was beautiful.  And honestly, I heard “Vivian Westwood” before they pulled out the dress and was surprised that it wasn’t garishly ugly with a plaid bustier.

Seeing the movie does however make me sad that I have not yet visited NYC.  During one of the scenes I was such a small town bumpkin that I had to lean over to Laura and ask, “Is that in Central Park?”  Dork!

How is it possible that Carrie could have doubted that Big loved her when he built her that beautiful closet?  I mean, come on! That closet is every woman’s dream – and she doubted his love for her?

I did love the introduction of Louise, who was wonderful, although I felt there could have been more character development.  But it was a 2 hour 15 minute movie, so at the end I stopped caring about character development and started really needing to go to the bathroom.  That’s what I get for spending all the money I saved on buying candy at Walgreens on a $7.00 bottle of water that I finished before the previews ended…