Chic Galleria » Carrie & Theresa

Shelter Dogs Need A Second Chance

Carrie & Theresa — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:37:37 +0000

Several months ago, I found myself making daily trips to the Savannah Chatham County Animal Control in search of my little man, Mr. Bentley. What I witnessed as I searched for my lost schnauzer was nothing new to anyone who has ever seen an ASPCA commercial, watched Animal Cops on Animal Planet or any number of shows out there now about the homeless pet population that not only this country but many others face. What I didn’t realize at the time was the amount of diligent hard work, dedication and countless tears that these workers (the “dog catcher” to the rest of us) face on a day in and day out basis. I also never thought in a million years that in just a few short months I would look forward to each weekend so I could spend Saturday and Sunday volunteering at this high kill shelter.

Many of Chic Galleria’s readers may know that through the loss of Mr. Bentley I found another BFF in a rescue pit that literally was seconds away from death. Xander was on a table sedated and they were seconds away from administering the medication that would stop his heart. He had been at the shelter for three weeks and his time was up. They needed to make room for the countless and nameless unwanted animals that arrive daily.

Xander and I came into each other’s lives in the nick of time. He quickly became my leaning post as I recovered from the loss of the last of my three schnauzers. I decided I would take bags of food out there every time I picked up a bag of food for Xander. Each time I would take a walk through the shelter and pet each dog and give them a few words of kindness, not knowing if that dog would be the next to be put down or not. I thought it was the least I could do. I would have hoped that if Mr. Bentley had wound up at the shelter someone would have given him kind words until I got to him! Well, the last trip I made with a bag of food, I did my usual walk through and found myself staring into the most soulful pair of brown eyes I had ever seen! This little black and white female pit looked at me, I looked at her, our eyes locked and I made three trips up there in the next two days before I took her home Valentine’s afternoon.

Coco (after my favorite classic designer) quickly adapted to the good life! I was warned that she might have dog aggression and I would need to introduce her and Xander slowly and be very careful. All this little girl needed was what most dogs in an animal control, human society or other shelter need. She needed a little TLC and a second chance at a happy life where she was wanted and taken care of. What these animals give back to us is unmeasurable. The unconditional love, attention and affection that these animals give back to us is ten fold the simple chance at a better life we offer to them.

The afternoon that I first took Xander out to the shelter to “meet” Coco found me filling in for the shortage of volunteers and workers on a busy day. There were many visitors wanting to see what cute dogs we had. People wanted to hold the kittens. Amidst all of this, there were kennels that needed to be washed out, linens that had to be washed, food bowls filled and nearly fifty dogs that would give anything for a moment of attention and a short walk out in the bright sunlight. I quickly found that nearly four hours had passed and I loved every busy minute of it! I told them that I would be back the next day with Xander to try to get him and Coco together. She had found herself there for over two weeks and while she had a lovely sponsor (someone was willing to cover the costs associated with her placement) she had shown signs of dog aggression. That, combined with the fact that she was a pit bull greatly decreased her odds of adoption. I was determined to work with her. She bonded with me instantly, sensing I think that this was her last shot. That was two weeks ago and we (all three of us) haven’t been happier!

Last weekend there was a Dog Day Afternoon event held at one of the squares in Savannah. There was a “doggie psychic” and other activities for the dogs as well as their owners! Local art students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (my alma mater) were on hand to do portraits of dogs for a $20 donation. A local chapter of the Boy Scouts were on hand rolling truck tires around that had portraits painted on them of a few of the dogs that had already found “happy forever homes.” There was even a documentary film-maker from NYC on hand shooting footage for an upcoming movie about the shelter! It was truly a fun event for the dogs and their human companions. The cause was great and the proceeds from the day went towards the many costs for the animals still waiting at the shelter to find their “forever homes.”

If I could make one plea on behalf of my two shelter babies it would be that you might help spread the word not to buy a family dog while there are so many still in a local shelter sitting on death row. There is no reason for so many of these amazing and loving dogs to die each week! There are so many little items that your local animal shelter needs. Even if you can’t adopt a new family member, you would be amazed at the little items you might be able to help them with. Contact your local animal shelter or local animal control to see what you can do to make a difference to even just one animal! Xander and Coco thank you!

Written by Theresa Jones

Has Disney Tainted a Girl’s Real World Perspective of a Happy Ending?

Carrie & Theresa — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:59:03 +0000

When I read Carrie’s article on Disney/Pixar movies and the great messages that they often carried with them I couldn’t have agreed more. I have always been a BIG fan of Disney! I was born not far from Disneyland and from our backyard in Anaheim I remember early childhood memories of watching the fireworks every night. I have such fond memories of princesses and Prince Charming, fairy godmothers and far away castles and happy endings that I am deathly afraid I may have transformed them into my real life.

