Last Friday was National Bring your dog to work day! Big fun for Mr. Cash and Reuger!

They were very good at the office! I think I should bring them every Friday......makes the work day much more relaxing. I truly believe a dog's soul and ability to understand you on a purely honest and loving level can extend your lifespan.

If you don't have a dog.......get one, you won't be sorry.

Oil.....need I say more.

About 2 weeks ago Mr. Cash, Reuger and myself went to dog beach.......most likely for the last time. A great day of dogs, water, throwing the ball, sun and clean white sand. While it is hard to explain the emotions and sadness that continue to swirl in my head and heart, I have tried to stay positive. Why does it always have to come down to "oops - our greed and need got the best of us....lesson learned"......not this time. Unspeakable damage has been done and will never be undone. I have been through a number of hurricanes down here - including Ivan and saw what it did to this city and the people here for at least a year. I thought that was the worst, I was wrong. At what point do you run for the hills? Is it going to be capped? is it going to create a methane gas tsunami? how can we be so helpless?
I have always made point to ride my bike whenever the weather is nice.......now, unless it is raining, I am on my bike......perhaps it's finally the wake up call to others and to the govt. to truly get their hands out of the pockets of big oil and save us from this undeniably horrific chain of events.

Dos Equis Campaign - why it is so refreshing!

I have to admit one of my favorite campaigns that I have seen recently is the Dos Equis “The Most Interesting Man in the World” campaign. The tv commercials are great humorous takes on the “machismo” while actually reaching the male audience – as well as the female audience. So I wondered if the “old school” tv commercials also carried over to “new school” web, social media, etc.?  I went to dosequis.com  - ¡es verdad!  The campaign does carry over into the web site, twitter, facebook and there is even a tour -  “Most Interesting Show in the World” …Yeah, I bet you didn’t know about all that! How amazing that you read, learn about and become friends with a person who doesn’t exist! It’s like being facebook friends with Tony the Tiger. Both are characters that promote a product that you enjoy and want more of because you identify with the character – whether your 4 years old and love cereal or 40 and like a beverage that makes you feel just that cool (and it is a tasty beverage).  The timing is great too.  Take notice next time you see the commercials. The commercials air for a month or two on very selected times and networks so they don’t get stale and lose their target audience due to oversaturation. NOTE: I am guessing you will see a new series of these during the NFL playoffs.

That is how a great campaign works! All the elements and media tie in all the ways to “touch” the audience and keep them engaged in your product. Dos Equis must be doing something right – their sales went up by 18% in the month of June when the commercials were running (according to Ad Age).  Go check it out www.dosequis.com and Stay thirsty, my friends.

olympics, hurricanes, turning 40 - oh my!

Mr. Cash has been quite the trooper this month.......................not getting much sleep (like the rest of us) during the olympics, even less sleep watching the weather channel, checking NOAA.gov and weather.com to track Gustav and dealing with me turning 40 right in the middle of it all.

All in all fall 2008 has been eventful so far. Let's see what is next...................Ike I think.

Why do we all watch the weather channel to track a storm?....................I suppose it is like a train wreck - you can't help but look. Ok, so Pensacola is in the buckle of the storm belt (not unlike the bible belt) - but Gustav was going to our neighbors to the West.......we thought and secretly hoped......I stayed here during Ivan. It is also like "where's waldo" but with Jim Cantore. Wherever Jim C. is, that is where the storm is going.

The mental connection - thinking outside the human mind

I just finished reading an article in National Geographic magazine in regards to the "animal mind" and how researchers are proving that animals are not just robots in flesh that do not have the ability to have intuitive thinking.
I believe that our furry, hairy (and I don't mean your husband and his hairy back), feathered friends do have the ability to think, learn and make decisions based on cognitive experimentation.

Mr. Cash has his way of letting me know what he wants, needs and desires - I of course then respond.....which leads to the "who is really trained" here!? Is it the same mental connection that lets us know someone is coming or not to cross the street when a car is coming or until the light changes.........how is that since dogs can't distinguish red from green.............guide dogs do it. Connectivity with their master, others and nature. Yes, animals are much more in tune than we are.

We all seem to expect that dolphins and primates have the ability to think on a level that seems to most mirror our intelligence (whatever most of think that is worth). There is a connection that goes beyond man and dog - it truly is a level that I know has the same subconscious synapse that causes a husband and wife to finish each others sentences or sisters and best friends to know exactly what the other one would really like for their birthday.

Could the lack of connectivity be a reason for most people to withdraw? do they lack the connection to nature or their own intelligence?

I challenge you to read the article and tell me what you think - click on this link >

city dog vs country dog

appearance
city dog - shiny coat from organic shampoo and conditioner
country dog - what is a bath? and don't come near me with that brush

dental hygiene
city dog - strong white teeth from dental bones and chewing on Kong toy
country dog - strong white teeth from chewing on venison bones, tires and other camp treats left

apparel
city dog - a bandanna or at least a collar that reflects personality with shaped name tag (bone, heart, house, etc.)
country dog - what is a collar?

arrival
city dog - on a leash or at least waits patiently in the back seat of car
country dog - we don't need no stink'n leashes

health
city dog - up to date on all vaccines, heart worm, flea control and additional doggie multivitamins and what not to ensure that nothing harmful gets into the dogs system while at the country camp.
country dog - suck it up and learn to deal with a tick or too. We are decedents of wild animals.

exercise
city dog - taken on a daily 30 minute walk or jog as well as playing fetch, etc.....
country dog - free range! The world is my doggie park.

the result
city dog - jumps out of the car and in 5 minutes enters the stinky Louisiana bayou, runs through the marsh ruining said bandanna, plays tug of war with coco the country puppy for the venison bone - which will give him horrible gas - and wears him self out in about 20 minutes........so much for thinking my dog was in good shape.

moral of the story - it doesn't matter where you come from, we can all get along - just like our dogs. Just get out there and have some fun and don't worry about everything!
But it is funny and heart warming to see my "city" dog come running back to me every 5 minutes....just to make sure I haven't left him "in the country" - ha!

People you meet when walking mr. cash - north hill

most mornings at 5:30 a.m. you don't see too many people while walking/running mr. cash..........mostly because I have sleep still caked in my eyes and it is a bit too early to catch the gentleman of the 6 at 6 am running group (yes, ladies - I highly recommend if you are single and in shape to join this running group).
However this morning was a lesson in listening and appreciating the stories that an older generation can share. An older black gentleman was slowly but stongly walking down the road with a small grocery bag headed to an unknown destination with purpose. He was curious about mr. cash and stopped me to inquire about him.........mostly because of his size. He told me he used to have a black dog with a white star on his chest for many years and how he came to have it. He also shared with me this question - "how old do you think I am? and I will give you 3 guesses." I am not good at this game at all and guessed 78. He was actually 86 and I might add in good shape for man his age. He grew up in pensacola in this very neighborhood and worked on cervantes street when it was just a sand pile.
I think mr. cash was interested in the story as well since he decided to laydown in middle of the road we were standing and conversing in.
The gentleman then let me know that his good physical condition is from lots of walking, eating right and his years as a welter weight boxer - he had the crooked nose to prove it. He ran and did lots of road work - no weights, "makes you bulky and slow." His fighting name was "speedy". I have not looked this up as of yet.
Time did fly and I knew I had to get back to the house to get ready for work - but I thanked him for sharing his stories with me and hoped to see him again soon. He agreed we would meet again here or upstairs.

If you are a boxing buff and can help me find out more about "speedy" please share.