52 Snapshots of Life, Week 35: Sleepy

As I was typing the title of this post, I accidentally started to type "Napshots" instead of "Snapshots".  The theme this week is:  SLEEPY

So, without further ado, here is this week's NAP-shot!

Dog and cat on un-made bed

Of all 35 weeks for this challenge so far, I have only used "old" photos a few times.  This picture was actually taken earlier this week!  Right on target!

Yes, we have "paw-themed" human bedding.

52 Snapshots of Life is a weekly themed photo challenge, hosted by our friends at The Lazy Pit Bull.  There's still not quite half a year to join in on the fun.  Just use the hashtag #52Snapshots and #PBSG on your blog or social media platform.  You don't have to be a pet blogger OR a photographer to join in!

52 Snapshots of Life; Week 34: School

School, school, school.  I sat here all day trying to think of what photo to take for this week's 52 Snapshots photo challenge.  The topic?  School.  

Well, DUH!!  School, (more specifically, teachers, parents and students) is responsible for my amazing career in educational travel that I don't write about very much on this blog.   That's because this blog is normally reserved for my avocation:  my writing, photography and love of my dogs and cats.  But my real job and career, for the past 30 years, has been in the American outbound educational group travel industry.  My main function at work, as the company's CFO, is left-brained: accounting, bookkeeping, HR, payroll, legalities, insurance, database management and always one foot in sales (though lately, it's been more like a toe!!).  

What is student travel?  I simplify it this way:  "The French class goes to Paris with their teacher for a week."

What is it NOT?  The exchange student who stayed with your family for a year when you were a kid; the semester abroad your cousin took part in during junior year.  

As schools open across the U.S. every August, we publish and send out our new annual brochure to high school teachers around the country.  The archivist and collector in me means I have at least one copy of ALL of the brochures we've ever printed.  So, today, I put a selection of the most recent several years' worth of brochures on the desk, and took a picture.   

Voila!! 

Have you, or your kids, ever gone on an educational group tour?  Tell me about it in the comments.

Back to #school !!

52 Snapshots of Life, a weekly themed photo challenge, is hosted by our pals at The Lazy Pit Bull 

Grieving the loss of a pet -- The Pet Lover's Code, 10 rights of a grieving pet parent

Written and created by Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD.

Though you should reach out to others as you journey through grief, you should not feel obligated to accept the unhelpful responses you may receive from some people. You are the one who is grieving, and as such, you have certain “rights” no one should try to take away from you. The following list is intended both to empower you to heal and to decide how others can and cannot help. This is not to discourage you from reaching out to others for help, but rather to assist you in distinguishing useful responses from hurtful ones. 

1. You have the right to grieve the death of a pet. You loved your pet. Your pet loved you. You had a strong and profound relationship. You have every right to grieve this death. You need to grieve this death. You also need to mourn this death (express your grief outside yourself). 

2. You have the right to talk about your grief. Talking about your grief will help you heal. Seek out others who will allow you to talk about your grief. Other pet lovers who have experienced the death of a pet often make good listeners at this time. If at times you don’t feel like talking, you also have the right to be silent. 

3. You have the right to feel a variety of emotions. Confusion, anger, guilt, and relief are just a few of the emotions you might feel as part of your grief journey after the death of a pet. Feelings aren’t right or wrong; they just are. 

4. You have the right to be tolerant of your physical and emotional limits. After the death of a pet, your feelings of loss and sadness will probably leave you feeling fatigued. Respect what your body and mind are telling you. Get daily rest. Eat balanced meals. And don’t allow others to push you into doing things you don’t feel like doing. 

5. You have the right to experience “griefbursts.” Sometimes, out of nowhere, a powerful surge of grief may overcome you. This can be frightening, but it is normal and natural. 

6. You have the right to make use of ritual. After a pet dies, you can harness the power of ritual to help you heal. Plan a ceremony that includes everyone who loved your pet. 

7. You have the right to embrace your spirituality. At times of loss, it is natural to turn to your faith or spirituality. Engaging your spirituality by attending church or other place of worship, praying, or spending time alone in nature may help you better understand and reconcile your loss. 

8. You have the right to search for meaning. You may find yourself asking, “Why did my pet die? Why this way? Why now?” Some of your questions may have answers, but some may not. Ask them anyway. 

9. You have the right to treasure your memories. Memories are one of the best legacies that exist after the death of a special companion animal. Instead of ignoring your memories, find ways to capture them and treasure them always. 

10. You have the right to move toward your grief and heal. Reconciling your grief after the death of a pet may not happen quickly. Remember, grief is best experienced in “doses.” Be patient and tolerant with yourself and avoid people who are impatient and intolerant with you. Neither you nor those around you must forget that the death of a beloved pet changes your life forever. 


Note from k2k9:  I would only add that these same "rights" apply to the loss of a human, as well. There is no such thing as "getting over it".  Grief has no timeline.  There is nothing wrong with you if you grieve for a long time, or a short time.  There is no right or wrong way to grieve.  Take as much, or as little, time as you want.

52 Snapshots of Life, Week 33: Black

k2k9 presents:  What color is this loveseat?  This is like that stupid thing that went around social media last year:  what color is the dress? Blue? or silver? -- remember that?

Without a flash, it's brown.
(Leave me alone, I'm tryin' to sleep.)

With flash photography, it's black.
(You're using a flash, when I'm tryin' to sleep.  Seriously?!)

The real answer?  Brown.  Charlie Brown.
( Mom!! I SAID... I'm tryin' to sleep!)

52 Snapshots of life is hosted by our pals over at The Lazy Pit Bull.  Read their post from Week 33- Black here -- bringing awareness to the plight of black cats in shelters (who are often overlooked and take longer to adopt out than cats of other hues).

52 Snapshots of Life; Week 32: Favorite

My favorite photo this week is the one I took of my glass animal figurines display.

I've been collecting these glass animals since I was a very small child.  The large tabby cat is the oldest one.  I believe I got it when I was just four or five years old.  The family of chihuahuas in the top corner were from my grandmother, who actually had an entire pack of LIVE chihuahuas when I was a kid.

There are other "families" such as the English Setter with puppies, the family of three little pigs, the seals, the horses, and the frogs.

The wooden shoes on the top of the shelf were given to my mom by my dad during WWII -- he got them in the Netherlands when he was a soldier overseas with the U.S. Army.  You can read more about that in my books "More Than Anything in the World" (volumes 1 and 2) available on Amazon.

I still buy glass animals (mostly dogs) when I'm traveling, as souvenirs, or just if I see one I like while out shopping or whatnot.   Makes a great gift!  lol

What, if anything, do you collect?  Tell me in the comments!

52 Snapshots of Life is hosted by our friends over at The Lazy Pit Bull