Though I know that these movies often carry a great moral story for both children and adults, I have to wonder if they carry a far more sinister downfall for the little girl in all of us. Can I blame the “mouse” for the relationship failures I have experienced in my adult life…ok, who am I kidding….I don’t think I have had what anyone would consider a healthy relationship since high school! I fell for the town rebel in high school….four years later I was stood up for my senior prom. Yep, I spent four years of high school pining away for this boy. I couldn’t even tell you where he is now, couldn’t care less. What I can tell you is that I have since then, had continued failure in relationships and an attraction to the obviously not Prince Charming type has been my track record.

Now, I’m not saying that my relationship partners have been “bad people.” That is between them and God. What I can say is…we were obviously not the right ones for each other. My friends make fun of me for my ability to sniff out a faux Louis Vuitton, Coach or Prada bag at a minimum of fifty yards. I can spot a classic Chanel D’Orsey pump at nearly a hundred yards. Moving into a new area? Let me sniff out the high end shopping district for you in no time! There must have been a scent hound somewhere in my family tree! Why then do I have the uncanny ability to always sniff out Mr. Wrong? One would think that since I have an affinity (not that I can always afford them!) for the finer things in life (let’s just chalk it up to really good taste!) I would also possess the ability to find the one person God put on this earth for me to spend the rest of my life with. Obviously not! I have to wonder if it isn’t the perfect fairy tale storyline that we have been spoon-fed? Does Disney play a significant part in my (and I am sure there are others) need to have the “fairy tale” relationship?

I know that relationships are hard work. They are the same as good friendships. They need to be cultivated, nurtured and cared for. I would like to think that I have a fairly ok idea of what is normal and that I don’t expect a white horse, a castle and a glass slipper. I don’t think I have overly high expectations. I do have some expectations and I don’t think I am asking for too much. If I give my significant other a card for example…leaving it on their pillow Christmas Eve night…is too much to expect them to open the card when they come to bed? It would seem logical to me. Are my expectations too high when it takes over twenty hours for them to open it and then never even make mention of the fact that I gave them a card? If I am out of line in thinking it falls within normal levels of decency to at least say “Thank You” for a card, let alone read it and acknowledge the gesture then please let me know.

I fear that somehow the fairy tale happy ending that Disney has so perfectly spun for little girls of all ages might just have jaded my ideology of relationship behaviors. I do try to treat others better than I myself would like to be treated. Maybe that is my problem. Who knows? I seriously have to wonder though, if these magical tales of beautiful (always impossibly thin and pretty) princesses who come from humble beginnings haven’t tainted the real world perspectives of little girls of all ages the world over…this little girl specifically.

Written by

Theresa Jones

Savannah (AKA Never Never Land), GA
Photo Credit © Briana Hunter | Dreamstime.com

Chronicling Weight Loss Stumbles and Goals

Carrie & Theresa — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:13:20 +0000

Not many know that I at one time was almost 400 pounds. WOW…even now that number seems far too high and I lived it! I can’t really say everything that got me to that point, nor do I even know really what it was that sparked the fire in me to lose nearly 200 of those pounds. I remember going to a doctor visit and the first thing the doc said to me was “you know you have a weight problem, right?” “REALLY? I NEVER knew! Tell me doc, exactly how many years of medical school did it take you to come to that conclusion?” I was stumped. Was that really the best this doctor could come up with? No matter. I walked out of her office and never went back. I didn’t need a doctor to tell me something I already knew every moment of each day. I don’t know what it was in my mind body or soul that caused me to decide it was time. I do know that somewhere around the beginning of 2004 I somehow made up my mind it was time to get back in shape. I hadn’t always been that large. I have always been, how can I put this…not petite. I have never been, nor will I ever be a petite girl. I’m just one of those people who is lucky enough to be built like a line backer and have no problem looking like I could hold my own in a fight. Let’s just say I have no problem going for a run after dark. I am not afraid of anyone bothering me (where is American Gladiator now?).

