Category Archives: My Life

June 4, 2013 · 7:00 am

OTAT in OK

This past weekend, from Thursday to Saturday, I traveled down to Moore, Oklahoma with several other volunteers from One Tail at a Time, the dog rescue group where I act as the Volunteer Coordinator and sit on their Board of Directors.

We traveled down with a van full of donations from our awesome volunteers and spent a day volunteering with the Animal Resource Center and Second Chance Animal Sanctuary. And the best part? We pulled six dogs (four from Second Chance and two from the Central Oklahoma Humane Society). All of the pups where already at the shelters prior to the tornado, which freed up space for the many displaced pups from the storm.

This was definitely the trip of a lifetime and I am so happy that I went and was able to be a part of it. The devastation in Moore was unreal and I can’t imagine what it was like to live through that. On Friday, when the second storm rolled in, we were able to take shelter with some of the kindest and most welcoming people I have ever met. The generosity shown to us is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

Read more about our trip and see more photos on OTAT’s Facebook page!

(All photos c/o One Tail at a Time)

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Filed under Dogs, My Life, One Tail at a Time

Tagged as oklahoma, rescue, tornado, volunteer

May 29, 2013 · 7:00 am

Where I’ve been. Part 2.

Over the past few weeks, my mom was out of town several times, which meant Chick and my childhood pup, Ginger, got to spend some time together. Oh, and I learned what’s it like to commute into the city from the suburbs via the train every day. It is tiring, let me tell you. I also learned that Metra, unlike the CTA, runs on time, and once you miss one train, the next one won’t come riding up in a few short minutes.

We also traveled back to Madison for a weekend for a college graduation and despite the traffic, Chick was loving the joy ride.

And can you believe that just one week ago, Chick celebrated one year with us? Time sure does fly.

I also celebrated Mother’s Day with my mom with an outing to Birchwood Kitchen, a great neighborhood joint, and to the Chicago History Museum where I completely fell for Vivian Maier’s black and white photos of Chicago during the 1960s.

And one more photo of Chick because she looks like a model. Well, a model pup. :)

(Black and white photo by Vivian Maier, c/o the Chicago History Museum.)

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Filed under My Life

Tagged as black and white, mother's day, photography

May 28, 2013 · 8:00 am

Where I’ve been. Part 1

[I could get used to this view, as seen from the 69th floor of my building.]

[Now that it’s warm out, lunches outside are a must.]

The past two months have flown by. I guess starting a new job will do that to you. My days have been filled with early morning runs and walks with Chick, just in time to jam myself onto a packed El car and ride downtown to work. I swear it feels like we’re all sheep being herded to and fro. But I’m not complaining because I’m into the Loop in 15 minutes, with a 10 minute walk to my building. Things could be worse.

So far I have nothing but good things to share about this new job. And luckily for me, I’m also still doing a bit of freelance work for the old place, which however, does mean less time here on this space. But here are a few snapshots of life lately.

You can’t tell by today’s gray skies and cool temps, but it’s finally starting to get warm, which means Chick has been enjoying some sun.

Warmer temps also mean the start of bike riding season for me, as I am a fair weather friend and only ride when temps allow. Over the weekend I kicked it off with a ride down Lake Shore Drive with my dad.

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Filed under Chicago, Chicklet, My Life

Tagged as bikes, lake shore drive, spring, sunshine

March 24, 2013 · 2:00 pm

Back to it

Tomorrow it’s back to the grind. While I’ve enjoyed spending my days with this face, getting coffee in the mornings and trying out new doughnuts from Glazed and Infused, I think it’s a good thing to get back to it.

One year later

One year ago today, someone surrendered sweet Chick to Chicago Animal Control where she would spend the next 11 days until Anna Friedman would pick her out from hundreds of other dogs and One Tail at a Time would come to the rescue.

From there she would spend over a month with Kelly Jo until Josh Hilgendorf and I saw her photo and became instantly hooked.

In that one year she has been featured in the Chicago Tribune on Take your Pet to Work Day, joined Chicago SociaBulls to hang with the big guys (sweet pits can love a feisty chi), been enrolled in a Canine Good Citizen Class, had her picture taken by a professional photographer (cc: Kelly Johnson Photography) and plastered onto an Xmas card.

She has made numerous visits to the nursing home where my grandma who has always been terrified of dogs decided suddenly she would love Chick, met the very special dogs I grew up with who I wish I still lived with, attended Christmas dinner with a crazy sweet bulldog pup and survived, and now sleeps above my head every night. What a year, Chick. Love you sweet pup!!

(Photo via Kelly Johnson Photography)

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Filed under Chicklet, Dogs, My Life, One Tail at a Time

Tagged as adopt, animals, one year, rescue