So we all hear stories from our friends how great their pets are and that they are family. I have grown up my whole life with dogs and wholeheartedly believe they are family. My dog right now is just like my child. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for him. In fact, my friends and family are probably just a little tired of all the pictures I text them and post on Facebook. They would even tell you I’m a little crazy over him. What, is 1,588 pictures on my iPhone too many? That’s where I draw the line though. Here’s where it gets crazy putting clothes on your dog! They don’t need sweaters, shirts, sequins, let alone shoes! If you dress up your dog you are saying more about yourself than whatever outfit your dog is wearing. Dogs are born in the only outfits they ever need. But its a very nice gesture on your part to contribute to the economy. Now, on a more serious note, I want to bring up a story I read today on the news. There was a truck driver in Missouri traveling with his little Yorkie. He stopped at a rest stop briefly and was shortly on his way. It wasn’t until he drove 170 miles from there that he realized his dog was missing. I guess he jumped out and the owner didn’t notice. Risking his job, the truck driver turned around and found his dog still waiting for him there 2 days later. He stated his last dog passed away 6 months prior and he would not risk losing this dog. Most people would say this is a happy ending. However, this dog was 60 seconds from being taken away. And if he really loved his dog, he would have put an ID tag on him and micro chipped him. Its that simple. The shelter is full of dogs who are there because they were stray. Had they had identification they could have been returned to their owners instead of being dropped off at the pound. I have rescued two of the best dogs ever the last couple of years because of negligent owners. I thank the idiot who had my dog first. If not for him or her I wouldn’t have the best thing that ever happened to me. Yet a lot of luck plays a factor as he was scheduled to be put to sleep the day I got him. So, in addition to spaying or neutering your dogs, also put an ID tag on them for crying out loud. That is the ONLY clothing they need!

Are you having your cake and eating it too? Or are you enabling someone else to have their cake and eat it at your expense? We live in a world where we say we want a relationship or want to get married yet spend valuable time with people who wont give that to us. They want to spend time with you, have booty calls and get what they want from you (and various others), yet do not, I repeat, DO NOT, want commitment. When does this get old? At 25, 30, 35? I imagine at some point that gets very lonely; to spend time with someone yet have no deep connection. In this scenario I am talking from a female point of view although I know it can work the other way. Now, I can understand a guy (and a girl) being bitter after a marriage or relationship gone bad. I also believe this situation is fine if both parties want that. But I also believe innately that we all crave companionship and meaningful relationships. Good looks fade, sex without meaning gets old and trying to keep track of everyone gets confusing. And in the end it all still leaves you alone. It is not always the guys fault for getting away with this player mentality. I have always been considered a smart girl with a good head on my shoulders. And I consider that to be true today. But, I actually take a big responsibility in enabling this behavior since I allowed it to happen to me. Again and again and again. It doesn’t mean these guys were bad, it just means we did not want the same thing. I want to get married one day. These guys did not. Yet I let them have their way. At my expense. My friends have told me countless times to quit wasting time with guys who are not giving you what you want. But were good friends or we’ve known each other forever or we have so much fun were just a few of my responses. Maybe I just believed I couldn’t get what I wanted. Moving to the present I have watched a good friend of mine over the last year or so practice what she preaches and I will tell you that all of her dreams have come true. Of course there were obstacles, peaks and valleys, but the fact remains that they both wanted the same thing. They didn’t know if it would be with each other until they gave it a chance and worked at it, but turns out its a happy ending. Or should I say beginning. I am happy to see their wedding and a baby on the horizon. In a nutshell I guess its true that we can get what we want. We just have to stay focused on what it is that we actually want. With that said, I, and I hope you as well, will focus on what you want and don’t settle. Let them have their cake without you. You dont need it anyway, its bad for your health.

OK, I want to talk about this word. Literally. People use this word all too often yet are, for the most part, never literal. I’m tired of people using this word for mere dramatic effect. How many times can you create a sentence, NOT use this word, and have the real meaning? Most of the time! Did you literally fall out of your chair? No, most likely you did not. You were probably just a little surprised about something. Did your heart literally beat out of its chest? No, it did not. Or you would not be here to talk about it. It figuratively beat out of its chest. Did you literally spend hours in traffic? Maybe. But you can just say you spent hours in traffic. We don’t need your dramatic description. We all spend hours in traffic. Just because you tell me you literally spent hours in traffic does not change my assessment of your situation. Did you literally run into your ex? Because if you didnt tell me it was literal I would think you were joshing me? Stop it people!!!! If I could make one change in this world, it would be to not abuse this word. Literally.