I knew I had attempted (far too many efforts to count) any and all diet regimes (some of them seemed like militant regimes), weight loss gimmicks, tricks, and anything else that was being hocked on late night television as a sure fire way to finally lose the weight for good! Guess what? Nothing so far had been that magic trick to transform my body overnight into a Victoria Secret’s runway girl (again, remember I’m built sorta like a line backer!). I had heard people talking about this whole South Beach Diet thing and I kept thinking, “Ok, yeah, whatever…same thing, different name.” As hesitant as I was, I ordered the books from my favorite online bookseller. Heaven forbid someone see me buying a weight loss book! I read it cover to cover in about a day, cleaned out my fridge, cupboards and cabinets and didn’t look back. I will admit that the actual working out part didn’t come to me for a little while. I did however become militant in my quest to make certain that I followed the SB plan to a “T”.

I was determined! NOTHING was going to get in my way, slow me down or stop me! This went on for almost two years. My fierce determination and can do attitude impressed even my biggest supporters! Sadly enough (and maybe even hard to believe) I did have a few people who were supposed to be in my camp who were not as supportive as I thought they would be. I even battled back from a surgery to remove an acoustic neuroma (aka small brain tumor) at record speed because it was interfering with my walking schedule! I got to the point where I was walking eight to ten miles a day (sometimes twice a day) and swimming three days a week. I LOVED it! Not even as a teenager had I been this active! My parents called me the “Food Nazi” due to my militant rules regarding no junk food, no flour, no sugar and no refined carbs of any kind! I was afraid if I even smelled carbs I would fall of the proverbial wagon.

Somewhere, somehow along the way I found myself loving my new self. I was strong, confidant and most of all….THIN! Now, what could be wrong with this you ask? Well, after two years of this, somehow I have found that I no longer am militant with my eating. It is sheer torture now to get out for one of my long walks that I used to cherish and look forward to come rain or shine. Heaven forbid, the unthinkable has happened! I have gained almost fifty pounds over the course of the past two years! HOW did this happen? Where did I falter? How did I fall off of that wagon? For almost the past year I have tried countless times to get back on that wagon. Each time I crack, fumble, falter and any other descriptive word you can think of to describe my slippery down fall into carbohydrate Hell! That is the only way I know how to describe it! Seriously, I know that if I am even tempted by something remotely resembling anything made with flour and sugar….forget it! Wild horses couldn’t drag me away. All I know is some how, some way I have to get that mental mind shift back! Whatever switch clicked a few years ago, and caused me to have the fierce determination of a woman on a mission (and ANY man who has ever lived with a hell-bent woman on a mission knows exactly what I am talking about) well, I need that switch to flip again! I’m not even sure what the catalyst was that caused it to shut down in the first place!

So, that is where I am at right now. I need to figure out my wiring and find the source of my faulty switches! I know that carbs are my downfall and my body LOVES them…so much so that they go straight to my derrière and there they stay! I have a feeling that it might just be an uphill battle, but it is one I am willing to fight tooth and perfectly manicured nail! I at first was mortified to even think about letting this blurb off of my computer, but if in the course of all of my downfalls, missteps and stumbles I might help someone else along the way to achieve their goals as well, then I certainly don’t mind the public forum of chronicling my constant battle with the dreaded sugary goodness of a Krispy Kreme doughnut! I will (WILL) be back with a story of success! I have WAY too many cute clothes that I couldn’t wedge myself into right now if the warmer weather even permitted it! I even braved the cold today to get back into my extra long walks – minus the pooch of course! He is already spoiled into thinking he is a pampered lap dog!

Written by Theresa Jones

Disney Movies From a New Perspective

Carrie & Theresa — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:58:58 +0000

Like many of you I grew up loving Disney movies. I never dreamed that one day I would hate them so, but as I had children and they started watching them, I began to secretly curse them as we watched the same ones, over and over and over. Movies that I loved as a child became torture.

One movie that was not torture was Mary Poppins. Mainly because it is like 2 1/2 hours long and you can push play, and take a nice nap while the kiddos watch “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” and “Step in Time”.

Sometimes I would stop and think about how sad it was that my love for Disney movies had faded and then it came to me. *Ding Ding* What can I get out of this movie except just a nice long nap? Humm.

Have you ever stopped and observed that there are some really great lessons for us as adults in these movies? I mean they can send a great message to children (except from all the parent death–ack), but what can we get from these movies as adults?

The first Disney/Pixar movie that stands out to me is Finding Nemo. Besides being a great animated flick there are some great underlying messages in this movie. My favorite is “Just keep swimming”.

There was a time in my life that I was so overwhelmed that I had no idea which way to turn. I can still remember the exact spot I was standing in when it came to me. Just keep swimming. And then I heard it..Dory. “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..what ya gotta do but swim, swim, swim”. I was stuck and Dory just popped into my head and sang to me to keep moving forward. Don’t stay stuck like a statue and afraid. Just keep moving forward and new adventures await. Seriously—all that from a Disney movie? Maybe there are more life messages from us adult types in these Disney/Pixar movies?

