Population Control

Hi Humans,
I hear that some of you are concerned about the dog and cat population. I agree. I myself am from a pet rescue. If you breed too many of us and then abandon us when it is inconvenient, that can lead to real tragedy for us.
But while we are on the subject of controlling overpopulation, what about you humans. Some of you think it's cool to make as many children as possible. For some of you, it's a matter of promoting your particular group within your species so that you will outnumber the other groups. You even have organizations that tell you birth control is a sin. Are you blind or stupid? Eventually population control will occur whether you like it or not because the Earth's resources can only sustain so many creatures, and you humans use more of those resources than all the rest of us. The question is will population control occur through planned parenthood or by war and famine? But what do I know? I'm just a dog.
Chloe

Congratulations President Obama

Congratulations President Obama. I'm a happy doggie today.
Chloe

The Election

Hi Humans,
Well, the election is coming up this Tuesday. Mommy and Daddy have already voted, and of course they have voted for Obama. I would vote for him too if I could, but unfortunately dogs can't vote. If you are for Obama and haven't voted yet, please go to the polling place on Tuesday and vote.
Chloe

Shaking Things Up

Hi Humans,
In this election, the American people are looking for pragmatism and rationalism. They are tired of the last 8 raucus years culminating in the recent financial debacle. They want solutions and not empty slogans. That's why they want Barack Obama. When Palin says that she is going to "shake things up", she isn't getting it, and poor Senator Mc Cain has forgotten it. At least that's what this doggie thinks, but what do I know. I'm just a dog.
Chloe

Patriotism

Hi Humans,
In the Biden-Palin debate, Senator Biden said that he does not question the patriotism of his political opponents. Apparently Mc Cain and Palin do not play by the same rules. Governor Palin has again brought up lies and inuendos questioning Senator Obama's patriotism. I believe most of the American people will see through her nonsense, even if they are humans. This doggie certainly can.
Chloe

Poor Senator Mc Cain

Hi Humans,
Poor Senator Mc Cain. He doesn't seem to know where to fit in. He started out as a moderate pragmatic Republican, and was nominated because the moderate pragmatic Republicans were tired of the effects of a president who represented the radical idealogical Republicans. But this turned off the radical idealogical Republicans. So he pandered to the radical idealogical republicans and even selected a vice presidential candidate from them. So now people don't know who he is. I wonder if he knows who he is.
On the other hand, Senator Obama is a moderate pragmatic Democrat who has been perceived by many to be a radical idealogical Democrat. So when he "moved to the Center", he was just being consistent.
You humans live such complicated lives. Well, what do I know. I'm just a dog.
Chloe

Pooping on the Carpet

Hi Humans,
When a dog like me has an "accident" and poops on the carpet, I have to face the consequences. We dogs understand. So now the Republicans have pooped on America's financial carpet. But Senator Mc Cain does not understand that. He says it's those other guys who did it, and he's going to come in and fix it. If you humans believe that one, then we dogs really are smarter.
Chloe

Where is the Money?

Hi Humans,
You guys have all been unglued about the present financial crisis, and you wonder where all the money has gone. Even a dog like me can see what has happened. The Bush government has been playing Republican roulette with the public's money.
1. First of all, the government has spent a huge amount of money on the war or whatever you call it in Iraq. Now defense is necessary and it can be expensive. It certainly was correct to go after Al Qaida in Afghanistan because they invaded our country on 9/11. But Iraq has turned out to be a diversion from our goal. A more intelligent leader might have avoided the diversion, or at least would have used his diplomatic skill to work with our allies to share in the expense instead of going it alone. Also there should have been an exit plan to avoid an open ended money drain.
2. Then to make financial matters worse, the Bush people tried to make the impact on the public seem painless by promoting their usual tax saving (for the wealthiest part of the population). The money had to come from somewhere, so they borrowed big time. When the government borrows money that leaves a debt that the taxpayer eventually has to pay. When our country goes to war, it should be a time of sacrifice for everyone, not a time for tax cuts.
3. In the name of laissez-fairism, the Republican administration removed restrictions and oversight from the banking business. So some of them took advantage and artificially created a huge real estate bubble based on over borrowing.
So what should be done about it? Now I'm only a dog, but it seems to me that you should throw out the rascals who created the mess and elect Barack Obama. He would have the ability to deal with with our allies and get them to share the cost of a common defense. He would go directly after Al Qaida without diversions. He would regulate the banking business and keep them honest.
Chloe

Beware of the Moose Killer

Moose Bearing Arms

Beware of Palin, the moose killer! She and her NRA cronies like to kill moose and my cousins the wolves for sport. As a dog, I am a carnivore, but that's the way I am. I have no choice. I eat meat to survive. But I don't go out and kill as a sport. That is just plain mean. So tell all your human friends to vote for Obama. Now I don't expect him to arm the moose so they can defend themselves (that's silly), but he'll give us animals a fair shake (and he'll be good for people too).