That thought re-newed my love for Disney movies. They really are not just for kids anymore. Enjoy a Disney/Pixar movie. You may get some life wisdom out of it and not just a nap.

Is My J-O-B To Take Care of Others?

Carrie & Theresa — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:11:22 +0000

I have debated on what it was I wanted to change and accomplish as we start this new year. Looking back on it, 2009 really hasn’t been that different from any of the previous years. Except one small detail. I have made up my mind that this is the year that I start taking care of myself more and worry less about having someone in my life that I need to be taking care of…in whatever capacity that may be.

This actually popped into my head while reading one of my favorite authors. James Patterson typically writes the intense, fast moving serial killer mystery books that are just long enough to hold my attention on a slow evening or weekend where I don’t have too many pressing obligations to take care of. Of course, I have read all of his current books, so while out doing my Christmas shopping (which I vow this year to NOT over do as I do every year for the special people in my life) I picked up a book of his that is little different than his norm. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Little Brown & Co., 2008) is not his usual thriller. It is the story of a young child who spends her life more with her imaginary friend than with her highly successful Broadway producer mother. At the age of nine, her friend Michael must leave her. That is the rule. I won’t spoil the rest of the book, but I do highly recommend it. Michael makes a statement shortly after having to leave the young girl for good about his life’s purpose is that of a care giver. He knows he is the person who always takes care of others, makes sure their needs are met and that he forgoes his wants and needs so that his charges have what they desire.

This made me think a bit. His J-O-B is to take care of others. Not too far from what my job as a teacher encompasses. It is much deeper than that (I am sure where this is the part where the therapist would start picking me apart!) from my personal perspective. I have always been the person who has strove to take care of people and animals. Heck, I have even paid for a dead, droopy African violet in the hopes to nurse it back to health. I am not complaining. I love doing these things and seeing those that I can help thrive. I have brought home every stray animal I find, ever since I was old enough to wander off around my childhood home on my own. Ask my mother about the wild baby rabbits I brought home one afternoon. Sad to say…they died within a few short days. Turns out they needed their mother and not just a bottle of formula and a teenage girl.

I get these traits from both of my parents. They are nurturers to a fault. After reading Sunday at Tiffany’s I began asking myself what is it about me that makes me most happy when I can help others? I don’t think this is a bad trait to have (and I am by no means looking for confirmation in my ability to be a “good person”) I just think that I need to have the realization that at some point there needs to be a fine line drawn where I stop looking for the ways to make someone else happy by what I do for them and start looking for the little ways I can make myself happy. If the other people around me want to join in and be happy with me…GREAT! I need to learn that I cannot make someone else happy, or that by making them happy I will also be happy. It doesn’t matter what I do for them, with them or myself. If someone doesn’t want to be happy, the best I can do is try to put a smile on their face and brighten up their day just a bit. I would hope that at the end of the day, I have left a little brighter footprint on those that I meet and interact with than not.

I must start worrying about making me happy though! I am the only one who can make me happy. I will not find this happiness in the lives of anyone else. I think for too long I have known that I truly want to be a part of “something” where both people are happy. I do thrive in this sort of situation, but isn’t that what this “type” of situation is supposed to be like? For too long I have found myself in situations where I begin to try to do more and more for someone else in an attempt to make them happier, make their life easier and as a result I am the one who tends to become more and more sad. Disheartened in a way, not necessarily sad about me in any particular way, but maybe sad because of a sense of failure on my part? Maybe this is because my efforts are in vain?

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong on any of this! I totally do not mind guidance. In fact, I will take all the guidance I can get, for I seem t be on a hamster wheel and it hasn’t gone anywhere new for the first forty years! I do believe I have hit my head on that proverbial brick wall for the last time! I hope anyway, but then again, is it exactly these traits that make me the person that I am? Am I just like Michael in the sense that my J-O-B on this planet is to care for others? Are there those of us that our reason for being here is to act as nurturers? That may very well be the case, but I HAVE to find that fine line between nurturer and self and not cross it. I don’t think my sanity can take much more banging my head against the wall. That and it is leaving the most unattractive nasty bruise!

I do hope that everyone has a very blessed new year and that 2010 allows everyone to come at least one step closer to the realization of their personal dreams and aspirations. Oh, and by the way, that African violet? It is alive and well, thriving on my kitchen window sill. So, I at least accomplished making that one plant a little happier.

Best wishes for a fabulous new year!

Theresa Jones