Chloe

Obama Mc Cain Interviews

Yesterday on television, Senator Obama and Senator Mc Cain were each given the same questions to answer. The questions were generally deep and thought provoking. Senator Mc Cain gave relatively simple and direct answers. Senator Obama analyzed each question and came up with his best answer.
In real time, the problems that will face the new president will be complex, deep, and thought provoking. I think I would rather be led by someone like Sentor Obama who gives the problems of our country serious thought rather than one who has quick answers. But what do I know? I'm just a dog.
By the way, if you live in the Chicago area, don't forget that Mommy is opening her Beadshaper display at the Andersonville Galleria in Chicago in Spring 2009 If you live anywhere else, you can catch her on the web at http://www.beadshaper.com/

The Gathering

Hi,
We are going to the Oakland, California area today. Mommy is going to The Gathering. That's a meeting of the International Societyof Glass Bead Artists. She is going to look at all the the exhibits and trade ideas with other bead artists. Meanwhile Daddy and I will hang out together. I love traveling.
By the way, did I tell you that Mommy will be opening up a new display of her beads and jewelry in Spring 2009 at the Andersonville Galleria on Clark street in Chicago. You can see some of the things she will sell there at Boutiques . Unfortunately, I won't be able to go with when she sets up the diplay. Bummer.

The Gathering

Hi,
Mommy is going to a big bead convention called The Gathering in Oakland, California next month. And guess what? Mommy and Daddy are taking me with. We're going to stay at the Marriott Hotel where they allow little doggies like me. It's really going to be a fun time.
By the way, Mommy will be starting a new Beadshaper booth in the Anderson Galleria in Chicago in the Spring of 2009. I'll fill you in on the details when I find out more information.

Just Hanging Out

It's been quiet around here. Daddy is away for a few days, and Mommy and I have been hanging out together. It's been really hot here in Southern California. It got up to about 114 degrees the other day. In that kind of heat, I just go out to eliminate and that's it. Mommy has started a new page on her website where she talks about all kinds of things a crafter might make with glass beads. If you're a crafty person, you might want to check it out at BEAD TALK

Love

They say the dog is the only species that loves another more than its own. In other words, we love certain humans more than other dogs. Well what do you expect? You guys bred us to be that way. But that's family love. We live with you humans and depend on you for food and shelter. But for passion, it's still other dogs. Now I've been spayed and neutered, so the urges are not the same anymore. But I still think Shorty, the dog across the street, is kind of cute. I know he thinks that way about me. Whenever he sees me, he comes across the street and politely sniffs. But I don't let him get too close. I snap at him if he gets too fresh. That keeps the mystique going.
Don't forget to visit Mommy's web-site at http://www.beadshaper.com/
If you forgot to get your Mom a gift for Mother's Day, you can buy her some jewelry there. Better late than never.
Chloe

Politics

I have to say something about this Election thing that you humans are so excited about. Mommy and Daddy favor Senator Obama, and I must say that I agree with them. Senator Mc Cain seems like a nice man, but Obama was among the top students in his class at Harvard Law School and was elected to be the president of the Harvard Law Review while Senator Mc Cain was 5th from the bottom in his class at Annapolis. Even a dog like me can see the implications. I can't understand why so many of you humans who claim to be so smart can not. Do you want a smart president or or one who is just OK? Well what do I know? I'm just a dog.

Grooming

I went with Mommy a few days ago to be groomed, that is she dropped me off at the groomer's, and she went to have her nails done. I must say, it is some experience. They gave me a "summer cut." I now look like half the dog I was. Oh well, it will grow back eventually. It does feel better since the weather has become hot the past few days. Anyway, after the grooming Mommy picked me up and took me home. I was so exhausted that I slept all afternoon.
Don't forget to visit Mommy's web-site at http://www.beadshaper.com/
Chloe

The Fine Art of Smell

Smelling is not just a means of identifying things for us dogs. It is a fine art, kind of like visual art is to you humans. You guys make a big deal about a Rembrandt or Van Gogh painting, but to me that does nothing. As for the modern stuff, dip my feet in paint and let me run around a canvass. Then hang up the result in a museum next to a Pollack. Could you really tell the difference? Maybe, what do I know? I'm just a dog.
We do have some common tastes in auditory art. In the evening sometimes Daddy sits at his computer and puts a Rachmaninoff piano concerto or a Handel violin sonata on the CD player, and I ly on the floor and chill to the music. That's nice. But I don't like the loud clashing stuff. That sounds like noise to me, but what do I know? As I said, I'm just a dog.
As for the fine art of smell, you just can't appreciate it the way we dogs do. You have your perfumes and colognes, but let me tell you one pass around my back yard gives me more beauty, more sensuality, in other words more art than all the perfumes in Paris or anywhere in your nasally challenged human world.
If you want to enjoy some human visual art, Mommy displays some really beautiful jewelry on her web site at http://www.beadshaper.com/
Chloe

Festivals and Expos

Hi Everyone,
Last week I went with Mommy and Daddy to the Wistaria Festival in Sierra Madre, California. Mommy was selling her hand made beads and jewelry there. It rained in the morning and was cold and damp, but it warmed up a little in the afternoon and a lot of people came to visit Mommy's booth. I spent most of the time in my little carrier. Little dogs like to rest in a closed in place. It makes us feel safe, like in a den. I really like going places in the car. This week Mommy and Daddy went to the Glass and Bead Expo in Las Vegas. I couldn't go with because that hotel doesn't allow pets. I don't think that's very nice, but I'm just a dog. Anyway, the folks hired a pet siiter to take care of me while they're gone. She's a really nice young lady. In a few days Mommy will be bringing back a new type of pendant bead from studying at the Expo. You will be able to see those new beads on her web site, http://www.beadshaper.com/
Chloe

My First Long Car Trip

Hi Everyone,
I just got back from my first long car trip. I went with Mommy and Daddy to the San Franciscio East Bay area. We stayed at the Marriott Hotel in San Ramon which is a pet friendly hotel. There is plenty grass for exercise (and you know what else) around the hotel. It's a beautiful place.
The main reason we went there is because Mommy has a display case for selling her hand made jewelry at a craft store called Handworks on Railroad Avenue in Danville which is next to San Ramon. While Mommy was in the store working on her display, Daddy and I went for a walk down the Iron Horse Trail which runs just behind Handworks. It's a great place for walking. At a drinking fountain along the way, they had a pan next to the fountain just for dogs like me, really thoughtful. They even have a poop station along the way. They are really dog friendly there.
Later we walked down Hartz Avenue and looked in the shops. People would come up to me and say how cute I am, which of course I know is true.
I hope all is well with you, and you will come visit me again. Please also visit Mommy's web site at http://www.beadshaper.com/
Chloe

New Friends

Hi Everyone,
Let me tell you about the new friends I've made here. I met the dog across the street. People tell me that he barks a lot and is very possessive about the whole cul-de-sac, but I must tell you he was a perfect gentleman when he came across the cul-de-dac to meet me. He sniffed very politely with not one bark. It is kind of exciting to associate with an older man in that he is 5 years old which is like 35 years in your people years, while am only a little past one year which makes me a teeny bopper. Well we dogs are not held by the same conventions as you people. Today a friend of Mommy brought over her dog, Mandy, who is 14 years old. That's really geriatric, but we had fun together. Mandy moves kind of slowly, but I had a chance to really run around. I am so exhausted from so much fun, that that this evening I want to just curl up on the couch and chill. Tomorrow will be a new adventure. We are going up to the San Francisco area. Mommy has a display case in a craft shop up there in Danville, California. She goes there from time to time to visit. By the way, Mommy also has a web site for her beads and jewelry at http://www.beadshaper.com/.
Chloe

Chloe's First Blog

Hi!
My name is Chloe. I'm a dog. More specifically I am a 1 year old 8 pound little poodle with some cocker spaniel mixed in. I was recently adopted by a nice couple who fawn all over me. They refer to themselves as Mommy and Daddy, so that's what I call them. Daddy is a dermatologist, and Mommy is a retired school teacher who now makes glass beads and jewelry. Mommy and Daddy have 2 married children and 4 grandchildren. In this Blog, I intend to tell you about all my adventures in my new home. So, please visit my blog whenever you have a chance. I'll try to keep it interesting.
Chloe